Page 35 of The Bear's Forever Mat
By the time he made the pit deep enough for the two of them and went back in his human form, Amber had dragged together a few more of their supplies.
Concern and cold hung on her. “I can’t find our shelter.”
“We’ll be okay,” he promised, reaching for the clothing she’d found for him.
She pushed his hand away. “You need to shift. If you stay in your bear, you’ll keep both of us a whole lot warmer.”
“Are you sure?”
Amber nodded decisively. “I’m positive.”
Shift. You’re not built for this weather. I am,his bear said bluntly.Hurry up.
The urge to change was so strong, Cooper worried that it wasn’t a good idea. Was his bear taking over?
Yet shifting made the most sense, so he led her back to the basic shelter, helped her down and arranged the blankets so that once he was in his bear form, they’d both be as protected as possible.
“No slicing me open like a tauntaun,” he warned.
He wasn’t sure why she laughed as hard as she did.
Laughter still on her lips, Amber caught hold of his face and kissed him fiercely before leaning back against the snowy wall and wrapping the sleeping bag tighter around herself. She watched him shift and, once he had carefully settled, she crawled up against him.
She shivered hard, her face screwed up tight. It was breaking his heart that she was so afraid but still willing to face her fears.
Why did it take you so long to shift?his bear asked.Even I was cold out there, he complained.
Probably not a good thing to discuss that they might have a possible issue at hand, Cooper decided. If it came down to it, he would stay in human form to be with Amber forever.
It was a terrible decision to imagine making, but ever since he’d heard Alex’s warning, Cooper had been quietly considering his options.
Yet as the temperature around them slowly rose and Amber rolled in to face his chest, she reached out a hand and brushed against him. And again. As if she was petting him as she fell asleep.
That little bit of hope in his heart grew larger. Maybe, just maybe, everything was going to work out okay, and no one would need to make any big sacrifices.
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15
Amber woke to a low buzz in her ears and the heat of a sultry summer day.
A pale blue light filtered from above, and when she twisted her head, she discovered the groundsheet that they’d stretched over them before curling up against the storm was now firmly anchored in place by snow.
They were safe and cozy in their small snow cave, and she was no longer cuddled up against Cooper’s bear, but his very human self.
Naked self.
Naked andarousedself—that last bit became utterly apparent in a very short period of time. He moved her over him, and she blinked in surprise at discovering his back rested on a soft surface that was warm to the touch.
“Where did you find a bed?” she asked.
“The one supply bag I tossed in the hole with us had exactly what we needed. Once we had a roof overhead, and it warmed up, I shifted and did a little organizing. You were sleeping soundly, so I guess you missed the action.” He stroked his hand over her cheek and down the side of her neck. “How do you feel? Anything hurt after your little flight off the sled?”
She stretched slowly, the heat from his body sliding around her like a radiator. “A few twinges, but nothing serious. How areyouthis morning?”
His eyes flashed, wild and needy. “Hungry.”
He slid his hand up her back and pressed her body closer to his, angling their mouths together for a kiss. The setting was unlike anywhere she’d ever experienced before. The blue light shining down on them was still visible even with her eyes closed, turning her surroundings into something unworldly.
