Chapter 9 #2
They slowly made their way into the bathroom. Liana stole glances at Eddie when she thought she wasn’t paying attention.
“I’m sorry,” Liana whispered.
Eddie froze for a moment. The apology shouldn’t have mattered, but it did.
Liana just didn’t understand what Eddie had gone through when she’d thought she would lose her.
What if she had been too late and the wolf was able to get to her?
What if she had continued chopping more wood as she had wanted to?
Or went to dig out her truck and bring it out of the garage to get it started?
She didn’t want to think of all of the what-ifs, but they kept coming.
Eddie was an alpha bear. It was in her nature to protect, but how was she failing to keep safe the one person fate had deemed for her? How would her clan react at knowing her recent failures?
“I know you are,” she said quietly. She helped Liana to the edge of the oversized clawfoot tub.
It had been specially made for her family.
When the cabin was constructed, her grandmother had demanded a tub large enough for her to soak in comfortably.
She’d gotten her wish. “But that doesn’t mean you won’t do something reckless again. ”
Maybe Liana was truly a test from fate. She eyed the woman before her, and in her heart she knew she was hers.
Mate, her bear growled.
“You make it sound like I make it a bad habit.” Liana’s lips quirked. She studied Eddie. “I knew halfway to the car that I had made a mistake. I wanted to come back here, but I couldn’t see my tracks anymore.”
“Don’t,” Eddie muttered. She closed her eyes briefly before they opened again. She didn’t want to know all the details that would drive her bear crazy and make her feel guilty about not being there for her. “Here. Get in the tub so you can be warmed.”
“But what about you? Don’t you need to be warmed?”
Eddie’s body temperature had dropped for a short time, but now she was back to her normal self. She no longer felt the cold or the chill.
“I’ll be fine.”
“Get in with me.” Liana stared at her with those large brown eyes.
There was something in them that Eddie couldn’t read.
“I better not.” Eddie shook her head. She was still too unstable emotionally at the moment.
“You’re mad at me. I know, but I didn’t think—”
“You don’t need to think,” Eddie interjected. Her voice came out rougher than she’d intended. She ran a hand along her face and grimaced at the dirt and blood that came away on her palm. She glanced back at Liana. “You just need to trust me.”
“But I do trust you.” Liana’s eyes glistened with unshed tears. She stood and took a step toward Eddie. She paused at Eddie’s raised hand. A tear trailed down her cheek.
“Then stop risking yourself. I can’t—” Eddie’s words faltered.
Her throat constricted on the words that needed to come out, but here she was, too damn afraid to really say what she meant.
Would Liana accept her? An alpha bear who had failed twice at keeping her safe?
She blinked and drew on the strength of her animal.
She might as well find out today. “I can’t lose you. ”
That was the honest truth.
Liana closed the gap between them. She rested her hands on Eddie’s waist as she tilted her head back so she could meet Eddie’s gaze.
“Eddie,” she whispered.
She cocked her head to the side slightly. Her dark hair was matted to her scalp, there was a smudge of dirt on her cheek, her fingertips were still icy cold, but she was still the most beautiful woman Eddie had ever seen.
“What are we?” Liana asked.
Eddie looked at her—really looked at Liana. Her gaze held a curiosity to it. This was her human. Her mate. The woman who fate had literally dropped into her arms.
“You’re mine,” she said simply. It was a promise. A vow. A declaration. “And I’m yours. Whether you know what that means or not.”
Liana stared at her with wide eyes. Her lips parted, and a sigh escaped her. The air thickened around them. It was charged with something deep and unspoken.
“Take a bath with me. Please.” Liana leaned into Eddie. She reached up and guided Eddie’s face down to hers. She placed a chaste kiss on her lips. “Your mate is asking this of you.”
Eddie’s heart stuttered at the use of the word mate. Her bear roared inside her and slammed against her chest. Eddie stared at Liana with wide eyes. Did she just accept that she was her mate?
Liana stepped back, away from her, and stripped her clothing from her.
She dropped each item onto the floor. She bent down and removed the wrap that had been barely holding on to her ankle.
She maintained eye contact with Eddie, revealing her naked form to her.
Eddie’s mouth grew dry at the sight of Liana’s large breasts, her dark areolas, her tapered waist, and rounded hips.
Her smooth brown skin glowed in the low light of the room.
She backed up and motioned for Eddie to come to her.
Eddie’s feet moved on autopilot. There was no way she would be able to refuse such a request from this woman.
Eddie took her hand and helped Liana into the tub before she followed in behind her.
She sat with Liana in front of her. The warm water surrounded them.
It felt damn good, but not as good as Liana saying aloud that she was Eddie’s mate.
“What did you call yourself?” Eddie rasped.
Liana’s lips curled up in the corner as she looked over her shoulder at Eddie. She turned around in the tub and straddled Eddie’s lap. Her knees rested along the side of Eddie’s hips. Eddie’s hands immediately went to cup Liana’s ample bottom in her hand.
Liana reached over to the small table beside the tub and picked up the washcloth and soap. She dipped them in the water and lathered the soap with the cloth. She dropped the soap back in the dish and turned to Eddie.
“Mate.” Liana slowly ran the cloth along Eddie’s neck and shoulders.
Eddie’s bear practically purred at the sound of the word coming from Liana’s lips.
Her body shook at Liana taking her time in bathing her. She couldn’t find it in her to move. She allowed her to take care of her for once. Was that what a mating required? Eddie’s thoughts raced. She couldn’t tear her gaze from Liana’s face. She appeared to take pleasure in washing her.
Eddie’s bear craved to be the one to protect Liana, and care for her, but maybe she was to take care of them, too. She rested her hands on the edge of the tub. She gripped it tight but had to remember not to crack the damn tub.
“All I could think about in that car was that I needed you. That I shouldn’t have left the cabin. That you had been right,” Liana murmured.
She slid her hands down Eddie’s breasts. She took her time bathing them and ensuring they were clean. Eddie’s nipples were hard as diamonds. Her breath stalled as Liana played with them.
Her eyes flicked upward to meet Eddie’s. “I knew that I didn’t want to die. I wanted to see you again.”
Her hand dipped beneath the water’s surface. Eddie’s heart raced at the thought of the fear that had consumed Liana. She blinked and had to force her bear down. The animal paced inside her, begging to be let out.
Our mate is taking care of us, she hissed to it.
The bear paused, and Eddie felt her slight confusion. This wasn’t something they had ever considered.
“I would have never allowed that wolf to touch you,” Eddie bit out through clenched teeth.
Her fangs descended through her gums. It took everything she had to keep from leaning forward to mark Liana as hers.
She may have called herself Eddie’s mate, but Eddie needed to make sure Liana understood what that truly meant. Especially since Eddie was an alpha.
“I know that. When I saw a bear arrive, I knew it was you without a doubt,” Liana whispered.
She leaned forward and brushed her lips over Eddie’s.
The move allowed her breasts to press against Eddie’s.
A growl vibrated from Eddie’s chest. She took hold of Liana’s face and brought it back to hers.
She captured Liana’s mouth in a hard kiss that allowed her to show how much she needed her. It was possessive and hot.
Eddie held her tight and plundered her mouth. Liana’s arms wrapped around her neck as she held on. She was not shy in returning the kiss. The water in the tub sloshed around. They both ignored the water that flew out and landed on the floor.
“You are mine. To protect. To cherish. To love.” Eddie tore her lips away from Liana’s. She trailed hot kisses along Liana’s chin and jawline. She nuzzled her neck and smoothed her hands down to cup Liana’s firm bottom.
“Love?” Liana gasped.
Eddie would explain later how it worked for shifters. Love was instant the moment a shifter found their mate. It was fate. She just hoped that one day Liana would come to love her.
Eddie captured her lips again in another sizzling kiss. Liana moaned into the kiss, her hips grinding down on Eddie’s lap. As much she wanted to take her out of the tub at that moment, she knew they needed to finish bathing first.
They quickly washed all of the grime, dirt, and blood off them.
Eddie stood and lifted Liana out of the water.
She stepped out of the tub and snagged their towels.
They dried off and wrapped the towels around them.
Eddie was no longer able to wait. She lifted Liana in her arms and carried her out of the bathroom.