A couple of days later, Eden was thinking of what she liked to call the Tea Maneuver. The act of keeping Piria under thanks to Circe’s tea.

At first, Eden wasn’t sure how to feel about the strategy to keep Piria sedated so she could be at Sean and Ty’s house without incident. A part of her realized this was the best tactic to keep the house and everyone in it safe. But on the other hand, she felt like she was betraying Piria, like she was doing something underhanded.

Damn, what a position to be in.

She watched Trista and Tessa, back from Mae’s home and outside, playing with Tyler and Camden.

Please forgive me, she silently pleaded to Piria, though she knew that Piria couldn’t hear her.

“They’re happy, aren’t they?”

She flinched and jumped. “Sean.” How the heck had he managed to sneak up on her? She must have been very involved in her thoughts.

“Sorry. I wasn’t trying to scare you. Was certain your panther would have alerted you.”

“That’s okay. No. I was thinking,” her voice was a hair above a whisper.

“How are you doing with this?” He leaned in, his leg brushing against hers. “How are you doing with your elemental being AWOL?”

She sighed, met his eyes, tried not to notice how she wanted to plunge into those eyes, how she could drown in him way too easily.

He edged in closer while she tried to process her heartbeat doubling in rate, her body temperature rising, and her panther snarling like a banshee, but in a good way.

“I’m not burning anything down,” she said, wondering how she managed to put a sentence together, the way this man was wreaking havoc on her senses and her emotions.

He leaned closer, his lips brushing against hers, gliding ever so tenderly.

Eden closed her eyes, relishing the feel of the bristly stubble against her face.

When he pulled away, she realized she’d been holding her breath and her lungs were on fire.

“I should apologize for that.” His voice was a sexy, hoarse growl, a sure sign his bear was near the surface. She could absolutely relate to that, her panther felt ready to pounce out of Eden’s skin, of that she was sure.

She opened her eyes. “You shouldn’t.”

Who knew when they’d ever have a chance to kiss again? The moment that Piria awakened, she’d be back on her death march toward annihilating bears.

“No?” He raised a brow in that sexy, chiseled face, his lips curling into a crooked smile that made her want to kiss him.

Why, oh, why, did the only man I’ve ever felt this way for have to be a bear shifter?

“No,” she shook her head. “You should take full advantage of the opportunity.”

His smile grew. “Full advantage?” This time his voice was even more of a growl, more gravelly.

She realized what she’d said. “Wait. I didn’t mean that. I meant in the kissing.”

“Oh, and what did you think I meant, dirty girl?” His laugh was low and husky.

She playfully hit him on the arm, those muscular triceps didn’t give an inch. She let her hand rest there.

That kiss. It had to be duplicated. And she had to take advantage of it now, else, there might not be another chance.

Her gaze remained locked on his as she stretched on her tiptoes and let her fingers walk up those arms, to those wide, shoulders, then around to his neck. A gloriously thick neck that boasted of his time in the gym.

“I need a little help from you, you know?” She pulled his head down to meet hers.

His mouth claimed hers, slow and passionately, his tongue stroking her bottom lip, testing the seam, demanding entrance.

Her lips parted on a sigh, tasting his wildness.

It was a kiss to end all kisses, a primeval dance of tongues that left her world shattered and her senses reeling.

He nipped at her bottom lip with sharp teeth.

Her body leaned against his, her breasts, even in the confine of her bra, pushed forward to be against his flesh, though he was in a flannel shirt that showed off his muscles to sheer perfection.

His hands were on her waist, then her hips, then at the small of her back, then lower, almost cupping her derriere.

The sound of children squealing and laughing broke through the kiss, smashing the barrier that kiss created for them at that moment.

They broke apart. Both breathless. Her cheeks burned with passion. She could feel it.

He licked his lips. “Everything I thought it would be. Damn. Delicious.”