by Liv Brywood
When he doted on Tucker, the maternal instinct she’d kept locked up for years reared its head. Sometimes, she daydreamed about what it would be like to be Kade’s mate. But with the baby’s custody still in question, she didn’t want to do anything to ruin his chances.
A wet nose poked her cheek. She turned to find Kade standing by her side. He jerked his head and padded toward the trail. She followed. Birds chirped in the trees, while chipmunks scampered out of their way. Being bears together felt natural, so when they finally reached the waterfall and wading pool, she was reluctant to shift back.
As Kade shifted, she sat on her back haunches to watch. His rippling fur receded to be replaced by glistening muscles. He was handsome in bear form, but downright mouthwatering in human form. She quickly shifted so she could kiss his irresistible lips.
“Mm,” he murmured. “I could get used to this.”
“Enjoy it while you can, because I’m not doing this hike every day.”
“Not even for a few kisses?” he teased.
“We could kiss back in town.”
“But we can’t do this back in town.”
He wrapped an arm around her waist and tugged her into the cool water. Hot from the hike, and from being in the presence of Kade’s naked perfection, she enjoyed the chilly pool. Water cascaded over the falls thirty feet above them. She turned her face up to let mist blanket her skin.
When she opened her eyes, Kade was staring at her with the hungriest gaze she’d ever seen. They came together in a passionate kiss. She parted her lips and let his tongue glide across hers. She sighed with pleasure. Every time they kissed, it felt like coming home.
She stroked the back of his neck with her fingers. He deepened the kiss, moaning into her mouth and pulling her hard against him. She surrendered to his embrace. Every inch of their bodies pressed together. Her nipples pushed against the hard muscles in his chest, sending a burst of erotic heat straight to her pussy. Standing waist-deep in the pool wasn’t enough to cool her off.
As his hands meandered down her back, she gripped the muscle in his shoulders. He’d always been a big man, but he possessed a quiet strength. Even though he’d had issues in the past, she had no doubt she could count on him now. He’d made a remarkable transformation over the last few months. He’d gone from being a bad boy train wreck to a responsible father. She wouldn’t have thought it possible, but he’d changed. The only thing that hadn’t changed was his feral need to possess every inch of her body.
The brush of his tightly cropped beard against her lips set her body on fire. The flesh around her nipples tightened into hard nubs. When his roaming hands found her breasts, she moaned. He kneaded and massaged her until she slid her hands down to grab his tight butt.
“Hey now,” he whispered. “Don’t you want to go slow?”
“I’ve been waiting weeks for this.”
“Me too.”
“Then why should we wait any longer?”
She bit the edge of her lip and backed toward the shore. She found a soft patch of new grass and wildflowers. After lying down on her side, she beckoned to him with her finger.
As he walked out of the water, droplets rippled over his muscles and fell like rain. He lay on the grass. With a soft growl, he pulled her on top of him. She slid into a straddle. Wrapping her legs around his waist, she slid her pussy up and down against his hard cock.
“Who’s the bad bear now?” she asked with a wicked smile.
“I am.”
He grabbed her hips and surged up to fill her with his throbbing cock. Driven wild by his deep thrusts, she clung to him with her thighs, riding him with abandon. She unleashed all of the pent-up frustration of the last few weeks. Her hips rose and fell with his. She dug her nails into his chest before sitting up to play with her own nipples. He brushed her hands away, claiming her breasts, pulling her close, and sucking each plump nipple into his mouth.
She growled in his ear before biting the side of his neck. A love bite, hard enough to leave marks, but not hard enough to break skin.
Impaled on his cock, she sunk down to take every inch of him. She whirled her hips and shivered as pulsing energy coiled tight in her pussy. She whipped her head back. Her hair brushed his thighs as she undulated against him. Every spiraling quiver brought her closer to the edge. She needed this man, wanted him with a fierceness she couldn’t have anticipated. Even now, fused together in a frantic race toward climax, she couldn’t get enough.
She soared over the edge, screaming his name and tightening around him. He responded with a shuddering blast of liquid fire. She fell forward, wrapping her arms around him, and pulling him close. As they slowed, her heart fluttered. Making love to Kade was never soft, or gentle, but it was perfect. Just like him.
After laying in his arms for several minutes, she rolled to lay on the grass beside him. She laced her fingers into his. When he squeezed her hand, she smiled. They hadn’t talked about what was happening between them, but she wanted to ask him how he felt. She’d never felt so in sync with before, but did he feel the same way? Did he want to build a life together, or was he simply having fun? Has he thought about the future? And was she a part of it? She wanted to ask a million questions, but now didn’t seem like the right time. She didn’t want to ruin a perfect day with endless questions about the future.
* * *
Kade fought an overwhelming urge to throw himself at her feet and beg her to marry him. It was totally insane. He couldn’t just jump into something so important so fast. And asking someone to marry them while you were both naked was never a good thing. It would appear impulsive and rash, not the impression he wanted to make on Emily.
He’d been planning on waiting until after the custody hearing to discuss their relationship, but he needed to know where he stood. Was this a casual relationship like so many he’d had in the past, or did they truly share something magical? Were they fated mates?
His bear roared with laughter. Fortunately, Emily couldn’t hear the beast taunting him.
“Yes, she’s our mate. You lost her once, don’t do it again!”
“I know, bear,” he silently answered.
“If you screw this up, I’m going to shred every inch of you with my claws.”
“Then you’d be dead too.”
His bear huffed. Kade smiled.
“What are you grinning about?” Emily asked.
“Nothing. Just enjoying this, being with you without any distractions.”
“Your mom was so sweet offering to take Tucker for the day.” She rolled onto her side. With her finger, she traced indecipherable patterns across his chest. “She sure likes to talk about the future.”
“Anything in particular?” He held his breath. Had his mom been talking to Emily about getting married? And if so, what did Emily think about it?
“Just… stuff.”
“Are you going to make me tickle-torture it out of you?” He straddled her thighs and tickled her stomach.
“Kade, oh my God, stop!”
“Are you going to tell me what she said?” He paused long enough for her to catch her breath.
“No.” She smirked.
“You’re in for it now!”
He tickled her sides until her face turned red and her claws came out. Not wanting to push her into a shift, he sat back. She swatted at him with her hands. He leaned back to avoid her claws until they retracted.
“You’re a beast,” she gasped.
“You know it.”
“Kiss me.”
He braced his hands on either side of her gorgeous face. As he lowered his lips to hers, she slid her hands across the muscles in his back. He brushed soft kisses across her lips, her throat, her breasts, before dipping lower.
“Do you know what I like to kiss most?” he murmured.
“My knees?”
He half-laughed, half-growled.
“Show me,” she whispered.
When his mouth found her damp curls, he paused to inhale
her earthy scent. If he could bottle her scent and keep it on a necklace around his neck, he would. She was everything to him, and he intended to show her how much he needed her. Maybe now wasn’t the right time to have a conversation about it, but they could talk later, after he made her squirm for him.
He used his tongue to draw a heart over her mound. She smiled and ran her fingers through his hair.
“What am I going to do with you?” she asked.
“Everything.”
He looked up. Their eyes locked. A spark of pure love passed between them. He felt it all the way to his toes. She belonged to him. He wasn’t sure if she’d realized it yet, but she would.
As he licked and sucked and teased her delicate folds, his cock hardened. He wanted to take her hard and fast, but forced himself to slow down. Rushing into sex wouldn’t give him the time he needed to savor every inch of her curvy body.
He ran his hands up and down her luscious hips before gently squeezing her plump thighs. Every inch of her exuded the sensual grace of a goddess. He couldn’t believe how lucky he was to be able to touch her like this. She was everything he’d ever wanted, and more.
Tendrils of desire wrapped around his cock. He pressed his cock against her leg. Much better. Even if he wasn’t inside her yet, he still reveled in her warmth.
His tongue darted against her clit. Shivers of pleasure wracked her body. He held her still with his hands while he swirled his tongue across her pussy. As he dragged his tongue up the length of her slit, she moaned and grabbed his biceps. He flexed, loving the way she clung to him.
Her silky skin glided past his lips as he kissed a path across her hips. He grazed her belly with his teeth before capturing one turgid nipple between his lips. She whimpered and pressed against his mouth. When his name spilled from her lips in a breathy sigh, he groaned.
He cupped her cheek in the palm of his hand and looked at her. Really looked at her. It was as if he’d never seen her before. Luminous beauty brightened her cornflower blue eyes. Rosy lips pursed in anticipation of a kiss. Chestnut hair lay in glossy waves to frame her face. She meant so much to him. So much that it scared him. He wanted to confess his love to her, but didn’t want to risk ruining the moment.
As he spread tender kisses across her cheeks, the tip of her nose, and along the edge of her jaw, her breath hitched. He placed his hand over her heart. It beat hard and fast, in time with his own. No matter what was happening, they were always in sync.
He couldn’t take this slow seduction anymore. When she parted her thighs a fraction of an inch, he slid his weight between them, pushing them apart and opening her for him. He eased in, deliberately taking his time to enjoy the way her wet heat coated him.
Buried deep inside, he quivered. He pressed his face against her shoulder and fought the tightness in his balls. Every instinct screamed that he should pound her until he filled her with his release. But he resisted. He wanted it to last, to bring her to heights of pleasure she’d never imagined.
Rocking in and out, he angled his hips until she tensed around him. He nudged her clit against his pelvic bone until she jolted. That was it, the perfect spot. As he ground against her, pulsing heat rose up to capture his soul. Making love to his mate was the most intense high he’d ever experienced.
He soared on waves of ever-increasing tension until he couldn’t hold back another second. Thrusting hard, he slid against her in just the right spot. She screamed and hooked her legs behind his back. Shuddering and moaning, she found her release. He followed her over the edge into a river of absolute bliss.
It was on the tip of his tongue to tell her that he loved her, but he held back. He wasn’t sure why, but blurting it out didn’t seem right. The longer he waited, the more important those three little words had become. He’d find the right moment. He would. But this wasn’t it.
They lay on the grass enjoying the balmy afternoon until the sun started to dip.
“We should head back,” he murmured.
“Do we have to? I want to stay here, just like this, forever.”
“I wish we could.” He pushed a lock of hair away from her face. “But we don’t want to get caught in the dark out here. I’m not allowed to fight other bears anymore. It’s one of your rules.”
She laughed and sat up. He kissed her and helped her to her feet.
“Any idea where our clothes might be?” he asked.
“Further down the trail.”
“I hope we don’t end up chafing.”
“Eww!” She gave him a playful shove. “Way to ruin a sexy afternoon.”
He laughed and grabbed her hand.
After finding their clothes, they hurried down the trail. Kade still battled with the desire to tell her he loved her, but he held back. Fear filled his heart that she wouldn’t say it back. He couldn’t get the words past his lips. Even though he knew she probably loved him too, saying it out loud terrified him.
Maybe it was because it felt like a commitment. He didn’t run around telling every woman he slept with that he loved them. In fact, he’d never said those words to any woman. Well, except his mom, but that didn’t count. It wasn’t the same kind of love. This was important, meaningful, and he needed to proceed with caution.
He glanced at her. A huge smile spread across her face. His heart squeezed. Yep, he was deeply, painfully, stupidly in love with her—and it scared the shit out of him. He could admit at least that much. Maybe he wasn’t the biggest, meanest, baddest bear in the clan anymore. She’d turned him into a softie, and he wasn’t sure that he liked feeling this vulnerable. It was a new sensation and he needed time to get used to it.
12
Emily floated down the mountain on a sex-high. Five miles didn’t mean a thing as long as she had Kade by her side. Tomorrow her feet would probably hurt, but maybe she could get him to give her a foot rub. Waiting weeks to make love had been worth it. A deep sense of peace settled into her heart. Even though she’d been hoping Kade would tell her he loved her, she didn’t want to push him. She’d decided to let him make the first move. If she said it first and he responded in kind, she wouldn’t know if he truly meant it, or if he just felt obligated to say it too. Until then, she’d enjoy being with him and try not to worry about anything else.
A half-mile from the trail’s parking lot, Kade’s phone beeped. Several more beeps followed.
“Sounds like someone’s trying to get a hold of you,” she said.
“Yeah.” He pulled his phone out of his pocket. As he read a series of text messages, the furrow in his brow increased. His face went white.
“What’s wrong?”
“Someone took Tucker.”
“What?”
They both started running toward the parking lot.
Kade pressed his phone to his ear. “Come on, come on. Pick up!”
“I’ll drive.”
Emily slid into the driver’s seat. As soon as Kade closed the door on his side, she started the car. As she headed down the hill, she cursed the speed limit. It wasn’t a suggestion. On a twisted mountain road, ignoring the posted signs could get them killed.
“Anything?” she asked.
“No. I’m calling the sheriff.” He held up a hand. “Sheriff Hannity, yeah it’s Kade. I just heard. No. No. I don’t know. Hiking. We’ll be at her house in twenty minutes. Thank you.”
“What’s going on?”
“Mom put Tucker down for a nap. When she went to check on him a few minutes later, and he was gone. The window was open. They think someone kidnapped him.”
“What!”
“Hannity’s already at the house taking mom’s statement. She’s too hysterical to get on the phone.”
“I’ll get us there as fast as I can.”
“It’s got to be Olivia.”
“Do you think she’s crazy enough to kidnap Tucker?”
“Yes. She’s nuts. The restraining order must have pushed her over the edge. I shouldn’t have left him with my mom.”
; “There’s no way you could have known this would happen.”
“He’s my responsibility.”
“This isn’t your fault.” She risked a quick glance in his direction. Fur sprouted on his cheeks. “Kade, breathe. If your bear comes out, it’s going to take us a lot longer to get there.”
“I know,” he snapped. “Don’t you think I’m trying to control it?”
She pressed her lips together. He was stressed out. He hadn’t meant to snap at her, still, she didn’t like it.
“Sorry,” he grumbled a few minutes later.
“You’re stressed.”
“I know, but I shouldn’t have yelled.”
She reached over and squeezed his hand. If her baby had been missing, she doubted she’d be anything less than completely hysterical. Even though Tucker wasn’t hers, she loved him. The thought of losing him brought tears to her eyes.
She quickly blinked them away and focused on the road. When she reached the bottom of the hill, she pressed the gas pedal. She raced through town, still sticking to the speed limit, barely.
Several sheriff’s department cars clogged the street outside the house. Emily parallel parked down the road. Kade jumped out before she’d turned off the car. She quickly followed.
* * *
“Have you found her?” Kade asked when he stepped into the house. Several deputies turned to regard him with solemn expressions. Sheriff Hannity came out of the kitchen.
“We’ve got an APB out for Olivia Slater. One of the neighbors saw her speeding away from the scene.”
“Where’s my mom?”
“Over here.” The sheriff led him into the kitchen.
His mom looked up from the table. Her red-rimmed, puffy eyes filled with fresh tears.
“I put him down for a nap. And then he was gone.”
Kade rushed around the table. He pulled his mom into a tight embrace. “It’s okay, Mom. It’s not your fault.”
“I shouldn’t have let him out of my sight.”
