Epilogue
Lily
“I’m going to be late.” I rushed down the stairs, coming to a stop when I saw the table overflowing with food. “Oh. I don’t have time to eat.”
“You can spare a few minutes.” Dean held out an already made up plate and a cup of coffee, fixed just how I liked it. He leaned over and dropped a kiss on my lips. “Trust me. I’ll get you there on time.”
I caved, sliding onto my chair and digging in to the delicious breakfast Dean insisted on making me each morning. He joked that I needed it to regain my strength after our nights of passionate lovemaking. Not that it was restricted to nighttime. Dean was a voracious partner. And I was a willing participant.
Even now, his hand was stroking my thigh, though I batted it away. There might be time to eat, but there was no time for anything else. Especially after that morning in the shower. “Don’t start something we can’t finish.”
He grinned. “That sounds like a challenge.”
“It’s not.” I moaned as he found the seam of my jeans, his fingers putting pressure on just the right spot. “Dean. I mean it. I can’t be late.”
“Just giving you something to think about today.” He kissed his mark on my neck, and tingles radiated outward, my core responding with an instant rush of moisture. “I wouldn’t want you to forget about me.”
“Not possible.” My voice was breathless. I guided his lips to mine, and we kissed, though he kept it slow.
“Time to go.” He stood, pulling me up next to him.
I couldn’t stop the pout from forming, but Dean pressed a series of gentle kisses on my mouth and left me smiling.
“I have plans for us when you’re done at the school.” He led me out the back door. “It’s the last night before Maddie arrives for our wedding, and I want to take you on at least one actual date before we get married.”
“I’d like that.” I kept my eyes on Dean, watching as he stripped. A sight that never got old. He shifted into his bear, coming down on all fours and walking closer to the deck to make it easier for me to slide onto his back. We could just take the quad, or I could drive my now fixed car, but he and his bear enjoyed taking me to work every day. And the kids always enjoyed watching their human teacher arrive on the back of a bear. The school wasn’t finished yet, but I went every day to spend time with my future students and determine their needs for the coming school year.
He started out slow, giving me time to get a good grip on his fur, before picking up speed. Soon we were flying through the woods. Before I met Dean, I never imagined this would be my life, but now I couldn’t picture it any differently. I felt lighter in a way I didn’t know I needed. I could survive on my own, but with Dean, I could let him care for me and lighten my load. Without the stress I used to pile on my shoulders, my swear jar was a thing of the past.
Even though he had already marked me, I was looking forward to our wedding, when I would stand in front of his family and our friends and tell everyone what loving Dean meant to me. He once told me I was his everything. And now he was mine.