His other hand slid down her stomach, fingers trailing lightly over her skin until they reached her thighs. Holly parted her legs in invitation, a soft moan escaping her as his fingers found her most sensitive spot.
“Daniel,” she breathed, her hips rising to meet his touch.
He stroked her slowly at first, watching her face as he learned what made her gasp, what made her eyes flutter closed. When he slid two fingers inside her, his thumb circling that bundle of nerves, Holly felt herself climbing toward release.
Her hand found his hardness, wrapping around him, stroking in time with his movements. Daniel groaned, his forehead pressing against hers as they breathed the same air, shared the same rhythm.
“I need you,” Holly whispered, guiding him toward her entrance. “Please.”
Daniel positioned himself between her thighs, entering her with exquisite slowness. Holly wrapped her legs around his waist, drawing him deeper, her body stretching to accommodate him. For a moment, they stayed perfectly still, connected in the most intimate way, their eyes locked.
“You’re mine,” Daniel whispered, his voice filled with wonder. “And I’m yours.”
“Yes,” Holly agreed, her heart so full she thought it might burst. “Completely.”
He began to move, setting a slow pace that quickly built as their bodies found their natural rhythm together. Holly’s hands roamed his back, feeling the play of muscles beneath his skin as he rocked into her. Each thrust brought her closer to the edge, pleasure building in waves that threatened to overwhelm her.
Daniel’s movements grew more urgent, his hands gripping her hips as he drove deeper. Holly met him thrust for thrust, her body tightening around him as she felt her climax approaching.
“Daniel,” she cried out as pleasure crashed through her, her body arching beneath him.
He followed her over the edge, his release pulsing inside her as he buried his face in her neck, breathing her name.
They lay tangled together afterward, breathing hard, warm despite the cold outside. Daniel pulled the blanket more securely around them, tucking it beneath Holly’s shoulder.
“I’ve never felt anything like that,” Holly murmured, her fingers tracing lazy patterns on his chest.
“That’s the mate bond,” Daniel said, pressing a kiss to her forehead. “It makes everything more intense.”
Holly nestled closer, savoring the weight of his arm around her, the steady beat of his heart beneath her ear. The windows had fogged completely, creating a private world that belonged only to them.
“I can’t believe the last time I drove this car before today, I was running away,” she murmured. “But I’ll never run again.”
Daniel’s hand stroked her hair, his touch gentle. “The moment I saw you in that wedding dress, standing in the snow. You have no idea how hard it was, seeing you there, knowing you were meant for me but were about to marry someone else.”
Holly propped herself up on one elbow to look at him. “We have Andrew to thank for that.”
“Or fate,” Daniel said with a soft smile. “Though I hope someday I’ll see you in a wedding dress again. Because I am going to marry you.” His voice held a teasing note, but his eyes were serious.
“Are you now?” Holly laughed, emotion catching in her throat. “Maybe next time I’ll pick something warmer. With long sleeves. And possibly thermal underwear.”
As their chuckles subsided, a comfortable silence settled between them. Holly traced her fingers along Daniel’sjawline, marveling at how this man—this bear—had completely transformed her life in just a few days.
“I love you,” Holly whispered, the words rising naturally from somewhere deep inside her. They weren’t planned or calculated, just the simple truth that couldn’t be contained any longer.
Daniel replied without hesitation, “I love you too, Holly. I think I’ve loved you from the moment I found you in that snowstorm.”
The confession hung between them, precious and perfect in its simplicity. No grand gestures needed, no dramatic declarations—just the quiet certainty of belonging.
Holly smiled, resting her head against his chest, listening to the steady rhythm of his heart. “And your kids. And your bakes,” she added, her voice light but sincere. “You’re the perfect package deal.”
Daniel cupped her face in his hands, his touch reverent as his thumbs stroked her cheeks. His expression was so tender it made her breath catch. “That’s all I’ve ever wanted.”
Holly tilted her head, her heart beating faster as a question formed in her mind. Something she hadn’t dared to consider until this moment, wrapped in his warmth, surrounded by his love. She swallowed, gathering her courage.
“Do you think you have room for more children?” she whispered.
Daniel’s eyes darkened, and his jaw tensed, the muscles working beneath his skin as emotion swept across his face. When he spoke, his voice was thick with feeling.
