The Bear Claw Tales- Complete Series

by C. D. Gorri

  “Why?”

  “You’re giving me a baby, honey, and my gift, well, it just can’t compare.”

  “I’ll love it, I swear it,” she said sitting up, but he held her firmly in place.

  “I don’t know,” he began, but she took the oddly shaped package from him and wiggled a little in his lap, loving the proof of his desire as it hardened against her backside.

  “If I don’t like it, you can make it up to me later,” she whispered and kissed him quickly watching the flash of desire that filled his glittery eyes.

  She’d never get tired of seeing that look on his face, she thought as she bit her lip and ripped open the package. Her heart practically stopped when she saw what was inside.

  “You? When did you-” one hand covered her mouth as she took in the beautiful watercolor in its simple wooden frame.

  He’d painted her. Nate had painted her using soft colors and short strokes of his skillful hands. She looked beautiful in the picture. Her hair shorter than it was now and she was wearing a white bathing suit, sitting on the shore of Lake Ursa.

  “I painted this right after I first saw you at Marcus’ and Leya’s bonfire,” he murmured against her neck.

  “You did?”

  “Of course I did. I knew you were it for me even then. Couldn’t get you out of my mind, so I painted this. Hung it in my room so I could just look at you.”

  “Oh my God, did you know I was jealous-”

  “Jealous of what, honey?” His concern showing in his loving gaze.

  She could see his Bear pacing behind his eyes. He never wanted his mate to feel anything other than happy. She knew that deep within her soul.

  “It’s silly really, but I wondered why you never asked me to model for you,” she whispered her guilty secret and looked up at him through her growing bangs.

  “Honey,” he said and pressed a kiss to her lips, “I have drawn you a million times since I first saw you. Memorized every inch of you, Luisa. Hell, I could draw you with my eyes closed.”

  “You can?”

  “Of course I can. You’re my mate, honey, I want you all the time, see you all the time in my head even if you’re not standing next to me, love you so much,” he spoke in low tones that made her toes curl.

  “Nate, that’s beautiful,” she whispered, “everything is beautiful. You, Christmas, the tree, the painting,” she felt tears sting her eyes as her heart threatened to burst out of her chest.

  He took the painting from her and placed it gently against the couch ignoring the oohs and aahs of everyone around them. He turned Luisa gently in his arms, watching her for any sign of discomfort while he framed her face in his large callused hands.

  “You are the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen, and I love you, honey girl, so much it scares me sometimes,” the raw honesty in his voice touched a chord inside her and she trembled in his arms.

  “I love you the same way, Nate. Forever,” she echoed his statement and crushed her mouth against his.

  “Let’s get out of here,” his green eyes glittered as they stared at her and only her. Luisa caught her breath.

  The intensity in his gaze had chills running up her spine and after waiting a bit, they made their excuses and headed home with a carful of gifts from the brothers and their wives and boxes of goodies and leftovers from Clary.

  “You take care, son,” Iggy Devlin wrapped his arms around Nate and squeezed briefly before letting him go and kissing Luisa on her forehead.

  Both men trembled slightly but let each other go before too long. Christmas had a magical way of letting water pass under newly built bridges and she felt the promise of their future relationship bud right before her eyes.

  It was a good thing too. Her baby would have something she and Nate never did, a whole family. A support system in place to help love and educate all their future children. And she’d want more. Just as much as she wanted this one.

  Luisa knew the embrace shook her husband and she held his hand as they’d said their goodbyes to everyone else. Hours later they lay in their bed, bellies full of good food, hearts full of love and laughter, she turned to him.

  “Hey there, honey girl,” he said and twirled a lock of her hair around his finger. They were still a little bit sweaty and her body was relaxed and sated from their long bout of lovemaking.

  “Hey yourself, husband of mine. I was just thinking,” she began.

  “Mmmhmm,” he snuggled closer to her, wrapping his big body around her, making her feel both protected and loved.

  “I never thanked you.”

  “For what?”

  “For being patient with me.”

  “Hush now. I’ll always wait for you.”

  “I know. You proved that. I just wanted to say I’m glad you don’t have to wait anymore.”

  “Me too, honey,” he smiled and kissed her again and she opened up for him like a flower in the sunshine. Body, mind, heart and soul, Luisa was his. Just as he was hers.

  The two of them bearly mated forever.

  The end.

  About the Author

  Hi! I’m C.D. Gorri, Paranormal Fiction Author and Creator of the Grazi Kelly Universe. I’m proud to have made the SW USA Today HEA Hotlist twice!