But as the kiss went on, there was also a promise there. That he would be there forever. That he would always take care of her.
She kissed him back, promising the same thing, and he laid her back on the cushions under him.
“You’re beautiful, Leah, you’re so unbelievably beautiful.”
“I’m chubby,” she giggled. “But you don’t seem to mind that.”
“Mind?” he said. “I’m ecstatic. You’re so unbelievably hot. I could just eat you up.”
“Well,” she said, blushing. “I’m not against that.”
“Oh really?” he asked, raising an eyebrow. “Well, your wish is my command.”
“Cheesy,” she said, laughing. But her laughter cut off as he bared her skin to the warm night air, pulling off her shirt so that she was naked to him and then removing her pants leaving her in only panties. It had been a warm, sunny day, and the air was just the perfect temperature for being naked outdoors. Not too warm, not too cool.
She looked up at the beautiful stars. The Milky Way was visible in a vague, shimmery stripe across the sky, and a few bright stars sparkled on either side of it. She could see why Sky had wanted to wait, and it touched her that he wanted it to be this special for her.
Then all thoughts stopped as Sky looked around once, just to make sure there was no one at any distance who could see them, and gently eased her panties off, leaving her bare.
She felt beautiful to him. The look in his beautiful blue eyes was indescribable, and when he tucked his hair behind his ear and bent to put his mouth between her legs she squealed and tried to close them out of habit. But he easily parted them with a strong hand on either side. Damn, he moved her body easily, and she liked it. She liked it a lot.
He took care of everything, and the sooner she allowed herself to accept that, the sooner she could fully enjoy it. His lips were gentle, pressing kisses to her mound and the inside of her thighs, roving down to her knees to kiss the inside and outside of them and then down to her ankles. He lifted a foot and slowly kissed each toe. It was both romantic and erotic, somehow, to see this big, blond man kneeling before her, worshipping every part of her body.
But she had one place in particular where she wanted him, so she reached for him achingly. He grinned and came back, lowering himself smoothly onto his knees and leaning forward to kiss her again. He raised her hips slightly for easier access, and she liked that she was small enough to him that he could easily maneuver her to the position that would bring them both the most pleasure.
She moaned as his tongue curled over her spot, licking and swirling gently, like he had all the time in the world. The cushions beneath her were soft and there was nothing to hold on to, so she wrapped her hands in her short curls. His eyebrow went up and he reached for her hands, keeping his mouth on her.
“Take my hands,” he said. “I want you to have something to hold on to, because I’m about to rock your world.”
She grinned and took his hands and then let out a long moan as he sucked hard on her center. Her legs bent and her back arched, and he gave no mercy, suckling and kissing and falling into a rhythm that had pressure building inside her to an unbearable level.
Rock her world? He was going to explode it. He kissed her again, long and hard, and then pulled back and blew gently over the tortured, exquisitely sensitive skin. She came apart, screaming her pleasure to the stars and coming up into his open arms to ride out her pleasure safely encircled by his strength.
“Sky,” she said. “Oh Sky.”
“That’s right,” he said. “I’m your sky. I’m always here, whenever you need me. I’m never leaving you again.”
She gasped as she rode out the orgasm, which was unbelievably strong, to the point that it was almost painful, but instead just intensely pleasurable. She could see stars behind her eyelids, exploding in pink and blue. “Good,” she said. “Because if you ever stop doing this to me, I don’t know how I could live.”
“The only way I could stop making love to you whenever you wanted is if I was dead. And even if then, I would want to be a star, watching down on you.”
She laughed and a tear came to her eye. She wiped it away, because it was a tear of happiness, and held him close. She still ached down there, ready for him to make her his. She could feel his rigid length against her and grinned. But he looked concerned at her face.
“Are you okay? Are you sure you’re ready?”
“I’m fine.” She sniffed the last of the emotion away. “It’s just. You’re so wonderful. And everything feels so right. I can barely believe it.”
He hugged her. “Me too,” he said, holding her tight. When he held her, it was easier to breathe. Even her heart seemed to beat in time with his.
“I’m ready,” he whispered against her ear. “Are you?”
“Incredibly so,” she said.
He smiled and pulled back to kneel in front of her. Then he unbuttoned his jeans and slid them down, along with his underwear, leaving his beautiful, tanned body bare in front of her.
“Damn,” she said. “That’s a good looking man.”
“I’m glad you think so, because you’re stuck with me.”
She rolled her eyes but felt her mouth water as she watched his firm member grow even harder as he moved to come over her. “Oh damn. How will it fit?”
“It’ll fit because we’re made for each other,” he said. “I was made to make you happy.”
She bit her lip. “Mmhmm.”
“And because I love you and I’ll be careful with you.”
She grinned. “You better.”
He felt her. “You’re so wet. So ready for me.” He licked his finger. “Mmm. So sweet.”
She flushed and turned to the side, embarrassed. “You can’t be serious.”
“I’m dead serious. I could taste you for days. But right now I have to be inside you or my bear is going to burst.”
“All right,” she said. She felt his velvety tip at her entrance and braced for impact. She’d had sex before and it hadn’t been the worst, but it also hadn’t been the best experience ever. So she was completely unprepared when he put his hands on either side of her head and started to slowly fill her, giving her body time to adjust.
It was the most delicious heat and fullness, and she found herself wriggling, trying to get him even closer.
“Hold on, hon,” he said. “I want to go faster too, but we need to be careful. I don’t want to hurt you.”
She could tell he wasn’t going to, and she appreciated his care, but the bear in her was going to burst if she didn’t get what she wanted right this fucking minute. She reached around his back and pulled him close and wrapped her chubby legs around his hips just above his taut butt.
“Fuck,” he said, slowly sliding into her wet heat.
She sighed as he settled into her. It was so tight, so full, but so right. Warm relief washed over his face.
“I’m sorry if I was too careful, it’s just, you’re my mate, and I want to—”
She bit her lip and arched slightly, not caring what he was saying as long as the pleasure building inside her never subsided. “You feel so good inside me,” she said. “Nothing in the world has ever felt like this. You’re mine, I love you,” she bit out as he grinned and started to move.
And then his face grew serious, as they got into a rhythm and started to move together. Her bringing her hips up to meet him, him bracing himself on strong hands as he thrust into her over and over again, removing himself all but the tip every time, teasing her for a mere second before filling her with that wonderful pleasure again. When he was inside her everything was right, and she was never more sure about what she was doing than now.
She felt something building inside her. Something much stronger than any orgasm had ever been before. He reached a hand between them to stroke her nub in time with his thrusting, and it was almost too much sensation for her. She gasped and forced herself to open her eyes and look up into his face.
&nbs
p; It was intense with wanting, nearly lost in the pleasure they were sharing. He was an anchor though, as sensation and pressure rose within her, as well as an awareness of something primal.
Her sex still ached from the orgasm he’d given her, her skin was still alive from his kisses. So when she finally came again, with him inside her, she screamed and arched against the unbelievable sensation. Her whole body felt like it was imploding on a cellular level, like every single part of her was on fire in the best way. It rose and abated in higher and higher waves and she called out his name against his mouth, which was kissing her and stifling her cries as his hands came around her to hold her.
She tensed on a hard convulsion and thrust against him, and he grunted and started thrusting again. “Come with me,” she said.
“Your wish is my command,” he grated out, and then he went rigid inside her, pumping his seed with power and warmth as she pulsed all around him. “Damn it, Leah, how are you mine? You’re everything,” he gasped out as he came.
She held him as her orgasm ended, and was able to enjoy his release through the haze of her own pleasure. The tightening of his handsome face, the sweat on his body, the stars watching from above them, the ocean washing the shore in the distance.
A cry of a gull.
She held him as he collapsed against her. Hers. Her love. The bear in hear reared back its head and roared and she stayed silent, in awe of a part of herself that she’d hadn’t known existed.
She could see their bears together in her mind, in a forest or on an iceberg, but always together, from now until forever.
She held him tight and murmured words of love in his ear and he held her like his life depended on it, murmuring those words right back.
When he finally rolled to the side, exhausted, he tucked her against his chest and stroked her hair, staying silent and watching her like he was worried she’d run away at any moment. “How are you feeling honey?” he asked.
She stroked a hand over his perfect chest. “I’m feeling perfect.”
“Me too,” he said. “Want to sleep up here?”
“Sure,” she said. Her heart was still beating fast in her chest. “So that’s it, huh? We’re mates?”
“Yup,” he asked. “Why, you disappointed?”
She shook her head. “No, it was amazing. I could feel it inside me. I could feel my animal.”
“Good,” he said. “You know, tomorrow we should try getting you in your bear again. Maybe go swimming?”
“Bears can swim?” she asked.
“Of course,” he said. “How do you think they catch fish in the wild?”
She laughed. “All right. I’m open to learning more about my bear.”
“Good,” he said. “Because you have an awesome bear. My bear likes her, and you, very much.”
“Same to you,” she said.
“So,” he said, “Think we could have sex in the water next time?”
She gasped and tried to sit up against his chest. “Listen here, Mister…”
He laughed and pulled her back against his chest. “All right. One thing at a time. As long as I get to make love to you. Keep you and make you happy and always protect you, I’m all right with that.”
“All right,” she said. “But I want you to bring my family out here. And I want a ring.”
“Not a problem,” he said. “I got the funds.”
She eyed him curiously. “Just how many funds do you have?”
He shrugged. “Enough.”
“Enough? I’m your mate now, I should know.”
“You’re right,” he said. “You can’t be after me for my money now. Well, with the licensing from the equipment I helped invent, I’m guessing a few hundred thousand a year, and about a million in savings. I have pretty simple needs, after all.”
She laughed. “Holy crap. Well, I’m not going to complain. But I want a ring, Mister.”
“And I want it on your finger.” He chuckled and held her tight and they both looked up at the stars together.
“Thanks for bringing me out here. For making it so special,” she said.
“Sure,” he said. “Only the best for you.”
They waited for another few moments. She could still hear the hypnotic crash of the waves out beyond the hotel. She stroked a finger up the ridges of his abs and over his pecs. “Hey, Sky?” she asked.
“Yes?” he said, looking down at her.
“How long until we can do that again?”
His eyes widened and he laughed, his dimple appearing in his chin. “All right you. Come up here and kiss me and we’ll see if we get lucky.”
So she did, knowing that no matter what else happened tonight, she was already outrageously lucky.
Because she had him.
EPILOGUE
Three months later
Leah maneuvered around the front desk where she made sure the scuba classes ran smoothly when she wasn’t helping Sky teach. It was lunchtime and she was excited to meet up with her mate.
Nausea swept through her and she reminded herself it wouldn’t be much longer until it abated. She was almost through the first trimester. They really had made a cub that night on the roof, if her math was correct. She touched the slight curve of her stomach and cursed Sky for not mentioning that bears usually had multiples. They hadn’t been to an ultrasound yet, but they would be going this week, and she had a feeling it was twins. She couldn’t pin exactly why she thought that, she just did.
But then, she was getting better at using the intuition that Sky used so naturally. As she was thinking of him, he materialized at the back door, a towel around his shoulders as he strode in from class, still dripping water and wearing only sandals and his board shorts, looking much as he had the first time she saw him, all those months ago when she’d first come to the hotel.
“How are my mate and cubs?” he asked, sidling up to her and putting a protective arm around her as he guided her to the elevator. He seemed extra excited today, and she couldn’t tell exactly why.
“Fine, a little hot and a little nauseous, but okay. Why, what’s going on with you? You seem wired.”
He grinned and pressed the button for the elevator. “No reason.”
Her eyes narrowed. He wasn’t fooling anyone. He looked damn sneaky. “What is it? Besides, we’re meeting for lunch right?”
“I have something set up in our room,” he said. “I figured the cafe would be too crowded and hot for you.”
She nodded and followed him into the elevator, leaning against his arms with a sigh.
“Long day?” he asked.
“Just busy,” she said. “But it’s good for the hotel. How about you? I’m sorry we had to combine classes when Kyle didn’t come in today.”
“That’s okay,” he said. “I can handle a crowd. Especially when I know I get to come home to my sexy mate afterward.”
“Always,” she said, raising up on her toes to kiss him on the cheek. He hugged her in response, but seemed to be bouncing lightly from foot to foot in excitement.
She shook her head, deciding that whatever was going on, he obviously didn’t plan to tell her. She sighed as he led her to the penthouse suite that was theirs while their home was being built. Then they would have their own private place, away from the hotel but close enough to easily work there.
He slid his card and opened the door, and she gasped at the transformed room. She put her hands to her mouth and looked around.
There was a table in the middle with a white, elegant tablecloth trimmed in lace, candlesticks on the top, crystal glasses and a perfect steak dinner set on plates.
“But, you have to get back to class,” she said.
“Nope,” he said. “That’s the surprise. Kyle is actually taking the class for the rest of the day. He agreed so that we could have the rest of the day together. That’s why I took the first half of the day alone.”
Her heart warmed. Her mate could be so thoughtful.
He pulled out her chair for her
and she sat, eyeing the food and not knowing where to start. Then she saw the envelope on one side of her plate, and the little blue box on the other.
“What are these?” she’s asked.
“Ah ah,” he said, snatching them back and sitting beside her. He held them out. “Which first?”
“The envelope,” she said, reaching for it. He handed it over and she opened it carefully. When she looked inside, her eyes pricked. “Tickets? You’re bringing my parents here?”
“Yup, your dad was finally able to work out some time off work.” He gently caressed her stomach. “After all, we have news for them. Now that you’re about twelve weeks, it’s time to start sharing.”
She groaned. “Except that I look more than twelve weeks, because I think it’s twins.”
He grinned. “So do I.”
“Stupid bear blood,” she said. “Even one of your babies will probably be huge. I’ll be ginormous.”
“And I’ll be right here with you,” he said. “Waiting on you hand and foot. Tourist season will be over soon, and we’ll have more time to just be on our own. I’m sorry you haven’t been able to dive though.”
She shrugged. It was why she could only help with shallow drills in class or work the front desk. No one really knew the effects of depth on babies, so when pregnant you couldn’t dive. But she guessed she’d get plenty of time in the water with him after the baby came.
She suspected her very friendly brothers in law who had accepted her as family would be happy to babysit. The thought of her babies in their uncles’ arms brought images of them in her husband’s arms, and she couldn’t help blushing. That would be wonderful.
“I have one more present,” he said. “I know this is a little late, but it had to be special, so it was custom made.”
“Wow, a bespoke ring? I’m impressed.”
He nodded. “Only the best for my mate. And you know, we had such a one in a million story, I knew we needed a one in a million ring. One that reminds you what is special about us.”
Bear-ever Yours: BBW Bear Shifter (BWWM) Romance Standalone Page 9