Reid parked the car and went round to open the door for Lauren. Lauren smiled demurely at her groom. He looked so handsome in his tux, and he'd looked really happy today. “You should smile more,” she said, brushing his jaw with her fingertips.
“That's what I've been telling him,” Damien said as he spilled out of the car.
Eddie nudged Damien and whispered fiercely, “You tell her.”
“Tell me what?” Lauren said, eyeing her nephew.
Damien cleared his throat and said, “I've been telling Eddie about the new computer game I got. So...would it be okay if Eddie had a sleepover at my place tonight? You newlyweds can have the whole house to yourselves.”
Eddie jumped up and down excitedly. “Please, Aunt Lauren. Please!”
Lauren pursed her lips and tapped her finger on her chin. “Let me think about it.”
“Aunt Lauren, please! Just this once,” Eddie pleaded.
“I won't let him stay up too late,” Damien said. “And I'll make sure he brushes his teeth properly.”
“Well...all right then.” She grinned at her nephew.
“Yay!” Damien and Eddie cheered and hi-fived each other.
Eddie fidgeted impatiently as Reid unlocked the front door. “I need to pack a bag. I want to bring my dinosaurs!”
Eddie scooted into the house as soon as the door opened. Lauren hurried after him and helped him stuff some clothes, his toothbrush and his toys into a small bag.
Eddie hugged her and ran out. “Bye, Aunt Lauren!” He bumped into Reid's legs and looked up. “Bye, sir.”
Damien winked at them and took Eddie's hand. “I'll bring him back tomorrow morning.”
“Thank you, Damien,” Lauren said and went to kiss Damien on the cheek. “Thank you for putting up that ad and writing back to me,” she whispered.
Damien froze. His wide eyes darted between Reid and her. “You told her,” he said slowly.
Reid nodded.
Damien's face split in a grin. “All's well that ends well, eh?” He beckoned to Eddie and held the door open. “Come on, buddy. Let's get the party started! Hey, Reid, can I borrow your car? Nick and Graham came by to pick me as I was wrestling myself into this monkey suit.”
Damien caught the car keys neatly out of the air and gave Reid a two-finger salute.
Lauren stood at the end of the driveway and waved until the car was out of sight. When she couldn't see Eddie's cheerful face any more, she wrapped her arms around herself and shivered.
She missed her nephew already. She had taken care of Eddie since he was a baby, and they were always together. She worried her lower lip, wondering if Eddie would miss her.
“Don't worry, Damien will take good care of Eddie. My cousin can be a pain in the ass, but...I trust him with my life,” Reid said, putting a hand gently on her waist.
Lauren exhaled a shuddering breath and turned to look at her new husband.
“Eddie lost his parents, but he has an aunt and two uncles who care for him very much,” Reid said, looking deeply into her eyes.
Lauren nodded and smiled. “Thank you, Reid. I know you're just doing this to protect us from the wolves. I appreciate it, really I do.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
“No.” Reid gripped her shoulder. “You're not just my mail-order bride, Lauren. You are my wife, my mate.”
Lauren stared into his eyes and saw that he meant every word he said. “Reid...”
“I take my marriage vows seriously, Lauren. I will be true to you, and I will love and cherish you forever,” Reid said, taking her hand firmly in his.
He swept her up and carried her into the house. Kicking the front door shut behind him, Reid strode into the master bedroom and put her down.
His arms remained around her waist as she swayed on her feet. When she looked up at him, Reid captured her face in both his hands and kissed her.
His kiss was hot, slow and achingly tender. His lips moved against hers, his tongue teasing and tasting her. Lauren moaned and kissed him back, nibbling tentatively at his lower lip.
She wrapped her arms around his neck and stroked his soft brown hair with her fingertips.
Reid growled and deepened the kiss. His tongue tangled with hers and began to slip in and out of her mouth as he ground his erection against her.
Lauren felt her nipples tighten and throb. She dug her nails into Reid's shoulder and whimpered. She could feel the dampness between her thighs, and her desire was spiraling out of control.
Reid pulled her dress up over her head and shredded her bra and panties with his claws. He inhaled sharply when he saw her standing naked in front of him.
“Lie on your back,” he commanded. “I want to taste every inch of my wife.”
Lauren lay on the bed and stared up at Reid. He shed his clothes and loomed over her, his muscles rippling as his chest rose and fell with his harsh breathing.
There was a possessive, predatory hunger in his eyes, and it thrilled her. The first time he took her, he had been gentle and controlled. The moment he penetrated her, he had realized that she was a virgin and he had finished the deed quickly, almost mechanically. There was no passion, no burning want and desire. Just shock and pain, and very little pleasure.
But now she could feel the scorching heat radiating from Reid's broad body. She glanced down his glistening torso and licked her lips when she saw his cock. It was huge but she was no longer afraid. She had felt his cock inside her, and it had felt so good. She wanted him to take her again, harder and faster this time.
“Spread your legs,” Reid ordered. “Wide.”
He knelt between her legs and she felt his tongue swirling round her navel. Slowly, his mouth moved lower, and she gasped when he pulled her swollen clit into his mouth.
He sucked hard and pushed a finger slowly into her body. Lauren panted and pulled her legs up to spread herself wider for him. He was her husband. She wouldn't hide her body from him. She wanted him to see how wet she was for him.
Reid growled and pushed another finger into her. As he worked his fingers in and out of her body, he lapped relentlessly at her clit. Lauren could feel the pressure begin to build low in her belly. Reid replaced his fingers with his tongue and began to fuck her furiously with his stiffened tongue.
Lauren cried out at the sudden explosion of pleasure in her core. She blinked rapidly and gasped. “That...feels amazing,” she rasped, trying to push herself up on her elbows. Her whole body was still shaking. What was Reid doing to her? His skilful hands and mouth were coaxing the most incredible feelings and responses from her body.
She didn't want him to stop.
“More...I want more, Reid,” she whispered.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
Reid smirked at his mate's command and plea. His mate tasted exquisite. His cock had jerked violently when she came against his mouth, squirting her sweet, sticky juices onto his tongue.
His bride was inexperienced in bed, but she was a passionate woman. She was incredibly hot, and her body was all soft, womanly curves.
It had just been sex the first time. When he realized that she had never had a man before him, he had felt an exultant male pride as well as a crushing sense of betrayal. The knowledge that she had lied to him was like a physical blow. He never wanted to get involved with a lying, cheating woman again.
But after they cleared the air and told each other the truth about their past and their situations, he saw that Lauren was nothing like his ex-wife. He had judged her too hastily and too harshly. He hadn't been fair to her, and to himself.
Lauren was his mate.
There was nothing to hide from his mate. And there was no holding back.
He was going to claim her completely.
Reid covered Lauren's body with his and fisted her wavy, black hair. She was so beautiful, so pure in every way.
Kissing her deeply, he inhaled her intoxicating scent and kneaded her bountiful breast in his palm
. He was never going to get enough of her. He would want to make love to her every night, for the rest of his life.
Suckling her greedily, Reid spread her legs with his knees and entered her. There was no pain this time, only pleasure, and Lauren sighed as he slid smoothly in and out of her tight, wet pussy.
His strokes were long and languid as he took his time pleasuring and enjoying his mate. Lauren arched her back and offered herself to him. He wouldn't refuse his mate. He would take what she offered and give her more in return.
Kissing the swells of her breasts, Reid caressed her undulating, luscious body, memorizing every sweet, soft curve.
He moved faster and Lauren began to pant. She raised her hips to match his rhythm as Reid laced his fingers through hers and spread her arms high above her head.
“Come with me,” he growled, taking her faster and deeper.
Lauren threw her head back and cried out as her body began to pulse. Reid could feel her muscles clenching and she shuddered and screamed as she rode wave after wave of ecstasy.
Reid held her and fucked her furiously, prolonging her pleasure. As she spasmed and whimpered in his arms, he bit down on her shoulder and shot his seed deep into her body.
Mine! His bear roared.
When her shudders subsided, he withdrew slowly from her body and held her close.
“You okay?” he asked, brushing her hair from her face. “Did I...take you too hard?” This was only the second time she was having sex. She might still be sore and tender.
Lauren shook her head and smiled. “I'm good.” She stretched and said, “I feel...very good.”
Reid drew her into his arms and kissed her head. “You are amazing, Lauren. I...can't believe you're mine.”
“Of course I'm yours. I'm your wife. We're married now,” she said, touching his nose playfully.
Reid sucked in a breath. “You're not just my wife. You're my everything. I'm going to tear up that damned prenuptial agreement.”
“But why?” Lauren’s head whipped around so fast she almost bashed his nose in. “Isn't that what you want? Your ex-wife...”
“You're not my ex-wife.” He tugged his wedding ring from his finger and showed her. “You're Lauren. Your name is on my ring. And your name will be on the title deed to my house as well. It will be on everything I own.”
She started to shake her head but Reid pressed a finger to her lips.
“You are mine, Lauren. Truly mine. What is mine is yours. And what is yours is mine. That means...” he went on before she could speak. “...that your troubles are mine as well. Those Dire Wolves had better stay far, far away from you and Eddie,” he growled.
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
Lauren pushed herself up on her toes and gave Reid a kiss at the door. “Bye, have a good day at work.” She smiled against his lips, and whispered, “Love ya.”
Reid wrapped one arm around her waist and pulled her flush against him. “Love ya, and I miss you already,” he drawled and kissed her deep and long.
They pulled apart only when they heard Eddie giggling. “Eww! Stop kissing!”
Lauren turned and saw Eddie covering his eyes with his jam-smeared fingers. Reid laughed and called out, “Bye, buddy! Take care of your Aunt Lauren while I'm at work. I'll see you both tonight.”
The boy grinned and pounded his chest like a caveman. “Don't worry, sir. You have a man in the house!”
Lauren rolled her eyes at her nephew. “Finish your milk and go wash up. You're wearing your breakfast. You have jam all over your face and shirt.”
Reid gave her another kiss on the cheek and said, “You know how to reach me.” He sneaked Eddie a glance and lowered his voice. “You know the way to…?”
“Yeah, I do. Don't worry! We'll be fine. Go!” She made a shooing motion with her hand.
She watched her husband drive off and stood at the door waving with a goofy smile on her face. Her husband. Lauren's smile widened.
She was well and truly married. And she wasn't just a faceless mail-order bride. She was his wife, a wife he loved and cherished. She had come to Shadow Point expecting to enter into a loveless, passionless marriage of convenience. Instead, she had found love.
“You look happy, Aunt Lauren,” Eddie observed, putting down his empty glass. He was sporting a milk mustache and had globs of jam on his cheeks.
“And you look a mess,” she said, planting one hand on her hip. “Go wash up. And comb your hair. We're going out.”
Eddie scrambled off his chair. “Where are we going?”
“I want to look for a job in town,” Lauren replied as she cleared away the plates from the breakfast table.
Lauren knew Reid would provide well for them, but she wanted to contribute to the family finances. Reid worked hard and earned a decent wage, but he still had to pay the mortgage and all their household expenses. And now, his household had just ballooned. Instead of providing for just one person, he now had an additional two mouths to feed.
“Did you say a job?” Eddie appeared, with water dripping from his face and hands. “You used to work in a shoe shop, right?”
“Yep,” Lauren answered cheerfully as she washed up everything in the sink. “I'm hoping that one of the shops in town will hire me.”
Eddie shrugged.
Lauren looked up and frowned. “You didn't comb your hair.”
“I combed it with my fingers.”
“Go comb it again with a comb,” she ordered. “Now.”
Eddie started to grumble.
“Before we hit the town, we'll be visiting your school.”
His grumbling ceased instantaneously. “My school?” The boy gaped at her.
“Uh-huh. Reid said there's a great preschool just round the corner. We'll go see the schoolhouse and perhaps talk to some of the teachers. You have to see if you like the school before we send you there.”
Eddie whooped, his face glowing. “I'm going to school! For real! Yippee!” He ran to comb his hair and change his clothes. “Hurry up, Aunt Lauren!”
“What's the hurry?” Lauren laughed and went to her room to change and grab her handbag. Eddie was standing by the front door in a clean shirt and jeans. His shirt was neatly tucked in and his hair was gleaming with not one strand out of place.
Lauren smiled as she took her nephew's hand. It was Reid's idea. He'd suggested that they check out the preschool near their house. It would be good for Eddie to socialize with kids his own age and make new friends, he said. When she protested that she didn't have enough money to pay for Eddie's school fees, Reid had asked sternly, “Am I his uncle or not?”
“Of course.”
“Then I can well afford to send my nephew to school.”
Eddie had asked once or twice if he could go to school. He had heard from Mrs Gururani's youngest son that school was really fun. But when he asked, Lauren told him that she couldn't afford to send him to preschool. The boy hadn't asked again. Instead he created a little schoolhouse with their pillows at the corner of the bedroom. He would shoulder his backpack and wave to Lauren, shouting, “Bye, Aunt Lauren, I'm going to school now!” The boy would sit quietly in the little corner and pretend to play and talk to his imaginary classmates.
Lauren earned enough to keep a roof over their heads and put food on the table, but she couldn't afford to give Eddie more than the bare necessities. She couldn't afford treats, outings, presents and preschool.
But now, Eddie could finally have the same chances that other kids had. He could go to school, he could have his own little room, and he could have books and toys. He could have a stable home with no creditors pounding on the door and breathing down their necks.
He could stop thinking he had to protect his Aunt Lauren from the big, bad world and just be a kid.
Lauren kissed the top of Eddie's head and smiled. “Let's go, buddy. Let's go see your school.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
Lauren took the long route to
the schoolhouse. It was still early and she wanted to show Eddie the lovely new playground behind the park. The park was quiet and peaceful, and she could hear the joyful chirping of birds and insects.
Eddie loved the outdoors and nature. It was the bear in him, she supposed. The boy released her hand and scampered ahead, chasing the butterflies and kicking up the leaves.
He spied a bird that was just minding its own business hopping along the footpath looking for insects and began to sneak up on it. The bird flew off and landed a few feet away. Eddie squealed and ran after the bird.
“Eddie, be careful! Don't run so fast!”
He didn't seem to hear her. He spread his arms out like wings and cawed. Bird and boy raced to the end of the footpath and disappeared behind some trees.
Lauren quickened her steps to hurry after her nephew. The boy was active and was clearly very excited to be out of the house. Shadow Point was a small town but it wasn't cramped or clustered. There were many parks and open spaces in Shadow Point. She was sure that Eddie would be happy growing up here.
Hopefully she could find a job and get settled…
A sudden cry jolted Lauren out of her reverie.
Lauren recognized Eddie's voice and her heart lurched.
“Eddie!” Had he fallen and hurt himself?
She ran at full tilt to the end of the footpath and darted towards the trees. The playground was nestled behind the cluster of rustling trees but there was no sign of Eddie.
“Eddie!” she screamed. “Where are you?”
Panicking, Lauren scanned the empty swings and slides. She spun round wildly and saw a grassy slope behind the playground.
Lauren scrambled up the slope, swearing, praying and muttering all sorts of threats and promises. She should never have let him out of her sight. She should have held him fast and kept him by her side. She shouldn't have let him run ahead and explore on his own. She would give the rascal a good scolding and keep him tied to her apron strings from now on!
Mail-Order Bear: BBW Bear Shifter Paranormal Romance (BRIDES fur BEARS Book 5) Page 6