After several minutes of being inside the cabin, I started to thaw out and get feeling back into my hands. I had spent the better part of the past four to five hours out in the blizzard, with decreasing visibility by the second, gathering what was left of the wood. And from what I could tell, there wasn’t nearly enough to make it through the night much less the season.
And that meant I needed to chop enough to keep us warm through at least to the middle part of the morning, when it wouldn’t be so cold or dangerous to be out. All of that was easier said than done, though. Because I had no idea where my cousin and his roomies kept everything. Looking inside the little tool shed was a joke. So, figuring out where the ax and the chopping block were had taken some time, which ended up being buried by snow.
I finally tossed the logs I had in my arms into the fire and stared at them as they became consumed by flames. That was when I turned and found Cadence sleeping on the couch. I sighed wistfully. She was even more beautiful when she slept. Peaceful too. I would be content to watch her sleep forever.
My anger dissipated even more with the longer I watched her sleep. She tamed my anger effortlessly, which was something that I had yet to come across or experience. I had heard of it happening with mates, but I never witnessed it or thought it would ever happen to me.
The more time I spent around her, the more I was finding it hard to stay away. And I still wanted to take things slow. The last thing I wanted was to rush with her and ruin things between us. I figured we were the fuel to each other’s own fiery passions… and we didn’t want to burn ourselves to the ground.
That might be corny… but it felt real.
But taking things slow was so much easier done in practice than in reality. Because my dick swelled as I stared at her, staring at her plump lips and the roundness of her breasts. Would I be so wrong to kiss her awake? How horrible would life be if I were to wrap her in my arms and never let her go?
She deserved so much better than my wild animal side. And I had restraint. I had enough self-control to wait for a better time. So, instead of allowing myself to be carried away with my primal desires, I became fascinated by trying to figure out what she was dreaming of.
She smiled and sighed.
Still, I softly chuckled. What a delight watching her sleeping was. I probably could spend forever doing nothing else. Whatever she dreamed, it was good. And dammit if I wasn’t jealous just a tiny bit. I wanted to be the thing that put the smile on her face.
I wasn’t sure why I cared so much. Dreams were fleeting and hers had yet to be shared with me. Hell, I laughed at men who did shit like this. But now I was starting to see the appeal, and I was finding myself eating my words.
She was worth it though.
After the longest time, she started to stir. Her mouth frowned and I wondered if she was starting to be uncomfortable on the couch. She would be more comfortable sleeping in a bed, for sure. And with little else, I carefully picked her up from the couch. Her scent filled my nostrils and my knees almost buckled.
She was the one. She had to be. Her scent reminded me of warmth and love and home. It was all the things I was told about mates. I took in a shuddering breath and held her closer as I carried her upstairs into Luke’s room and laid her on his bed. I tugged on the blanket covering the foot of the bed over her body and brushed her hair from her face.
I stood back and marveled at how she was moved and jostled up the stairs but didn’t seem disturbed even the slightest bit. She hadn’t so much as stirred. Even now, she was still.
I shook my head. I
So beautiful, I thought. And a heavy sleeper.
I sighed and turned to leave the room. I had a load of wood sitting on the porch that needed to be moved inside and a kitchen to clean. But no sooner than I took a step toward the door, my wrist was caught.
I met Cadence’s dark blue gaze, full of desire. I sucked in a breath full of her arousal, instantly burning me from the inside out.
I gulped and my bear stretched against me, fighting against my frame to get to her and claim her. I took in a deep breath and forced out, “You should rest more. Sleep off the whiskey.”
She blinked at me then said she didn’t want to rest and pulled me closer.
I tried to fight against her pulling me, but I wanted her so bad. Refusing her was so damn hard. She had grown on me, and I wanted to be at her beck and call. I wanted to wait on her hand and foot. I wanted to do all the things and be her everything.
My bear stretched against my frame, urging me closer to her as I growled out, “You are treading on a thin line, my dear. If you continue pulling me toward you, I might lose what grip I have left over my self-control and fuck you hard.”
She smirked. “I hope it won’t be too hard. Since it is my first time.”
Of all the things I had wondered about her, I had never stopped to question her virginity. Most women her age were far from innocent. But her? She truly was a rare gem. I became even more firm in my decision to take things slow.
She needed to be one hundred percent sure I was worthy of her first time. Because I sure as hell wasn’t sure, but my opinion didn’t matter.
“I can’t take that away from you,” I said softly. “Not like this.”
She smiled at me, pulling me into her deep blue eyes. My will was dissolving by the second. She had me. All of me, and I couldn’t resist her.
9
CADENCE