Ursa Major

by Mary Winter

  She opened her mouth to ask about Alaska and Cameron, then closed it again, not wanting to bring up a bad subject. “So everything is okay?”

  “You’d probably know that better than I would.” They paused just past the ice cream stand to watch the Mexican Wolves.

  “I don’t think everything is all right with my boss, and now you’re here. Apparently you had someone watching me. This isn’t going to end well, is it?” She closed her eyes and wished she could enjoy the sun on her face and the man by her side. She was a damn good researcher. She knew when things didn’t add up, and right now, the numbers were a jumbled mess of oh-god-what’s-going-to-happen-now.

  Liam remained silent as he studied the wolves. “They work for us, you know. Not these, but we have wolves. Homo interans canis. When we see the bald eagles you could be looking at Homo interans aquila. The bears are the rulers, with the wolves and the eagles as our soldiers. One rules the dark winter nights, the other the warm summer days, just like the two constellations chase each other across the sky. Canis Major and Aquila. We think we can control everything, and now I control nothing.” Liam balled his hand into a fist and rested it on the metal railing keeping the human visitors well away from the animal displays.

  “What do you mean?” Sarah turned to him and flattened her palm on his chest. His heart beat against her hand.

  “There’s a reason why the Quintursa want me here, Sarah. They think I’m the best person to protect you. I need to know what you know, but goddess, I also need to make love to you.” He dipped his head until his lips hovered across hers. “I’ve lain awake too many nights, hard and aching, wanting to be in your sweet body.”

  She gasped.

  Liam took advantage of her parted lips and kissed her. His mouth sealed across hers, his fingers splaying on her buttocks to bring her into intimate contact with his hard body. Liam plunged his tongue into her mouth.

  Sarah whimpered with need. She opened to him, like one of the cherry blossoms the district was known for, inviting him to explore her petals and taste her honeyed nectar. Her gut, that sixth sense that had kept her safe on some pretty remote assignments, told her that Liam spoke the truth about her needing protection. She clung to him. Sarah curled her fingers into his broad shoulders, her tongue tangling with his. In the shadowed alcove behind the ice cream stand they were mostly shielded from onlookers, and even if they were on the main stage in the zoo, she wouldn’t have cared. Not now that she had Liam in her arms, with the promise of more later.

  She pulled away to draw air into her starved lungs. “I’ve missed you. Can we please go back to my place?”

  Liam rested his forehead against hers. “I thought you’d never ask.”

  ~* * *~

  Just seeing Sarah safe and sound did wonders for Liam’s peace of mind. Standing beside her in the park, interacting with her like all the other couples made him believe that somehow, they could make this work. In his last phone call to the Quintursa they’d given their approval, if not directly, then at least indirectly to his continuing this relationship. He’d made a quick phone call to his parents. Though not overjoyed that he’d found a human, they’d told him to follow his heart. They’d support him. Perhaps they’d mellowed out in their old age, and he tried not to think about Cameron and Gillian’s failed relationship.

  This could be different. It would be different.

  Hands linked, they made their way to the zoo exit amid the throng of happy families. Sarah’s small car, perfect for the city, was a bit too cramped for his taste, and he brushed off her apologies as he folded himself into the passenger seat. He’d forgotten what traffic could be like as they hopped the expressway back to her apartment, and the comfortable silence that settled over them seemed almost too comfortable.

  “Everything okay back home?” she asked as she exited the interstate. He watched the scenery change to a series of high rise buildings and housing developments.

  “My brother Johnny is watching the lodge while I’m gone,” he replied.

  “No word from Cameron?”

  “No.”

  Sarah reached across the car and patted him on the knee. “I’m sorry. I never meant to cause trouble.”

  He took her hand, once again struck by the loving, caring nature of this woman. “You didn’t. Some wounds have been festering.” He lifted her palm to his mouth and brushed a kiss across it. Her sudden gasp filled the car, and he hungered to be back at her place.

  She turned into the parking garage. Moments later, he ascended the elevator, wondering what her private sanctuary would look like. She let him into the apartment, and he had his first glance.

  City. Classy. The apartment looked as if it had been decorated out of a magazine. He doubted the mud that came with living in the backwoods would fare well here, especially when he looked at her ivory carpet. The tasteful paintings probably weren’t personal heirlooms, and few family photos graced the walls. It looked, to him, like a hotel room.

  Sarah flipped the deadbolt and put the chain on behind him, then hung her purse and laptop bag over a chair. “Can I get you anything?” She inched toward the kitchen.

  Liam stepped between her and the hallway, using his large frame to block her process. “Everything I want is right in front of me.” He tangled his fingers in her hair and lowered his lips to hers. Alone, with her in her apartment, a bed just a few rooms away, he gave into the desire that had flared as soon as he saw her at the zoo.

  Their mouths met in a carnal dance, matched by their feet as he walked her backwards. Turning, he pinned her between the counter and his body. His hands dropped to her waist. Lifting her, he moved between her thighs, sliding his palms around to cup her buttocks and bring her in intimate contact with him.

  Sarah moaned, pulling away long enough to draw a shaky breath. Her hand fell to his thick sweater, a bit overdressed for the warmer D.C. weather. Tugging it free, she traced the arrow of wiry hair leading down to the waistband of his jeans. She stroked the trail, working to his navel, then higher to rake her fingers across his nipples.

  Her urgency drove him to rear back and yank his sweater over his head. Dropping it to the ground, he worked on her blouse. Soon, it joined the floor, and in the ambient light, he stared at her. Sitting on the counter, her hair tousled, her lips swollen from his kisses, she looked like a siren. Her nipples pressed against the lace of her bra, and when he stroked them with her fingers, the tiny mewls of need she made had him hard and eager.

  How could he have stayed away? Claiming her mouth again, he reached around her back and unfastened her bra. Her breasts spilled into his hands. Cupping them, he rubbed his thumbs over her nipples. Perfect. Kissing her, making love to her mouth, he thought only of the woman sitting on the counter in front of him. He caressed her breasts, stroking along her collarbone to her neck, then down again. The desire to cherish her, to show her how much she meant to him had him keeping his own needs at bay.

  When the need for air parted them, he trailed kisses along the side of her neck. Pulling a nipple into his mouth, he tongued it. Her fingers tightened on the back of his head, her answering moan music to his ears. If he had a thousand years, it would never be long enough to make love to Sarah.

  He alternated between kissing and caressing her breasts until her cries escalated. The prim suit skirt she wore offered him easy access to shove it up towards her hips. He knelt between her knees and groaned aloud when he saw her thigh-high stockings and panties. “If I had known you were wearing these, we wouldn’t have gotten out of the zoo,” he growled.

  “Lucky I didn’t tell you then.” Sarah spread her legs, offering him greater access.

  He stroked her thighs, his fingers inching perilously close to the damp silk covering her sex. Just when he thought he knew everything there was to know about this woman, she surprised him. He teased her through the soaked fabric, brushing his fingers across her labia just to hear those sexy little noises she made in the back of her throat, before caressing the insides of
her thighs. With her legs angled across his lap, she was open and ready for him. He picked up her ankle, marveling at its slenderness. These were the legs of a woman who had hiked miles with him through the Alaskan wilderness. Those calves and thighs had allowed her to keep up with him. He gingerly rolled down her stockings and kissed the exposed, taut-muscled skin.

  Coming to D.C. had been the best thing he could have ever done. He’d left Round the Bend in Johnny’s capable hands. His brother had promised that he’d look after the business and forget about being a Quintursa agent for a while, if anyone could forget such a thing.

  Sarah moaned and lifted her hips. The wanton movement drove all thoughts of his family, Alaska, hell of anything but sinking inside her from his mind. His fingers slipped past the elastic of her panties. With his free hand, he tugged them down, over her bare legs, smoothing his hands back toward her thighs. Her musk tormented his nose, mingling with her lavender scent, and a growl rumbled from his chest.

  Now. The bear cried. It roared in his soul, a desperate demand to claim his mate. The Quintursa had allowed him to come here. He was here, with her in his lap, and his bear wanted what was his.

  He pulled her upright so she straddled his lap. Running his fingers through her hair, he let it cascade free from his confines, the silken strands rolling over his skin and down her back. Fingers fumbled to remove her shirt and bra, and while he was still fully clothed, she was naked. He captured one taut nipple in his mouth, suckling it, words from his people’s bonding ceremony filling his head. These are the breasts that nurture our young. In the confines of his jeans, his cock twitched in anticipation of making those young.

  His hand fluttered over her stomach. This is the womb that carries our young.

  He traced her slick folds. The tip of his index finger slipped easily inside. This is the passage that soothes my soul and delivers our young into the world.

  Sarah gasped. Tightening her inner muscles around him, she tilted her head back, offering him her body, and he thought, her very soul. Pleasure gave her face a sensual, wanton expression. She grabbed his shoulders, her nails digging into his flesh.

  “Damn, you’re beautiful.” He kissed her collarbone. “Do you know how much I love you?” He pumped his finger.

  “Liam!” Sarah groaned. She moaned, her head falling forward to press their foreheads together. “Tell me that again.”

  “What, that you’re beautiful, or that I love you?” He circled her with his finger, loving the way her hips jerked against him. He flicked open the first buttons on his jeans in a futile attempt to give his straining cock some relief.

  “That you love me.” She pressed a quick, hard kiss to his lips. “Because I love you.” Then, she reached between their bodies to finish unfastening his jeans.

  “Sarah,” he groaned.

  A heavy knock echoed through the apartment.

  Sarah stiffened.

  “Sare? You in there?” Nat’s frantic, tear-clogged voice sounded through the door, along with more knocking.

  “It’s my sister.” Instantly, her demeanor changed. “Just a minute,” she called, grabbing a quilt from the back of the couch. Wrapping it around her, she hurried to the door, mouthing, “I’m sorry.”

  Liam watched her go, amazed by her change. He buttoned his pants and scooped up her clothing, knowing the situation would be awkward enough without Sarah’s clothes strewn all over the floor. Picking them up, he headed down the short hall to find her bedroom.

  The door creaked as it opened. Low voices, interspersed with hiccupping sobs drifted to him. He could have eavesdropped if he wanted to, but it was family business. “Of course, honey. I was just changing after work. Come on in.” The white lie easily rolled off her lips, a stark reminder of her political work.

  She dashed into her bedroom, not surprised to see him there.

  “Do you want me to go?”

  “No! Let me get dressed and you can come out in a moment. Nat’s lost her job, thanks to my report and that slime ball Senator she works for.” Sarah donned a t-shirt and a pair of sweat pants.

  Here she was, about to comfort her sister, and watching her dress had to be one of the biggest turn-ons for him. The worn cotton material of her shirt draped across her breasts, her nipples clearly visible. “What can I do?” he asked. He didn’t need to be ogling her. Not right now. She needed his support, not his lust.

  Sarah pecked him on the cheek before turning to the door. “You’re already doing it. You’re here.” She dashed back into the living room. Moments later he heard her give an apology and ask if her sister wanted beverages. More rustling, and then the two sat down on the couch.

  “…turned in the report because Senator Durwell called me into his office. He spoke about beliefs and being responsible for our actions. He told me that I no longer fit his image and he couldn’t afford to have me on staff anymore. I was fired,” Nat said. She wiped away tears.

  Sarah sat with her arm around her sister’s shoulder, letting her cry. She gave him an apologetic shrug as he went into the kitchen.

  “Who’s that?”

  “That’s Liam, the man I told you about in Alaska. He helped me write my report.” Her matter-of-fact words punched him in the gut, sounding so different from the impassioned declarations of love given just a few moments ago.

  Sarah continued to try and soothe her sister, but all he could think about was the cold way she’d described their relationship. He’d helped her write the report. He’d done a hell of a lot more than that, and now, with reality crashing down upon them, he wondered if she regretted her actions.

  Chapter Twenty-One

  The hurt look in Liam’s eyes haunted Sarah. She bit her lip, hating the fact that she denied their relationship to her sister. With Nat’s marriage strained by Jim’s inability to work and now losing her job, Sarah feared if she spoke the truth that it’d be like rubbing her good fortune in her little sister’s face. I went to Alaska, found a hot man, fell in love, oh, and made decisions that got you fired. Sorry! It wasn’t like Hallmark made a card for that.

  “Later,” she mouthed to Liam, hoping he understood.

  Nat sniffed and straightened up. “So what do I do now?”

  “You get another job.” Seriously, sometimes her little sister was too needy. “You said that Senator Durwell made inappropriate passes at you. I don’t think you’d want to work for someone like him anyway. And I know you didn’t agree with his politics. I know this is tough, but if it were me, I’d be happy that I’m no longer pushing his conservative right-wing agenda.”

  “Oh Sare-Bear. You always were the strong one.” Nat sighed. “What do I tell Jim? Things are tight.”

  “You tell him the truth. And maybe push him to get a job, too. I know all about the construction work and his injury. But surely there are things he could probably do that wouldn’t further injure his back.” Sarah laid her hand on Nat’s knee. “I love you. I’ll do anything I can for you, but I can’t prop you up. Someday I may decide to move elsewhere and won’t be across town. You can get through this, Nat. You will.”

  Nat sniffled, but to her credit, didn’t start crying again. “I know. It’s just so easy to lean on you. You’re always there and you’re so strong. I’ve been talking to Jim. His firm has talked about bringing him in as a supervisor or consultant, something where he won’t be on his feet all day. I told him to go for it, but he doesn’t think he can.”

  “Sounds like both of you need a hug and a gentle push. Now come on, let’s look at job openings on the computer before I send you home.” Sarah wrapped her arm around her sister and gave her a quick hug.

  Across the room, Liam looked less thunderous. He had three brothers, all younger, surely he understood what she went through with Nat. And if not…Sarah refused to think about that. He sat there, listening, hands resting on the arm of the chair.

  “No, that’s okay. Your man is here, and if he followed you all the way from Alaska, well… I remember how those days were. Thank
you. I’ll go home and talk to Jim. I’m sure we’ll come up with something.”

  “That’s the spirit.” Sarah stood, and thankfully Nat followed. After exchanging a few more pleasantries, she helped her sister to the door. One it closed, she leaned against it and sighed. When she looked up, Liam stood in the doorway.

  “I’m sorry. I didn’t want to push us on my sister when she was clearly distraught over losing her job. You know you’re more to me than just some guy I met in Alaska. I love you. You believe that right?” After being the strong one, Sarah realized she needed reassurance. Straightening, she crossed the space between them and wrapped her arms around him. “I’ll tell Nat. I promise.”

  “I know.” He bent his chin to her head and wrapped his arms around her. The sexual mood from earlier had fizzled.

  Sarah nestled into his embrace. “I know it’s late, but I want to go back to the office. Ken might still be there, or maybe Bill, and I’d like to catch them both if I can. This has got to end. I know Senator Durwell isn’t a good man, but he fired my sister. If Ken or Bill had anything to do with it, then I need to know.”

  Liam tilted her chin so she looked at him. “If they were behind it, what will you do?”

  “Whatever it takes to make the truth come out.” She pressed her cheek against his chest and hoped like hell it wouldn’t come to that. But if it did, she’d fight for what she believed in until the end.

  “Then let’s go.”

  Liam’s determination infused her with strength. She could do this. She pulled away from him long enough to grab her laptop and her purse. When she returned to the dining area, he waited.

  “Do you think they’ll still be there?”

  Sarah checked the clock above the dining room table. “It’s barely six. I know Ken and Bill like to work late nights, especially after the reports come through. I’m sure they’ll be there.” Her stomach fluttered. If she’d misjudged and they weren’t there…well, things could wait until tomorrow morning. She’d much rather confront them alone than with an entire office present.