Diamond Dust

soaked in his warmth, the beam of light shining on the bed making her feel lazy this morning. “Just one more minute, then I’ll get up.”

Under her, fur and bulky muscles shifted to smooth skin and…well, still lots of muscles. She was fully stretched out on top of a very human Tyler, heat of a different sort flashing over her.

“Who said anything about leaving the bed?” He rolled far enough to tip her to the mattress then bundled her into his arms, nuzzling her neck and dropping kisses on her face.

Well, this was sweet. “Okay, I know guys are usually, well, up in the morning, but you’re, like, way affectionate.”

Tyler adjusted position to look into her eyes. “You were nice to my bear. He appreciates that.”

“Your bear gave me a lift last night. He was pretty awesome.” She laughed. “And it’s a good thing I understand shifters, because talking about your shifted self in the third person is kind of weird.”

“He’s a big part of me—no size jokes—so I like to keep him happy. That keeps me happy.” Tyler pulled her on top of himself, arranging her so he could pet her hair out of the way. “Do you have any plans for the day we need to work around?”

She sat up, placing her knees on either side of his body as she rested her weight on her shins. Her lips pulled into a smile as his gaze fell to her chest. “I’m off work for the next week. Whatever we need to do to get conclave in line, that’s my focus.”

He drew a wavy line up her torso, goose bumps following his touch. “Not the only focus, I hope.”

The tip of his finger circled her nipple, and the peak tightened as if well trained.

Concentrating as he played with her breasts wasn’t the easiest thing to do. “When’s the next bear social event? I’d like to be better prepared this time, please.”

“Three nights from now. A music recital at the Nakai Theatre.”

“That’s…different than I expected.” He was doing wicked, wicked things to her with his thumbs. “And everyone will simply show up, as if the fight last night didn’t happen?”

“Exactly. See? You understand bears.”

Incredible. Take the least comprehensible action and, voila, bears. “What if I wanted to get together with a few people before then, can we do that?”

She’d surprised him. Tyler paused in mid-caress, a crease between his eyes. “Get together with who?”

“The ladies, of course. They get to vote, right? Maybe I could meet them all for lunch or something. Invite them out and see where things are at. I never got a chance to talk to that one clan you wanted me to sound out. Nakusp?”

Tyler’s face lit up. “You’re a genius. Of course, it’s perfect. We have to pick a place that’s easy to defend, though.”

She laughed. “I can get us a discount at the Moonshine Inn.”

“I bet you could, but that’s probably already considered Harrison territory. How about somewhere a little more neutral?”

A brainwave hit. “I know the perfect spot. Takhini Hot Springs—it’s an outdoor pool only fifteen minutes out of town. If anything does happen, it’s far enough from city limits to help with damage control, and the pack is part owner. If we set it up for tomorrow, I can guarantee there will be no outside visitors.”

He nodded. “Areas for observation, and yet lots of opportunities for private discussion. Sounds like a super idea.” When she would have crawled off him to get planning, though, he caught her. “Later. It’s still too early to contact anyone. We have plenty of time.”

He lifted his fingers to trace her lips, then pressed one digit into her mouth. She licked it obediently, wondering what he had planned. The next trip around her nipple left moisture behind, and now not only his touch but also the cool room air assaulted her.

Her sex tingled madly, and he hadn’t gone anywhere near her hot buttons yet. “Oh boy.”

“Oh man.” He grinned. “Let’s see what things make you scream in pleasure.”

“I’m not much of a screamer.” The words slipped out before Caroline realized how much of a challenge they could be considered. “Oops? Just forget I said…”

He sat up, six-pack abdomen flexing under her fingers as he brought their bodies together. Heat radiated off him and wrapped her in desire and anticipation. “Forget what?”

Then he rolled her under him and proceeded to prove that she could, in fact, scream herself hoarse when properly motivated.

Justin stopped by the apartment with a bag of clothes, his alert gaze taking in everything as he stood in the doorway. Caroline was at the desk by the window, sending out email invitations to her gathering the following day.

Tyler pulled his friend into the back room with him. “You want to say something, so you may as well get it out of your system.”

Justin shook his head. “No lectures from me. I might need to say I told you so a few times, but nothing happened I’m worried about.”

Tyler pulled on jeans and a thick T-shirt. “You’ve brought me a pretty relaxed outfit here, and yes, I’m ignoring the I told you so comment.”

“I rented you a jeep. Figured you might like some time to explore the area with your new friend this morning.” His guard pointedly stared into the living room.

Glory be. “You mean I don’t have to sneak out of town with her to avoid your obsession with protecting us?”

“You’re officially dating?”

It was strange to feel both a thrill and lingering fear at the idea of being formally involved with Caroline— how could two emotions occupy the same mental space? “Yes.”

Justin shrugged. “Then you don’t need a chaperone, and I never said you wouldn’t have a guard. Only you can drive. Just ignore me as I ramble through the trees.”

“You get a thrill out of watching, do you?”

His guard coughed. “Exactly what are you planning on doing during your explore?”

“Never mind.”

It didn’t need to be said. Justin knew without being told that chances were high Caroline and Tyler would end up testing the jeep’s springs at some point, and he didn’t mean by going cross-country.

Tyler eyed his friend. “Taking off won’t cause troubles in terms of wheeling and dealing for votes?”

Justin shook his head. “If bears go by rote, most of them will sleep in and take it easy this morning. This afternoon everyone will be around Whitehorse. If you and Caroline do some window-shopping, you’ll bump into most of the conclave participants on a one-to-one basis. That works better than us arranging formal coffee klatches.”

“Agreed.”

Justin called out a greeting as he marched into the living room, “Caroline. How did you enjoy the dinner last night?”

She spun her chair, pulling her hair back into a ponytail as she answered. “I’ve been informed no one died, and people are shocked. Well, people are shocked I even asked the question. Do all bears act like the rabbits in Watership Down? Ignore the fact that some of you have dropped off the face of the earth?”

Justin turned, his confusion clear. “Did she just compare us to a bunch of rabbits?”

“Scared and frightened bunnies. Yes.” Tyler settled onto the couch.

Caroline blew a raspberry at them. “Hey, you like lemmings better? Or how about hamsters? Little ones, with parachutes, being tossed off the roof of a building.”

“I have no idea what you’re talking about,” Tyler admitted, although her random comments amused him greatly. “Ready for breakfast? And afterward Justin found us a vehicle if you’d like to show me some of the local sights.”

She closed the computer and headed for the table. “I vote for Ricky’s Grill. And yes, showing you around