by V. Vaughn
I’m afraid of him for a moment, but his face softens when we both detect the rustlings of the girls waking. There’s a large crack in the tabletop, and I quickly fabricate a story for us. I glance up at the ceiling. “We’ll tell them the chandelier fell on it.”
Tristan nods as he rises to go refill his coffee cup.
Footsteps patter as the girls come into the kitchen, and my mate’s face begins to glow as their voices call out, “Daddy!”
He squats down in an uncharacteristic move and scoops them up. “Good morning, little ones.”
They revel in his attention, and he chuckles as tiny arms wrap around his neck. I watch as their unconditional love transforms the angry man into the vision of a loving father. And I hope that what I’m witnessing is the sign of what’s to come.
I’m startled out of my fantasy when the table crashes to the floor, and I jump. I guess the crack managed to spread completely when I notice it’s now it two pieces. I say, “Goodness. Girls, would you believe the light fell down last night and broke the table?”
They walk over to inspect the damage, and Ellie says, “That’s craziness.”
I glance at Tristan and see his jaw is clenched. Because she’s spot on.
Chapter 8
Lucy
The one good thing about staying on top of my classes this semester is that I felt confident about all of my finals. I can count on As and Bs if calculus pulls through for me. My satisfaction adds a little bounce to my step as I walk toward Ink It. I’m done for the summer, and I look forward to goofing off when I’m not working. Music blares from the open window of a car that passes, and the tune sticks in my head until I get to the door. I need to talk to Carly about Tori seeing Patricia, and there’s nothing uplifting about that.
Carly is behind the counter when I enter, and she smiles at me. I glance around the waiting room quickly to make sure nobody can overhear us and say, “I need to tell you something important.”
She stands and says, “Sure. Let’s go get coffee.”
I tuck my wristlet on a shelf and follow her. When we get there, I say, “Tori and Keith have decided to try a relationship.”
Carly nods, and I continue. “And they had their first date yesterday. While they were having lunch at the Cat’s Meow, I think Tori met Patricia.”
My sister asks, “How do you know?”
“Tori said that when Keith saw the woman she met in the bathroom, he told her to never talk to her again.” Now Carly’s brow knits, and I say, “I never really thought about it, but Tori looks an awful lot like a Veilleux, don’t you think?”
“She does. It’s the eyes.”
I say, “I think so, too.”
“Wow. So did they talk to each other?”
“As much as someone does in a bathroom. But Patricia definitely knows she’s here. What if she’s a Veilleux? Do you think I should be worried?”
“I do. Thanks for telling me. I’ll talk to Keith.”
I glance at the coffee, but my fear for Tori has me on edge now, and I don’t think I need caffeine, too. I grab a plastic cup and pour myself water instead.
My shift is uneventful, and during the off time when I usually practice tattoos, I find myself sketching images of Sven from memory. I amuse myself by drawing him in various states of disrobing and shifting. I’m so engrossed in the details of his paw that I don’t look up when the door opens and a customer walks in.
I jump when a dark shadow leans over me to peer at my paper. And I glance up to discover a smiling Sven. “Is that me?”
“I—” I sigh.
His grin covers his face as he says, “Still having trouble with your words?”
I squint at him. “You seem to have that effect on me. I’m struggling to be polite.”
He chuckles, and I notice a dimple in his left cheek. It’s so adorable I’m no longer annoyed at his teasing. “I’m here to make you happy,” he says.
“Are you now? And how do you plan to do that?”
“By taking you out for ice cream.” He pushes his hands into the pockets of jeans that fit his hips, and I guess they’re new. I notice he’s even in a clean T-shirt without holes or stains. “I’m told that American women like dates before sex.”
I cover my mouth to hide my giggle. I’m trying to picture Brady and Carly teaching him about courtship in the United States.
Now Sven squints at me. “What’s so funny? Do you not like dates?” He pushes a lock of hair out of his eyes, and I wonder what he would say to a haircut.
I shake my head. “I do. I’d love to have ice cream with you.”
Carly hears us and pops her head out of her room. “You go ahead. I can close up.”
I wave at her with a smile. Sven must have told her we’re true mates, because she’s doing everything she can to make our relationship happen.
I watch Sven duck under the doorway when we leave. I never thought I’d end up with a man who makes me feel so small. I’m six feet tall and not tiny in any way. I grab my polar bear’s hand, and his warmth is comforting.
Sven glances down at our connection and smiles. He gives me a squeeze, and that warmth seems to wrap around me like a lazy summer day. I ask, “What have you done since I saw you last?”
“Annie took me shopping.” He plucks at his shirt. “Do you like my new look?”
“Yes. Clean suits you.”
“What did you do?”
“I studied and took a final. But now I’m done for the summer.” We’re walking slowly, and I glance at our reflection in a store window.
“Carly told me you go to college, and you want to be an artist.”
“That’s true. I’m almost ready to start giving people tattoos.”
We’re approaching the ice cream shop in town, and there’s a line of people waiting at the take-out window. A sign listing the flavors is nailed on the wall, and I lead us over to it.
Sven glances at me. “Do you have a tattoo?”
“No.” I grin at him. “But I probably should if I expect people to come to me for them. What do you think it should be?”
“A polar bear.” His smile is big.
I bump against him as we stand in front of the sign. “Okay, but you might need a black bear to match.”
Sven slips his arm around my waist. “I’ll be your first customer.”
We fit together comfortably, and I reach around him to place my hand on his hip, too. “What are you going to get?”
“There are so many choices. What’s your favorite?”
“I like peppermint stick. It reminds me of Christmas.”
“Then that’s what I’ll have, too,” he says.
While people are glancing at us because of Sven’s height, I notice girls and women are looking at more than just how tall he is. They find my sexy bear attractive, too. But he doesn’t seem to be aware of it, and his attention is devoted to me.
After we get our cones, we find a place to sit on the picnic tables set out for customers. Creamy flavor coats my tongue as I lick, and I ask, “Besides Tristan and Isabelle, you’re the first to come. When are the rest of the De Roziers due to arrive?”
“Once they have a place to live. I’m here to help build it.” He’s taken my lead and is licking his cone slowly instead of devouring it like he did lunch the other day.
I say, “So you’re a carpenter.”
“It’s one of the many things I do.” He winks. “I’m good with my hands.”
A vision of where I’d like them to be flashes in my mind, and my skin tingles. Sven reaches for my free hand and grasps it. His callused thumb is rough against my skin as he rubs it. His voice is low so that only a bear can hear. “I can’t wait to show you.”
My tingle ramps up to desire, and I lick ice cream off my lips before I reply just as quietly, “I’m pretty good with mine, too.”
Sven lets out a low rumble and leans in to kiss me. It’s controlled and appropriate for public, and when he stops, he shakes his head. “You test me, litt
le bear.” He glances around quickly.
“You’ve got an A so far.” But he got me so distracted that ice cream is dripping over my hand, and I lift my cone to clean up the mess with my tongue. I stop when my mate’s heated stare makes me aware that he’s watching. I guess he imagines me licking something else. When he swipes his tongue slowly around his ice cream without breaking our gaze, I let out a shaky breath, because now the dirty thoughts are mine.
I crunch into my cone to keep myself from jumping on him, and Sven says, “I understand now why girls like to go for ice cream.”
I chuckle as I stand up and say, “Let me show you how the next part of the date goes.”
He follows me as I start to walk away and asks, “What happens next?”
I turn around and move backwards as I speak. “It’s when we get to make out.” I remember how he said he’d enjoy chasing me, so I turn forward and run. My car is around the corner, and Sven must enjoy the chase, because he doesn’t catch up to me until I get there.
Leaning against the door, I’m panting from the exercise and he steps in close to press his body against mine. He says, “This might be my favorite part.”
When his mouth takes mine, I think, Mine too. Sweet flavor quickly gives way to something so sensual that my whole body tastes it, and I can’t get enough. I move my hands down his back, and cords of muscle are hard against my palms as I hold him tightly.
Sven keeps his hands in respectable places, and I moan as I squirm against him. He relieves my ache when he moves his thigh between my legs, and I move my hands under his shirt to feel his skin. The heat radiating from his body sears my fingers, and I break away to catch my breath. “We should go someplace.”
“We can’t.” Sven takes a deep breath and steps back. “I’m only supposed to kiss you.” His eyes twinkle. “But they didn’t give me any rules about the second date.”
I reach out and tug on his shirt to pull him back. “No? I’m free tomorrow night.” I slide my hand into one of his back pockets and squeeze his firm butt cheek. “Because I want to get to know you better.”
He growls before kissing me again. This time he makes it all tongue and hungry nips that make me want to strip him naked and let him screw me the way he promised the first day we met. I’m not sure what’s come over me, and I don’t care. When Sven moves away from my mouth and starts on my neck, I know I’ve reached the point of no return, because I’m dangerously close to begging him to bite me.
Our bodies vibrate with the low rumble of his bear, and his animal teeth poke out and graze my neck. I whimper a soft, “Please.”
Once again, it’s Sven who manages to control us. He steps back to rake his hand through his hair and says, “Soon, little bear. Soon.”
I nod as he backs away. He grins as he gives me a wink and turns to leave. I hug myself as a tiny shiver runs through me. I’m ready, big bear.
Chapter 9
Tori
When Keith said he wanted us to start something, he meant it. He texted me to say he’d pick Lucy and me up after my final to look at apartments his friend rents out. Considering I keep reliving the kiss he gave me on my cheek when he dropped me off yesterday, I have no complaints.
I push my way out of the building and take a deep breath of the warm summer air. A guy in my class is next to me, and our feet tap lightly down the marble steps. He says, “It’s so great to be done. Are you coming to the quad later tonight? I heard the band’s killer.”
I notice Keith’s Jeep, and he’s leaning against the passenger door of it. I’m surprised, because I thought he was going to pick us up outside the dorm. He’s in a pair of sunglasses that hide his eyes, and I’m not sure if he’s seen me, but the sight of him with his arms crossed takes my breath away. My voice sounds distant when I answer. “Yeah, probably. See you there.”
Waving my arm, I make my way to Keith. He smiles at me as I ask, “How did you know where I’d be?”
“Your roommate. Look in the back.”
“Darn it, so you’re not stalking me.”
He opens the car door for me, and Lucy smiles. “Hey. How did it go?”
“Not bad.” I slide over the leather and toss my backpack behind my seat.
When Keith gets in, he turns to me and lifts his glasses. His stare is intense. “Do you think someone’s following you?”
I frown. Protective much? “No. I was joking.” I’m getting a weird vibe and wonder if dating Keith means he’ll become super protective. I wish I could turn around and roll my eyes at Lucy.
He relaxes and says, “I’ve got two places to show you, but I’m taking you to the one I think you’ll like best first.”
Lucy says, “Thanks so much for doing this for us.”
Keith glances in the rearview mirror as he slides his glasses up his nose. “It’s my pleasure.”
He turns up the radio, and we enjoy the music and sunshine as we head out of town. Fifteen minutes later, we’re pulling up to a gated community. When we’re let through, I take in the pristine landscaping. As soon as I notice the pool, I get nervous. I told Keith my budget, and this neighborhood has to be out of my price range. I reach over and turn down the music. “Whoa. Can we afford this?”
Lucy pipes in. “This is on me. You pay what you planned, and I’ll cover the rest.”
“Lucy, no.”
“Tori, yes. After a year in the dorms, I want luxury, and since you’re the only person who can tolerate me as a roommate, you’ll just have to give in.”
Keith says, “It’s not as expensive as you think. Garrett bought this as an investment property, and his price is quite reasonable.”
Now I feel ganged up on, but since we’re here, I drop the subject. Keith parks us in front of a brick building, and I glance around at the luxury sedans and SUVs. Lucy will fit right in, while my Volvo sedan will look like a beater car in comparison.
Keith explains that there’s a gym in the basement of our building. When we walk in, I discover there’s a man in a jacket similar to what a hotel doorman would wear. Keith tells him who we are, and the man explains that our guests must be on his list and that he will buzz us when they arrive before he sends them up.
I’m reminded of my friends in New York City and wonder why the overkill here in Nowhere, Maine. When we get in the elevator I ask, “That’s a little much, don’t you think?”
Lucy answers in a tone that’s a touch too perky. “I think it’s wonderful. You can never be too safe these days.”
Keith swipes the keycard over a reader, and we begin to move. I ask Lucy, “Since when did you worry about being safe? You forget to lock our dorm room half the time.”
She shrugs. “It’s time I changed my ways. Besides, this place has a pool.” She grins at me, and I shake my head. I’m probably making too much out of nothing.
Keith says, “I like knowing you two are well protected.”
Protected? I feel like someone’s not telling me something, but my worry disappears when the elevator door opens. I step onto carpet so thick I could lose an earring in it. The couches are chocolate-brown leather and oversized, and the largest painting of a forest I’ve ever seen takes up one wall. “Wow.”
I wander toward the dining room and notice the kitchen to my right. Silver appliances shine amid the black cabinets and the black-granite countertop that has what appears to be flecks of mica in it. Lucy went toward the bedrooms, and I call out, “We might have to cook. There’s a Viking stove.”
Keith is behind me and asks, “Are you a good cook?”
The metal is cool under my fingers as I drag my hand along the top of it. “Kind of.” I gaze over at the man who makes my heart beat faster. “My mother loves to, and I make a great sous chef.”
“You’ll have to share your tricks. Cooking is one of my passions, too.”
Lucy comes around the corner. “Okay, come pick your bedroom, because this place is ours.” She grabs my hand, and as she tugs me along, I look back over my shoulder at Keith to raise my ey
ebrows.
She whispers, “We each get our own bathroom, which is handy for overnight guests.”
I slap her arm as we enter a room. The bedrooms are almost identical in size, with the only difference being the color schemes. I ask, “Can I take the blue?”
“Sure. I wanted the yellow one anyway.”
“Perfect. But—”
Lucy holds up her hand. “Don’t. Seriously. The lease is going to be in my name, and you just pay me each month. Got it?” She walks over to the couches and lands on one with a whoosh. “Did I mention I think we should live off campus next year?”
I’m a rich girl, too, although not quite on Lucy’s level, and there have been plenty of times I wanted something and footed the bill for my less-fortunate friends. So I plop down beside her. “Did I mention you have good ideas?”
Keith sits in the overstuffed chair across from us. “So you ladies are done?”
Lucy says, “Yup. Unless the other place is better.”
“It’s not.” He moves his gaze to me. “Tori?”
“Why not? And the first thing I want to do when we move in is cook you guys dinner as a thank you.”
I turn to Lucy. “Invite the new man, too. I’m dying to meet him.”
Lucy sits up. “I will. Which reminds me.” She gazes at Keith. “How soon can we move in?”
“Today if you want. I’ve got the lease and the keys.”
I ask, “When you do something, you get it done, don’t you?”
Keith winks at me. “As a matter of fact, I do. I’m even prepared to help you girls move in.”
Lucy stands up. “Well then, let’s get on it. I’ve got a date tonight.”
