Silverback Bear (Return to Bear Creek Book 10)
Page 13
“Never.” He let go of her hand and they walked in single file through the trees, but instead of heading straight onto the plateau, he swung left to lead her to the area where he’d shifted.
“Is this where we’re going to eat?” Elizabeth asked, putting her hand on her stomach as it rumbled.
“It is.” He opened up the backpack and took out a blanket, which he spread on the damp ground. The sun wasn’t warm enough yet to completely chase the chill away. “Why don’t you sit down?”
Elizabeth did as he asked, still looking bemused. “Is there something you aren’t telling me?”
He hesitated, pulling his hand out of the pack, and putting it in his pocket instead. “It’s more of a something I want to ask you.”
“Dean, what’s going on?”
“Elizabeth McLeish, will you marry me?” He knelt on one knee, a box with a diamond engagement ring held out to his mate.
Who looked shocked.
“Yes.” His question didn’t appear to have registered fully, and he worried her answer was a subconscious reaction. But then she knelt beside him, hugging him. “Yes, a million times yes.”
Dean kissed her, then took the ring out of the box and slipped it onto her finger. It was as if his world was complete. His mate now wore his ring, a symbol of his claim on her for all the world to see.
“I love you.”
“I love you too, Dean. More than I thought possible.”
He kissed her, laying her down on the blanket, with the blue sky above them, and the mountain beneath them. She moved first, unzipping his jeans, and pushing them down over his hips. “Are you sure?”
“Yes.”
Dean’s fingers fumbled with her zipper, but between them her jeans ended up on the ground next to his, with the blanket thrown over them. Not that there was anyone around, his bear senses told him they were alone, the trees shielding them from anyone who might pass by.
Elizabeth straddled him, and he guided himself into her sex. She was wet, warm, and tight around him. He thrust upward, and she inched herself down onto him. Two bodies joined together in the act of making love.
He wanted to touch her naked skin, to kiss every inch of her flesh, but although his bear blood would chase off the early morning chill, Elizabeth would be cold. So he filled his mind with memories of the night before, conjuring up with feel of her soft skin and the taste of her flesh.
They kissed, while she moved her hips back and forth, riding him, as she lifted herself up, and then lowered herself down. His climax was close, the excitement of her accepting his proposal increasing his arousal. She would be his.
She would be theirs, his bear corrected.
Forever. She had conquered her fears, she had grown in confidence, and Dean could not wait to see the woman Elizabeth was destined to be, unfurled like a flower before him.
But most of all, as their bodies climaxed together, and he spurted his seed deep inside her, he could not wait for a child to grow in her belly. But if they were not blessed with a child of their own, he would still be the happiest man alive. Because Elizabeth was his. Against all the odds.
Epilogue
“You look very handsome.” Elizabeth placed her hands on Dean’s lapels, and stood on tiptoes to kiss his lips.
“And you look very beautiful.” He kissed her right back, his hands circling her waist and pulling her close.
“You’ll crease my dress.” But she didn’t push him away; Dean’s arms were where she always wanted to be.
“Hey, you two lovebirds, anyone would think it was you two getting married today,” Louise said as she entered the room with Suzie, who was carrying Storm in her arms.
“One day I’ll get them down the aisle,” Suzie told Louise with a sigh. “One day.”
Elizabeth blushed and looked up at Dean through her eyelashes. He wanted to marry her more than anything, and she wanted to marry him. Yet the thought of organizing a wedding made her feel physically sick. Maybe that wasn’t the whole truth.
Elizabeth was scared. Their relationship was wonderful; they loved each other, worshiped, even. What if that changed when they got married? What if it all fell apart?
She knew she was holding on to their relationship too tightly, that she might smother it if she didn’t relax, but she didn’t know how.
“We’ll get there. One day.” Dean kissed Elizabeth once more, before saying, “We should leave. We don’t want to keep Zak waiting at the altar.”
“We do not. Do we, Storm?” Louise tickled Storm, who giggled and wriggled.
“OK, good luck, we love you. Don’t worry, we’ll be in the car behind you,” Suzie said, lifting the short train of Louise’s beautiful, fitted wedding dress. It clung to her curvy hips, and emphasized her waist, but was incredibly simple, with white lace covering the bodice.
“Thank you all so much. For everything.” Louise’s eyes misted up, and Suzie was quick to produce a tissue.
“Here, it’s a good thing we are all wearing waterproof mascara.” Suzie passed the tissue to Louise and then gave her a quick hug. “You deserve it all. Never forget that.”
“We’ll see you there,” Dean said as Louise took his arm and they left the house.
“He is one proud papa bear,” Suzie mused as she watched them walk to the first car, which was waiting to take them to the wedding venue. Karen had gladly let them use her garden once more. The difference was, this time all the flowers were in full bloom, and the scents were heavenly, especially since it was so late in the afternoon after a day drenched in hot sunshine.
“He is.” Elizabeth sighed, and placed her hand on her stomach.
“Oh my goodness, do you have news?” Suzie asked.
“No.” Elizabeth shook her head. “At least it’s too early to be certain.” She looked at Suzie, and fought back tears. “I’m scared. Scared of what having a baby will mean. What if it changes everything? Not just me and Dean, but me and you.”
Suzie smiled bashfully. “I have a secret too.”
“You’re pregnant?” Elizabeth’s excitement spread across her face.
“Too early to be certain,” Suzie replied with a smile. “I don’t want to get Kit’s hopes up. I think… He thought I would conceive instantly, and I didn’t, so… I want to be sure.”
“OK, tomorrow, we can both go and get a pregnancy test.”
“Tomorrow.” Suzie nodded, and came back to stand in front of her mom. “But today, there is something else to do.”
“Oh, get to the church. It wouldn’t do for the bridesmaids to be late.” She looked around for her purse, but Suzie didn’t move.
“Or the bride to be late.” Suzie’s words made Elizabeth forget all about her purse.
“Louise has already left.” She was missing something, she just wasn’t sure what.
“Come with me.” Suzie carried Storm into Dean’s sitting room, which Louise had taken over as she prepared for the wedding. There were clothes draped over the sofa, and make-up on the coffee table.
“What’s going on, Suzie, we’re going to be late?” Elizabeth wasn’t sure what Suzie was up to, and that panicked her.
“It’s OK, the driver of the first car is going the long way around. And Zak is in on it, so it’s all good.”
“In on what?” Elizabeth asked.
Suzie took a zipped dress bag off the door, and passed it to Elizabeth. “Your wedding.”
“My wedding?” Elizabeth didn’t understand, but a rising panic made it difficult to breathe.
“Louise and Zak have been busy arranging their wedding as a double wedding. They would be honored if you and Dean shared their day.” Suzie went to her mom, who looked shocked.
“I can’t, it’s their wedding day.”
“They want to share it with you and Dean. But there’s no pressure. Until I let Zak know you said yes, he won’t say a word to anyone.” Suzie put her arm around Elizabeth. “Mom, what’s holding you back from marrying Dean? I know you love him, and you already practic
ally live with him. You have only been back to your house to weed your flowerbeds.”
“I don’t know, it’s as if I have this crazy idea that getting married will change everything, and I’m scared. Life is perfect just the way it is.”
“Mom, marriage will not change that. Not with Dean. Come on, this way you don’t have to worry about anything, it’s all done,” Suzie said encouragingly, while Storm babbled in her baby voice.
Suzie was right. This would be perfect. No weeks of worrying and stressing. “What’s in the bag?”
“Your wedding dress.” Suzie passed it to her, and Elizabeth unzipped it, to reveal the dress she had tried on at Bear Brides during Suzie’s last fitting.
“You’ve been planning it this long?” Elizabeth asked.
“It was Louise’s idea. She knows how nervous she was at the thought of getting married. And figured it would be doubly so for you. It really was their idea.”
Elizabeth’s hand shook as she put it to her mouth to stem the sobs that erupted from deep inside her. All she could do was nod.
“Let’s get you changed.” Suzie put Storm down on the sofa, where she wriggled around. “Here. You can play with this, Storm.” Passing Storm her favorite toy, a garish elephant that lifted its trunk and made a sound like an out of tune trumpet, Suzie watched for a moment, to check that she was settled, before helping Elizabeth with her dress.
One quick phone call to Zak, and a dress change later, Elizabeth, Suzie, and Storm were getting into the second car, and heading to the wedding. The driver handled the car professionally, keeping to the speed limit, but getting them to Karen’s house as fast as possible.
Elizabeth had no time to feel nervous. As soon as the vehicle stopped, the driver got out and opened the car door for them. In a whirlwind of action, Suzie and Storm were waiting in front of the house. Zak appeared out of a side door, and beckoned to Elizabeth.
“You want me to wait at the altar?” Elizabeth asked.
“Yes, Dean has no idea.”
That was when Elizabeth faltered. “He doesn’t know, what if he says no?”
Zak laughed. “Are you kidding?”
Elizabeth blushed. “I don’t want him to think I’m…”
“Elizabeth, he loves you and take it from a shifter, he will be overjoyed at finding his mate waiting to marry him.” Zak stretched out his hand. At the same time, a car engine could be heard approaching the house.
“Go, now.” Suzie shooed them. Then she stopped, and took her mom’s hand. “This is the right thing to do. You know it, deep in your heart. You’ve known it from the first day you met Dean. I saw it in your eyes, when you found out he was a shifter. So much hope, and so much love to share. You’ve never had that before. Never felt you belonged. With Dean…I see it in you. And I know you are brave enough to take ahold of that hope and love, and not let go.”
Elizabeth nodded, and somehow turned herself around, took Zak’s hand, and put one foot in front of the other as she followed him through the gate and into the garden. Karen, Scott, and Kit were waiting for her. “You did it!” Karen’s voice was a half sob, as she thrust a bouquet of flowers into Elizabeth’s hand. “It has everything you need.”
Elizabeth frowned and looked down at the bouquet. “Something old, something new, something borrowed and something blue.”
“Because you and Dean deserve every happiness.” Kit, who was best man, kissed her cheek and took her hand to guide her to the front of the ceremony. Zak walked in front of them, his nerves evident.
“Ready?” Kit asked. The question was directed at both of them.
“We are.” Zak nodded and winked at Elizabeth. “Hold my hand.”
Elizabeth stood between Zak and Kit, each holding one of her hands as the music began to play. Her legs felt like they were going to collapse under her, and she dared not look at the sea of faces seated before them. She trembled, wanting to be anywhere other than here. Over and over she told herself this was the most ridiculous idea ever. That this was Louise, Zak, and Storm’s special day.
Yet as the congregation turned to watch Louise and Dean walk down the aisle, and the sun dipped low, casting a red glow over them all, Elizabeth knew this was exactly where she was meant to be.
She watched Dean walk down the aisle, saw him smile and say hello to young people, some with husbands and wives, some with children also, and felt a surge of love and pride. These were his children. Children he had fostered, children he had opened his heart and home to. Children who loved him in return.
When he turned his attention toward Zak, and then saw Elizabeth standing alongside him, Dean’s smile faltered, and a look of wonder came over him.
Louise leaned over and whispered something in his ear, and he looked at her quickly before his face broke into a smile.
“I thought I was only here to give Louise away,” Dean said to Elizabeth after he had passed Louise’s hand to Zak, and Zak had handed Elizabeth’s to him.
“I didn’t know.” Elizabeth needed him to know she had no idea about any of this.
“I know, Louise told me.” He chuckled, and kissed her cheek. “I wondered why the driver went all around town when it’s such a short drive.”
“Now you know.” Elizabeth looked out at all the happy faces around them. With Dean holding her hand, the faces were no longer scary. He made her complete; they were two halves of a whole.
And as they stood before family and friends, and said their vows, alongside Louise and Zak, she knew she was blessed. No matter what she thought about fate, no matter how she might struggle to accept that fate might have been cruel enough to allow a child to be born with a red birthmark on her cheek, she had to agree, if fate had a hand in her marrying Dean, and the baby she hoped was growing inside her, she was thankful. And would be for the rest of her life.
This was the best happy ever after she could wish for. Standing here, with her daughter and son-in-law, a bridesmaid and best man for another perfect couple. Her smile mirrored Louise’s. whose life had mirrored her own, as the two couples finally became husband and wife.
***
Have you read Cowboy Brother Bears?
Complete Series now available.
Other Books By Harmony Raines
Other Books By Harmony Raines
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Hero Mine
Bear my Fate (Hero Mine Prequel Book 0)
Hero Mine - Kurt
Bear Bait (Hero Mine Book 1)
READING ORDER FOR
Bear Creek Clan and Bear Bluff Clan
Complete Box Set
Or available individually
suggested reading order
(each can be read as a standalone
but why not start at the beginning and get to know all of the characters?)
Rescued by the Bear (Bear Creek Clan Book One)
Finding Her Bear (Bear Creek Clan Book Two)
Tamed by the Bear (Bear Creek Clan Book Three)
Snowbound With The Bear (Bear Creek Clan Book Four)
Biker Bear Billionaire (Bear Creek Clan Book Five)
Bound To Her Bear (Bear Bluff Clan Book One)
Doctor Bear (Bear Bluff Clan Book Two)
Stranded With Her Bear (Bear Bluff Book Three)
A Bride for the Bear (Bear Creek Clan Book Six)
Home Or Her Bear (Bear Bluff Book Four)
Fated To Her Bear (Bear Bluff Book Five)
Lonely Bear (Bear Bluff Book Six)
Wolf Valley Raiders
Complete Box Set Out Now!
Or available individually
suggested reading order
Redeem the Wolf
To Catch A Wolf
Reclaim the Wolf
Awakening the Alpha
Biker Bears
Forbidden Bear
Secret Bear
Christmas Bear Brothers
Or available individually
suggested reading order
Santa Paws
Christmas Catastrophe
Bear Humbug
Fated and Mated
Love at First Site
Her Scars To Bear
Her Choice To Bear
Her Russian Bear
Who’s the Daddy?
Complete Box Set Available
Or available individually
suggested reading order
One Bear and a Baby
Her Bear and a Baby
Second Chance Bear and a Baby
Baby Protector Bear
Return to Bear Bluff
Complete Box Set Available
Or available individually
suggested reading order
The Bear is Back in Town
His Bear’s Necessity
Black Bear Down
Who Bears Wins
When Bears Collide
Wish Upon A Bear
Cowboy Brother Bears
Complete Box Set Available
Cowboy Bear Blues
Cowboy Bear’s Mate
Cowboy Bear’s Fate
Return to Bear Creek
Daddy Bear
Mountain Bear
Honey Bear
Forever Bear
Storm Bear
Silverback Dragon
P.I. Bear
Doctor Daddy Bear
Bad Boy Bear
Silverback Bear
Christmas Bears
Sleighed
Claused