by Ruby Madden
“So,” he looked across the seat at her. “How would you feel about staying with me for a while?”
“What?” She balled up her napkin and pitched it into the bag. “No. I can’t ask you to house me for who knows how long while the police search for Lou. It could be months before they catch them…it could be never.”
“You didn’t ask. I offered.”
“Semantics.”
“Let me put it another way. I would rest a lot easier if you were staying with me, where I could be close by to help out, if need be.”
She shook her head. “I don’t know. It’s sweet of you to offer, but…”
“Please.” He reached for her hand and squeezed it. “I couldn’t bear it if something happened to you.”
She glanced down at their hands and then looked back up at him with glistening eyes. “You’ve already done so much…and you don’t owe me anything. We barely even know each other.”
“That may be true, but I know enough to care about you and want you to be happy and healthy. The connection I feel with you is so strong, stronger than you can even imagine, and my bear’s protective instincts are going crazy.”
“Is it just the bear?”
She had him there. “No,” he admitted. “As much as my beast needs to protect you, the human side of me wants to just as strongly. I can’t lie and say I’m working entirely on mating instinct here. You’re a beautiful woman and I’m incredibly attracted to you, but I’m not a selfish asshole. I can put that attraction aside until we’ve figured everything else out and you’ve had time to think about what you want and what a true mating would mean for you. I’m happy to give you the time you need to think things through.”
“Okay,” she said. “If you’re sure.”
“I am.” He’d never been surer about anything in his life.
She nodded and exhaled. “Just for the record, I feel it too…this connection between us.” She waved her free hand between them. “I don’t know what the future holds. My life is a complete mess right now. Even so, I really want to spend more time with you and get to know you better.”
It wasn’t a declaration of undying love, but it was a start and he would take it. “That sounds good to me.”
Chapter Seven
Returning to work the next morning was both good and bad. Good in that it gave her a much-needed dose of reality. Bad because she hadn’t foreseen the amount of interest the locals would take in her drama. Apparently her neighbors had nothing better to do than gossip. From the moment they unlocked the doors, the library was flooded with looky-loos who came in to check out the poor, pitiful human who couldn’t protect herself.
An older woman breezed past the information desk where Sophie and Deb stood discussing options for story time, stopped at the sales rack next to the door, and pretended to look over the books while blatantly staring in Sophie’s direction.
Sophie nudged Deb with her elbow. “There’s another one. I think I need a bathroom break.”
“You’re being paranoid,” Deb whispered. “The woman’s just looking through the books.”
“Uh huh.” As nice as it was of Deb to lie in order to sooth her nerves, she wasn’t buying it. After months of working there, she was used to seeing the same faces over and over again. The people coming in to stare at her had never stepped foot in the library before. On the upside, there had been an influx of new library cards being granted. That had to count for something. “I’ll be back in a minute.”
She headed toward the employee break room and private restroom. She just needed a few minutes alone to collect her thoughts. Being the center of attention sucked, especially when she knew people were talking about her and speculating on things out of her control.
The only silver lining in her fucked-up life was Rick. She truly didn’t know what she’d do without him. He’d been so strong and so kind. Leaning on him had saved her from having a complete meltdown. More than that, he’d taken her in, provided for her, and protected her when it would have been easier for him to walk away. She’d never met someone so innately good-hearted. She didn’t know what having a mate was supposed to feel like, but there was something there between them, a connection she couldn’t explain or define. She felt drawn to him in a way she’d never experienced with anyone else. It was more than casual attraction, and deeper than standard curiosity. He fascinated her.
While she used the facilities, she found herself thinking about being Rick’s mate and wondering what that meant to him. From what she’d read, mating was a lot like marriage, expect more permanent. Humans could always get divorced. She didn’t think mating could be undone.
She wished she had someone she could talk to about the whole situation. If she mentioned anything about it to Deb, she knew her friend would immediately start planning some kind of celebration in their honor despite the fact that Sophie hadn't agreed to anything yet.
This was one time her mind and her heart were pulling her in two separate directions. Logic dictated she go slow, get to know Rick better, and not get her hopes up again. Every man she'd ever known had let her down or betrayed her in one way or another and she was scared to put her trust in someone new. On the other hand, her emotions leapt ahead and urged her to have faith. There was always a chance that her prior relationships hadn't worked out because she was meant to come here and meet Rick. Maybe the reason she'd always felt something missing with other guys was because they were all poor imitations of the man who would eventually be her soul mate.
A knock on the door dragged her out of her musings and back to reality. “Just a second.”
She didn’t know what the rush was; she couldn’t have been in the restroom more than a couple of minutes. She quickly washed and dried her hands, and pulled open the door.
Deb stood on the other side, looking sheepish. “Sorry to interrupt, but you have company up front.”
“That’s all right. I was finished anyway.” Sophie frowned. “Who’s up there?”
“Come see for yourself.” With a smile, Deb turned and walked away.
“Okay…” Sophie followed. “I really don’t like surprises.”
“I’m willing to bet you’ll like this one.”
She stepped out into the main room and spotted Rick standing at the counter. She smiled, unable to help herself, and walked toward him. “Hey. What are you doing here?”
He pointed to the brown paper bag sitting on the counter. “I know you weren’t expecting me back until five to pick you up, but I thought you might want some lunch.”
“That was really thoughtful.” She peeked into the bag and found two burgers, two orders of fries, and two apple pies. “Are you going to stay and have lunch with me?” There was no way she could eat all that by herself.
“No, I have some errands to run in town. I only brought so much because I thought you might want to share with your coworker. I remember you ordering for two at the grocery store that first day we met.”
Wow. He had a good memory. She was impressed. “You’re incredibly sweet. Thank you.”
“You’re welcome. I have to run, but I’ll be back to get you in a few hours.”
“Okay. I’ll see you then.”
“Have a good day.” He turned and walked away.
“Thanks. You too,” she called after him, watching him go.
“He sure does fill out those jeans, doesn’t he?” Deb said, coming up beside her.
“Yes, he does.” Sophie glanced over. “But what would your mate say about you checking out Rick’s butt?”
“He would say it’s fine to look at the menu as long as I remember not to order anything.” Deb winked. “You, on the other hand, should take advantage of the carte blanche that fine man is offering you while it’s still on the table. Just because you’re not mates doesn’t mean you can’t build a lasting relationship.”
“What if we are mates?”
Deb shook her head. “You aren’t.”
&nbs
p; “How can you be so sure?”
“You would know. If the two of you were destined to be together, you would already feel it. Being mated isn’t something you grow into. It’s either there or isn’t. It’s just as simple and complicated as that.”
Sophie mulled that over. “How would I know?”
Deb frowned. “Are you serious?”
Sophie quickly weighed the pros and cons of confiding in Deb and decided she had nothing to lose. “Rick says I’m his mate.”
“Oh my God. That’s fantastic!” Deb threw her arms around Sophie and squeezed. “Why didn’t you say so sooner? I’m so happy for you.”
“I’m not a shifter like you guys. I don’t know what to think or feel. So much is going on right now; I’m not sure I know down from up.”
“You’ll figure it out,” Deb assured her.
Sophie started to ask how she was supposed to figure anything out when her life was turned upside down. Before she could speak, a little girl in a bright pink dress and bouncing brown pigtails skipped over to the desk and stopped in front of Deb and Sophie.
“Excuse me,” the little girl said in a high-pitched voice. “May I check out this book please?”
“Duty calls.” Sophie kneeled in front of the girl. “I would be happy to help you check out that book. Are you here with an adult?”
The girl nodded and pointed across the room. “My mommy’s over there.”
“All right,” she said. “Let’s go talk to your mommy.” Sophie stood back up and looked at Deb. “You can go ahead and take your lunch break if you want. Rick brought enough food for you and me both. I’ll handle things out here.”
“Okay,” Deb said. “But we’re finishing this conversation later.”
“Sure,” Sophie automatically agreed. They could talk more later. For now, she had a child interested in a new book to read. Her issues could wait.
* * * *
A loud scream pierced the quiet night. Rick jolted upright on the couch, disoriented and sluggish from sleep. He jumped to his feet and raced down the hall, his pulse racing. Adrenaline surged through him, forcing his bear to the surface. Fur burst through his pores and his fingernails lengthened into razor-sharp claws. His night vision improved and his sense of smell doubled. No unusual scents jumped out at him, but that didn’t mean his mate was safe.
He burst through his bedroom door and found Sophie curled around one of the pillows, her face buried in the soft cotton, and her shoulders heaving under the force of the silent sobs racking her body. Without a single hesitation, he climbed into bed with her and wrapped his arms around her. “It’s okay. I’m here. I won’t let anything hurt you.”
Sophie turned in his arms and pressed her damp face into his chest. “Don’t leave.”
“I’m not going anywhere.” Awareness of her seeped into every pore of his body—her taste, her scent, the heat of her skin. His bear rumbled in approval. Everything about her screamed mate. He relaxed, allowing his claws to retract and his skin to smooth out. He could rest easy. Sophie was still safe and sound in his home, his bed, where she belonged.
“It was just a dream,” she whispered.
He wasn’t sure whether she was telling him or trying to convince herself. “Do you want to talk about it?”
“No.”
“Are you sure? Sometimes talking can help.”
“It was stupid. I was back in my car, trying to get away from Lou. Only this time, when I wrecked, I was trapped inside and I couldn’t get out. I couldn’t get away.”
“That doesn’t sound stupid to me.” Rick brushed the hair from her face, kissed her forehead, and then her temple. “But it isn’t real. You’re not there. You’re here with me and I’m not going to let anything happen to you.”
She looked up at him with wide, glistening eyes. “You’re so good to me. Why are you so good to me?”
Rick frowned, confused by what she meant. “Why wouldn’t I be? You’re mine.”
She snuggled closer, pressing her body up against his. “I want to be. Make me yours.”
The meaning of her words rocked him to his core. Rick groaned at the thought of stripping her down and claiming her in his bed. He would give his left nut to make her his right then and there. However, he didn’t think she was after the same thing he had in mind. She wanted a distraction. He wanted forever. “I’m not sure that’s a good idea, Sophie. I want you—you have no idea how damn much—but I’m not sure I can be with you and not claim you.”
“Do it then,” she compelled him. “Claim me.”
“Are you sure you know what you’re asking for? Once we do this, there’s no going back. It’ll be you and me forever.”
She gave a shaky nod. “I want that. I want you.”
Overwhelming need settled in his gut and made his balls ache. “You have no idea how important you are to me or how excited I am to hear you say that.”
“Then show me,” she challenged him.
“Gladly,” he murmured, already lowering his head and covering her mouth with his own. He couldn’t deny her anything. He didn’t even want to try. He wanted this as much as she did. Maybe more. Sophie was smart, beautiful, and full of spirit. He couldn’t wait to seal the bond between them and claim her as his own. He slid his lips over hers gently, once, twice, and then a third time for good measure, before darting his tongue out to taste her. A hint of honey and something unique and infinitely sweeter burst over his taste buds and reconfirmed what he already knew. No one but his mate could possibly taste that fucking good.
He dove back in for a better taste and kissed her with every ounce of passion he had pent up inside him. Nothing existed but the woman in his arms and the ever-increasing desire for her. All coherent thought was diverted to the slip and slide of their tongues and the desperate ache in his groin. She moaned quietly into his mouth and followed his lead, returning every slick caress with one of her own. Her hands slid over his bare chest and shoulders, touching every inch of him within reach.
Rick’s desire skyrocketed. He couldn’t wait another second to have her bare and writhing in pleasure beneath him. With that thought in mind, he skimmed his hands up her sides, pulling up the soft material of her nightgown.
She seemed to read his mind and raised her arms, allowing him to pull the gown over her head. He slung the garment to the side, happy to be rid of it, and gazed down at her lush, pink-tipped breasts. He traced the valley between her breasts with two fingers. “You’re so beautiful.”
Unable to resist, he cupped both breasts and massaged the soft, supple flesh. He ran his thumbs around the areolas and watched her nipples tighten and peak beneath his touch. He bent his head and pulled one stiff peak into his mouth. He licked over and around her nipple, doing his best to drive her out of her mind with pleasure, and then switched sides to her give her other breast the same attention.
“Rick.” Sophie moaned his name and arched her back. She wrapped her legs around his waist and squeezed.
The sense of urgency within Rick doubled. He yearned to feel her legs wrapped around him just like that once he was buried inside her sweet heat.
He shoved at his pants and boxers, pushing them over his hips and down his thighs. Lifting one leg and then the other, he finally finished removing them and kicked them aside. Turning his attention to Sophie, he grabbed the slender straps of her string bikini panties and gave them a yank, ripping the thin material from her body.
“Jesus, Rick.” Sophie stared up at him with wide eyes. She lay trembling beneath him, her thighs open and welcoming.
“Shit. I’m sorry,” Rick said, afraid he’d scared her or pissed her off. “I’ll buy you more. Anything you want.”
She shook her head and smiled up at him. “I don’t care about the panties. You just surprised me.” Her soft hands fluttered up and over his chest. She cupped his face and pulled him down for a long, lingering kiss.
He stretched out on top of her, careful to keep most
of his weight balanced on his forearms. As much as he loved her height and generous curves, she was still tiny in comparison to his larger, bulkier build. He had to force himself to remember to be gentle, and not let himself get too carried away.
She twined her legs around his hips and wiggled until his cock fell into position between the lips of her pussy. She rocked back and forth, rubbing her hot, damp flesh against him.
The extra stimulation was too much for him. If he didn’t get inside her soon, he was going to seriously embarrass himself by coming all over her stomach. He reached between their bodies, grabbed hold of his cock, rubbed the bulbous tip through her slick folds. He aimed the tip at her entrance and paused. “Are you ready for this?”
“Yes.” She rocked her hips upward into his touch. “Please.”
Reassured she wanted this as much as he did, Rick drove forward and gave her everything he had in one long, slow thrust. Her channel was slick and hot, surrounding him and holding him tight. He’d never felt anything so damn good or right in all his life.
“Oh.” Sophie cried out and sank her nails into his biceps. “Oh God.”
Rick closed his eyes and breathed deeply, trying to stave off his climax. After a moment, he dared to shift his hips forward and back, luxuriating in the friction and heat of her body. He could feel everything, every inch of her channel, the walls snug and rippling around his cock.
Rick eased his hips backward, slowly retreating, and then thrust back inside, closing his eyes as pleasure raced through him. Sophie fit him like a glove, so hot and tight around him. He couldn’t get enough.
His body surged into high gear, doing what came naturally. He rocked his pelvis, making love to her with long, slow strokes. She moved with him, rocking up into his every downward plunge.
The primal urge to rut and stake his claim was so strong, almost more than he could bear. The beast inside him growled, restless, and desperate to strike now and leave their mark on Sophie. His gums ached from holding back the fangs he would use to pierce her skin and bind them together for eternity.