His body had gone into hibernation to heal. He’d even shifted into his wolf once or twice, during the healing time. But now he was wide awake, and there was a deliciously curvy warrior woman in the bed next to him, where she’d been most of the time, watching him.
Every time he’d awakened, he’d found her there, her gaze on him, guarding him. This woman would have killed to keep him safe. He knew this because she was of the same ilk as her sister.
Her back was against his. His hand was swung across her waist, tucked under her midriff, holding her close. He realized he’d even held her close while he slept. He’d never done that before. Not that he’d had many occasions. Who could, with a homicidal/suicidal wolf in them?
She rolled over, faced him. “You’re awake.”
He planted a kiss on her forehead. “Thank you for guarding me.” And taking care of me. And caring. And hopefully more than caring. He jumped out of bed. “Restroom.” Plus, teeth brushing.
She sat up in bed, slid her legs across and to the floor.
“Nope,” he told her. “You wait right here.”
“What about breakfast?”
He was already in the bathroom when her words reached him. His wolf howled, and Asa found himself agreeing completely. Who cared about breakfast when you had a woman like that in bed with you?
Moments later, he hightailed it out of the bathroom and into the bed with her. “How long was I out, but not really out?”
“A couple days.” She pulled her knees up to her chest. She was in his thermal. It was baggy as hell on her up top, but it revealed a good bit of leg, and when she sat like that—
He dragged his eyes away from where they’d been going to the smile on her face.
“How’d I end up in my briefs?”
“You don’t remember undressing before you dropped into bed?”
“Nope. I don’t recall much about the last few days.”
“Your phone rang a couple times. I took the liberty of answering and telling your brothers and Omar and Magnus you were recuperating.” Her hair was a wild cascade of waves, all over her shoulders and back.
“I appreciate it.” He tucked a lock behind her ear then he took her hand, turned it over, noticed a tattoo. Was it a…? What the heck was it? Two intersecting circles, one on top of the other. Looked like a figure eight, almost, except that it had overlap. There were two vertical parallel lines that bisected the circles. Oddest thing he’d ever seen as a tattoo. “What’s this?”
She studied it. A tiny smile of nostalgia played on her face. “I was born with it. All Valkyrie are.”
“The same exact tattoo?”
“No, each of the sects has a different one.”
He waggled his brows. “Sex?”
She laughed and playfully slapped him on the top of his hand. “No. Sect. S-E-C-T. We are divided into sects.” Guilt washed over her face briefly, then she continued. “Not supposed to talk about this to non-Valkyrie. But guess I’m not one of them anymore. And it’s not like you’d go telling, would you?”
“Cross my heart.” He made the sign over his chest.
“We’re born with violet eyes that go black when we’re in Valkyrie-mode. We’re also born with reddish hair, though a few like to play with hair dye. Hell of a long time, having red hair for an eternity. And we are born with these on our wrists.”
“What about the guys?”
She frowned at him, confused, then realization dawned. “There are no males born into our species. Also, men are not taken as husbands or consorts or anything. They are good for one thing and one thing alone. Well, make that two. They are for pleasure and for seed. That’s all.”
Damn. He hoped she didn’t think that way still. He was good and ready for a subject change. “So, uh, I don’t think these two days should count against the week in the cabin, you know.”
“No? Because we were in the cabin, technically.” There was a mischievous glint in her eye he wanted to kiss right out of her.
“I don’t think I was in the cabin. I believe I was somewhere else.”
“I see. I don’t suppose I should ask where you were?”
“Not where I wanted to be.” He pulled her close. “So, a week, right?”
“A week. Starting now.”
Chapter Twenty-Two
Emme awoke first on the seventh day. Asa still slept heavily, his arm around her waist, where it had been every night and morning since the first day. This was the end of their time. She’d only agreed to a week, and he’d not mentioned anything more about it.
They’d kissed. God, the man could kiss. He stole her breath, heart, soul, and could have had her body with every kiss. But he’d not pushed the envelope. She knew he wanted it as bad as she did. She felt his massive erection against her back every morning when she awakened.
She’d never waited for sex and had a feeling he never had either. So, what was he waiting for?
Even more important, Valkyrie, she chastised herself, what are you waiting for?
Indeed, what was she waiting for? She’d never been shy around a man. She’d taken what she wanted, grabbing the proverbial bull by the horn. And yet, there was something about Asa. Something about being with him that made her want to have more than just a week. More than just a tumble in the sheets.
Would she be leaving the cabin today? Would he? Would she go stay with Eira at the main house? She hadn’t seen her sister or Range since they’d come to the cabin, though she’d talked to them on the phone a few times. Maybe Asa would prefer she stay here at the cabin and he go to the main house. It was his home, after all.
She kept her body very still while she pondered the very real dilemma she was facing. She’d fallen for him. She so understood now what had driven Eira to follow Range across the country and to toss her life aside. Emme would do the very same in a heartbeat. Valkyrie weren’t supposed to do that. Ever. And yet…
She reflected on the week that had passed. The first couple of days, they’d been locked up in the cabin. A blizzard had hit. A late one, according to Eira’s text. The cabin was well stocked, plenty insulated, and had a fireplace with tons of firewood on the back porch.
Blizzard? No problem.
After he’d awakened, they’d spent the next few days exploring Alaska. He’d taken her for rides on an ATV all over the territory. Showed her the wildlife. She’d seen eagles, bears, wolves, foxes. The next day, he’d taken her to the lake, and they’d fished; albeit, fishing wasn’t her favorite pastime. They’d hiked. He’d cut more wood to replenish what she’d burned. She’d checked out his physique in his tank top while he chopped.
She bit back a sigh at the memory of that day. Perspiration glistening on his back. His arms flexed and corded with every swing of the ax. If he’d have walked up and kissed her at that moment, she’d have dragged him inside the cabin.
So, what gave? Why hadn’t she? Why hadn’t he? Was this a test for him to see if he liked her enough to… What? Sleep with her? Keep her around?
Damn it. Where was her insecurity coming from? She’d never been this way before.
She’d read once that love can make you crazy. Was this a sign of that?