Page 32 of Kiss My Sass

“Don’t be sorry. I like it. I’m the same way about you.”

“You are?”

“Yep. Look, this is big between us, angel. Big and good. I feel it in here,” he growled, rubbing his chest.

His focus was so intent on her, Nica’s knees knocked. She swallowed hard, unsure of how to respond. Yes, she felt it, but she couldn’t just say it. Could she? Her Raven cawed, and the air grew heavy and shimmery, making her shiver. Then Thor just switched it off, his eyes cleared, and he grinned, lightening the mood.

“Come on, I swear this will be fun. Oh, I want to tell you something else, too,” he started, heading towards a gigantic oak tree that still had its leaves.

The entire forest was awash in Autumn colors. Greens had given way to reds, golds, purples, and oranges. It was like a painting in a magazine she’d once seen a long time ago. The colors were like a riotous symphony dancing on the early morning breeze. It had to be near four o’clock already, tonight being one of the latter nights that the bar stayed open.

“What did you want to tell me?” she whispered the question.

It felt right to whisper. Awed by all the beauty surrounding them, she turned her eyes back to Thor’s and felt his gaze like hands brushing across her skin with nothing less than wonder. He touched her gently, caressing her face as he spoke, turning her insides to mush.

“The thing is, I think our matebond needs help. You know that telepathic link we have sometimes? It isn’t truly formed. It’s weak, always coming and going, and I believe it is because you haven’t changed in so long. Our animals haven’t had a chance to sync yet, and it’s messing with our connection.”

“Oh, I see. That’s why I can only hear you sometimes in my head,” she whispered, nodding her understanding. “I’m so sorry, I didn’t think.”

“Don’t apologize, angel. You have nothing to be sorry for,” he said, kissing her knuckles.

“Do you really think it’s safe to shift here?”

“Yes. The Crows have been given strict rules to stay off Dire Wolf lands. As long as you don’t go past our boundaries, you will be fine. I’ll show you where those are.”

“All right, I trust you,” she said, and Thor seemed to light up like the fourth of July.

“Gimme a sec to make sure no one else is here,” he said, stilling her hand when she went to unbutton her jeans.

Nica’s cheeks flamed pink with embarrassment and Thor just swung an arm around her and chuckled deeply. Dang, she loved that sound. She had a feeling the big man didn’t laugh very often, and it warmed her to her soul.

Thor let out two sharp barks and whatever stragglers were about, Pack or not, she was sure they skedaddled. It was definitely not a typical response that she thought he was hot for basically threatening to maim anyone who saw her naked body. But whatever. They were Shifters, not normals, so that was okay.

Mine,the word whispered inside her mind, and Nica shivered with delight.

“Yours,” she repeated aloud, pressing into his side.

With every step closer to the forest and to her first change in weeks, Nica felt their matebond growing stronger, thicker, more powerful. Her Raven flapped her wings, eager to be let out. Her senses felt heightened and that something else about her, the one that sometimes let her see more than she ought to, was vibrant and alert.

She turned her gaze to Thor, and what she saw stole her breath. The man was magic. Pure magic. His whole body seemed awash in glittery black smoke, swirling and dancing around him like those ribbons on a stick she used to play with when she was little. He was magnificent, and Nica was so grateful he was hers.

After he made certain they were alone, Thor nodded his head, giving her the okay to strip out of her clothes. Oh, sure, she’d had all sorts of fantasies about him taking the little bikini she wore, with his teeth preferably, but this was important. Maybe they could get to all that afterwards.

I hope so.

“Don’t worry. You can always put it back on later,” he murmured, and her cheeks burned under his knowing stare.

“You’re reading my mind again,” she murmured, mouth going dry as she watched him shuck off his jeans and his t-shirt.

“Was I reading your mind?”

“Yeah, you were,” he said, raking her with his eyes from head to toe.

He got to her clothes next. Thor was careful, gentle, brushing across her sensitive skin with his fingertips and knuckles. She never knew a man’s hands could be so damn beautiful, but his were. Strong and solid, with long fingers and intricate tattoos across the backs. There were Wolves and a beautiful rendition of a forest with a full moon hanging overhead.

Nica squinted, thinking she saw a bird sitting in a tree, a raven, actually. But then he touched her again, and she lost her train of thought. By the time he was finished, she could hardly speak. Need pulsed through her veins, a living thing, and Nica swayed towards him unsteadily.

Need. Want.

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