He smiled and tucked the blanket under my chin. “My Mori keeps me warm.”

“Oh. I was just...”

His hand stilled on my shoulder. “What?”

I bit my lip as I gathered my courage. “We can share.”

Heat flared in his eyes, making my heart lurch madly. “My jeans are wet.”

“You could” – I tried to swallow but my mouth was dry – “take them off.”

The words hung in the air between us, and heat crept into my face. Nikolas’s lips parted slightly as his eyes darkened. “Are you sure?”

“Yes.” A small part of me was scared, but I was surer of this than I’d ever been of anything.

His gaze held mine for the longest seconds of my life before he slowly got to his feet and kicked off his boots. When his hands went to the button of his jeans, my heart leapt into my throat and I tore my eyes away to stare at the fire. Every sound in the room was suddenly amplified: a zipper lowering, the rustle of clothing, the soft thump of wet jeans hitting the floor.

Cool air touched my skin when he lifted the blankets and slid beneath them. Heat emanated from his body like a furnace as he lay on his side next to me. His bare leg touched mine, and a tingle shot straight to my belly.

“Sara,” he said softly.

“Yes.”

His hand cupped my chin and turned my face toward him. I saw the fire reflecting in his eyes before he lowered his head and kissed me with so much tenderness I thought my heart would burst. His lips were soft and worshipful as they left mine to explore my jaw and found a sensitive spot beneath my ear.

He lifted his head. “Being a warrior is all I’ve ever known, all I ever wanted. I thought I didn’t need anything else. And then I found you, and it was like finding the other half of me that I didn’t know was missing.” His fingers caressed my face as his gaze and words mesmerized me. “You make me whole, Sara.”

“My warrior.” I reached for the hand touching my face and laced my fingers with his. “I used to think the empty place in my heart was from losing my dad. But I was wrong. My heart was just waiting for you to come and fill it up.”

He kissed me again, gently at first and then with more hunger. His hand held mine against the pillow as his tongue traced the seam of my lips, coaxing them open to claim my mouth. My other hand tangled in his hair as the need to be closer to him grew stronger. When he pulled out of the kiss, I protested softly.

I looked up at him, and there was no mistaking the desire in his eyes. “Do you want this?”

“Yes,” I whispered.

His eyes searched mine. “We can wait until –”

“Nikolas.” I cupped his face with my hand. “I don’t want to wait. All I want is you.”

He rose up on one elbow and ran his fingers along my face, over my lips, and down the column of my throat. My heart thudded against my ribs when he pushed the blankets down and touched the collar of my borrowed shirt. He paused and his gaze burned into mine as he undid the top button. His fingers barely grazed my skin as his hand moved down, releasing each button, but every soft touch sent heat spiraling through me. I gasped when his warm hand splayed across my stomach.

He looked down at his hand as it moved slowly across my skin, over my ribs, and brushed the clasp of my bra. “God, you’re beautiful,” he whispered reverently. Fire filled my veins when he pressed his lips to the swell of my breast and blazed a trail of kisses to my mouth.

His eyes lifted to mine again and the emotions raging in them stole my breath. “Sara Grey, you’ve owned my heart from the moment I met you. My body and soul are yours if you’ll have them.”

Tears filled my eyes. “Yes, if it means forever with you.”

Nikolas groaned softly and captured my mouth again. My hands explored his hard body, shyly at first, and then with more confidence as his mouth and hands stoked the fire inside me. He whispered words of love as his body claimed mine and our souls became one. My Mori joined with me, and we rejoiced together as we forged an unbreakable bond with our mates.

Outside the tiny cabin, the storm raged and the world was cold and dangerous. But in Nikolas’s arms, I found only warmth and love and peace.

Chapter 24

A feather light touch against my lips woke me, and I smiled and stretched contentedly before I opened my eyes. Nikolas lay propped up on his elbow, watching me as his fingers caressed my face. His mouth curved into a sensual smile that sent my stomach on a rollercoaster ride.

“Morning,” I said as he leaned in to kiss me.

Good morning, moy malen’kiy voin.

It took me several seconds to realize I’d heard his voice in my head. Nikolas? I said tentatively, earning another smile from him.

His eyes gleamed mischievously. One of the perks of being mated.

“Mated.” The word felt strange and wonderful on my tongue.

Mine, whispered my Mori as it curled up like a cat after a bowl of milk.

Ours, I corrected it, finally understanding my demon’s possessiveness toward its mate. An invisible cord stretched between Nikolas and me, and through it I felt love, a touch of humor, and desire. It filled me with a sense of completeness and intimacy I’d never known was possible.

My thoughts went to last night and heat rose in my face. It didn’t help that Nikolas was grinning as if he knew exactly what I was thinking.

“Can you read my mind?” I blurted.

“No. But that blush makes me wish I could.”

I hid my face against his chest, and he laughed softly as he put his mouth to my ear. “I love waking up with you in my arms.”