“Beth,” he said, his voice now soothing, the anger gone from it. “That’s not how it is.”
“No? So you didn’t go on this “hot date”? I saw it on your phone, which you had conveniently left behind.”
“I left it by mistake, my head was so full of you, I wasn’t thinking straight.” He took a step toward her; she could see the pain on his face. “Let me explain, please. Rita is a patient at the hospital; she has no family and it is her 60th birthday. I promised her I’d take her out. And the gift, well, I had no other woman in my life to spend my money on before I met you.”
She frowned, trying to fight back tears. “Ben. Please. If this is more lies, then stop now, please.”
“No lies. I think Greta twisted things, I know she did to me. She told me she had never seen you so happy, because Francis had come to get you. Do you know how much that hurt?”
“Wait. She never saw us. Francis was here, waiting for me, when I left your house. She set us up.”
“So it seems.” He reached out and touched her forearm, trailing his fingertips across her skin. “Does this mean we’re good?”
“Good? Oh, you are very good. Too good for me.”
He closed the space between them in a heartbeat, lifting her up and placing her gently down on the countertop. His body eased her thighs apart, so that he nestled against her. Then he used his fingers to slip the fabric of her panties to one side, pushing deep into her.
“Ben,” she gasped, “Francis is still inside.”
“Good. I want him to be quite clear that you are mine.”
Ben inserted another finger inside her, bringing her arousal to the point of no return. She clung to him, her arms wrapped around his neck. When she heard Francis walking along the hallway, she simply cried out, “Shut the door … behind … you.”
He glanced their way, but then ducked his head and disappeared out of the front door.
“I don’t think we’ll be seeing him again,” Ben said, nipping her neck with his teeth while she came around his wonderfully thick fingers.
Lifting her again, he lay her down on the table, undoing his belt and letting his pants drop to the floor. Then he guided himself into her, thrusting hard, penetrating her completely in one movement. He grunted, pulling out and then lunging back into her, burying himself to the hilt.
“Do you have any idea how it felt to come in and find another man in your bed?” he asked, his thrusts hard and fast.
“Yes. But there will never be another man for me, Ben. Only you.” She gasped as he pulled her shirt off her shoulder, drawing the cup of her bra down. He leaned over her body, his teeth grazing her nipple.
“I could have ripped his throat out,” Ben ground out, his tongue exciting her breasts until they were hard and sore.
She lifted his chin with her fingers, kissing him, pouring her love and desire for him into that one moment. “I love you,” she whispered in his ear, her orgasm matching hers as he exploded inside her.
His seed pumped deep into her, while her sex gripped him and milked him of every last drop, When he had finished he turned her to lean over the table, and took her again. She was addictive; his body craved her like a drug. Placing his hands on her hips, he watched as he eased himself out of her and then lunged back in. Over and over, her round flesh rippling as he pounded her. He reached around her, rubbing her clit, making her whimper for him. With no letup, his fingers thrummed her clit until she came again. Then, once he knew she was satisfied, he allowed himself to reach his own climax.
Slowly the rage inside him, the fear of losing his mate, dissipated, and he carried her up to bed. There they lay together, his arms protectively wrapped round her. “I love you too, Beth.”
She turned to him. “I’m going to need some time, Ben, to get used to all this.”
“I know.” He reached into his pocket and pulled the small packet out. Opening the box, he took out a beautiful diamond ring. “Rita helped me choose it this afternoon. She is very keen to know if you say yes. Take all the time you need, Beth, but please, tell me you will one day be my wife?”
“Ben,” she gasped. “It’s too much.”
“No. It’s not. I’ve waited so long for you, Beth. I stopped dating long ago while I waited for you. So let me have some fun.”
She let him slide the ring on her finger, unable to believe she was going to have her wish. A husband who wanted a family with her. “Of course it’s yes.” She kissed him and then grinned. Her heart was ready to explode with happiness. Here was the man she would be spending the rest of her life with. Her doctor, her bear.
The End
A Bride For The Bear
Chapter One - Alli
Alli smiled at Drew. “I am so glad you came over from Bear Bluff to shop with me for your wedding dress.”
Drew twirled around, the fabric of her white silk dress swirling around her feet. Sliding her hands down the fitted skirt, she grinned. “So am I. Freyja told Eirik you had the best dresses in the county.” She took one last look at herself in the mirror and then said, “She was right.”
“It fits perfectly. You must be so excited. This Saturday. Wow, only two days to go,” Alli said, putting the pins away. Luckily, the dress needed no last-minute adjustments.
“Don’t remind me,” Drew said, placing her hand on her stomach. “I feel sick every time I think about it.”
“You should be so happy. Eirik is wonderful; you are both so well suited.”
Drew smiled at her knowingly. “It’s just the way it works out sometimes. I’ve known him most of my life, but sometimes the very person you are meant to be with is under your nose, and you just don’t see it.”
“True.” Alli smiled wistfully. She had been running Bear Brides for so long now, having inherited the bridal boutique from a distant aunt. At first, she hadn’t been sure about being involved with so many people’s special day. However, as the brides arrived on her doorstep, she grew to enjoy their sense of excitement and expectation of a happy future with their man.
It was so romantic how the men and women of Bear Creek and Bear Bluff fell in love and then stayed together, forever, it seemed. Since moving to Bear Creek, she had only known of a handful of marriages breaking down. The town must have the lowest divorce rate in the world. And it wasn’t, as far as she could tell, because divorce was frowned upon; it was something deeper than that. As if the couples belonged together. She frowned, never having quite been able to pinpoint exactly what it was that gave her that feeling. But she wished she could feel that way with a man. Then she tried to be sensible: all these weddings made her feel like a hopeless romantic. That wasn’t how real life worked; it was a façade she witnessed through the eyes of so many brides.
However, her work had given Alli a sense of how important marriage still was. For a woman who had been born out of wedlock and who never really knew her father, it gave her a different perspective on marriage. As the years had drifted by, she had developed her own need to be a bride, to find her happily ever after. Yet the right man never came along. Until now.
Alli had been dating Graham for three months now. He was a high-powered property developer who had swept her off her feet; she still wasn’t sure why. Alli considered herself to be well groomed and dressed in the most flattering clothes for her curvy figure; she was the face of her boutique after all. Yet it was that same curvy figure that she always considered her downfall. She believed that was what put men off taking her seriously. Or maybe it was the long hours she worked. Alli would be the first to admit that Bear Brides took up most of her time and energy, leaving little room for anything else. It was why she got on so well with Graham; they understood each other.
Or at least she understood him. When he called at the last minute to cancel a date because “something had come up,” she never gave him a hard time. Although Graham was not always good at returning that understanding. Once she had cancelled their date because of an emergency dress repair, the day before the unfortunate bride’s
big day. Graham had ranted on about how he was supposed to be the most important thing in her world. Not some stranger who bought a dress from her.
Romance wasn’t exactly Graham’s strong point. However, he had a head for business and loved her. She knew he did. Therefore, she had stuck with him in the hope that he would one day propose. Yet the longer they were together, the more she was wondering if that was ever going to happen. And if it did, was it the right thing for her?
Deep down, what worried her the most was that she gave off a vibe that said, “I’m not the marrying kind.” Because, despite all the brides who came to see her for advice on their wedding dresses, she didn’t really understand what went into a good marriage. How did people actually know they had found the right partner in life? Some of her clients seemed to know instantly, like Drew.
“I’ll go and take this off,” Drew said, heading towards the fitting room.
“She looks so beautiful, thank you, Alli,” Marjorie McCormac said. “I can’t wait for her to become my daughter-in-law.”
“She’s very lucky to have you to help with all the arrangements,” Alli said, thinking how sad it was for Drew to be getting married without her mother watching. Alli drifted back into thoughts of what her own wedding would be like. She had no real relatives—her mom had raise her alone, but had died three years ago. She missed her every day and could understand how Drew felt.
Startled from her musings, she looked up as a gorgeous, dark-haired, dark-eyed man came into the shop. He was huge, all bulging biceps and broad chest; his skin was golden, tanned by working outdoors. Swallowing, she thought how Graham would pale in comparison to such a man. If Graham needed a tan, it came out of a spray bottle. He had no time for the outdoor life. Then she chastised herself for even thinking of comparing them. Graham loved her; he was loyal to her. This man was a stranger who would walk into her life and then right back out of it.
“Hello, I’m Alli. How can I help you?” She put on her most helpful smile, but, seeing the look of confusion on his face, she began to feel uncomfortable. “Do you have the right place? We’re a bridal store.”
He continued to stare at her, his mouth opening and closing. Slowly he began to stammer. “I … I … have … c … come to pick up a silver comb,” he managed to finish.
She stood looking into his brooding, dark eyes, wondering if the passion they contained was for a woman she knew. Damn, how she longed to look into a man’s eyes and know such passion was for her. Graham never showed passion, unless it was for a business deal.
Alli realised she was standing with her mouth open but no words coming out. Was this contagious? Clearing her throat and gathering her thoughts, she answered, “Yes. It’s for Melanie, isn’t it? It was ordered in specially.” It had been on her day off, when old Mrs. Bury looked after the shop. Although “day off” was a term she used loosely. She usually went into the nearest city to stock up on ribbons and fabrics. “Wait there and I’ll go and get it.”
She walked to the shelves tucked away to one side of the shop where she kept the orders, and he did as she asked. He waited exactly where she had left him, as if turned to stone. His eyes looked a little glazed, as though he was daydreaming, or on drugs. Around him, Drew and Marjorie began to collect their belongings. He took no notice; it was as if there was no one else in the shop. Alli couldn’t help but let her gaze slip his way, her eyes skimming over his fabulous body and then flicking up to his hauntingly soft eyes. Her heart actually skipped a beat.
No doubt about it, she had never had feelings like this for Graham. There had never been this instant recognition of another human being. Was this love at first sight? No, she was in a relationship, a strong relationship. But Alli acknowledged that, along with marriage, she needed passion in her life, and not the kind Graham expected. Material things were his passion; along with business he liked big houses and fast cars, things he could control.
Graham liked being in control.
“Here,” she said, bringing the silver comb out to him.
“Thank you,” he replied, his composure returning, yet his eyes were still slightly out of focus.
“I’ll just wrap it.” She reached for a sheet of gift-wrap and began to fold it neatly around the box, then stopped. “Sorry, I forgot myself. Do you want to see it first?”
“Uh. Yes, please.”
She opened the box, placing it on the counter in front of him. It was very pretty, the kind a woman wore in her hair. Alli figured it was for his fiancé, or wife maybe. Her eyes slipped down to his hands, a quick glance to see if he wore a ring on his finger. No ring. Why did that make her feel happy?
Then something strange happened. They both reached to take it out of the box at the same time. Their fingers brushed against each other, and electric sparks seemed to be generated from the slight friction between them. Her eyes flew to his, her hands instantly letting go of the silver comb, sending it clattering to the floor.
“Sorry,” she said, hoping the comb was still intact as she bent to pick it up. Straightening, she said, “Nothing broken.”
He was staring at her, in a way that made her hot. Her cheeks flushed and heat built in the rest of her body, to pool between her thighs. Damn, he made her want to squirm, her sex ached and her clit throbbed. Why had Graham never made her feel this way?
The passion in his eyes had deepened; the look made her want to peel off her clothes and let him make love to her on this counter. She swallowed, and then out of the corner of her eye she caught sight of Drew and Marjorie watching the exchange. It broke the spell, which was good. Wasn’t it?
“Sorry about that. It’s been a long day.” She fumbled with the comb, putting it back into the box and wrapping it neatly.
“No problem, sorry if I startled you.” His voice was deep and sexy. Oh, so very sexy.
“You didn’t,” she said, putting on her professional, bright smile, which she saved for those brides who were adamant a dress suited them when it didn’t. “Like I said, it’s been a long day.”
“And what are you doing after work?” he asked.
Her heartbeat quickened, her pulse thumping hard as she tried to regain control. “I have a boyfriend.”
“Oh!”
And that boyfriend chose that very moment, to come flying into the shop, destroying the normally serene atmosphere with his big smile and loud mouth. For Graham had something on his mind. A burning question that obviously could not wait.
“Alli,” he announced, pushing in front of the hunky stranger. “I have something for you.”
“Graham, can’t you see I’m busy?”
“Not too busy for this.” He looked up at the stranger, who was at least a foot taller, and broader, than he was. “This is very important.”
Alli cringed. Graham always thought whatever he had to say was more important than whatever anyone else might have to say or do. “Can’t it wait two minutes?” she asked quietly.
For some reason she wanted this passionate stranger out of her shop; he was altogether too distracting. He also cast Graham in a bad light. There was no comparison between the two men. None at all. But loyalty meant she had to be faithful to Graham until she ended their relationship. Which, with this behaviour, would be sooner rather than later. Her thoughts of marriage slowly dissipated.
Only for Graham to bring them sharply back into focus. Because with the words, “No. It can’t,” he did something unthinkable. He got down on one knee, and, much to Alli’s horror, in front of the small audience in her store, he pulled a box out of his jacket pocket, opened it to display a huge diamond ring, and then uttered the words she had wanted to hear a thousand times. “Alli, will you marry me?”
Chapter Two – Kian
He clenched his fists to his sides. If he wasn’t very careful, he would grab that box from this idiot’s hand and throw it out of the door. Next, his fists would curl around the imbecile’s collar and launch him out of the door too. It would be the best way to get rid of the odious little
man who had just proposed marriage to his mate!
Down on one knee, the man knelt before Kian’s woman with a ring in his hand. She was looking at it, but, as yet, had not answered; there was hope, especially when her gaze flitted up to Kian’s face. She had felt the connection between them. He knew she had. However, was it strong enough for her to turn down the man she had obviously been dating?
Behind her, Kian could see two women watching the scene in front of them unfold. They glanced at Kian; he held their gaze. Did they know who he was, what he was? He had kept himself to himself since he had moved here a couple of months ago with his sister. A sister he loved more than anything. Except his mate.
Trying to clear his head, he took a step forward. His mate looked at him again, her face worried.
“Graham,” she hissed. “Get up.”
“Not until I have an answer.”
“No,” Kian willed her to say.
“Can’t we talk about this later?” she insisted. Kian’s hope grew.
“I am not getting up until you say ‘yes.’ We both know it’s what you want.”
Her eyes told Kian that wasn’t true. Her face told him she was embarrassed, and people do the strangest things to escape feeling that particular emotion. She opened her mouth to reply, but he couldn’t bear to hear her utter her acceptance. So he stepped forward.
“I really am in a hurry,” he growled.
“Oh, of course,” she said, continuing to wrap the silver comb, while her boyfriend grovelled on one knee. And so he should grovel; he was obviously not good enough for this woman who was destined to be Kian’s wife, his lifelong partner. This little man had no idea about bonds. Unfortunately, as she finished her task, he realised that his mate didn’t either. This was not going to be easy.
The man got up, his face red with rage. “Do you mind? I am proposing to Alli; couldn’t you have waited one minute?”
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