“You fully deserve it,” Scarlett said, munching contentedly.
“Some kind of partner you are,” Damien sniffed. “You don't have my back at all.”
Scarlett laughed. “Penelope has your back. She's been standing outside in the cold, freezing wind for an hour now. She's never taken her eyes off you the whole time.”
Damien started. “You noticed?”
“Well, when you used your chopsticks to feed me earlier, she raked her nails down the glass. I think most of the diners in the restaurant heard her.”
Damien shook his head and bit the inside of his cheek to keep from laughing. “I've never had a stalker before,” he said in a mock whisper. “What do I do?”
Scarlett laughed. “I think it's the other way round. You've been watching Penelope and planning your moves for some time now.”
“You're one smart lady, you know that?” Damien said, grinning.
They finished the rest of the food and Damien insisted on paying for dinner. He drove Scarlett home and walked her to her front door.
“I had a great time. You are a great gal, Scarlett,” he said sincerely.
“A great gal pal?” she teased.
“The greatest gal pal a guy could ask for,” he answered and gave her a chaste peck on the cheek.
“Good night, Damien. And good luck!” She winked and went into her house.
CHAPTER NINETEEN
Penelope sat in her car and stewed. Oh she was mad, all right. She was mad at everything and everyone, but most of all, at herself. She should have gone straight home after seeing Damien and Scarlett having the time of their lives at Wong's Wok. She had seen enough, hadn't she?
Instead, she had waited in the parking lot like a damn fool until she saw Damien and Scarlett strolling out of the restaurant, all smiles and affectionate banter.
She should have left then. But noooooo.
She had to continue being this crazy, obsessed stalker and follow Damien's car all the way to Scarlett's house.
She saw Damien give Scarlett a kiss at her front door. They seemed to really like each other. Penelope tensed when she saw Scarlett open her front door wider as she stepped into the house. Was she inviting Damien in?
Penelope sagged in relief when Scarlett closed the door and Damien jogged back to his car. Closing her eyes, she forced herself to relax her grip on her steering wheel. If Scarlett had invited Damien in, she was certain she would have ripped the steering wheel right off and flung it through Scarlett's window.
“I'm going crazy,” she muttered. She should just get herself home and soak in her bathtub. She needed to get the tension out of her body and calm the hell down.
A horny, jealous matchmaker was a danger to one and all.
Penelope's eyes widened when she saw Damien's car turning around. He was coming towards her.
Panicking, Penelope slid down in her seat and grabbed her handbag to cover her face. Hopefully Damien wouldn't recognize her car and would just zoom past her.
She heard his car roar past. Sneaking a peak through the side window, she saw his car disappearing down the street.
“Whew! That was close,” she mumbled.
Starting the engine, she pulled away from the curb and made her way home in a rather lousy mood.
Damien was a client of the agency. Setting him up on a nice date was the right thing to do. So why did it feel so wrong?
She'd hated every minute of his date. From the looks of it, the date had been a huge success. Both Scarlett and Damien appeared to have enjoyed themselves immensely. They had laughed and talked throughout dinner and seemed perfectly comfortable and happy in each other's company. She was the only one who wasn't happy at all with how things turned out tonight.
Pulling up at her house, Penelope slammed the car door so hard she almost shattered a window.
She was marching up to her front door when she heard someone cough.
“You're home early.”
She whirled round and saw Damien leaning against a tree.
“You! What are you doing here?” she demanded.
“I'm stalking you.”
Penelope closed her mouth with a snap and glared at him.
“It's my turn to follow you around,” he said as he sauntered up to her. “Since, you know, you've been stalking me the whole evening.”
“I wasn't stalking you,” she said, lying through her teeth.
“You were outside the restaurant.”
“I...was just taking a walk around the restaurant.”
Damien leaned towards her and whispered, “You followed me in your car.”
Penelope folded her arms defensively. “I was driving home.”
“You were outside Scarlett's house,” he breathed into her ear.
“And I saw you kiss her!” she yelled, shoving him back.
Damien straightened up with a victorious, conceited smile.
“It was only a kiss,” he said innocently.
“A kiss,” she fumed. “You actually kissed her.”
“I thought you'd be happy. The date was a success!”
“I'm glad,” she snarled, stabbing her key viciously into the lock.
Damien followed her and continued pestering her. “Do you know why the date was a success?” he persisted.
“Sure. You like her, she likes you, wham bam!” The door flew open with a bang.
Damien caught the door firmly when she tried to slam it in his face.
“No, Penelope,” he said in a low voice. “The date was a success because now I know how you really feel about me.”
CHAPTER TWENTY
Penelope gasped and pushed hard at the door, trying to close it but the door wouldn't budge from Damien's grip.
“No, Penelope,” he growled. “You are not shutting me out.”
“Go away! You're not coming in!” she hissed.
“Oh yes I am.”
With that, he nudged the door wide open and strolled into the house. Like a boss.
Penelope stood at the door, spluttering with rage. “I didn't invite you in.” With one hand on her hip, she pointed. “Out!”
Damien pretended he didn't hear her, and made himself comfortable on the couch. He patted the seat beside him and winked. “Come here. Or...maybe you'd rather sit on my lap?” He smoothed his palms over his muscular thighs, shamelessly enticing her.
Penelope made a growling sound in her throat. She wanted to throttle him, but Damien was stronger and bigger than her so she couldn't use force to get rid of him.
She couldn't possibly manhandle him out of her house. She had to make him walk out on his own. But the strange thing was that she didn't really want him to go. On some instinctive, intuitive level, she knew that if she got serious and told him very politely to leave, he would walk out her door and never bother her again.
With a quiet sigh, she closed the door and walked over to him.
“Come here.” Damien patted his thighs invitingly. “I want you on my lap now. After that, I want you on your back.”
“You…you're impossible!”
He chuckled and pulled her down to him. Catching her around the waist, he tugged her towards him and she landed on his lap with a loud “oof” and a string of expletives.
“Don't struggle, Penelope,” he ordered, catching her hands.
“Let me up!” She tried to elbow him but he twisted away and flipped her onto the couch. Before she could scramble up, he covered her body with his and pinned her down beneath him.
His lips hovered above hers, and she was fully aware of his thick erection pulsing against her thigh. His hands moved slowly from her hips to her breasts, caressing and stroking her curves.
Penelope blinked rapidly, unable to look away from his heated gaze. Their bodies were pressed together, and they were both breathing hard. She stared into his deep, green eyes and saw the hunger and longing of both the man and the bear.
The raw, primal want a
nd desire in his eyes matched her own surging lust and hunger. She couldn't help the heady sense of victory and relief coursing through her. Damien wanted her. Not Scarlett. Not any other woman.
He had just gone out with a very eligible lady on a lovely date, yet he was here with her. In her house. In her arms.
Gazing deeply into his eyes, she knew without a doubt that she was the only woman in his heart. He wanted and needed only her.
“Kiss me,” Damien whispered through his ragged breathing. “Kiss me, Penelope. Just this once,” he said fiercely. It was both a command and a plea, and Penelope's breath hitched. She felt both powerful and vulnerable. Damien wanted her to initiate the kiss this time. He wanted her to be sure, to know exactly what she was doing.
Capturing Damien's tanned, handsome face in both hands, she raised her head and pressed a soft, tentative kiss against his lips.
Damien didn't move. She could feel his muscles tensing and throbbing, but he held himself absolutely still.
Penelope closed her eyes and let herself feel and taste his lips. She was kissing him, not the other way around. She was the one in control, and she could stop any time she wanted. But she didn't want to stop.
Damien's lips felt so soft and gentle, and when he kissed her back, it was with infinite tenderness.
Penelope wound her arms around his neck and surrendered herself to the drowning pleasure. Her body was pliant in his arms, and she loved the way he teased and touched her.
The kiss went on forever, growing more and more heated. Penelope moaned into his mouth, her entire body aching with need.
Mindlessly, she clawed at his clothes, wanting more of him. She wanted everything.
Damien's lips curved against her neck as he whispered, “I'll give you what you want. Just tell me what you want, Penelope.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
Damien stared at Penelope's flushed face and tightened his grip on her, unable to let her go. He had to hear the words from her lips.
But...would she say it? Or was she too stubborn to admit it?
Taking a sharp breath, she said at last, “I want you. I want you, Damien.”
Damien released the breath he had been holding and dropped his forehead to hers. “Thank God,” he murmured. “I thought I'd have to live with blue balls for the rest of my life.”
“Liar,” she said. “You'll just bang another female.”
“No, Penelope. I want you, only you. After I met you, there's no way I can have any other female,” he snarled. “There's just no fucking way!”
Penelope turned away to hide her smile but Damien held her face and kissed her hungrily on the mouth.
Growling, Damien grabbed her and stood up. She shrieked when he threw her over his shoulder and strode to the bedroom. Her breasts bounced against his back and her curves rubbed maddeningly against his body. He had so much difficulty walking in a straight line he was afraid he wouldn't make it to the bedroom.
As she writhed and wriggled, he cupped his hand possessively over her soft, fleshy buttocks. The hem of her black dress was riding up her thighs, giving him a tantalizing glimpse of her lacy black panties.
The scent of her moist, hot sex made his eyes cross. He had to feel her and taste her right now. Damien pushed his fingers between her legs to finger her tiny, flimsy underwear. He felt her feminine juices on his fingertips and a violent shudder coursed through his body as he touched her pussy lips. With a roar, he grabbed the tiny piece of lace and ripped her panties right off.
Penelope squealed and he whiffed her powerful, fierce arousal. The intoxicating, delicious scent was driving him insane. He could hardly stay upright, much less walk and when he finally reached the bedroom, he dumped her unceremoniously on the bed and jerked his tie loose from his neck.
Damien let his eyes rake down her luscious, curvy body. Knowing that she wasn't wearing any panties under that figure-hugging dress made his cock jerk violently. He could just shove her dress up, spread her legs and drive his cock deep into her hot, bare pussy.
But he wanted to taste her first. She was so wet, and he wanted to coat his tongue and lips with her sticky juices and savor her for hours.
Sliding his hands up her legs, he pushed her dress up around her waist and parted her legs. She was so wet and ready. Her pussy lips were pink and glistening, and her clit was already hard and engorged.
With a feral growl, Damien devoured her like a starving man.
He lapped greedily at her juices, working his tongue deep inside her slit. He sucked relentlessly at her swollen clit, using his tongue and teeth to tease and torment her.
He kept fucking her with his tongue until she came with a keening cry against his mouth. God, she tasted and felt so damn amazing. Her skin was hot and damp, and her entire body was shuddering with pleasure.
When she reached blindly for him, Damien yanked her dress and bra above her head and tossed them aside. Penelope panted as she unbuttoned his shirt in a frenzy and tugged at his belt.
“Naked,” she said breathlessly. “I want you naked.”
As Damien shed his clothes, he kept kissing and touching Penelope. She was so perfect, so fucking hot and sexy. Her figure was full and fleshy, and every inch of her was made for pleasure.
He lifted her legs in the air and nudged his cock into her. She gasped and writhed, trying to get him deeper into her body. Damien pushed slowly into her tight sheath, feeding his cock inch by inch into her pussy.
Penelope shuddered and blinked up at him. “Take me,” she breathed.
Damien leaned forward and rubbed his chest against her hard, erect nipples. With a whimper, Penelope arched her back, begging him to take more. Damien grabbed her bountiful breasts and suckled her, pulling hard on each nipple as he enjoyed her lush body.
He began to move faster and harder. Sex had never felt so good, so right and so perfect. And this wasn't just sex. The feelings and the pleasure were too intense, too intimate and real.
Damien pounded into her, making her come again and again. Penelope thrashed and shuddered beneath him, and when Damien sank his teeth into the base of her neck and marked her with his bite, she shattered completely and utterly.
Even after his own explosive release, Damien remained inside her for a long time. They were connected, body, heart and soul. And their connection and bond would never be broken.
“My mate,” he whispered, kissing her hair.
In her sleep, Penelope sighed and clung to him. “Mine,” she murmured. “Forever.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
Penelope hummed softly as she designed her new website. She was revamping her website so that clients could sign up for her agency's services online. At present, her client base consisted of just the residents of Shadow Point.
Damien had rightly pointed out that to expand, she had to make it easier for singles from other towns and cities to sign up for her services. “Online dating is the in thing,” Damien said. “I've never tried it myself, but some of the guys have been boasting about how many women they've hooked up with online.”
Penelope agreed it was a good idea but she didn't want people signing up for her agency's services just to get a casual date. She was committed to finding the perfect match for her clients. She wanted her clients to find true love, just like she had.
Penelope let out a happy, contended sigh. She was a woman in love. She had given up on love, or so she thought. Well, she had proven to herself that love did work in strange and wondrous ways.
She could hardly believe that she had fallen so hard and fast for the very first client that her brother had dragged into her office. But—when the right one came along, it was foolish and futile to run. She had tried to deny her feelings for Damien because she was too afraid to take the plunge and get hurt again. But she should have known that Damien would never hurt her. He was cheeky and playful, but his actions were always thoughtful and sweet. A sweet, sexy, growly mate. What more could she want?
Her brother, Graham, had been merciless in his teasing. All Damien's work mates knew about his newly mated status, and Graham was already calling her Mrs Ken even though she wasn't married yet.
They would have a big white wedding, but she was just so busy with her agency right now. Graham had volunteered to plan the wedding with Damien, and she couldn't wait to see how that turned out.
Two pranksters planning a wedding. It was going to be the craziest wedding ever.
Penelope looked up at the sound of the door chime. Three men had just walked into her office. Two of the men were in black muscle shirts and sported buzz cuts while one of them wore a tailored suit and had a hat pulled low over his face.
She stood up immediately. “Good morning,” she said, an inexplicable sense of unease rippling through her.
One man moved to the door and flipped the sign to Closed. The other walked briskly to the back and scanned the pantry. “No one,” he reported when he came out. “She's alone.”
“Good.” The man with the hat smiled thinly. He looked like the leader of the trio. “Miss Hatfield, allow me to introduce myself. I'm John, and I'm here to get something from you.”
“John,” she repeated, staring at the three intimidating men. Were they robbing her in broad daylight? Her pulse began to race as she considered her options. She couldn't fight them off. If she screamed really loudly, would anyone hear her? Or would they slit her throat before she could even scream?
“What do you want, John?” she spoke calmly enough. “I don't have much money here...”
“Oh, I don't want your money, Miss Hatfield,” John said, still smiling. “You have something that belongs to our boss. Just give it to us, and we'll leave.”
“Your boss.” She blinked at them. “Who is your boss?”
“Frank Fronzo.”
“I don't know a Frank Fronzo,” she answered.
“Sure you do. You've taken his money, and you're keeping a copy of his accounts.”
Dating Agency Bear: BBW Bear Shifter Paranormal Romance (BRIDES fur BEARS Book 6) Page 5
