“It’s real, if that’s what you are worried about,” Adam assured her.
“I know. At least I’ve persuaded myself it is. I think actually knowing is going to take a little more time.”
“Damn I want you,” he whispered in her ear, as he leaned forward and placed his drink on a table behind her.
“Now who is teasing?”
“I have an idea.” He took Lynn’s glass from her and placed it down next to hers, then he took hold of her hand. “Lynn wants to see the new calves.”
“The calves?” Russell asked.
“Yes. I thought I’d show them to her. Get some fresh air.”
“I could come with you,” Russell began, but Judy took hold of his hand and pulled him back down to sit beside her, even before he had gotten to his feet.
“Let Adam spend some time alone with Lynn. It’s been a long day, and they haven’t had a moment to themselves,” she said.
“Thanks, Mom.” Adam leaned down and placed an affectionate kiss on her cheek as he pulled Lynn from the room, who by now was blushing furiously. They must all know what Adam really intended, and she was mortified.
“That was not subtle,” Lynn told him.
“We’re bears, subtle isn’t our thing,” he replied. “Don’t worry, mating with your mate is the most natural thing in the world to my family.”
“I should have said good bye,” Lynn said.
“Why? We’re not going anywhere,” Adam answered. “We’ll come back… After.”
“After?” she asked, her body burning up at the thought of what the before was going to be.
“Yes, I’m going to show you the calves, and then we’re going to have a tour of the hay barn. I’m sure we can find a quiet corner to…” He stroked the back of her hand with his thumb, and shivers went through her body.
“You are a bad cowboy,” she said. “A bad, bad cowboy.”
“I want to be so bad right now.” Adam pulled her on faster.
Lynn had to jog along after her cowboy, with his long strides, his cowboy boots grinding into the gravel as they left the house and crossed over to the barns. She looked around to see if anyone was watching, but the Homestead was quiet. The family was all inside and the ranch hands must be elsewhere, enjoying their evening off.
Trying to relax, but not wanting to let go of the tension in her body, she allowed him to lead her toward a low barn, the front of which was open, with gates across the front to keep in the calves who were eating hay, their big soft eyes watching the two lovers as they approached.
“Oh, they are so sweet,” Lynn said.
“I told you I was bringing you to see the calves.” He leaned forward and scratched one of them on the head. “We’ve just bought them. They are in here while we check them over, see that they are healthy before they go out with the other youngsters.”
“Kind of like quarantine?” Lynn asked.
“Kind of. It’s a good practice, when you get new stock to make sure they don’t bring disease to your other livestock.”
“I know, I read about it. A bit of a crash course, but since I decided to have my own animals, I have tried to educate myself.”
“Good girl,” he said, and turned to face her. “My dad is impressed that you are planning to diversify, and not just get some beef cattle.”
She laughed. “He might not be so impressed to know I’m going to raise alpacas because I get to use the wool, and don’t have to have them sent to market, or for slaughter. I think I’m too much of a city girl.”
“We’ll soon knock that out of you.” Adam pulled her into his arms.
“Or maybe I might knock some of the country boy out of you.” She tilted her head back, looking up at him, and moistening her lips, ready to be kissed.
He lowered his head, but instead of kissing her, he whispered in her ear. “Not here, somewhere private.” He took her hand and led her away from the calves, around the back of the modern timber barn, and toward a more rustic-looking barn. It looked as if it had been here as long as the Homestead; old timbers had been replaced by new ones, the wood a mismatch of different shades of brown, as the weather tempered them.
“This is where we used to play when we visited the farm when my uncle owned it. We would make a heap of hay, and jump from there into it.” They were inside the barn and Adam was pointing to a platform high above their heads, which could only be reached by a ladder.
“And is that our somewhere private?” Lynn asked.
“It is. Shall we?” He let go of her hand and went to the ladder, placing both hands on it and testing it for safety. She liked that he wanted to keep her safe, evident when he said, “Climb on up. I’ll make sure it holds steady.”
“Does that mean it’s not safe?” Lynn asked, looking up dubiously.
“It is. But I don’t want you to slip. And if you do, I’ll be down here, waiting to catch you.”
“My hero,” she said, putting her hands on the rungs, and then one foot, and then another. Slowly she climbed the ladder, confident she would not be affected by the height. At the hotel, she had learned to turn her hand to any job that needed doing. Climbing ladders to clean a floor-to-ceiling mirror, or reach a child’s toy tossed on top of a closet, were many of the jobs she had tackled.
Hooking her leg over the top of the ladder, Lynn pulled herself onto the timber platform, and then turned herself around, to look down at Adam—who was already halfway up the ladder.
“Eager,” she said to herself softly, but he caught her words.
“Very. I have been thinking of you all day. Do you know how difficult it was not to drag you off to bed?”
“Show me,” she answered, pulling back from the ladder, and stripping her clothes off. She hadn’t finished by the time his head, and then his torso appeared over the top of the ladder, and then he was next to her, his hands a blur as he removed his clothes. Adam moved so fast, he was naked before she was.
Taking a step back, instead of helping her, he watched as she unclasped her bra, licking his lips in anticipation. Next, she slid her jeans and panties down over her thighs, and stepped out of them. A groan of approval erupted from Adam as he waited.
“I’m ready,” she announced.
He didn’t need a second invitation. He closed the space between them quickly and scooped her up, his body between her thighs as he carried her to a pile of hay. As he moved, he plucked an old blanket off the floor, and spread it over the hay.
“It’s prickly,” he ground out, his arousal evident in his voice.
“And we don’t want any prickles,” she said, as she reached down between their bodies and stroked his hard length.
“No prickles, at all.” He laid her down gently, and she eased her thighs apart, so that Adam could nestle between her thighs. He wasted no time, and guided himself into her, the head of his cock pressing against her outer lips, and then sliding inside her. She gripped him tight, her inner walls slick, the friction between their bodies incredible.
Deeper he thrust, and Lynn wrapped her legs around him, holding him close, and urging him on. Adam was caught up in her need, and thrust harder, faster, deeper, his momentum building as their arousal peaked. Hard and fast, the bodies entwined, working in unison to bring them both to the place where they would explode together in an agony of release.
“Damn it, Lynn, you bring out the animal in me,” Adam ground out, his hips pulling back and then thrusting forward in one long powerful lunge after another.
Lynn kissed his neck, nipping his skin, feeling like a primal creature too. Her hands stroked his back, and then as he exploded inside her, her fingernails dug into him, spurring him on as his essence filled her. As though a switch had been flipped, her body reached its own peak, and she came around him. Pleasure rocked her body and only as her orgasm subsided, did she realize that she had been calling out his name.
“Oh, what if everyone heard?” she asked, when she lay in his arms, completely sated.
“What if they did?�
� Adam responded.
“They’ll know…”
“Know what, that we made love in the hay barn? Do you think they don’t know all about procreation? This is a ranch,” he teased.
She hid her face in his chest, and giggled. “I guess you are right.”
“Yes, I am.” He pulled away from her. “Let’s go back to the others, then a little later I’ll take you home. I still have thoughts of your bed in my head.”
“I think the only thing I’m going to do in that bed tonight is sleep,” Lynn said.
“That sounds perfect.” He bent his head and kissed her. “I want to wake up with you, and know you are mine.”
She wrapped her arms around his neck, and nuzzled close to him. “I am yours, Adam. And you are mine.”
“For always.”
“For always,” she agreed.
Chapter Eighteen – Adam
The morning sun crept in through the window, casting its rays across the bed where he slept with Lynn in his arms. Damn, it’s morning already. His chores beckoned, he couldn’t put his life on hold, no matter how much he wanted to spend all of his time with Lynn.
Slipping out of bed, he kissed Lynn on the lips. She stirred, and he whispered, “I’ll be back before lunch.”
“OK,” she said, and then turned over and went back to sleep.
He smiled down at her. “Sweet dreams, Lynn.”
She reached up and grabbed his hand, not asleep after all. Pressing her lips to the back of his hand, she said, “I’ll dream of you. And coffee.”
“I can make you some instant, or bring you some when I come back.”
“I would love you forever if you brought me some when you come back,” she murmured sleepily.
He bent down and kissed her shoulder, then whispered, “I already do love you forever.”
Lynn turned onto her back, and looked up at him. “I can’t believe how lucky I am.”
“Believe it,” he said, and kissed her on the lips.
Lynn cupped his face in her hand, and smoothed his stubble-rough chin. “I love you too.”
He took a sharp breath in, before letting it go. “You don’t have to say that. I know it’s not the same for you as it is for me.”
“That doesn’t mean I don’t love you,” she said. “Even a non-shifter knows when she is in love.”
“I don’t want to leave you, not now.”
“But you have to, I understand. Anyway, the sooner you go, the sooner you can bring me coffee.”
He chuckled and kissed her before dragging himself away. Quickly dressing, he pulled on his well-worn boots, and headed out of the house. His truck was parked in the courtyard, and he was in it and driving out of the Hawkins Ranch at a fair clip, eager to get on with his chores and then get back to Lynn.
A large car was coming the other way, and he had to pull right over to let it pass on the narrow road. It looked expensive and out of place on these back roads. “Tourists.”
Going over his plans for the rest of the day, he pulled into the courtyard and ran into the Homestead, to find his father and three brothers in the kitchen. Jon was issuing the first round of coffee, and Adam took a cup and drank it, the caffeine buzz welcome.
“Adam, Jordan is going to give us a hand this morning, and looking at you, I think it might be an idea if he splits your chores with you.”
“What is that supposed to mean?” Adam asked. He had a mate, a woman to provide for, and the insinuation that he couldn’t cope hit his male bear pride.
“It means you look as if you haven’t slept well,” Jon threw at him.
“I think I’ve slept too well,” Adam returned. “There is something about lying next to your mate that makes sleep so much better.”
“I agree,” Jordan said, and shoved into Jon. “Don’t knock it until you have tried it.”
“Chance would be a fine thing. I expect Samuel and I will be waiting around for our mates. You two have used up all the Williams’ luck.”
“Don’t be too sure,” their dad told them. “A mate can appear out of nowhere. Just make sure you have your eyes open, and you’ll be fine.”
“Thanks for the fatherly advice,” Jon said.
“You’re welcome.” Russell tipped his head. “And I mean it. Fate is always working for you. Just as right now, you should be working for me. Let’s get started.”
“OK. Come on, Adam, let’s see how soft I’ve become.”
“I thought since you worked for Dylan, you would be hardened to manual labor again,” Adam said.
“The farm is harder work,” Jordan admitted.
“Hey, Adam,” Russell called before they left. “I thought I’d visit Lynn with you later. She invited me to walk the ranch with her, see if we can come to some arrangement.”
“OK,” Adam said. “I’ll meet you back here after chores.”
“Great, that’s one fine woman you have,” Russell told him. “I’m blessed my sons have found good mates, worthy of them.”
“We know, Dad. Just like you are lucky to have Mom.” Adam not used to his father sharing his feelings.
“Let’s hope your mates are half as patient as your mom.” Russell voice unusually emotional.
“What’s gotten into him?” Jordan asked as they crossed the courtyard, heading to the barn where the young calves needed checking over and feeding.
“He’s getting soft in his own way,” Adam said. “Started with that accident of yours. He’d never say anything, but it hit him hard. He’s always been so strong, so full of vigor and willing to do whatever it takes for his family. Then you lost the use of your legs, and there was nothing he could do.”
“Certainly makes you feel powerless, believe me.” Jordan placed his hand on his leg, feeling the movement, as if reassuring himself they were working OK.
“You are back to normal physically, but mentally, emotionally, I think it changed us.”
“And that’s where this sharing the Homestead came from?” he asked.
“Yes. Perspective, and all that. Look, we don’t need to get sentimental, but it means a lot to me that you agreed to be part of it all again.”
Jordan nodded. “Is this as much for Dad as for you?”
“It’s for all of us. But yes, I think it gives Dad a reason to think we’re all still anchored here. That we’re not going to drift apart.”
“Thank you, Adam. I don’t know if I’d have done the same thing. If I’d have stayed.”
“We’ll never know, and I am not going to think about it. The past is the past, and our futures all look promising. All we need to do is get the other two mates.” Adam tipped the feed into the trough and stood watching the calves eat. They jostled each other, trying to get the best of the food.
“If only we could just wave a magic wand, but it isn’t that easy.”
“No, but fate brought Lynn here, so you never know. Although I’m not sure Samuel wants a mate, he spends so much time in the mountains.”
“He always did like the freedom. But it’s his life, as long as he does the work, right?” Jordan said.
“He doesn’t even have to do that, he would have enough income coming in from his shares of the farm to go and be a solitary mountain man.”
“Best not point that out to him,” Jordan said. “OK, enough talk, what’s next?”
“You’ll like this.” Adam handed his brother a pitchfork.
“Great, my favorite thing.”
“That is why dad sent you out here with me, he knows how much you love to muck out the horses.”
They walked across the yard together, like it was old times and they were young, free, and single. But neither of them were, or ever would be again.
Chapter Nineteen – Lynn
The bed felt empty after Adam had gone, which was strange, since she had slept alone in this same bed for the last five years or more. Lynn stretched, liking the familiarity of her own bed. She was pleased she had insisted on buying her own furniture when she was given a suite of ro
oms to live in at the hotel she managed, despite the option to have her suite furnished like the other hotel suites.
Lynn had wanted to make the rooms her home. That would never happen if, when she was off duty, she couldn’t tell if she were walking into her home, or one of the other large hotel suites, with their carbon-copy furniture. And so she had collected pieces of furniture that inspired her, that appealed to her for any reason. It had left her with an eclectic mix of furniture that would never look right in a standard hotel room.
“OK, let’s get up … and start cleaning. Yay!” she said to the room as she left the warmth of her bed and dressed. Before she left the room, Lynn placed her hand on the place where Adam had slept; there was still a hint of warmth against the coolness of the rest of the bed. She smiled at the wave of happiness that swept over her.
“I can hear a car,” she said, and looked at her watch. It was only nine o’clock, but there was a chance Pete might be early. He was due at ten to give her a quote for the plumbing. “I need food before I have to tackle Pete.”
She ran down the stairs and into the kitchen, filling the kettle and putting it on to boil, while she grabbed an apple she had picked from the orchard. It was the first of the season, and she savored it as she went to the front door and pulled it open.
To be faced with her parents.
“Lynn!” her mom said. “It’s so good to see you.” Her mom leaned back, running a familiar appraising eye over her daughter. “You’ve lost weight and gotten a tan. You really should wear a hat and sunscreen.”
“Good to see you too, Mom.” Lynn’s good mood plummeted. “What are you doing here?”
“Your mother and I were worried,” her dad said. “And so, we decided to come and see you.”
“What about the business?” Lynn asked, wanting to stick her finger out and poke them to check they were real. She could not remember the last time her parents had left the business. Vacations were usually spent in one of their other hotels, while making spot checks on their staff.
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