Chapter 7

CHAPTER 7

G emma’s heart raced as she looked up at Yede. The hard muscles under the soft fur tensed under her hand.

“Thank you for letting Liam spend time with you today. It means more than you know.”

“Your thanks are not necessary,” he said gruffly.

“They are.” She leaned closer, drawn by the warmth radiating from his body. “There’s never been a male he could admire, that he could learn from. You’ve given him something he’s never had before.”

The space between them crackled with electricity. Before she could second-guess herself, she rose on her tiptoes and pressed her lips to his. For a heartbeat, he remained frozen and she was afraid she’d made a terrible mistake.

But then his arms wrapped around her, pulling her against the hard planes of his body. His mouth moved against hers with growing urgency, and she melted into the kiss. Her fingers tangled in his mane as the kiss deepened, passionate and hungry.

Heat pooled low in her stomach as his hands slid down her back, drawing her even closer to him. She gasped against his mouth, overwhelmed by the intensity of her response. His silver eyes blazed with heat when she briefly pulled back for air, and then he captured her lips again in another searing kiss.

Too soon he broke away, his chest rising and falling rapidly as he stared down at her. Her lips tingled from the intensity of their kiss. He took a single, reluctant step back, his massive shoulders stiff, and she blushed as the reality of what she’d done crashed over her.

“I’m sorry.” She stepped back as well, wrapping her arms around herself. “That wasn’t part of our agreement.”

“The kiss wasn’t unwelcome.” His deep voice was even gruffer than usual. “But it’s not a good idea.”

He turned away and her heart sank. The thought of him leaving her made her chest ache with an unexpected loneliness.

“Wait.” The word slipped out before she could stop it. “Would you stay? Just to keep me company for a while?”

He paused, his broad shoulders tense. Finally, he turned back and gave a slight nod.

She followed him silently into the living area and they settled on opposite ends of the couch facing the hearth. The fire crackled softly, sending dancing shadows across the room, and she found herself relaxing despite the lingering arousal humming through her veins.

She tucked her feet under her and watched the fire, stealing glances at his profile. The firelight caught his silver eyes, making them glow with an otherworldly beauty that made her breath catch. How could he make her feel so safe and so excited at the same time?

The comfortable silence stretched between them until he finally spoke.

“What happened to Liam’s father?”

She looked down at her lap, her fingers twisting together.

“We had what you would call a whirlwind romance. He was just passing through our village but we fell in love.” At least that’s what she’d thought at the time. “He said he wanted to stay there but he became restless very quickly. And then my mother d-died and there didn’t seem to be any reason to stay.”

“I’m sorry.”

A big hand lightly touched her shoulder and she put her hand over it in silent gratitude.

“We moved to the city but it didn’t work out the way he’d expected. He never was very good at holding down a job and we…struggled.” The flames blurred as tears pricked her eyes. “When I got pregnant, I thought things would change. They did, but not how I hoped. I saw less and less of him.”

Her throat tightened. “When Liam was two, Tom got a job on one of the trading caverns. They’re gone for long periods of the year.”

“He left his mate and child?”

The outrage in his voice would have made her smile under other circumstances.

“In some ways it was easier—I no longer spent hours wondering if he was going to come home and even Liam understood that his Daddy was away. He did send money home occasionally, and it helped. He died two years ago—I’m still not sure exactly how—and it became harder and harder to keep a roof over our heads and food in Liam’s stomach. That’s why I took the mining job. The recruiter promised good pay, housing…” She shook her head. “I should have known it was too good to be true.”

“How long were you there?”

“Three months. Three months too long, but they make it difficult to leave.”

“But you found a way.”

“I had to. Garth said he was going to put Liam to work in the mine.”

A low growl filled the air and she gave him a startled look. His eyes blazed with anger.

“Children are to be protected, not exploited.”

“I agree, but I didn’t do a very good job of protecting him, did I? We almost froze to death. I expected the cold, but not the storm. If it hadn’t been for you…”

His face blurred as more tears filled her eyes. He growled again and she half-expected him to pull away, but instead his arms came around her and he lifted her into his lap, holding her close.

“It doesn’t matter. You are here now.”

She buried her face in the comforting heat of his chest. The velvet fur beneath her cheek had a comforting musky scent and she snuggled closer.

“I lost my family,” he said quietly. “My parents, my brother… I was not there for them.”

The raw pain in his voice made her breath catch. No wonder he lived in such isolation and was so afraid to let anyone close to him. Her heart aching for him she reached up and placed a gentle hand on his jaw. He looked down at her, eyes blazing silver, then leaned towards her. Her pulse quickened, anticipating his kiss?—

But then he jerked back. He’d placed her back on the couch and risen before she even processed what had happened.

“I have work to do,” he said harshly, and strode out of the room without another word.

She watched him go, fighting the urge to call him back. Now she understood the shadows that haunted him, why he’d built these walls around himself. The loss of his entire family while he was away—the guilt must be crushing. No wonder he punished himself with solitude.

She curled her legs under her and stared into the fire. There had to be a way to show him he deserved happiness, that letting people in didn’t mean betraying his past. But pushing too hard would only make him retreat further.

As she rose to go to bed, she looked around the room, taking in the changes that had crept in over the past few days. Liam’s drawings dotted the walls, brightening the previously stark space. Her half-finished mending lay draped across a chair. The counting blocks he’d given Liam spilled next to the hearth.

The room was being transformed from his austere sanctuary into something warmer, more lived-in. Despite his initial insistence on isolation, he hadn’t removed a single trace of their presence. If anything, he’d added to it—bringing the blocks for Liam and finding the mending kit for her. It hadn’t escaped her notice that he’d also increased the temperature throughout the house, even in the chilly corridor, so that they would be comfortable.

She traced her finger along the back of the chair, considering the cheerful clutter. The Longest Night was approaching—traditionally a time for family and celebration. Back in the village, homes would be filled with decorations and the scent of special treats. Her mother had always made it a special time for them.

Perhaps they could create a similar tradition here. His pantry was well-stocked, and she’d spotted evergreen branches that could be gathered for decorating during the brief periods when the wind dropped. Liam would love helping to prepare for the holiday—he’d never had a proper celebration. She’d always been working or too tired for more than a few garlands and whatever presents she’d managed to put aside money for.

They were already pushing the boundaries of the contract with their shared meals and Liam’s presence in the workshop. Perhaps it was time to push it a little further, to show Yede that life could still be celebrated and enjoyed. That he deserved to have happiness in his life.

A sense of purpose filled her, and she smiled. She would make this a Longest Night to remember.