Page 95 of Shifter Marked and Claimed

“Hold on to the spine, dear one,” he warned just before heaving upward.

I screamed. The sound echoed around us, and I gripped the protrusion before me like it was my lifeline even though he rose up smoothly, and the spine at my back kept me in place. He leveled out a few stories above the houses but at a speed that battered my face. I quickly ducked into my jacket.

“It’s freezing up here,” I yelled.

“Tell me if you get too cold. I will land so you can warm.”

We needed to land within minutes. The second his feet were on the ground, he shifted while I was still on him.

I screeched as I tumbled from his disappearing back, but he twisted and caught me with ease. Didn’t matter. That move still earned him a glare.

“Don’t ever do that again.”

He rubbed his face against mine and growled.

“You’re too cold.”

“I know. That’s why I said we needed to stop. How are you so warm?” I turned my head so my freezing nose brushed his cheek. Even the arms under me were already thawing my cold legs.

“You need warmer clothes.”

He started walking, carrying me to who knew where. I didn’t care enough to remove my face from the crook of his neck. He was warm, and he smelled good. I inhaled deeply and rubbed my nose against his skin. He clicked rapidly, letting me know he liked what I was doing.

“Stay here, my treasure,” he said, putting me down.

I looked at the shoveled driveway under my feet then at the dark house.

“What are you doing?”

“Getting you warmer clothes.”

“I don’t think breaking and entering is a good idea.”

He leaned in, exhaling on my neck as he rubbed his cheek against mine. While that stole a little of my focus, the way one hand cupped the back of my head and the other pressed against my lower back so I was flush against him finished me. I couldn’t form a coherent thought to save my life. Instead, I gripped his shoulders and eagerly rubbed my cheek against his.

“Stay,” he whispered. “Stay, and I will hold you again when I return.”

“Yeah. Okay.”

He seemed to vanish, leaving me with my hands in the air and blinking at the garage. Somewhere nearby, glass broke. The sound cleared some of the fog, and I wrapped my arms around myself and looked up at the house.

I really hoped no one was home.

CHAPTERTHIRTEEN

Vedar emerged with snow pants,mittens, knit hat, and goggles.

“Please tell me no one was home.”

“No one was home.”

He said it too quickly for my comfort.

“Was that a lie?”

His gaze locked with mine.

“I will never lie to you, my heart.”

---