by KD Jones
“What do you want from me?”
“I want to be with you, touch you, just listen to your voice. Over these past few months, the only bit of happiness I’ve had has been when I came to work and fought with you.”
She laughed. “You like being called an asshole everyday, huh?”
He smiled. “I didn’t care what you called me. I just wanted to be near you and listen to you, and sometimes touch you when I walked too close to you. Pathetic right?”
Dahlia moved closer to the end of the sofa and cupped his cheek with her hand. “No. Any time you need me to yell at you, just come on by.”
“I should walk away, give you the space you’ve asked for, and let you get on with your life without dealing with all my baggage. The truth is, I’m not strong enough to turn my back on you, on what I know we could have together. That may make me a selfish bastard, so be it.”
A tear traveled down her cheek. “You’re not a selfish bastard, just a good man trying to do the right thing.”
“Is there a chance for us? I shouldn’t ask this now but if there’s a chance, a glimmer of hope, I’ll wait and bide my time until you’re ready. This is what I want, you’re what I want.”
“I… I want you too,” she whispered.
Ivan quickly moved to close the small distance between them as he went to his knees and gathered her in his arms. His lips slanted over hers as he kissed her soft lips. His bear growled and her bear answered back with her own desire.
He pulled back despite his bear’s protests but he had to make sure. “Do you want me to leave?”
“No.”
“If I stay, I’m not going to be able to hold back.”
She reached out, grasping the back of his neck to pull him back to her. “Don’t hold back anything.
Chapter 16
Dahlia’s heart was racing at her bold move but she was tired of holding back. She wanted Ivan and he wanted her. They would work out the details later.
He took over the kiss using his tongue to show her exactly what she was missing. She could see need flare in his eyes and was sure her eyes matched his before she closed her eyes and let herself get lost in the moment. Their tongues dueled in a sexual dance and every nerve ending in her body came awake. She could feel that kiss all the way down to her very toes.
She wanted more, wanted to be skin to skin. Reaching for the buttons of his shirt, she began to unbutton them. “Too many damn buttons.”
He chuckled as he helped her with the last few. Then she was pushing the shirt over his shoulders and down his arms. Her fingers skimmed greedily over his hot skin. Ivan had the best body.
“It’s only fair that you lose your shirt, too,” he told her, reaching for the hem of her sweater.
Dahlia raised her arms up over her head and watched as Ivan pulled the material over and off. He tossed it to the side while his eyes zeroed in on her breasts in her white lace bra. She expected him to fumble with the front clasp since he had such big hands, but he reached over and deftly undid the clasp, freeing her bountiful breasts. His hands reached out to cup them immediately.
She couldn’t help but smile. “A breast man, huh?”
“I love your breasts. They are so fucking perfect.” He leaned forward and took a nipple in his mouth.
Dahlia tilted her head back and moaned in pleasure. “Ivan that feels so good.”
He gently bit her hardened tip, causing a brief bit of pain before suckling and lavishing the area with his tongue turning pain into pure bliss. She wanted him with a desperation that consumed her.
Standing up, she reached for her jeans button and unsnapped it. She kicked off her shoes and shoved the jeans down her legs. Walking past him, she glanced back to see that he was admiring her G-string. She took the edges of her G-string around her hips and bent over, taking it off. By the time she stood up, she was swept into Ivan’s arms as he carried her down the hallway to her bedroom.
Ivan gently tossed her onto her bed as he nearly ripped his zipper off of his jeans. She laughed warmly when he balanced on one foot trying to get free of his pants, almost falling over.
Finally he had stripped his pants and boots off and began to stalk her. Bending to his knees and hands, he crawled on the end of the bed up to her feet. With his hands, he spread her bent legs wide so that he could see her pussy. For just a moment, she felt shy about being completely open to him.
“Look at me, Dahlia.”
She looked up and locked eyes with him.
“You are the most beautiful woman I have ever seen.”
Dahlia knew she wasn’t the most beautiful woman in the world, but the way he looked at her and the way he said that made her feel beautiful. She was able to relax and enjoy the tingles where his hands stroked her inner thighs.
Ivan stroked her thighs until his thumb came up to her thinly fur-covered pussy. She watched him close his eyes and inhaled her arousal. Opening up his eyes, he stared into hers as he lowered his mouth down to swipe his tongue along her seam.
“Mmm… so good.”
Dahlia would have loved to let him go down on her, but she was so close already to her orgasm. Having gone without for so long left her sensitive, and the fact that she had been dreaming of him had her in a perpetual state of arousal. She tugged on his hair to get his attention.
“Do that later, right now I want to feel you inside of me.”
He nuzzled her pussy with longing. “Okay, baby. But I plan to taste every inch of you before the sun rises.”
“Deal, now get up here and fill me.”
He climbed up her body, kissing and licking. He stopped to worship her breasts, taking each luscious mound in his hands and kissing them. Every caress, every kiss, every lick sent electric currents through her body, and her pussy felt like it was on fire with need.
“Please, Ivan.” She never thought she would beg anyone for anything but she begged him for what she needed.
He had a gleam in his eyes as he finally came up to hover over her. They were breasts-to-chest and hip-to-hip. His cock was nestled at the entrance of her folds. Using her juices, he coated the tip of his cock then began a slow thrust inside of her. Little by little, with every short thrust he made his way deeper and deeper. Then he hit the end and waited.
She hadn’t realized she’d closed her eyes but when he just stopped moving, she opened her eyes in frustration. “Why did you stop?”
“I want to see your eyes as I take you.”
His words caused her pussy to clench against him and he groaned then began thrusting in and out of her over and over. He was hitting every right spot inside of her. She was going to release soon.
Ivan lifted her legs up higher and changed the angle and she exploded while calling out his name. “Ivan!”
He continued to stroke into her over and over, building the fire in her and to her surprise, she had a second orgasm. This time he came with her. He kept them connected but turned them to their sides.
She was trying to catch her breath. “That was…”
“Only the beginning. I plan to love you until neither one of us can move.”
And he did.
Chapter 17
Just before sunrise
Ivan held Dahlia in his arms, exactly where she belonged. They had made love over and over. He would never get enough of her. They finally fell asleep, exhausted, just a few hours before something woke him up.
His cell phone started ringing. He got up and went to retrieve it from his discarded jeans. The number was from his landline at the cabin. His heart started racing.
“Jeanne?”
“He found out, Ivan!”
“What? Who?”
“My father! He called me just now and told me that he was furious that I would take up with you. He said he was coming and that he would make sure I paid for what I did. I’m scared!
“Easy, Jeanne, stay calm. My brother, who’s a deputy sheriff, is guarding the cabin.”
“I can’t stay here!” She was hy
sterical and crying.
“Okay, okay. I’m on my way to get you. I’ll take you to my mother’s.”
“Please hurry!”
He hung up and called his brother. “Ryder, has anyone come by the cabin?”
“No, it’s been real quiet but I do feel like someone’s watching me.”
“Jeanne got a call from her father, who says he’s coming for her.”
“What do you want me to do?”
“Just stay there. Call Niko and tell him what’s happening. I’m going to get Jeanne and take her to Mom’s.”
“Do you want me to call Mom, too?”
“No, I’ll call her myself.” He hung up and reached for his shirt.
“What’s going on?” Dahlia asked, sitting up in bed.
“Jeanne’s father called her and scared her bad. I’m going to take her to my mom’s.”
“Is he really that bad?” Dahlia asked.
“According to Damen, he’s worse than what we know.”
“Let me get dressed and I’ll come with you.”
“Are you sure? Jeanne is not going to be pleasant to deal with and I don’t want you hurt by all this.”
She got of the bed and walked over to him, completely naked. She wrapped her arms around his neck. “I’m either in your life—all of it—or I’m not.”
He leaned down to kiss her. “All of it, baby.”
“Okay, let me get dressed.”
He watched her go to grab some clothes. She was absolutely amazing. Too good for him but he wasn’t giving her up.
*****
As they neared Ivan’s cabin, she noted that it was just out of the small town in an isolated area, with a mountain and forest and only one road leading up to the cabin. With shifter senses, Ivan should be able to defend his home easily. However, this guy Edward Lance evidently was some kind of human badass. It made her wonder what his daughter was like.
Dahlia wasn’t sure what to expect when they arrived at Ivan’s cabin. A part of her expected Jeanne to be similar to her, but that was so wrong. She followed Ivan up the steps of the cabin and he called out to warn Jeanne.
“Jeanne, it’s me. I’m coming in.”
He unlocked the door and pushed it open. He stepped inside the cabin and Dahlia kept a few feet behind, pausing in the entrance. She saw the dark-haired woman peer up from the couch before moving toward Ivan.
“Thank God you’re here.” She threw her arms around Ivan’s middle. She was much shorter and smaller, with delicate pale skin, her long dark hair cascading down her back, looking like a pinup model. She looked over at Dahlia with big blue eyes.
“Who are you? Are you Ivan’s sister?”
“No, I’m not his sister.”
Ivan moved her away from him. “Jeanne, this is my mate, Dahlia.”
“Mate? I told you no dating. You can’t be mates, I’m carrying your baby.”
“Dahlia is my mate even though I haven’t officially claimed her. I kept my promise as best I could, but this is a shifter thing that cannot be denied.”
She could tell that Jeanne wanted to argue. She sniffed the air outside. “We don’t have time to explain, we need to get her somewhere safe. Ivan, I scent humans close by.”
Ivan didn’t question her but trusted that she had scented what he couldn’t. “Jeanne, grab your bag.”
Jeanne glared at Dahlia but walked over to the couch and picked up a duffel bag, which was too heavy for her to carry in her condition. She is too weak, her polar bear snorted. Problem was they needed to get the hell out of there.
“Let me help you carry that.”
Jeanne gave her a smile and said, “Thanks.” She dropped the bag on the floor to walk back over to Ivan and took his arm.
Dahlia growled but went over and picked up the duffel bag and easily tossed it over her shoulder. She walked by Jeanne, ignoring the shocked look on the woman’s face at Dahlia’s show of strength. We are very strong, her polar bear preened. She couldn’t argue with that.
She threw the bag in the back of the pickup and frowned at seeing that Ivan was lifting Jeanne up by the waist to lift her in his truck. Jeanne was about to close the door but she caught the handle.
“Scoot over.”
Jeanne didn’t look pleased. “There’s no room for you up here, you’re too… bulky. You’ll have to ride in the back.”
Ivan hopped in the driver’s side and growled, “Move to the middle, Jeanne. There’s a seat belt in the middle, use it.”
Jeanne slid over and hooked the seat belt. Dahlia hopped up easily into the passenger’s side and was a little disappointed that Ivan didn’t attempt to help her. It was stupid to feel that way; she didn’t need his help. She had to admit to herself that she was a little bit jealous.
Ivan handed his cell phone to Dahlia. “Call Niko and Ryder and let them know we are on our way to Mom’s.”
“Will they meet us there?”
“Niko will, but Ryder is staying at my cabin to try to catch these guys.”
Except for the calls she made, they were quiet on the rest of the way to Ivan’s mother’s house. Jeanne kept trying to put her hand on Ivan’s arm or leg but he pushed it away, much to Dahlia’s pleasure. Jeanne was trying to make the situation worse so Dahlia would leave, but that was not going to happen. Ivan was hers and she was keeping him.
Chapter 18
Ivan was glad that it didn’t take but twenty minutes to get to his mother’s. Having both Jeanne and Dahlia in the same truck cab was the most uncomfortable he had ever been.
He saw his brother Niko’s sheriff’s car and breathed a sigh of relief. Parking the truck, he got out and went over to talk to Niko, Damen, and Luka. “Did you warn Cosmo?”
Niko nodded his head. “Yeah, he’s keeping Andy and Sage with him until we get the situation under control. Ryder hasn’t answered his phone. He could be in his polar bear form.”
“We’ll have to go help him.” He turned to look and almost laughed as Dahlia was trying to help Jeanne down out of the truck but Jeanne kept knocking her hands away, refusing aid. Finally, Jeanne got her feet on the ground.
“So how are we handling this?” Damen asked holding their father’s rifle. It had been a long time since his lawyer brother took up a weapon.
“You and Luka stay here and protect the women and I’ll go with Damen to help Ryder capture these guys.”
Dahlia was walking by him carrying the duffel and stopped. “You can’t go back there. You don’t know what you’re walking into.”
“Give us a minute.” He walked over and took the duffel, throwing it at Luka to take inside the house. His mom come out and was helping Jeanne manage the steps. Damen moved away and Niko went to his car to wait for him.
He took Dahlia in his arms and kissed her. “I’ll be careful, I promise.”
“You better not get shot, Ivan. I won’t have it.”
Ivan kissed her again. “I’m a bad news polar bear, remember? It’ll take more than wimpy bullets to take me down. I love you.”
He walked away but he could hear her whisper her response, “I love you too. Come back to me.”
*****
Dahlia entered the house and closed the door. Damen stood on the front porch with the rifle. She followed the voices down to the hallway, just before the kitchen where Mara’s bedroom was.
She watched as Mara fussed over Jeanne sitting up in the bed, who looked uncomfortable. She looked up at her with worried eyes. “Where’s Ivan?”
“He and Niko, the town’s sheriff, went back out to his cabin to try to find the humans.”
“No, he can’t do that! Daddy will kill him, he said as much on the phone. He said he was coming, he would take care of the shifter once and for all, then he would make me pay for my transgressions.”
Mara shook her head. “What kind of man treats his daughter like this?”
Jeanne looked pale and fearful. “A demon with no heart. He never loved me, you know. He wanted a son but all he got was me. My mom s
tayed gone most of the time so that she didn’t have to deal with his advances or with me.”
Ivan’s mother patted her shoulder comfortingly. “Let me get you some hot tea and something to eat.” She got up and left the room to go to the kitchen.
Jeanne stared after her. “Why is she being so nice to me? Is it because of the baby?”
Dahlia sat in a chair next to the bed. “Partly. Also, Mara is simply the kindest person I’ve ever met. She took me in even though I was new to the area, and treated me like family. She would have accepted you with open arms if you had allowed him to tell his family sooner.”
“You think I’m a real bitch, don’t you?”
“It doesn’t matter what I think of you. I will protect you and the baby with my life, because not doing so would devastate Ivan.”
“You’re really his mate?”
“Bondmate, yes.”
“He didn’t claim you because of me?”
“You know the answer to that.”
“He thinks I hate him.”
“Ivan?”
“Yeah, he thinks I hate him and this baby.”
“But you don’t.”
She shook her head. “No. I behaved so badly and I didn’t know how to fix things. As the baby grew inside me, I felt… things I never felt before and it scared me. I blamed Ivan for me having to leave my life, to hideout with no friends and live in an isolated cabin I wouldn’t even rent for a weekend trip. I was so unhappy I took it out on him.”
“What changed?”
“I could be angry with Ivan, but he gave me something precious.” Jeanne rubbed her belly and showed the love she hid inside.
“Were you planning on taking the baby from him?”
“No. I agreed to give the baby up, but I couldn’t help but fall in love with this little one.”
Mara entered the room with a tray. The tea and a sandwich were on it. “Babies will change your heart if you let them.”
“He changed my heart, but not my mind. Being with me would not be the best thing for the baby. He’s my chance… a chance to do something right in the world, and I know that living with Ivan, not with me, is what is best for him.”