Page 31 of Plus-Size Mate

And Winter’s presence was entirely to blame. Just watching her as she sat in quiet concentration was like watching an angel at work.

The gentle flickering of her eyes over the pages, the way she bit her lip, how her delicate fingers brushed over the text she was reading.

He could have simply sat back and watched her for hours, but he suspected that if she realized he was watching her, there would be a problem. And so he went about it carefully, watching his mate-to-be out of the corner of his eye whenever she wasn't looking.

Hours passed in the blink of an eye, and they had gone through several books before he closed the one he had been reading with a deep sigh.

A part of him was actually disappointed at their not finding anything, if only for her sake.

In a way, though, he was relieved. If their search came to nothing, there was only one option left to them. And the thought of it actually sent a thrill through him. He couldn't remember the last time he had actually felt excited.

But the thought of protecting the town, the thought of mating with her, set his heart racing in a way he had never experienced before.

Surely the reason they hadn't found anything was because there was nothing left to find? Fate had dealt her hand, and it was time for them to accept it. He was absolutely certain of it. Wasn't that why he had agreed to go through with the ritual in the first place?

Still, he sighed and said, “Nothing in this one.”

Winter leaned back in the desk chair, closing the heavy tome she had been looking through. “Nothing in this one, either.”

Glancing at the grandfather clock across the room, Eddie said, “It's getting late. Perhaps we should call it a night?”

It had gotten late hours ago. Now, it was early. Dawn would be upon them soon. He could sense the moon going down for the night.

Winter shook her head and pushed herself to her feet. “Just one more.”

Her determination was palpable, and Eddie found himself rising to his own feet to follow her to the latest bookshelf they had been searching.

“What exactly do you think it is we’re going to find?” he asked, placing his book back where he had gotten it from.

Winter didn't answer straight away. Instead, she yawned heavily, a yawn so large that her head went back and she seemed unsteady on her feet. Eddie barely managed to stop himself from reaching out to steady her.

He had touched her so easily before, back when he had helped her up from the shop floor. But things had been differentthen. The heat of the moment had given him bravery. And besides, he had been concerned that she might be badly hurt. She was, after all, bleeding.

But her nose seemed fine now, if a little bruised, and he suspected that like most witches, she was an independent sort. There was no way in hell she would appreciate him pawing all over her.

“I'll know it when I see it,” she finally told him, placing her own book back on the shelf.

“Okay, well, I guess I'll have to hope my instinct is as good as yours,” Eddie said, reaching for another book.

At the very same moment, Winter reached for the very same spine.

Their fingers brushed as she pulled the tome from the shelf, and he heard how she gasped at the spark that shocked through his own hand.

She snatched her hand away almost at the same instant he did, and the book started to fall.

“No!” Winter exclaimed, leaning forward to grab for the book.

Eddie was faster, grabbing the leatherback book with his werewolf swiftness, a triumphant smile on his face, until he heard a thud followed by a pained exclamation from Winter.

The book forgotten, it fell from Eddie's hand and he was immediately at Winter's side as she started to stumble backwards.

“What happened?” he demanded, reaching for her to pull her back upright. Her free hand was on her forehead, her eyes screwed with pain.

“Damn bookshelf. I hit my head.”

Overwhelming and downright stupid concern flowed through Eddie, and without thinking, he scooped Winter up into his arms.

“What the hell are you doing?” she demanded, but he didn't stop until he had placed her safely upon the desk.

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