by Moxie North
“Yes I do, you need books to be happy. I want you happy here,” he said roughly.
Before she could answer there was a horn honk outside. Stryker moved to the window by the door and peered out.
Stryker made a pleased grunting noise. “Be right back.”
He opened the door and walked out leaving her alone in the house. Curious, she went to the window and saw a flatbed tow truck taking up most of the space on the gravel road. Stryker was talking to the driver through the window. The truck started backing up and Libby stepped out.
Chapter 25
“He lost?” she asked. She imagined people came down the road all the time looking for something that wasn’t there.
“Nope, he’s just backing in,” Stryker explained.
“Friend of yours?” she pressed. She really wanted him to herself today. But if a buddy of his came over, she wasn’t going to be the bitchy girlfriend who stomped her foot at the intrusion.
“Never met him before,” he replied.
Grrr, it was like pulling teeth with him sometimes. Usually not with her, but other people. Realizing she wasn’t asking the right questions, she decided to stay quiet and observe before speaking up again. She had a better shot that way at guessing right.
The truck was now backing down the road with a large silver SUV on the back of it. Even from where she stood it looked new. As it got closer she could see the sales stickers still in the windows.
The tow truck started lowering the ramp and Stryker jumped up to help. They unchained the vehicle, lowered it down the ramp and then the driver jumped out with a clipboard.
Stryker made a fast signature on the bottom that in no way could be legible, Libby thought. Her dad was a doctor so she knew all about sloppy penmanship.
The driver took a moment, flipped through some pages then offered his hand to Stryker, which he shook. He was then back in his truck and on his way.
Libby thought she had a grasp on the situation now so tried, “Did you buy a car?”
“Yup,” Stryker said coming towards her.
“When?”
“Last night, after dinner,” he replied grabbing her hand. She followed him down the steps to the shiny new vehicle.
“Why?”
Now she was being the one-word girl. But she really didn’t think he was going to say yes. Her original thought was that someone was paying him for some mechanic work on the side away from the shop. That wasn’t uncommon.
“Because, the weather is going to get bad soon and you can’t ride on the back of my bike in the rain. It’s not safe. This is safe,” he said gesturing towards the car.
Libby saw that it said Range Rover on the back. She didn’t know cars, but she knew those didn’t come cheap.
“You bought a car to drive me around in?” she said, the shock clearly evident in her voice.
“Yeah,” he said, opening the passenger door for her.
She numbly got in and he shut the door. The interior had that new car smell. The seats were soft comfy leather and the dashboard looked like a giant computer screen. He was around the car and sitting in the driver’s seat before she could think of her next question.
“You can’t just buy a car for me to ride in. This car is expensive. I don’t want you to waste money on me,” she said, starting to feel very uncomfortable. Sure their relationship was moving at light speed. But a box of donuts was one thing. Large vehicle purchases another.
“Can you afford this?” she whispered. She hated asking, but her frugal side was itchy and needed answers.
“Live small, don’t usually buy much. I have money for this,” was all he answered.
Libby understood that her nest egg was nothing to sneeze at. But she still lived at home. This must have cost bank to order it and have it delivered.
She didn’t even know you could order a car and have it dropped off at your house. She figured her first car shopping experience was going to be at Crazy Earls: Fine, New, and Used, one town over.
“I don’t feel right about this. Would you have bought this if you weren’t seeing me?”
Stryker seemed to ponder that for a moment. “No.”
She should have guessed that would have been his answer. “Stryker you have to send this back. Can you return cars? I don’t feel right you spending money because of me.” She said this lamely because it sounded a little pathetic like she didn’t value herself or something. It wasn’t like he was giving the car to her, she was just going to ride around in it occasionally.
“Libby, look at me,” he said, turning towards her. She faced him in her seat and met his eyes.
“I don’t care how much it costs or what I have to do to make sure that you are safe. I told you that we are together and that means you’re my responsibility. It is my duty and honor to protect you.
Whether that’s motorcycle helmets or a car with six airbags and a five-star safety rating. Your well-being is my number one concern. You need to get used to that. In my world, the moment I met you, you became my only priority.”
“Wow, that’s nice,” she said in a hushed tone. Then realized she’d said that out loud. That wasn’t her intention.
“Glad you think so,” he said with a smirk. “Do you like the car?”
“Uh yeah, Stryker, I like the car. It’s beautiful.” Turning to peer in the back she saw there were two more rows of seats. “Wow, that’s a lot of seats. You planning on picking up hitchhikers?”
“Planning for the future,” he said cryptically.
Either that meant he was thinking of starting a band or he was talking about children? No, that was just her overly excited ovaries wishful thinking.
But it did give her a second to ponder. If she was willing to sleep with him, would she be willing to have a family with him? The quick answer was yes.
“Well, as long as it’s something that you were thinking of getting anyway, I won’t feel guilty,” she mumbled.
“No, I wasn’t planning on buying a car. My motorcycle is all I’ve ever needed. I bought this to give me a small assurance that you will be as safe as I can make you while we travel.” Stryker said this but saw he wasn’t quite getting his point across.
“We need to talk,” he said and opened his car door.
Chapter 26
He was at hers in a flash and offering her a hand out. They walked into the house and he motioned to the couch.
“Do you want anything to drink?” he asked, not sure how long this talk was going to take. His cougar was not happy that they still weren’t bonded. He was clear in his opinion that he needed to tell her everything so they could get to the good stuff.
Stryker was still trying to take it slow; there was time to tell her everything. Maybe this conversation would clear up a few things and he’d have a better idea of where to go from here in his courtship.
“Water, please,” she said. Libby was getting that sitting outside the principal’s office feeling. The one where you weren’t even sure if you were in trouble, but just the act of sitting there made you feel guilty.
Stryker brought her a glass of water and set it down in front of her. He sat next to her, leaning over with his elbows on his knees, his hands clasped together. He looked pensive, she thought.
“Libby, I need to say something to you, but I want you to hear me out. Don’t jump to a reaction, just think about it, yeah?”
“Okay, Stryker,” she said. Oh crap, he’s gonna tell me he’s in the mafia or something. Maybe he was a lone hit man, laying low from the law, pretending to be a mechanic. Oh wait, that was a book she read last month. Maybe not.
“It’s been two days, believe me I know that is a very short time for hum…some people,” he corrected himself before saying human. That wouldn’t freak the shit out of her. She probably would think he was an alien. Little did he know that was another book she’d read last month. Alien lovers, it was a spine tingler.
“Yes, most people haven’t even got to the awkward cup of coffee stage,” she admitt
ed.
“I’m thirty-five years old. I can’t begin to tell you I’ve lived a celibate life. What I can tell you is I have never, and I mean never, felt for anyone what I feel for you.
You running up to me at the garage and pounding on my chest was like a bolt of lightning. Out of nowhere an angel was dropped in front of me. It may be only two days, but I know you better than you think.
You’re smart and funny. You’re kind without any expectation of reciprocation. You appreciate the small things, you’d give away all your mac-n-cheese if you heard someone was hungry.
Your love for your folks, although challenging, is true and honest. And you like me, probably more than you’re even willing to admit yet. You’ve been thinking about a future together with me.
Probably worrying that we aren’t on the same page. But, babe, you need to understand. You’re right, we aren’t on the same page.”
Libby gasped, that wasn’t what she expected at all. Was he telling her that she was barking up the wrong tree? That he didn’t like her the same way she did him? Holy crap on a cracker she’d screwed up.
“Stop thinking that,” he growled.
“What?”she stammered.
“Whatever you just thought, I asked you to hear me out,” he reminded her.
Taking a deep breath Libby nodded for him to continue.
“Mouse, we aren’t on the same page because I’m a whole book ahead of you,” he paused to let that sink in a little.
“You may be thinking of dating, going to the movies, picnics in the park. I know you wanted to hold off on meeting your parents. I bet you had that scheduled months from now,” he said knowingly.
She had the good grace to blush, she totally did.
“I’m not thinking months from now I’m thinking years from now. I know what I want, Libby. I want you. Not for today, not for tomorrow, but for always.
You’re mine, my soul mate, the one meant for me. I want to be with you. I want to make you laugh. I want to be there when you cry. I want us to keep moving forward until we have built a life for ourselves.
A home, children, grandchildren even,” he said this and his cat was nudging him to get a move on in that department.
He took in her body language. She’d kind of locked up at some point during his speech. He could tell she was still breathing, but he wasn’t sure if she’d blinked recently.
“Mouse, it’s okay to be overwhelmed. I just didn’t want you to waste any time wondering what my intentions are. And for the record, this is mostly the same thing I told your father when he came to grill me at the shop.”
“You told my father that?” she gasped.
“Well, not word for word, but the general idea, yeah,” he admitted.
Libby did finally blink a few times then reached for the water. Taking a sip she was trying to figure out what you said to someone you’ve known for two days, that basically wants to, what…marry her? No, that was a little nuts, in fact it was beyond nuts.
“Libby, I want you to take some time. I’m not asking for an answer right away. But knowing how I feel about you. I want you to decide if you are willing to move forward with me. I can’t make any guarantees,” he said, even though he really thought he could. “I’m just asking for a chance.”
He sat quietly as he saw the wheels in her head turning. When Dax said to take things slow maybe he meant slower that asking for forever after two days.
Shit, he might have just screwed the pooch on this one. He really wanted to call his brother and tell him that he hadn’t listened to him and could he please tell her about shifters and everything else he might have glossed over. That was part of his duties as Alpha wasn’t it?
Libby was rolling her lips back and forth, little lines on her forehead from her thoughtful expression. Stryker couldn’t help but admire how cute she looked.
He needed to distract her keep her from making any rash decisions. Maybe he could suggest they go for a walk. Girls liked walks, right?
Chapter 27
Libby was sure she looked like she was deep in thought really pondering what he’d said. She had, for a second or two, then something snapped in her head and she was in a mental meadow chasing dragonflies.
Yup, she’d checked out. The overwhelming scenario he’d laid out had apparently tripped her mental kill switch. All systems on shut down. Even if she wanted to seriously consider her life with him her subconscious had pushed her rational mind into an instant vacation.
She didn’t want to talk about this. It was way too real for her. Her mind thought back on her favorite book heroines, what would they do?
Some would have kicked him in the nuts and told him that they didn’t need him for anything other than his dick. Then they’d ride off on their own Harley.
Others would fall swooning into his arms batting her eyelashes and puckering her lips. What kind of heroine was Libby? Swoony or switchblade?
Turning her inner eye to her heart, which yes was totally metaphorical, but it always made sense to Libby. She took stock of where her heart was. Her heart was…happy.
Yes, happy to be around a man that made her parts tingle. With a man that could kiss her practically unconscious. A man who would buy her a helmet and a new car in the course of forty-eight hours for her safety.
He’d met her mom and dad and somehow tolerated them. Her heart liked all of that. Her soul felt like it was reaching out to him. Straining to join with his.
She wasn’t one to deny her true self so why was she hesitating? What’s the worst that could happen. She’d already concluded that he wasn’t going to murder her and bury her in the woods. That left the possibility of a broken heart.
With him it wouldn’t just break it would shatter. She knew this like she knew how to breathe. Once she said yes to him he had the power to annihilate her.
But apart from the risk of that was that really a reason to deny herself the opportunity at a lifetime of happiness? Wasn’t life all about the level of risk one was willing to take to reap the huge rewards?
Libby was always a believer in you reap what you sow. She was willing to chance a lifetime’s happiness against the pain of never knowing.
She shook herself a little when she felt the weight lift off her shoulders. It was the weight of indecision and fear. She noticed him looking at her. He was fidgeting like he wanted to move or leave.
“Libby? Maybe we should go for a walk?” he suggested, starting to get up.
Libby acted fast and swung her leg over his and straddled his lap, pushing him back into the couch.
“What the…” he started. His eyes racing over her face to figure out what she was up to.
“Shh,” she whispered, putting a finger on his lips.
She had to think about how she was going to say this so she rolled her lips again and left her finger on his mouth.
“Stryker…” she started, then paused. His eyes were sending her encouragement; he wanted her to take her time.
“I want you to know that even though I’ve never really dated anyone before. I’m not unaware of the risks I’m taking.
We are good together, I like you. I dream about you which is saying something since I usually only dream of stories I’ve read. I know that if I let you in I’m opening myself up to get hurt. I’m pretty sure that if you decided we shouldn’t be together anymore my heart would be in tatters.”
“Libby, I’d never…” he started.
“Shh,” she reminded him. He stopped talking although his eyes were bright with the things he wanted to say to her.
“I’m saying that even though that is a very possible scenario I’m willing to risk it,” she finished.
She saw the light dawn in his eyes. “Really?” he said against her finger.
“Yes, really. My heart and soul tell me to trust you with both. So I’m going to, Stryker. Be careful with them,” she finished.
Stryker was silent for a moment then placed a kiss on the pad of her finger. Libby moved it and let her hand
cup his rough cheek.
“I’ll cherish both, I promise,” he said to her. He wanted to do back flips. He’d gotten her to want him not his money and not his cougar. Just him.
Libby leaned down and kissed him softly on the mouth then a little harder, then finally demanding he open for her. He did and took control of the kiss, his hands sliding into her hair to hold her in place. He took her mouth like it was a vow. Sealing her promise between them.
Libby let her hands roam over him touching him, clutching at his strong arms, flexing her body towards him.
Stryker pulled away and looked at her, “Thank you,” he whispered.
“You’re welcome,” she instantly replied, then realized how silly that was. She started laughing and Stryker broke out in a grin too. He was even more handsome smiling.
“You want to go for that walk?” Stryker was asking because his dick hurt under her. Their make out sessions were short for a reason. He wanted to keep his focus and his control.
“Only if it’s a walk to your bedroom,” she said, kissing him boldly.
Stryker jerked back and looked at her hard. “Don’t joke about that, mouse. I have a hard enough time holding back around you.”
“I’m not joking Stryker,” she said, kissing him again. She wanted him to understand that she wanted him. She didn’t want to have to say it!
“Baby, stop,” he said, grabbing her upper arms and gently pushing her back. “What do you mean my bedroom?”
Libby couldn’t stop the blush that stole over her cheeks, but now that she’d decided, she was on a mission.
“I want you to take me to your room and make love to me, Stryker,” she said quietly. Her voice didn’t waver even though her insides were like jello.
“This is a big decision, mouse. I don’t want you to think I’m pressuring you. I’ll wait as long as you need to be sure.” He meant that, he didn’t have to like it, but he meant it.
