the exit, but didn’t quite make it out as she bumped into someone also heading out.
“Dutchy!” Angela exclaimed as she grabbed her shoulders to stop them from falling over. “Dutchy, where are you going in such a rush?”
“I—sorry, Aunt Angela,” she said apologetically. “I need to check on … something outside. Are you all right?”
“Yes, darling, I’m fine,” Angela assured her. “We’re out of drinks, I’m afraid. I was wondering if Krieger knows where to get more? Should I talk to the bartender or manager?”
“Uh, ask for Tim at the bar, he should know.” She gently pried Angela’s fingers from her arms. “Sorry, but I really need to go now.”
Crossing the crowded room, she made her way out the door. Please be here, she said to herself. Please let me not be too late.
The rush of air cooled her rapidly-heating cheeks. The lot was packed with cars, but devoid of any people. Oh no. Had the bar been too much for him? Was he gone? Did he have an episode?
“Dutchy? What are you doin’ out here?”
Her skin prickled at the sound of the rough, low voice. Turning on her heel, she found Krieger leaning against the wall. His shoulders were hunched over, hands shoved into his pockets, moonlight illuminating his handsome face. However, looking past what was on the surface, she looked at him—really looked at him. The deep rise and fall of his chest as he struggled to breathe. The veins popping on his neck as he clenched his jaw. The racing of his heart that her shifter senses could pick up. It had cost him a lot to come here. But he did it anyway.
She took a step toward him. And another. Her fox hissed, as if to say, don’t you dare!
Oh, shut up!
And she pushed it way down deep. Stay there.
“Dutch—” He flinched when her hands landed on his wrists. “Dutchy—your fox, it—”
“Doesn’t matter.” She searched his eyes. There was no spark now, and they remained a dull gray, but she still wanted answers. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Tell you what?”
“That … that place. The cabin. It was your home. You live up there, away from everyone. Why?”
A myriad of emotions passed across his face until it settled into a hard mask. “Doesn’t matter.”
“What happened, John?” Her hands slid up his arms and he flinched again. “Please. Tell me. What happened in the army?”
His jaw set. “I told you, it doesn’t matter.”
Freezing, she squeezed his bicep. “It’s all right,” she soothed. “You’re not ready.” Not now, anyway. He needed time to tell her.
Relaxing visibly, he said, “This isn’t about me.”
Everything I’ve done … the last couple of months … they’ve been for you.
These changes he’d been making … coming down here. For her. To be with her.
“Dutchy? Are you—”
Something inside her propelled her forward, and she reached up to touch the sides of his face to pull him down and she pressed her mouth to his. He tensed, but only for a moment, then began to respond. His strong arms wrapped around her, lifting her up off the ground.
Oh. Her blood sang in her veins. His warm, firm lips caressed hers tentatively at first, but when she opened her mouth to urge him to deepen the kiss, he didn’t need any more encouragement.
Suddenly, she found herself flipped around and pressed up against the wall, her knees lifted so she could wrap her legs around his waist. As his mouth descended down onto hers again, she melted against him, relishing the feeling of the muscles of his hard chest and being surrounded by his warmth and scent. He tasted like sunshine and earth and musk and everything she never knew she wanted until this moment. That’s why she whimpered when he abruptly stopped.
“Are you hurt? Fuck, I wasn’t thinking.” He gently set her on her feet, then lifted her left hand up. “Your arm—”
“It’s fine,” she said. “I swear.” Damn cast! Still, it was sweet that he thought of her comfort. “I’m fine.”
He sighed with relief, then backed her up against the wall—carefully, this time—and cupped her jaw as he bent down to kiss her again.
She sighed at the soft exploration of his mouth. It was nice, but he seemed determined to handle her like some glass object. “Can I ask you for something,” she said as she pulled away.
He leaned his forehead against hers. “Anything.”
“Take me back.”
His eyes flew open. “Back?”
“Up there. To the—your cabin.”
“It’s far,” he said. “Nearly two hours to drive up.”
“I don’t care.” She