“Uncle Cliff, I know that you’re afraid. We all are. But I have made up my mind. You have your priorities. Lori and the babies come first for you.” Serena’s expression became hard and determined. “I have my priorities, too. My clan comes first. Before my safety. Before my family. I’m sorry. I wish I didn’t have to frighten you like this. But I’m not going anywhere.”
How could he feel so afraid for her safety and yet so proud of her? Clifford’s shoulders slumped, but he still made himself smile. “I will support you in your choice, then.”
Serena shivered for a moment then stood. Her hands clenched but her eyes were steely. In that moment with her chestnut hair tousled around her face, she looked so much like her father that Clifford’s chest ached. Bauman had killed Jackson and Annamarie. He had attacked the matriarch. What else was he capable of?
“I am going to check on the others who were injured,” Serena declared. “And I need to make sure that their families have been notified. I will also need to release a statement to the press.”
Tristen left the window and hurried to stand beside her. “I’m coming with you, then. Marcus can protect your family here, but you need a bodyguard.”
Serena nodded. Clifford watched them leave, his heart heavy. Part of him wanted to run after them, to drag Serena back to the middle of the room and not let her go anywhere. His bear snarled at him to act, to do something other than sit here and wait. But he couldn’t let fear rule his actions. It was what had made him react so rashly to Lori’s pregnancy, why he had freaking kidnapped her. Serena had made up her mind, and he had to trust her and Tristen to keep her safe now.
Lori’s arms wrapped around his chest. She pulled him tight against her and he began to shiver more. What if something happened to her? How could he protect the ones he loved when it felt like the odds were overwhelmingly against him?
“Everything is going to be fine,” Lori breathed into his ear. “Listen to me, Clifford. Whatever Bauman is planning, he won’t succeed. We are too strong and smart for that. He wants us running scared, and we aren’t going to let him do that to us.”
Clifford’s grip on her tightened. More than anything, he wanted to hold her in his arms forever, to shield her from the world. His eyes closed and he spoke before he could stop himself. “I love you.”
Chapter Thirteen
After the attack on the matriarch, the Boone family moved into a safehouse designed to protect them from any attack. It was quite large, though, and empty. Even though there were security officers that patrolled the outside of the building and pairs that walked up and down the hallways every so often, Lori found herself feeling very alone and vulnerable. They were still in town, but with a large yard around the house to stop people from sneaking in.
Lori sat in the bedroom she’d been given, her hands latched over her belly. The twins had been very active lately, but now they must be sleeping. Neither of them moved.
Clifford wasn’t home from the hospital yet. The matriarch had made it out of surgery and was put into a medically-induced coma to help promote her healing. What happened from here on was determined by how strong her body was. She was an elderly bear, and her natural healing had slowed significantly.
I love you.
Lori shivered as she remembered Clifford’s words. Her heart leaped and bounced around, chest full of warmth. Her stomach twisted and cramped. She didn’t know how she felt about his confession, or what she was meant to do now. What if he had only said it because of circumstances? What if he thought he loved her but once all the stress and drama was over with he realized he didn’t?
Stop overthinking, she told herself firmly.
Clifford wasn’t the kind of guy to speak without thinking. She couldn’t agonize about what was going on in his head. What she needed to do was figure out her own feelings.
He was… wonderful. More than she had ever hoped for in her whole life. He was the type of man she dreamed of falling in love with, but always thought didn’t exist. As she moved from the window, she considered the light, airy feeling that always flooded her when she was with him. The way everything seemed to warm when he was with her.
The way the bed felt cold without him in it. The way she wanted him in her life, to hold her, to laugh with her, to call out her shit.
She jumped when the door opened, then a smile spread across her face. “You’re home!”
Clifford rushed to her and pulled her into his arms. “Yeah, I am. Are you okay?”
“Yes. Especially now that you’re here.” She buried herself deep in his arms. “Clifford?”
He nuzzled the top of her head. “Yeah?”
“I love you.”
His eyes widened. Clifford’s jaw dropped and he stared at her with such shock that she had to giggle. Considering her reaction when they had actually talked about this, it wasn’t surprising that he wouldn’t expect it. Still, seeing the way he looked at her was a small relief in the gravitas of the situation.
“You love me?”
“Yes. I love you.” She took his hand and led him toward the bed. Her stomach size meant that they had to get creative in the bedroom these days, but that didn’t matter. Opening up new positions was exciting, and her sensitivity did a lot to help things move along. “And tonight, I am going to tame the wild caveman.”
Clifford grinned at her. “I waxed.” The grin faded as he gripped her tighter. “Lori, you have to know that I will protect you. No matter what happens, I will always protect you and look after you. I promise, to my dying breath—”
Lori pressed a finger to his mouth. As heartfelt as it was, she didn’t want to ruin the moment with such heavy thoughts. “I know. I’ve known from the first day we met. If I didn’t,” she added, “I would have taken off the moment you kidnapped me.”
She led him to the edge of the bed, then stopped. He reached for her but she took his hands and pushed them down beside his sides. Sex between them, even when they were making love, was always somewhat of a frenzy. They didn’t take their time to enjoy it; not that they didn’t enjoy it, but it always felt like there was an edge of desperation to it. As if they had to clutch and cling, or else they’d fall apart and never be able to touch one another again.
This time was different. She was going to show that she belonged to him, and was going to claim him for her own at the same time.
“Stay still,” she breathed, excitement building in her.
Clifford moaned but didn’t move.
Her fingers brushed against the buttons on his shirt. Her eyes darkened with lust as she undid one button on his dress shirt, then the other. Even though every instinct in her told her to just rip his clothes off of him, the way he had ripped the clothes off of her so many times, she forced herself to be slow. Her breathing came in small pants, the only sign of her own impatience.
After she removed his shirt, she tugged on his pants. His hips jerked forward and another moan came from his throat. Lori kissed his chest lightly, loving the way his muscles tensed beneath her lips. He had waxed, and his skin was utterly smooth, warm and delicious. He was so beautiful. Torso pure muscle. Sculpted abs, pectorals that were so muscular that they were big enough for her to palm. When she pressed both of her hands to his chest and urged him to the bed, those muscles tensed and relaxed.
“I could spend an eternity just looking at your body,” she told him, her hands running down his form. His thighs were meaty and thick, as strong as the rest of him.
“You’re beautiful,” Clifford replied. There was an almost embarrassed note in his voice.
When she took off his pants, then followed up with removing his socks, she grinned at him. He grinned back. His eyes were nearly black with desire. There was a slight flush to his cheeks, and Lori kept her gaze locked with him. She wanted to see his reaction to everything that she had planned for him tonight.
A shiver shot down through his body when she took him in her hand. He was already semi-erect, and she knew she wouldn’t have to do much to mak
e him fully ready. But tonight, he wasn’t the one who was in charge, he wasn’t the caveman who made her helpless under his touch. Tonight, he belonged to her, and she was going to show him just what pleasures that entailed.
Clifford gasped, then sighed when she took him into her mouth. His muscles tensed. His hips rolled and she put one hand on his hip to keep him in place. Obediently, he went still. Only for his hands to clench into the blankets when she swirled her tongue around him and sucked. From the angle they were at it was difficult for her to continue her ministrations and look him in the eye, so she moved back slightly.
“Lie back. You’re too tense.”
“Lori…”
“Lie back.” She made her tone more firm, but gave him a playful smile. “You are my caveman and you will do as I say.”
Clifford leaned back. He kept himself propped on his elbows, but it was enough that she could take him back into her mouth and continue while still looking in his eyes. There was a vulnerable look on his face that she hadn’t seen before and she eased off the pressure, considering. Was this his first time receiving this sort of treatment? Or was he just so used to having to be the strong protector, the one taking care of everybody else, that he just didn’t know how to be taken care of anymore?
Lori decided to ask him–later. She applied more pressure and his hips rose, leading her to press them down again. As she took him as deep as she could without choking, his head fell back. His tense muscles relaxed as he lowered himself back to the bed. Lori had to grin at her triumph. She spread her legs slightly, reaching around her huge tummy to find her own pleasure.
She touched herself gently, enough for the tightness to start inside but not enough to distract her from her task. With her free hand she stroked him, watching as every stroke sent a little shiver down his spine. Was this why he liked to please her so much? Because he could watch this pleasure take her, leaving her helpless under his touch.
“Do you like this?” she asked, then palmed and sucked him at the same time.
Clifford groaned, almost sounding pained. “Yes.”
She did it again. His whole body shook. Desire was hot inside of her, but she held back until he was hard and heavy in her hand, so full that he was going to explode in any minute. Then she licked her lips and kissed his thigh and abs as she moved to her feet. Her knees ached a bit from kneeling for so long, but she didn’t care. Clifford reached for her. His hands clasped on her hips and he pulled her onto the bed. When he rolled over her, she crossed her legs and pressed a single finger to his lips.
“Naughty little caveman,” she crooned. “You have to wait for me.”
Clifford laughed softly. “Do I have to?”
Lori nodded as she ran her hands over his biceps. “I have given you control enough times. And in your life you have to be in control all the time. Tonight, I’m in charge. You don’t have any responsibility.”
“Yes, mistress.” He nibbled at her neck, testing her resolve, before he rolled off her again.
Lori panted a moment, breathless with desire. What was she going to do again?
Right.
She straddled him, bringing herself into the right position. Using her hand to guide him, she eased him inside of her. The sensations sent pools of fire into her core and tremors up and down her spine. Lori gritted her teeth against her arousal, determined that she wasn’t going to finish before him. With her increased sensitivity in this pregnancy, she could finish half a dozen times before he came for her once. Not this time. This time, it was his turn to find his pleasure first.
“Does that feel alright?” she asked him, moving up and down slowly. “I’ve just realized–I’ve never been on top before.”
“It feels amazing,” Clifford breathed. His eyes closed as she twined her fingers through his and pressed him into the bed.
She moved her hips, slowly at first, then with increasing speed. The tightness inside of her was almost too much to bear as she brought herself up and down, thrusting for him while he lay there, fingers tightening into the blankets behind him. His mouth was slightly open, eyes alternating between opened and shut, all the while looking at her as though he was a virgin having his first time.
It made her feel strong. It made her feel powerful. It made her feel like she was the only woman in the world.
He came unexpectedly. His back arched, a cry ripped from his throat and his whole body bucked up to her. The suddenness almost unseated her as he exploded into her. Lori thrust harder down on him, bringing him deep inside of her. She had to hold her stomach with both arms to keep it from bouncing too much. Clifford’s hands grabbed her hips, freezing her in mid-air. He thrust up hard and everything came undone. She collapsed over him with a shout. Her body moved on its own accord.
By the time it was over, she was on her side, Clifford still inside of her, but barely. Her stomach pressed into his abs, making it difficult for them to be close. She panted as her fingers dug into his skin. Clifford rested a hand on her stomach. The babies were kicking wildly, in protest of the rough treatment they had been getting.
“Sorry, babies,” Lori panted, resting a hand on her stomach as well.
Clifford laughed and maneuvered his body to press a kiss to her belly button. “You’ll have to get used to it. Your mommy will be taking the caveman many, many more times.”
Lori beamed at him. “You liked it.”
“Very much so.”
“Good. I did, too.” As the endorphins rushed through her body, her muscles relaxed and her eyes started to flutter shut. “Oh, Clifford… I love you so much.”
He pulled her as close as he could and pressed his forehead against hers. “I love you, too. I love you.”
Chapter Fourteen
Lori didn’t last long into the night. Clifford lay awake next to her for some time, loving the way she fit into his arms. Worries about what Bauman was planning kept trying to invade his thoughts, but he refused to allow them to take root. The morning was for worries, not the night when he had his lover in his arms, her taste on his lips.
He didn’t remember falling asleep, but he was suddenly woken by angry voices outside of his room. He frowned as he pushed himself up. Lori stirred, but when he put a hand on her shoulder she stilled again. The voices got louder, so he quickly got out of bed, dressed, and went to investigate.
Tristen and Serena faced off with one another. Serena’s hands were clenched and she glared defiantly up at Tristen. Tristen, on the other hand, stared back down at her coldly. He had an expression on his face that forbade arguing. Knowing his niece, however, an intimidating expression wasn’t going to stop her. The pale light of dawn filtered in through the windows. Clifford yawned as he got closer.
“What’s going on?” he asked.
Two more doors opened and Hayley and Natasha came into the hallway.
“Whoever is fighting, stop.” Hayley brushed her grey-streaked hair back from her face. “It’s too early to deal with this shit.”
Natasha narrowed her eyes. “Mom.”
Clifford opened his mouth, but Serena raising her hands and glaring at them all stopped him.
“I’m sorry that we woke you up.” The anger in her voice was barely controlled. Clifford’s brows rose. Serena took a deep breath before she continued. It didn’t help her sound any calmer. “But this is a private discussion and I would greatly appreciate it if you would all just go away and mind your own business.”
“This is their business, too,” Tristen said. “I think we should get their opinions on it.”
Hayley groaned. “You two better not be sleeping together. I don’t have the strength in me to hide his body.”
Serena whirled on her. “Grandmother, I don’t appreciate that brand of humor right now! And it’s none of your business, so just—”
Tristen interrupted. “Serena wants to hold an open press conference. She wants to have people gathered around and be out in the open where any sniper can take her out. You are going to open yourself up to at
tack and then, where will the clan be? The best way to destabilize the clan is to kill you right now. Even if the matriarch pulls through, you know what will happen if you’re dead? Chaos!”
Clifford glanced over his shoulder. “Not so loud! If you wake up Lori, Mom won’t be the only one hiding a body.”
Serena sent him a furious glance before turning on Tristen again. “I am acting matriarch. And I am not going to just roll over and let someone like Bauman destroy my clan. People are afraid and panicking. The vultures are circling and I am not going to just hide away like a turtle in my shell. Because you know what happens to turtles that do that? They get chopped up and made into soup. I need to present a strong, capable image, Tristen. And it’s not like I’m just going to walk into Bauman’s lair, I have security.”
“So did the matriarch and she got blown up!” Tristen closed his eyes briefly and inhaled deeply. “I am trying to protect you. You can’t protect your clan if you’re dead, Serena.”
The emotion in his voice surprised Clifford. He narrowed his eyes at his old friend. He knew that Serena was infatuated with Tristen, but could it be that the feelings were mutual? That wasn’t something that he was going to approve of. On the other hand, if he was just trying to protect Serena because that was why he was here…
“I have made up my mind,” Serena started.
Natasha interrupted. “I smell smoke.”
They all froze. Clifford rose his face to the air and inhaled deeply. The scent of smoke grew heavier with every passing second. It had a dirty scent to it, not the clean smell of a regular fire. Nor did it have the plastic-like scent that came with electrical fires. This smelled of gasoline. A fire that was no accident. He tensed as Tristen wrapped an arm around Serena and lifted her towards the stairs.
“Get out,” Clifford told them as he raced back to the bedroom he and Lori shared.
A fire alarm started shrieking. When he got into the bedroom, Lori was just throwing off the blankets. Her naked body gleamed in the moonlight from outside. He grabbed a robe and wrapped it around her before picking her up.
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