Page 27 of A Shifter Disaster Thanksgiving

He banked right suddenly, and she nearly lost her grip. Diane nearly uttered a curse, but bit back the words as she took in the sight of the village below.

The town was illuminated by lanterns that bathed the snow in an orange glow almost reminiscent of a sunset. It was hard to make out the cabin rooftops, which were all covered with snow, but she could see the streets, which, from this height, resembled a maze. The word beautiful didn’t do the view justice.

But then something else caught her eye. There was another village a little higher up the mountain. It looked just like Pine Gap, only larger. Between the two villages were a dense wood and an expanse of snow.

“That’s Glenstra, isn’t it?” she whispered.

She doubted Sylvester could hear her over the wind, but the dragon gave a grunt that sent vibrations all the way from her hands to her toes. Figuring he had answered in the affirmative, she examined the town some more, tucking her legs against his scales as a wave of queasiness rocked her stomach.

Why was he showing all this to her?

Then she suddenly guessed the answer: Not only was Glenstra on higher ground, but the village was also much larger than Pine Gap. Any war that broke out between the two villages couldn’t possibly end well for the latter.

Nausea swept through her again, and she shut her eyes for a few seconds. “Take me down, please.”

Sylvester obliged, swooping toward the mountain and opening his wings just before he hit the ground. Certain she might throw up, Diane slid off his neck onto the snow, grateful to have solid earth beneath her feet once more. She doubled over for a moment, trying to steady herself.

When she straightened up, Sylvester was back in human form and climbing into his clothes.

“I see what you mean now,” she told him. “Pine Gap would be crushed in a war.”

He pulled on his other boot and walked toward her. In the darkness, she could barely see his face, but she sensed he was scowling. “My brother’s desire for war has resulted in the death of our father. Soon, it might mean the deaths of many more.”

Instinctively, she laid a hand on his arm. “Everything’s going to be okay,” she told him because she didn’t know what else to say. “If there's war, we’ll make it through. And as for your brother…”

“My brother will get what’s coming to him,” Sylvester said. “I’ll make sure of it somehow. I’ll make sure everyone in the village finds out what he did.”

“Are you sure it’ll work?”

“No.” He shook his head, and she heard the disappointment in his voice. “It won’t be easy, and I’m sure my brother will try to stop me before I can convince everyone.”

Before she had time to think, she said, “I’ll help you.”

“You will?” She imagined he had an eyebrow raised.

“Of course. I’m your wife, aren’t I?”

He let out a chuckle that instantly warmed her insides, and she almost completely forgot they were still standing outside in the cold. When he suddenly looped his arm around her waist, she thought she would melt in the snow.

“You are,” he said.

And then his lips met hers.

Diane hadn’t realized how much she’d missed kissing this man until she felt his warm lips on hers. He crushed her body against his, claiming her on the spot, his hands running along her back. Despite the barrier of clothing and the cold night air, she could feel his warm touch on her skin.

She almost gasped as his tongue made its way into her mouth, but it immediately turned into a moan as one of his hands made its way beneath her sweater. The cold brushed her skin, but vanished the second she felt his palm on her belly. As their kiss grew more passionate, he began to caress her, his fingers climbing dexterously toward her breasts.

It was hard to believe this was really happening. The realization swept through Diane’s gut, and she suddenly broke the kiss, placing a hand on his chest. His heart thudded against her palm in an unsteady rhythm.

“Is something wrong?” His breath was ragged against her nose. He lifted a thumb to stroke her parted lips. “Do you not want this?”

Diane nearly burst out laughing. She wanted this man. Right now. More than anything else in the entire world, she wanted him. Hell, shecravedhim.

He laughed then. “I see the problem. Would you rather we took this someplace else? Perhaps somewhere not so… public?”

Satisfied with his proposal, and thankful that she would not be having her first sexual experience in years in the freezing snow with her naked butt exposed to anyone who happened to stumble upon them, Diane threw her arms around his neck.

“Yes, I would.”

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