Goldie Lox And Her Trio Of Bears (Goldie Lox Prophecy Book 1), стр. 22

“I know we’re strangers to you now. But maybe in time…”

“You guys are all absolutely gorgeous, and most girls would probably kill to be in my shoes. I just don’t feel ready to have kids. I don’t know if I’ll ever be ready. My parents have always acted like it was my sworn duty to carry on our family line. But I always felt like I had more to offer this world than an ability to procreate.”

“Was that what the spirit demanded in exchange for saving your life?” Vincent frowned.

“No.” Jillian let go of Vincent’s hands and took a step back. “This was a freebee. But she said that if I stayed here, I would be back. The next time I needed something from her, she would be expecting me to start making babies.”

“Have you had any other visions?” A contemplative look came over him.

“Earlier when I was talking to Finn, I saw that deer get shot just a few seconds before it happened.” She bit her thumbnail. “I didn’t just see it, I felt it. And I can’t stop thinking about it.”

“The spirits have been completely silent for all these years.” He sighed. “Why are they getting all stirred up now?”

“The climate crisis is reaching a tipping point.” She folded her arms. “If there were ever a time for them to give us one last shot at saving ourselves, this would be it. I don’t know why they would choose me to deliver the message.”

“I wish I had an answer for you, but every explanation just leads to more questions.” He reached out an open hand. “What I can promise is that you’re safe here. If you take one of us as a mate, it will be you that does the choosing. Females are all sacred in our tribe, not just oracles and Vessels.”

“I…” She stammered, looking up into those big brown eyes. She’d never been able to picture herself kissing a bearded man before. But the last two days had turned every one of her preconceptions upside down.

“Your desires and your body will be respected, no matter what you decide.” His words were reassuring, but her desires and her body were feeling neither respectable nor decisive.

“I want to stay here for a while. But nothing is going to change my mind about being a vessel. I don’t think there’s any point in fighting the fact that I’m an oracle. The visions are going to happen whether I want them to or not.”

“Well.” Vincent took her hands in his. “Your presence will attract other shifters, maybe even other vessels. With everything we’ve witnessed in the last couple of days, I’m starting to think anything is possible.”

“I love your optimism.” She looked back toward the house. “The spirits may not be quite so flexible.”

“We should probably get some sleep.” He nodded toward the cabin, and the two of them headed back. He reached out to open the door. As she stepped inside, a blast of hot air swept over her.

“Mmm.” She rubbed her hands together. “I got cold out there.”

“Do you need some help with that?” Vincent smiled. She gaped back at him before he clarified, “The coat.”

“Oh.” She chuckled softly, shaking her head. “Sure. Thank you.” She shrugged it off, and his hands brushed over her arms as it slid down slowly. She turned to face him, and he draped the coat over the back of a chair. Her body drifted forward, almost as if she were being drawn like a magnet. Before she even realized what she was doing, her fingers slid up the contours of his back, thick and sinuous, and he lifted his hands to cup her face.

“Wait.” His voice brought her back to her senses. “This isn’t what you want. Not really.”

“I don’t know what came over me.” Jillian’s hands dropped to her sides as she took a step back. “I’m so sorry.”

“The fact that you’re a vessel means that biology is going to draw us to you.” He took a deep breath and exhaled, walking over to the window for fresh air. “And you will be drawn to us.”

“Why did you stop me?” She blushed, feeling a little sheepish. “How were you able to stop yourself?”

“I’ve contained the spirit of a uniquely savage bear. When we shift, the most primitive side of us fights to take over. It takes practice learning to control it.”

“I’m so embarrassed.” She wrung her hands.

“Don’t be.” His hands were heavy on her shoulders as he pulled her in. She put her arms around him and breathed against his chest as he stroked her hair. “I already gave you my word; you’ll be safe with us. If anything ever happens, it will be because you want it to.”

“Goodnight again.” She tucked her hair behind her ear, backing away to return to her bed, or rather Vincent’s bed. She pulled the blankets over her, savoring the weight of the heavy quilt bearing down on her body as if it were the only thing keeping her from floating away.

Tossing and turning, she tried not to keep replaying that moment in her mind, how the curves of his muscles felt under her fingertips, how his smell set her skin on fire, and how she wanted more than anything to taste the salt of his sweat. She throbbed and ached inside as she squeezed her thighs together, waiting for it to pass. She didn’t remember it ever going away, but it must have because she did eventually fall asleep.