Page 7 of Luke: The Bears

When the song ended, they stopped moving and time froze, her gaze dropping to his lips and her sweet scent wrapping around him. He lowered his head and kissed her, slowly, deeply, relishing the first incredible taste of her.

She sighed happily, smiling, as they walked back to the table.

Eisley said, “I’m sorry to be a wrecking ball to all the cuteness between you two, but I’m ready to head out.”

“Already?” Valley asked.

“It’s ten o’clock!”

“Oh, is it? Wow, the night went fast.” Valley smiled at Luke. “She’s my ride.”

“I could take you home later, if you’d like to stay and hang out longer.”

Valley stared at him in surprise. “Oh! Yeah, I would. Do you mind, Eisley?”

“Not at all.”

“Let’s walk her out, though,” Luke said. “Just to make sure she gets on the way safely.”

Valley smiled at him, but it was the kind of smile that said she approved of him caring about her friend. They walked Eisley out and watched her get in her car and leave, and then Luke said, “Ready for some more music?”

She looked up at him and suddenly he caught the subtle hint of her arousal.

“You live around here, right?”

“Across the lake.”

She looked across the lake, the moonlight shining on the surface, and then back to him.

“Would you like to walk to my house?” he asked.

“Yes.”

He held out his hand and she let her gaze drop to it, and then back to his eyes. And then she slid her hand into his. His bear surged with the contact as her fingers curled around his.

“Did you feel that?” she asked.

“Yes.”

“What is it?”

He didn’t know how much to share with her. They’d met a few hours ago, and she was human. Instead of outright telling her that they were mates, he said, “It’s what happens when fate brings people together.”

“Sounds magical.”

Like the burgers.

“Yeah, it is.”

Heat swirled between them, his bear’s half growl, half purr rumbling in his chest, too quiet for her to hear.

They followed the curve of the lake road, the music from The Howl fading behind them. The night grew quieter as the house came into view, his truck parked on the driveway next to it.

“Is it okay if I’m not ready for you to take me home right away?” she asked when they stopped at his truck.

“That’s very okay. I wasn’t really ready to say goodbye to you yet, either.”

She stepped closer, her body brushing his, setting his nerve endings on fire. “Then don’t say goodbye just yet, Luke.”