Page 12 of Seneca

But then he heard a squeak as her door opened and the soft creak of the floor as she walked into the family room.

“Are you awake?”she whispered.

He rose onto his elbows and looked toward the hall where she stood, fidgeting with the edge of her tank top.“Yeah.Are you okay?”

“I can’t sleep.”

“Me either.”

“Could I… join you?”

“Sure.”

He was going to sit up so she could sit next to him, but before he could situate himself, she stretched out next to him, her back against his chest and her sweet scent in his nose.

He gently laid his arm over her waist and adjusted one of the pillows under his head.

“I can’t stop thinking about you,” she said with a low voice.“But I knew if I asked you to join me in the bedroom that I’d want to do more than sleep.I thought being in the bedroom alone would help, but my tigress is being really noisy.”

He chuckled.“My bear is too.I think it’s just what happens with soulmates.I promise I’d keep my hands to myself if you just wanted to sleep.”

“That’s the problem.I don’t want you to keep your hands to yourself.I think it’s my human side that’s trying to put the brakes on.My tigress would like to get naked with you right now.”

He chuckled and kissed her bare shoulder and she shivered.

“We don’t have to rush into anything,” he said.“Whatever happens, happens.”

She made an agreeing noise that morphed into a yawn.

“You’re so warm.”

“It’s my bear.”

“Maybe it’s just you.Warm and protective.I can’t remember ever feeling so safe.”

He smiled.They didn’t talk anymore after that, both comfortable in the silence, and in no time, he fell asleep to her deep breathing, content to have his soulmate in his arms.

* * *

He woke in the morning with Sunny curled against him.Morning light was just starting to filter in through the blinds.He loved how perfectly she fit against him.She stirred and murmured agood morning.

He kissed the juncture of her neck and shoulder, where her tank top had slipped to the side.

She turned over to face him, her hand slipping up under his shirt and her fingers splaying over his skin.Tilting her face to his for a kiss, he pressed his lips to hers, his bear making appreciative noises that made his chest rumble.

She smiled at him, her eyes drifting closed as she snuggled a little deeper into his arms.“I slept really well.”

“Me too.”

“I didn’t think it was possible to get a good rest on a couch.But I’m sure it had more to do with how comfortable I feel with you.”

His bear chuffed in happiness.

“I’m glad you slept well.”

“Do we have any plans today?”

“Since I’m off work, I thought we could have breakfast in the employee cafeteria and then I can give you the park tour.And if you’d like, I could arrange a date for us.I’ll have to clear it with security and get an escort, but we could go to dinner.”