Fae-ted to the Bear - Harmony Raines Page 0,48
he assured her. “Now, we really need to get this fire going. If we don’t eat soon, the forest will be filled with the sound of my stomach growling rather than bird song.”
“I thought when you were in love, you lost your appetite?” Her cheeks flushed pink, and she covered her face with her hands. “I didn’t mean to imply...”
“That I’m in love with you?” He let her go and held out his arms. “Do you want me to shout it out loud?”
“No.” She waved her hands at him and looked around with wide eyes.
“Okay, good, I never was the kind of person who liked to show off.” He let his arms drop to his sides. “I love you, Elise. I am in love with you. And I will love you until the end of days.”
“I don’t know what to say.” She shook her head and fell silent.
“You don’t have to say anything. I don’t expect you to love me. Of course, I hope you will one day, but I understand that my feelings are stronger because I’m a shifter and I know you are the one for me.”
“I do love you,” she whispered. “I’ve just never told anyone before. Except for my family.” She came closer and placed her hand on his heart. “But this love is different.”
“I’m honored to be your first and only love.” His eyes darkened, in this moment he wanted nothing more than to claim his mate as his own.
“My only love,” she repeated.
“Together forever,” he added.
Perhaps Elise wishes she’d experienced the love of other men, his bear was worried. She might feel as if she’s missed out if we are her only love.
“I had gotten used to the idea that love was going to pass me by. But here you are.”
“Here I am.” He held out his arms as if offering himself to her.
“Let’s make this fire before the temperature drops or you waste away due to lack of food.” She rushed toward him, kissed him on the cheek, and then went back to preparing the fire.
She loved him. The words echoed around his head as he turned his attention to organizing the camp.
She loves us, his bear reminded him.
That’s what I meant. Caleb smiled as he worked. This was one of the best days of his life.
Chapter Seventeen – Elise
“Domestic bliss.” She passed him a plate of food and sat down next to Caleb who had dragged a large fallen tree trunk over to their small camping area and placed their sleeping bags on the ground in front of it. The sleeping bags cushioned them from the hard ground while the tree trunk acted as a backrest.
“I could get used to watching you cook.” He leaned forward and inhaled deeply. “The smell is incredible.”
“In a good way?” she asked as she shuffled around to get comfortable.
“Of course, in a good way.” He picked up his fork.
“Because lots of things smell incredible. Some incredibly good and some incredibly bad.”
“Don’t put yourself down,” Caleb told her firmly. “So far, from what I’ve seen, smelled and now am about to taste, your cooking is wonderful.”
“But not as good as Ivan’s.” She pressed her lips together, her fork hovering above her plate.
“Let’s see.” He stuck his fork into the dish she’d prepared with the truffles his bear had dug out of the ground. After sniffing it, he opened his mouth and ate. “Oh, wow. No, your cooking isn’t like Ivan’s.”
“You don’t have to eat it,” she told him quickly, her mouth turned down at the corners as she watched his face.
“I didn’t say it was bad. I just said it wasn’t like Ivan’s. It’s different.” He forked up another mouthful. “The flavors burst on your tongue but then there’s a subtle aftertaste. It’s incredible.”
“You’re not just saying that?” she asked.
“Shifter here.” He pointed at his chest. “Mate there.” He pointed at her. “That means I can’t lie to you.”
“Ah, or are you telling me that because you don’t want to hurt me? What would be worse, hurting my feelings with the truth, that the dish is terrible, or lying to me that you like it?”
“You’re not good at receiving compliments, are you?”
“Not especially,” she admitted. “You could call me modest.”
“This food deserves more than modesty.”
“Do you think Ivan will like it?” she asked. “I trust your judgment since he is your brother. You must know what food he likes.”
“He’ll be blown away.” Caleb cracked a smile. “In a good way.”
“Good.” She ducked her head and ate her