“She’s earned a little teasing. You should hear the crap she’s been giving me since we met.”

“True,” Ben agreed. “But she watches out for you almost as much as you watch out for her. Don’t be surprised if she’s ready to skin you alive when we get there.”

Sure enough, River was waiting for him outside camp, radio in hand and first aid kit tucked under her arm. Her concern was cute, but the expression on her face was far less cute when she realized he’d been messing with her. Smart man that he was, Ben kept walking, leaving Easton in relative privacy with River.

“Blood? Really?” Hmm. It had been a long time since a woman had looked so ticked at him, like she had every right to put him in his place. To be honest, he rather liked it.

Chuckling, Easton wrapped his arm around River’s shoulders, hauling her into a big hug. At first, she resisted the hug, a wolverine ready to chew his face off, but Easton had it on good authority that he gave especially good hug.

Even River could only last for so long.

“Uhhh. You’re so warm. It’s so good, but it’s so bad.”

“You were worried about me,” he teased her.

“Shut up. I wasn’t.”

“Were too.”

She snuck a peek up at him. “Are you sure you’re okay? The blood was a joke, right?”

He was absolutely fine. The fact that it mattered to her though…

“I’m perfect.” He couldn’t feel her cheek through the thick glove he wore, but he liked the pressure of her leaning into his palm.

“Can I kiss you?” River asked softly.

A woman had never asked him that before. Blinking somewhat stupidly, he said nothing.

“Okay, well that answers that.”

With the wind biting into their skin, flushing their cheeks rosy, there was no way to tell if he’d embarrassed her or not. But when she took a step backward, her rueful smile said it all.

“You could’ve kissed me. I wouldn’t have minded.”

“Nope, you can’t grab someone and kiss the crap out of them.” With a small huff, River added, “Even if you would look cute dipped in a dramatic embrace, consent is sexy, Easton. Try to keep up with the times.”

She wasn’t wrong. Knowing she wanted to kiss him only made him want to even more. Easton didn’t chase women. He was too large, his presence too overwhelming to too many people. He never wanted anyone to feel uncomfortable around him, especially not a woman half his weight and a foot shorter than him. But if she wanted him, Easton was more than willing to oblige her.