Page 106 of Unwilling Wolf

“I can’t sleep. I’m too excited.”

“About what?”

“About life!” she whispered.

“Woman,” he murmured in warning.

“Fiiiiine. I’ll go to sleep.” She stared at him with a smile plastered on her lips.

“Close your eyes.”

“I’m not tired.”

“Eliza.”

“Do you want to talk about our feelings?”

“I would rather get eaten by a bear.”

“That is not a polite response.”

“You talk a lot.”

“You don’t talk enough.”

“Eliiiizaaaaa.”

“Fine, let’s go to sleep on the count of three. One. Two. I’m going to be honest, I don’t think I’m going to be able to go to sleep on three.”

“Shut. Up,” Burke griped tiredly. “For the love of God, I will hit you over the head with a frying pan if you need help with unconsciousness.”

Eliza clapped her hand over her mouth to keep her laughter in, and Garret had his eyes squeezed tightly closed trying not to crack up.

“Sorry, Burke,” she said at normal volume.

Then she rolled over and gave Garret her back, tried in earnest to relax her body.

It wasn’t until he reached for her and dragged her backward, snuggled her against his chest and draped his big, strong arm over her hip that her body did in fact begin to relax though.

His warmth radiated into her. Within minutes, Garret’s soft, slow breathing told her he slept with no trouble. She exhaled slowly and listened to the crickets chirping. In the woods, lightning bugs were sparkling through the trees, and she gave a private smile. She didn’t know what tomorrow would bring, but Garret had allowed them a full, good day.

Progress.

Chapter Thirty-Four

Eliza awoke to blue-gray streaks of morning laying across the eastern sky. She’d slept later than she’d expected to, especially on the uncomfortable ground.

Eliza stretched the stiffness from her back and rolled over to find Garret still fast asleep.

He was lying on his back, his hands resting on his stomach.

She studied the handsome profile he cut. There was something on his neck. She blinked hard and looked closer. It was a red, angry-looking scar. She pushed up on her locked arm and looked down at him. Was she imagining it?

No, there was definitely a deep red scar across his entire throat.

Was it from the other night? Perhaps a wolf had dragged a claw across it?

Garret inhaled deeply and squinted up at her. “Woman, what are you doing?”

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