"Caleb McIntyre, what are you thinking?"
He couldn't keep the smile from his lips. "How do you feel about being tied up until you agree to be mine?"
He nuzzled her neck, kissing the soft skin along her collarbone. A natural motion, his hand reached out and splayed across her belly. He would take her over and over and over until she was too tired and too sore to leave his bed. That seemed like a solid plan.
"Please stop that. I can't think with you kissing me like that." She smiled as he pulled away.
"You're considering me tying you up?" Caleb teased.
She stretched. "Right now I'd consider anything you asked. Too bad I need to go back to the inn."
He propped up on one elbow. "But why? No one said you had to live in the inn to run it and Frank seems to like that chicken, stay here."
She jerked up to a sitting position.
"Crap. I'm the worst chicken parent ever. I have to go get Hazel."
He shook his head in amusement. "That darn chicken ruins everything, doesn't she?"
Marci huffed. "Hazel is special. Besides, I promised her I'd take care of her, and here I am deserting her in a dog crate."
Nibbling on her earlobe, he could smell her desire stirring in the air. He licked a trail down her jawline.
"No. No. Stop. Hazel."
He mumbled against her neck. "Annie went and got her last night. I got a text after you passed out. Speaking of. You're okay, right?"
She scoffed. "A little late to show concern, don't you think?"
He eyed her. "I was trying to warm you up. Body heat is best transferred when naked; it's not my fault you're irresistible."
She angled her body to meet him face to face. "I'm not sure you're thinking of me right now? Irresistible?"
The bed wiggled as she shifted her weight. "Marci, you are exactly who I was thinking of. I have no idea how to say no to you, and with you naked right now?" He lowered his voice. "I'll tell you a secret. You could control my bear and me and do anything, and I mean anything, if you never put clothes on again."
He loved the sound of her laughing, even at his expense.
"Who is this fun, Caleb? And where was he while I've been painting the inn?"
He shrugged. What could he say that Marci didn't already know? He'd been a ball of sexual frustration from the moment he'd scented her in town? Or how about the fact he was fighting back his bear at every turn being around her. Yeah. He'd just let it go.
"You looked like you had it handled. I don't think you'd have gotten much work done with me around."
She punched his arm. "Feisty, aren't you?" He gripped her wrists and pinned her hands to the pillow. "I like you feisty."
Her face flushed. "Well, a woman can know her own mind. And why wouldn't we have gotten work done? It's not like I can't keep my hands off you. What did you think, I'd be ready and willing? Men. Seriously."
Her words were baiting. Caleb could smell the sweet scent of arousal, hear the erratic beat of her heart, and her body pressed against his.
"Well. From what I recall you said yes several times already. Very enthusiastically I might add. If you want me to let you go though, I can. I mean, I'd hate to make you do anything."
Her eyes turned away from him. He released her.
"Really though. I wasn't going to date for a while. I thought I needed time alone."
A sour taste rose up in his mouth. He might have derailed her plans and yet all he'd done is drag her out into the wild, nearly freeze her to death, and then had the greatest mind-blowing sex ever. The last one might have made of up for the first three.
"Well, technically we aren't dating."
Her mouth gaped. Apparently, that wasn't the right thing to say.
"Uh. Well. I mean yet?"
Mouth still agape.
Well, shit. Okay. Not getting better. "Can I take you on a date?"
He straightened. His brow rose. Please let that have been the right thing.
At least her mouth closed.
"Caleb! I don't just sleep with people. I never do. If you think that I would have a one night stand with you, well you're a real asshole."
She jumped out of bed, and his eyes couldn't turn away from her ass. He'd love to grab it right now and - no wait. That was the wrong move, and well, shit, she was looking for clothes.
"Wait. Marci. Stop. No. I want to date you. You had just said you planned to not date anyone for a while. I thought that you -"
His bear woke and screamed. We want to mate her. He shook that off, because yes eventually. Stupid bear.
Somehow, he didn't see that going over well right now.
"Marci. Stop." He hopped out of bed and grabbed her from behind, holding her around the waist, and she wiggled and squirmed.
"Marci. Stop. I would never use you. I promise."
She stopped, but the damage to his libido was done. She didn't know the power she held over him, and all that squirming had pressed the right button. God, he hoped she couldn't tell.
Think of fishing. Nope. Not working.
He kissed the top of her head. Trying to play it off. He was listening, or he was trying to.
"Are you open to that?"
She stood straight.
"I would have an easier time believing you if you didn't have the world's largest hard-on right now."
"Yeah," he said sheepishly, he wasn't proud of it, or well, not the situation anyway. "I. Right. But I can't help it. Have you seen yourself? Have you ever seen you mad and naked?"
Slowly she turned within his arms. "No. I can't say I've ever wanted to see myself in a mirror let alone naked."
Staring down at her he knew he'd never be able to walk away from her. He'd never hurt her - but would
