Page 29 of Deception

But an owl hooted, and a tiny dusting of snow sprinkled down from one of the boughs overhead. A reminder of the stark reality around them.

“We can’t,” he croaked, coming to his senses, too. “Not yet.”

Theyetwas the only part of the sentence she liked. But he was right. They were already risking too much by meeting like this.

She cupped his cheeks and kissed him long and hard.

“Not yet,” she conceded. “But someday…”

He nodded and cuddled her closer. “Someday soon.”

She looked up at the sky and sighed. The stars seemed brighter, the air crisper, the night darker than before. Was it her, feeling more alive than before, or had the universe changed, too?

“Come on,” Drew said, untangling his limbs from hers.

“Wait,” she protested. She loved the weight of his body over hers. She loved the closeness, the way his chest rose and fell beside hers.

“I promise you this will be worth it,” he said, pulling her to her feet.

She shivered, feeling the cold for the first time since she’d shifted from her wolf form. “Where are we going?”

“You’ll see.” He kept his hand tight around hers as he led her down the path.

The night was crystal clear, but the woods ahead of them were swirling with mist, and she hesitated. What was hiding back there, out of sight?

“Trust me,” he murmured.

She hung back for a split second, then gave in. Of course, she could trust her mate.

“You don’t think I brought you here for the picnic tables, did you?” He grinned.

Well, that piqued her curiosity. “I liked the picnic table. Loved it, in fact.”

He squeezed her hand. “Me, too. But this is even better. I promise.”

A few steps more, and she could barely see through the witch’s broth of condensation. She held his hand tighter than ever.

“Um, Drew…”

“Here.” He motioned to a wooden frame that lay flat, squaring off a patch of earth.

She looked closer. Wait, that wasn’t earth. It was water, and it was steaming.

“Hot springs,” Drew whispered. His voice carried on the mist.

The tension in her shoulders disappeared, and she laughed out loud. “Hot springs?” Maybe her bear was more adventurous than she thought.

“Come on,” he said.

She slid into the steamy water, oohing and ahhing at the warmth.

“Not bad, huh?” he asked.

“Not bad,” she agreed, sliding closer.

Drew sat on the submerged bench built into the pool, and she straddled his lap.

“Not bad,” she murmured. His cock twitched against her core, and she ground against him, suddenly craving more.

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