THE GAY BARTENDER

chapter sixty eight

James drew away reluctantly .It occurred to him that a quickie in the snow wasn't the best idea, though the heat in her gaze made him think getting frostbite might be wrth it.

She looked at him dazedly.''That was...nice.''

''Nice?''He though it was a fantastic , blood -boiling , melt-your-pants kind of kiss, and she'd thought it was nice?

Anna nodded , but he saw her lips tremble.''Yes . it was very nice.''

''I see. I suppose you could do better?''

''What?''

He shoved his hand through his hair then gestured at her.''I'm asking if you think you can do better than that kiss.''

She looked at him suspiciously.

''Probably.''

''PProve it ,''he drawled .''Kiss me''

He nearly lost his breath when Anna leaned foward and placed her palms against his stubbly cheeks .Taking a swift breath, she softly kissed his chin and each corner of his mouth against his. His lips allowed her entrance , and she tentatively tasted his mouth.

A low sound caught in his throat , and he pulled her closer . He thrust his tongue inside , mating with hers , before he drew away to kiss the underside of her jaw .He nibbled on her ear and trailed feathery kisses along her cheek before claiming her mouth again .Her sweet scent drugged his senses. Her trembling fingers thrust into his hair , and she pulled him closer , moaning , when he trailed a fiery path of kisses down her neck.

James lifted his head and looked at her, and found her eyes muddled with desire.He stroked her cheek with his forefinger then did what he'd wanted to do since the trip began ; he reached around and pulled out the pins trapped in her hair.Red curls rained down her shoulders .He took a strand and rubbed it along his jaw.

''James?''

She looked at his with such longing , his hard -on jumped inside his jeans .Frostbite be damned .He wanted her.He always wanted her.But he could see her doubts, her fears.But what was she afraid of? He shook his head, sighed , and dropped the confiscated curl.

''Let's go.''James gestured for her to walk ahead of him. She presented her slender back to him and climbed up the small hill. He watched her sweet ass , his gaze sweeping up her back to trail the curve of her spine with an invisible finger.

Anna watched the snow swirl from the murky clouds cluttering the sky.The frigid breeze nipped at their exposed faces , but she had donned a thick coat and gloves .As a bear shifter, Jmaes didnt't feel the cold or have the same reaction to it as a human.The fresh mountain air was tinged with scent of pine trees. When they reached the roadside, they looked around for any signs of cars or houses .She peered down the ditch and took in the crashed jeep.They were damned lucky to have walked away.

Anna spied a large rock under a shelter of trees and walked to it.

Were Donna and Joey okay? She contemplated opening her mind just a crack to see if she received any impressions , but what if she saw something she didn't want to face ? Besides, her abilities worked better when she touches objescts ownws by the victims .Victims. Guilt burbled to the surface .Anna shoved aside the excuses in a flash of self -recrimination .She didn't want to try because she was afraid . As much as she wanted to help the single mom and her young son ,she knew she was risking James life.She'd never forgive herself if she caused his death.

The rock was probably damp and cold from the snow , but the sorroundingg trees had kept it's surface from becoming too wet . Anna climbed the stone and sat down, pulling her legs up. She rested her chin on her knees and started at the snow -encrusted mountains rising into the gray sky. The highway ribboned through the flurry, a bare , black line in the unceasing white .It was too quiet . The wind whispered across Anna's face.

Why had she kissed James?

Well, duh. Because kissing him was amazing .All the same, it would've been easier to stick a aknife in her heart - it was the same kind of pain .Thwy had an explosive attraction, a deep need for physical intimacy that they'd experienced from the moment they met .She craved his presesnce like the desert craved the rain.She knew what it was like for someone to cae abaout her soul-deep. If he stays with me, he dies.

That knowledge was agaony.

''We better walk,''Said James as he leaned against the rock . ''Surely , there's a ahous around here somewhere.''

''Okay.''She hoped down .Then she sneezed .

Jmaes drew her close , and checked her forehead.

She stared at him with raised brows. ''What are you doing?''

''Are you feeling okay ?'' he asked , releasing .''Not too cold, are you ?''

I'm freezing my ass off, James.

For once , I eny your ability to grow a pelt.''

He chuckled .''C'mon , walking will get your circulation going.''

As they trudged up the mountain,Anna felt the tentative touch of James hand.He grasped her gloved fingers and squeezed. For some reason their clasped hands made her feel better. They didn't speak but she didn't feel the feel the need for words . Cars were scarce walking to Toronto wasn't a choice . She kept in shape by running but that many miles up the mountain was beyond her physical appearance. If James shifted he could moved a little bit faster without her.

She cast her gaze and stopped

"James." She shouted excitedly.

"Look! a payphone."

"Are you serious? Those still exist ,

"You better hope so "

They jogged toward the phone , but their relief was short-lived . Anna looked at the destruction in silent disbelief. Someone has severed the receiver .

ÀThe only thing left was a silver cable hanging uselessly from the metal enclosure.