Page 57 of Bad Blood Bear

Xander’s voice came out of the tree above them. “What is this? Prom night? I thought you’d never stop making out in the truck. Should I take a picture for Grandma?”

“Fuck off, Xander,” Lissa said. “We’re on a date.”

“Sheeyit,” Xander muttered. “A date? It’s like a teenage romance novel all up in here.”

“Not even,” Lissa said. “Give us five minutes, and we’re going to be rocking the ‘R’ rating.”

“I did not need to know that!” Xander called after them.

Tank gave him the finger as they walked away.

They made it safely to the steps and onto the porch, despite Lissa’s heels. There were lights on, and they could see Flynn on the couch, bare feet propped up on the coffee table, and Jasmin curled up in the leather armchair, watching something on TV.

Tank knocked on the window and called, “We’re back!” Flynn lifted a hand in acknowledgement.

Tank led Lissa along the wrap-around porch to the back entrance and they went down the short hall to his room. It was neater than usual—now that Lissa was in and out, there seemed to be a reason to keep it nice for visitors. Before, he hadn’t cared.

He flicked on the lights, using the dimmer to bring them down. Then he faced Lissa and slid the zipper down on her jacket, helping her off with it and slinging it over the chair. They faced each other, both feeling suddenly shy.

She looked so beautiful with the dress floating around her, clinging to some of her curves and disguising others. Her legs looked long and slim in the stockings they’d bought, and the high-heeled shoes made them look sexy as fuck.

He could feel his dick hardening, but he had to be sure this was the right thing. “Are you sure you want to do this?” he asked.

She looked up at him, her eyes darkening. “Are you having second thoughts?”

He shook his head. “I’m just afraid of hurting you.”

She frowned. “You mean your bear?”

He shook his head. “It’s just—you deserve someone who has a whole heart to give you, and who could pledge that heart to you forever and devote himself to making you happy. I just don’t want to disappoint you.”

She turned and faced him, her face soft. “Oh, Tank,” she said.

She reached up and traced a heart on his chest. “You have a huge heart. A good heart. Any woman would be lucky to be with you, even if you can’t be a mate to her like you were with Angie.”

He couldn’t resist her any more. He wanted her so badly—wanted to wrap himself around her and make everything that had ever hurt her stop hurting. He wanted to peel her dress off and see how sexy she looked underneath, and then he wanted to worship every inch of skin until she was gasping and screaming his name.

He wanted her to be his. He knew it was selfish, because he couldn’t give his whole self to her. Because he was broken, and one day his bear would break out and do something terrible, and he’d have to be put down.

But he wanted Lissa’s sweetness and caring and happiness. It made his broken places hurt less.

Tank cupped her face and kissed her so, so softly, brushing his lips against hers. She gave a low, sexy moan, and he deepened the kiss just a little, sipping at her lips as if savoring fine whiskey.

He pulled back and smiled at her, and she smiled back. Then he turned her around and pulled her back until he was sitting on the side of the bed with her between his knees, facing away from him.

Slowly, slowly, he pulled down the zipper on her dress, exposing her creamy skin. He dropped a kiss on the back of one shoulder, and then the other, trailing soft kisses down her back as he followed the zipper’s trail.

When it was all the way down, he rose to his feet and lifted the dress over her head. He laid it carefully out on the chair, so it wouldn’t get messed up. Then he turned around and looked at Lissa.

His breath caught in his chest. She still had on her high heels, and thigh-high cream-colored stockings with lace at the top. Then came the lacy blue thong underpants, barely covering her pussy, and leaving her creamy rounded bottom exposed.

There was a matching bra, also covered in lace, offering tantalizing peeks at her pink nipples.

Tank thought his dick was going to burst out of his fancy new pants.

Lissa’s eyes dropped to his crotch, and she smiled mischievously. “So, I guess you like it.” she asked.

Her voice was husky and sexy. All Tank could do was nod.

She walked over to him and put one hand on his waist. The other she trailed up the front of his pants, from the base of his cock to the tip. Tank sucked in a breath and stifled a moan.

The scent of her filled the room—fruity shampoo and body lotion mixed with her own distinctive scent, and the scent of intense arousal.

She wanted him. Broken, confused, unsure of what he had to offer—she wanted him.

“You are absolutely beautiful,” he said honestly. “And hot damn, you are sexy as fuck.”