by Jenny Brex
Lily trudged out of the cabin and climbed up into King’s truck. She leaned her head against the cool glass of the window and got lost in her mind. They had a long drive ahead of them. While she was happy she’d get to see her mother, leaving Denver ripped her to shreds.
Denver stood at the door like a broken man. He begged her to stay.
King said a few words to his friend, then climbed into the truck. “I’m sorry that it came out this way. I know you’ve been through quite a bit. I hope you can get your life together when you get back home.”
“What will happen to Denver?”
“Probably the same thing, over and over. Until he gets help and works through his sister’s death, he’ll always be trying to save her.”
“Why doesn’t he talk to somebody?”
“Foolish pride. Hard when you’re a big, tough bear-man. He thinks he can take on the world, but he’s held together with duct tape and superglue.”
“I love him, King.”
“He’ll be okay.”
***
Lily fell asleep on the long drive into Fairbanks. King set up her room and paid for it, since it was originally Denver who was handling things. He wanted her to have space – as she hadn’t seen her mother in such a long time. She should have a safe place to be alone and collect her thoughts. He knew it would be taxing, but she was on her own now. She’d been picked up out of the woods like a babe, but needed to stand on her own two feet.
She had the temporary paperwork that allowed her to get ID once she got into town. She’d need to take a taxi with her mother to sort out the details. When they finally arrived, Lily’s stomach knotted. She should be happier to see her mom, but she was still crying over Denver.
King led her inside and set up the hotel details. Anything she needed, they were told to put on his tab. Lily thanked him, then watched the last piece of Denver’s world turn and leave.
“Has Mrs. Scott checked in yet?”
The desk clerk glanced through the reservation list and gave her the room number. “You can dial direct from your room.”
“No need, it’s my mother. I’ll be stopping by. Thanks.”
With her key in hand, he pointed her to the elevators.
She hadn’t been on an elevator since she was a small girl. When the doors opened and she stepped inside, she pressed the button to her floor. As the doors closed, she panicked. Her heart thundered fast and hard. The space was too small. She couldn’t breathe. When the doors opened, she rushed out into the hallway, catching her breath. The small anxiety attack surprised her. She balled up her fists, pushed her courage forward, and walked down the hallway. She could do this. It was a hotel. That’s all it was. A hotel. A hallway with a lot of doors. She had no idea who was behind any of those doors. Fuck. Every tiny thing was going to overwhelm her. How long would it take to feel normal?
She found her room and looked at the card they gave her. It was an odd looking key. She looked for a place to put it. There was no slot, no anything. She tapped at the door with the card. There was a small black box near the knob with lights on it. She put it near there and was surprised when the red light turned green. She opened the door and laughed. That was the weirdest key ever. What happened to the metal kind, the kind that you put in the little hole and turn? What else would she need to relearn?
When the toilet flushed itself, she jumped. What the…? She stood at the sink to wash her hands and looked at the faucet – but there were no handles. She leaned down to look under it. Was there a switch somewhere? She flicked the bathroom lights on and off. Nothing. She waved her hand under the faucet and water sprang out! No way? She played with the sink, starting and stopping the water. It was so foreign.
After Lily cleaned up, she left her room to visit her mother. She started down the hallway. No. Not the elevator. There had to be stairs, right? Relieved to find them at the end of the hallway, she climbed down the steps. She was on the fourth floor and her mother was on the third. She pushed through the door and entered the hallway.
Lily counted down the numbers as she passed each door. The closer she got, the slower she moved. There it was – her mother’s room. Standing before the door, she held her hand up, ready to knock. Instead, she turned and ran down the hall. What was she afraid of?
She burst through the door to the stairs, then stood on the landing. Lily sat down and wrapped her arms around her knees. Going back, would she be fourteen or twenty-four? Who was she? What did she want? The rush of emotions would be intense. Was she ready? She would have been with Denver by her side. She was alone now. She’d need to find the strength to move ahead.
Lily forced herself to stand. That was the first step. When she made it back through the door and into the third floor hallway, she turned toward her mother’s room. One step at a time. It was all she could do. Just get there. No running away. She finally found herself back in front of her mother’s door. Hesitantly, she reached out and knocked.
She could hear her mother. “Lily? Is that you?”
Lily froze.
Her mother opened the door and looked at her daughter. Her body shook as she cried. She pulled her daughter, now a grown woman, into a hug.
Lily let her mother hug her. She tried to hug her back, but felt like a stranger.
“Hey, Mom,” she said quietly.
“Look at you. Oh, let me see you. You’re so grown up.”
Lily stood, not sure what to say.
“Come in, come in,” her mother said, then closed the door behind them.
***
Not long after, somebody knocked. “Room service.”
Chapter 19
Mrs. Scott opened the door. “I think you’re mistaken. I didn’t order anything.”
“I have a special delivery for Mrs. Scott and Lily Scott.” The man held an ice bucket with a bottle of champagne in it. In his other hand, he had glasses.
“I didn’t order this. There must be a mistake,” she said.
“There’s a note that said to ask if Lily was here.”
“She is.” She called over her shoulder. “Lily, they’re asking for you. Did you order something?”
Lily got up. “Mom, no. What’s going on?”
When he saw her, Denver dropped to one knee. “Lily, please don’t leave. I need you in my life. I tried to explain to you that I’ve made enough mistakes to know when it’s right. With you, everything feels right. Will you marry me?”
Lily threw her hand up over her mouth in disbelief.
“Don’t leave me waiting, baby.”
Lily trembled as tears ran down her face. “Denver?”
“I love you, Lily. Did you think I’d let you walk away without at least trying to win you back? I followed the two of you here.”
Her mother wasn’t sure what to do or say. She reached over and took the glasses and champagne to allow them a moment. She already knew Lily planned on coming home with her. She’d break the poor guy’s heart.
“Denver?” she said again. “You’re here.”
“Please don’t go,” he said. “I know what you think, but I promise you, you’re all I’ll ever need. We can get married in Fairbanks this week. There’s a short waiting period, something like three days, but we can spend that time with your mother and enjoying the area.”
She stared at him.
“Lily?”
“Don’t ever let me leave again,” she said, then jumped into his arms. “I’m so happy you’re here. The entire way, all I could think was what a horrible mistake I was making. I need you, Denver. I need you like the air I breathe.”
Her mother interrupted. “Lily, no. This isn’t a good idea. You were coming home, remember. You decided to start over and work with a therapist. Get help, move forward. Staying here isn’t healthy.”
“Mom, I didn’t choose Alaska as my home, but Alaska chose me. I’m staying with Denver. I’d be delighted if you’d come to my wedding.”
Her mother looked away. Bitterness laced her voice. “Of c
ourse. I finally found you, and I’ve lost you again.”
“No, you didn’t lose me. The difference is I’m free. I wasn’t living mom. I was dead those past ten years. Thanks to this man, I’m breathing and I want to live.”
“I wish you’d reconsider.”
“With all due respect, Mrs. Scott, I hope you’ll wish us a happy life together. I love your daughter with all of my heart. I’ll never let anything bad happen to her. I’ll protect her with my life.”
“I’m sure you will. I’m sorry to be bitter. I thought I was getting my daughter back. She left me too soon. I missed all of those years.”
“You’re welcome to visit anytime. And when we have kids, you’ll be a grandmother. You can come stay with us. We’ll need to get a bigger house, but there’s no reason you can’t join our family.”
“Thank you.” It wasn’t the answer she wanted, but was what she’d need to accept. Lily wasn’t coming home.
Chapter 20
The courthouse ceremony wasn’t fancy, but it did the job. Denver was grateful that Lily’s mother attended, but she needed to catch a plane in the morning. Denver had their room booked until the following day also. They’d turn around and head home after they saw his mother-in-law off. After the ceremony, they had a small celebration in the hotel’s restaurant. After dinner, Lily and Denver returned to their room.
At their door, Denver made her wait. “Okay, let me get the door partially open, slide my foot in to hold it, then pick you up.”
She laughed. “It’s not necessary.”
“Oh, yes, it is. Here and at home. We don’t need any bad luck!”
“Are you superstitious?” She giggled at the thought.
“What, me? No. Not in the least. Okay, maybe a little.” He shrugged and scooped up his wife. “Let’s see if I can do this holding you.”
Lily squealed, afraid he’d drop her. He tapped the card to the key area and waited for the light to change. As he opened the door, he slipped his foot in.
“You’re going to drop me!”
“I’ve got you,” he said with a laugh. “Or don’t I?”
“Don’t you dare drop me…”
“Whoops,” he teased, swooping down a bit.
“Stop! Stop!”
When the door closed behind them, all bets were off. Clothes hit the floor in moments, and together they climbed onto the bed. “Mrs. Beck, oh, I do like the sound of that.”
“Mm, I like it to. Do you know what I like better? The sound of me having an orgasm.”
Denver laughed.
Their teasing turned to soft coos and whispers, then into kisses.
“Let me just look at you,” she whispered.
He rolled up on his side and faced his wife.
He was all the man she’d ever need. His dark hair framed his gorgeous chiseled face. And his eyes, she could stare into his eyes all night and day. The butterflies that fluttered around her stomach when she was with him, she hoped never went away. His shoulders were a gift of the gods. Broad, strong, muscled and sexy. She loved how his arms were sculpted like mounds of clay; his bulging biceps were huge. And his chest, so steel-hard leading down to a perfect six-pack. She drew a line over his stomach with her finger. “You’re so handsome.”
Denver stroked her cheek. “Thank you. I didn’t do too badly myself. A goddess in the flesh, just for me.”
Lily blushed. “You’re exaggerating.”
“I’m not,” he said, then pointed down. “Check for yourself.”
His cock was throbbing hard and standing proud.
She giggled. “It’s really big. I know I keep saying that, but it is big.”
“Hard to correct you when you’re right,” he teased.
“I love how humble you are.”
Denver placed his hand softly on her shoulder, then trailed it down along her side until he reached her hip. He gave her a small squeeze. “If I don’t get a taste of you soon, I may very well explode. That could be painful.”
Lily laughed. “You’re such a drama queen. If I’d known that, I wouldn’t have married you.”
Denver grinned. “Come here, you.”
Lily squealed as he tugged at her.
He rolled her on top of him and pulled her closer. He loved the way her breasts pressed against his chest. Groping her ass cheeks, he kissed his bride. “I need more of this.”
She quietly moaned into his mouth as he fondled her bottom.
“Sit up and lean back,” he instructed.
“Like this?” She stayed on him, but sat upright, her knees on either side.
“Yeah, like that.” He slid his hand between her legs and found her clit.
Lily squirmed. “Oh.”
“I like when you’re nice and wet,” he growled.
She tried to sit still, but as his fingers worked their magic, her hips started to grind and move.
“Yeah, baby, sit on my cock. I want to watch your tits bounce,” he said.
Lily shifted and straddled the head of his fat cock. She pressed down and groaned. His cock spread her lips wide. Her words were barely a whisper, “Oh, fuck.”
“Oh, you feel so good. Ride me,” he said, holding onto her hips, helping her find a rhythm. He pumped up from beneath her to match her stride.
“Oh, Denver…” Her breathing grew ragged.
He watched her breasts sway back and forth as she bounced on his cock. Moving his hands to her lower back, he swept them over, rolling her to the bottom.
Denver leaned on his one arm, and stroked her face with his other hand. Reaching down, he took one of her nipples between his fingers and squeezed it, while still thrusting into her. As her body tightened around him, small spasms growing larger, it was near impossible to hold on.
Lily cried out with pleasure. “I’m coming. Fuck, fuck, fuck, I’m coming.”
Denver thrust faster and harder a couple more times before he released into her. His entire body stiffened. A deep grunt filled the room as the orgasm ripped through him. Moments later, he collapsed beside her. “Holy shit. That’s some voodoo magic you’ve got going on there, girl.”
“I love you, Denver,” she said, curling into him.
He admired his gorgeous wife and wrapped his arm over her. “I love you too, Mrs. Beck.”
And they lived happily ever after.
THE END
Book 2 – Bearly Legal
Chapter 1
King skimmed over the letter for the umpteenth time. No matter how many times he read it, he came to the same conclusion. The state was trying to bone him without lube. Not only had they tried to practically steal his land – but they made it clear that the offers would only get lower. He could bite now and get fifty percent of the value or wait until it trickled lower. It was highway robbery. Either way, he’d be out on his ass with little to show for it.
King wasn’t giving up his rights to the land without a fight, and the insulting offer was like a slap in the face. It wasn’t just him; they were screwing the entire lot of them. He’d take it all the way to the Supreme Court if he had to. They weren’t going to win this time.
King stepped outside and dusted off the fine layer of snow that covered the birdhouse. He scooped a handful of seed out of the bag he carried and refilled the feeder. Most of the birds had hightailed it out Alaska now that the temperatures were dropping, but a few were martyrs and waited too long. He placed the bird seed on the ground and went to wedge a few pieces of suet into the other feeder. He bent and picked up the bag of seed.
The change of season was upon them. King loved the cooler weather. He drew in a deep breath and bathed in the crisp air. It was going to be a long day. He’d need to head into town and sort things out. It was ludicrous what they were trying to do. He turned to go inside.
He fully intended on rejecting their offer, daring them to go lower. He wasn’t giving in, he’d dig his heels deep and stay. Fuck them. They weren’t going to steal his land right out from under his nose.
It’
s not like they needed more land as it was. The massive Wildlife Refuge he lived near already encompassed nineteen million acres. The greedy bastards wanted his two acres, on top of all of his neighbor’s land, and so on. The entire town was being pushed, and the town over. They planned on sweeping everything in its path like a massive tsunami, swallowing up livelihoods and homesteads as they went along.
They were striving to reach a rounded twenty million acres. Bastards; like it would make a difference. His world would be crushed, but hey, at least they could tote on their brochures that they’d preserved twenty, not nineteen million acres.
Even taking all of the town and the next town, they’d still be short of their goal. Then what?
Eminent domain, his ass. It’s not like they even offered fair market value. It was strong-arm robbery. No way, no how. Not on his watch.
King placed the bird food into the pantry and stretched his arms up over his large frame. His fingertips grazed the ceiling. Drawing them back down, he lunged forward giving his massive legs a stretch. He was a big guy, bigger than most of his friends; taller, thicker, meatier. His broad shoulders jutted out widely. King rolled his head to the left and right, getting a final stretch in before his run.
Stepping back outside, he huffed and grunted. His morning work-out always left him ready for the day. He focused on his bear form, then dropped to all fours. His body morphed into a massive beast as fur pushed out and he slid into his bear. He bristled as his face reshaped and his nose got longer. Letting out a loud roar, he let his grizzly run.
Like a shot, he took off pushing between the trees. Running cleared his head and kept his temper in check. He gunned his engine, trying to drain out any stress that remained from the previous day. With the property bullshit and legalities, he needed a clear head more than ever.
Thundering through his favorite path, he found a comfortable stride. After he hit his half-way point, he took it down a notch. No need to wear himself out completely. He still had a long day ahead of him. King took on the side of his mountain. At the base of his property, he turned around and jolted up the hill that led back to his house.