Wild Men of Alaska Collection - By Helmer, Tiffinie Page 0,70

was more than the two of them currently in her kitchen.

“Just a little spooked, I guess.” She handed him a mug of hot chocolate and took a seat across from him, taking a sip from hers. “I’ve never seen the Northern Lights this vibrant.”

“You know the Native Alaskans used to fear that the stream of lights were their ancestors coming back to earth to snatch their souls.”

Great.

“The Scandinavians believed that when red appeared it was a sign of war,” he continued. “Even the Native Americans thought they were a conduit between worlds. Some still think that’s true. It wasn’t until the nineteenth century that we learned they were solar activity. Makes you wonder who is really right? Scientists whose theories are less than two hundred years old, or our ancestors.”

“What do you believe, Cub?”

“I like thinking there is a connection between our world and the Heavens. To think that we are totally cut off, or that our loved ones who have passed before us are completely out of reach, is sad.”

Grief flickered across his expression, and she wondered who he had lost. His grief seemed fresh as though the claws hadn’t quite let go. Cub gave the mystical display out her window another look and then settled his starry-blue eyes on her. “Enough of that. How’s the bookstore?”

She snorted a laugh. Cub had a way of jumping subjects that she appreciated. “Lots of reading and recommending. With all the changes in the way people like their reading material, we seem to be holding our own. But that might have a lot to do with Siri’s faithful followers. How are things at Search and Rescue?”

“Challenging.”

There was a long silence while Cub’s blue eyes studied her. The air seemed to thicken as he set his hot chocolate down. Gemma suddenly found it hard to swallow.

Cub stood, taking her hand, and helped her to her feet. “Now, about that kiss.”

CHAPTER SEVEN

Gemma licked her lips. “I should make this clear. I didn’t invite you over so we could sleep together.” Oh no, why had she said that?

“Good to know.” Cub bit back a smile. “So why did you invite me over?”

“You make sense.” No sleep made for one stupid girl.

“Excuse me?”

“We like the same activities. The same people. I’ve even heard that you’ve been known to read the occasional book.”

A dimple winked at her as he grinned. “And here I thought it was because I was so damn cute.”

She answered his grin. “Yeah, there is that too.” Might as well take stupid a step farther. “I thought you were going to kiss me?”

“Sure put the pressure on.”

He took her hand, a sweet understanding smile curving his lips. “Come here.” He sifted his fingers in her hair. “Close your eyes.”

“If it’s all the same to you, I’d like to leave my eyes open.”

“By all means, leave them open then.”

His head lowered, but before his lips would have taken hers, his mouth grazed her cheek, his fingers tracing the angles of her face as though learning her. His hands framed her face, and he slowly took her mouth with his.

The kiss was soft, questioning, almost innocent. Like she was back in high school being kissed for the first time, though not awkward. Awkward had been last time they’d tried this.

Cub applied more pressure, pulling her closer to him, and deepened the kiss. This was nice. Sweet.

“Your hot chocolate tastes way better than mine,” Cub murmured.

“I, uh, added a little something.”

“Let me take another—” Cub’s mouth took hers more aggressively this time. His arms wrapping around her, lifting her off her feet and closer to his body. Her stomach did a surprising little flip.

Wow, he had such big...hands. His arms were long enough to envelop completely around her, his hands splayed around her back, with his fingers brushing the undersides of her breasts.

A groan vibrated from him, and he broke contact, seeming startled by the sound. “That was much better than the other day.”

“Much,” she whispered. Maybe sleeping with Cub wasn’t such a bad idea after all.

A chill blew into the room.

Cub looked around the kitchen. “Do you have a window or door open?”

“No.”

He set her back onto her feet and turned. “Did you feel that?”

“Feel what?” Oh, no. She was awake right? She pinched herself. Yep. Cub’s kiss had been real. She hadn’t dreamt that. Neither had she dreamt the sudden drop in temperature that sent more than just a shiver through her body this time.

She followed Cub into the living room where he double-checked her