Lia stirred the sauce, her eyes becoming unfocused as a sudden realization hit her. Lia saw herself with a clarity she’d never experienced before. Since as long as she could remember, Lia always tried to help people with their problems. But sometimes, the problems Lia saw when she was looking in on someone’s life were not real problems. They were choices.
Only now, with her own choices taken away from her, Lia could see herself more clearly.
You are a busybody, her bear said bluntly.
Takes one to know one, Lia said in reply, which made her bear huff and puff.
But ultimately, by the time the sauce was ready, and Lia was sitting back in front of the mirror in her bedroom, applying light foundation, along with eyeliner and mascara to her eyes, with a dash of rose-red lipstick to finish it off, Lia and her bear were in agreement. They were inclined to poke their noses where they were not always well received. Was that why she had been set up? But who would want to see her run out of town?
Lia was no closer to an answer when the doorbell rang. She quickly finished dressing, opting for the only non-work-skirt she had in her wardrobe, and a floral blouse that emphasized her breasts. Then she dashed downstairs, her feet still bare, and pulled the front door open.
Cursing herself for forgetting to check who was on the other side, her breath caught in her throat. But she let it go when she saw the big hulking beast of a man that was hers filling the doorway.
A wave of longing passed through her.
Whatever feminist views she held when she was younger seemed to be slipping away. Right now, faced with her mate, she wanted nothing more than for him to gather her up in his arms and carry her to bed, and whisper in her ear he was going to make everything better, just like Prince Charming in so many fairy tales.
Chapter Six – Sam
“Hi.” Sam could not get the goofy grin off his face. She was perfect. Like really perfect.
Now, who is drooling? his bear asked with a smirk.
“Hi.” Lia smiled and arched her eyebrow.
Sam quickly wiped his hand across his mouth, scared he really was drooling. Luckily the flowers in his hands hid most of his face from her. “Flowers.” He thrust them forward, and she took them, looking bemused. “I seem to have left my cool in the car.”
Lia smiled. “That would imply you were cool to begin with.”
“Ouch,” Sam answered, but her jibe left him at ease. “I can see you don’t pull any punches.”
“Sorry, I had three brothers and two sisters. I’ve had practice.”
“You come from a big family. And do you want a big family of your own?” He winced. “Sorry. Prying.” They were tripping over each other as they tried to figure each other out.
“That’s OK, but I thought you might have waited until we sat down to dinner before you asked those kind of questions.”
“They aren’t first date questions at all, are they?” He stepped inside the door, ducking his head to avoid a nasty bruise.
“You are taller inside than outside,” Lia observed, then frowned. “You know what I mean.”
“I could say no, and let you try to explain,” he said, flashing her a grin.
“You could. But I think you are too much of a gentleman, Sam Spencer.” Lia led them to the kitchen, where she set the flowers in a jug of water.
“No vase?” he asked, giving the kitchen a quick appraising look.
“No. When I moved here, I was starting over. I’ve only bought the necessities so far.”
“And since you don’t have a vase, can I guess that no other man has bought you flowers recently?” Sam asked.
“Is that your subtle way of asking if I’ve been dating anyone since I came to Bear Creek?”
“Just checking to see if I had any competition.”
Lia turned to look at him, her face suddenly serious. “You are mine. And I am yours. Forever. There will never be any competition.”
He cocked his head and looked at her, before extending his arm and grabbing hold of her. Pulling her into his arms, he lowered his head, and whispered in her ear, “I am so glad to hear that because I am a peace-loving man. But for you, I would do all kinds of bad things.”
Her cheeks colored at his words, and she opened her mouth to speak, but he lowered his head and captured her lips with a kiss. It had the desired effect. She clung to him, her hands looped around his neck, and her body pressed against his. Damn, he was already hard, his cock straining against his pants.
Groaning, he picked her up, and she wrapped her legs around him. With one arm around her waist, supporting her, he let the other hand roam free. He cupped her breast, his thumb rubbing the taut bud of her nipple, tweaking it until her hips bucked against him, her mound pressing against his cock.
Fuck. He groaned and slid his tongue into her mouth. Sam wanted to claim every last part of her as his own. His very own. The thought hammered in his head in a relentless beat.
Lia obviously felt the same primal need to mate. Her fingers began to undo his buttons, and then in frustration with her own fumbling, she took hold of his shirt and pulled it apart.
Something exploded in his head. “Bedroom,” he ground out, although part of him wondered if he had the self-control to get that far. The kitchen counter looked sturdy enough.
“Upstairs.” She broke their kiss and lowered her head to press her lips against his bare chest, while he struggled to keep upright as he headed in the direction she pointed.
His hand slipped down over her bottom, caressing her round cheeks, before sliding lower, to press against her sex. In return she bit his earlobe, and then sucked on it, making his eyes roll in his head as he fought the delirium that threatened to consume him. She was like a fever he never wanted to break.
“Second door on the right.”
As they burst into the room and he threw her down on the bed, he had no doubt she wanted the same thing as him. No doubt at all. As he dropped his pants to the floor, she undid the buttons of her blouse, and threw it to the floor. He gazed at her voluptuous breasts. They were encased in a pretty bra, all silk and lace, that was just going to have to go.
“I want to see you naked.” His voice held a hint of command, which she obeyed.
Kneeling up, she reached for the clasp of her bra, and her breasts burst out of her sexy lingerie. Then she wriggled out her skirt, her movement making her breasts dance. His cock hardened, standing proud and erect, and a little painful, in front of him.
“Do you want to touch me?” she asked innocently, but she could not hide her own desperate need.
“Yes,” he said hoarsely.
Lia slid to the edge of the bed and held out her hand to him. He took it, kissing the back of it, and inhaling her scent. He ran his tongue in a tight circle across her skin, hearing her sharp intake of breath.
She stroked his shoulders, and then slid a fingertip down over his chest, and lower, to caress his toned stomach, before encircling his hard cock. “Oh, my…” The rest of his words were lost. His breath hissed through his teeth, and he stood for a moment like an imbecile, his limbs refusing to cooperate with the thoughts he sent to them.
Then he broke free, and his hands cupped her breasts, pushing them together, a gift for his mouth. He kissed her soft skin, moving ever closer but never touching her nipples. He was driving her to the same distraction as her hand on his hardened length. As proof, Lia moved, squeezing her thighs together, trying to relieve her own need, while her hand relieved his.
He pulled back, and said, “Lie down on your back.”
Lia obeyed, her eyes locked with his. She answered his every command, but he saw the strength she hid there. His mate was no plaything; she was his equal, in and out of the bedroom. He could not make her do what she didn’t want to do.
“Open your legs for me.”
She did as he asked, not ashamed of her wet, swollen sex. And she was wet.
Sam moved to kneel between her thighs, reaching out to trail one finger along the lengt
h of her sex, before pushing inside her. He watched as his finger delved deep inside his mate, her sex tight around him.
“Kiss me there.” It was her turn to command him, and he obeyed, pulling her closer to him before he dipped his head and flicked his tongue over her clit.
Lia gasped. Sam covered her clit with his mouth and kissed her, sucking and licking her sensitive bud until she writhed beneath him. His thumb pushed inside her sex, grazing her inner walls. Her hips bucked, and she pushed herself down on him, finding a rhythm that brought her orgasm close.
He liked a woman that knew what she wanted. He smiled against her skin at the contradiction that was his mate. Obedient, yet commanding, needy, yet able to take what she wanted. Damn, if he wasn’t going to have a pleasurable time exploring her hidden depths. And he didn’t only mean her personality.
He twisted his thumb as he worked it inside her, finding just the right spot to drive her insane. She slowed her movements, angling her body so that his thumb pressed against the same spot, circling her hips to maximum effect. Lia pleasured herself with his hands, while he pleasured her with his mouth. Kissing and licking her, he drove her to the edge of the abyss and then let her fly. Ratcheting up the intensity, he did not let her fall; he would never let her fall.
With hands and mouth, he made her come, long, hard, and desperate. He showed her what he had to offer, he taught her how much pleasure he wanted to give her, until at last, she lay before him utterly spent.
Sam kissed her inner thighs, his head half raised to watch her breasts as they heaved. She was utterly delicious—just like the aroma from the meal she had prepared. It drifted up the stairs, tempting his nostrils, and making his stomach growl, but there was no way he was going anywhere until he had claimed his mate.
Lia moved beneath him, her body sliding down the bed, until her hand encircled his cock, and she began to stroke him in a slow but steady action. Sliding down further, she opened her mouth and took the head of his cock inside her sweet, sweet mouth. And sucked on him in a sweet, sweet way that made him open his mouth and groan. But this wasn’t what he wanted.
Or maybe it was. Her hand cupped his balls, while her tongue rolled over the head of his cock, swirling around and around in a neverending spiral of pleasure.
But he wanted to come inside her. He wanted to bury himself deep inside her tight sex and claim her, before spilling his seed inside her.
“Stop.” He moved, pulling out of her mouth reluctantly.
“Are you sure?” she asked.
“I want you, Lia. I want us to mate, right here, right now.” He hesitated. “Unless you would rather wait.” How stupid of him. Perhaps things had moved far too fast. Had he assumed too much? He thought she wanted him as much as he wanted her, but he might have gotten it all wrong. It had been a long time since he had bedded a woman. A very long time.
Lia slipped back up the bed and wrapped her thighs around him, urging him forward. “There is nothing in this world I am more sure of, than how much I want you, Sam Spencer.”
He smiled, feeling shy under the intensity of her gaze. Their eyes locked together, as slowly, he guided himself into her sex. He was big, he knew he was, his cock was in perfect proportion to the rest of his body. He saw a moment of panic flit across her face as he thrust forward, but he eased back and allowed her to adjust to him.
When she was ready, she placed a hand on his back and urged him deeper. He inched forward, before pulling back and then inched further forward once more. Each time he saw her struggling to cope, he stopped, each time she adjusted to him, she urged him on.
The need for commands fell silent on their lips. This was communication on a deeper level. Their bodies worked together until he had impaled her on his hard cock, and she had adjusted to his wide girth. He stilled inside her, closing his eyes and letting his senses fully explore the intense delights of being buried inside his mate. She was warm, wet, and tight around him. He could feel every minute movement she made, and he experienced each delightful pulse of her inner muscles as they tightened around him.
He could come right here, right now, if he allowed himself. His arousal was so intense, if he let go of his self-control, he would immediately fill her with his seed. But where would be the fun in that?
Drawing out of her suddenly, he eased his hips back before thrusting into her hard and deep. She groaned but took all that he offered. In and out, she spurred him on, her legs wrapped around him, urging him to take her.
Lia kissed his flesh, nipping the sensitive skin of his neck, while her hands stimulated every nerve ending throughout his body. He could not hold on against the onslaught of sensations she evoked in him. She was the master of him. His early need for her to obey him was gone. He would do anything for her.
Just as he knew she would for him. They moved as one, their bodies entwined, their lives spliced together forever, and their souls bound for eternity.
Finally, he lost control. He came, spurting his seed deep inside her. Filling her with the potential of another life. A life they would create together.
He jerked into her, crying out her name, while she reached her own climax. Tears streaked her face, as she kissed his cheek and forehead, covering his face with feather-light kisses.
When he pulled back and gazed into her eyes, he saw once more the hidden pain there, and his heart sank a little. He thought they were joined as one, but he could read her expression. She had a secret, and they could never be joined completely until she told him her fears and he helped her be rid of them.
However, she wasn’t ready. They might have made love. They might have consummated their bond.
But she didn’t trust him. Not enough to tell him her deepest, darkest secret.
Chapter Seven – Lia
“Dinner will be another ten minutes,” Lia said as she put a pan of water on to boil for the spaghetti.
“Is there anything I can do?” Sam asked.
They were in the kitchen, both fully dressed. Pity, she could get used to seeing Sam naked. And that was where she cut her thoughts off. If they were ever going to eat, she needed to get a grip. Her life was not going to descend into one of sexual obsession.
“You can open the wine.”
“This one?” he asked holding up the bottle he’d brought with him, which she had not even noticed when Sam arrived.
She turned, hiding the blush that crossed her cheeks. “There is a chilled bottle in the fridge. We can save that for later.”
“OK.” He opened the fridge and removed the chilled wine, leaving Lia thankful he hadn’t made any sexual innuendos about what else they might save for later. Actually, since they had left the bedroom, his manner had been easygoing and friendly; there was no weird sexual tension between them. Unless he was hiding it well.
Lia set the wine glasses on the table and then returned to heating the sauce, cooking the spaghetti, and warming the garlic baguette she had pulled from the freezer. Her mother would never know she hadn’t made everything from scratch.
“Smells delicious,” Sam said, keeping the conversation even.
“Thanks. My mom is a super cook. Some of it has rubbed off on me. Not as much as she hoped.” She dished everything up, her stomach growling in anticipation. While her bear growled in anticipation of what she hoped would come after.
Sam sat down at the small kitchen table that the previous resident had left. Lia barely used it; instead, she often ate curled up on the sofa with a good book, or a movie, which was how she had managed to fill the lonely void that had existed inside her since she arrived in Bear Creek. Until now. Who needed to read when she had her own romantic hero right here?
Was he her hero? Would he help her figure out the mess she was in?
“Where do your parents live?” Sam asked, tilting his head and narrowing his eyes. “I can’t quite place your accent.”
Lia paused and then took a long sip of her wine. “They are from the South originally. But my dad lost his job, so they moved East. Tha
t didn’t work out, so we moved again. Three times.” She took a bite of the baguette, realizing it might be a mistake, since they would both have garlic breath.
“So you have no fixed accent.” He nodded. “This is good, your mom will be proud.”
“Thank you.” She picked up her utensils. “What about you?”
“My parents live a couple of towns over. They have a small farm, which they figured I would run someday.”
“That sounds as if you have other plans.”
“I do. I like my job, I like helping people. Growing crops does not fulfill my life’s ambition.” His mouth dropped slightly at the corners, but then he smiled. “I think they are disappointed because neither of my brothers wants the job either.”
“That must be tough,” Lia said. “Do they pressure you?”
“No, not at all. But it’s the things left unsaid that often give the biggest clue to what people are thinking.” Sam lifted his glass and took a long drink. “This is good too.”
She smiled. “Anyone would think I was trying to impress you.”
He winked. “I was impressed from the first moment we met. The way you came at me with that broom. I will never forget it.”
“I’m sorry.”
“I’m not.” He placed his glass down. “I like a woman who is not afraid to stand up for herself or other people. You were a fierce mama bear.”
“Yeah, I think I get that from my mom, for sure. She might like to cook and clean, but if you ever attack one of her cubs, she would not hold back.” Lia smiled wistfully.
“I’d like to meet them. Before we get married.”
“Married?” Of course, why would they not get married, hadn’t she been thinking how much easier it would be if she took his name and changed her appearance? There was only one problem. If her parents and the rest of her family suddenly converged on Bear Creek for a wedding, it wouldn’t take Mr. Delamere long to locate her.
P.I. Bear (Return to Bear Creek Book 7) Page 4
