"You'll show me your answer?"
"It's show-and-tell time, baby."
"My favorite time," he said, his voice rough with desire. He swung her sideways to cradle her in his arms. She reached her arms around his neck.
As he walked up the stairs, carrying the beautiful woman he'd come to love, Thomas remembered the first time they'd gone to bed together.
It had been almost a year ago when they were alone in the house for the very first time.
It had been a magical night. The moon was full and a soft breeze cooled the air. A fire warmed the hearth. After a dinner, Thomas and Rachel sat together in the living room with glasses of wine. He pulled her bare feet onto his lap and massaged her calves. She leaned against his chest and he wrapped her in his arms. The fragrance of her hair had enchanted him; it was floral but also spicy, and he'd never smelled anything else like it.
The fragrance was Rachel. It was her scent.
"What do you think Martin is doing?" Rachel had asked. Martin was finally secure enough to spend a weekend with Dahlia, but they hadn't stopped talking about him since he'd left.
It was time to change that.
"He's fine. I'm sure of it." Her soft curves pressed into him as he dipped his head down to nuzzle her neck. "Let's talk about you now. Let's talk about your…breasts." He ran his hands up the slope of her breasts and was rewarded by her nipples hardening through the silky fabric of her dress.
She sucked in a breath and threaded her fingers through his hair. "Go on," she murmured.
"What do you feel like doing?" he said, as his lips explored the soft skin above her breasts. "Since it's our first night alone."
"Is it the first? I hadn't noticed," she'd teased, and leaned down to suck his ear lobe hard, her hands hot on his chest.
He'd groaned and sat up, capturing her face with his hands. He pressed his lips to hers, finally kissing her with all the passion he'd been holding back since they'd met. "Rachel," he'd said as she melted into him. "It's time for bed."
"I thought you'd never ask," she had said.
Thomas smiled at the memory.
When he'd carried her up the stairs that night a year ago, just like he was doing again now, he'd felt like he was claiming her.
You did claim her, his bear said. She's our mate. She belongs to us. Well done.
Thanks, friend. Thomas was almost used to his new and improved, supportive bear.
Had a whole year passed?
Now, he carried Rachel to the bed that was their own, the bed where they'd learned how to love each other. He placed her down gently and lay beside her, his mouth hot over her mouth, his hands going to the places she loved best.
She slid her hands up his biceps and then wrapped her arms around his shoulders while he kissed her deeply, tasting the sweetness he constantly craved. His tongue found her tongue. His hands kneaded her round ass.
He knew what Rachel liked, what she needed.
He kissed down her neck in the way that was guaranteed to make her shiver. She moaned and pressed closer. He slid her blouse off her shoulders and opened it to release her lush breasts from the bra, palming one nipple and sucking the other hard as she arched up into his mouth.
Thomas leaned over her, urgent now, and thrust a hand up her skirt, navigating his thumb between her thighs as he kissed a trail down her belly.
He brushed his knuckles atop her panties, pushing them aside and fingering her folds until she quivered. He slid a finger into her hot wetness. And then another.
She was close.
He groaned, and undressed her, then yanked off his own clothes until they were both completely naked. Within moments, he was between her legs, his mouth hot on her pussy, his thumbs at her clit as she wriggled beneath him, moaning. She grasped his thick hair and yanked up until his mouth met hers; she clutched him desperately. She needed him inside of her. Now.
He entered her, almost losing it when she cried out, "I love you."
And although he was nearly mindless with need, driving into her, pumping, he answered back wholeheartedly, "I love you."
Within a heartbeat, they settled into a deep rhythm, holding on tight. And when they both came, waves collapsed all space and time between them. Thomas took all that Rachel offered and gave her everything in return. And when they settled back to earth, drenched in sweat, they found themselves wrapped up in each other.
"My love," he said tenderly, "you didn't answer my question. I remember asking you to marry me this morning, just as I have every morning for the past year." Her happiness was his profession. Her body was his home. Her life was his life.
"Didn't I answer?" She kissed him again, hot and satisfied, letting her lips linger on his mouth. "First, I have question for you."
"Answering a question with a question. Nice one."
"When Martin's baby brothers or sisters are born, will they be bear shifters too?"
"Some of our kids may be bear shifters, some may be human. It's a roll of the dice. All I can say for sure is that each kid will be one-hundred-percent perfect and one-hundred-percent loved." He started to kiss her again, but then realized what she had asked. "Wait a minute…When his baby brothers and sisters are born? When?"
"I found out today." She laughed, unable to contain her joy, and why should she? "I'm pregnant."
"Rachel," he said, tears in his eyes, "you've made me so happy."
They stared deep into each other's souls, their heartbeats syncing into timelessness. Love could be immediate like a plunge in the ocean, or it could be well-earned and widespread like the very air that we breathe. Sometimes it was both. And then it was everything.
Thomas propped up onto his elbow. "So your answer today...Is it yes? You'll be my wife?"
Rachel pulled him back down and kissed him again, their bodies melting together. "Thomas, my love, every breath, every glance, every moment with you is a yes."
"Yes?" Thomas knew it was true, but he still wanted her to say it again. He kissed her once more.
"Yes, today. Tomorrow. Next week. And for the rest of my life. Yes."
* * *
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About the Author
Truli Thorne is over-the-top excited to be an author of paranormal romance. She's based in California, and loves pug dogs, coffee, dancing, and romancing. And chocolate. Lots and lots of chocolate.
Let’s stay in touch:
@TruliThorne
TruliThorneAuthor
www.trulithorne.com
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Books by Truli Thorne
Shifters In Seattle
You’ve Got Bear
Bear with Benefits
Bear Actually
It Happened One Bear
About a Bear
Shifters in Seattle: Box Set Books 1 - 5 Page 35
