Page 18 of Load Bearing
“Telepathy? Can you talk to other shifters with your brain?”
“Nope. Not except with my bear.”
“Your bear is another voice in your head?”
“Frequently.”
“Is that… uncomfortable?”
Hunter looked like he was genuinely considering the question. “He’s been there since I was very little. We grew up together. I can’t imagine him not being there.”
“I don’t know how I’d feel about having someone always looking over my shoulder while I read dirty books or did dishes. Do you get equal time with your shapes? Is it like a timeshare? Or does he control a few limbs? Does he sleep?”
Hunter chuckled. “He’s never minded my habits. We shift when we have the opportunity, but mostly he’s along for the ride. He’s never taken over, but he might get a little noisy and distracting when instinct is strong. He’s more or less present all the time. I don’t think he sleeps, exactly.”
“What do you mean when you say instinct?”
Hunter opened his mouth and shut it again, frowning. “Like it sounds, but… more. Instinct is like another sense, so describing it is like describing a sight to someone who is blind. I know when something is wrong or right, in a vague way. I can tell when I’m near a shifter.”
“Which is how you knew Kyle and Keith were wolves.” Trixie was still wrapped in nothing but her towel, but the heater was running, and the trailer was warm.
“I don’t knowfor surethat they are wolves,” Hunter cautioned.
Trixie told herself that she shouldn’t feel disappointed that there were a few basic limitations to magic. “So our case isn’t quite as open and closed as I’d hoped, not that your instinct would be anything to take to the cops. Can you bring it up in casual conversation? ‘I’m a bear, are you a wolf?’”
“It’s rude,” Hunter said, sounding snobbish. Or, maybe it was just aloof. He was such an enigma. “Shift type is pretty much on a need-to-know basis.”
It still bothered Trixie. “Why would Keith or Kyle have a vendetta against the project? I could hire them over the winter if we get the shell up in time. There aren’t a lot of job options here, and I don’t feel like I’m a bad boss.”
“You’renota bad boss,” Hunter said firmly, scooting closer on the couch to put a hand on her bare knee. “You’re agreatboss. You can boss me around any day.”
Trixie hadn’t been fishing for the compliment, but it warmed her to her toes.
“Speaking of bosses…”
“I’m not working for you right now…” Hunter leaned forward to pin her against the couch and slowly kiss her.
Trixie had wanted to ask about soulmates, but he seemed tired of questions, and he had a better idea anyway…
15
HUNTER
Trixie’s shower left a lot to be desired. Hunter could squeeze into the space, but once he was there, even just rotating was a challenge. Bending down was out of the question, and reachinganywherewas an exercise in flexibility and banged elbows.
He briefly rinsed and dried off on his damp towel to find that Trixie (who had taken the first shower this time) was making food in the little kitchen.
“I hope you like pasta,” she said merrily. She had an easiness to her that she hadn’t before, and Hunter could relate. He didn’t enjoy juvenile will-they-won’t-they drama, and he was happy that Trixie hadn’t been coy or tried to draw things out.
We make her happy, his bear said, as content as Hunter himself was.
Hunter watched her, stirring sausage and chopping zucchini and setting out plates in a little flurry of activity.
He wanted to make her happy. He wanted to always see that little smile of satisfaction at her mouth, that spring to her step. She should always be that joyful.
And it wasn’t just the sex, though he took a certain amount of pride in her reactions to that. He liked working with her. He wanted to support her as a partner and helpmate.
This was the woman he wanted to marry, Hunter realized. He’d never really considered marriage for himself, because he couldn’t imagine a woman he’d want to spend that much time with. Then he met Trixie and he hatednotbeing with her.
