Chapter Seventeen

Tom paced the garage impatiently, the tinny signal on the radio playing so that he didn’t have to listen to the repetitive tap of his boots on the concrete as he eagerly awaited Savannah’s return to the shop that night. Equal parts terror and excitement sang in his veins, as well as a bit of doubt that he refused to acknowledge. If he was going to, for himself, be sure of anything tonight, it was that there was no turning back.

“We’re heading out for the night.”

“Right” Tom mumbled as Nick put on a light jacket, “See ya.”

“Ask him about Dan!” came Jo’s disembodied voice from the office area as she called the suggestion loud enough for both brothers to hear.

Nick grinned. “She’s right, you know? I bet you didn’t include him in your dinner plans.”

He hadn’t. “Damn it.”

Nick barked a laugh. “Don’t worry about it. We were planning on taking him off your hands for the night anyway, giving him a feel for the rest of our territory and maybe swaying him to our side.”

Tom nodded. “Yeah, yeah, that sounds perfect. Thanks.”

“No problem,” Jo said, peeking into the garage with a knowing glint in her eye. Before Tom could rebut, she was already gone.

He opted for glaring at Nick instead. “Don’t start.”

Nick snorted. “I wasn’t going to say anything.”

Tom sighed heavily. “Not like you need to. I know what I’m feeling for Savannah is pretty obvious.”

“Yeah, it is,” Nick agreed. “But I’m happy for you. Finding your mate is one of the best feelings in the world.”

Little tingles of electric shocks washed across Tom’s skin at the mention of the word mate. “I don’t think we’re calling it anything just yet,” Tom said quickly, skirting around using the word himself.

Nick raised an eyebrow. “Is that so? Then tell me, how do you feel when you accidentally touch?” To Tom’s surprise, Nick paused for the answer.

Tom shrugged. “I don’t know. It’s… electric. Like touching a livewire. But in a good way.” Nick gave a satisfied snort, but he didn’t comment on the answer.

“Okay. How does your bear feel when you think about her? How do you feel when you think about her?” He waved away Tom’s words before he’d spoken them. “Those you don’t have to answer out loud. They’ll likely not make much sense in words, but you’ll know what you’re saying is true if you just remain honest with yourself.”

Tom nodded once, knowing that Nick was probably right. He’d been where Tom was before. He promised himself he’d think on it before Savannah got to the shop, even if he could already answer with complete certainty that both he and his bear were, at the very least, happy.

“Got it,” Nick grinned. “Well, I’m gonna head out now. You two have some fun tonight!” he called, closing the garage door behind him before Tom could growl a warning at him—not that Tom knew what to say, even if he wanted to speak.

He stared at the closed door in silence for a moment, letting the quiet and the conversation he’d just had waft around on the air, undisturbed. Was this how Nick had felt about Jo when he’d found out?

***

Tom was relatively calm by the time Savannah stepped through the entrance of the shop. She held up a small bag in her hand as way of greeting. “I brought dessert.”

The entire front office had filled with the aroma of the meal he’d cooked for them. He peeked his head out of the back room where he’d gotten some dishes to set out. “Perfect,” he replied, taking in the sight of her. She was wearing a heavier coat, a sign that the temperature had dropped again. Tom noticed that Savannah was more susceptible to the cold than most shifters. He hadn’t thought to ask why, but it was just one more thing that set her apart from everyone else. He didn’t mind in the slightest, but he did find himself fighting the slight urge to unzip her coat and remove it… quickly followed by everything else on her body.

He coughed to clear his mind, setting the plates on the dining table. “I hope you like steak and potatoes. I made plenty.”

“Who doesn’t like a good steak?” Savannah asked with the slightest lick of her lips. Tom couldn‘t help but wonder if she also felt the slightly building tension in the room.

He shrugged. “Well, I’m just an okay cook. So I hope you’re fine with an okay steak.”

Savannah giggled, and it made Tom’s heart palpitate. “I’m sure it will be great.” She unzipped her jacket, placing it on a hook by the entrance. “How are you tonight?”

He let out his breath in a relieved gust of wind. “Better, now that you’re here.” He winced as the cheesy line left his mouth, and seeing Savannah bite back a soft laugh.

“I’m glad I’m here too,” she smiled, looking slightly amused. Was he acting differently? He couldn’t tell. He felt happier though, and he knew it was because of her.

He cleared his throat past the nerves building there. Food first, relationship stuff later. “Hungry?”

She nodded. “Famished. Do you need me to help plate?”

“Sure, if you want. Food’s in the back where Dan is—was. He’s at the Nick’s cabin tonight.”

“Oh.” Savannah’s gaze slid slowly to the back room, a look in her eye that Tom couldn’t quite place, but it set off fireworks in his chest.

He watched as a sly glint filled her eye, his breath catching in his throat when she turned that wicked gaze on him. “So are you going to kiss me or what?” she asked quietly.

He grinned mischievously, setting down the last of the dishes at once. “Nope,” he replied, her mouth dropping open in surprise. “Not unless you catch me.”

“What?” Savannah exclaimed as he burst into action. He was out of the door before she could even recuperate from his issued challenge. He tore off all his clothes as he swung open the office entrance. “But Tom, the food!” He could hear the laugher in her voice.

“Then you better hurry up and catch me before it gets cold!” he called back just moments before the bear burst from his skin. With a roar of delight, he tore off into the woods. He raced past trees and fallen logs in tense silence wondering if she’d follow before he heard the jovial belt of Savannah’s bear sound behind him. With a joyful growl, he sprinted faster.

His chase ended at the lake; it just seemed right. As he reached the bank, he could tell she was still a ways off from catching up. With a promise to let it run free soon, Tom folded back into his human form, launching himself into the lake as Savannah’s bear cleared the tree line.

She watched him with honey amber eyes as he swam laps in the cool waters. “Are you going to come in?” he called to her. “The water’s lovely.” He saw the recognition signal in her eyes as he recited the words she’s used on him here at this very lake back to her.

Tom watched as Savannah’s body snapped back into human form with alarming speed. She let out a small gasp in pain, as her hands and knees reoriented into her human shape. A wary look passed over her face before she resettled her gaze on Tom’s. Slowly, a smile washed over her face, cheeks flushing pink from the exertion of the run. She rose to her feet, standing tall and completely naked in the moonlight, and he couldn’t help give her entire body an appreciative glance. She was absolutely breathtaking, the very sight of her curves sent electric sizzles through his body, shorting out his brain.

She watched him as he looked without an ounce of shyness on her face. The confidence in her eyes as he met her gaze astounded him. Before he could say or do anything, she launched herself into the water, a perfect replica of Tom the first night he’d swam with her in the lake.

Unlike Savannah, Tom was much too enthralled to dodge the splashes of water, spluttering for air as Savannah resurfaced, laughing.

“You didn’t even try to dodge,” she exclaimed, happily.

“Hey, before you laugh, do you realize I could have drowned?” He joked, spitting out a bit of lake water.

“Highly unlikely,” she grinned.

The moon shone off the surface of the water, highlighting the gleam in Savanna’s eyes as she laughed. Water held in the creases on the sides of her soft, smiling lips. Their eyes met once more and sparks flew, covering Tom’s wet body in goosebumps. Slowly Savannah’s mischievous expression melted away into something completely different.

“Come here,” Tom growled, reaching for her.

With a rush and a splash of water, Savannah threw herself backward and swam as fast as she could. He realized it was his turn to catch her.

She made it close enough to the bank for her feet to touch the bottom before Tom caught up with her. He spun her around, making her slip on the lake floor, but he locked her securely in place before placing his lips on hers. His hand snaked around her waist, holding her flush against him, his skin igniting in a medley of sensations wherever they touched. His mouth was hot and urgent on hers, pushing her soaked hair back from her face so that he could see all of her as she panted and gasped for him. He needed her in a way he’d never needed anyone before, in every way he’d never even thought to need someone. Nick was right; this was something he’d never be able to explain in words, but in this moment, everything felt right.