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She paced between two towering oaks, and looked at him once…twice. The third time she glanced at him, he stood and made his way to her cabin, offered his back while he waited. While he wasn’t modest and didn’t even think twice about Changing in front of someone else, perhaps Lucia had been raised differently, or perhaps her bear was shyer. Or maybe, just maybe, it had been so long since she had Changed like this that it didn’t come naturally anymore. And if that was the case, she didn’t need an extra set of eyes on her.
When he heard the popping of her bones and the grunts of pain, he squeezed his eyes closed and wished he could take the pain from her. She was struggling with it.
When he heard the panting of her human, he dared a look at her. She lay on her side on the outskirts of the clearing, cheek resting on her arm, eyes on him.
Her curves grabbed his attention and held it. He couldn’t look away from the long curve of her legs, her thighs, the indentation of her slim waist, her shoulders as her arms covered her bare breasts. She looked exhausted.
Landon grabbed a blanket off the porch swing and approached her slowly. He knelt down and wrapped her in the blanket, then picked her up and held her close to his chest in hopes that he could warm her up.
Her dark hair was wild, and her full lips curved up in the prettiest smile he’d ever seen.
“Food,” she murmured.
“I know. I’ve got you.” He pushed open her front door and took a quick glance around to gain his bearings.
Her small living room was tidy, with natural wood coffee and end tables on either side of a cream-colored couch. A stone fireplace stood tall in front of her couch, and there was a soft rug in front of it.
He strode in and settled her onto the couch. He tucked the edges of the blanket around her carefully, making sure to create a good nest for her, and then he made his way to the kitchen and hit the lights.
The cabin was nice. The kitchen was fully stocked, and even had a full-size fridge. He did a quick inventory of the pantry and the fridge, then gathered the ingredients he wanted.
When he heard the rustle of fabric, he looked over at the living room to find Lucia had sat up and was resting her chin on her arms on the back of the couch, watching him.
“You like sandwiches?” he asked.
“I like everything.”
“Atta girl. I love it when a woman likes to eat.”
“You were going to kill that man tonight.” It wasn’t a question from her, but a statement.
“He shouldn’t have touched you.”
“You’re protective.”
“Of you,” he clarified. “Of anyone else?” He shook his head as he cut thick slices of cheddar cheese. “No.” He put a couple slices of bread into the toaster oven on the counter.
“I can take care of myself.”
“I know.”
“Then why did you go off?”
“Because my bear needed it,” he answered simply.
“Why?”
He shook his head.
“Why?” she asked again.
He sighed and opened the package of lunch meat, set it aside and pulled a couple leaves of lettuce out of the package. “I guess I couldn’t really control it until you bossed me around.”
“You didn’t like that part.”
“No. I like being in control of me.”
She grew quiet, so he busied himself with spreading mayo onto the warm pieces of toast he pulled from the toaster. When he had a pair of sandwiches cut in half, he brought the plate over to the couch and set the plate on her covered lap, then waited for her to take a bite. He didn’t know why, but he couldn’t eat until he knew she was fueling herself.
