Frostbite (BearPaw Resort Book 3)

by Cambria Hebert

  “I take it you’re not hungry.”

  “Not for cake.”

  I swiped my finger up the side of the cake, coating it with icing. Holding it up, I asked, “How about now?”

  Liam closed his hand around my wrist and pulled my hand back. His lips slid over my finger to suck the icing off. The sensation of his tongue licking over me made me sway back against him.

  He sucked even after the icing was gone, slowly dragging his lips up until pulling back completely. “Best cake I ever had,” he murmured and pulled me around to kiss me passionately.

  I was breathing heavy when he lifted his head. My brain was fuzzy, and the room was scented with roses and vanilla. Taking his hand, I led him through the suite toward the bedroom. On the way, we passed a massive bedroom with flickering candles and rose petals scattered across the tile floor.

  “Look,” I said and changed course, stepping inside. In the center of the floor was a giant white tub, large enough for four people. It was filled almost to the top with water. More rose petals floated on the surface, and a huge arrangement of them sat beside the tub. “That looks heavenly.”

  Liam walked toward the water and dipped a finger in, making the water and petals ripple and wave. “Water is still warm. How about it, wife?” He beckoned, pulling at his coat. “Want to soak?”

  I started shedding the layers I had on, aware of Liam watching with heavy-lidded eyes. I stripped deliberately, putting on a show for him in the candlelight.

  He’d stopped pulling at his own clothes in favor of staring at me, so I made it worth his while and dipped my fingers below the waistband of my leggings and let out a low moan.

  No longer patient, Liam came forward, his palms cupping my bare breasts and kneading the flesh. My head fell back, and I sighed. It felt so good. They’d been growing larger and aching. He worked down my body, pulling off the rest of my clothes.

  “Open for me,” he whispered, still on his knees in front of me.

  I spread my legs, and he kissed across my inner thigh as his fingers delved into my folds. I grabbed his hair to steady myself as one finger dipped in, teasing, then pulled back out.

  “Liam,” I panted.

  He stood and swept me off my feet, cradling me against his chest and kissing me dizzy. Next thing I knew, I was being lowered into the bath, the warm water slipping over my skin like silk and taunting my already humming body.

  “Touch yourself,” he told me, backing up to start pulling at his clothes. My hand went below the water and stroked across my clit. Visibly, I shuddered, and Liam chucked his clothes faster. His dick stood out from his body, thick and proud. I watched as he wrapped a hand around it and stroked.

  The second he was within touching distance, I lifted my hand and let water glide over his stiff cock, enjoying the way it pulsed when the liquid trickled over it. I did it again, then leaned forward and sucked it all off.

  The water level rose when Liam lowered into the tub, some of it splashing out on the floor, but no one cared. He picked up a white rose petal and dragged it across my collarbone as his free hand rolled my nipple between his fingers.

  The ends of my hair soaked up the water and trailed behind me when Liam pulled me closer. The tub was so big he could easily stretch out his legs and lean against the side. I straddled his waist and rocked against him. He grabbed my hips and urged me into a rocking motion. He wasn’t inside me yet, but it didn’t matter. I was so turned on, just rubbing up against him had the power to make me quake.

  Liam’s head leaned back against the edge of the porcelain, and his eyes drifted closed. Candlelight flickered, creating a play of shadow and light over his strong jaw and cheekbones.

  Tired of playing, I lifted slightly. Liam adjusted, bending his knees and grabbing my ass. I slid down over his cock deliciously slow, making us both moan loudly.

  When he was fully sheathed, I held still for long moments, just feeling him inside me. He cupped a hand beneath the water and lifted it, pouring water over my shoulder and over my chest. I closed my eyes, and he did it again.

  I started rocking, riding him beneath the water. He made a satisfied sound and leaned his head back again, exposing his neck. I bent down and latched on, sucking him gently and then licking over it. His hips thrust up, meeting mine, and more water splashed over the side, splattering on the floor.

  My breasts tingled when he covered them, massaging and stroking, making the nipples vibrate and shoot tingles of pleasure down to where his dick was.

  I started riding him harder. Water splashed around and rose petals stuck to his chest.

  “That’s it, sweetheart,” he purred, gripping my ass and pushing up.

  I moaned and bore down, gasping when he hit the perfect spot.

  “Liam,” I said, restless, still moving, searching.

  He sat forward quickly, locking me against his chest and digging his hand into the hair at the base of my neck. With a single rotation of his hips, my body tightened, and then he thrust up and rocked.

  I cried out, white light exploding behind my eyes as pure bliss rolled over me in waves. I collapsed against him even as the sensations continued and his dick milked my body for every last ounce of pleasure.

  I was still riding the wave of elation when he made a sound and grabbed my shoulder. I swiveled my hips, and his teeth sank into my skin. He shouted when he came and kissed across my shoulder as the aftershocks rippled through his limbs.

  Afterward, we washed each other tenderly, and I lay in his arms until the water turned cold.

  Liam

  I was pretty damn happy with myself.

  It was a damn good wedding I pulled off and an even better wedding night. I knew marriage wouldn’t be all fun and games, but damn, we were off to a pretty epic start. I kept my wife up past her bedtime, so it was no surprise she was sleeping late.

  I was already awake, having grown used to crack-of-dawn training times, but I’d been content to lay there curled around her body. My hand cradled her stomach, and a sense of peace I’d never quite achieved before filled me.

  I guess putting a ring on it truly made it mine. At least officially.

  And honestly?

  I fucking loved Bells having my name. It was just another layer of protection, another way of making sure she was safe. I had no intention of going anywhere, but life taught me to be prepared. My father’s untimely death hammered home the lesson.

  Perry Crone was set to be released literally any day now, and all my attempts at blocking that son of a bitch failed. Crone owned a lot of people in high places. Either that or a lot of people were really terrified of him.

  If something happened to me, as my wife, Bellamy would be taken care of. Everything would go to her. On top of that, the Mattison name would shield her, open doors that might otherwise remain closed.

  I knew I told her it didn’t matter what people around here said, and it really didn’t, not to me. But like it or not, there was another level to it. Life’s politics were in effect even in this wintery resort town. By slipping that ring on her finger, I put a barrier around her. I sealed her position and basically silently demanded she have the respect she deserved.

  Not to mention, my son would be the rightful heir to all of this.

  Call it archaic. Call it staking my claim. I didn’t give a fuck because I was doing what I had to do to protect me and mine.

  Life was short. Life was difficult. Why not grab on to some joy, too? Bells was my joy, and being married to her was better than winning an Olympic medal.

  She stirred and slowly rolled to her back and smiled. Lifting my hand up over her head, she fingered the steel band wrapped around my finger.

  “It wasn’t a dream,” she murmured, pulling my hand into her chest and holding it there.

  “Nope. You’re stuck with me for life.”

  “I can live with that.”

  I leaned down and kissed her, then pulled back and snagged the phone off a nearby table and called down to the kitchen.
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br />   “It’s Liam,” I said when they answered.

  “Congratulations on your marriage!” the person on the line sang.

  I chuckled and glanced at Bellamy lying there looking at me. “Thank you. You can go ahead and get my order ready and sent up.”

  “Right away,” they replied and then hung up.

  “Your order?” Bellamy inquired, stretching like a cat.

  “Part of my duties as a husband is to make sure you are fed. Breakfast will be up soon.”

  “You’re a pretty good husband.”

  I flashed a smile. “Just pretty good?”

  She pretended to think it over, and I leaned over her, brushing a kiss across her lips.

  “Pretty great.” She amended against my lips.

  My tongue slid against hers, coaxing a deeper kiss that lingered for several long heartbeats. Bellamy turned her face, breaking the kiss, and I moved down her cheek and jaw.

  “Epically amazing,” she murmured.

  My hand closed around her breast.

  “Best ever.” She went on.

  “That’s better.” I agreed.

  We made out until the bell on the door rang, and I groaned. “Wait.” She cajoled, wrapping her legs around my waist when I tried to get up.

  I chuckled and let her have some of my weight again, making her sigh, content.

  “Don’t you want some French toast? Bacon? Hot chocolate?”

  “I’d rather have more of you.” Her hand slid down my body and landed on my bare ass.

  “Your body needs a break, sweetheart. I went at you more than once last night. And you need to feed my son.”

  Her lower lip stuck out in a pout, and I sucked it between mine. We kissed another moment. Then I slipped out of bed and grabbed my boxers off the end of the bed.

  “Hurry back,” she called.

  I paused to look through the peephole, making sure the staff just left the tray there and wasn’t waiting on the other side.

  No one was there, so I pulled it open, expecting to find a large room service cart.

  It wasn’t there.

  Instead, there was a small white gift on the floor in front of me, a large red satin bow tied around the package. Even though the hallway was empty, I glanced around anyway, as if the person who left it would just be hanging around.

  I bent and picked it up, noting there was no tag.

  The elevator dinged, and I glanced up. A large cart draped in white linens emerged from the elevator first, followed by a young woman in a pressed uniform. She jerked to a stop when she saw me there. Her cheeks went bright red as she tried to avert her gaze.

  I have to say, she must not have tried very hard because her eyes fastened on my abs and chest like glue.

  “Morning,” I said, not bothering to jump around and try and cover the fact I was only wearing boxer briefs. I did move the gift down in front of my package because I was still rocking a semi hard-on.

  She cleared her throat and forced her eyes down to the cart. “Good morning, Mr. Mattison.”

  I usually told people to call me Liam, but it seemed pretty inappropriate to correct a girl who was not my wife to call me by my first name while I stood there in my skivvies.

  When she drew close enough, I grasped the end of the cart and pulled it close. “Did you leave this outside the door?” I asked.

  She glanced at the gift and shook her head. “No, sir.”

  “Do you know who did? The staff maybe?”

  She shook her head. “Not that I know of.”

  “No worries,” I said, but inwardly, I was wondering where it came from. I mean, no one knew we were staying here last night except our close family and the minister.

  I set the box on the edge of the cart, noting the arrangement of red roses in the center. “That’s a nice touch.”

  “That is from the staff. Along with the cake in your room.”

  “My wife loves that, by the way,” I said, picking up the service tab and signing my name. Then I added a generous tip.

  When I looked up and held it out, she glanced away quickly, having been caught staring again. “Thank you.”

  Keeping her eyes averted, she took the slip and scurried toward the elevator.

  I pulled the cart into the room and shut the door.

  Bellamy came out of the bedroom, a thick white robe tied loosely around her. “I’m starving,” she said, going straight for the cart.

  “Oh, what’s this?” she asked, distracted by the gift. “Liam, you’ve already given me far too much.”

  She reached for it, smiling. A sick, wary feeling washed over me as she did. Moving fast, I snatched it out of reach. “It’s not from me.”

  She frowned. “From the staff, then?”

  “It was in the hall when I opened the door. The room service girl said it wasn’t from the staff.”

  “A surprise?” she said, a little excitement in her eyes, but very quickly, it changed, wilting and dying a swift death.

  Bellamy looked at the gift as if it were a bomb about to detonate at any moment. My girl did not have a good track record of good things just showing up at her door.

  And the way my instincts were screaming at me?

  This wasn’t a good thing.

  “Is there a tag?” she whispered.

  “No.”

  “Did you tell people about the wedding?”

  “No.”

  “Liam…” she said warily, fear plain in her voice. I couldn’t help but notice the way her hand went straight to her rounded belly.

  There was only one way to really know what was inside and who it was from. In one swift move, I tugged the ribbon right off the box and lifted the lid.

  Bellamy shifted nervously from foot to foot as I cleared away some of the white tissue paper and reached inside.

  There were three cotton bundles tied together, so I pulled them out and set aside the box. I unrolled the first to reveal a black T-shirt in a size big enough for me. I held it up so we could both see the back.

  KING

  01

  I unrolled the next, which was the same black T-shirt but in a size meant for Bellamy.

  QUEEN

  01

  The third wasn’t a T-shirt, but a black onesie for a baby.

  PRINCE

  01

  “Is that all there is?” Bellamy asked, holding back any reaction.

  I set aside the shirts and lifted the box, pushing around in the tissue paper. “That’s it.” I confirmed.

  “Oh,” she said, relieved. “Well, I have to admit it’s all pretty adorable. She came over and picked up the onesie, and I had to fight not to snatch it away from her. Holding up the tiny garment, she cooed. “Just look how tiny!” She held it up to her stomach and mine lurched. “Someone sent you a present, pumpkin,” she told the baby. “Someday, you’ll be big enough to wear it. My little prince.”

  Bellamy glanced up at me, smiling with a soft light in her eyes. “It was probably from someone on the staff. I’m sure word got around last night that you were up here and why you had the black diamond run shut down. After all, everyone says you’re the king.”

  “Yeah, probably,” I said, taking the baby outfit from her and placing it with the other two. I added, “I’ll ask around tomorrow.”

  “Yes, definitely. I’d love to send a thank-you card to who sent it. How adorable, our little family has matching outfits now.”

  She was standing there cradling her baby bump with a happy glow lighting up her face. My wife.

  “How about some breakfast in bed?” I smiled, grabbing the handle of the cart.

  I followed behind her toward the bedroom, stopping only long enough to toss the clothes on the counter on the way. We ate our fill of the elaborate breakfast I’d ordered the night before. Watching Bells lick warm syrup off her fingers and lips made me forget all about the gift.

  After I’d given in and made gentle love to her on the pillows and blankets, I held her while she dozed back to sleep.
r />   Slipping out from beneath her, I crept back into the main room, past the shirts, and to the box I’d said was empty.

  Yep. I lied.

  There was something else inside the box.

  Something I didn’t want to ruin Bellamy’s wedding night. Christ, we hadn’t even had a full day as a married couple. She looked so happy and at peace. I couldn’t take it away from her.

  It was my job to shield her from this shit. Her and my son.

  After glancing behind me to make sure she hadn’t followed, I picked up the note left in the bottom of the box.

  William,

  Much congratulations on the marriage and pending arrival of your son. It seems that living with the death of your father and the reason for it hasn’t proved as difficult for either of you as I predicted. It’s a shame your embraced happiness didn’t make it easier for you to embrace mine. I was rather disappointed to hear of all the noise you’ve been creating about my release. Perhaps you should have focused more on your wife and unborn child, because if you had, I wouldn’t have to.

  Long live the king.

  PC

  I stared at the note a long time, reading the words over and over again. Correction. Not words. Threat. Perry Crone just threatened my family.

  As smart of a man as he was, this was very, very stupid.

  Bellamy

  I woke with a smile on my lips. I was married. To Liam. If someone told me a year ago, while I was holed up in my crappy apartment alone and jumping at every noise, that this is where I would end up, I would have accused them of being cruel.

  Back then, thinking I would have anything even remotely as amazing as this was painful to even dream of.

  I didn’t think life had anything good in store for me.

  I was wrong.

  I scooted back, expecting to come up against my new husband, but all I felt was empty space. Looking over my shoulder, I frowned to see he wasn’t there.

  “Liam?” I called out, sitting up and pulling the sheet with me.

  He appeared seconds later, strolling in the doorway in nothing but his tight, black boxer briefs. God, he was an amazing sight. The past couple of months of intense training honed his body even more, defining every muscle that rippled whenever he walked.