“Damn, girl. You look beautiful.”
Aria rolled her eyes and opened the door the rest of the way, then waved her hand for Reid to come in. “You have five minutes. Don’t waste them on compliments that won’t get you anywhere.”
Reid grinned, and nodded. “Fair enough. Can I sit down?”
Aria shrugged. “Do what you need to. It’s your five minutes.”
“You’re not going to make this easy on me, are you?”
“It’s not my job to make this easy on you,” Aria said as she plopped down in her recliner. “Four minutes.” She knew she probably was being hard on Reid, but when it came down to it, he had it coming. Still, she found it slightly disarming that he was taking everything in stride.
“Aria, I’m just going to talk, spill it all out, and if you could try and listen, with your heart and not your head, that would make a big difference.”
Aria sort of half-shrugged, not wanting to show too much interest. But she was already invested and she knew it, as much as she hated herself for it.
“Okay. When I made the decision to go into the army, instead of college with you, it was the wrong decision. I’ve know that for years. But at the time, I was sure I would be a crap student, and I felt like I owed some sort of life debt to my dad. So, I went. And I should have explained why better to you, but I was an idiot. And then, I was an idiot again, when the military offered to make me some sort of super soldier, and instead of asking questions, I signed up right away, thinking that it would make my whole decision worth wile. I was convinced that the program would fill the voice I was feeling from hating where I was, and missing you. The next thing I knew, they turned me into a damn bear. The anger consumed me and it was like nothing I had ever felt before. And it scared the hell out of me. There was no way I was putting you in danger once that happened. No way. I couldn’t bear the thought of hurting you, or worse, so I did what I thought was right. I pushed you away. And I’ve regretted it every day since. Every minute. I’ve never stopped thinking about you. Loving you. And you don’t have to believe me. I wouldn’t blame you if you didn’t. But it’s the truth.”
Aria felt all of her anger crumble around her like a wall collapsing. “You’re telling me that rather than explain all of this to me, you just shut me out? Because of some macho notion that you had to protect me?”
“It’s not that simple,” Reid said with a laugh. “It wasn’t like I was trying to protect you from the world. I was protecting you from myself.”
“That’s the stupidest thing I’ve ever heard, Reid. You could have talked to me about all of this. You could have explained it then. Instead, you wasted ten years. Ten. Damn. Years. For what? And what the hell is your excuse for Bear Ridge? Do you have any idea how much you hurt me by leaving a second time? By disappearing a second time? What possible excuse could you have for that?”
Reid got to his feet, crossed over to where Aria was sitting, then got down on his knees in front of her. Her first instinct was to push him away, but when she went to, she couldn’t do it. Her body physically wouldn’t let her disconnect from him now that he was so close. All of her defenses were crumbling, and she knew that whether or not she wanted to in that moment, she would forgive him.
Reid looked up at her with eyes that were glittering amber, a color she wasn’t used to.
“Aria, all of those fears came rushing back, and I let them overwhelm me. But I will never run away again. I will never leave you again. That is a promise. You are my love. My life. And I may have realized it late, but…” he took her hand in his and kissed the top of it softly. “You can’t be late for forever, remember?”
After everything they’d been through, Aria realized he was right; there was nothing she wanted more in the world than to be with Reid for the rest of her life. He was the only man, or bear, for her. And she knew that whatever challenges lay ahead for them, and all of the emotions they would need to work out between them, she wanted him by her side. Tonight, and for the rest of her life.
She wasn’t sure what came over her, but Aria did not wait to be asked. She stood up from the chair, and slide out of her dress, tossing it over her shoulder with a smile as Reid sat in front of her, watching her intently. Aria was tired of fighting, tired of all the anger; she wanted to be in his arms, in his life, loving him for as long as they both lived. She didn’t know how to put the words together yet, so instead, she would show him. To prove her love to him, physically. Naked and totally unabashed in her need for him, she walked over to where Reid was sitting, her hips swaying seductively. She could see Reid's reaction to her, his nostrils flaring, his breaths quickened. She stopped, standing between his sprawled legs.
His eyes roamed over her creamy pale skin, coming to rest on her sparkling blue eyes. Reid watched her as she sank to her knees, running her palms up his thighs. She was a woman on a mission. Nothing would stop her from her goal of making love to her man. Kneading his hard cock through his pants, stopping long enough to unzip him, she eased his heavy thickness from its confines. Magnificence. She ran her thumbnail lightly over the bulging veins, amazed at how hard yet smooth he was. She swiped her thumb over and under the wide crown. He produced a pearly drop for her, and she licked him hungrily.
Unable to keep his hands to himself, he ran his fingers through her hair, lightly scraping her scalp. He guided her head closer, and she could tell that he was praying she would envelop him in her hot mouth. Aria grinned; just because she knew what he wanted didn’t mean she wasn’t going to make him wait. She licked along the underside of his member, up to the tip and down the side. There was not an inch of him that was not explored by her. She was in her element, aroused and tingly, hearing Reid moan and tell her how much he loved her.
She gave him one last lick and told him to stand up and take off his clothes. He did as his queen commanded. When he was fully undressed, she gripped him in her tight fist and pumped, right before taking him into her mouth. He hissed and widened his stance, holding her head close. He fucked her mouth, thrusting in and out, in long, hard plunges, careful not to make her gag, but not gently either. Reid moaned and whispered, telling her how much he loved her, tell her over and over that he would never leave her again. Aria cupped and tugged his balls. She reached past the tightening globes, then pressed the knuckle of her finger against that taut spot. He seemed to lose his pace, bucking a little from this different type of touch. Aria bobbed her head up and down, while she massaged the area just beyond his scrotum.
Aria was giddy with the power she held over him. His groans and cries grew louder, and he became more desperate in his movements. Aria changed the tension and direction of her touch, pumping and firmly kneading her knuckle against him. Reid shouted and tensed, all his muscles locked in place as his cock kicked. He came in thick ropes, coating the back of her throat, filling her mouth. She swallowed every drop, not wasting a bit of it, sucking on him until he was shuddering and shaking so hard.
Reid stepped back from her and fell onto the couch, mouth open as he took quick, shaky breaths. Aria crawled over to him and lay her head on his chest, listening to his heart pound. She wasn’t done with him yet. She licked his hard little nipple, flicked her tongue over it before she sucked it into her mouth. Moving over to the right, she did the same. Her hands rubbed the insides of his thighs, up and down as she continued sucking and flicking his nipples. Moving down his body slowly, she sucked, kissed and nipped the sensitive skin on his thighs, first one then the other.
Before she knew what was happening, Reid had changed their positions. She felt like she was on a roller-coaster ride.
She was now on the couch, her ass at the edge of the seat, her shoulders and head pressed to the back of the sofa. He had her spread open before him. He licked his lips hungrily, leaning forward he stuck his tongue in the crease of her plump folds, before he flicked it against her clit. Aria murmured and widened her legs even more. She was so wet. He smoothed his thumb over her quivering flesh then slowly pushed it int
o her.
Reid removed his thumb and placed it against her lips. She opened her mouth and tasted her own earthy essence. Her eyes closed in ecstasy, as she moaned. He growled and licked her core, anchoring one thigh with his massive hand as he sank his tongue into her. Thrusting as she cried out huskily, shattering her sanity. Aria was coming apart; the sounds Reid made as he tongue-fucked her made her feel like Aphrodite.
She made him act like this, starved for the taste of her.
Finally, he moved to her clit, flicking it quickly, before pulling it into his mouth; the he used his two fingers as a replacement for his tongue. She bit her knee and moaned as Reid curved his fingers up and touched a spot that sent lightning bolts of pleasure up her body. She screamed again, trying to pull away from him, trying to control the emotions. Reid followed her, sucking on her clit and rubbing on her G-spot.
Aria didn’t know how much more she could take before she exploded. Reid wouldn’t ease up on his assault on her senses. She rode his fingers, pinching her nipples as the pressure built up inside her. He plunged his fingers again and again until Aria screamed sharply. Her back bowed, head flung back, fluid gushing from her. Reid tenderly kissed her as she writhed and shook, gently stroking down her body, calming her heightened senses.
They lay on the couch, dazed in the aftermath of their mind-numbing orgasms. Aria sighed and purred contentedly, dozing off. Reid nudged her awake.
“I’m not done with you yet,” he said. He sat up and positioned her leg over his shoulder, his cock hard for her. Slowly he joined their bodies together, aware of how raw and emotional she felt, her tight passage still fluttering and shaking. He fucked her so sweetly, whispering and telling her how beautiful she was. Her eyes glistened with unshed tears, never feeling as cherished as she did right now. Reid lowered himself and kissed her eyelids, then her lips.
“I love you, Aria,” he whispered, his throat tight with emotion.
“I love you too, Reid,” she breathed out, tears falling free. “I always will.”
She gasped as he started rocking into her forcefully. Hiking her leg back onto his shoulder, he slammed into her, her breasts bounced and shook with every thrust. Aria bit her lip and stifled a scream as he stiffened above her, calling her name.
“Oh, Aria. My Aria.”
His Aria. Forever.
Epilogue
Aria
Six Months Later
“Aria! Can you grab the green beans? Lani left them in the kitchen!”
Aria jogged back into the house and picked up the bowl of green beans, as well as the potato salad Lani had also forgotten. It was Family Dinner Sunday at the manor, and they’d decided to have a barbecue picnic to celebrate Aria’s first day teaching at Boulder Montessori, an arts-focused elementary school just up the road. As she walked back outside to the yard where everyone was setting up dinner, she couldn’t help but smile when she saw her new family, gathered around the table.
That night three months ago in her house in Indiana, Reid had asked Aria to move to Colorado to be with him, and she’d said yes without even thinking about it. It hadn’t been quite that easy, and she’d had to make a lot of additional hard choices, like quitting a job she loved, but in the end, she had known it was the right decision. She knew in her heart that she was meant to be with Reid, even after everything that happened, and it was time to do everything they could to make their relationship work.
Now, she was living in the manor with Reid and the other bears, and she loved it, though she secretly hoped they might get their own place someday soon, especially since she had her own amazing new job. But she knew that the bears were a tight-knit group, and it was important for them to be close to each other whenever possible.
Aria set the last of the food on the table with a smile, and suddenly realized everyone was staring at her. Her grin went from genuine, to awkward.
“Guys… what is going on? Are you about to sacrifice me or something?”
Still no one said anything, until Aria was about to freak out. The suddenly, her favorite Louis Armstrong song filled the air, and she could already see that Blair and Lani were crying. Around the side of the house, out of nowhere, came Reid. He was wearing a black suit, with a black jacket, and a white shirt, and his hair was slicked back. He looked like a super spy, or a Formula One racer. He didn’t look like her Reid.
“Seriously, everyone. What the hell is going on?” she asked nervously.
Reid walked up to her, a sly smile on his face, and he took her hand in his. “Hey, angel. I’m not late, am I?”
Aria laughed. “You can’t be late for…”
She didn’t get a chance to finish. When Reid pulled his hand away, he left a box behind. A small blue box.
“Forever?” Reid asked.
Aria felt the tears start to well up as she clicked the box open. Inside was a perfect classic diamond on a rose gold band, and her hands were shaking so hard, she could barely take it out for fear of dropping it. All she could do was not her head, and whisper,
“Yes.”
Reid grinned, and slide the ring on for her as everyone behind them cheered. He swept Aria up into his arms and spun her around while she laughed. As Reid kissed her softly, the cool night breeze blowing her hair, and the happy laughter of her new friends in the background, Aria knew one thing for sure…
This was what a happily-ever-after felt like.
THE END
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Turn the page for your bonus book of Undercover Bear Portland: Shane!
Chapter 1
Shane
A loud smack on my desk made me jump. I let out a long sigh as the rookie dropped another pile of folders. I reached over and reluctantly grabbed one.
“How much more paperwork do we need to finish on this case?” I complained. For the last several weeks we had been dealing with finishing up the paperwork for the money laundering case. Hank Wilshire was healing up only to spend the rest of his days in prison, which in my mind was a perfectly suitable punishment.
The thing I hated most was fucking paperwork. It was the bane of my existence. Every time we finished up a case, it was as if the department tried to drown us in paperwork. I knew it was all to cover their ass to make sure that we didn’t overstep our line, but still it fucking sucked to have to complete it all.
I closed up the manila folder and threw it in the other pile of papers on my desk. I ran my hands through my reddish-brown hair. I felt my bear bristle underneath the surface. He hated paperwork just as much as I did. I looked out the window and took in the Portland scenery. In the distance, I could see the snowcapped mountains and I wanted nothing more to shed this stupid fucking suit and tie and run through the outlining woods on my four paws.
The phone rang, brining me out of my daydream, and I quickly picked it up. Please let this be a new case, I thought to myself.
“Officer McAbbot here, how can I help you?”
“Shane, it’s Gio.”
A slow smile spread across my face. I hadn’t seen Gio since he went back to his precinct in Seattle.
“Gio! How’s it going, man? How are things with Natasha?”
Gio let out a laugh and I could practically feel his happiness from over the phone. After the incident here, Gio and Natasha got the start to their relationship that they really wanted. With Natasha’s company closing its doors after the investigation, she decided to follow Gio to Seattle and start a new life away from the drama that she left behind. It was a good move on her part. Not only was Gio one of the best guys I have met, starting a new life after the hell she went through was the best thing for her. I was truly happy for them.
“Things with Natasha are great. We’re all settled in our new place and she’s looking for a new job now. She’s thinking about changing up her career completely and becoming
a math teacher.”
I let out a loud laugh. I didn’t know Natasha very well, but I did know how much she hated waking up early, and the thought of her dealing with students before a cup of coffee made me smile.
“How is she going to deal with those early mornings, Gio?”
“God, I don’t want to even think about her grumpiness.”
I chuckled. “So, what’s up, man?”
Silence came through on the other line. I felt my bear stir underneath the surface. It wasn’t like Gio to be at a loss of words. Finally, Gio spoke.
“It’s hard to explain, but I think there’s something going on at that shifter hospital.”
“Why would you say that?” The shifter hospital had been open for about three months now. Ever since shifters came out in the open, I had been waiting for a hospital for us to open up. It just seemed like the next logical step for us to get specialized health care. Even though we were similar to humans, a lot of things were different.
“Well, I’ve had some strange reactions to things.”
“What kind of strange reactions?”
Gio’s voice dropped and I could tell that he truly thought something was wrong. “Ever since I left, I could feel like my tiger was on edge. At first, I thought he was just being protective of Natasha, but now I think that it’s something more.”
“Gio, you went through a lot a few weeks ago. I’m sure it’s just your being on edge and wanting to protect her.”
Furever Always (Furever Series) Page 44
