Free An Alpha's Tempest (Water Bear Shifters 4) by Sloane Meyers Page B

down at the dress because she was unable to meet his eyes at that moment. “But, is it okay? For the funeral I mean?”
    Ben stood, and walked around her in a slow circle as he spoke. “It’s perfect. Shifters funerals aren’t any different than normal funerals, when it comes to what people wear. And people around here are laid back about things like that. There aren’t any strict rules about having to wear black, or even about having to dress up. The most important thing is that people show up to honor their friend or loved one who passed away.”
    “Okay,” Rhythm said. “Then, if you’re sure it’s okay. I think I’ll get this one.”
    “I’m sure. You look lovely,” Ben said, coming to a stop directly in front of her and lifting his finger to gently brush her cheek. When he made contact with her skin. Rhythm felt like fire was shooting from his body into hers. Her breathing became rapid, and when she tilted her head up to look at him, she could see his eyes blazing with desire. They stood there for several long moments, holding each other’s gaze, and both acknowledging with their eyes what they couldn’t bring themselves to say with their mouths yet.
    They wanted each other.
    Rhythm felt heat growing between her legs, and her heart was beating so loudly that she was sure Ben must be able to hear it. She was the one to break the moment, coughing nervously when she couldn’t take the heat any longer.
    “I should get changed,” she said, taking a step backward toward the dressing room. “We don’t want to end up leaving late.”
    Ben nodded, but he never took his eyes off of her as she quickly backed into the dressing room and shut the door behind her. As soon as she closed it, she leaned her face against the mirror, willing the cool glass to chill her burning skin.
    Her mind was screaming at her that she was insane if she thought getting together with a bear shifter was a good idea—let alone with a bear shifter who was being hunted for his life by a group of crazy scientists who happened to be her former employer.
    But her heart was doing happy somersaults, and celebrating the fact that she was about to take a solo trip into the Alaskan wilderness with the strong, handsome man who was waiting for her just on the other side of the fitting room door.
    And for once, Rhythm was going to listen to her heart.

Chapter Seven
     
    Rhythm watched with interest as Ben did his routine preflight checks on the Cessna aircraft that would be taking them to Frost Peak. His face was all business, with his eyebrows furrowed and his nose scrunched up as he looked over every square inch of the plane. He had asked Rhythm if she’d ever been on a flight in a plane this small before, and she hadn’t. The Coast Guard helicopter that she’d ridden in after the rescue crew had pulled her out of the water was the smallest aircraft she’d ever been in, and this plane was even smaller. With barely enough room for two adults and Rhythm’s small duffel bag, it looked almost like a toy airplane to her. Ben had assured her that the aircraft was in top shape, and that, although it might feel strange to be in such a small plane, that she was perfectly safe and he would take good care of her.
    Rhythm wasn’t worried. If she was going to trust someone to ferry her around in a tiny airplane, a Coast Guard pilot seemed as good a person as any. She felt more embarrassed than anything about the size of the bag she had packed. It wasn’t a large duffel, by any means, but it still took up almost all of the extra space in the aircraft. Although they only planned to be at the Frost Peak Clan’s headquarters for a day, Rhythm had decided to take a few extra outfits so that she had a choice of what to wear. Their shopping trip had continued for an hour after she bought the purple dress, and she had snatched up a new jacket along with new jeans, shirts, underwear, and shoes. Nothing crazy—just some practical basics. But, still, she had