by Moxie North
Chewing on her lip again, she asked, “You’d want me to move here, wouldn’t you?”
“I’d like it. I like my house and my job, but I’ll follow you where you go, Brooke. I can only be happy with you. Wherever you are is going to be home to me,” he told her honestly.
“You want babies,” she pressed.
“Yeah, I’d like babies. But only when you are ready. Now that I’ve found you, it feels like time has slowed. We have all the time we need to be a family,” he said.
Brooke pondered this. What else did she need to know before she told him the decision her heart had already made?
“I need to work,” she told him. She wasn’t going to be a stay-at-home housewife carving roses out of cherry tomatoes for dinner every night.
“Of course, I’m sure the hospital can find you a place. They are always looking for professionals. Or if you want to try something else, we can find you something new,” he offered.
Tanner waited to see if there were any more questions. He’d answer them all night if it meant she was deciding to be his.
“How are we going to deal with the people trying to kill me thing?”
Tanner sighed. “That one I don’t know. What I do know is that whatever happens, we can face it together. I’m not going anywhere, Brooke. I’m with you no matter what. Good, bad, or ugly – I’m the one holding your hand through all of it. I can promise you that,” he said. Reaching out he grabbed her hand and squeezed it.
Brooke could see he was trying to tell her that there were no limits to what he was willing to do to be with her. It was beyond flattering, and he wasn’t doing it to curry favor with her. He was doing it because it was what was in his heart. She could see that now.
Looking down at their joined hands, she saw how they looked like they fit together. His hands were big; they could wrap her up gently or protect her from evil. Those hands were willing to hold her through whatever may come. Brooke didn’t want to let go of those hands, ever.
“Okay, Tanner,” she said.
“Okay?” he asked. This was not a time to make assumptions.
“I can’t not have you in my life. The thought of leaving this town and never seeing you again makes me physically ill. I can’t wait to see you when we are apart. I feel the most beautiful I ever have in my life around you. Even with the mob after me, I feel safe knowing you’ll do whatever it takes to keep me safe. My momma didn’t raise me to be stupid. You love me,” she stated what he already knew.
“Yes, baby, I love you,” he agreed.
“I think I love you too,” she said, then amended. “No – I know I love you. It’s just hard for me to say so soon.”
“I get that, Brooke. I’m asking you to accept so much so fast. But, baby, I promise you – you will never regret saying yes to me. I will never let you down,” he swore.
Brooke nodded. She trusted he was telling her the truth. It was a dream come true to find someone who she was starting to believe had been made for her. Maybe Tanner’s fates were the ones that had set the events in motion to make sure they met. It was crazy to think of, but she’d also seen the man across from her turn into a bear. Crazy was a relative term to her now.
“Tanner?” Brooke started, then paused.
“Yes?” He squeezed her hand again.
“Take me to bed?” she whispered.
Tanner was out of his seat and had swept Brooke into his arms before she could blink.
Chapter 38
Brooke wouldn’t have been able to guess that Tanner could run up the stairs while holding her, but he did – and next she found herself on her back in the middle of his bed, watching him strip out of his uniform.
Drinking in the sight of him, she felt her pussy get damp, and it wasn’t lost on Tanner. Stalking towards her once he was naked, Tanner started at her feet, pulling off items of clothing and tossing them aside. As he revealed her flesh, he kissed each inch with reverence.
“Brooke, tell me you want me to make you mine. Tell me you want to be with me forever,” he growled as he sucked her nipple into his mouth.
“Yes, Tanner. I’m saying yes,” she moaned. Tanner had said all the right things, but it was Cassie who had sealed the deal. She was honest about what the decision would mean, not just in the short term with the bonding, but the long term – sharing a lifetime with someone. Brooke wanted that; she wanted it all regardless of the threat still looming.
“Baby, I’m gonna make you so fucking happy you made this choice,” Tanner growled.
Brooke knew she was making the right decision. Now she just wanted to start her life with him.
“I hope I make you happy too,” she whispered up to him.
“Since I’m already over the fucking moon, I’d say you are off to a great start.” His eyes glowed in the dark.
Brooke leaned up and took his mouth in a kiss. It was the first time she’d initiated it, and Tanner let her sip and nip at his mouth. He kissed her back, but let her control the pace.
Tanner let his hand slide down between them until he found the aching nub at her core. Teasing it while they kissed, he felt her hips start to rotate against his hand.
“You need something, baby?” he said into her mouth.
“I need you, Tanner. Please, fuck me,” she moaned.
“Just fuck you?” he teased.
“No, damn you! I want you to bite me, too. Make me yours,” she said, her voice pitching with the pleasure that was building.
His voice was full of awe. “Brooke Nishi, you are my One.”
“Of course I am, and you are mine,” she said and saw his eyes get hot.
Tanner slid a finger inside her wet heat and brought her to a blistering orgasm, the whole time alternating between whispering naughty things in her ear and making heartfelt promises.
As she slowly edged down from her screeching orgasm that she was sure the neighbors must have heard, she was flipped onto her stomach.
Tanner pulled up on her hips until she was resting on her forearms.
“Damn, this is the most beautiful ass I’ve ever seen,” he rumbled.
“It’s the last ass you’ll ever see, Sheriff,” she said, not teasing at all.
“Yes, ma’am,” he agreed, skimming his hands over her tawny brown skin. He was going to spend years on this ass, he thought.
Tanner ran his hand around the globes of her ass again, this time slipping between her cheeks to find her tight, hot center. He fisted his cock and rubbed its head up and down between her slick folds.
“Mine,” he growled, slipping inside her.
Brooke arched her back and let him sink even deeper inside her. She wanted to drop to the bed but knew how strong her man was. She needed to actively participate, or she’d get pounded into the mattress. Not a terrible thought, but not what she wanted tonight.
Reaching between her legs, she let her fingers skim over his sac. She could feel the point where their bodies were joined, and it was almost as good as being able to see it. The rumble from Tanner meant he liked that move, so she did it again.
“Baby, I can’t take the teasing,” he hissed. He was focused on trying to keep his pace even and steady. Feeling her fingers skim over the base of his cock and over his balls was a delicious distraction.
“Sorry, just wanted to play.” She let out a deep moan as he hit a sweet spot inside her.
“Later, promise,” he gritted out. Her hand disappeared, and Tanner refocused. He wanted her to come hard on his cock when he bonded with her, so that’s what he focused on. Reaching around the front of her, he found her clit and started rubbing over it. When she started to whimper, he reached up and pulled one of her hands down to replace his.
“Work yourself, baby. Come for me,” he ordered.
Brooke knew just how to turn her own crank and did as her man demanded. She flicked over her nub faster and faster until she was thrusting her hips back to meet each one of his. “Tanner,” she warned, her orgasm a breath away.
Tanner
leaned over her and wrapped a strong arm around her stomach. He felt the first flutters of her orgasm ripple over his cock as a low keening wail poured out of her. Spotting the place for his bite, he whispered into her ear, “My Brooke,” and bit down.
The sweet rush of her blood caused his cock to explode, jetting his hot cum inside her. Her blood tasted like her, of sweet lemons. The minute his teeth sank into her flesh, her wail had turned into a guttural scream as she clawed at the sheets. Her pussy was locked down on his cock, and he could barely pull out to thrust back in.
She was still coming on him as he spurted jet after jet of cum into her. Tanner was sure he was never going to stop.
Finally, Brooke collapsed on the bed, panting and shaking from her orgasm. She felt Tanner licking over the spot on her shoulder near her neck. It didn’t hurt. Cassie had been right. The bite was the easy part. The orgasm to end all orgasms was the hard part.
“I’m sorry if I hurt you,” Tanner said, still soothing her wound.
“That…did not hurt. That was amazing,” she moaned into the bed.
Tanner smiled; his mate was a firecracker in the sack. He loved that.
Rolling her onto her back, Tanner kissed her long and hard. “You are mine forever now.”
“And you are mine, so no changing your mind,” she said with a weak laugh.
“Not gonna happen, my love.” He kissed along her cheeks. He couldn’t seem to stop touching her. He wanted to start over again, fuck her on her back, leaning over the bed, sitting up – hell, upside down. The possibilities were endless.
Seeing the look in his eyes, Brooke laughed. “Give me like five minutes, yeah?”
“Five?” Glancing at the clock, Tanner said, “Okay, five.” Then he stared at her.
“Why don’t you be useful for those five minutes and get something so we can clean up?” she suggested.
Tanner thought about that and judged the time it would take for him to hit the bathroom and come back. The time was acceptable, so he literally jumped out of bed, ran to the bathroom and was back before Brooke could even start laughing.
“That was some kind of record,” she said, giggling.
“As long as my quick times are out of the bed and not in them.” Tanner gently wiped away their shared orgasm.
Brooke was watching him; she knew he’d look up any second to see her. When he did, she said, “I love you, Tanner Rochon.” It was the easiest thing to say to him now. It was a truth in her life that she wasn’t going to deny.
“I love you too, Brooke Nishi,” he said, kissing her softly.
Then Tanner made love to his mate again.
Chapter 39
Tanner woke at first light. He was wrapped around his mate, who was gently snoring. Her sweet ass was resting against his cock, which was also already awake. Glancing at the clock, he saw it was almost seven, plenty of time for a morning quickie before he needed to leave for work. Brooke had said after their second or third session of lovemaking that she felt like she could stay home while he went to work.
Tanner knew he’d have someone come over to stay with her, but she felt confident that there was nothing to worry about.
He wanted to get to work, get his shit done, and hopefully be home early. He was about to slide his hand up to her breast when his cell phone buzzed on the nightstand. Reaching over to grab it before it woke her, he answered it with a whisper. “Sherriff Rochon.”
“Morning, Sheriff. Sorry to bother you so early, but we got a call out that there was a fire at the motel. The fire department got there in time, so the building didn’t catch,” his deputy Brian explained.
“Okay, well was anyone hurt? Do they know how it started?” Tanner was curious but wasn’t going to jump to any conclusions that it had to do with Brooke.
“Yeah, a white sedan parked out front exploded about an hour ago. Hard to tell, but we are pretty sure it was Ms. Nishi’s car,” Brian explained.
“Fuck!” Tanner growled.
“Yeah, sorry boss. I can’t believe this was accidental. Her car had been sitting there for days, and no one had bothered it.”
“Her room?” Tanner asked.
“No entry into her room. It’s still locked up tight,” Brain said.
“All right, I’ll be there as soon as I can,” Tanner said then hung up and called Cage.
“This better be good,” a grumpy voice answered.
“Hey Cage, sorry but I need someone to come over and keep an eye on Brooke. Something happened at the motel, and I’m pretty sure it means her trouble has found her,” Tanner said quietly. He thought Brooke was still asleep but didn’t want to take any chances.
“Yeah, uh, Eddie should be getting off shift. Do you want me to call him?” Cage asked with a yawn. Cage and Sophie had a young son who was running them ragged. Sleep was at a premium.
“No, I’ll call him. Thanks.” Tanner hung up.
Calling Eddie’s number, he heard, “Eddison Rochon speaking.”
“Asshole, you can see it’s me calling. Don’t be a douche,” Tanner hissed.
“Wow, wake up on the wrong side of the cave this morning, Mr. Grumpy Bear?” Eddie laughed.
“You still at work?” Tanner asked, not acknowledging the grumpy bear comment.
“Just walking to my car. What’s up?”
“I need to go into work; there has been a development in the case. I need someone to stay with Brooke. She knows you best and would be more comfortable with you here,” Tanner explained.
“Of course man, I’ll be right over,” Eddie said, his tone going serious.
Tanner knew that Eddie took life rather lightheartedly, but he was also a Rochon through and through.
“Thanks,” Tanner said, hanging up. He slowly slid out of the bed, replacing his body with a pillow and tucking the blankets around his mate. He took a quick shower, sadly washing off the delicious scent of his mate.
He was dressed and leaning over the bed kissing her when he heard the knock at his front door.
“Brooke, baby, you need to wake up,” he said, kissing her eyelids. He watched them flutter a few times then open with a blurry gaze.
“Hmm?’ she mumbled.
“Brooke, I need to go into work. Eddie is going to stay with you. He’ll be downstairs, so sleep as long as you want. I’ll call you when I know I’m coming home, okay?”
He watched as her brain slowly caught up to what he was saying. “You’re leaving?”
“Yeah, baby, work called. I’ll be back as soon as I can. Eddie is downstairs, so don’t go wandering around the house naked, forgetting he’s here,” Tanner reminded her.
She yawned loudly. “Okay, no nakedness,” she murmured, trying to keep her eyes open. “Be careful.”
“I will. Sleep, sweets,” he said, kissing her again.
Tanner headed downstairs and found Eddie looking obnoxiously refreshed for so early in the morning. Then he realized Eddie was coming off shift, so it was dinner time for him.
“Thanks for coming over. Looks like someone torched Brooke’s car at the motel. It could be a random act or maybe someone found her. Either way, I’m pissed I have to leave my mate alone,” Tanner said, running his hand through his hair.
“I’ve got this, go do cop stuff. I’ll make French toast and spend the morning convincing your mate that she chose horribly and should run away with me to Bora Bora,” Eddie said with a grin.
“Good luck with that,” Tanner said. He no longer had any concern about his mate’s affections. She loved him and had bonded with him. Eddie could try all he wanted; he wouldn’t get anywhere.
“I’ll be in touch,” Tanner said, grabbing his coat and keys before heading out to his vehicle.
Eddie locked the back door, went back to the front and locked that one too. Then he laid down on the couch and promptly passed out.
Chapter 40
Tanner looked over the burned out wreckage of the car. Either they had used a small bomb or enough accelerant to keep the fire burning
hot but not wild enough to consume the building. It was almost like they were trying to flush her out.
Pulling out his cell, Tanner called Buchannan. “We have a problem,” he said when the detective answered.
“Oh yeah?”
“Brooke’s rental car is sitting in front of me, and it’s nothing but a pile of burnt metal,” Tanner ground out.
“Shit, these assholes are savvy,” he said.
“How did they find her?” Tanner asked. He wanted to yell, but there were too many people around drawn to the flashing lights and potential catastrophe.
“Did the car have GPS tracking? Some rental agencies use those to keep track of their stock. Maybe they figured out how to find her car. It would only take some casual asking around of the right people to find out there was a new woman in town.”
Tanner knew he was right, and it fucking sucked.
“So are we dealing with the mob or the MC?” he asked.
“That sounds like Valentino’s work to me,” Buchannan said.
“Shit, you’re probably right. I’ve got to lock this shit down fast,” Tanner told him.
“Well, just my two cents, but these are not guys you want to have to manage all the way to a trial, if you know what I mean.”
Tanner did. The detective was telling him that there were some instances where a criminal meeting a tragic end was better than having victims suffer through a trial. It went against every moral code Tanner had, but he also hadn’t had a mate to protect before. He wasn’t a killer, but he’d be damned if they were going to lay a finger on his Brooke.
“Thanks, Detective. I’ll let you know if they surface,” Tanner said then hung up. He let Brian finish clearing the scene with fire and rescue and getting statements from witnesses. Tanner’s next call was to home. His bear was scratching inside his mind in frustration. Everything was too unsettled for his liking.
“Eddie Rochon,” the voice answered.
“Where is Brooke?” Tanner asked. His bear was pissed and pacing inside him, and he wasn’t up for being nice.
