The Snow Leopard's Love

by Raines, Harmony

  Belle wants her mom to give Oscar a chance, Rift’s snow leopard said. Do you think she will?

  I do. Rift covered his smile.

  “Shall we go have some coffee?” Belle pulled Rift toward the house.

  “I am going to go check on my apartment,” Katrina replied. “Do you want to come, Oscar? I’ll treat you to dinner.”

  “Yes,” Oscar blurted out before he composed himself. “Although, I’m an old-fashioned guy and would prefer dinner to be my treat.”

  “We can discuss it on the way,” Katrina replied. “You two should have some time alone.”

  “Subtle, Mom.” Belle squeezed Rift’s hand as she grinned.

  “Shall we meet back here tomorrow morning?” Katrina asked. “It’s too late to drive back tonight and we’re all tired. I have a guest room, Oscar. Unless you need to go back to Wishing Moon Bay tonight.”

  “No. Tomorrow morning is fine with me. Perhaps if you insist on buying dinner, I could buy us breakfast.” Oscar and Katrina headed for the car, looking like an old married couple.

  “They look great together.” Belle leaned on Rift’s shoulder.

  “They look happy together.” Rift put his arm around her. “Shall we go get that coffee? You look tired.”

  “Thanks.” She screwed her face up. “You might need to work on your compliments.”

  Rift chuckled. “That was me showing my concern. It’s been a long and stressful day.”

  “You can say that again. I was so worried that the pendant wasn’t here. I nearly let Rosie have it for her dress-up box a couple of months ago.” Belle went into the house and closed the door behind Rift.

  “Why didn’t you?”

  She shrugged. “Because it was the only link I had to my father.” Her eyes misted with tears. “I know what I said about not wanting to know anything about him and not needing to know the answers to all the questions surrounding him and what he did.”

  “But he was still your dad.” Rift nodded in understanding.

  “He was. I used to lie awake at night and dream of what it would be like to have a dad.” She arched her eyebrow. “The kind of dad my friends had. One who went out to work and came home each evening. Not the kind who does bad things.”

  “There’s times I did the same. Valerie was the best mom in the world but seeing my friends with their fathers…”

  “Which is what made it so much harder when Landon left. I don’t want Rosie and Jack growing up not having a father.” She put the coffee on and then turned to face him. “Which is why I am willing to throw myself into this relationship with you.”

  “Throw yourself.” He held out his arms, his expression serious. “I’m here to catch you. Always.”

  “I didn’t believe in shifters until you showed me your snow leopard. I didn’t believe in mates either but now I think I do.” She went to him and wrapped her arms around him. “And now I believe in love, too. Because I feel it in my heart.”

  Rift held his breath as he tightened his arms around her. “Love is all that matters, Belle. Love for friends and family, it’s more precious than any jewel.”

  “I want to make love right now.” Her words blindsided him and he stared at her for a long moment as if he hadn’t comprehended what she’d said.

  “We don’t have to rush.” Was he really trying to persuade her not to go to bed with him? He must be crazy, he’d craved her since the moment they met. Yet he didn’t want her to have regrets. Today had been a traumatic day and people made bad choices when they were in a highly emotional state.

  “So that’s a no?” She arched an eyebrow as she watched his expression.

  “Oh, I want to.” He put his hand over his heart. “I meant…”

  “It’s what I want.” She placed her hand over his as it rested on his chest. “I want you.”

  “Bedroom?” He could barely get the word out, it was as if she’d knocked the wind out of him.

  She pointed upwards as heat flared across her skin. Rift wanted to strip off her clothes and chase that heat. But not here in the kitchen. What if her mom came back to check on them or something?

  His snow leopard chuckled. That would be embarrassing.

  Rift scooped her up into his arms and cradled her against his chest as he headed for the stairs. He forced himself to slow down and take the stairs one at a time even though he could barely control his need to claim his mate.

  “Which room?” he growled.

  Belle pointed to the second door on the right and he pushed the door open with his hip before going inside.

  The room was painted a pale cream with floral drapes and a hand-carved wooden bedframe covered in a matching bedspread. It was a pretty, functional room and he suspected the curtains and bedding were new, perhaps Belle had wanted to transform the room after Landon left.

  He lay her on the bed, the same bed she’d probably shared with her husband for so many years. He hovered over her and lowered his head, pressing his lips to hers as he cupped her breast in his hand and rubbed his thumb over her nipple.

  She groaned and arched her back as if offering herself to him. Rift slid his hand between her thighs. She gasped as he touched her through the fabric of her jeans and opened her thighs wider. With each stroke of his fingers, her arousal intensified, and her nipples hardened into taut buds as he teased them.

  Belle covered his hand with hers, her lips parted as she moaned softly, craving his attention.

  “Are you sure?” he whispered against her ear.

  She turned her head, nuzzling his neck, sending thrills through his body. “Yes.” She placed her hand over his groin and stroked his hard length, as if reinforcing her answer.

  Rift hooked his fingers into the waistband of her jeans and pushed them down over her hips. Hiding her embarrassment, she let her hair fall over her face as she murmured, “It’s been a long time since I was naked in front of anyone but...”

  “We’ll take it slow,” Rift reassured her as he reached down and helped her wriggle out of her jeans.

  “I don’t know if I want to take it slow.” She tugged at the hem of his shirt and pulled it up over his head. Casting it aside, she lifted her head off the bed and pressed her lips to his tanned skin, her tongue curling around his nipple as she worked to unbuckle his belt.

  “I’m here for you, whatever you want.” Rift’s breath hissed through his teeth as she finally unbuttoned his jeans and pushed them down over his hips, before curling her hand around his hard length.

  “I want you.” She sat up and quickly peeled off her shirt and bra before diving under the covers.

  “Is there room in there for me?” He left his jeans pooled on the bedroom floor and climbed, naked, into the bed beside her.

  “I think I can squeeze you in.” She shuffled across the bed and he snuggled next to her, his hand around her waist as he pulled her close. “A perfect fit.”

  Rift cupped her cheek in his hand and stared down at her for a long moment before he leaned forward and brushed his lips across hers. He savored the taste of her, she was so unique, so his.

  Belle stroked his chest, her fingers trailing down over his stomach and lower.

  Rift closed his eyes as she curled her fingers around his hardness and stroked him, with just the right amount of pressure. He bit down on his lower lip as he fought for control, which was almost impossible. They were meant to be together, joined as one.

  Licking his lips, he lowered his head and sucked in her hardened nipple, teasing her with his tongue. Swirling it around and around, he regained his senses and cupped her breast in his hand, massaging her sensitive flesh.

  She groaned and writhed on the bed, parting her thighs and inviting him to lie between them. As if they were caught up in their own private dance, where only they knew the steps and the rhythm, he moved to nestle between her thighs, guiding himself into her.

  She tensed, her back arched before she let out a long-contented sigh and relaxed. Rift thrust forward, entering her and reveling
in the feel of her surrounding him. Belle nipped his neck, driving his arousal higher and he slid his hand underneath her, holding her to him as he lunged forward, filling her completely.

  Rift pulled back before thrusting his hips forward and sensations flooded his body. He was so close to coming but he wanted this to last longer. The touch of his mate, the feel of her surrounding him, stroking him, kissing him was something he wanted to prolong for hours.

  But he couldn’t keep in control for that long. She overwhelmed him.

  Rift moved with a steady rhythm as he took her with him to new heights. They moved as one, two bodies joined as they raced toward their climax.

  When he finally came, he rocked his hips, moving slowly inside her while her inner muscles tightened and milked his essence from him. Belle cried out, her fingernails raking his skin and he captured her mouth, kissing her until they were completely sated.

  As they lay in each other’s arms, exhaustion crept up on them and they slept. Together at last with no worries about what might be lurking outside.

  Chapter Twenty-Seven – Belle

  Belle stared out of the window at the early morning sun. She’d watched the sun rise from the kitchen window countless times. On days when she’d been up with the children all night when they’d suffered from coughs and colds and other childhood illnesses.

  She’d watched the sun rise after sleepless nights when her mind wouldn’t switch off as it tried to figure out where her marriage had gone wrong and how she was going to cope alone.

  This morning she’d watched the sun rise with her heart filled with love for the man who called her mate. The man she was willing to uproot her life for.

  Belle raked her hand through her hair. She must be crazy. With a good job and the children settled in their schools, her plans to move to Wishing Moon Bay were an act of madness.

  “Morning.” Rift entered the kitchen, she’d have to get used to him moving around so quietly.

  Yes, she would. A small smile crept over her face as he wrapped his arms around her waist and nuzzled her neck. Belle lifted her arms and encircled his neck, turning her face as she pressed her lips against his cheek.

  “Morning. I thought you were still asleep.”

  “The bed got cold without you in it.” He inhaled deeply and looked out of the kitchen window. “I want to spend every sunrise with you.”

  Belle turned around, her back to the window. “I’d like that.” She put the heel of her hand to her forehead. “Which sounds absolutely crazy.”

  He tilted his head to one side and looked at her sideways. “It’s good to be a little crazy sometimes.”

  “I’ve worked so hard to keep it all together.” Tears pricked her eyes and she looked away from him, not wanting him to see her cry. She didn’t want him to think she was weak.

  “Just because you move to Wishing Moon Bay and make a new start doesn’t mean you are giving up.” He stroked her cheek, his fingertips spreading heat in their wake. “Opening your heart when you’ve been hurt is a brave thing to do.”

  “I just worry if it’s the right thing for the children. Taking them away from their school and their friends.” Belle had always wanted to give them stability. It was even more important after their father left. For weeks, Rosie had asked if Landon was coming to read her a bedtime story. As for Jack, Belle would be forever haunted by her son’s eyes searching for his father as he stood shoulder to shoulder with his teammates.

  “Take your time. There’s no rush.” He held her tightly and soothed her, his voice warm and low.

  She rested her head on his shoulder. “I’m just scared of making another mistake.”

  “Hey.” He put his hands on her upper arms and held her away from him. “If you think you are to blame for their dad walking out, you’re not. It was his choice. I don’t know the reasons for your breakup, but I do know that they are his children, and he shouldn’t have just abandoned them. That is entirely on him.”

  Belle nodded. Here was a man who would never leave her. They were mates.

  “Okay.” She nodded. “A fresh start in a new town would be a good way of putting all of this behind us. We can move on together. The four of us.”

  He cocked his head on one side and smiled. “Or five or six.” His smile widened. “Do you want more children?”

  She closed the space between them and cupped his face in her hands. “I wouldn’t object if we were blessed with a brother or sister for Rosie and Jack. I always wanted a bigger family since mine was so small. It was only ever me and my mom. I didn’t want my kids to feel as if they were alone.”

  “There’s a big family waiting for them in Wishing Moon Bay. I know it’ll make everyone happy to have you all living there.” He leaned his forehead against hers. “I wish I could go back and make things easier for you as a child.”

  “My mom did her best. It’s not as if I’m traumatized. I never had a dad to miss.” She gave a small, humorless laugh. “Yet it still affected me. I don’t want my kids to grow up like that.”

  “All you can do is be there for them.” Rift sucked in a shuddering breath. “I never had a father either. But I want to be a father to your children. I’m going to make mistakes. I’m hoping your children will be patient with me and teach me as much as I teach them. Family is all about learning from each other.”

  She tilted her head back and captured his lips, their kiss deepening as he tightened his arms around her. He nipped her lower lip, and she opened her mouth as tendrils of desire unfurled in her belly. Perhaps she should drag him back to bed.

  But her mom and Oscar would be here in a couple of hours and she wanted to pack the things they needed to take back with them. She planned to spend a few days with Rift, figuring out how they were going to make the move work before she came back here and started to pack up her life.

  “Coffee’s ready.” Belle didn’t break away from Rift, she liked him holding her. It wasn’t just that he made her feel safe, now that the threat from Simon Westward had passed, there was nothing to be afraid of.

  Until Rift, she hadn’t realized how much she’d missed the touch of a lover’s embrace. She thought she could live without it, and she would have. Perhaps, because she’d never experienced the same kind of connection with anyone else.

  Now, the touch of his fingers on her skin, the warmth of his body next to hers, were something she never wanted to be without. Not for one day.

  It was as if the mating bond between them worked both ways. It wasn’t only Rift and his shifter side that experienced the connection.

  A thrill of excitement coursed through her. This was real. More real than anything she’d ever experienced before. It was as if a part of her that had always been dormant was now awakened.

  Her life was about to start anew. It went deeper than a new house in a new town. This was a new Belle.

  “Coffee would be great.” Rift didn’t relinquish his hold on her either. He stared down at her. “Maybe we could get the cups and pour the coffee while still holding onto each other because I really don’t want to let you go.”

  She took hold of his hand and lifted it, pressing it to her lips. “I need both my hands so I can pack.”

  He sighed. “In that case, you go start packing while I make coffee. Do you want breakfast, too?”

  “I do. There are some eggs and bacon.” She waved her hand at him. “Just help yourself to whatever you can find.”

  “I’m not as good at cooking as Ivan, but I can make breakfast.” He leaned over and kissed her cheek as she headed out of the kitchen.

  “I can’t wait to eat. Since we kind of skipped dinner last night.” Her cheeks flamed red as she left the kitchen with thoughts of their night together in her mind.

  Okay, it was time to get her head straight and figure out what they would need for a few days in Wishing Moon Bay. Belle also figured she might take some stuff to leave there, like a few changes of clothes and some toys and games. They might need to visit the town a few times b
efore they actually moved there. It would be great to not have to pack each time.

  She went to her closet and pulled down the large suitcase they used for vacations. Flipping it open, she went to the children’s rooms and grabbed some clothes before rummaging through the toybox. After ten minutes, she’d half-filled the case and began adding her things. She also added spare toothbrushes and some other personal items.

  “Hey, breakfast is ready.” Rift came into the room, she hadn’t heard him walk up the stairs.

  “Thanks.” She sat down on the bed and flipped the case shut. “It seems weird to think we’re going to leave this house.”

  “Have you lived here for long?” Rift came to sit next to her and reached for her hand.

  “Yes. We bought it when I got my promotion at work before the children came along.” She swallowed the lump of emotion in her throat and fought back tears. “I always thought Landon and I would raise the children and grow old together here.”

  “Do you still love him?” Rift didn’t look at her as he asked the question.

  “No.” She shook her head firmly. “He might have been the one that left but I knew our relationship had lost its sparkle for months before it happened. I tried talking to him about it. I even suggested we go to counseling, but he wasn’t interested. Of course, I now know it’s because he had a secret life with another woman. But over those weeks and months, the love I had for him shriveled up. It got smaller and smaller. When he left, it died.”

  “I needed to hear that.” Rift half turned to face her. “I’m sorry you got hurt.”

  “Not your fault.” Her mouth curved up at one corner.

  “I’m going to work hard to make sure we never lose our sparkle.” He slipped his arm around her shoulder and she leaned into him.

  “We’re a team. You and me. Us and the kids. As long as we always remember that and are open about our feelings, we’ll do just fine.” Belle placed her hand on his thigh and squeezed it lightly. “I am in love with you, Rift, and I plan to keep that love alive for the rest of my life.”

  “I love you, too, Belle.” He chuckled as his stomach rumbled. “Come on, let’s go eat before we move on with the rest of our lives together.”