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She didn’t even have to say it. My balls hitched at the thought. Marissa wasn’t the type to sweet talk me, but if I was really bringing her somewhere no one else had…
“I’m gonna come,” I gritted between my teeth.
She cried out, and I slid my cock out of her. Her hand was so cold, too cold, as she milked the release from me. Her body slumped against mine.
“So good,” she murmured. “I’m gonna go to sleep now.”
“No. Marissa. You have to stay awake.” Fuck. I was running out of time. This plan backfired. She was too small, too human to survive a night like this out in the elements. It was easy to forget she was human when she was always going toe-to-toe with shifters, holding her own against beasts twice her size. I grabbed her clothes and picked up her limp arms.
She muttered things that didn’t make sense, and her eyes were losing focus. I had her dressed again. I wasn’t sure if this was the best idea. I had to get her back to Sunset Springs. Maybe I’d be able to find the truck. I made sure the phone was still in her pocket before I lifted her and crawled out of the den.
“Put your arms around my neck,” I instructed. “And keep talking to me.”
She pawed at my skin. “I wish you were still furry.”
“I will be again soon enough.” I couldn’t let her know I was panicking.
“Sometimes I have dreams that I’m just like you.”
“Oh, yeah? You’ve had dreams about being a bear?” Forget calling Bibi when we got someplace with a signal. Marissa needed to go to the hospital. I was so pissed at myself. But I wasn’t familiar with human limitations. I thought I’d done the best thing for her.
I couldn’t lose her. I wouldn’t be able to live with myself if she couldn’t come back from this.
“No, silly, you’re a bear.” Now she had my hair in her hand. She brushed through it with her fingers. “I dream that I’m a wolf. And I’ve run through these mountains on nights just like this.”
“Do you like being a wolf?” It didn’t make any sense, but I wanted to keep her talking.
“I’m not allowed to be a wolf anywhere outside my dreams. My mother stole me away from my pack.” She laughed and snuggled against me. “But maybe when I find my mate, I’ll finally get to run as a wolf.”
Her body slumped.
“Marissa! Marissa! Wake up!”
You need to take her back to the den, my bear said. Now I was starting to panic. My human side thought I needed to get her out of here. Back to Sunset Springs as soon as possible. But he insisted that I turn around.Shift and take her back. Or you’ll lose her for good.
ChapterTwenty-One
Bibi
“I want to go on stage,” Lars said. “I’m not willing to let another beast claim Hannah.”
If you told me this night would end with me in a sweatsuit after a shift and a sasquatch negotiating to be on the next episode ofThe Mating Game, I would have never believed you. But after Lars saved Hannah from getting trapped in a snowbank when an avalanche swallowed her SUV, I would give the big guy anything he wanted.
And for now, I would ignore the murmurs of the crowd behind me. Chances were they’d never seen anything like Lars before, and there would be plenty of time to explain. Later.
“Oh, that would be wonderful. I can’t lie, Hannah’s not the only one who’s thought about you all by yourself on that mountain. I hoped I’d have the chance to find a mate for you. But, if you come onThe Mating Game,you’ll be in the public eye.”
Lars bristled. “I know.”
I raised a brow. “The paparazzi are relentless, Lars. They’ll have questions about what you are. You’ve led such a private life. It might be more than you’re comfortable with.”
“I’m ready.”
“We will be in touch soon.” I squeezed his big, furry arm. There was no way I could bring him on stage until he was able to shift back to his human form. He never seemed fully human, but he’d been a fantastic ally, an endless resource of information when it came to the Hudaknocker, and at this point, I considered him a friend as well as a coworker. “Thank you for everything tonight.”
He gave me a slight bow.
I motioned to the crowd behind me. “We were supposed to have girls’ night, but when we got the news that Hannah’s car had been found, I asked them to stay here in case we got any news.” I turned to the crowd. The ladies’ mates had joined us, with babies and littles in tow. “Has Marissa come back yet?”
