Polar Heat

by Simone Beaudelaire

  She could see in Russell's face that her worry upset him. Instead of wild sex, they now spent hours cuddling, as he tried to remind her she was worrying needlessly.

  When Russell picked her up after a long day of work followed by an evening of parent-teacher conferences, she seemed to be drooping on her feet.

  “Will you be able to hold on?” he asked as he unchained the snowmobile and tucked the lock into the compartment under the seat.

  She nodded wearily.

  “This isn't good, Riley. You look like you're going to fall over.” Russ turned his back to his vehicle, and hugged her. “Tomorrow, I want you to call in sick. I'm taking you to the Den'a village to see the midwife and my father. Someone has to be able to help you relax. Okay?”

  “I hate to waste the sick day,” she protested. “I'll only get twenty as it is. That's two weeks unpaid.”

  “I don't care,” he snapped. “It's not like we're broke. If you can't relax, you're going to miss a lot more than that. You'll end up stuck in bed.”

  Riley sniffled, knowing he was right. “Okay,” she said in a wavering voice.

  Russell gave her a long look. Then without a word he tightened his arms around her, rubbing her back. “Maybe we're both making too big a deal out of this. Mrs. Forrest should be able to give us some information.”

  “I hope so. Not sleeping well is making me hysterical,” she admitted.

  “I bet. Poor Riley. Come on, let's go home.”

  At the thought of their home, which had once seemed so appealing, Riley had to suppress a shudder. I don't want to be there. It's not safe. But she knew the thought was irrational, and so she climbed onto the snowmobile behind Russell and locked her arms around his waist, leaning her head on his parka and closing her eyes for the long ride into the woods.

  The scent of pine and fresh air soothed her nerves, and the familiar hum of the engine nearly lulled her to sleep. Here, far from her protective rituals and safeguards, the haunting voice seemed to whisper directly in her ear, “I almost have you. And I'll have what's mine. You can't hide it from me forever.”

  Riley jerked herself upright and almost fell from the sled, only to discover that they were parked outside the cabin. She rose unsteadily and staggered. As always, Russ had his arms around her, supporting her. “You okay?”

  “I guess,” she replied. “I think I dozed off on the sled.”

  His dark eyes turned tender. “You must be exhausted. Let me make dinner, okay, Riley? You rest.”

  Though part of her wanted to protest, to offer to cook together as they enjoyed doing so often, her weary body answered for her. “Okay,” she agreed, defeated. “I appreciate that.”

  “Let's get you inside before you tip over,” Russ suggested. Carefully he walked her through the door and settled her on the sofa. Riley tucked a pillow under her head and went completely limp while Russell puttered around in the kitchen.

  “It stinks in here,” he commented. “I'll take out the trash.”

  Riley couldn't smell anything, she was too busy fighting sleep to worry about some smelly garbage. The last thing she wanted was to hear Danny's teasing whispers. They filled her with such anxiety, and she couldn't banish the thought that he wanted to find her, was trying to find her. Will find me. She shivered. Despite her best efforts, she must have drifted off briefly, because the scent of toasting bread teased her back to full awareness.

  “Russell?”

  He stood before her faster than she would have thought possible.

  “What do you need, honey?”

  “Can you get me my dad's book please?”

  He quirked one eyebrow, but stalked into the bedroom nonetheless, returning with the battered and ink stained tome, which he handed to her. Touching the battered cover made her feel a bit better.

  “Thank you. What are you making, by the way?”

  “Grilled cheese and soup.”

  She smiled wanly. “That sounds perfect.”

  Russell kissed her forehead. “I aim to please, milady,” he teased, drawing a tired chuckle from Riley. She cupped his cheek and drew him down for another kiss. His lips caressed hers with irresistible sweetness. Riley closed her eyes. “I love you, Russ. I'm sorry to be such a lazybones today.”

  “Lazybones,” he snorted. “You must be joking. Listen, Riley, you worked hard today, on your feet, chasing little kids around, right?”

  She nodded.

  “Then you stayed extra late and talked to parents, right?”

  Again she bowed her head in a weary nod.

  “And you're hungry and exhausted from not sleeping well. And you're pregnant – with my baby, I might add. What part of that is lazy if you let me make you dinner tonight?”

  He didn't say another word. Didn't have to. He just kissed her lips and headed back to the kitchen to tend the sandwiches before they burned.

  Riley lay back on the sofa, her mind blank, staring at the ceiling while the scents of the food wafted over her. She seemed to drift again, not to sleep, but near it. So near she could feel the beast that had been caged outside her consciousness pacing and prodding, looking for a way in.

  “Russell?”

  “Yes, love?” He suddenly stood before her, holding out a mug and a plate. Riley let out a little yip of surprise.

  “Sorry.” He set the mug down on the coaster, retrieved her father's book and set it aside as well before handing her the plate, cupping her shoulder in one hand and helping her to plump up a pillow behind her back so she could lean on the sofa's wooden arm. She could feel his intense body heat even through her layers of clothing. “What is it?”

  “How does he do what he does?”

  “Hmmm. Be right back.” Russ returned to the kitchen. When his own food had been situated at the coffee table on the other end of the sofa, he sat down beside Riley and lifted her ankles, setting her feet in his lap. She took a bite of her sandwich and savored the experience of the simple food. Hot, crunchy buttery bread. Smooth, rich melted cheese. Perfection. Then she swallowed and asked her question again.

  “How does Danny get into my dreams?”

  Russell considered as he drank soup from a mug. “He must have the same ability I do,” he answered at last.

  “But you said you can't do that,” she reminded him. “You told me that back when we first got together.”

  Russell's mouth quirked on one side, though the movement in no way resembled a smile. “I said I don't do that, if you recall. I can, but it's rude, not to mention illegal, at least under the laws of my father's people. Entering someone's mind without permission is something like rape.” Then he realized what he'd just said and made an even less happy face.

  Riley felt no offense. “You're not wrong. It does feel like a violation. Not what we do,” she clarified quickly, lest he misunderstand. “You've asked permission to share my dreams. And sending messages this way is quite convenient, but that's the thing, Russ. From the beginning, you've asked what I wanted and respected my decisions. Danny has been forcing his way into my mind for months now.”

  The food seemed to be having a revivifying effect on Riley, so she was able to set her empty plate aside, retrieving her mug and taking a swallow of salty broth with rice.

  “Probably longer than that,” Russell admitted, with a pained expression.

  “What do you mean?” Riley's eyebrows drew together as thoughts danced through her weary brain but refused to coalesce.

  “Well…” he considered again, then set his own dishes aside and grabbed her foot in his hand, stripping off the sock and rubbing, gently working the knots and sore muscles. “I think maybe he's been infiltrating your mind since you were a child. Most kids don't stand still and let someone pound them. Not to mention, how did he always find you?”

  Riley swallowed. “How did you know that? I used to try and try to hide from Danny, but no matter what, he was always there. Russell, I never told you that. How did you know?”

  “I, uh…” his copper cheeks darkened.
“I guessed. I used to do it to the other cubs. Enter their minds to find out where they were hiding when we were playing. I didn't hurt them, and they didn't seem to realize what I was doing. Later, my father taught me not to do that. To ask permission and accept refusal. I was just a kid playing games, though.”

  “I understand,” Riley said, thinking over what he had told her. “Kids often do ill-mannered things, not realizing how rude they are. I suppose we'll have a few of those things to work through with our own daughter.” She laid a hand on her belly, which had begun to curve noticeably outward. Then she groaned as Russ hit a particularly tender spot in her foot.

  Once the tension had been drained away, he reached for the other. Riley let him. It's nice to have a man who wants to spoil me sometimes. “So you think Danny would… read my mind, so he could find me?”

  “It seems likely. I know he's a dreamwalker. We've established that. Dreamwalkers usually have other extrasensory skills. Since I have both dreamwalking and telepathy, it stands to reason others could have the same combination of abilities. Listen, Riley.” He set her foot off the side of the sofa and reached for her hand, pulling her upright to sit beside him. “Imagine a scenario. I don't know if it's true, but see if it resonates.”

  “Okay.”

  “Imagine your brother, a strong natural telepath and dreamwalker, but completely untrained. Clearly he also has some sort of personality disorder. I don't know which side of the family the ability comes from. If it's his unknown father, then you didn't inherit it.” He thought again. “Wait, no. You have it too. You're a dreamwalker, though you try to suppress it. And we could communicate long before the cord between us became so strong. It must have come from your mother, who also had something a little off about her. Sometimes, gifts like these, if they're very powerful, can be damaging to the psyche. Unfettered psychic power…” he shook his head.

  “You don't need to say more,” Riley said tersely. “I get the idea. But if this particular version of psychic ability causes madness, why am I not crazy?”

  “Because you have a different father,” he replied. “A gentle soul, right? Not to mention, a spiritual leader. He would have been able to help you learn good values and self-control. He may well have been a psychic null, one with no ability whatsoever. That would have appealed to your mother. Those who are unbalanced seek balance.”

  “Okay, that makes sense,” she replied. “But then, why did being with father not help mother balance? I don't have many memories of her, but I do recall her getting worse and worse.”

  “I don't know,” Russ replied. “You're right, that shouldn't have happened. Not unless she sustained some kind of psychic damage. But this is all speculation.”

  “Yes,” Riley agreed. “Though I have to admit, it's interesting in a bizarre way.” She fell silent, pondering the information that might just explain so many of her problems. Then she gasped. “Oh God.”

  “What, honey?”

  “Is that why I gave my brother my inheritance instead of going to the police? I mean, what if I had signed the paper, and then gone to the police the next day and pressed charges for assault and attempted robbery? Why did I not think of that option until now?”

  “What do you mean?” Russell's snowy eyebrows drew together, crinkling deep furrows between his eyes and in his forehead.

  “What if he projected so much terror and such a sense of threat into my mind that I couldn't think straight?”

  Russell blinked. “You know, that does make sense. Riley, your brother is a very sick man.”

  “I know,” she replied. “Why do you think I want to stay as far from him as possible?”

  Russell sighed. “I wish we had met sooner, you and I. There are all kinds of ways for you to prevent him from entering your mind. Even expelling him if he finds his way in. Father told me he's found out some information about it.”

  “Tell me,” she insisted. “He's looking for me, Russ. I need to know how to stop him from doing what he does. I can't have him rendering me docile and terrified. Who knows what he might take a notion to do next.”

  “I will,” Russell promised. “Let's get a good night's sleep, and tomorrow I'm taking you to the village. Father can tell us what he's learned. Get rested up. It's a strain, doing psychic work, and I don't want you to wear yourself out.”

  There was sense in what he was saying, and Riley nodded slowly. “Okay, that's a good plan. I'm actually looking forward to it.”

  “Me too. I'm sure you'll find it empowering to be able to keep him away on your own. In fact, I can't believe we've taken this long to explore metaphysical solutions. I was treating you like a null, but under the circumstances, that was a foolish assumption. Father did say you have the power to control your own mind, to prevent attacks, but he didn't go into detail I don't think he likes telephones.” Russell shook his head. “I've been a dunce where you're concerned.”

  “It's okay,” Riley insisted. “Who even thinks about things like this normally? We were so focused on Danny's dreamwalking… believe me, I didn't consider that I might have telepathic powers too.”

  “It explains a lot about why we're mated,” he pointed out. “Our abilities seem pretty well matched in that area. Not to mention you're just a wonderful person.”

  Riley beamed. “You're not bad yourself.” Then she giggled, suddenly bubbling with energy and enthusiasm. “I've heard girls describe their boyfriends as the teddy bear type, but nothing like this.”

  Russell concealed his grin behind a scowl. “I'm no teddy bear.”

  Riley rose to her knees and straddled Russell's lap. “You're cuddly like one. And you comfort me when I'm upset. I think you'd better just own the title, sweetie.”

  His roaring, ursine laugh burst through. Riley captured it in a long, wet kiss.

  He pulled back. “I thought you were tired.”

  “Not anymore,” she replied.

  He quirked one eyebrow. “Have energy to burn?”

  “Do I ever. Isn't that weird?”

  “Riley, when it comes to your pregnancy, nothing strikes me as weird anymore.” His hands slid from where they'd landed on the small of her back, around to her belly and then upward, cupping one breast in each hand. “I'd better drain off some of that excess so you can sleep. We have a big day tomorrow.”

  “I like that plan,” she agreed. “Come on. Let's get ready for bed. I'll probably crash the moment we're done.”

  “You probably will,” Russ agreed. He kissed her lips once, anticipation burning in his dark eyes. Riley slid off his lap and rose, grasping Russell's hand and leading him toward the bedroom with its attached en suite. Better brush my teeth and wash my face quickly. Who knows how long this little lift will last?

  In fact, Riley's concern proved to be accurate. By the time she slid back the covers on her bed, she was beginning to droop. Russell joined her, taking her in his arms. She nestled her head against his shoulder. I love how big and strong he is. He claimed her lips and she melted in his heated embrace. Feeling boneless, Riley allowed Russell's strength and warmth to sink in to her, filling her with deep contentment.

  “Are you too tired, honey?” he asked.

  “No,” she replied. “I want you… just… is slow and easy okay?”

  He laughed his rumbling laugh. “Of course, Riley-girl. Do you think there's a way I don't want to love you?”

  He tugged her sweater up over her head and unhooked her pants so she lay in her underwear, waiting. She watched unabashedly as he dragged his jeans down his slim hips and over his muscular thighs. Despite her fatigue, Riley's mouth watered at the sight of Russell's thick erection tenting the front of his boxers. Her insides clenched and wet heat surged between her thighs.

  “You look so pretty, Riley-girl,” Russell said, his voice a sexy growl. “When you lie there in your underwear and your eyes go all hot and dreamy.” He took in a deep breath. “I can taste your arousal.”

  “I want you, Russ,” she said, reaching out to him.
r />   He went easily into her arms. She sighed.

  “Is this what you want?” he asked, nuzzling her throat.

  She tilted her head back on the pillow, granting him greater access. “It's the start of what I want.”

  He laughed again. “You sure have your way of making me feel like a man, Riley.”

  “You don't need my help,” she replied dryly.

  “No,” he agreed. “But who doesn't like to hear they're making their loved one feel good?”

  She smiled and then slid her hands down his bare back and pressed his bottom forward.

  “Ready for more?” he asked.

  Riley lifted her hips.

  “Careful, honey. Don't squash the baby. I'll take good care of you. Just relax.”

  Russell braced his weight on one arm, and with the other opened the fastening of her bra, letting her pregnancy-swollen breasts spill free. She moaned at the release of pressure. Russell rubbed at the red marks on her skin, then leaned forward to kiss each one. His trailing lips eventually homed in on her nipples, which he licked with gentle laps of his tongue, tenderly stimulating each tender peak without causing the slightest sting.

  He's so good at that, Riley thought. Her hands stroked up and down his back, feeling the bunched muscles under smooth skin, marveling that at a thought, he would be covered with thick, coarse fur. Dream lover. To have his love along with this great sex made it even better. Greater moisture gathered between her thighs. She felt swollen with love and need, aching to join with her man.