One day she’d ask him how he did that. How his dick had gotten to be so talented. Yeah, one day, for now all she cared about was that he could do it, and what it did for her. She grabbed the quilt on the bed and squeezed it as the first of her orgasms washed over her body.
****
What he was about to tell her, well, he hadn’t counted on doing it when they’d first met. She snuggled into him. She smelled of their union, and a slight bear odor that he was sure had been the deciding factor. He was pretty sure she was his intended mate. A human. Yeah, he knew what the other guys saw in them now.
“We’ve had lots of sex. Lots of great sex,” he began.
“We sure have.”
“But there’s more to a man and woman’s relationship than that?”
Surely that hadn’t come out of his mouth.
“I agree.”
“So I’m thinking we should go on dates. Something social and cultural like visiting an art gallery. Going to see an independent movie.”
Jenna laughed. He clearly didn’t know humans, or at least the female ones, because he’d obviously said something funny.
“Independent movie. You mean it can’t be something like Star Wars or X-Men?”
“You like those sorts of movies?”
“No, but I’m guessing you don’t.”
He shrugged his shoulders. “I can take them or leave them.”
“You’re a little bit of a snob aren’t you?”
No one had ever asked him that before. No one had ever thought about him that way before. Maybe he was. “I might be.”
She laughed again and he slapped her bare butt.
“Um, I like that,” she said, leaning over him.
“Now don’t get me all sexually worked up again because I want you to know I want us to date properly. No more fucking only. In fact, we won’t have sex until we’ve been on three dates.”
If a thermometer was available, he’d take his temperature because he was pretty sure he had a fever or something was up with him. Spending time with Jenna, and sex being off limits. Impossible task.
“It’s going to be tough,” she said, stroking his cock.
Brady grabbed her hand and prevented her from moving one inch on his shaft.
“You going to spank me again?” she whispered in his ear, and then playfully bit the very bottom of its lobe.
He did find a little spanking to be a turn on.
“Okay, I’m going to spank you and fuck you, but that’s it. We’re going cold turkey for the next month.”
****
Jenna thought it would be a playfully pat on her butt, but Brady knew how to spank. At first she was going to tell him it was too hard, that it hurt, but when she began to cream as his hand met with her bottom, she relaxed and began to enjoy it. Hell, on the fourth tap she came.
She lay across his lap while following the pattern of the carpet with her fingers as his slipped inside her pussy.
“Your pussy feels different tonight,” he said, turning her over. She straddled him and then he slipped his cock inside her.
They kissed.
“Better make the most of this because you’re going on a sex diet,” he said.
She was going to hate it.
****
Brady felt guilty when he and Jenna walked downstairs the following morning. Many of the group had slept on the floor with just blankets on top of them. He and Jenna had enjoyed a room big enough for eight. However, if they’d shared it they wouldn’t have enjoyed the night they had.
“Good news everyone, the snow’s stopped and the roads are being plowed,” shouted Aiden. “The management tells me they’ve set up a large breakfast buffet for us in the main hall if you want to make your way there.”
Brady’s stomach rumbled.
Brady and Jenna got their plates and lined up behind Liam, Lucy and Sam.
“You going skiing this year?” Liam asked Brady.
“I might.”
“Let me know because I’m taking Sam for his first lesson on Saturday,” said Liam, grabbing a few slices of bacon.
“Bear and mom bought me skis for Christmas and Uncle Liam and Lucy got me a jacket to wear,” said Sam.
“Sounds like you’re all set,” said Brady. “And if I remember correctly, your dad was a pretty good skier.”
“Was he, Uncle Liam?” asked Sam.
“Yeah, there wasn’t much Danny wasn’t good at,” said Liam.
“Then I’ll be great too.”
Liam winked at Brady.
“Did Dad ever ski as a bear?” asked Sam.
Both Brady and Liam coughed at the same time. Brady glanced at Jenna who he was sure hadn’t heard the comment because she was talking to Maisey King who was, as usual, talking her into joining Downward Facing Wolf.
“Hey, Sam, you know we don’t talk about that when you know who are around,” whispered Liam.
“I forgot. I’m sorry.”
“It’s okay. Hurry and get your food because you’re holding up the line,” said Liam. “Look, Aunt Lucy’s already sitting down over there and eating.”
Liam was great with his nephew and now Brady wished he’d had siblings so he’d have nieces and nephews to spoil. Brady helped himself to some scrambled eggs while hearing Jenna chatting away to two of the cougar shifters.
“Why don’t we head over to the table by Nick and Ava?” said Brady.
“Great, I’m right behind you,” said Jenna.
Brady sat and Jenna put her plate on the table and also sat.
“What a nice bunch of people. I’ve been invited for free yoga lessons. Those two ladies I was talking to are thinking of buying the craft store next to Hannah’s restaurant. They wondered if they could hire me to look over the real estate papers.”
Brady smiled. She would fit perfectly in with the group. Well, apart from the anti-human fraction. And of course she might not take kindly to them once she knew the truth.
The truth. If a relationship was going to work he had to be honest. But she hated bears and for good reason. Brady dumped some cream into his coffee and stirred it.
“Does this count as one of our dates?” she asked him.
He smiled at her over the top of the coffee mug. It was going to be as tough as hell for him not to have sex for a while. But he’d set the rules, and when Brady Walsh lay down the law, it had to be obeyed.
“We are not calling a breakfast buffet a date. In fact, I think we should check out one of the galleries in Missoula and then have some dinner this weekend. I’ll kiss you goodnight and that’s going to be it.”
“Damn,” she said, winking at him.
Yeah, damn. He’d have to access some pay per view porno movies and make sure the shower was set to cold.
****
He wanted them to be in a relationship. She wronged him, thinking he was just a love them and leave them type. If only she’d waited and not done something stupid like not using birth control and lying that she was on the Pill.
Jenna pulled out the calendar on her desk. She was now a week late. Most she’d ever been was five days, and that was during the stressful time with her father’s death and David’s injuries.
She hadn’t thrown up this morning, but when she’d first woken up, she’d been nauseated and dizzy. They had such a great time in Missoula on Saturday. In her heart she knew that this might be the relationship to take all the way to the altar. But now, if she was pregnant, she might have blown it.
Perhaps he’d understand why she done it. Or she could be worrying about nothing. Maybe the incident with David at Christmas had been stressful and therefore delayed her period like before.
David. She had to visit him at the end of the week and ease into telling him a doctor would be stopping by to talk with him. He’d had so many doctors around him that he hated them. Saw each and every one of them as the enemy.
She tapped her fingers on the desk. She’d never get anything done with the thought that she might be pregnant rolli
ng around in her head. She’d go to the store and get herself a pregnancy kit and be done with it.
****
Jenna surveyed the store to make sure no one would see her reach up for the kit on the top shelf. Not that it was anyone’s business, but she didn’t want anything getting back to Brady. She had her fingers wrapped around the box when her cell phone rang. She put the box down and answered the phone.
“Caught you red-handed.”
Jenna’s heart beat faster as she glanced around the store. It was Brady. Was he here or was he following her?
“I’m…”
He burst out laughing. “I love to do that to some of the shif—to some of my buddies. Sorry if I scared you.”
“No, it’s okay, I was just wondering what I’d done wrong.”
“Nothing, I hope. So what are you up to right now?”
Jenna glanced at the box on the shelf. She swallowed. “I’m grocery shopping.”
“Not working.”
“Lunch break,” she said.
“At 10.30 a.m.?”
“It’s less crowded.”
“I guess so. I was wondering if you want to have dinner tonight at the Starlight Café?”
She had to pretend nothing was wrong. “Sure, I’d love to.”
“Tuesday is salmon special. I hope you like salmon.”
“I love it.”
“That’s good to hear. So shall I come by and pick you up about 6 p.m.?”
“Fine with me.”
“Okay. I’ll let you get back to your grocery shopping.”
She ended the call, quickly got the kit from the shelf and headed toward the check out before she got interrupted again.
****
“I’m a bear, well half a bear,” said Brady to his reflection in the mirror.
He shook his head. He’d have to lead into this more gently.
“I’m a bear, but I’d never hurt you.”
No, that didn’t sound right either.
Damn. He’d decided to tell her tonight while they ate his favorite food. Relationships weren’t about lying and she had every right to know what he was before making a commitment to him.
He hoped she didn’t run screaming. He’d asked the other shifters who were married to humans, how they’d handled it. All of them except Ash—who told Chloe outright—had told him they’d found out by accident or some circumstance had forced them into a corner, and it had almost destroyed what they had. That wasn’t going to happen to him. They also told him the women hadn’t taken the news well and some had demanded that they never see them again.
“I’m a bear who wants to romance you,” he said into the mirror.
That didn’t sound like him.
Aiden had chatted to him about safety of the group for what he was about to reveal, and Brady had reminded him that Jenna was also his attorney and the client-attorney agreement of not revealing anything he told her, was in place.
“Jenna, I’m a man who’s also a bear. Now, don’t worry. I’m not like a wild bear. I would never hurt you.”
He would then raise her hand to his mouth and kiss it.
Brady put the toilet seat down and sat on it. He ran his hands through his hair. Why wasn’t romance ever simple?
****
Jenna wasn’t sure if she felt sick because Brady was going to pick her up in less than ten minutes or because the pregnancy test had revealed that she was indeed having his baby.
How could she possibly face him?
“I did a stupid thing,” she said, looking into the mirror. “I’m so sorry. I feel like a fool.”
No that didn’t sound right.
“Brady, please believe me when I say that I didn’t do this to trap you in anyway.”
The doorbell rang.
Panic set in. Maybe she could pretend she wasn’t at home. That she’d forgotten all about their dinner date. Anything to give herself more time to practice what she was going to say, and how she was going to say it in a way that would sound the most apologetic and sincere.
The doorbell rang again.
When she committed a crime, she had to pay for it. Well, lots of her clients didn’t share her philosophy, but right now she was living it. Get this over and done with and pay the consequences. She walked to the door with a smile on her face, knowing she had to keep it in that pose long enough for him not to suspect something was wrong.
“Hi Brady, sorry it took me so long to answer the door, but I was on the phone with a very needy client.”
Telling lies already and they were less than one minute into their date.
“No problem. I know how important business is. You all ready to go?”
“Sure, let me grab my purse.”
She rushed back to the kitchen, grabbed her bag and then let him close the front door for her.
“I hope you won’t mind if we make this salmon night at Starlight a regular thing,” said Brady as he headed out onto the main road. “Bear talked Hannah into starting it and it’s already a hit with the group.”
“You guys must like salmon. It was on the menu at Chloe and Ash’s wedding, too.”
“Don’t tell me you don’t.” Brady looked at her like it was a matter of life or death.
“Sure, I like it.” She was still feeling queasy and didn’t want to think about food.
“I’ll let you into a little secret. I’m great at catching it, too.”
Jenna leaned back on the seat. “I can’t imagine you having the patience to wait for a fish to bite.”
“I have a special technique. I’ll show it to you sometime. I assume your father fished as well as hunted.”
“Oh yeah. He loved the outdoors.”
“Perfect place to live if you do,” said Brady. He pulled into the parking lot by the Starlight Café. Jenna had never seen it so full.
“You are right. This salmon evening must be popular.”
Jenna got out of the car and pulled up the collar on her coat. She took Brady’s arm as they headed to the door. Should she tell him while they ate? The place was crowded and he’d be less likely to go ballistic when he heard the news. She was assumed he would be angry.
He held the door open for her. The warm air and the smell of salmon hit her nostrils, making her feel like she was going to throw up.
Hannah greeted them.
“Good to see you two turning out to support salmon evening.”
Brady held the back of Jenna’s coat so she could take it off. Lots of people who’d been at the wedding were also here.
“You have the table I reserved?” asked Brady.
“I sure do. If you want to follow me. Remember you’re taking care of Sophie at the end of the week,” she told Brady.
“Speaking of which, look. There she is,” said Brady. Sophie was in her carrier which sat on a chair next to Bear who ate with Sam, Lucy and Liam.
Brady stroked Sophie’s cheek which made her giggle. Maybe he wouldn’t be angry, but instead broody and happy at the news.
“I’d hurry and get your salmon,” said Bear. “Liam, Sam and I are on our second helping.”
“We’d better get to our table then,” said Brady. “See you guys later.”
Jenna sat and Brady slid onto the chair beside her. Their knees bumped.
“Guess you know we both want the salmon. And could we have a basket of the granary bread? I’ll have a beer.”
“How about you, Jenna, would you like a glass of the house wine?” asked Hannah.
She wouldn’t be able to drink now. She might even have to watch what she ate, too. Was salmon okay?
“You know, I think I’ll have a soda,” said Jenna.
“I’ll go get those and the bread, and the next batch of salmon should be out in about five minutes.”
Brady waved to a few of the other people. Jenna waved, too, remembering the couple named Dane and Melanie who had the cutest little boy in a high chair sitting between them. Even he had pieces of salmon on his tray and was lifting them up into h
is mouth. She didn’t know why, but he reminded her of a bear.
Hannah came back with the drinks and then put the basket of bread on the table.
Jenna wasn’t really hungry, but maybe the soda would help. She sipped on it. Hannah brought them their salmon, which under any other circumstances, she would have dived into. The rice pilaf next to it also looked great.
“Let me know when you need more soda,” said Hannah.
Jenna hadn’t realized she’d already downed half the glass until Hannah spoke.
“I will,” said Jenna.
“Enjoy,” said Hannah before she walked away and went over to sit with Bear and the others.
“Sophie’s so cute,” said Jenna, thinking she’d ease into her announcement by talking about babies.
“She really is,” said Brady.
“I think she likes you a lot,” said Jenna, breaking off a piece of fish with her fork.
“I hope so because she’s stuck with me for a whole day and night.”
“It’s good practice.”
“For what?” asked Brady.
“For when you have you own.”
Brady looked at her. “Hope you’re not getting broody.”
Shit. “No, I was just thinking out loud I guess.”
“Good because I am not ready for children. Don’t know if I’ll ever be.”
Double shit.
****
Brady couldn’t help notice that Jenna had hardly touched the salmon. He hated to think she didn’t like it because if she was going to be in a relationship with him it meant they’d be eating it a lot. She’d have to learn how to cook the catch he brought home.
She pushed the rice to one side before taking another sip of soda. She was on the second fill up. Maybe she wasn’t feeling good. There was a flu bug going around, and being human, she’d probably caught it. She looked flush in the face, too. Maybe he’d wait until they got back to her place to tell her what he’d been practicing all afternoon.
Then again, maybe he should tell her now with other shifters around so he could point to them, show her how normal they all were. How Hannah, Melanie and Lucy trusted them enough to marry a shifter, and be part of this wonderful big group.
Brady touched her hand and then wrapped his fingers around it.
“Jenna, there’s something I need to tell you about myself.”
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