Her twin globes were pushed together and then apart so that her juicy, flowing passage made greedy noises. Her lover kissed her sex with the barest, briefest grazes of lips to lips. She murmured protestingly and tried again to buck. He gentled her with a firm stroke on her spine.
He kissed her just beneath her buttock where it joined the thigh and moved down to the crease at the back of her knee. He nuzzled her there as if he could detect some ambrosial aroma. She felt his lips salute her there and his teeth nibbled once or twice before he sucked.
She cried out and tried to rise to her knees but he held her legs in place. His chuckle came on the back of her knee and he kissed his way down to her calf which he bit lightly. Soothing the spot with a gentle lap of his warm tongue.
“Mine,” the reverberating voice in her head said low and certain. “Mine.” He kissed her other calf. “Sleep now, dear heart.”
Erin found the small love bite after her morning shower. The tiny purple bruise was dead center in the crease of her left knee. She looked in the mirror. Her body was glowing and her skin seemed smoother and more luminous as if she really had been rubbed all over with oil. But that was crazy. Wasn’t it?
It had been five years since she had had a sex life. Five years of inchoate yearning. But never in all that time had she had dreams like the ones she had started having since the boys started sleeping at Len’s house. She had never woken to discover that she was aching with unsatisfied, sensitized skin. That her nipples and her clitoris were throbbing with need.
This unfulfilled feeling did not go away when she took care of business. Afterwards her desire was unassuaged. What she wanted, no make that needed, was the touch of Leonard Benoit’s big hands on her body. She woke with his name on her lips. She thought about him all day. And when they met, he greeted her as if she was his sister.
She was insane. That was the only explanation. Who but a lunatic had orgasmic dreams about a man who had zero interest in her? But no matter how sternly she lectured herself, she couldn’t seem to fall out of love or lust with that big bear of a hunk.
* * *
Len zipped his jeans with careful hands. He had a woody as big as a Douglas fir. If his bear magic was working on Erin it sure didn’t show. She was friendly but not the way he wanted. He on the other hand was walking around with his dick on fire day in, day out. How the hell was he supposed to do a day’s work with a flagpole in his pants?
He put his billfold in his back pocket and his keys and change in his front pocket. He picked up his little peach pit. It felt like a hot ember. He half expected to see smoke rising from his palm. Maybe carrying it around in his jeans was too much of a good thing?
He decided to leave it on the floor beside his bed. But somehow it found its way into his pocket where it nestled up cozily beside his package.
* * *
“Do you mind peeling the potatoes? I thought we could cook and mash enough for two days, but that was before I realized I didn’t have big enough pots.” Madeline St. Clair was hot and flustered and overwhelmed by the logistics of cooking for twenty.
Erin exchanged a look with Hannah Enright who was waddling around the kitchen bumping things with her belly. “If you sit at the kitchen table, Hannah,” Erin said, “You can peel potatoes. I’ll cut them up and they’ll boil quicker. We can mash them in the stand mixer. Warm the milk in the microwave.”
Maddie looked at her in relief. “What she said.” She laughed. “I’m glad one of us is organized.”
“I work in food assembly,” Erin said, proud of thinking of an upmarket term for sandwich making. “Splitting tasks always makes them go faster.”
Hannah was already sitting down and wielding the potato peeler. “I’m just glad to get off my feet,” she said. “Honest to God, I didn’t expect to be this big, this fast.” She sighed.
“How many?” asked Maddie, just as Erin said, “When are you due?”
“Three,” replied Hannah. “February.”
“Triplets!” said Erin. “Gosh, I feel sorry for myself that I have twins to raise. I can’t imagine three.”
Maddie and Hannah laughed. “Big litters run in the Enright family,” Maddie said rubbing her own apron clad tummy.
“You too?” asked Hannah. “Triplets?”
“Uh huh.” Maddie voice was proud.
“Congratulations. Doug must be over the moon,” Hannah said.
“He is. Katrina too. She wants us to move up the wedding,” Maddie informed her sister-in-law.
Hannah laughed. “Just give in. It’s easier to let Momma have her way.”
“Well my own mom has been hinting that she can arrange one for Thanksgiving.”
Hannah gurgled and passed Erin more peeled potatoes.
“Who’s Katrina?” Erin asked as she cubed.
“Our mother-in-law. She’s a force of nature, and she always knows best,” Hannah said fondly.
“Or at least she is sure she does,” laughed Maddie.
“She sure sorted Jack and me out,” Hannah said soberly. “You have no idea how badly we had messed up our relationship.”
“This is true.” Maddie knew that story. “But look at Roman and Vanessa? How long has she had it in her head that they are a couple? She didn’t like the way your brother cut that girl out of the herd at your wedding.”
Hannah had run out of potatoes. “Are we done?” she asked.
“You wish,” said Erin bringing her another bag.
Maddie picked up the thread of their dropped subject. “I don’t know about that. But Doug’s cousin Roman is totally smitten with your clan sister. He danced with Gabriella Malcom at both your weddings. All night.”
Erin exclaimed, “You had more than one wedding?” Was this how rich people lived? Maddie’s ranch style house didn’t look like she had expected. It was smaller and plainer than she had thought it would be. Cozy more than fancy. And the other women were wearing jeans and tee-shirts too. But two weddings?
“My sister and I married two of the Enright brothers,” Hannah informed her. “Martha and our brother Rob and I were separated at birth and we only found each other recently. The Menominee elders in Wesheno wouldn’t hear of Martha and me marrying in Washington State. So we had a ceremony in Wesheno followed by a reception for the whole community.”
“It was lovely,” said Maddie dreamily.
“And then we had a Ukrainian wedding in Hanover and did it all over again. Thank goodness Momma made my dresses. Because I kept expanding.” Hannah patted her belly. “We reused the bridesmaid’s dresses. And of course the guys wore their dress uniforms for both.”
“We should have joined you at the altar,” said Maddie. “I am worn out with wedding plans. I’m tempted to let my mom and Katrina sort it out between them. Although I do have an idea for my dress that should work even if I’m huge on the day.”
Erin drained potatoes and loaded up the stand mixer. “I’ll need butter and a half-cup of hot milk,” she told Maddie. “And one of those foil bakers.”
Hannah and Maddie looked at the baker in dismay when Erin dumped the bowl of mashed potatoes into it. “It’s only half full,” Maddie said in dismay.
“Yep. But I’ve got another batch coming right up. Want to cube the potatoes Hannah’s peeled? Then we’ll make two more batches and have tomorrow’s potatoes sorted.” Erin reassured her hostess.
“I’m on it,” Maddie said. “You and Len are a pair!”
“What?” Erin blushed.
“Len is the most competent man I’ve ever met.” Maddie told her. “And I include Doug in that number. And he’s a colonel. But Len can get a crew working together in nothing flat. And without making anyone feel put upon or bossed. And you are making this cooking thing work. I am almost convinced that we will be serving ham and mashed potatoes tonight.”
“My brothers certainly feel bossed,” said Erin. “They are fetching and carrying every free moment, and every time they moan, he gives them another job to do.”
�
�And what have they learned from all this bossing?” Hannah asked quietly.
“To work hard and complain less,” said Erin. “He’s so strict, I thought for sure they would rebel. But every time Hunter pushes, Len just stands pat and Hunter does what he’s told.”
“How old are they?” Hannah asked.
“Eleven—going on twenty-seven. But it’s like they’ve become little monsters in the last few months. Right up until Len took them in hand. Now sometimes I think I see my darlings again.”
Maddie laughed. “That’s our Len. He’s good people. Your brothers are in good hands.”
“What about your folks?” asked Hannah.
“My mom is dead, never knew my dad. The boys’ father is a waste of space. Right now he’s in jail on parole violations, but sooner or later he’ll be out and trying to turn Hunter and Cord into career criminals just like him. Naturally they hero worship this deadbeat.” Erin had decided there was no point trying to lie about her background.
She scooped more mashed potatoes into the baker and slid the baker onto a cookie sheet. “Have you got room in your fridge for this?”
“Nope. We’re going to make use of the great outdoors.” Maddie led the way to the back doors. “This is my engagement present,” she said as she opened the French door. “Well part of it.”
“Doug got you new windows and doors as an engagement present?” Hannah asked with a laugh in her voice.
“You bet. Also a new electrical panel.” Maddie showed them how the benches on her deck had lids that lifted so they could store stuff. “Put the baker in here, so no critters get into the food before we do. Doug built this deck last summer.”
“It’s great,” said Hannah mirthfully. “Not as great as a new electrical panel, but pretty great.”
Both women laughed.
“I don’t get it. You both have huge engagement rings. What’s your problem? Don’t you like that Doug is fixing up the house?” Erin was baffled by their lack of gratitude. Didn’t they realize what good men they had?
“You don’t understand.” Hannah waved her ring around still laughing. “Jack gave me this as a warning to other men.” Hannah paused for effect. “He told me so.”
Maddie bent double and whooped. “Doug told me that I could have any ring in the shop so long as it was large enough that other men could tell I was taken at twenty paces. His idea of romantic is home repair.”
“They’re such he-men. But we do love them and we appreciate the things they do. And they are always working to make us happy,” Hannah said earnestly when she realized Erin thought they were ungrateful.
“See all those planter boxes.” Maddie waved her hand. “Those were Doug’s idea. They’re empty now, but I came home one day last summer, and he had bought half a nursery and filled them with made up tubs. So I had an instant deck garden. “
“It was practical and thoughtful and beautiful,” Maddie declared. “But he was absolutely not trying to be romantic. Sure he wanted to please me, but it wasn’t a gesture, he was taking care of me. He didn’t want to discuss it. He only wanted to make me happy.” Maddie led them back indoors.
“Sounds romantic to me,” Erin said.
“I only mean that I’ve had empty romantic gestures, and I prefer my bear. Doug is worth ten of my ex, but modern metrosexual he’s not,” Maddie explained.
Hannah patted Erin’s shoulder. “Len is just the same. You’ll see.”
“Oh, Len and I aren’t dating, he’s just helping me out with my brothers.” Erin tried to set them straight.
Hannah and Maddie both roared with laughter. “You’re not dating because Len doesn’t want a date. He wants a, um, wife. You’re being wooed French Town style,” Maddie informed her.
“How do you mean wooed? He hasn’t touched me. Not even a pat on the ass.” Unless dreams counted?
“Len would never pat you on the butt unless you were alone.” Maddie was emphatic. “But he is sure as shooting courting you. He didn’t take on your two hellions because he’s a nice guy. Well, he is a nice guy—none nicer—but that’s not why. He took one look at you and decided you needed help with those two and stepped up to provide it.”
“I don’t think so. I think I would know if a guy was interested in me.” Erin tried to end the conversation.
“Has he made your life easier?” asked Hannah.
“Oh, has he ever. Just not having to worry about Hunter and Cord, especially Hunter, has been such a relief. And because Len’s in charge I’ve been able to go back to making deliveries instead of working in food prep, which is a big improvement in my paycheck I can tell you.”
“Uh huh. Anything else?” Maddie inquired as she heated more milk.
“Well,” Erin thought, “Last Saturday morning, when I showed up at the house he had gotten my car working again. Hadn’t been able to drive that puppy in seventeen, eighteen months.”
“That’s how these guys court a woman,” Maddie said. “They do stuff for her. Show her they can take care of her. They’re not much for talking. They don’t buy romantic presents—unless you count windows and doors—but if you need something, they’re on it. Did you tell him about the car not working?”
Erin shook her head. “It was obvious we didn’t have one. Hunter and Cord must have said something.”
“What was wrong with it?” Hannah asked.
“What wasn’t? Mechanic wanted two grand to fix it. Isn’t worth two hundred. So I left it parked on the street and Hunter and Cord watched out for it and made sure the neighborhood kids didn’t break in.”
“And when you thanked Lenny, what did he say?” Maddie asked.
“He didn’t say much, but he sort of sat up taller and looked pleased. He said the boys had done a lot of the work, and then they fell all over themselves explaining how they had changed the oil, and put air in the tires and I stopped thanking Len to listen to them.”
“That sounds like Len, or Doug, or Jack. Doesn’t it Hannah?”
“Uh huh. And then I bet he made those heroes clear the table and wash up?” Hannah predicted confidently.
“Yes, that’s what he did. I sort of thought he fixed my car to teach those boys to treat me better. They have been so rude. I literally can’t tell you the things they had started to call me.” Erin shook her head.
“That bad?” Hannah asked.
“Worse. You really think Len is courting me? Even though he never asks me out? Never tries to cop a feel?”
“Where would he ask you to that you wouldn’t have to take those boys? And Len would never, but never, treat you disrespectfully in front of your brothers. He just wouldn’t.”
“Huh.”
“Listen, Erin, you have to change your frame of reference,” Hannah said earnestly. “Modern women have been brainwashed to believe romance is some combination of useless luxury and shimmering lace and pearls. That’s not how Jack and his cousins see things. They might give you flowers, or buy you chocolates, but they would make sure they were the kind you liked and that you didn’t need snow tires more.”
Maddie gurgled and nodded in agreement. “And they’d think of the snow tires first. Which is good—no—great.”
“You have to stop thinking that romance is something separate from everyday life,” Hannah said. “These guys build their world around their women. Everything they do is to make her happy, or safe, or well-fed. But they are probably never going to stand in front of some rack of cards picking out something gooey. They’re going to be too busy building a pantry or what not.”
“That’s exactly it,” said Maddie.
“Huh,” said Erin.
CHAPTER TEN
Len was enormously pleased. Winnie Malcom had assured him that they would be done with the roof by dark. “I don’t say we won’t want to tidy up in the morning. But you’ll be tight and dry by sundown,” she told him with a big grin.
Winnie Malcom ran her own roofing business in Seattle and she had a lifetime of experience bossing crews. She had Len’
s cousins sorted in no time. She had waved away Lenny and Joey’s thanks with one large hand and bellowed at Jack Enright to keep an eye on “Those danged cubs.”
Seemingly she did not mean her own well grown and competent lads, Jacob and Caleb. Her sons were doing the work of grown men with great skill, shoveling off great swathes of rotten shingles with effortless sweeps. Nope boss lady meant Hunter and Cord who were trying to help, but were stumbling over their own feet. Question was: Did she too think they were bears, or was cub just the word she used for kids? Something to think about when he had some time to spare.
Winnie explained again to Hunter and Cord that the bundles of shingles had to be moved twice. Once to the foot of the ladders, and once up the ladders. But nothing was to go on the roof until she had inspected the plywood. And the shingles had to be stacked so they were not in the way.
Even though Winnie was foreman, Len kept half an eye on Hunter and Cord out of habit. He noticed that there was a white panel van cruising up and down the sidewalk where a dozen people had gathered to gossip and watch the work get done. That seemed to be normal for this city neighborhood. Back home, watching your neighbors without helping out wasn’t considered seemly. But the van revived an unpleasant memory.
Len groped for his cell and flicked until he found the license plate he had photographed the day he caught the boys stealing. He went down the ladder and around to the front of the house. The second skip of new shingles was still wrapped in shrink wrap. Hunter and Cord had each picked up a bundle of shingles from the first one and were carrying them to where they would be needed.
The driver of the panel van was making peremptory gestures with his hand. Cord shook his head and scurried away. He ran right into Len. “Son, you put that down where Miz Winnie told you,” Len said. “Then go in the house and see if Gwen and Gabby need help with the coffee.” Cord sped off.
Hunter was looking uneasy. He seemed relieved when he spotted Len. “Friend of yours?” asked Len.
“My dad’s friend.” Hunter gulped and looked unhappy.
Bearly Begun (BBW/Bearshifter Romance) (Bachelor Bears of Yakima Ridge Book 1) Page 6
