"If there's work to be done, they'll show up for sure. If it's just a social event…" I shrug. "Who knows."
"Sneaky. I wouldn't have expected that from you."
Damn, I love the way she laughs at me. I also love that she doesn't know how sneaky I'm going to be to find out what kind of engagement ring she wants. What kind of wedding. What kind of life.
Because from this second forward, Joy is going to have every single thing she wants.
20
JOY
Cedarvale is a lovely little town. But living in a basement, it was too silent. Like a tomb.
Here in the forest outside Rathlock, it’s the perfect level of quiet. Sometimes the wind picks up and creates a faint rustle in the trees outside the bedroom window. Occasionally I hear an owl hoot in the distance. Mostly I hear Bear’s steady breathing beside me.
When we snuggled into bed together tonight, I expected he’d want to get naked. Yet he was concerned since last night was my first time, and suggested I rest for a day or two. I saw the fire in his eyes. He definitely wants me. He's just being a gentleman. Which I wouldn’t have expected from this massive beast of a mountain man.
I finally fall asleep, but it's not long before my eyes snap open again. I don't want my shifting to wake up Bear, so I slowly slip out of his embrace and tiptoe down to the kitchen. I'm not sure if that warm milk trick works, but it can't hurt to try.
It takes me a moment to find the light switch, but I know where the mugs are already. They're a bit high for me to reach, and as I grab one, a second comes tumbling out. It falls againstthe one in my hand, and I'm caught trying to juggle the two of them until they both clatter noisily onto the granite counter.
It's barely ten seconds before heavy footsteps come pounding down the stairs. "I'm fine!" I call out. "I'm so sorry."
Even groggy, Bear’s wildly sexy wearing nothing but gray boxers. His eyes scan me, looking for injuries. Then he sees the mugs on the counter and relaxes.
"I couldn't sleep, and?—"
We both exhale as his arms wrap around me. "Was it a nightmare, sugar? Did I not wake up when you needed me?”
Oh my goodness. That's his first thought?
"I'm fine. I just couldn't sleep, so I thought I'd try some warm milk. I'm sorry I woke you."
Bear scoops me up, carrying me to the couch and then wrapping me in a blanket. "Beautiful, I want you to wake me up every single time you need me. If there's an itchy spot on your back you can't reach. If you need someone to talk to. If you want me to come down and heat up some milk."
The way the heel of his hand runs gently up and down my spine makes me want to purr like a kitten.
"Thank you. I was fine until I dropped the mugs. Thank goodness they didn't break."
"As long as you aren't hurt, I don't care about stuff like broken mugs." He rocks me in his arms. "I know this relationship is going too fast. I don't want to slow a thing down, but we can do that if that's what's keeping you awake." Bear tips my chin up with his finger. "If you want to talk it out, I'm here. Or if you're not ready to talk about it yet, that's fine too."
"Wow. You're not very talkative, but when you do speak, you say all the right things."
With one arm around the back of his shoulders and the other on his chest, my breasts are pushed together and up. There's nomistaking the hungry way he stares at my cleavage. It only takes a second before I feel him swelling under my thigh.
"Don't you worry about that." His deep voice is still thick from sleep, making it even sexier. "Just tell me what I can do to relax you. Maybe a boring movie and fall asleep right here? Or should I get you that milk?"
My pulse is already thrumming. My nipples are already tight and beginning to ache from the way he’s staring at my chest. There's also another ache, much lower, making my thighs press together.
"I know another way we could relax. I don't think it would make me sleepy, though."
The faint light from the kitchen highlights his raised eyebrow. "Exactly what are you trying to say?”
"Last night you made me say it in words. This time, I’d rather just show you.”
His response is a muffled grunt. Then another grinding noise rumbles from his throat as I stand, letting the blanket fall to the couch, then slip off my shorts and panties and slowly pull off my tank top.
The second my breasts are free, Bear grabs them with both hands. "Fuck, you're beautiful," he growls, pulling me to straddle his lap.
