Burning Ice: 6 (Werewolf Sentinels) by Marisa Chenery Page A

went by, Capac finally picked up her scent. One sniff and it changed his world. His mating urge slammed into him, stealing his breath as the knowledge of what she was to him hit home.
    Capac would have followed her, but he had the little problem of a charging bear to handle before he could. He focused his attention on the large animal that barreled toward him and did what any wolf would do when its mate was threatened—he stood his ground and let loose with his best and loudest werewolf growl.
     
    Riya knew she made a huge mistake when she took off running from the bear, but her fear overrode her common sense. But her fear didn’t stop her from speeding past the man who had rushed toward her. Without looking back, she didn’t come to a halt until she reached the opposite side of the creek.
    She turned to see if the man had followed her, but he remained where she’d left him. He stood straight and tall as he faced down the charging bear. He then did something she never would have expected. He let loose with an animalistic growl that would have done any wolf proud. It brought the bear up short. The large animal sniffed the air before he did an about-face and took off back into the trees.
    The danger now past, Riya’s wobbly legs gave out on her and she sank to the ground as she watched the man turn and walk in her direction. Even though Riya was still shaken with what had just happened, she was able to admire him. She’d noticed him right after he’d arrived at the creek, but had not acknowledged him. She wasn’t stuck-up or anything. It was the fact she had found him very attractive. Riya tended to make an ass of herself around gorgeous men.
    And this one took her breath away with his native good looks, long, black hair, brown eyes and very muscular build. He wore a dark-blue jacket and blue jeans that displayed his legs to perfection. Riya had to swallow as he came closer or for sure she would have been drooling.
    She had to swallow again when she met his gaze with her own. He seemed riveted on her, eating her up, making her insides melt. Riya’s body responded to his hungry stare. Her pussy instantly ached to be filled as her nipples pebbled beneath her shirt. Her heart beat faster the nearer he came.
    Once he reached her, he went down on his knees and took Riya’s face in his hands. He then laid a kiss on her that caused her brain to short circuit almost all together. A small, breathy sigh escaped her as her eyes fluttered shut. She didn’t normally kiss a man when she hadn’t even learned his name, but his lips felt too good on her own. All too soon he pulled away.
    “Are you okay?” he asked.
    His deep baritone washed over her, making Riya shiver. She didn’t even bother attempting to speak, knowing full well she would say something utterly idiotic. Instead, she nodded. Even that she screwed up by being a little too enthusiastic with him still in such close proximity. She head-butted him square on the nose. He let go of her face with a groan and rocked back as his hands came up and covered the abused area.
    “Oh my god. I’m so sorry,” Riya said. “I hope I didn’t hurt you too much. Let me see.” She pulled at his hands but he resisted.
    “It’s okay,” he said, his voice sounding hollow because of his palms held in front of his face. She noticed his eyes were watering.
    “Is it bleeding? I’m such an idiot. Please, let me see if I did any real damage to you.”
    Riya reached for his hands again, and once more he pulled back. Determined to see for herself if he was okay, she continued to lean forward. That led to her knocking him over onto his back, his legs trapped under him as she sprawled across his upper body. He ended up falling back into the creek since they were at the very edge of it. She instantly froze and stared down at him, unable to move.
    “Ah, under different circumstances, I wouldn’t mind you on top of me,” he said. “But the water isn’t all that warm.”
    Riya quickly