Chapter 4
Chapter Four
Eddie stood by the window and took in all of the snow that pressed against the window in thick layers, but the storm had passed. At least for now. Her gaze drifted to Liana who was still curled up on the blankets she had arranged for them last night. Her skin glowed from the light of the hearth.
She’d kissed her. Eddie inhaled, still remembering how it had felt to experience Liana’s lips against hers.
It had been tender at first then passionate.
Eddie hadn’t been able to resist taking Liana’s plump lips.
The desire to taste them had weighed heavy on her the moment Liana had licked them.
She would have to restrain herself. Her bear, not understanding, prowled in her chest.
She had felt guilty the second they had broken away.
I don’t want you thinking I am taking advantage of you.
She shouldn’t have touched her, and she certainly shouldn’t have kissed her.
She hadn’t lied when she’d said that Liana had been shivering.
She’d noticed Liana shaking, so she’d brought her into the circle of her arms. Shifters’ body temperatures ran hotter than humans.
The moment she’d had Liana in a hug, the female settled down.
It had been tortuous for Eddie, but she’d managed.
Her bear was growing restless and impatient. She wanted to claim Liana immediately, but now wasn’t the time. Eddie had to fight her bear to keep her in check. Liana was injured. She wouldn’t be ready for what it would mean to be claimed.
Eddie wasn’t sure if Liana understood the shifter ways.
A groan came from the blankets. Eddie blinked and focused again. It wasn’t like her to not be in tune with her surroundings. Liana was standing; the blankets had fallen to the floor in a heap.
“What are you doing?” Eddie said.
Her first instinct was to rush over to her. Liana would complain. Her little human was determined and stubborn.
“Nature is calling,” Liana admitted sheepishly.
“Let me help you.” Eddie walked across the room toward her.
Liana shook her head. “Eventually, I need to walk short distances. The bathroom isn’t that far. I can make it.” She turned and limped toward the hall. She paused and rested a hand on the wall and glanced at Eddie over her shoulder. “Any chance you have an extra toothbrush?”
“Yeah. Look in the cabinet in the bathroom. It’s stocked with everything you would need.” Eddie was thankful her family kept the cabin supplied with goods. Once she left, it would be her turn to ensure it was ready for the next family member who would want to utilize the cabin.
Liana gave a nod and disappeared down the hall. Eddie used her shifter hearing and listened. Her muscles tensed as she waited to hear if Liana ran into trouble, but the only sound that greeted her was the bathroom door slowly closing.
She ran a hand over her face. Liana would be fine. Her bear growled in her chest.
Mate.
Eddie rolled her eyes and made her way into the kitchen.
Her bear was not going to rest until Eddie did something about Liana.
She went over to the sink and washed her hands before she prepared their meal.
Liana would need nourishment in order to heal properly.
She would make them a simple breakfast. The power was still out, but thanks to their gas stove, she could still cook on the stovetop.
She gathered the supplies to make them some oatmeal.
That would be a good hearty meal for her mate.
Eddie froze. She had to stop thinking of Liana as hers, or her mate. Humans didn’t feel what shifters did. There was a chance that Liana would reject her and her bear.
But that kiss led Eddie to believe Liana felt something for her.
A hiss of pain sounded from the door. Eddie turned and found Liana standing in the doorway of the kitchen. She was there next to her in a heartbeat. Liana had braided her hair down into two plaits. Her wild hair was now tamed. Eddie didn’t know which look she preferred.
“Have a seat,” Eddie murmured. She eyed Liana’s leg and wondered if she needed to redo the wrap. It seemed as if it were still holding. She’d take it down in a little and reassess Liana’s ankle to make sure everything was okay.
“I can’t. I need to help with something,” Liana protested.
“Your ankle is obviously telling you that you’re doing too much.
” Eddie guided Liana over to the small island and helped her up on to a chair.
She bit back a smile at the expression of determination on Liana’s face.
“I am going to make a simple breakfast. Oatmeal and toast. I won’t need any help with that. ”
“Are you sure you won’t need me to do anything?”
The woman refused to back down from carrying her own weight. Eddie couldn’t help but respect it. She shook her head and rested her hands on Liana’s knees. Her bear growled in her chest, a deep vibration that tensed her muscles.
Mine.
Eddie pressed the thought down and forced herself to focus on what she was saying. Liana’s eyes had grown wide as saucers.
“You’re making that sound again. Is that…is that your bear?” Liana asked. Her gaze dropped down to the center of Eddie’s chest as if checking to see if she could see Eddie’s beast.
Her bear was impatiently waiting to meet her. It would be a while before Eddie would allow her bear to come out and meet Liana. Not that she’d hurt Liana. It was that she needed to make sure Liana was comfortable with her being a bear.
Hell, she had to make sure Liana was comfortable with Eddie pursuing her.
“It is, but ignore her. She’s grouchy in the morning,” Eddie lied. She hated speaking untruths, but she didn’t want to let on to Liana what was really going on with her animal. There would be plenty of time later for that.
“If you say so,” Liana murmured.
Eddie moved around the kitchen, gathering what she needed.
She felt Liana’s eyes watching her. She could tell the woman was curious about her.
There was a slight hint of attraction in the air.
Eddie tried to ignore it as she worked. Her bear nipped at her, wanting her to address it.
While waiting for the water to boil in the pot, she made both of them a cup of hot tea.
With the low windchill outside, they would need to stay warm inside.
She had built the fire back up when she awoke to ensure the living space was nice and toasty.
“Here you go.” Eddie handed Liana her mug.
Their fingers brushed each other’s. The contact was brief, but enough. Heat surged through Eddie. She flexed her fingers and resisted the urge to touch Liana or worse—kiss her again.
Right now, she had more things she needed to focus on than kissing this beautiful woman.
“This tea is good. You are going to have to share your recipe. I’m usually a coffee drinker, but this right here, I could drink every day,” Liana admitted. She stared down into her cup.
“It’s a simple recipe. My grandmother actually taught me when I was younger.
She used to grow her own leaves to make tea,” Eddie said.
She went back to the stove and continued making their breakfast. She gave the oatmeal a good stir to ensure it wasn’t burning and turned down the flame.
She glanced over at Liana and wondered how she liked her oats.
“Well, I want to know one thing about bears,” Liana said. She smiled and set her mug down on the counter.
“And what is that?” Eddie faced Liana and leaned back against the counter. She folded her arms in front of her so she could pay attention to what her mate—Liana—wanted to know. She would be open about her kind. She wanted Liana to know everything there was about her and the clan.
“Is it true that bears love honey?” Liana giggled.
Eddie relaxed and gave a hearty chuckle. Liana’s giggles turned into a fully fledge laughing fit with tears running down her face and all. She made such a cute picture when she smiled. It was good to see that she was in light spirits. After almost dying yesterday, it was nice for her to find humor.
“Well, I can’t speak for all bears, but this one right here definitely has a sweet tooth,” Eddie admitted.
Liana fell into another fit of laughter. She wiped her face and shook her head. “I’m sorry, but I always ask. My friend, who I was going to visit, she’s a bear shifter, and it was one of the first questions I asked her when we met in college.” She sniffed. Her smile and laughter were infectious.
“So that’s why you were out in this storm? To visit a friend. Is she deathly ill or something?” Eddie asked. It had to be the only reason a person would attempt to travel in this weather.
“Um, no. I thought I could make it to Lurton before the storm hit, but boy did I misjudge.” Liana’s smile disappeared.
So she was going to Lurton. Interesting.
“Who is your friend?” Eddie asked casually. As the alpha of the clan, she knew almost everyone by name. Their clan wasn’t the largest one around, but she tried to get to know as many bears as she could.
“Terri Collins. She recently had a baby, and I was going to stay with her for the next week. Henry has been working so much that I told her I wouldn’t mind coming to help her out.” Liana lifted her mug and took another sip of her drink.
“Ah, yes. Terri. I know her and Henry,” Eddie said. The Collinses were longstanding members of the Brown Claw clan. She was familiar with him and his parents. “Junior is a cute little baby.”
“I know. She’s sent me so many pictures. He has the fattest cheeks. That’s why I was trying my best to get to them. His aunt Liana needs a good hug and cuddles.” Liana sighed.
Eddie bit back a groan at the thought of cuddling with Liana again. Last night had been torture. Fantasies of what they could have done kept creeping into her mind. It had made it hard for Eddie to fall asleep, and when she finally had, Liana had been right there in her dreams.