Safe. How long had it been since she felt safe? When she had her sight. She hadn’t felt safe since losing it, not knowing who was in a room with her, who approached her or how to simply maneuver through a room. She certainly hadn’t felt safe in the snowstorm and if it hadn’t been for Tarass, she would have never survived.

At the moment, with his arms tight around her and her body pressed firmly against his, she felt safer than she had ever felt since going blind, and she couldn’t imagine letting go of feeling that secure, at least not yet.

Tarass gave no thought to releasing her, not until she was ready. He could feel her body still quivering with fear and he would keep hold of her until it dissipated even if it took all night.

He did think, however, talking to her might help calm her. “Thaw came and got me. I imagine he tried to wake you and when he couldn’t, he ran for help.” When she didn’t say anything he continued, “You know my whole clan believes the pup is named after the mighty god Thor and will treat him with respect even though he snarls at most of them.”

He felt a small chuckle run through her. “He is named after a winter thaw and not the god Thor, right? A winter thaw fits well with Snow.”

“Thaw and I fit perfectly together,” she said as she plucked her face out of the crook of his neck and turned it up toward his face and didn’t realize the distance between their lips.

Her lips brushed his with a delicate faintness that could barely be felt, yet it sent a sharp jolt to her senses, sending a rush of tingles through her. Instinct had her hurrying back away from him, while passion-filled pokes urged her to return to his arms and his lips.

Thaw hurried into her lap as she moved away and she quickly snatched him up in her arms to hug him to her.

Tarass stood with haste and stepped away from the bed. The way her lips had brushed his could barely be called a kiss, and yet he had never felt as much intensity from a kiss than he had from the faint touch of her lips on his. If a faint touch could produce such a bolt of pleasure, what would a full kiss feel like?

He had to restrain himself from finding out, a good reason to leave, and yet he didn’t want to. He wanted to linger in that shot of pleasure that aroused him enough to turn him hard. Another reason to take his leave quickly. And still…

“I will go. You need more sleep,” he forced himself to say as he backed away from the bed and turned toward the door.

“Tarass,” she called out.

“Aye,” he said, not turning around.

“Thank you.”