Just what the hell was this weird mix of feelings that was welling up in him and turning all his insides to a gooey mess? He felt both powerful and vulnerable with her, strong and shy in her presence.
He felt protective and possessive towards her. He wanted to protect her, provide for her, and...possess her. He wanted her to be his. Physically, emotionally, completely. He didn't want just her body, he wanted her heart as well.
Baxter cursed viciously.
There must be something wrong with him.
God, he was creeping himself out, even if Lindy didn't find him freaky. He was following her in his car, for God's sake. And he wasn't doing it with the aim of getting in her bed. He was just doing it for her.
No expectations, no payback, no reward, no sex.
He definitely wasn't himself tonight.
His palms were sweaty and he was shivering. Was he coming down with something?
A fever? A head cold? The pox?
Shit.
Lindy's car turned into a quiet suburb and she drove slowly down the street. Baxter clamped his shaky hands on the steering wheel and followed her, trying to regulate his harsh, uneven breathing.
His chest felt tight and he was having trouble breathing. It felt like there wasn't enough air. His heart was beating too hard, too fast, too crazily. The rhythm thrumming through his veins was ancient, urgent and unrelenting. Instinctively, intuitively, he knew what it was.
He growled and shook his head.
It couldn't be.
This couldn't be the mating call. His bear was wrong this time.
Mate? With this sweet, human woman? His bear must be out of its mind. Mating wasn't fucking. His bear should know this. He would not fuck with this beautiful, perfect human. She was special. He didn't want to fuck this up.
“Behave yourself,” he snarled angrily to his bear.
“No, you fuck off!” He gave himself the finger, and a mental slap.
Shit, he must really be fucked up. He was going batshit crazy! Now he was even arguing with his bear out loud. He must look like a rabid, raving madman, growling and talking to himself in his car.
Lindy's car slowed to a crawl and her brake lights flashed. Baxter pulled his car to the side of the curb just opposite a neat, single-story house. As he watched her park her car in the garage, he fought a losing battle with himself.
What was he doing? He should just drive away now, while he still could.
“Ah, Lindy...”
She walked up to the porch and unlocked her front door. She turned around and raised her hand to wave at him.
Baxter moved his hand stiffly to wave back.
His claws had pushed out and his bear was pounding at him to get the hell out of his car and go grab that female.
“Stop,” Baxter growled to his bear. “Just stop, you horny bastard.”
Lindy stood and stared at him from her porch. Then she took a step forward.
“Step through the damn door, Lindy, and lock it,” he snarled under his breath. The pounding in his head became a roar and he could hardly hear himself think.
She started down her front steps and stood at the edge of the curb. After a moment's hesitation, she crossed the road.
“Stop,” he repeated in a low snarl, but this time, the command was directed at her.
She couldn't hear him of course. She was walking towards his car, her steps measured, deliberate and purposeful. He growled but forced himself to remain still as she came nearer and nearer to him.
His eyes tracked her movements, and he found himself memorizing every soft, generous curve of her body. Her ample hips swayed seductively as she walked and there was a flush creeping up her neck and face.
“Stop, Lindy,” he begged. His bear cheered and urged, Come on, Lindy!
His bear won.
Shut up, Baxter snarled at his bear who was whooping and gyrating maddeningly in his head.
Lindy strode right up to the driver's side and tapped the window. Fighting for control, Baxter lowered the glass and wrestled his grimace into a smile. “Lindy.”
When she bent down, his eyes widened and breathing became seriously impossible.
“I...I was wondering if you'd like to come in, Baxter,” she said. She swallowed and worried her lower lip. When he continued staring at her in silence, she pushed a hand through her hair and tried to hide a wince. “Ah, it's okay.” She shrugged and mumbled, “Maybe some other time. It's late anyway...”
She took his silence as rejection. Baxter saw the flicker of hurt and embarrassment on her face and his heart lurched.
How could she think that he would reject her?
“Yes!” he shouted. “Yes!”
She gasped in shock as he stumbled out of the car.
“I mean, yes, I'd love to come in and have a cup of whatever,” he stuttered rapidly.
With a coy smile, she took his hand and led him back to the house.
Baxter laced his fingers through hers and gave up his futile attempts to resist her.
At the front door, he stopped and said softly, “Lindy, are you...sure?”
He took both her hands and gazed deeply, quietly into her eyes. They were both adults. They knew what was going to happen once he stepped into her house. They sure as hell weren't going to spend the night sitting around her kitchen table drinking cups of whatever and eating cookies. Baxter didn't want her to regret what they were about to do. It would fucking kill him if he saw even the slightest trace of regret in her eyes.
Lindy looked up at him and said, “Yes, I'm sure. I want this, Baxter.”
When he pulled her closer, he heard her mumble under her breath, “Ten years. Wow.”
“Ten years?” Baxter frowned at her. What was she talking about?
But Lindy merely shook her head and said, “Tell me I'm not dreaming.”
“You're not dreaming.”
She let out a soft laugh. “I got lucky.”
“No, Lindy. I got lucky,” he said, capturing her face in both his hands.
Lindy's lips curved against his as they stumbled past the threshold.
Kicking the door shut behind him, Baxter took her sweet, plump mouth in a deep, lingering kiss. He held her and kissed her long and slow. He didn't want to rush anything with her. He wanted her, and from that very first kiss, he knew he would want her always.
He didn't want the kiss to end, and from the way she clung to him, neither did she.
CHAPTER FIVE
Lindy finally broke the kiss and stumbled back, giddy and breathless. Baxter took a step towards her, then stopped. His big fists were tightly clenched at his sides and his stormy gray eyes glowed with hunger and want. But he held himself still as a statue, not moving a single muscle. His veins pulsed on his temple and neck as he waged a ferocious, brutal battle against his lust.
Lindy stood just inches from him, looking up into his fierce, handsome face. She almost couldn't believe that Baxter Sadowski was in her house, in her living room, and if she had her way tonight, in her bed.
Ten years. She had developed an instant crush on Baxter when she first saw him ten years ago. And she never thought that a red-blooded, virile male like Baxter would ever give a shy, nerdy girl like her a second look.
The Black Bears Group was a reputable, high-profile security firm and the Black Bears were frequently contracted to assist in dangerous sting operations and rescue missions. She had kept up with their cases, and her department had worked with the Black Bears Group to solve a couple of violent, heinous crimes.
She had worked with the Black Bears alpha and beta, and some of their team leaders, but she just never got the chance to work with Baxter. Somehow he was always away from the office on some mission or other when she visited the Black Bears office. She had only seen him once, but she heard of him often. She read about him in the news, and his gruff, no holds barred answers to interview questions were always refreshing and amusing.
Ten years. It was funny how she never really forgot this tough, brash, handsome Black Bear that she had seen only once. She had never even spoken a word to him in these ten years. Yet, she had remembered him, thought of him and wondered about him.
She had built up a solid career, bought her own little house, dated on and off, ditched her dowdy glasses and ponytail for contacts and a chic hairdo. She had done a lot in ten years. Still, she was a nerd at heart. Studious, introverted, and single-minded when it came to her work. She had never been one of the pretty, popular girls in school, and she knew she would never been considered a bombshell. She was blond but she wasn't leggy and svelte. She had learned to embrace her height and her curves, but it was a fact that she spent most weekends alone. She had a small circle of friends, but most of them were married and had their own families and priorities. There was no long line of men beating a path to her door to ask her out. Her well-meaning married friends were usually the ones who took the trouble to set her up on blind dates with their single friends and colleagues. But none of the dates went anywhere. None of the men intrigued her, interested her and made her mind and body come alive.
Baxter had a tough, badass, bad boy image. But underneath that loud, rough exterior, she saw that he was a total sweetheart. He was sharp as a tack, but he hid his insight and intelligence with smart-assed comments and jokes. He used humor to put people at ease. An astute judge of character, he could size his opponents up and sweet-talk people into doing what he wanted.
He had been a little smarmy with her at first, but once he saw her discomfort, he had stopped pretending to be a jerk and a smart-ass. His apologies had been earnest and sincere, and he was open and honest with her.
His initial suave arrogance was gone. Instead, he seemed tense and nervous around her now. He held himself back, afraid to make a move or a single mistake.
It was cute, the way he appeared almost shy in front of her.
Lindy approached him slowly. There was no doubt that he wanted her. The chemistry, the electrifying tension between them was so palpable, so powerful, she could almost touch it and taste it. It was a heady, giddy feeling, being wanted by a man like Baxter. A hunk, a bad boy, a powerful Black Bear who could have any female he wanted. All the men that her friends had set her up with had been mousy, nerdy men with deskbound jobs. Men like her, she supposed. Her friends probably thought they would be a good match for her.
She never dreamed that a big, sexy hunk like Baxter would give her a second glance. Well, she did dream of him a couple of times over the years, usually after she had read about him in the papers or glimpsed his scowl when a camera was shoved in his face right after the conclusion of a high-profile mission.
In her dreams, he did more than look at her. He did much more, but hey, that was only a dream.
This—this was no dream. This was real.
Lindy put her hand on Baxter's broad chest. He felt hard, solid and burning hot to her touch.
She felt a tremor course through his massive body as his nostrils flared. “Lindy,” he said in a low, dangerous voice. His eyes darkened with raw, primal desire. Yet he didn't reach for her. His growl told her how much he wanted her, respected her, and ached for her. She could see the consuming passion and tormenting hunger in his eyes, on his face, on every stark line of his powerful body.
To undo a powerful, virile male so utterly and completely was a heady new experience for her. She had never ever had this impact on any man. She had never had anyone look at her with such yearning and desire.
She wanted to pinch herself and squeal. Baxter, the man of her girlish fantasies and naughty dreams, was here, for her taking.
Maybe good, nerdy, curvy girls do get their man after all. Good things do come to those who wait.
Lindy moved closer to Baxter. She saw his gray eyes glow and turn feral for a beat before he lashed his bear down with a snarl.
“Lindy, I want you. I'm going out of my mind for you,” he gritted out. “But I have to know that you want me back.”
“I do, Baxter,” she whispered. “I want you.” I've wanted you since I first saw you ten years ago.
She gasped when he reached out and grabbed her hard. Crushing her to him, he pressed his lips to hers in a bruising, demanding kiss. There was no hesitation, no gentleness this time. He took what he wanted, and what he wanted was her.
He walked her backwards to her bedroom, his lips and hands never leaving her. Her blouse was already unbuttoned by the time they pushed through the door of her bedroom. When the back of her knees hit the mattress, he had removed her bra and was tugging her skirt and panties down her hips.
She was naked when she landed on the sheets. Shrugging off his clothes, he covered her body with his and hissed when his cock pressed against the hot, wet folds of her pussy.
Lindy began to pant as his tongue laved a blazing trail down her body. Baxter's mouth and hands found her sensitive spots expertly, and her core began to ache maddeningly as she writhed beneath him. She knew that he must have had many women, many lovers in his bed all these years, and the thought was harsh and jarring. She felt jealous, and she hated that she felt jealous. She had no business feeling jealous. Baxter didn't even know her before tonight. He was a free, single man, and he had the right to date and bed any female he wanted.
Lindy turned away. Jealousy was an ugly, petty, unhealthy emotion. She didn't want her own silly, unpleasant thoughts to mar this night.
Baxter held her chin and turned her face back to him. He might be busy enjoying and pleasuring her body, but he was highly tuned to her response and feelings. He was no sex-driven fool. Smart, observant, sensitive and sexy. Oh, why couldn't he be hers?
“Lindy,” he whispered, searching her face. “Something's bothering you. What is it?”
She shook her head. “It's nothing.”
“You look...sad.”
“I...”
“Talk to me, Lindy.”
She took a deep breath and met his eyes. “You are a great guy, Baxter. You...you're my perfect guy.”
“I am?” His eyes rounded before a grin split his face. “No one has ever said that to me before.”
“Really?” This time it was her turn to widen her eyes at him.
“Yeah.” He leaned in and kissed her tenderly on the lips. “I'm not perfect, Lindy,” he said haltingly, hoarsely. “But I want to be perfect for you.”
Lindy felt her breath catch. She cupped his face in both hands and stared into his intense, gray eyes for a long moment.
“You are perfect for me,” she said softly. “I guess I've always known it.”
He opened his mouth but she cut off his question with a deep, searing kiss.
“Be mine,” she murmured against his lips. “Just be mine tonight.”
CHAPTER SIX
Baxter held her tighter, rubbing her arms, her back, and kissing her hair, her eyelids and the tip of her nose. He heard the sadness in her words, and he knew what she was thinking. She thought that this would just be a one night stand. Some of the women he had been with had wanted more with him as well. They wanted more than just sex. They wanted his heart, his love. They were nice girls, and he didn't want to lead them on and hurt them. He could give them sex, the best sex of their lives even, but nothing more. His heart and soul, his love, his life would only be given to one female. His mate.
But he had long given up the idea of ever finding his mate. He just wasn't one of those lucky bears.
So why was it that this little human woman was making his bear all growly and territorial? The beast was roaring to possess this female, to take her and mark her as his. His bear had gone mad, stark, raving, roaring mad.
Lindy was perfect, that was for sure. He liked her. Liked was an understatement. He loved and admired everything about her. He saw that she was dedicated to her work, and from the glimpse that he'd caught of her writing on her legal pad, he had a good idea what she did for a living. It only racked up his esteem o
f her a good couple of notches. She was smart, sensitive, independent. She stayed in a good neighborhood, and her house was well-kept and cozy. She was highly successful in her career, yet sweet, soft and vulnerable on the inside. The woman had brains, beauty and a hot, curvy body. Could he get any luckier?
He might be the luckiest bear after all.
Mine!
His bear wanted to stake its claim. Baxter had always been happy to go along with his bear. So why was he holding his bear back this time? He swallowed hard as he gazed down at her beautiful face.
It was because she was too darn important to him. He didn't want to risk his bear messing anything up with her.
He didn't want to lose her.
Baxter breathed in the intoxicating scent of her need and arousal. Her scent called to him, sparked something fierce in him.
He dipped his head and suckled her hungrily. He growled against her breast when she arched her back. They both wanted and needed more.
Baxter teased and tormented her stiff, erect nipples until she cried out and jerked off the mattress. When he pushed her legs apart and lapped greedily at her glistening pussy, she moaned and fisted the sheets. Her lust and desire was wild and consuming, and he couldn't hold back any more. He wanted to take her, be inside her and feel her tight, pulsing heat envelop him completely.
Baxter flung her legs over his shoulders and nudged his cock into her slit. She gasped and a sob of pleasure escaped. “Please...” she rasped. “Give me more, Baxter.”
He inhaled a ragged breath. He would give her everything, all of him, every inch, every drop of him.
Holding her lush, fleshy hips, he drove himself into her, and his entire body shuddered at the explosive pleasure. Her body was so hot and tight. He pushed deep into her, feeling her walls ripple and clench around him, sucking him in greedily. She felt so good, so amazing, so damn right.
“Lindy, baby...” he whispered as he stroked in and out of her body. He moved slowly, rotating his hips to feel every wet inch of her channel. He didn't want to just thrust like a rutting beast between her thighs and be done. He wanted to savor her, feel her, make love to her.
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