by Debra Kayn
Her body rode a wave atop the mattress, uncontrolled and wild. She panted as the tightening began. A slow build, taking her breath, growing higher and rushing her. Her back arched. Her neck arched. Her orgasm exploded catapulting her forward. She grabbed Bear's hair, pulling him up, needing to capture the wonder he brought her.
He stared back at her. His arousal settled deep in his dark eyes. "I'm here."
Vaguely aware of the crinkling of the condom wrapper, she continued to come down from her climax. She reached for him when he returned his chest to her breasts. Wrapping her arms around his neck, she stared up into his eyes as her body welcomed his weight, his cock inside of her, and his love.
He possessed her whole body from head to toe.
He lowered his mouth to her neck and whispered, "Gonna go slow."
And, he did.
Back and forth, he rocked against her. Her sated body grasped on to the gentle movements and woke with a start. She cradled his head against her neck, letting the tears flow down the corners of her eyes and hide in her hair. He was beautiful.
Too beautiful to settle for anything less than perfect, and yet he accepted her, loved her, and wanted her in his life.
He'd made her perfect. All her faults, her scars, her past no longer mattered.
His cock slid even deeper. Her breath hitched. He eased back out. She tightened her hold on him, and he plunged back in fully.
"Slow," he rasped, his voice low, hoarse, and sounding pained.
She kissed the side of his forehead. Full of him, connected in a Bear way, beautiful, she gyrated against him, reaching for her pleasure. Again.
"Fuck, sweetheart." His controlled pulsing thrusts sped up, still meticulously slow, making her feel every inch as a sweet caress.
Her mouth opened, and a silent moan escaped—crystal clear in her head, silent to Bear. Her orgasm much more than release, she held on to Bear tightly.
He pressed into her fully, held himself still, and trembled in her arms.
Her Bear.
Trembled.
In her arms.
Chapter Thirty Five
"You can't do that." Madison lowered her phone, typed more, and thrust the cell in Bear's face again. "You're crazy. You've lost your mind. I don't even know you."
Bear, leaning against the edge of the counter in Madison's room at the inn, chuckled. "I don't know why you can't wrap your head around it. I've told you all along we're together."
Madison let her head fall back and stared at the ceiling before glaring at him and then tapped on her phone. "Yes, but it's only been three months and one week since I met you. This last week, spending every day together has been wonderful. I've enjoyed going with you to one of your club meetings, the rides, dinner out, and spending time with you. You've given me the best time of my life. Maybe you're not thinking clearly."
"It's a done deal, sweetheart, and as soon as you put on your shoes, I'll take you home." Bear leaned over, kissed her upturned nose, and walked to the door.
Once he'd read her letter and found out what she'd gone through her whole life, he'd made a decision right then to use half the money he'd saved to buy a house on the outskirts of town.
Madison deserved everything. A place to feel safe and find her oasis away from others where she would never feel judged. She could invite her friends over and take a five-minute car ride to town if she wanted to shop.
He'd found a fixer-upper on five acres with a creek in the backyard.
He could live anywhere. A cell. A motel room. A couch in someone's basement. Madison deserved more, and he wanted to be the man who gave her a place where she could wander around her yard without worry. Where she could find quiet, acceptance, and love. Most of all, he wanted to enjoy the love she gave him and not share it with anyone.
She marched over to him with her purse swinging at her side, her shoes on, and stuck the phone in his face.
"Happy?" She pulled the message away fast; he almost missed her question.
He grinned. "I can almost hear the sarcastic tone coming from that one word."
She rolled her eyes and followed him out of the room. He grabbed her hand, and together they walked down the hall, taking the stairs to the first floor, and out to the parking lot.
He put his helmet on her head and held the bulk of the shell, pulling her forward to kiss her. "Keep an open mind, okay?"
Her body softened and leaned into him when she nodded.
Ready to ride, he sat the Harley, held out his hand, and steadied Madison while she found her place behind him. He started the bike when her arms wrapped around him. Over the last week, she'd loosened up while on his Harley, and yet he enjoyed the way she painted herself against his back and wrapped her thighs around him.
He rode away from Federal Inn, past the Moroad Motel, and turned down a gravel road two miles out of town. Not wanting to take the time away from Madison, he'd had Jeremy's attorney buy the house under Bear's name, and had asked his MC brothers to clean the place up. He'd only seen the place once when he took a quick ride over and walked through the rooms and checked out the yard.
Adrenaline fueled him over the rough road until he spotted the two-story house through the break in the pine trees lining the road. He scanned the area around the house. A wildlife paradise secluded between two peaks in the Bitterroot Mountains. Together, they'd enjoy watching the elk, bears, and moose come down and forage for food.
He rolled to a stop, toed his kickstand, and shut off the engine. Behind him, Madison remained sitting. He gave her time to see what he envisioned for them and see past the weather-worn paint, the windows that would eventually need replacing, and the broken down washing machine left in the yard from previous owners.
"The house has sat vacant for a couple of years. It's pretty rough now, but I'll fix it up." He glanced over his shoulder and found Madison staring wide-eyed at their new home. "Hop off and I'll take you inside."
Madison remained on his bike. He patted her leg and repeated himself. "Hop off, sweetheart."
She remained unmoving behind him. His chest tightened, and he twisted his upper body and studied Madison. She wasn't even listening to him.
Her gaze stared straight ahead at the house without blinking. He grabbed her limp hand, squeezing her fingers. "Hey..."
No response.
He planted his foot on the ground and heaved his large body off the bike without disrupting her seat, stumbling to catch his balance when he noticed her face. "Madison?"
Tears rolled down her cheeks without any acknowledgment. He lifted her off the bike. Her gaze broke away from the house and landed on him before she pulled away from him and slowly walked up the worn pathway in the grass.
He followed her carefully, worried he'd pushed her too fast into securing their relationship. There were few options available to them. She could continue throwing her money away on a room at the inn or she could live with him at the Moroad Motel. Either way, he wasn't leaving her side. What kind of roof was over their heads mattered squat to him as long as they stayed together.
Madison stopped, and then took a few more steps up to the front of the house and laid her hand flat against the planked siding. He stepped to the side of her, intending to reassure her a move forward in their relationship wouldn't change anything when he witnessed the trembling smile transform her face.
He looked away from her to catch his breath. He'd been wrong. All these weeks of her smiling at him had never reached the same level of smile he'd witnessed on her face the first time he spotted her upstairs at Red Light.
Until today.
Today, her smile exceeded anything he'd ever seen.
Her beauty showed years of pain bursting free and letting him glimpse the lady inside of her that never had a chance to shine.
"I know it's not much to look at," he whispered, clearing his throat when his voice gave out. "I'll replace some boards and repaint—"
She threw herself at him. Her tiny body carried a punch and he went ba
ck on one foot, holding her to him. Underneath his hands, her body heaved and convulsed silently. He cupped her face, holding her firmly, powerless to stop her emotional outburst.
"Talk to me," he said, pressing his forehead to hers. "Don't cry, sweetheart."
She cried harder, smiling through her tears. Her lips worked soundlessly, and he struggled to comprehend what was going on. He was drowning, incapable of understanding. If she wanted a different house, he'd sell this one and buy her a new one. If she wanted to go back to the inn, he'd stay with her. Nothing mattered, except fixing whatever was hurting her.
Several minutes passed. He stood rubbing her back. She swayed in his arms, and each second without an explanation ripped his heart open.
"Sweetheart, I'm sorry," he whispered.
She shook her head, grabbing for her purse and removing her phone. He kept one hand on her lower back afraid she'd fall apart again.
When he couldn't stand not knowing what upset her, he lowered his chin and read as she typed.
"Please, you can't change the color of the house. It's indigo. Indigo blue."
He glanced at the house. The paint looked like the color of barely ripe huckleberries to him. He had no idea what she thought indigo blue looked like, but if she wanted to keep the house color, he'd damn well paint it the same color.
She grabbed his hand and showed him her phone.
"Can we go inside?"
"Yeah," he said on an exhale, knowing he'd do anything to keep her talking and not lose her to the void she'd slipped into when they'd arrived. "I'll open the door."
Inside their home, he kept his eye on her, waiting for her to slip away again. Except, she stayed with him, pulling him from room to room, pointing at the molding, the tiny crawlspace leading to the attic, the leftover measuring spoon she'd found in one of the many drawers in the kitchen.
She held on to the spoon and carried it to the living room, setting the kitchen utensil on the mantel and grinning from ear to ear. He stood back, hooked his hands in the pockets of his jeans and enjoyed the obvious joy that'd come over her. He refused to question her change of heart and instead accepted her reaction.
"Our bedroom is the last room you haven't seen. It's right through that short hallway behind you." Bear lifted his chin, motioning behind her.
She held out her hand, wanting him to go with her. He gathered her and led her out of the living room. Stepping into the bedroom, he stopped.
A king-size bed sat in the middle of the large room. White curtains with light blue wildflowers hung on each of the four old-fashion windows letting the sunshine into the room. Two area rugs on each side of the bed graced the newly polished hardwood floor.
Madison let go of his hand and walked over to the nightstand. She picked up a card laying on the surface beside the lamp. Bear stepped toward her when she covered her mouth, worried she'd start crying again. Instead, she held the card out to him and wiped her cheeks, smiling.
"'Congratulations on your new home.'" He read each name at the bottom of the card. "'Christina, Desiree, Amy, Tiff, and the other guys who are too manly to sign a card.'"
He chuckled and lifted his gaze to Madison, but she typed on her phone. He shoved the card in his back pocket. No doubt she already sent a thank you text to all the women.
Moroad Motorcycle Club gave back to the families of members and with the gift of the bedroom set and decorations, they gave Bear a way to bring Madison home. To her indigo blue house.
Madison stepped in front of him, pushed up onto her toes, and kissed his lips. He hooked her waist, bringing her closer, tighter, and dipped his tongue, tasting her excitement.
She calmed him. He'd done the right thing buying the house.
He pulled his mouth away from hers with a groan. "Love you, sweetheart."
She slid her left hand under his beard and laid her palm flat on his chest. With her other hand, she held up her pinky, index finger, and thumb.
"I'm gonna take a wild guess and say that means you love me, too?" He smiled, knowing he needed no sign language to know how she felt about him. Her love radiated through her eyes, and her hand had a firm hold on his heart.
She nodded, flinging her arm out to her side in a big way. He picked her up and walked out of the room. In the living room, she squirmed to get down, shaking her head, not wanting to leave.
"The sooner we go back to the inn, grab your things, and check out, the faster we can come back home." He kissed her hard, carrying her out the doorway.
She gazed over his shoulder at the house. This time, the smile was for him.
Epilogue
~ Three Months Later ~
Straddling Bear's thighs, Madison pulled at his hair, holding herself close. She kissed him, unable to do anything else. He had his cock in her body. His hands on her ass. The rhythm set by him lifting and plunging her down on him.
Her frantic need satisfied. Her hunger appeased. He fed her with uncontrolled abandon, and she loved it.
Making love to Bear had become an addiction. Her need to grab the emotions she'd ignored and blocked for years came out of her slowly and grew every day. She'd never get enough of him. Never.
In return, Bear continued to give more of himself to her. In tune with her needs, he gave her slow, until she cried in pure joy. He gave her fast, stealing her breath. Then there were times, like this morning, when they both were swept away with needing to connect to each other before the day split them apart.
Her thighs quivered. She pulled her mouth away from his and let her hair fall down her back. The tickle of Bear's beard on her neck hurled her to an orgasm, sending a chain reaction through her. Her stomach swirled. Her sex spasmed. Her body shuddered. Around and around, she spiraled in pleasure.
Bear grunted, pulling her down as his hips lifted off the chair with his release. She sagged against him, spent, loved, and never wanting to leave his lap.
He smacked her ass playfully. She pushed off his chest and pointed her finger at him with a mock glare.
"Told you," mumbled Bear.
She rolled her eyes and refused to give him the satisfaction that maybe he was a tiny bit right. Not that she'd ever admit it. In all honesty, she never dreamed Doctor Brandof would hire her permanently. Working in the back office, filing and doing billing was only supposed to be a temporary job for ninety days after his regular employee had her baby.
The text message she'd received right before she shared the good news and found herself naked and riding Bear offered her the four days a week job. The new mommy had decided staying home with her baby was more important and Dr. Brandof approved of Madison's competency working in the back office.
Bear had understood she dreaded the day she'd have to stop working for the doctor and told her all the time that difficulties had a way of working out. Her typing skills grew better every day, and the doctor's patient roster remained small and manageable for one person. Because correspondence with the insurance company was done online, her muteness wasn't a factor. Plus, if she had to make a phone call, the front-desk receptionist was more than happy to help her out.
She kissed Bear and scooted off his lap, thankful for friends, a job she enjoyed, and a man she loved with all her heart.
Bear followed her into the bathroom, removed the condom, and dressed beside her. She washed, slipped on her clothes, and fixed her hair.
She tugged on her shoes and brushed against Bear, squeezing his ass, as she walked into the bedroom. Finding her phone on the dresser, she typed out a text to Bear.
"Remember I need to leave in a couple of hours." She felt his arms go around her from behind and held up her phone.
"I won't forget." He kissed the side of her neck. "Besides, I'll be in the basement at the bar while you're upstairs acting all womanly with your friends."
She caught herself from falling back against him. Having him close by in the same building boosted her spirits. "Really?"
"Yeah."
"Want me to sneak you into the bar and you c
an hang out with me?" She held up her phone.
"I'd do a lot for you, sweetheart, but hanging out with a bunch of women, surrounded by pink drinks and man bashing isn't my thing," he whispered against her skin.
"I'm taking that as a challenge, Mr. Brett Dawson." She held up the phone.
He groaned. "Should've saw that one coming."
She inhaled deeply and slipped her phone into her pocket and walked with him out of the room with plans to sneak away from Girl's Night Out and kidnap Bear from his poker game down in the basement with his club brothers. She grinned, looking forward to the fun. Tiff, Amy, Christina, and Desiree would help her after a couple of drinks, and the rule of no men allowed would disappear.
In the living room, she picked up two stray, dirty socks, and a receipt from the hardware store. She read the items bought and looked up at Bear in confusion. He sat at the table with a fresh-poured cup of coffee looking at a car magazine.
After dropping the dirty clothes in the hamper in the utility room, she set the receipt in front of Bear and tapped the paper.
"What?" Bear glanced at her.
She flicked her gaze toward the paper and shrugged in question.
"Bought some stuff for the house." He turned the magazine around in her direction. "Look at the Cuda. I think I'll swing by and look at it tomorrow. It'd make a good car for you to get back and forth to work. Winter will be here soon. We'll need a set of snow tires."
She pulled out her phone and typed. "Why aren't you telling me about all these things you're buying and want to buy? We agreed to split the expenses."
"I got it covered." Bear ripped out the page with the car for sale on it.
She tapped out a message. "Seriously, Bear. You need to let me know how much you spend on things for the house, so I can give you money."
He stood and cupped her face. "I spent less than twenty-five dollars at the hardware store. You're going to worry about that?"
She pointed at the picture of the car.
"That's something I'm buying for you. I'm not asking you to go in halves on a present." He tilted her head and kissed her.