Chapter 3
The words left Valley’s mouth before she could think twice about what she was saying. And that was okay.
Because all day, all week, really, she’d been thinking about boxes and moving and her plans. But standing in the driveway with Luke, a sky full of stars above and faint music from The Howl drifting across the lake, the last thing she really wanted to do was think.
She just wanted to feel.
Luke was all broad shoulders, muscles on top of muscles, and the sweetest smile. Every time he smiled at her, she felt her whole world settle.
She did want to kiss him.
She wanted everything.
“If I kiss you inside my house,” he said, cupping her face, “I’m going to want more. You smell so good to me that you’re wrecking my control.”
She wrapped her hands around his wrists. Suddenly, she was the boldest girl around. “If I want more too?”
His thumb brushed over her cheek and sent a shiver down her spine.
He exhaled with a growl, and kissed her, his fingers slipping to her neck and down her shoulders, drawing her close until she could feel every inch of him.
Every. Inch.
He kissed her like he’d been waiting a hundred years for her.
She curled her fingers into his shirt and kissed him back, pushing everything away but this moment.
When the kiss broke, their panting breaths the only sound she could hear over her pounding heart, she slid her hand into his and followed him into the house.
Hell, she would have followed him anywhere.
He opened the door for her and they walked inside.
When he shut the door behind them, she turned and found him standing with his back against the door, his eyes glowing softly with an amber light.
She’d never been so wildly attracted to a guy before.
And in the daylight, she might want to think about the possible reasons.
But for now, all she wanted to do was enjoy this time with him.
Her sexy bear.
She followed him to the couch, her pulse tripping faster with every step, and when they sat, they didn’t speak right away.
They only looked at each other, his knee brushing hers, his gaze moving over her face like he was trying to memorize her.
Valley’s breath caught when Luke leaned closer.
His mouth touched hers softly at first, but then she kissed him back, and the restraint they were both holding onto snapped.
Luke made a low, growling sound in his chest and cupped her cheek, deepening the kiss as heat rushed through her, until all Valley could think was that she had never wanted anyone the way she wanted him.
His mouth left hers, and for a second he only stared at her, breathing hard, his hand still warm against her cheek. “Valley, if we don’t stop now, I’m going to want you in my bed.”
Her breath caught, her heart hammering in her chest. She could have been sensible in the moment, taken the break for what it was and asked to go home, where stacks of boxes waited to go with her to the new life she was starting two hours away in one week.
But some deep part of her rebelled at walking away from him.
She didn’t understand her wild attraction to him, the way it felt like she’d known him for years instead of hours, but she wasn’t in the mood to scratch the surface of her feelings. She was only in the mood for Luke.
“Take me to your bed, Luke.”
He stood and lifted her into his arms, and it happened so fast she let out a surprised laugh and grabbed his shoulders.
He strode with purpose out of the family room as she snuggled close to him.
She kissed his neck and he growled softly, his fingers tightening against her skin.
“I’ve wanted you in my arms since the moment I laid eyes on you. ”
“Same,” she murmured, her tongue tracing a slow line up his neck to his ear. He shivered with a quiet growl as he carried her into the bedroom.
He lowered her to the bed, followed her down, and for one heartbeat, they stared at each other in the dim light through the window, both of them breathing hard.
She slid her hands over his broad shoulders and tugged on the back of his shirt.
With one quick movement, his shirt was on the floor and she saw the sculpted upper body that she had wanted to see since the moment he approached her outside the tavern.
She slid her hands down the ridges of his abdomen to the waistband of his jeans, while his teeth grazed her neck and sent a riot of shivers down her spine.
The heady scent of him, like the best cologne she’d ever smelled, fall nights and moonlight, grew stronger, saturating her, and ratcheting up her desire.
When she tried to undo his jeans, he chuckled against her neck and grabbed her hands, placing them on the mattress with a firm press.
“You first,” he growled, then nipped her throat.
He pushed up the hem of her shirt, catching her bra with the same motion, baring her to the cool air.
Her nipples tightened, and he covered them with his large, warm hands.
He caressed her as he lowered his mouth to hers, kissing her until she was breathless, then trailing kisses down the center of her body.
She lifted her head to watch him, as he stripped her clothes from her, then wedged his shoulders between her thighs.
His hands curled around her thighs, and he smiled at her, looking half drunk on lust, predatory and feral; she found it wholly intoxicating.
The first swipe of his tongue up her drenched folds made her tilt her head back and let out a gusty sigh.
He licked her clit, growling, his tongue vibrating against her sensitive bud.
She gasped, reaching for him and sinking her fingers in his soft hair.
He slipped his hands under her bottom and lifted her, fucking her with his tongue before circling her clit with his finger in a quick rhythm that drove her wild.
She clenched her fingers in his hair as she spiraled toward the height of pleasure, letting out a sharp cry as her climax poured over her.
He lapped at her, tenderly, with a growl that made her feel like his bear approved of how she tasted when she came.
Then he kissed both of her thighs and pressed a soft kiss to her clit before he kissed his way up her body.
She was going to point out that he was still wearing his jeans when she heard the zipper lower.
She moaned his name as she caught his hips with her legs.
His thick cock pressed to her entrance as he slid his arms underneath her and drew her to his mouth for a kiss.
His hips pushed forward and he sank into her, inch by inch, until they were tightly wed together.
Every part of her body pulsed with erotic electricity.
His fingers curled into her shoulders. He withdrew from her until only the thick head of him was inside.
Before she could protest she wanted him back inside her again, harder and faster, he slammed deep.
She moaned and he snarled, his teeth dragging lightly down her neck as she lifted her hips to meet his.
His speed increased, in and out, in and out, in, out, until all she could do was hold on and let herself go into the heat that continued to swirl through her.
As stars lit her vision, Luke growled deeply until his chest vibrated with the sound.
She dragged her hands down his back and he let out a deep, “Yes! Fuck yes!” His hips slammed against her, over and over.
Sweat slicked their bodies and her soft gasps and moans became one long drawn out sound of pure bliss.
His hand slipped between them and his fingers pressed to her clit, his body pushing his hand against her over and over until the pressure built to a delicious tension inside her like a wire stretched taut.
She curled her toes and tilted her hips and let herself go into everything that she’d ever wanted but hadn’t known existed until Luke.
When she cried out his name and slapped her hands on the mattress as her body shattered with pleasure, he let out a guttural, sharp cry and growled her name. She shivered as her skin prickled, and she felt him come inside her.
“Mine,” he growled, holding himself against her.
She kissed his cheek, sifting her fingers through his soft hair and holding him close as he shuddered slightly, his cock thick inside her still. He kissed her neck and her jaw, and finally, her lips, whispering, “You’re incredible, Valley. Such a fucking sexy female.”
She liked the word female. It sounded feral. And she felt half feral at the moment. Slick with sweat, pleasure ebbing through her like ripples on the lake’s surface. She kissed him with a breathless sigh.
Then she groaned softly as he pulled from her and settled next to her on the bed. She rolled over to lay her head on his chest and listen to his heart beating as they both came down from the heavens. He draped his arms loosely around her and kissed the top of her head.
They had just had sex. He had gone down on her and given her two orgasms. She could still feel the bliss rolling through her body. But that kiss on the top of her head felt far more intimate than what they’d just done.
He held her against him like she belonged there, his hand moving lazily up and down her back. Valley closed her eyes and let herself have the moment for one more breath.
Okay, two.
Because she was still pretending that she hadn’t just done something significant with a big, sexy guy who she had to walk away from.
“We should exchange numbers,” he said, his voice still a little rough. “If you’re free tomorrow night, I’d love to take you out.”
Her future snapped into focus. The boxes in her apartment, the job waiting two hours away. The money she’d already spent on her relocation. The new life she’d felt so brave starting. All of that felt wrong in a way she couldn’t explain and was a little flustered to even consider.
Sitting up, she pulled her bra and shirt back into place.
Oh, he was far too sexy right now. Dark hair mussed from where she’d raked it with her fingers, eyes half-lidded, a soft smile curving his lush mouth.
In a rush, she said, “I’m moving. In a week. I’ve got a job waiting for me two hours away.” As reality sharpened his gaze and the sexy smile faded, she slipped from the bed and picked up her panties, her hands trembling and her heart rebelling at anything except crawling back into bed with him.
She looked at him as he sat up and didn’t miss the hurt that was etched on his handsome face. Like a freaking dagger to the heart.
“I’ll get you home,” he said quietly.
They dressed in silence.
In his truck, halfway to her apartment, he finally broke the silence. “I heard what you said.”
“Okay.”
“You’re leaving. You’ve got plans. I’m not going to pretend that your plans don’t matter, because they do. But tonight mattered, too.”
“I’m supposed to leave next Friday.”
“I’d still like your number.” He handed her his phone and told her the code to unlock it.
Her thumb hovered over the buttons. The smart move would have been to say no and goodbye, but she wasn’t feeling like listening to that part of herself.
She put her number in and saved it. Then set the phone in the cup holder.
At her apartment, he walked her to the door and kissed her cheek. “Sleep well, sweetheart.”
“Good night, Luke.”
His smile was soft, but there was still hurt in his dark eyes. Then he turned and walked back to his truck.
When he backed away and drove off, she walked into her apartment and stood in the darkness. Her plans were already made. But she had a strange, unsettled feeling that the road beneath her feet had forked, and Luke was standing on the path she hadn’t planned to take.