Page 19 of Asking Fur Trouble

Charov soon tightened his grip on the ripcord and yanked hard, feeling the satisfying jolt as the parachute deployed above them. The free fall transitioned into a gentle glide, and he immediately wrapped his arms more securely around Bess, pulling her against his chest. Her body molded perfectly to his like she had been designed specifically to fit there.

“We did it!” Bess laughed, the sound carried on the wind. Her eyes sparkled with exhilaration, more alive and vibrant than he had seen since her arrival.

“You did it,” Charov corrected, his mouth close to her ear as they floated toward the green expanse below. “Most people scream their first jump. You laughed.”

He breathed in her scent, now mingled with adrenaline and pure joy. His bear practically purred with satisfaction deep within him. This was right. This was perfect.

Charov guided their descent with practiced ease, steering them toward the landing zone while keeping Bess securely tucked against him. She gasped as they floated over a crystalline waterfall that cascaded down the mountainside.

“I’ve seen this view hundreds of times,” he admitted, “but watching you experience it for the first time makes me see it all so differently.”

And it was true. Through her eyes, his kingdom transformed from familiar territory to something magical. The suns reflected off the lakes below, creating bursts of golden light that danced across the landscape. The ancient forests, the jagged peaks of the northern mountains, the sprawling plains—all of it felt new again.

“Ready for touchdown,” he warned as the ground rushed up to meet them. “Legs up!”

The landing was smooth, and Charov absorbed most of the impact, keeping Bess steady as they touched down. He didn’t immediately release her from his embrace, savoring the warmth of her body against his for a moment longer than necessary.

When he finally disengaged their harnesses, he caught her staring up at him with flushed cheeks and bright eyes. The wind had teased several strands of hair from her ponytail, framing her face with wild wisps that he itched to brush away.

“That was amazing,” she breathed, still riding the high of their jump. She spun in a small circle, her arms outstretched. “I’ve never felt so alive!”

Charov couldn’t tear his eyes away from her. The jumpsuit clung to her curvy body, emphasizing the dip of her waist and the fullness of her hips. His bear growled possessively inside him.

“Look,” he said, gesturing toward a grassy knoll where Torborn had outdone himself.

A plush blanket laden with an array of delicacies stretched across the ground beneath a flowering tree. A bottle of Sidaii wine, a Nova Aurora staple, chilled in a gleaming silver bucket. Crystal glasses caught the sunlight, throwing rainbow prisms across the setting.

“Your timing is impeccable,” Bess noted with an appreciative smile.

“One of my many talents,” Charov replied, guiding her toward the picnic with his hand on her back.

They settled onto the blanket, and Charov poured the wine, handing her a glass. Their fingers brushed during the exchange, sending electricity up his arm.

“To new experiences,” he toasted, clinking his glass against hers.

“And to perfect landings,” she added before taking a sip.

Charov watched her throat work as she swallowed, transfixed by the delicate column of her neck. He forced himself to look away, gazing instead at the vast territory spread out below them.

“This might have been my last jump,” he admitted, the words coming out before he could stop them.

“What? Why?” Bess set down her glass, genuinely concerned.

He leaned back on one elbow, his powerful frame stretched out beside her. “Kings don’t typically hurl themselves from moving aircraft. Not good for national security.”

“That’s ridiculous,” she protested. “You can’t just stop doing something you love.”

“It’s part of the responsibility.” He shrugged, trying to seem nonchalant despite the weight of his future pressing down on him. “I’ve been trying to pack in all the experiences I can before the crown becomes mine. Skydiving, cave diving, canyon racing—anything to feel alive.”

He suddenly reached out, tucking a wayward strand of hair behind her ear. “But today was different. Getting to experience that moment with you... that was what I’ve been looking for all along.”

THIRTEEN

Bess’s skin tingled under Charov’s touch. “I felt it too,” she admitted, surprised by her own honesty. “That connection when we were falling through the sky together. I’ve never experienced anything like it.” She looked out across the rolling hills of Nova Aurora, the sunlight casting everything in a soft golden glow. “I felt more alive in those moments with you than I have in years.”

Charov’s intense blue eyes locked with hers. “Tell me more.”

“It was like...” Bess searched for the right words, taking a sip of the sweet wine that tasted like cherries and starlight. “Like I’d been sleepwalking through my life until that moment. Filing insurance claims. Saying yes when I wanted to say no.” She gestured to the picnic spread between them, the exotic fruits and breads unlike anything on Earth. “I never would have imagined doing something like jumping from an airplane. Or traveling to another planet. Or having a picnic with a bear shifter prince.”

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