Hers to Take(14)

"Did you hear me?"

Nash nodded. "I heard you."

"It's for the good of the pack, Nash."

"Right. The pack."

The sound of an ATV coming, followed moments later by Kira's fresh sexy scent, filled his senses and distracted him just enough so he didn't tell Nolan what he really thought about the good of the pack.

"Nash, I know you don't see it right now, but-"

"I can't talk right now." He cut him off as Kira's ATV pulled up next to his truck. Before his brother said another word, he disconnected the call and stuffed his phone into his back pocket.



"Hey."

Kira felt like a teenager, the way his voice and one simple word made her knees wobble. It was ridiculous. What was even more ridiculous was that she brushed her hair, refastened her braid, and brushed her teeth before she drove out to the maintenance shed to see Nash. But she hadn't been able to stop thinking about him and that kiss. Yes. That kiss had definitely been the star of her dreams the night before, and a whole lot more.

Wolf or not, the man knew how to kiss. Of that, there was no doubt.

"Hey yourself." Did she really say that? When had she turned into some sort of love struck girlie girl? She shook her head and tried again. "How's it going?" That was better. Maybe she could actually have a conversation without it turning into her making a fool of herself.

Nash crossed the distance between them and without saying another word, cupped his hand around the back of her head and pulled her into him. He kissed her hard and fast, leaving the promise for more. Much more. But then it was done. He pulled away and Kira opened her eyes.

She hadn't realized she'd closed them.

"It's going a lot better now," he said. "I've been thinking about that all day."

"I have … I mean … we probably shouldn't do that where people might see."

Why had she just said that? With the way the blood raced through her body and the damp heat had settled between her legs, Kira was pretty sure she didn't care whether anyone saw them. She wanted more. She needed more and judging by her internal turmoil, her bear clearly agreed.

"Isn't that why you're here?" Nash reached for her hand and laced his fingers through hers. "It's pretty private here."

It was private there, which was exactly why Kira had decided to drive out to see Nash instead of calling him over the radio. But admitting that little fact at that moment probably wasn't a great idea because it could only lead down one path. And as turned on as she was, she was still a bear and he was still a wolf and nothing could happen between them. Besides the fact that the last man she'd put her trust in had betrayed her in an epic fashion, Kira was more than a little gun-shy. Yet she couldn't seem to fight the pull Nash had over her. 

"It's actually not why I'm here." She forced herself to focus. "There was a report of more dead fish earlier today."

"What? Let's go. I'll help you-"

"I took care of it." His lips pressed into a line. "Mostly," she added.

"You know I would have helped you," he said. "You shouldn't have to clean that up on your own. Besides, there's something not right about those fish. Next time, I'd like the chance to check it out."

Kira smiled. "You might just get that chance. I have a theory and I was hoping you'd help me out with it." She'd been hoping he'd help her out with a lot more than the dead fish problem, but that wasn't the point.

Nash nodded to the shack. "I have some water inside. Come on in and tell me what you need."

Kira followed him, but waited outside on one of the picnic tables while Nash retrieved a few bottles of water and brought them back out. She drank half of hers before she told him what she'd been thinking about. "There were six more dead fish this morning," she started. "And they were in almost the same spot as before. Strange, right?"

"Very."

"Don't you think if there was something in the water killing the fish that we'd be finding them all over the riverbank? Not just in that one spot?"

Nash shrugged. "Probably. Maybe it has something to do with that location? Like a geothermal opening or something."

Kira shook her head. She had a different idea. "I mean, a geothermal opening isn't totally out of the question, but I have a different theory. And I was hoping you'd help me out with it. Tonight."

That caught his attention. He tilted his head and stared deep into her eyes. Oh yes, she was in trouble.

"You know I will."

There was a lot more meaning behind his words. Kira swallowed hard and picked up her water bottle again. "Great." She tipped it back and finished the rest in a desperate attempt to cool off. "We'll leave about eleven, okay?"