Second Chance Bear

by Raines, Harmony

  “I made a mistake, what can I say to make you see that we were good together? You and me, we were meant to be.” Julian’s tone was whiny, like a child who wanted another child’s toy.

  Julian didn’t know how wrong he was. Joanna belonged to Marcus, their connection ran like the deepest ocean, whereas her marriage to Julian had been like a babbling brook. Fun until they adopted the children and it got harder.

  “You said you came back because you wanted to be part of this family. I thought you meant Reece and Winnie. Not just me.” Joanna was trying to understand exactly what Julian did want.

  “Do you remember all the years we spent dreaming about having kids?” Julian asked.

  “Of course I do,” Joanna could remember the days when they would sit for hours talking about how great it would be to have a child of their own. “But we have children. I might not have given birth to them, but I love them as if I had.”

  She suddenly suspected that it wasn’t the same for Julian. Was that why he’d left?

  “It wasn’t so easy for me,” Julian admitted. “I suppose if we’d had a child of our own it would have been a gradual thing. Instead, it was so sudden, like bam! We adopted two children. It was like going from zero to sixty in two seconds.”

  “And that freaked you out.” She nodded, trying to understand what he was trying to say.

  “I wanted the old us back,” Julian admitted. “I wanted the quiet evenings alone, the intimate dinners for two.”

  “Then why adopt? Why insist you wanted children?” Joanna asked.

  “You know the answer to that.” He frowned, his brows knitted together as he spoke.

  “No, I don’t.” She shook her head to emphasize her answer.

  “Because all my parents ever talked about was my brother’s kids. I felt like a failure.”

  “I had no idea.” The more she learned about Julian, the more she questioned their marriage together and whether they ever really knew each other at all.

  “Come on, you know how they used to talk about Colby and Samantha. How at least Colby had provided a son and heir. It made me feel less of a man.” Julian turned away from her. “That’s why I wanted a child.”

  Joanna closed her eyes. She’d thought Julian became broody when Colby and Samantha had their first child. However, that wasn’t the whole truth. Julian’s sudden desire to have children had been spurred on by the competitiveness his parents had encouraged between the two brothers.

  “I’m sorry I couldn’t give you the child you wanted, Julian.” Joanna could recall only too well their first visit to Julian’s parents after they adopted Reece and Winnie. It was plain the children would never be treated as true grandchildren. “Is that why you left? So you could have the chance of a child with another woman?”

  Julian’s eyes darted away from hers and he gazed into the distance. “Partly.”

  Joanna rested her hand on Julian’s forearm. “You still have a chance to go and find the woman of your dreams who can provide you with the child you want.”

  “How long could that take?” Julian asked petulantly. “I hate being on my own.”

  Ah, so there it was. “You came back to me, to us, because you didn’t want to be alone?” She had to give him credit for his honesty, and for being the biggest jerk ever. “And then what? When another woman took your fancy you’d have left us again?”

  “No…” He stalled. “It’s not like that. I love you.”

  “You love the old us. The old me. Except the part where I can’t conceive a child.”

  Julian shook his head and kept his eyes on the ground as he said, “I can’t conceive a child.”

  Her heart hammered in her chest. “It was you?”

  “I thought that if I was with another woman it would be different. But it’s not.” Julian looked to Joanna for sympathy. He got none.

  “Wait, let’s go back a little. You told me you were okay. You told me the tests showed you were normal. But instead, you were firing blanks.”

  “Don’t make it sound so…” He shrugged away from her. “It’s not my fault.”

  “No, it’s not. But you were only too happy to blame me.” She shook her head. “All the comments your parents made about me not being fertile, when all the time it was you.”

  “Which is why I let you adopt the children.”

  “Enough.” Joanna held up her hand to silence him. “I can’t believe you would lie to me about something like this. And then go off with another woman and what? Did you expect her to cure you?”

  “No. I just thought…”

  “No, Julian, you didn’t think.” Joanna was so mad she expected steam to come out of her ears. “You need to figure out what your intentions are toward the children. Then we can talk. But right now I think you need to give us some space.” Before she walked away she added, “For once in your life, think of someone else other than yourself. You made a promise to Reece and Winnie when you agreed to be their dad. Why not try being that person? You never know, it might make you happy.”

  Then she walked away, back to the group, back to her kids and back to the man who made her happy.

  “Everything all right?” Kylie asked as Joanna approached the group, who were waiting outside the barn.

  “Yes. Are we ready to go?” Joanna asked, fighting back the tears that threatened to spill down her cheeks. She dared not look at Marcus or tell him what Julian had done. Not yet, not until she’d had time to process it all.

  Although she couldn’t wait to tell him his dream of being a father could now come true.

  “Wait for me.” Julian ran up behind her. “If you don’t mind, I’d still like to tag along.”

  His eyes locked on Joanna’s as if he were asking for her permission.

  “I’m sure Reece and Winnie would like you to stay.” Joanna tried to be as diplomatic as she could, considering the circumstances and Julian’s revelations.

  “Yes, come on, Dad. Let’s see if you can find a tree.” Reece took Julian by one hand and Winnie took the other.

  “Thanks, kids.” Julian looked down at them both. “I’ve missed you. I didn’t realize how much until now.”

  “We missed you, too, Dad. Will you still take us to the museum like you promised before you left?” Winnie asked.

  “Sure, I’d like that.” Julian cast one last look over his shoulder at Joanna before he turned his full attention on his adoptive children.

  “There’s a museum in Bear Creek, maybe we could go there?” Winnie suggested.

  “Maybe we could. And if it’s all right with your mom, perhaps we could eat out. I’m sure she’d like an evening off.” Julian and the children walked toward the area where they would finish up their blindfold task.

  “Is everything okay?” Marcus asked. He walked up behind her but didn’t touch her.

  She turned around to face him. “Yes, yes, it is.”

  “Why don’t you two have a minute alone, we’ll meet you at the starting area.” Kylie led her family away, leaving Marcus and Joanna alone.

  “Do you have any idea how hard it was not to come after you?” Marcus asked, stroking her cheek with the back of his hand.

  “But you didn’t, and that means a lot. We had to talk it out together.” She cocked her head to one side. “And you didn’t hear what we said, even with your enhanced hearing?”

  He looked kind of sheepish but shook his head. “I chose not to.”

  “You switched off your hearing?”

  He chuckled and slipped his hand around to the nape of her neck and tickled her skin. The hairs on her neck stood on end and she shivered, her body primed and ready for him to kiss and stroke and… She cleared her throat and tried to focus on the words coming from his mouth rather than how much she wanted to kiss his lips.

  “I can’t switch it off, but I can move out of range. Your conversation was private.” His eyes fixed on her lips. He wanted to kiss her just as much as she wanted to kiss him.

  “Then you didn’t hear
his admission?” Joanna hoped she could trust Marcus not to act on the information she was about to relay to him.

  “His admission about what?” Marcus’s chest rose and fell as he inhaled deeply, trying to keep calm.

  Joanna placed a hand on his chest. “Nothing bad.” Her brows furrowed. “Well, it was bad. But I’m willing to let it go and I want you to let it go as well. In fact, I’m only going to tell you after you promise me you won’t do anything rash and hurt Julian.”

  Marcus shook his head and huffed. “This is going to be hard. I already want to hurt him.” He balled his fists and then gave her a lopsided grin. “Only joking, I’m a lover, not a fighter. Unless someone tried to hurt you physically.”

  “In that case…” She gave him a nervous smile. “That was a promise, wasn’t it?”

  “As close as, but if it makes it easier, I promise not to hurt Julian.” He gave her a solemn look.

  “He told me that he lied about me being the one who can’t conceive.”

  Marcus sucked in a large amount of air, as if he was a drowning man who had finally stuck his head above water. “He did what?”

  “When we were married and couldn’t conceive, he told me I was the one with the problem. But I wasn’t.” She cupped his face in her hands. “As far as I know, I can have your children.” Or anybody’s children, not that she would want anyone else’s. Marcus had shown her what true love really was. In the short time she’d known him, she’d learned enough to make a decision that would affect the rest of her life.

  A decision she would not take lightly considering it involved her children, too.

  “He lied to you about the tests?” Marcus asked incredulously.

  “He did. He didn’t want his parents to think he was a failure.” Joanna placed her hands on Marcus’s chest. “And in some way, I can understand why he did it. His parents are similar to mine, perhaps that’s why we were drawn to each other.”

  “But you are not anything like Julian.”

  “No, I’m not. But he has a brother to contend with. A brother who produced a beautiful son. Julian figured he needed to do the same. When we didn’t conceive he couldn’t tell them the true reason, so he blamed me.” Joanna needed Marcus to understand what it was like to feel the pressure from a parent.

  “That doesn’t make it right.” Marcus took a step away from her. “I should talk to him.”

  “No.” She shook her head. “It’s done and now it’s undone.”

  “Just like that?”

  “No. Not just like that…” She dragged her hand through her windswept hair. It was a good thing Marcus loved her whatever she looked like since right now she needed a good hot shower, or at the very least to drag a comb through her hair. “I’m glad I didn’t have a child with him. A biological child.”

  Marcus looked at her face for a second and then nodded. “Me, too. Although I would have raised it as my own if you did.”

  Joanna sidled up against him. “If I had given birth to his child I doubt we would ever have adopted two children and we would not have come to Chance Heights.”

  “Ah, you have a way with words.” He lowered his head and kissed her lips. At last!

  “If I had never come here I would not have been ready to take a chance on love.”

  “And this is love, Joanna,” Marcus murmured into her ear.

  “I thought it was just the mating bond.” She stared at his chest as she spoke.

  “The mating bond is just the beginning.” He stroked her chin with his fingertips and then raised her head so she had to meet his eyes. “But the rest…that’s you and me. And what I feel for you is real. More real than anything else in the world.”

  Joanna nodded. “You took the words out of my mouth.” She gave him a shy smile. “I love you, Marcus.” The breath shuddered through her body as she inhaled. “I thought I’d known love before, with Julian, and I loved my parents for who they were. I never blamed them for not loving me like a parent should love a child. But what I feel in my heart…it makes me feel as if I could conquer the world.”

  Marcus looked into the distance. “Together, we can conquer anything.”

  “Shall we start with conquering the blindfold?” she asked. “If you trust me.”

  “I trust you. And I love you. And I want to marry you.”

  “Marriage?”

  “Of course.” He took her hand and kissed it. “I want every man to know you belong to me.”

  If any other person had said those words she’d have turned around and walked away as fast as possible. But she wanted to belong to Marcus, just as he belonged to her. For eternity.

  Epilogue

  “How long do we have?” Marcus asked, trailing his fingertips across her skin.

  “Long enough.” Joanna tilted her head and kissed his lips.

  She sighed in contentment as she felt him harden against her thigh. He wanted her. She smiled briefly. He always wanted her. Just as she always wanted him. They fit together perfectly, in every way and since moving here to Chance Heights, their love had deepened.

  “In that case.” He pulled her close, his strong arms wrapping around her while above their heads the canvas of the tent rippled in the breeze. They were supposed to be checking the old camping gear for leaks and musty smells, but a bedroll spread across the ground had given them another idea.

  These stolen moments were precious to the newly married couple. And technically they were on their honeymoon, even if Marcus’s work commitments meant they couldn’t have a nice vacation. Although, if they had a choice of any destination in the world, the mountains surrounding Bear Creek would be their choice. Joanna didn’t care if she never left Chance Heights again, she was the happiest she had ever been.

  Ever. Her whole life. Because being with Marcus was her whole life.

  “Eyes on me.” He caressed the curve of her cheek before he slid his fingers under her chin and tilted her head. She gazed into his soft brown eyes. Where, if she looked long enough and let her eyes slip out of focus, she could swear she saw a bear lurking beneath the surface. A bear she loved as much as the man. A bear who would lay down his life for Joanna and her family.

  “Only my eyes?” Joanna asked innocently as she raked her fingers across his abdomen. His muscles rippled as he inhaled a deep shuddering breath.

  “You set me on fire,” Marcus admitted, his breath hot on her neck as he inhaled her scent.

  “That’s the idea.” Joanna pushed him away so that he landed on his back. Like a sultry lioness on the prowl she crawled toward him. “Why don’t you conserve your energy and let me do the work?”

  “What did you have in mind?” He watched her with a hunger that made her shiver with anticipation.

  “You’ll see.” Joanna unzipped his jeans and threaded her hand inside the opening. Pushing his shorts to one side she curled her hand around Marcus’s hardened length and stroked him leisurely.

  “Or feel,” he ground out.

  “Oh, I can make you feel.” She leaned forward and captured his lips with hers. As she kissed him she straddled his thighs, while a deep-seated ache, that only her mate could ease, spread outward from her core.

  As if sensing her need, Marcus slid his hand between her thighs and rubbed his fingers back and forth. She groaned and bit her lip. She needed more, so much more.

  “I think you need to slip out of these.” His fingers worked with expert precision to flick open the buttons of her jeans. Marcus lifted Joanna off his lap. With some wriggling, which was unsexy, she was soon free of her jeans. Leaving Marcus free to caress her naked thighs, inching higher as he worked his way toward the center of her need.

  Trying to focus on her mate’s arousal, she curled her hand around his hardness once more and stroked him up and down. Marcus matched her stroke for stroke, at first pinching and rubbing his fingers over her clit, before he slipped his finger inside her. She clutched at his clothing with her free hand, as he hooked his finger to stimulate her inner walls. He was a ma
ster of her pleasure and took his role very seriously. Her satisfaction was his responsibility.

  “I want you inside me,” she whispered in his ear as her orgasm raced toward her like the clouds over the mountain on a stormy day.

  “You know I’ll always try to give you exactly what you want.” He chuckled as he lifted her and guided her onto his cock.

  “You are my hero,” she sighed as he slid inside her. She pressed down, allowing him to fill her completely in one fluid movement.

  “I want to be more than that…” Marcus thrust upwards as she rolled her hips. “I want to be everything to you.”

  Joanna rode him, their rhythm and pace perfectly matched. Since the first time they made love it was as if their bodies were synced. She threaded her fingers into her hair and lowered her head to kiss his lips. Marcus groaned against her as she tightened her inner walls, increasing the friction between them.

  Together, they raced toward their climax, two people wrapped together in ecstasy as Marcus pumped his essence deep inside her. Not that it mattered. His seed would not fertilize her eggs. Not this time.

  A small smile crept across her lips despite the intensity of the moment.

  However, when Marcus lowered his head and sucked her nipple into his mouth, her smile was lost. Instead, she bit down on her lower lip, trying to contain her cries of ecstasy as wave after wave of pleasure swept over her.

  When their climax had passed they held each other close, with Joanna still sitting in Marcus’s lap. Neither of them wanted to break the connection, although time was running out.

  “We should finish our chores,” Marcus reluctantly voiced her thoughts.

  She sighed and tightened her arms around him. “I know…but there’s something I want to tell you first.”

  He pulled back from her and stroked her hair back from her face. “Is everything okay? Or are you worried I still might chew Julian’s head off when he brings the kids back?” Julian had made an effort to forge a new relationship with Reece and Winnie. They were all committed to making it work.

  “Nothing like that.” She took hold of his hand and placed it on her soft belly. “This is about us and what we’ve created.”