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The heat licked through her, a flame of need, and she tried to push it—and him—away.
“Don’t.”
He didn’t let go.
She told herself his embrace was too tight, his fingers on her nothing more than a vice, but they weren’t. She told herself she was too weak, that to fight him after everything she’d gone through was too much, but it wasn’t. She told herself she didn’t trust him because how could she trust someone who could change into a wolf, but she did.
She trusted him.
“Don’t what?” he asked. “Hold you?”
“Yes.”
“I’m not about to molest you.”
The dry tone to his voice normally would have made her smile but she didn’t. “I know that.”
“You were unsteady on your feet.”
“And you’re a gentleman?” she asked.
“I’m a man who doesn’t let women fall flat on their faces. Not unless they deserve it. You kinda come close.”
This time the dry note made her smile. “Okay, I deserved that.”
“I’ll let you go.” But he didn’t, just brushed a strand of hair from her eyes as he gazed down at her.
She swallowed. His touch slid down deep into her, and she shuddered. “It muddies things, you touching me. I…”
“I get it.”
“No. You don’t.”
Tamaska knew she needed to find a way to trust Kodiak in both his human and wolf forms if they were going to get the Blood Opal back. Trust him on that level of her life in his hands, of him maybe holding and protecting her heart.
That shocked her.
She wanted to be at that point.
She wanted to work with him.
Needed to, yes, but she also wanted to. The roar of cars passing in both directions, reminded her that she and Kodiak were visible, standing at the edge of the city. There were houses in front of them, and they were near a dull streetlight, where they could be easily seen.
This wasn’t the place for a long and lengthy discussion.
“You have to let me get the Blood Opal back,” said Tamaska.
“You don’t trust me, and you hate me—”
“I don’t hate you. And I trust you, it’s just…the rest… But right now, it doesn’t matter. Just getting that opal matters. I’ll do it alone, but I think I’d prefer it if you helped. Or let me help you.”
“You’re not in a position to negotiate with me,” said Kodiak with a growl. “I’ve a mind to cut you out of this, keep you somewhere locked up and safe.”
“You won’t cut me, Kodiak,” she said, “and good luck locking me up. I’ll escape eventually.”
“That might be the case, but you need me.”
“So—”
