Once dressed, I grab my keychain with my bottle of pepper spray. Better safe than sorry. I doubt some psychopath would break into my cabin and make me cookies, but then again, I don’t know what goes on in the mind of a psychopath.
A remixed version ofJingle Bell Rockstarts playing, and a deep masculine voice starts singing along. Quietly, I peer out of the bedroom door and see an alpha dancing in the kitchen. From behind, I can tell he’s muscular. He’s wearing a plaid blue button-up shirt with the sleeves rolled up. He uses an oven mitt to pull a hot tray of cookies out of the oven before shutting it off.
Okay, seriously. What the hell is happening?
Wait, is this my mother’s dentist? Goddess, what was his name?
I’m going to kill my mom. I step out of the room and clear my throat. The alpha spins around, and I freeze in place, heart pounding. Standing there looking even more handsome than I remember is Thorne. He’s smiling. A patch of flour is dusted on his right cheek.
Dizziness threatens to knock me over. I stumble, reaching for anything nearby to steady myself. My hand catches the back of the sofa, but my knees still tremble.
Thorne rushes forward. “Hey, hey. Steady. Let me help you.”
I blink up at him right as his strong arms wrap around me. He smells of cedar, pine, and something fruity. “I’ve lost my damn mind,” I say out loud. “First the lion, then the guy from my dreams. This can’t be happening,” I murmur.
Thorne’s grip is solid. Steady. He chuckles. “So, I’m your dream man, huh?”
My lips just part with shock, and I stare at him uncomprehendingly. I mean, obviously, because I’m still dreaming. Why would the alpha I’ve spent six years searching for, and thinking about like a lovesick puppy, randomly be baking me sugary treats in a secluded cabin? Like I said—crazy.
“Hey, it’s okay.” His tone is serious now. “Everything is okay. I’m sorry I scared you earlier, but I promise I won’t hurt you.” When I don’t say anything, he continues rambling, almost as if he’s nervous. “I called the front desk, and Branson said that there was an issue with their computer system, and somehow, they double-booked us. He offered us a discount and a very sincere apology, but all the other cabins are currently taken. It looks like we weren’t the only ones double-booked.”
I clear my throat again. “Ca-can I have a glass of water?” He nods eagerly, encouraging me to sit on the sofa before rushing off to do my bidding. Yeah, I’m still not convinced this isn’t a dream.
When he returns and hands me a glass of water, I take a sip. And then another.
He smiles nervously, joining me on the sofa. The cushion dips under his weight. I take in his handsome face and pause.
He’s different.
This isn’t the spitting image of the man I’ve been dreaming about. The Thorne I met was thirty-five. Now, while this Thorne still looks young with smooth skin, I can see a few white hairspeppering his beard. There aren’t many grays in his hair, but they are still there. And if I’m not mistaken, there are some crow’s feet at the corner of his eyes, but it only makes him look even more distinguished and handsome. I squirm in my seat, very aware of how my body is reacting to his. Slick is leaking from me, and I swallow hard, hoping he can’t scent it.
“You aren’t my mother’s dentist, right?” I blurt.
His face scrunches in confusion. “No, I’m definitely not a dentist.”
I sigh in relief. “Thorne?” I whisper.
He nods, studying me, waiting for a reaction. Oh crap. Does he even remember me? It was just one night. It’s not like he named his whole damn business after me. Shit, I look so different. I’ve gained a lot of weight since I last saw him. I’m curvier. Softer. I’m not the toned young omega he hooked up with.
He reaches out a hand to me, but I jerk back. A pained look crosses his face. “Hayden, talk to me. I promise I won’t hurt you.” He holds both hands up in surrender. “I’m so sorry you had to see me in my lion form like that.”
My head jerks up. “Wait, lion?Youwere the lion?”
He offers me a small smile. “I promise I can explain everything, but yes, I’m a lion shifter. I can shift between my lion and my human forms. Please don’t be scared.”
I stand and begin pacing. This is insane. I probably walk back and forth in our tiny cabin for about five minutes before I realize he must be telling the truth. Either that or this was some long and drawn, fucked up joke. I glance at Thorne. He looks so worried and wrecked. Something about that look makes me melt. Fucking hell, I can’t believe the words that are about to leave my mouth. I let out a deep breath. “Prove it to me, then.”
“Prove it?”
I nod. “Shift. Show me.”
“Okay,” he says slowly. “Let me know if you change your mind.” Standing, he begins to unbutton his shirt, and holy shit, he’s ripped.
“What are you doing?” I gasp, eyeing his chest.
His Adam’s apple bobs. “I prefer to undress before I shift. I accidentally shifted earlier, and let’s just say, my clothes don’t ever make it during the transition.”
“Oh. All right. You can continue.” Damn, it’s probably not a good idea to let an alpha undress in front of me when I’m going into heat. His shirt falls to the ground. Sweat beads on my forehead.Goddess, did I really sleep with this man way back when? No wonder I’m obsessed.
