“So, the thing is, my bear wants you. Apparently, permanently, as a mate. But if I claim you, that would mean also turning you into a polar bear but—”
“I’d get to be a polar bear?” she asked, unable to help the excitement that crept in at that idea.
“But,” he went on, eyeing her meaningfully, “If it didn’t take, you could die.”
“If it didn’t take?” she repeated.
“I’d have to bite you. God, I want to bite you, pretty bad,” he admitted and the guilty look he wore reminded her of a kid caught with his hand in the cookie jar.
“Bite me where?” she asked, much more curious than afraid. She’d been blown away the first time she’d seen his polar bear. Awed by the power and size and strength of him. Not once had she been afraid. In fact, she’d spent half the day thinking how cool it would be to be able to change whenever she needed to kick some perp’s ass. Especially after that guy’s comment today at the cabin. He hadn’t been scared enough of her. Or at least, not at first. But if she could shift into a polar bear… that would make her job so much easier. And more fun. She smiled to herself.
“On your shoulder, just here,” Jake said, brushing her shirt aside and touching the tender spot on her shoulder. It would break the skin, leave a scar, and it would let everyone know that you’re mine.”
She shuddered at the way he said the words. She would be his. If she was being honest, independence aside, she wanted nothing more than to belong to sexy, sweet, Jake River.
“I trust you, Jake,” she said. Jake’s eyes went wide, and she realized what she was really agreeing to. “Wow, okay, I mean, that’s really fast, huh? We should obviously slow things down and wait to see how this goes, right?” She tried to laugh it off but Jake’s gaze was intensely serious.
“I don’t need to wait. I knew the moment I saw you and shook your hand. But you’re human. I know it works different for you so I can wait if that’s what you need.”
“I need you,” she said and her cheeks heated at how vulnerable it felt to say that out loud. “I can honestly say I’ve never told anyone that before. I try very hard not to need anyone, ever. And mostly, it works. I don’t think I realized how alone that made me until I met you. Now, I can’t imagine going back to a life without you in it. That’s probably too fast or too crazy to say, but I can’t help how I feel. There’s nothing back in the city for me. But there’s everything right here.”
Jake’s smile spread slowly and he took her face in his hands. He kissed her gently on the forehead and then her nose and finally her mouth. “I am completely a mess for you, woman. I couldn’t have let you leave if you’d tried. Hearing that… you make me so happy,” he said in her ear and she shivered as his warm breath washed over her.
“Really? I could have sworn after today, I make you grumpy,” she said and his shoulders shook with laughter.
“Well, come inside and I’ll prove it to you,” he said.
“You talked me into it.” She grinned at him and let him lead her out of the truck and across the lot.