by Milly Taiden
He used his body to nudge Carly to the balcony so she could look down into the room below. He pressed his bulging erection into her as he pointed below. “This is directly behind the staircase. That fireplace keeps even the space up here as toasty as you can believe.”
“The loft is your reading nook?” Carly choked out desire lacing her words with breathless anticipation.
“Yes, the lights aren’t up high, but both walls are lined with bookshelves. There are overstuffed chairs your body just melts into. You can sit and look out the windows and watch the snow fall. It almost feels like...”
“Like?”
“Magic,” he whispered, feeling her body shiver.
He wasn’t above using his house to seduce this woman. The truth was they belonged together. No other woman would ever satisfy, fight, and invigorate him like this goddess could.
“Come on, love. This is the highlight of the upstairs.” He again used his body to nudge Carly in the direction he wanted her to go. He held her tightly to him, so he could touch her at every opportunity.
“This is the kids’ area.” He reached around and opened the door on the left side. “In here we have the sleeping area.” He couldn’t help the smile of pride when he heard her audible intake of breath. He glanced around trying to see it as she did. Four sets of bunk beds lined the walls. Each bed was made of wood and created to look as if they were part of the cabin and not placed there. This was a room he would have loved to call his own as a kid.
“Each cub can have their own bed, and have plenty of room for friends to spend the night as well. The room here to the right side is the play area.” He turned them around and opened the door. “It’s empty right now, but as you can see, it’s big enough to keep the kids entertained and have tons of space for them to run around and play.”
Bastien turned Carly around when he heard her quietly crying. “What’s wrong, baby. I didn’t think this would upset you. I’m sorry.”
Carly reached up and took his face in her hands. “No, I’m sorry. This is just…the most amazing thing I have ever seen. Most guys just play with having kids, but not you. You actually created a space for them, long before you even had a mate.” She leaned up and kissed him. “This is surreal. You’re amazing. Please show me the rest of the house.” She bit her lip and met his gaze. “Then we can see about ditching the clothes.”
Bastien growled before he leaned down and took her mouth with an overwhelming hunger that couldn’t be sated. “Downstairs. Now.”
“Your house is gorgeous and it really does show me a side of you I would never have expected,” Carly said as she slowly descended the stairs. “You put so much love and attention into every facet of this place.”
“It was a labor of love. I knew I wanted to grow old with my mate here, and for our babies to grow up here. I put everything I could imagine they would want to make this their home.”
“Did you make everything in the house? The beds, the furniture, the tables?”
“Yes, all of it by my hand. That’s part of the reason it took me so long.” Bastien smiled and pointed to the left. “Through here, love. This is the formal dining room. The table seats up to sixteen.” They moved through to the next room not giving Carly much time to inspect the room. “This is the living room, and yes, before you ask I built all the fireplaces in the house too.”
Carly chuckled. “That was going to be my next question. This is beyond words. That fireplace is a masterpiece in itself. The whole room is so inviting and has that wonderful lived in feel. The view is absolutely spectacular.”
“Yes, it is. I made each couch and chair with the idea of comfort and relaxation. The room is set up so no matter where you are, the fireplace will keep you warm and you have a view. Those doors on the back there lead to the back deck that go the width of the house. You will find more rocking chairs and a swing or two back there as well.” He led the way into the next room.
“This is the family dining room and just through that door is a hallway that leads from the formal dining room to this room. The door to the living room is there as well. The hallway connects all rooms basically. This table will sit eight comfortably, still a bit large for a family by some standards.” He indicated the door with a tilt of his head and proceeded to lead into the hallway.
“This is the hallway I just spoke of and here,” he turned and pointed to is the great room. “You can see into here from the loft above.” He walked to a door across the hall. “This is the kitchen.”
He stepped back and allowed her to enter. He scanned the area and took it in with fresh eyes. Two walls of wood and glass shelves and drawers. A large double sink made of the same stone as the island in the middle of the kitchen.
“This island is…I don’t know what to say.” Carly walked around touching the stone and opening the glass and wood doors on the small round island. “I don’t think I have ever seen anything like this. It’s a fantastic mixture of materials. I love it. This is a dream kitchen.”
“Only two rooms to go, you ready to see the rest?”
“Your bedroom better be one of them. Getting you naked is my ultimate goal for the night.”
“God, baby, hold that thought. We’re almost done.” He moved back into the hallway and opened the door across from the kitchen. He motioned Carly to enter and then followed her in. He watched as she looked around with confusion dancing on her face.
“I don’t understand. What is this room?” Bastien smiled. “This is the nursery. When the cubs are young, I thought it would be best to keep them close by. When they got old enough we could move them upstairs to the bedroom and play area.”
“You really did think of everything. I don’t think there’s anything to add to make this place more perfect than it already is.”
“There is one room left, and I hope you like it. I don’t plan on letting you leave it all weekend.” With those words he ushered her out of the nursery through the connecting door to the master bedroom.
“My mom always dreamed of having a four poster bed. She didn’t get it, but I fell in love with the idea myself. The door to the left leads to the deck out back. The bed has thick covers, but between my body heat and the fireplace over there, you won’t need them. I plan on making you burn all weekend long.”
TWENTY-FIVE
Carly grinned. Her bear was getting frisky. “How do you plan to keep my interest that long?”
She curled her arms around his neck and met his gaze. There was so much love and tenderness there, it made her heart swell with joy.
“I can think of something,” he said, brushing his lips over hers and firing up the lust that ran rampant in her blood.
He wrapped his hands around her waist and picked her up off her feet. She squealed at the fact he could do that without losing his breath. “Bastien!”
“Relax, sweetheart,” he said and sat down with her on his lap.
Their faces were so close, they shared the same air and she could feel his heart beating as fast as hers.
He slipped her clothes off, kissing her shoulders and bare neck as he did. Lord, those lips on him and that tongue were going to drive her wild.
She tugged at his clothes, growling at the fact she couldn’t tear them off like she knew he could. He chuckled and helped her get rid of the annoying garments. Then she shoved him back on the bed, straddling his naked body and leaning down to kiss him.
He cupped her full breasts, tweaking and fondling her nipples. She ached so much for him to be inside her. She rocked her hips, gliding his cock between her pussy folds. She was wet and slick and ready. So ready.
She lifted up, grasped his cock in her hand and placed the head in the heart of her entrance. He continued fondling her breasts, tweaking her nipples and tugging just hard enough to make her gasp.
She rubbed his cock over her wet folds before she slowly took him inside. She splayed her hands over his wide muscled chest and lowered in a smooth glide, letting him fill her to the point she felt her lun
gs burn.
“Ah, baby. You feel so fucking good,” he grunted, his voice churned gravel.
Her pussy contracted around his cock and she leaned forward as he let go of her breasts and moved to suck a nipple into his mouth. She moaned, loving his nibbles on her tit.
“Bastien…” Desire burned at her core. She started riding him in earnest. Up. Down. He gripped her hips, lifting and dropping her on his cock. The moans and groans between the two of them were music to her ears.
Her belly clenched with each slide up and drop down. His fingers bit into her hips, holding her hostage. His lower body lifted off the bed to drive his dick into her lowering sheath.
“That’s it, baby. Take my cock. I love how fucking hot and wet you are.”
“God!” She whimpered. He had such dirty language.
“Look down, sweetheart,” he ordered.
She opened her eyes and glanced down where his cock was going in and out of her pussy and coming out slick with her heat.
“Oh, my…”
“Tell me that’s not the sexiest fucking thing you’ve ever seen.” He rumbled. “Your pussy taking my dick, sucking it, and when I pull back, coming down to get it again. Baby, that’s what dreams are made of.”
She bit her lip and gulped at the dry throat. Shudders shot down her back. She was so close. He sucked her nipple harder, slamming her down on his cock more forcefully. Grinding her pussy on his pelvis. Her clit rubbed on him and the tension inside her snapped.
She took a harsh indrawn breath and dug her nails into his chest as her body unraveled. Pleasure swept through her, taking over and making her lose focus of everything other than the joy filling her from head to toe. He didn’t stop slamming her on his dick even when she went stiff and shook with the force of her orgasm.
“Fuck!” he roared. His cock drove deep inside her and pulsed as he filled her with his seed. She gasped, feeling her pussy contract around his thick cock. She fell on his chest and both took ragged breaths for long moments.
She still had him inside her when she raised her head and kissed his sexy grin. “Okay, you’ve convinced me.”
He shook his head and lifted her off his body. “No, I haven’t.”
She blinked. “You haven’t?”
“Nope. I’m going to show you the shower and try my hand at convincing you in there again.”
She laughed at his thinking and clung to his neck. “Okay. If you want to play hardball, let’s do this.”
“No, baby. Let’s do you.”
TWENTY-SIX
Carly was at the kitchen counter making breakfast when she felt Bastien’s strong arms encircle her from behind. His hands slid up under his shirt she was wearing. “Morning, beautiful.”
She leaned back and smiled. “Morning.”
“Why are you out of bed? I thought I would have worn you out last night,” Bastien said in a voice tinged with sleep and a hint of arousal.
“We need food. Lots of food to keep up our strength, or we won’t have the energy for the all weekend marathon you promised me.”
“Baby, the only food I want right now…” Bastien said as he moved his left hand up to cup her bare breast while his right hand moved to the cleft between her thighs and gave one long stroke. “Is this delicious honey, right here.”
Bastien groaned in her ear, “You are so hot and wet for me already. What if I bend you over this counter and make you scream my name ‘til your throat is as raw, and I plan on taking you down here.”
Carly moaned and wiggled her hips against his hardness pressing into her ass. “I don’t think,” she gasped out in shaky breaths, “I will ever get enough of you.”
“You won't have to. I promise. Now, I must get the door. If it’s Luna, she won’t hesitate long before walking in.” Bastien gave another stroke on her clit while he nuzzled her neck. “Don’t move, I will get rid of her and be right back.”
Carly moaned a plea for him to stay and continue working his magic on her body, but he was already gone. She leaned down and put her head on the counter, she had to regroup. How was it a single touch by this man could cause her to crumble to pieces at his feet. She was on the verge of a climax from just a few strokes of his fingers.
She hadn’t expected to fall for him so quickly, but she couldn’t deny it to him or herself. It had been easy to say the words in the heat of passion, but in the daylight it was a different matter.
The answer was the same though, she loved the hairy stubborn bear and she knew she would never find a man like him in a thousand lifetimes. Bastien was her dream come true, one she never allowed herself to believe existed outside the steamy romance novels she liked to read.
“The sight of you ready and willing is tempting me to say they can go to hell, but I don’t think they are the patient type.” Bastien laughed as Carly whipped around to face him, flushing in embarrassment.
“What, who? Stop laughing, Yogi, and tell me what you are talking about,” Carly grumbled as she glared at Bastien’s continued chuckles.
“Yogi? I wondered how long it would take for that one to be thrown out there again. I was waiting for it all last night.”
“I got a little preoccupied and forgot. It was rather fitting though, don’t you think. How often does a bear take you on a picnic, after all?”
“I better be the only one.” Bastien growled as he advanced toward her. “Now get some clothes on before our guests come looking for us and see something I will have to kill them for.”
Carly laughed and darted for the bedroom. She wouldn’t put it past Bastien to make good on his threat of making her scream even with guests in the house. “You didn’t say who was here.”
“The FBI decided to pay us a visit.” Bastien put up a hand to forestall her questions. “Yes, they are real agents this time. I took a long look at their IDs and I don’t detect any lies from them.”
What made him so sure he could look at their IDs and know they were real or not? It’s not like they had forgery stamped on them or something. Carly narrowed her eyes and studied Bastien, before deciding to give him the benefit of the doubt and trust him about this. He wouldn’t let anything happen to her, of that, she had little worry.
“What made them decide to come visit today? Seems mighty coincidental to me.”
Bastien grabbed her hand and pulled her into the bedroom. “Clothes now, woman. We can find out all the answers as soon as you get dressed.”
A few minutes later they were headed to the living room and the FBI agents waiting for them. Her stomach lurched in nervous anticipation of what their visit could mean. Only twelve hours before, a fake agent had tried to kidnap her, now real agents showed up. It wasn’t making sense and that made her nervous.
“You’re safe here. Stop fretting, sweetheart. I’ll protect you, always.” Carly smiled shakily up at Bastien and nodded. She knew she was being stupid and acting out of character, but how often did you meet real FBI agents. For that matter how often did a girl have two attempted kidnappings within the span of a few days?
“Agent’s Wilcox and Grant, meet Carly Toblan. Carly, the agents.” Carly rolled her eyes at Bastien’s gruff, short greeting.
“Hello, gentleman. Can I offer you a coffee or a glass of water?”
Agent Wilcox smiled and declined the offer. Agent Grant didn’t respond, but shook his head in the negative. She wasn’t sure what to make of him. Grant didn’t smile, or move. He was like a statue taking in his surroundings and observing everything. It was strange and she had to bite her tongue to keep from asking him what the hell his problem was.
Agent Wilcox cleared his throat, gaining Carly’s attention again before he continued. “This morning we received a call from a Mrs. Luna Lyen. She explained the events of last night, but we would like to get your take as well.”
Bastien and Carly took turns over the next twenty minutes filling in the two agents on all that had happened the night before.
“You’re saying this man never identified himself to ei
ther of you as being part of the cartel?”
“No, he flashed a badge at me and then tried to kidnap me, but he didn’t say much else.”
“Well, he did scream for me to rescue him,” Bastien said with a chuckle.
The agents both looked at him in confusion. “Rescue him? From what?”
“Well, that would be me. I didn’t take kindly to having someone attempt to kidnap me again.”
Carly chuckled at Agent Wilcox’s confused expression. “Did you say again? That implies more than once. How many attempts have there been?”
She sighed and leaned into Bastien’s side. “That was the second attempt. The first one was earlier in the week. No, before you ask I didn’t see him, and he didn’t mention anything about a cartel either. To be honest, I don’t know why they would be after me. I work for Rakida Construction, but they wouldn’t gain anything from kidnapping me.”
For the first time Agent Grant spoke up startling everyone. “What if they were going to use you to gain access to Mr. Auberon?”
Carly had to think about that before she could reasonably respond. “I don’t see why. We only went on our first official date last night and Bastien isn’t connected to Rakida except superficially as Luke’s best friend.”
Bastien sighed starting to put the possibilities together. “That may be true, but I am part owner of this mountain. I haven’t hidden that you’re my mate. That kind of news travels fast in the shifter community. It wouldn’t take long for anyone paying attention to discover it even if they are human.”
“That’s true, it wasn’t very hard for us to discover your connection and we just started listening this morning.” Agent Wilcox shrugged and smiled sheepishly. “Let us check around and see what we can find out. In the meantime, I think Mr. Auberon has the right idea for you. Stick close to him, don’t go anywhere alone and if there is any more issues contact us right away.”
He stood and pulled a business card from the inside of his jacket pocket. “That has our direct numbers on it.” Agent Wilcox shook their hands and headed back the way he came in. He stopped at the doorway and turned back. “We will be in touch, and we will do everything we can to get to the bottom of this mystery.”