by Bianca D’Arc
They talked a bit more as he folded the map and handed it to her. “I want you to keep this in your saddlebags,” he told her. “I don’t anticipate getting separated, but if the worst should happen, I want you to be fully prepared.”
Her expression was grave as she accepted the map. “I really appreciate everything you’ve done for me,” she said quietly. “You’re really good at planning ahead. That’s not something I’ve ever done, and it’s landed me in trouble more than a few times. Thanks for helping me stay alive and free of those goons.”
“It’s my honor to help you, Sabrina,” he replied softly. “Besides, I like doing heroic stuff from time to time.” He chuckled to lighten the mood, and she joined him.
“Well, you’re definitely my hero today,” she told him, making his inner bear bask in her praise.
The moment dragged a bit, but then, he shook himself to attention. There were still things to do. She cleared the table the rest of the way, and he moved it back to the side of the room, clearing the space.
“I’m going to wash up real quick,” he said, grabbing a pair of shorts out of his saddlebags. “Don’t open the door to anyone and stay away from the window, just in case.” He’d already closed the curtains, but he wasn’t sure she understood it was to hide their presence. “I’ll be out in five minutes, tops. You need me before then, just yell, and I’ll come running.”
She nodded, and he went into the tiny bathroom. He took a quick shower and was out in the promised five minutes to find her sitting on the edge of the single bed, flipping through the channels on the TV using the remote control.
CHAPTER SIX
Sabrina tried really hard not to stare as Ace came back into the room wearing nothing but a pair of shorts that went about halfway down his trunk-like legs. The man had muscles that wouldn’t quit. She’d been attracted to him from the start but had tried to ignore it for the most part. Things were too mixed up, right now, in her life. She couldn’t really see herself getting involved with a guy under the present circumstances.
But who said they had to be involved? Maybe she could just enjoy the moments she had with Ace and leave it at that. Possibly. Though, if she were honest with herself, she wasn’t really the kind of woman who had ever been able to just live for today and not worry about tomorrow’s consequences. In this case, to her heart.
She could easily fall in love with Ace. She was already in lust with him, that was for sure. She was in so much trouble here. Her life was in danger. She was on the run with a man she barely knew but wanted to know a lot better…in the physical sense if nothing else. But there was something else. Something that drew her to him like she’d never been drawn before.
She didn’t understand it. She was even a little afraid of it. This attraction could all be some sinister byproduct of the danger she was facing. She didn’t know, for sure. In fact, she didn’t really know anything, at this point, except how much she wanted his touch.
Maybe she was seeking the comfort of physical closeness. Or, maybe, she was just horny. Sabrina had to stifle a laugh as that thought occurred to her. Ace was busy digging through his saddlebags, organizing things, and she knew she was staring at his butt rather than the television screen, but really, how could a woman help herself when faced with such a tantalizing sight?
Ace stowed his bags in the corner then straightened. He glanced at the TV screen, and a faint smile lifted one corner of his lips. “You’re watching the weather?”
Sabrina shrugged. “It’s an occupational hazard. I like to see if the scientists are puzzled about something I might’ve done.”
He sat beside her on the foot of the bed, facing the TV. “That happen a lot?”
“In the past, not often. I really wasn’t that much of a witch until a few weeks ago. I could help steer really bad stuff so that it wasn’t quite as bad over populated areas or farms where crops might be in danger, but other than that?” She shrugged, making a face.
How many times had she wished to be able to do more? To really help. Well, she’d gotten her wish, not quite in the way she had intended. She sighed heavily and shut off the television.
“The weather is supposed to be good for tomorrow, and nobody noticed anything odd, so I’m in the clear for the time being.” She offered him the remote control, unable to meet his eyes with him sitting so close and her emotions running so high. “If you want to watch something, go for it. Otherwise…” She tried to get up, but he placed one big hand gently on her forearm, forestalling her.
He took the remote control with his free hand and placed it on the console that held the TV, just a short distance away. The hotel room wasn’t the most spacious of places, and he had a long reach. When that was done, he turned back to her, and she felt almost compelled to slowly raise her gaze to meet his.
“I know this has all been kind of jarring,” he began softly, his understanding tone touching her deeply. “How are you holding up?”
She shrugged. “As well as can be expected, under the circumstances, I guess.” She couldn’t hold his gaze. Not this close. Not without giving away how deeply attracted she was to him and how much that attraction was on her mind at the moment, with him so near.
“Sabrina.” His tone was coaxing and a little disappointed. “I hope you’ll let me know if something is wrong. Absolutely anything. I’m here to help you, remember?”
“You have helped,” she was quick to reply. “You’ve done so much for me. A total stranger…” Her words trailed off, and she couldn’t help herself. She met his gaze, again, knowing he might read something in her eyes that they probably weren’t ready to acknowledge.
“In my experience, shared danger forges strong bonds more rapidly than usual. I’ve seen you under fire, Sabrina. That told me a lot about you. And, everything I’ve seen, I like,” he said, his voice dropping to low, intimate tones that made her tummy wobble.
“I like you, too,” she told him, unable to keep from speaking the truth when he was being so nice to her. “I mean,” she backpedaled when she realized how that must have sounded, “I like how you handled everything today. Most people would have gotten really mad at me for causing them to crash, but you were different. I’m still really sorry about that.” She knew she was babbling a bit, but she couldn’t seem to help herself. “Then, you went all grizzly bear in the middle of Main Street, and I’ve never seen anything like it. You were so brave, and so willing to put yourself between me and danger. I’m not sure I like that aspect of this, but I do thank you for your help. I just wish whoever it is that’s hunting me wouldn’t try to hurt everyone in their path. I can’t believe you’re here voluntarily, helping me, when you didn’t even know me before this morning.”
“Like I said, danger heightens awareness. You’ve got a good heart, Sabrina. I knew that within moments of meeting you.” His smile melted that good heart of hers right into a puddle of womanly desire. Damn. He was potent up close. All that bear shifter strength, moderated when he was in human form but no less alluring. Bears where hot.
Or, maybe, it was just this particular bear that got her all hot and bothered. She wasn’t sure because she’d never met a bear shifter before. Maybe that was a good thing for her sanity, though, because if they were all as attractive as Ace was, she would have been a goner.
“Thanks,” she said, feeling her cheeks heat with a flush. She hadn’t been on the receiving end of male compliments in far too long. She didn’t quite know how to react. “But you’re the hero. You saved me today, and I’ll never forget your kindness. I think you have a sense of honor unlike anyone I’ve ever known.”
He looked down, clearly somewhat uncomfortable with her praise. Good. The shoe was on the other foot for a change, she thought. Then, all thinking ceased as he lifted his hand to her cheek, cupping it gently as he looked deep into her eyes.
“You’re a very special woman, Sabrina.”
Time seemed to stand still. Was he leaning closer? Was she leaning toward him?
One or the
other must have happened, because the next thing she knew, his lips were touching hers, kissing her in a gentle salute that lasted a few seconds before evolving into something a lot more tempestuous. His mouth was hot and demanding as she opened for him, sighing into the kiss she’d wanted for hours.
His arms were around her and hers around him. She didn’t remember moving them, but she enjoyed the exploration—the sensory input of her fingers as she learned his muscular shoulders and arms. He was like a warm, velvety marble statue. Hot and hard and almost unyielding.
His hands circled her waist, one pausing at her back while the other stole under her shirt, inching upward as their kiss went on and on. She was mentally cheering that mobile hand on as the rest of her mind was blown by the sexiest kiss she’d ever known. He was growling…deep in his throat. It didn’t scare her. It turned her on like nobody’s business!
Then, his hand reached the band of her bra and paused. Was that as far as he would go? No! Please, no. She wanted more.
As if hearing her thoughts, he cupped her breast, fabric and all, his palm overflowing with her generous curves. He seemed to like her shape, molding and fondling in ways that made her gasp. Then, he peeled the cup downward, freeing her nipple, and she knew she was getting wet…eager…ready for his possession.
But could she? Would he? She’d never been one to sleep with a guy she’d only just met, but if she was going to break her own rule about not having sex on a first date, Ace would be the guy. He was so far out of her experience. So far out of her league.
Damn. That thought started to sober her up a bit, even as his fingers plucked at her nipple, causing her abdomen to clench in excitement. Ace must have sensed something, because he drew back, releasing her lips and searching her gaze.
“You’re so beautiful,” he whispered, a slight growl present in his voice that made her want to lick him all over. He was so damned sexy.
“I’m glad you think so,” she replied shakily.
He shook his head as if to clear it. “I didn’t mean for this to happen,” he assured her. She wasn’t sure whether to be insulted or pleased. What, exactly, did he mean by that comment?
The mood began to lift. More sober thoughts chasing the stupor of desire away from her silly head. Ace removed his hand from under her shirt. She took some solace in the fact that he seemed very reluctant to stop touching her.
“I don’t usually…” she told him shakily. Though why she felt compelled to reveal such things, she wasn’t sure. “Not so fast, anyway,” she added, shrugging and looking away.
“Then, that’s all the more reason to stop, now, though I’d just as soon make love to you all night and into tomorrow.”
His words stole her breath and shocked her into looking at him. There was a devilish smile on his face that made her feel warm, again. He was teasing her. The sexy beast. Somehow, that made her feel better.
“Well, that isn’t going to happen,” she assured him. Though, if she was being honest with herself, she’d admit that she wanted just that. Long, leisurely love making with Ace. Only Ace had ever inspired such scandalous thoughts.
He chuckled. “Yeah, I really know how to kill a mood, don’t I?”
She placed the tip of her finger on the tip of her nose and winked, telling him without words that he’d hit that one on the nose. Then, she got up and turned out the light on the far side of the bed from where he was seated. There was one easy chair in the room and one bed.
He was being chivalrous, letting her have the bed, but it sure looked like he was in for an uncomfortable night. She sighed.
“Would it do any good for me to point out that you don’t really fit in that chair, whereas I could be comfortable enough on it?”
He grinned and scratched his chest. “Well, I’d then have to point out that I don’t really fit in that little bed, either.”
She looked from him to the double bed and had to laugh. He was right. When the Goddess made bear shifters—or, at least, this particular bear shifter—She’d created them on the massive side. He was probably in for an uncomfortable night no matter where he bedded down.
Sabrina shook her head, wished him a good night and climbed into the bed on the far side. A few minutes later, she heard him moving around, then the other light switched off, and there were no more noises from the other side of the room. At least, nothing she could hear.
And that was all she knew until she woke up hours later.
*
The next morning, as they were heading down the highway, Ace was feeling good. Sabrina had surprised him last night. She’d been amazing, really. She’d given him a tiny glimpse of what it might be like if they became lovers, and he couldn’t wait to go back and learn more about how good they could be together. She’d been soft and womanly in his arms, and her kiss had been the sweetest wine he’d ever sipped. He wanted more.
First, though, he had to get her across the border and to the safety of the Lords. After that, he planned to stick around for a while. He had no pressing plans, and her safety and wellbeing were quickly becoming central to his peace of mind. He had no easy explanation for it. She was just…incredible.
He cared what happened to her. He wouldn’t abandon her to the Lords the moment he got her to their mountain top in Montana. No way.
Getting there was going to be the tough part. They weren’t even that close to the larger crossing he’d planned to try first when he felt the first wave of searching magic reaching out to sweep over him. As a bear, he was able to shrug off most magic, and he was glad to note that they were far enough away from the magical probe that it skipped right over him—and Sabrina, because she was riding right next to him—but he’d definitely felt it, and it wasn’t good.
Blood magic. Once felt, never to be forgotten. He would recognize the taint anywhere.
Signaling to her, he pulled off the highway and onto the shoulder, dismounting and walking the bikes into the trees a way so they couldn’t be easily seen from the road. Sabrina followed his lead without question, which was both gratifying and a little scary. Her safety depended entirely on him. For a bear used to traveling as part of a trio, flying solo on this mission—which could easily turn out to be one of the most important of his life—was becoming a little terrifying.
“What’s going on?” Sabrina wanted to know once they were stationary in a small clearing among the pines.
“Did you just feel anything?” he asked, wondering how acute her power was. He had to know her limitations if he was going to protect her.
Sabrina shook her head. “Not really. Something made my shoulder blades itch just before you signaled to stop, but I don’t know—”
“Somebody was scrying for you,” he said shortly, cutting her off, fear making him impatient. “It reeked of blood magic, and it was coming from the direction of the border. I suspect, if it’s not the two you blew down the street, it’s friends of theirs, waiting for us to show up at the crossing.” He frowned. “Luckily, they seem a bit impatient. They’re using magic to scry for your presence, but it’s distant, and it rolled off my natural shielding, blocking them from seeing you.”
Sabrina’s brow furrowed, and her eyes grew fierce. That was better than fear. He’d take a determined Sabrina over a scared one any day of the week.
“What do you think we should do?” she asked him.
“Well, we can’t keep going this way. I felt enough of the direction to know that the magic came from where we’re headed, now. We could go west a bit, cutting over on Highway 5 to meet up with Highway 6 to the Chief Mountain crossing. It’ll take a little extra time, and the terrain is more challenging,” he told her.
“But they could be waiting for us there, too, right?” she asked.
He nodded, unwilling to lie to her. “The other option is to go native and do an illegal crossing. It’ll be easier for me. Though, if I go bear, I’ll have to ditch my bike.”
He would regret that. He really liked this bike. But, if he hid it well enough, he coul
d probably come back for it later, after things settled down.
“Is it impossible to get across with the bikes? Like…with you in human form?” She hesitated a bit before spelling out what she meant.
“More difficult, but not impossible,” he said. “There is one other possibility, but it’s a long shot. Still, it could solve our problem handily, if I can make it happen.”
“What’s that?”
“If I can find a trustworthy bush pilot willing to cross the border illegally, hopefully with a large enough plane that he can fit both us and our bikes in it…” He rubbed the handlebar of his beloved Harley. He really didn’t want to leave it behind, but if there was no other way, he would. Sabrina’s safety came first.
“Do you know anybody like that?” She seemed impressed that he might have such contacts.
“Not in this part of the country, but I do have a friend in Washington State who might. Let me call him and see what we can arrange.”
CHAPTER SEVEN
Once Ace made the decision to ask for help, things started happening rapidly. He’d called both the Lords and his friend, Ezra Tate, in Grizzly Cove, looking for an easier way across the border. The Lords, of course, knew a pilot, but he wasn’t available, which left Ezra’s contact as the best option. Ez put Ace in touch with a bush pilot who was already in Canada, though he was a bit farther north.
They caught up with the man—a fellow named Lucien—by phone. He was on the ground, doing a refueling stop, and was willing to detour to do their little job, for a premium. Since the Lords were paying, money was available, but once Lucien heard who would be footing the bill, he became a bit friendlier. He was on the right side of the coming conflict, even if he wasn’t always operating on the right side of human law.