Page 37 of Finding His Fox

I pulled him towards the surface. It was a struggle, but I finally managed to get us back on steady ground.

Once on the boat deck, we both coughed and sputtered as we tried to regain our breath. Nate shivered uncontrollably. I got to my feet and grabbed one of my old jackets.

When I returned to Nate, he was back on his feet, staring at me, trembling and pale.

I placed my jacket around his shoulders, hoping it would somehow keep him warm.

“Thanks, Cal,” Nate whispered.

I didn’t know what came over me then. I pulled him into a hug, and Nate hugged me back, tears in his eyes.

A breath escaped me. I saved Nate. That was all that mattered.

Forget fishing. I steered back to shore, wanting to get Nate in dry clothing.

Once we were back in my cabin, I ignored Nate’s protests and marched him to the shower.

While I waited, I paced in the living room. I glanced outside the window. Night had enveloped the woods, and the wind whistled through the trees.

The sight usually gave me a measure of peace, but I was too worried about Nate to calm down.

I walked over to the fireplace, holding a bundle of wood in one hand and matches in the other. I kneeled on the wooden floor and opened the fireplace doors.

The faint smell of pine filled the air. After stacking the wood, I lit it up.

I stood up and admired my work. The flickering flames cast a warm glow on the walls, creating a cozy and romantic mood in the living room.

“That’s nice,” Nate murmured.

I glanced at him, momentarily surprised to find him wearing one of my old shirts and jogging pants.

They looked too big on him, but the sight pleased both me and my fox. There was something right about it. Possessiveness flared inside me.

Nate tugged at the shirt. Faint color appeared on his cheeks and neck.

“I hope you don’t mind, but I had to borrow some of your stuff,” he said.

“Not at all,” I told him.

“Your turn to shower?” Nate asked. He raked his gaze up and down my body, appreciation in his eyes. “Maybe we should have gotten in together.”

“I won’t take long,” I said, relieved by his reaction.

If Nate could flirt, then he was going to be just fine.

It took me five minutes to clean up and return to Nate. I found Nate sitting on the sofa, wrapped in a blanket, seemingly mesmerized by the flames.

When he saw me, he flashed me a small smile that went right to my center. Nate patted the space next to him. An invitation I wasn’t about to refuse.

I sat next to Nate, consciously aware of how close he was and how good he smelled. Nate had used both my soap and shampoo.

I wanted to tug him close, give his neck a sniff. Scent mark him. All of Fox Haven’s supernatural residents would know he was exclusively mine.

Nate let out a little gasp, and I realized I was fulfilling my fantasy. I nosed my way up the slender line of his neck, gave it a lick, then a kiss.

Nate let out a pleased noise in his throat.

I pulled away abruptly, realizing now wasn’t the time to get frisky. Nate almost drowned earlier, I chided myself. I shouldn’t be making any moves on him, but Nate surprised me.