“I can do that for you,” she replied. He heard the smile in her voice, and he felt his pride swell at knowing she was happy to hear from him. “What’s the date? And when will your shipment arrive?”
“Well,” he paused, “my shipment is already there, and I’ll like for you to be delivered to me tomorrow.”
There was a beat of silence. “I miss you.”
“And I miss you, honey,” he grunted. The reaction was for the sudden need to see her. He’d waited what seemed like forever to have her back at his cabin. “Three damn days has been long enough without you here.”
“I don’t know if I can take off time this soon again,” she admitted. “Let me see what I can do. Maybe Isabell can cover for me. I’ve been training her.”
“You do that,” he replied. “In fact, just tell her to take over full-time. I may not give you back.”
Her laugh was like music to his soul. There had never been a time when he’d thought he’d find someone he wanted to share his life with in the wild, but Aspen was everything he never knew he needed. She was strong and knowledgeable about the interior of Alaska, and she hunted. The fact she wasn’t afraid to get her hands dirty processing wild animals made his cock hard, as well. She was perfect in his eyes, and he wanted to be with her again.
“Let me see what I can do,” she offered. “I’ll contact you in one hour.” His phone would work, but he never kept it on him when he was away. The thing was big, bulky, and quite old. It was used for scheduling planes or for emergencies only.
“I’ll be on standby,” he replied, ending the call.
He had to do something to pass the time. So, he took the phone with him out to the yard to cut a load of firewood he’d gathered the previous day. At least he could burn off some energy in the process.
It took over an hour before the phone call that said she was going to be there on the first flight the next day. He wanted to prepare everything for her so she wouldn’t have to lift a finger while she was there.
It was his honor to provide for her, and he was going to approach the subject of touching her, again. Whatever happened after that was up to her, and he was along for the ride no matter what she decided.
Chapter 6
“Have fun,” Charlie smirked as Aspen hiked the pack high on her shoulder. Her brother’s mate was one hundred percent in favor of Aspen choosing Booker for her mate. “And don’t be afraid to touch him. He will understand.”
“Okay,” Aspen replied with a nod and a smile before walking around the front of the plane.
He was standing there wearing tight denim jeans and a thick, black and gray flannel shirt. He’d shaved, and his skin looked so smooth, Aspen’s fingers tingled with need. Her wolf bowed down inside her mind, too.
“Hello, honey,” he greeted. His voice deepened, and there was a fire in his eyes that caused the wolf to push at her skin. She tried to hide the sudden jerk to her human body, but Booker noticed, frowning as he moved closer. “You okay?”
“Never better,” she promised.
“Come inside. I have breakfast ready for you.” He held out his hand for her backpack, and she handed it over even though she didn’t need the help. It was more the thought of him being a gentleman that had her melting in her hiking boots than anything else.
“Lead the way,” she pressed, waiting for him to start walking. Charlie was already at the end of his small landing strip, preparing to take off. Aspen gave her a wave and followed Booker up to his cabin.
She smelled the bacon before they even got to the door, and her stomach rumbled. When he pushed open the door, the feeling of home overwhelmed her. She’d missed his cabin…she’d missed him.
“Get comfortable. I’ll put your pack in your room,” he stated as he left her standing by the door.
Aspen didn’t stand there long. The scent of the bacon and his arousal was all over the place. She’d had a few days to think about Booker and what her wolf wanted. She hadn’t come clean with him about what she was, and that needed to happen before they ever touched.
“You’re distant…” He let the statement hang as he returned to the tiny kitchen where he cooked over a stove heated by a small fire. “Want to talk about it?”
“Over breakfast,” she said. “Can I help you with anything?”
Booker took a deep breath and leaned against the counter. When he folded his arms across his chest, she had to look away from his bulging biceps. They were huge, and the urge to walk into his arms was stronger than ever.
“Aspen,” he paused.
“Really, Booker. I’m okay,” she promised, making a cross over her heart. “Let’s sit down, and I promise to tell you what’s on my mind.”
“Okay,” he said after a heartbeat. “Take a seat, honey. I’ll bring it to the table.”
She waited patiently for him to set out the meal. He’d made a pan of biscuits with sausage gravy and enough bacon to feed them both…twice.
“Well,” she began, heaving in and out a huge breath. “If we are going to spend time together, I need to tell you more about who, and what, I am.”
He nodded as he forked a piece of his food. “I told you it doesn’t matter to me.”
“Booker,” she groaned. “This is important.”
“Okay,” he replied with a nod. “I’m listening.”
Here goes nothing.
“Okay, well, I guess I should start with what I am,” she cringed,
