Tom sighed heavily. “Look, Nick, I can tell what I’m feeling for Savannah is pretty obvious.”
“Yeah, it is,” Nick agreed. “But I’m happy for you, Tom. When you find your mate, then that’s the best feeling in the world.”
“My mate?” Tom snorted, shaking his head. “I don’t know if she’s my mate, Nick.”
Nick lifted one eyebrow. “Is that so? So, how does your bear feel about her, then?”
Tom didn’t want to answer, knowing his brother was right. His bear was happy whenever she was around. It was more peaceful, almost, as though it knew she was the one shifter that made him feel happier than he’d ever been before.
“Got it,” Nick grinned, as Jo walked out with Dan limping behind her. “Have fun, Tom!” They walked out, leaving the door open.
Tom didn’t know what to say. His head was spinning, and he stared after them long after the door closed. Was Savannah his mate? Was that what his bear had been trying to tell him?
Shaking his head, Tom sank into a seat and put his head in his hands. This was serious. If his bear had found his mate, then Tom knew there would never be anyone else who made his bear complete in the same way. Was that how Nick had felt when he’d finally admitted his feelings for Jo?
A short time later, Tom sniffed the air, hard. Swirling around him was the scent of cooked steaks, followed by the heady scent of Savannah. She'd showered or something, since the smell of honey and lavender was growing stronger the closer she came. His heart began to thump in anticipation, his hands growing sweaty. He couldn't think straight and, suddenly, Nick’s word were ringing in his mind.
Savannah walked in, a bag in her hands. Smiling shyly at him, she put the bag on the table and shrugged out of her coat. “Hello,” she murmured, flinging it across a chair. “I brought desert.”
“I cooked steak,” he replied, trying not to give into his instinct to grab her and take her to the bedroom straight away. “Not that great a cook though.”
She giggled. “I’m sure it will be great.” She looked away for a moment before catching his eye again. “Are you okay?”
He let out one long breath. “Fine, now that you’re here,” he replied, knowing the line was straight out of some cheesy movie. Heat crept into his cheeks, but thankfully, Savannah let out a soft laugh.
"I'm glad I'm here too," she smiled, thinking that she quite liked the look of the slightly less assured Tom. The slight redness in his face made her smile. She'd been nervous walking up to the shop but in a good way. It was almost in anticipation.
Tom cleared his throat, trying not to give in to his desire to carry her to his small bedroom straight away. “Hungry?”
She nodded. “Famished. Are there plates?”
“In the back room, where Dan is – was,” he corrected. “He’s gone to the cabin for dinner with Jo and Nick.”
Savannah darted a look at him. “Oh.” It was very apparent that they were alone, and that made her toes curl with excitement. From Tom’s heated looks and the way his eyes ran down her body, she knew exactly what was on his mind. It was on hers too.
“I’ll get them,” he mumbled, walking past her.
Suddenly curious, Savannah followed, pushing open the door. The room was small but comfortable, with a refrigerator and cooker in the corner. At the other end of the room was a television on one side, and a sofa on other. “Is that where Dan slept?”
“Yeah.”
She watched as he pulled plates from the shelves and cutlery from the drawer. “Can I help?”
“Sure, there’s glasses there and some drinks in the refrigerator.”
Soon, the two of them were sitting opposite each other, each trying to keep their mind on the food and not on each other. Savannah closed her eyes as she ate her steak. “This is amazing,” she murmured. Opening her eyes, she quirked an eyebrow at him. “I thought you said you weren’t a good cook.”
He laughed. “I can cook steak, I guess.”
She laughed too, the sound making them both smile at each other.
“Are you happy here?”
Savannah looked at him, surprised. “Yeah, I guess so. Don’t I look happy?”
He shrugged, swallowing a mouthful of food. "You just said you used to walk around a lot, traveling from place to place. I guess I wondered if you were happy here so that you'd stay a while."
Savannah’s throat clogged with a sudden rush of emotion. “I’m not planning to go anywhere, Tom.”
Nodding, he gave her a lopsided smile. “That’s good.”
“Although I will need to find a new place soon.”
“Really?”
She nodded, her face twisting. “That place is old and dusty. Sometimes it feels like it’s going to fall down around my ears!” Her eyes grew distant as she looked past him. “No, I want a new place. A place I can make my own. Somewhere I can put down roots. Somewhere I can be safe.”
Tom watched her, with a flicker of concern. Somewhere she could be safe? What did that mean? Worrying that there was something going on she wasn’t telling him, he watched the way her eyes grew distant as she lost herself in thought. “I hope you know I’ll always be here for you, Savannah. You don’t have to be afraid.”
Startled, she jumped with surprise, before collecting herself. She’d been thinking about life without Lucas, thinking about just how happy she’d away from that pack. The sense of freedom that filled her had made her lose track of the conversation and she was suddenly aware of just how intently Tom was watching her.
“Sorry,” she mumbled, ducking her head to eat a bit more of her meal. “Lost myself for a minute there.”
Tom grinned at the pink in her cheeks, before finishing up his own food. Sitting back, he smiled to himself, thinking just how pretty she looked when she was embarrassed.
Putting down her fork, Savannah shook her head. “I don’t think I could eat another bite,” she said, laughing. “Thank you, Tom. That was amazing.”
Tom smiled, before his eyes and face grew serious. He’d wanted to be honest with her for a long time and now felt like that moment. “I’m glad you’re here, Savannah.”
She looked at him, feeling her chest begin to constrict with emotion. “I’m glad I’m here too, Tom. Being here with you is….” Frowning, she struggled to find the words to give clarity to her emotions. “It feels right, you know?”
Tom nodded, finding that he completely agreed. “My bear would agree too,” he replied, with a slightly wry smile.
Savannah gave him a slight smile. "I need to know that this is serious between us, Tom. I don't want to start something that you're just looking at as one-time thing."
"Definitely not a one-time thing," he muttered, but the confusion on Savannah's face made him stop his joking. Leaning forward, he took her hand across the table. "Savannah, I feel the same. I don't want this to be a one-off. I'm not that kind of guy. I'm looking for a long term relationship and, if you're going to be staying here, then that's the only reason I'd be open to taking this further. I don't do flings."
The sincerity in his eyes made her sigh with relief, although her gut tightened as she remembered just how much she was keeping from him. “Okay,” she breathed, electricity shooting up her arm as his fingers began to run across the back of her hand.
“Okay,” Tom repeated, suddenly nervous. There was a table between them and he didn’t really know how to make a move. He’d been honest when he’d said he didn’t do this sort of thing, and the sudden darkening of her eyes was making lightbulbs go off in his head.
Savannah looked up at him. “So, are you going to kiss me or what?” she asked, quietly.
He grinned at her, getting up. “No, I’m not,” he replied, as her mouth dropped open. “Not unless you can catch me.”
“What?” Savannah stared after him as he practically ran to the door, hearing him shift into his bear almost immediately. A roar of delight came from his mouth and Savannah felt her bear respond at once. Pushing herself away from the table, she ran into the op
en air, and let her bear push through her skin. Tossing her head, she snorted once before sniffing the air and beginning to follow his trail.
It didn’t take Savannah long to find Tom. It wasn’t as though he was making it difficult, given that he’d run to the lake. A slight growl of distress left her mouth as she remembered what Lucas had done to her here. Tom didn’t know that, of course.
A sudden splash made her tense, her eyes searching the water. Not a single muscle moved as she looked across the water, finally landing on Tom. He wasn’t in his bear skin any more. He’d done exactly the same as she had last time they’d been here – changed into his human skin and gone swimming in the lake.
“Are you going to come in?” she heard him call. “The water’s lovely.” It was the same words she’d used the first time they’d been here and she could hear the hint of laughter in his voice.
Her body snapped back faster than it ever had before, making her gasp with pain. Coming here held good and bad memories. She didn't want to be reminded of Lucas but told herself that being here with Tom would erase that memory. She would replace her dark thoughts with new, bright ones. Trying not to cover herself with her hands, Savannah stood tall in the moonlight and tried to find Tom in the water.
Her ears pricked up. She could hear something but wasn't quite sure what it was. If she was back in her bear she'd have worked it out straight away. She felt vulnerable, exposed.
Tom suddenly ripped from the water, his hand reaching out to grab her leg and pull her in. Losing her balance, Savannah toppled in, head first. The shock of cold water pushed all the air from her lungs as she came up spluttering.
Tom couldn’t help but laugh at her expression, amused that he’d managed to get one over on her. She didn’t see him swimming underneath the water and the element of surprise was too much not to take advantage of.
“What do you think you’re doing?” Savannah spluttered, her face growing hot despite the cool water. “I could have drowned!”
He rolled his eyes at her, as they both tread water. “Not likely,” he said with a grin. “I’ve seen you swim before.”
The moon shone on the surface of the water, making Tom’s expression clear to see. Savannah’s anger began to drain away as he slowly swam closer to her, his eyes darkening just a fraction. The mischief on his face melted away and changed into something completely different.
“Come here,” Tom growled, reaching for her.
With a rush, Savannah threw herself backward and swam as fast as she could. He would have to catch her first.
Just as her feet hit the bottom, Tom grabbed her from behind, turned her around to face him and placed his lips on hers. Her feet struggled to stay put on the slippery lake floor, but Tom planted his feet and tugged her close. Holding them both steady, he kept one arm wrapped around her waist while the other pushed back her soaking wet hair from her face. His mouth was hot and urgent, his tongue pressing into her mouth with a ferocity that took her breath away. Savannah clung to him, pressing her body as close to him as she could. She needed him in a way she’d never experienced before. She couldn’t explain it, but, in this moment, everything felt right.
CHAPTER 18
Savannah tried to move, tried to find her own footing, but her hands were tied to Tom’s chest, as though they belonged there. She couldn’t move, even if she wanted to. He was strong enough for the both of them, keeping them both anchored there in the water, holding her as if he would never let her go.
Tom held Savannah tight, his body ready for her almost at once. He’d been waiting for this, had been needing this, for days but now that it was finally happening, he wanted the world to slow down so that he could take in every single sensation. He knew his kisses were strong and intense, but Savannah wasn’t backing down or shying away. Instead, her tongue was tangling with his, her whole body trembling as she anchored herself to him. The feel of her naked body pushed up against his was making all sorts of explosions go on in his head, while his heart squeezed with some kind of happiness, a happiness he couldn’t quite explain.
Savannah felt her body begin to tighten like a coiled spring as Tom kissed her. His skin was smooth and soft, but Savannah could feel the rock hard muscles beneath, flexing tight as he held her. Finally able to move her hands, she ran them down over his chest, splaying one hand over his heart. She could feel it beating there, strong and fast. Breaking the kiss, Savannah looked deeply into Tom’s eyes, hearing her own quick breathing. Managing to find her feet, she stepped back a little, forcing him to pull his arm from her waist. Finding it with her free hand, she lifted his own hand to her chest, settling it over her heart. Together, they stood, listening and feeling their heartbeats slowly merge together as one.
“Savannah,” Tom whispered. “I want to tell you something.”
“Tell me anything,” she replied, softly. She wanted to know everything about him. All the things he kept hidden from everyone else, she wanted to know. He was the only one who made her feel this way, the only one who had made his way into her heart.
Tom swallowed, and Savannah felt his heartbeat quicken. “I – I think I’m starting to fall in love with you,” he said, slowly, as if he hadn’t quite come to terms with it himself. “I mean, I’m not sure if it’s love, but I know I’ve never felt this way about anyone before.”
She sighed, as tears flooded her eyes. Leaning forward, she rested her cheek against the hard plane of his chest, with her free hand curling up around his neck. "I feel the same way," she whispered. In so many ways, she and Tom were at the same place on this road they'd started together. Neither of them had loved before, and neither of them were quite sure what it was supposed to feel like. In that way, it took the fear away, knowing that he felt the same.
Breathing hard, she lifted her head, her eyes meeting the line of his strong jaw and the soft lips above it. Running her lips along the edge of his jaw, she heard him inhale sharply. “I know you want me, Tom,” she said, skimming her teeth down the side of his neck. “I can smell it from you.” It was true. The water didn’t quite manage to hide the rush of pheromones that came from him the moment they’d started kissing.
Tom growled low in his throat, his chest rattling under her hands. Her desire filled his lungs, making his whole body ache for her. The touch of her lips on his heated skin was making his bear begin to growl in earnest, wanting him to take her.
Forcing himself to go slowly, and to savor every moment with Savannah, Tom threw his head back and let Savannah nip and lick her way down his neck and shoulders. Her hands were moving down his chest until they dipped into the water. There was a cautiousness about her that made him almost frustrated in his desire for her to touch him, but he stood still and waited, hardly daring to breathe.
The moment her fingers brushed him, he couldn’t help the soft groan that came from deep in his throat. Savannah looked up at once, as if she wanted to check she was doing it right, but he couldn’t even form words. Instead, he closed his eyes and groaned again when she reached for him, finally growing a little bolder.
Savannah bit the edge of her lip as Tom groaned louder, her own desire beginning to rise up inside. She hadn’t been sure about what she was doing, but Tom seemed to like it. He’d tensed and relaxed, tensed and relaxed as she began to caress him, growing surer with each stroke.
Tom opened his eyes, and dragged one finger to her mouth, releasing it from her teeth and looking deeply into her eyes. His eyes were full of emotion, bright in the moonlight as they looked into hers. Savannah's breath caught in her chest at the emotion she saw there, her heart shattering into a million pieces. Her hand stilled.
“Savannah,” Tom whispered, dragging her close to him again. His mouth met hers again, but this time with a tender gentleness. His hands moved over her slowly, over her shoulders and down her back, as though he wanted to explore every last bit of her. He was taking his time and Savannah felt like some kind of treasured possession, something precious and valuable. She’d never felt like
that before.
“Please,” she whispered, as Tom began to feather kisses along the side of her jaw. “Please, Tom.” She didn’t even know what it was she was asking for, just that she wanted more. More of Tom. More of him. All of him.
Without warning, Tom grabbed her hips, forcing her legs up and around. With two strides, he had Savannah pressed against the bank, his mouth in line with her breasts. Setting her back on the slightly submerged bank, he let her rest there, seeing the way she was completely open to him. Thinking that he'd never seen anything as beautiful as Savannah, he let his hands trail up over her hips until they cupped her breasts, one in each hand. His mouth was drawn to their soft, pink tips. When Savannah let out a soft moan, Tom couldn't have stopped for the world. His hands moved lower, touching and stroking. He wanted to memorize her every curve, wanted to remember what she tasted like, felt like, smelled like.
Savannah didn't have time to be embarrassed over the sounds that came from her mouth, as Tom's strong gentleness caressed her body. His hands, his lips, and his tongue roved over her, in a slow sweetness. When his fingers found her core, she couldn't help but arch her back, pressing herself against him as best she could. Her bottom was sitting on the small bank that was just under the water, while the rest of her sat exposed, but suddenly Savannah wanted him to see all of her.
Wrenching herself away, she pushed herself backward up onto the bank, glad that the soft grass only tickled at her skin. Water ran from her body, but she turned to face Tom without shame. She wanted him to see her, and for her to see him.
“What are you doing?”
“Come here,” she said, crooking a finger. “I want to see you.” He didn’t need any more encouragement. Pulling himself from the water in one smooth movement, he stayed an arm’s length away as she ran her eyes over him. He was tall and strong and lean, his body lit with moonlight. Soft butterflies began to beat in her stomach as his jaw pulled back in a slightly feral smile, his own gaze sweeping over her. Anticipation began to run high as she saw the desire written on his face. "I need you, Tom," she whispered, before moving to lie across the grass.
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