Deliciously Mated(25)

He inhaled deeply, her scent invading his nostrils and making him even more hungry for her. His wild little human was divine. And the fact that she wasn’t unaffected by him… that was just icing on the cake.

“Eagan.” Her whisper broke the silence with another shove to his shoulder.

He rolled onto his back, peeking at her through slitted eyes. “What is it, mate?”

“I can’t sleep.”

“I noticed,” he murmured, reaching trough the darkness to touch her cheek.

“Yeah, right,” she said, but she leaned her face into his touch. “You were sound asleep. Snoring, in fact.”

He grinned. “I wasn’t snoring.”

Her lips turned up. “You kinda were.” She sighed, her smile evaporating. “Can I sleep on you? The bed it too soft and you’re obviously hard.” Her eyes skimmed his chest.

“You want to sleep on me?” he asked, unsure. “Like a bed?”

Clara nodded. “It’s either you or the floor. And I’m thinking you’d be much warmer.”

His female wanted to sleep on him. And she was right, he was hard. In the wrong place. His erection throbbed at the mere idea of her on top of his body. She’d surely be even more uncomfortable if she knew.

But how could he tell her no. Those big gold-brown eyes staring at him expectantly, it was impossible.

“Climb up,” he rasped.

Her relief was apparent in the way her shoulders went from tense to slack. He held the covers back for her while she slung her leg around his waist to straddle him. When she was maneuvering, he adjusted his erection so it was laying on his belly. Slowly, she lowered her head to his chest, her torso pressing his hardness between their two bodies.

Eagan grit his teeth. He could do this. His mate needed sleep, and he was going to help her get it.

Easing her legs until they lay parallel with his, she let out a sigh and he felt her body relax.

Aw, damn that felt good. His mate’s comfort was almost as satisfying as sex might be. And a hell of a lot more satisfying than the palmer he’d given himself in the shower.

He took a deep breath and felt his own body relax. But there was nowhere for his arms.

“Better?” he asked.

She nodded against his chest. “Much. Am I too heavy?”

“Not a chance. You’re perfect like this.”

She relaxed a fraction more, making his chest tighten with emotions he’d have to deal with come morning.

“Can I put my arms around you? Would that keep you awake?”

She was silent for so long he wondered if she’d already drifted off.

“Go ahead.”

Eagan slowly brought his arms up until one was wrapped securely around her waist and the other with his palm between her shoulder blades. She let out another relaxed sigh, and he was struck with the realization that everything was as it should be in that very moment in time. A perfect second in an infinity of seconds.

There wasn’t any sacrifice he wouldn’t make for her. Nothing was asking too much. His clan, his body, his mind, he’d lose any of it for her. And that, he knew instinctually, was what a big cat mating was truly about. The rest of it was just tradition. And the great thing about traditions was they could be broken.

Renner had it right. And Eagan was going to help him show the others.

With that thought settled, sleep pulled at him once again.

“Do you normally sleep in trees?”

“No,” Clara murmured drowsily. “A mattress made of a sleeping bag and old newspapers.”

His heart squeezed tight at the thought of his mate in the wild, sleeping on scraps she’d collected. Never again. Even if he had to follow her out there and be her personal Tempur-pedic.

He squeezed her tighter against his chest. “Damn. There goes my Katniss fantasy.”

“Who?” she asked, her voice slurred with sleep.

He let out a soft laugh. “Nevermind. Sleep, little woman.”





Chapter Twelve



Clara was ripped out of the best sleep of her life by a knock on the cabin door. A bang really. Several urgent bangs. Eagan’s big hand on her head urged her further from her sweet coveted rest.

She lifted her drowsy eyes to his and her breath caught in her chest. His gaze glowed with emotion so fierce it should have scared her. But it didn’t. With his ruffled hair and sleep-sexy face and his strong arms holding her steady, all she could feel was… safe.

She felt safe, and that… was a miracle.

“Someone’s at the door,” he said.

Clara nodded and rolled to the side, back onto the cushy bed. Eagan sat on the edge of the mattress and pulled his pants on over the boxers he’d worn to bed.

He turned to look at her, his eyes wary. “Stay here. I’ll protect you, Clara. Remember that. And whatever happens… do not run from me.”