“No, it’s great. The chili adds a nice kick to the pasta.” He ate another couple of mouthfuls. “I’ll tell Tad how great your pasta is. He’ll probably want the recipe.”
“I’ll pass it on to him.” She picked up a piece of garlic bread and bit into it. “So tell me about your life in the mountains. My grandfather used to work in mountain rescue, so my grandmother told me. He carried on until he took early retirement. Unfortunately, he passed away when I was four, so I never heard his stories firsthand. I don’t really remember him at all.”
“I have a lot of stories. Many that are cautionary tales about how liquor and high altitudes don’t mix.” He gave a wry smile. “People think they are invincible after a few drinks.”
“Do they?” Josephine picked up her wine glass and drank deeply.
“They do.” Max grinned. She had a playful attitude he found incredibly sexy. Even after everything she’d gone through, she was able to laugh at herself and others.
“Well, you’ll be happy to know I rarely drink more than one glass of wine, so I am not likely to do anything reckless while under the influence of drink.” She set her wine glass down on the table. “Being a foster parent means always being in charge of your faculties. I guess you might call me boring.”
“I like boring.” He grinned. “If that is what you want to call it.” He turned his attention to Milly, who was gumming a biscuit Josephine had offered her.
“When I moved to Bear Creek, I figured I’d just fit into life here, maybe make some friends, join a yoga class or a local hiking group. That’s about the extent of my goals. But meeting you has turned that all upside down.” Josephine stared at Max thoughtfully. “I think meeting you and finding out I was your mate is about as unboring as it gets.” She held up her left hand. “Hell, I’ve only been here for two weeks and I’m already engaged.”
“And that is only the beginning,” Max assured her. “We are going to have a great life together, Josephine. I promise.”
“You don’t have to make me promises.” Josephine placed her fork down on her plate.
“Yes. I do. I promise that I will never hurt you. That I will always be by your side. Through whatever comes our way. I can’t promise every moment of our lives will be filled with happiness, but I can promise I will never be the cause of any unhappiness.”
A tear trickled down her cheek and she swallowed hard. “That’s all I want.”
He smiled, a small smile filled with love and a hunger that no food could ever satisfy. “You know, there have been so many times over the years when I’ve cursed fate for hiding my mate from me. But sitting here with you, thinking of our future together, it’s been worth the wait.”
“You say the sweetest things.” Her eyes held his for a long while and he reached out across the table and took hold of her hand. Rubbing his thumb across her skin, he sparked electricity between them. And something else, a deep physical need that was reflected in her eyes. “Do you want to do the dishes, while I bathe Milly?”
“Yes.” He got up abruptly and knocked his knee on the table leg. “Ouch.”
Josephine rose from the table and leaned forward to kiss his cheek. “Slow down, ranger, we have all night.”
“Is that an invitation?” Max asked hopefully.
“It is, do you have to call Jake and tell him you won’t be coming home?” she teased as she wiped Milly’s face and picked her up.
Max laughed. “I think my brothers will guess where I am.”
“Are you sure? They might get worried.” She walked backward out of the kitchen and then spun around and disappeared down the hallway.
Max stared after her until he heard her go up the stairs and into the bathroom. Certain she wasn’t about to run back downstairs and catch him red-handed, he took out his cell phone and sent a quick text to Tad telling him he wouldn’t be home tonight.
Technically, we told the truth. We didn’t tell Jake we weren’t coming home, his bear laughed.
As Max put his phone back in his pocket and went to the sink to run the hot water, his first date nerves struck him again. If he’d read the signs right, he was about to make love to his mate for the first time.
No pressure there then. No pressure at all.
Chapter Sixteen – Josephine
Josephine bathed Milly and dressed her in clean clothes, before taking a critical look at her own reflection in the bathroom mirror.
“You know, I don’t think Max really cares what I look like.” Josephine glanced over her shoulder at Milly who was lying on her back, kicking her legs in the air and trying to catch them with her small hands. “When you meet a man, I hope you will be so lucky.”
She turned around and looked down at Milly, before dropping down on her knees to scoop the small child up in her arms. Josephine inhaled the scent of freshly bathed baby and dropped a kiss on her head.
“I forgot you will know who your mate is when you meet him. I just hope fate picks the right man for you. And I hope you meet him when you are still young enough to have children of your own.” She placed her hands on her soft belly.
Until she met Max, she’d come to terms with being a single woman who had never met the man of her dreams and never carried a child in her womb. After Vincent, she figured it was for the best. If she could choose the wrong man once, she could again. Marrying a man like Vincent and then having a child with him would be a deeper kind of hell than the one she experienced.
But now, with Max… A sense of loss swept over her.
“But we are lucky enough to have you.” She scooped Milly up into her arms and hugged her close. “We are all so very lucky.”
Josephine sat on the bathroom floor absorbing the warmth of Milly and offering her love and support for the rest of her life. She wanted to be as much a mother as Milly needed. She would rise to the challenge, just as she would rise to the challenge of becoming a wife and a mate to Max.
Pushing herself up from the floor, she left the bathroom and went downstairs to warm Milly’s bottle. Max had finished washing the dishes and pans and was wiping down the kitchen table, before putting the vase of flowers in the center.
“There. All done.” Max dried his hands and then held out his arms for Milly. “Shall I hold her for you?”
“Here, she’s all snuggly and ready for bed. I’ll just warm her formula and then get her to sleep.” Josephine went to the fridge and fetched a bottle. Her hand shook as she popped it in a jug of hot water to warm. It had been a long time since she’d been with a man, but she wasn’t going to let her nerves get the better of her. She wasn’t going to send Max away. “There is some brandy in the cupboard if you want to pour two glasses for us.”
“I thought you didn’t drink more than one glass of wine?” Max asked as he opened the cupboard and took out a half-full bottle of brandy. “Hey, this is good stuff.”
“It’s purely for medicinal purposes.” She held out her arms for Milly. “Here, I’ll take this young lady to bed and you make yourself comfortable in the living room. I’ll even let you watch Netflix while you are waiting.”
“Thanks. Don’t be too long or I might start binge-watching.” He kissed Milly on the cheek. “Goodnight, sweetheart, sweet dreams.”
“See you in a few minutes.” Her hand brushed his as she took a sleepy Milly from him and went upstairs. Josephine hoped her nervousness wouldn’t rub off on the sleepy baby. “You need to go to sleep, my sweet baby.”
She rocked Milly in her arms as she climbed the stairs and then headed to the pretty room with yellow walls and a unicorn mobile hanging over a wooden crib. In the corner of the room was an old comfortable chair that had seen better days but was perfect for feeding a hungry baby or comforting an upset child.
Sitting down gently, Josephine leaned back in the chair and adjusted Milly’s position so that her head was in the crook of her arm. Tipping the bottle, she guided the nipple towards Milly’s mouth while avoiding her tiny flailing hands.
In the dim light of the
bedroom, Josephine fed and burped Milly before laying her down on the mattress and covering her with a blanket. She stood gazing down on Milly for a few minutes, wrapped up in the wonder of babies and their silence. Whatever Milly had experienced before she was taken into foster care didn’t affect her ability to sleep soundly.
There were no obvious bad dreams, no screams of terror. And Josephine gave up a silent prayer that would never change.
Backing out of the room, she blew a kiss to the dozing baby and then turned around and walked quietly down the stairs.
“Is she asleep?” Max asked when Josephine joined him in the living room.
“She is. Milly always looks so peaceful when she’s asleep. I’m so thankful she’s doing so well.” Josephine sat down on the sofa next to Max and he handed her a large glass of brandy.
“Here’s to feeling invincible.” He raised his glass and took a slug of brandy while Josephine sipped hers slowly. The warmth immediately infused her veins.
“Invincible we are.” She took a bigger sip and then cradled the glass in her hands.
Max drained his glass and then placed it on the small table next to the sofa. Leaning back, he slipped his arm around her shoulders and drew her close. “This is nice.”
“Nice.” She nodded. “It is nice.” Snuggling up to him, she rested her head on his shoulder and stared at nothing in particular as the room went out of focus.
“Do you remember when nice was like a four-letter swear word?” Max asked dreamily.
“I do. Now, I’m okay with nice. Nice is comfortable. Nice is cozy. Nice is safe.” She snuggled closer to him.
“Nice, like a comfortable pair of slippers.” Max’s arms tightened around her shoulders.
“Or a nice warm blanket on a cold winter’s evening.” Her eyes grew heavy. It had been a long day, but she didn’t want to sleep, not yet. Not when Max was here beside her.
She propped herself up and mentally threw a bucket of ice-cold water over herself. Shaking her head, she tried to think of something witty or clever to say, but when she opened her mouth to speak, it was as if the only language she was fluent in was baby babble.
“You’re tired.” Max slid his arm from her shoulders and sat up. “You look ready for bed.”
Josephine nodded. “I am ready for bed.” She stood up and held out her hand to him. “Coming?”
“Are you sure?” Max asked with a mixture of hope and uncertainty.
“Yes. Never more sure.” Josephine leaned forward and grabbed hold of the front of his shirt. “Don’t make me ask twice.”
He laughed, a sound she liked more than her favorite song. There was nothing dark or malicious about Max. He was light and caring, the kind of person you would want by your side when shit hit the fan, to tell you it was going to be okay and to do his best to make sure it was okay.
As he bounced off the sofa, and into her arms, she had a moment of panic. Uncertainty swept over her as she placed her hands on his chest and looked up into his eyes. “I don’t deserve you. And I’m not sure you deserve me.”
“Hey, don’t ever say that. Fate pushed us together. And I believe in fate. I believe in you.” He cupped her chin in his hand and rubbed his thumb along her soft jawline. “You know, when I look at you and see you with Milly, I wonder what I did to deserve you. You are an incredible woman, Josephine. You’ve picked yourself up when life kicked you in the gut time and again. You didn’t let the crap that happened to you taint your soul.”
“He used to say it was my fault.” She looked down at her hands, but Max raised her chin and looked directly in her eyes.
“It wasn’t. You know that, right?” Max asked. “There are no circumstances where it’s acceptable for one person to treat another cruelly.”
“I know that now. But he wore me down little by little. He used to tell me it was all in my head at first. That it was because I was insecure and jealous.” She slid her arms around Max’s neck. “That’s never going to happen with us.”
“No, it’s not.” He brushed the hair back from her face. “I’m not that kind of man. Not that I’m trying to make myself out to be a hero or anything special. Most men are just regular guys.”
“You are my hero.” Josephine leaned forward and kissed his lips lightly. “And you’re a hero to countless people who owe you their lives.”
“It’s my job,” Max insisted as she took his hand and led him out of the living room.
“You might think it’s just your job, but you have a particular skill set that helps save lives. Not many people can say that.” Josephine guided him upstairs, her free hand gripping the stair rail for support as her knees turned to Jell-O.
Not because she was scared or afraid, although she was a little nervous, but because she wanted Max so much. She wanted their first time together to be special. Memorable.
“Tonight, there’s a different set of skills I’d like to show you.” He chuckled. “Damn, now I’m worried you’ll be disappointed.”
Josephine turned around in her bedroom doorway and looked at him. “We put too much pressure on ourselves. Let’s just enjoy ourselves. Warts and all.”
Max gave a lopsided grin. “Luckily, I don’t have warts.”
“Show me,” she teased as she pushed her bedroom door open and pulled him inside.
Max let go of her hand as she went around the side of the bed and drew the drapes. He watched her. But not in the same creepy way Vincent used to watch her. Sure, there was a possessiveness to his gaze, but Max didn’t want to shut her away and keep her all to himself. But he did want her all for himself. This relationship was one that would last forever.
As Josephine moved back around the bed toward her man, she accepted that this was for keeps. The love, their relationship was forever and not just because she wore his ring on her finger.
Max stood perfectly still, watching her as she closed the distance between them. He was like a statue, barely breathing as she reached out and placed her hands on his chest. As their eyes met, it was as if she were looking into deep pools filled with emotions he’d never been capable of sharing.
“I’ve never truly loved a woman before.” His voice hitched in his throat. “The feelings I have for you were never there. Not with anyone else because they were not the one. They were not my mate.”
“I’m here now.” She stood on tiptoes and pressed her lips to his. “And I’ll always be here as long as you need me.”
A sad smile spread across his face. “I’ll need you for eternity.”
Josephine tugged at Max’s shirt, pulling it out of his smart black pants. With fumbling fingers, she loosened his tie. “I’ve made the knot too tight.”
Max covered her hand with his and then lifted it over his head. “No problem.”
She swallowed down the lump of emotion that formed in her throat. With Max, no problem would be too great for them to overcome. She wanted that security more than she’d ever realized. Until now, she’d been alone, independent and capable of fixing everything herself. But she was ready to become part of something more, something bigger, even if it meant losing the independence she’d fought so hard to reclaim after Vincent.
Max wrapped his arms around her and reached for the zipper of her dress, Josephine set to work unbuttoning his shirt. Her fingers felt as if they belonged to someone else at first, but as each button gave way revealing more of his hard-toned body, she gained more confidence.
He was perfect. Lightly tanned skin, with a smattering of salt and pepper hairs leading down to the waistband of his pants. She could only imagine what was beneath the fabric. Pushing his shirt off his shoulders, Josephine tugged at his belt, wanting to see if reality lived up to her imagination.
It didn’t. As she unbuckled his belt, his pants slid down to the floor, revealing his toned thighs. His job must keep him fit. Walking up the mountain must give him incredible stamina…
Her body tensed and small thrills traveled up her spine at the thought of being with Max.
/> Self-assured and confident, Max quickly unzipped Josephine’s dress and pushed it off her shoulders. It slid down her curvy body and pooled on the floor at her feet. Stepping out of the fabric, which was wrapped around her ankles, she moved toward the bed.
Max followed. Not that she had ever doubted he would. It was as if they were joined together by an invisible strand of thread. She’d never experienced the same kind of connection with another person.
Sliding beneath the bedcovers, she held them up and Max slid into bed beside her. As she let the covers drop down, he cradled her in his arms, his lips hot on her neck, sending delicious sensations across her skin. Her heightened senses overloaded her brain as they tried to process each stroke of his fingertips, each kiss of his lips. Lying with him next to her, skin against naked skin, it was as if her body was on fire.
Heat built inside her. Intense. An inferno that only Max could quench.
Josephine slid her hand down between their bodies and wrapped it around his hardened length. The breath hissed between his teeth and he paused, gasping for air while she stroked his hard staff. Her body ached in need, wanting to feel him inside her, filling her, stretching her.
Josephine pressed her thighs together as she tried to release even the smallest amount of pressure. As if sensing her need, Max slipped a hand down between her thighs and stroked her mound. She closed her eyes, fighting to remain in control as he pushed one finger and then another inside her.
In and out he moved his fingers at the same tempo as she stroked his hard length. But she wanted more. She wanted her man, her mate to claim her.
Josephine stopped stroking Max’s hardened length and turned onto her back. As if reading her mind, Max moved to nestle between her legs, and she spread her thighs wider. Guiding himself into her, he thrust forward, filling her slowly. Her muscles tensed, sheathing him as he pulled his hips back and then thrust forward harder.
He moved in a steady rhythm in and out, stretching her inner muscles as he slowly but deliberately impaled her with his hardness.
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