by C. M. Steele
“Um, we brought your things just in case you couldn’t come with us and well, we figured you’d want them regardless.” Her dad walked to the door and grabbed my bag and small suitcase.
“Thank you so much. I’m sorry I managed to ruin your vacation.” I really felt terrible about the entire thing. If I hadn’t gotten lost they would have had a great trip.
“Oh that’s all right,” Dana’s dad said. “These two never really like the trip any way. But it got Dana to actually do the hike without complaining every ten seconds.”
“Hey, I’m not that bad.” Dana gave her father a dirty look and that was when I caught the sheriff’s nod to the Lockwoods. My eyes narrowed, but I quickly hid my apprehension. Something was going on between them and it was clear it was about me and Dana’s family, specifically Jared.
“Well, I’ve got to go, sorry to cut this short,” the sheriff said, looking at his phone. I pursed my lips, but stood and gave Dana and her mom a hug, dodging Jared’s and shaking her father’s hand instead. They left and I excused myself. Mr. Lockwood brought my luggage up for me and left me to my thoughts.
I sat on the bed, pondering my next move. It was foolish of me to live in this daydream with Logan. The disapproving looks from the sheriff and his parents made it clear they didn’t think I was good enough for him. Swallowing hard, I held back the tears. Maybe returning to Springfield was for the best. It wasn’t what I wanted, but I’d already intruded in their lives enough as it was.
The past two days had been the best of my life. Logan made me laugh at the way he tried to do everything for me because I was injured. We had made love several times that day and I let him take me with no protection. I could be pregnant with his kid because I was stupid and let passion override my common sense. I grabbed my bags and readied myself to call Dana and ask them to come back for me. I should have just left with them.
I sat on the bed and dialed Dana’s cell. The dam broke before I could even say hello. “Hey, Grace, what’s up?” she asked upon only getting silence from me.
“Sorry, Dana. I’m wondering when you’re leaving?”
“Well, the sheriff and Jared had a disagreement and now they’re kicking us out of the park. We have to pack and leave in the next two hours.” I gasped. “Did you want us to get you? Those people didn’t seem very welcoming.”
“Um, I do need to go home.” I heard the door slam open. Whipping my head toward it, I saw Logan standing there with an angry expression, shaking his head. “Dana, I’ll call you back.”
Chapter 10
Logan
It had been a long and dangerous day. My mind was on Grace. Her camping buddies were coming to my house, one of them a man. I didn’t know what he was to her, but it wasn’t just jealousy bothering me, I thought they were going to take her from me. That wasn’t something I could handle. She promised to stay and then we’d take a trip back to her home in a month when I had more time away. It was all she would agree to and it worried me. My feelings were fixed; I would never want another. That wasn’t something she seemed to return. A part of me thought it was okay because I’d been fucking her unprotected for two days.
I’d been so distracted that I nearly took my head clear off when they were transporting newly cut trees. Everyone was on me in a second to see if I was okay. Shaking off the momentary lapse of judgment, I went into my office and stayed there until there was a knock. It was the sheriff.
“Logan. I came from dropping off the Nolan family.”
“Grace is still at the house, right?”
“Yes, but…” His hesitancy wasn’t just in his words, his body language exhibited a level of fear.
“What is it?” I had to get myself under control. He was the sheriff and an elder.
“Jared Nolan wrapped his arm around her waist, trying to claim her.”
I snapped the pencil in my hand. “What did she do?”
“She moved out of his grasp and did all she could to be uninviting to him, but he had no hesitation implying they were closer than she let on.”
“He was talking out of his ass. I know that for sure. She’s only been with me.” I needed to clear the air. I didn’t want any one of the bear shifters to think I was weak.
He nodded. “Well, I dropped them off and told them they had to pack up and leave today.”
“She wasn’t going with them, was she?”
“Not today, but she implied that she was leaving at some point.” I was out of my chair, snatched the keys from my desk and marched straight out of the office and down to my truck, not even waiting for the sheriff to say good-bye. I had to see her. There was no way she was going to sneak out on me.
The drive home dragged on longer than I could ever have imagined.
As soon as I got through the doors, I could tell my parents were afraid. I wasn’t going to hurt her, not that they were thinking I would. They were afraid she’d leave me. I don’t know what I’d do if she did. “Good luck, son,” my father said as I rushed up the stairs. I could hear her on the phone with the friend. I slammed the door open the moment I heard her talk about leaving. This was her home and she needed to understand that what we shared was permanent. My heart was beating wildly as I thought of her in another man’s arms. One who was going to have them ripped off if he came by here again.
“Where do you think you’re going?” My voice was hard and deep.
“Um…Logan. I think I should go.” I shook my head at her.
“Do you remember what I said about us?”
“That this was for forever.”
“Yes, and what part of forever means that you leave me?”
“It’s not…well, I don’t feel welcome here.”
I couldn’t help but tilt my head, looking at her like she’d lost her mind. Wasn’t welcome here? This is where she belonged. I stalked closer, slowly reaching the foot of the bed. “How are you feeling, Grace? How’s the bruising?”
“Much better. Why?”
“Because I’m trying to decide if I should tie your ass down so you don’t leave me or fuck you until you can’t walk. Because there’s one thing that’s definite. You belong here and you belong with me.”
“I don’t want to leave, Logan.”
“Then what the fuck are you doing telling people you are? What the fuck is that little punk fucker to you? I know he hasn’t gotten your pussy, but from what I’m told he wants what’s mine.”
“Your parents told you? They want us to break up, don’t they? I could see the disappointment in their eyes earlier.” I let go of the breath I was holding. She mistook their attitude change. I took another step, pushing her suitcase to the floor, and boxed her in. Her ass plopped on the bed as she tried to create space between us. I leaned over her, grabbed her legs and wrapped them around my waist.
“You’re mine, Grace. My parents and the sheriff know that. The thought that someone came into my home and touched what was mine pisses me off and they knew it would. No one touches you, Grace. They got him out of here before I returned and tore him to pieces.”
“As big as you are I don’t doubt it, but I’ve never wanted him.”
“I know, but he tried to get you to leave with him. Then you were planning to leave me with him.”
“His family.”
“I don’t care, my sweet Grace. You’re mine and I swear if I have to take you to work with me I will.”
“You’re crazy,” she muttered and shook her head at me.
I cupped her jaw, caressing her soft skin. “For you I am and will stop at nothing to keep you here with me.”
“Forever?”
“Forever,” I promised, lowering my head and kissing her soft pink lips. Her hands wrapped around my shoulders and pulled me down onto the bed. I ground my hips against hers. Lifting her top off, I cupped one breast in my hand and engulfed the other in my mouth, biting her soft flesh.
“Ah,” she moaned, her hands tugging on my hair. I looked down at her and took in her fucking stunning beauty.
She was the most perfect creature. Her pale skin had a rosy glow of desire and her blue eyes were full of emotion.
“I love you, Grace.”
She gasped, then pulled my mouth to hers, tightening her legs around me as she dominated the kiss in heated passion. Pulling away, I stared at her in wonder. She gazed right back with a brilliant smile and said, “I love you, Logan.” This time it was my turn to claim her kiss.
I broke the connection and stood as I undid my pants and yanked hers off with her panties. I needed us to be as close as possible. I sunk into her depths, buried completely inside her tight womb. Working my hips back and forth, I fucked everything I felt for her into each stroke.
“You’re going to marry me and stay here forever.” This wasn’t a question and didn’t require a reply because that was what it was, but she nodded in response. Growling, I bent down and sucked her breast into my mouth. Her back arched and her legs squeezed tighter around my waist. If she wasn’t carrying my cub she would be. I leaned over her, taking her hands in mine and lifted them above her head.
I reached between us and rubbed her clit. With a grunt, I ordered her to come. “Come for me, Grace. Show me that you’re mine.” Her pussy clenched around my cock squeezing it to the point of pleasurable pain as she came, taking me with her. My seed filled her, but I still had more to go. This wasn’t over yet. The thought of another man trying to take what was mine sent the beast inside on a tear. Once we came down, I carried her into the shower with my dick still hard and buried in her tight pussy.
“I’m going to wash his touch off your skin and fuck you so good you never want to leave.” So began round two.
Chapter 11
Grace
The next day, I was lying in bed thinking about everything as Logan got ready for work. From the start I’d acted out of character. Normally, I would have asked to be taken to a hospital, not letting a family care for me while I was seduced by their only son. The idea that I could be was even funnier.
“What are you thinking about, beautiful?”
“How you seduced me into your bed?”
“Since you snuck into my bed, I believe that it was you who seduced me.”
“Semantics,” I said with a shrug.
“Come to work with me,” he said.
“Are you asking or telling me?”
“I’m telling you, sweetheart. You’re coming with me or I’ll have to hire an assistant.”
“A male one?”
“Whoever is best qualified.”
A bolt of jealousy shot through my chest taking my breath away. “You’re not hiring a woman. End of story. I’m getting dressed now.” I was up and ready in half an hour all the while Logan had a satisfied grin on his face.
Throughout the day, he worked with his men, checking on me any time he got a chance. It was really sweet that he asked if I needed anything, from something to drink or eat, whether I was tired, the whole works. I laughed him off and continued working on the orders he gave me to invoice. He was lucky I was good at this kind of thing, otherwise he’d be bankrupt really soon.
~~~~~
A month had passed and we’d cleared out my apartment the week before in Springfield. We’d stopped to see Dana first, and she’d almost lost her mind when she saw Logan. “Where can I get one of him?” she whispered in my ear, and at least two more times throughout our visit. Jared showed up just as we were leaving and Logan did everything he could to hold it together. Immediately after we got to my apartment, he pinned me to the wall and fucked me without removing anything other than my bottoms and unzipping his jeans. It was so damn hot. I liked the possessive Logan. He really hated Jared and I can’t blame him. The asshole was disgustingly perverted.
Once we got back home it was clear that I was pregnant. I only went to the office with him three times a week because he didn’t want me working too hard. Today, I was staying home to do some reading and cleaning. Logan’s parents were out fishing again. We had grown really close after they apologized for giving me the wrong impression and they even got me to finally return to the backyard, of course I was either with them or Logan every time I did.
I heard a noise around the back, so I went to the window. No one else was here and I definitely wasn’t going out there alone. I didn’t see anyone, so I brushed it off as the wind rustling the trees. I sat back down on the large sofa and began reading again. A minute later the doorbell rang. I hadn’t heard a car, but I got up to see who it was Just as I got to the door, it was kicked in. Jared was staring at me with a crazed look in his eyes.
Before I could run, he struck me in the face and my world went black.
I woke up as he carried me into the woods. I screamed and cried for help, hoping someone would hear me. “Shut the fuck up. No one here can help you.” I started kicking him, flailing on his shoulder. He tossed me onto the ground. “You can’t fucking do as you’re told. Now you’re going to learn the hard way.”
“Why are you doing this?” I asked as he pulled me to my feet and forcefully gripped my hands.
He whipped his head around to look at me. “You kept telling me no, and then have the nerve to bring your bitch-ass redneck with you to rub it in my face that he touches your pussy with his little dick. I’m going to show you what you could have had.” He finished his rationale with a smack across my face. I saw a car down through a small pathway and knew it wasn’t help; it was Jared’s. I closed my eyes and mentally said good-bye to my Logan.
A loud roar ripped through the air and I felt Jared let me go. I turned to see a massive black bear. Fuck me, out of the pan and into the fire. I was done for. I tried to get up and run, but Jared pushed me down and stepped on my stomach as he tried to get to his car. He didn’t make it. The bear passed me and attacked Jared, mauling him. I could hear his screams, but didn’t rejoice in my unlikely savior. I had to get out of there before I was next. Making a dash for it, I ran back toward the house, clutching my stomach.
I ran across the road and into the house. I didn’t get a chance to close the door because the bear ran after me. I screamed as loud as I could, practically enough to shatter glass. I stood behind the recliner, thinking of my next move when something crazy happened.
The bear stood and began to shrink and lose all his fur until Logan appeared before me. My brain couldn’t compute and I was down for the second time.
I heard Logan, but couldn’t focus. “Grace, my love. Oh god, please don’t be afraid. Wake up, please.”
“Monster baby,” I mumbled, holding my belly before losing complete consciousness.
Chapter 12
Logan
I stared down at the woman I loved as she lay in a hospital bed. My heart was breaking as I worried about her and the words that came out of her mouth. She thought I was a monster and so was our baby. I looked at the heartbeat monitor with its steady rhythm, hoping she’d wake up and tell me she still loved me.
“Grace, please wake up,” I begged, taking her hand in mine and holding it tight. Suddenly, I felt her flinch and yank her hand back.
“Leave me alone,” she screamed, thrashing in the bed. “Jared, stop please.” I leaned over her and held her arms down to try and calm her before she hurt herself.
“Grace, Grace. It’s me, Logan. You’re safe. I promise.” Slowly the flailing stopped and her eyes opened to look at me. “Gracie, love. I’m here. You’re safe.”
“Logan, I’m confused.” She looked up at me with sadness in her eyes. Then they bulged out. “The baby.”
“The baby is okay.” A nurse entered the room, moving to the right side of the bed to check the monitors. “I’m glad to see you awake, Mrs. Lockwood.”
“It’s Harper. Our wedding was scheduled for next week.”
“It still is,” I replied to Angela with a smile. I looked back at Grace and saw a bit of territoriality on her face. I controlled my expression but inside I was jumping up and down. She wasn’t completely against being with me. Even if she did refer to our wedding dat
e as if it was a thing of the past.
“Things are looking wonderful in here. I’m going to contact the doctor on call. For now, just rest.”
Her eyes followed the nurse until she closed the door then turned to me.
“Was Jared mauled by a bear?” she asked.
“Yes,” I answered because technically that was the truth.
“Am I crazy or were you the bear?” I didn’t know how to answer that. It was the biggest secret and the reason we met in the first place. The cougar guards the house for my family. It was trying to scare her away, not harm her. He had no idea she’d jump into the house like that.
“Well…”
“Oh my God, you are,” she gasped, clapping one hand to her mouth and the other to her belly. “Are you going to kill me for knowing?”
“What? God, no. I’d never do anything to hurt you.”
“This explains the virgin thing at twenty-six.”
“Yes, it does. And our attraction to each other. You’re the one for me, Grace. I was scared at first about it, but all I knew is that I had to be with you.”
“Our attraction? You mean that we were supposed to be together?”
“Yes, that’s why you let reason disappear from your head and stayed with me. Giving yourself to me when you knew you shouldn’t. It’s why I can’t even be away from you without panicking.”
“Is that why you got to me so fast?”
“Yes and no. I was coming home for a little lunch,” I replied suggestively, letting my eyes roam over her body. “Then I heard you scream for me. Nothing would stop me from protecting you even though you think I’m a monster and put one in you.”
“I don’t think you’re a monster and I most definitely don’t think our baby is.”
“You said it as you passed out.”
“I would never.”
“Your exact words were ‘monster baby.’”