Chapter 37 #2
Cece finished putting the mugs into the dishwasher before studying the plants on the counter. She filled a small watering can and watered the plants, then tucked it back under the sink.
Her stomach was tense, and it had nothing to do with her family trying to kill her.
She was anxious and bordering on crying like a damn baby because Briggs was leaving her.
He’d be gone for nearly two weeks, and the thought of going that long without him made her feel sick.
It wasn’t even the thought of losing the magic she was just getting used to having.
Nope, this had everything to do with being separated from the man she loved for two whole weeks.
“Keep it together, Cece,” she muttered when the tears threatened again. “It’s only two weeks. You can go two weeks without him. He’ll probably be willing to video chat a few times.”
Would he? He would be busy with his family and the anniversary party.
And she wouldn’t be that girlfriend who tried to take up all of his time.
He’d hinted that his ex, Lucille, hadn’t liked it when he made his family a priority, and Cece refused to do the same to him.
His family was important to him, and she loved that he had such a good relationship with them.
She wouldn’t be a big crybaby and make it all about her, just because she suddenly didn’t know how to live without him.
She heard Briggs come into the kitchen, and she plastered a smile on her face and turned around. “So, I was thinking… oh my god.”
All the air rushed out of her lungs in a harsh whoosh, and she groped behind her for the counter, propping herself up against it before her suddenly shaking legs collapsed.
She stared wide-eyed at the polar bear in her kitchen, her lungs burning before she finally remembered to suck in a great whoop of air.
“Briggs,” she whispered.
He chuffed to her before staring steadily at her.
She couldn’t get over the sheer size of him.
She figured he had to weigh at least twelve hundred pounds, and she guessed he was around eight feet long.
His dark eyes were full of warmth, and she felt no fear even as she studied the thick dark claws on his feet.
They clicked on the floor as he walked toward her.
He stopped in front of her, and she reached out her hand before hesitating. “Can I touch you?”
He chuffed and butted his head against her thighs, making her squeak in surprise and nearly fall over.
With a burst of nervous laughter, she reached for him, not surprised to see how badly her hand trembled.
She ran a tentative hand over his head, and when he lowered his head and pressed his forehead against her thighs, she brushed her hand over his thick neck.
His fur was long and wiry, almost plastic feeling, but when she dug her fingers into it, she could feel a plush undercoat that was unbelievably soft.
He pushed his head harder into her thighs, chuffing again, and she buried both hands in his fur and scratched his thick neck.
He practically melted under her touch, and she laughed before running her hands down his back and along his ribs.
Tears slid down her cheeks, and when Briggs raised his head, she bent until they were face to face.
He inhaled deeply before brushing his nose against her face.
Still crying, she cupped his face and kissed his nose and then his forehead. “Thank you, honey. Thank you so much.”
He chuffed a final time before backing away. Cece watched in fascination as he shifted back to his human form, her entire body filled with a deep joy. When he was human again, she ran forward and threw her arms around him, kissing him hard as the intoxicating magic flooded her body.
He wrapped her in his embrace, holding her tight as half crying and half laughing, she said, “That was the most incredible moment of my life. Thank you, honey.”
“You’re welcome, baby.” He kissed her again before brushing away her tears with his thumbs. “You should know that now that I’ve shifted in front of you, my polar bear will want me to do it a lot more.”
“You know I won’t mind at all,” she said.
He rubbed her back. “You might when he tries to sit on the furniture.”
She laughed. “Oh God, you know I’ll take pictures of that, right?”
“As long as you don’t post them on Facebook, I’m good with it,” he said with a grin.
“Could you feel my magic when you were in your polar bear form?” she asked.
“Not really. How about you?”
“It was there, but much less,” she said. “More like a small stream of magic instead of an ocean of magic.”
“Weird,” he said.
“Magic isn’t as effective on you when you’re in your shifter form, so it makes sense. As much as magic can make sense,” Cece said.
They stared at each other for a moment before she said, “I love you.”
“I love you too. Will you come to Alaska with me?” he asked.
She stared at him in surprise, her body stiffening against him. “What?”
“I know it’s a lot to ask, and you’ll be meeting my entire family and probably half the town, but I want you to be there with me.
I want you to meet Brooke and my parents, and I want them to meet my mate.
We don’t even have to go for the entire two weeks.
They’ll understand if we’re only there for a week. ”
“Holy crap,” she said.
“What?”
“That’s the most you’ve ever said to me at once.”
She grinned when his cheeks reddened and gave him a quick kiss. “That’s not a bad thing, honey.”
“What do you think? Will you go with me?” he asked.
“I would love to,” she said.
“Seriously?”
“Did you think I wouldn’t?” she asked.
“It’s a lot,” he said. “My family are amazing, but they can be a bit pushy when it comes to getting to know someone, and they’ll have lots of questions for the woman who’s my mate.”
“I’m fine with it. Will it upset them that I’m human?” Cece asked.
“No. They won’t care about that,” he said. “But my mom will probably have so many questions for you about humans.”
Cece laughed. “I’m good with that.”
He suddenly picked her up, hugging her fiercely. “Thank you, my mate.”
She kissed him. “I should be thanking you. I was so sad thinking I would be separated from you for two weeks. I couldn’t stand the idea of being apart from you.”
“And it’s not just because of the magic thing,” she added hastily.
“I know. I feel the same way. Although the magic is pretty great,” he said.
She laughed. “It really is.”
She patted him on the back. “Okay, put me down. I need to check flight prices to Alaska and see if the potions I made for Charissa this week will be enough to cover bills and a flight there. If it isn’t, I might have to -”
“I’m paying for your ticket,” he said.
“What? No, that’s not -”
“Yes,” he said firmly. “Don’t argue with me on this, Cece. You won’t win.”
She gave him a gentle poke. “Will you always be this bossy?”
“Probably,” he admitted. He kissed her again. “My money is your money, baby.”
“I don’t expect you to pay for everything,” she said.
“I know you don’t,” he said. “But right now, I’m in a position where I can help you, and it won’t even make a dent in my bank account. So, I’m paying for any costs associated with the Alaska trip.”
She brushed her mouth against his in a slow caress, pressing her tongue against the seam of his lips. He opened and let her in, and they kissed deeply, their tongues tangling together as Briggs cupped her breast and ran his thumb over her nipple.
He growled to her, that soft sound that was for her and her alone, and she smiled at him. “Take me to bed, Briggs.”
“Yes, my mate.”