Bear My Baby (Shifter Squad Six 1) (19 page)

Immediately, he felt all that swagger that he’d been keeping under wraps flood back to him. He leaned on the doorframe and gave her a good long look, letting his eyes roll up and down the length of her curvy body. She had on a silky red robe that showed a bit of cleavage, and he wondered what was underneath.

“Hey, honey. Been waiting for me?” he asked, smirking.

“Yes,” she said simply, grabbing the front of his shirt and pulling him into the apartment.

He had no interest in arguing with her hunger. Connor slammed the door shut behind him and grabbed her by the hips, mashing her body against his as they backed through the living room toward her bedroom. His hands were on her cheeks, cupping her chin, devouring her lips while she moaned into his mouth, reigniting all that he had fought to contain.

“Where’s Monroe?” he asked in a low growl.

“Adelaide has him,” she said, gasping as he threw off his bomber jacket and then tore off his shirt.

He’d healed well since the skirmishes. There were just a few thick scars on his neck and shoulders from where the wolf had held on and he figured those would never go away. They’d cut into his tattoos but he felt they were a mark of victory, something not to cover up. But between then and now, he had gotten something new: the names Cassie and Monroe tattooed over his heart. Kept there so he would never doubt what truly filled his heart.

“Good,” he snarled, picking her up roughly and throwing her on the bed.

Connor’s body thrummed with need as he kicked off his boots and undid the belt buckle on his jeans. He dove in after her, pulling the silky tie that held her robe together loose. The garment parted, revealing sexy red lingerie. Connor grinned a predatory smile, licking his lips.

“Fuck, honey, you know how to welcome a man,” he said.

Cassie’s eyes were wild with desire and the way she bit her lower lip made him practically howl with anticipation. That woman was going to do him in.

“I thought you deserved a prize for being so patient,” she giggled, batting her lashes.

That was all the talking he was in the mood to do. He kissed a trail down her neck and chest, stopping only briefly on both nipples, sucking them into his mouth through the lace of the bra. Her back arched and her fingers dug into his hair, pulling and tugging. He wouldn’t let her rush him. With torturous slowness, he moved down her belly, tracing his path with his tongue.

Her scent was maddening, filling his nostrils and then his entire being. His bear roared within him, finally driven back to the aggressiveness he’d always known the bear to possess. Connor pressed his hand against her sex and was rewarded with growing wetness against his fingertips. He growled lowly, knowing that the sound would travel through her like sweet wine.

“Do you want this?” he teased, unzipping his jeans and pressing them down to reveal his hard, thick cock.

The only reply she could immediately utter was a throaty moan, her eyes desperate with desire.

“Yes, please,” she whimpered.

Connor ripped the lacy, delicate panties off her hips with a jerk, loving the sound of them coming apart in his hands. He shucked off his jeans and spread her legs roughly, crushing his body against hers. Seeking out her lips, he kissed her thoroughly, his tongue snaking into her mouth as he positioned the head of his cock at her wet slit, holding it there for a moment that seemed to be never ending.

Cassie bucked against him but Connor kept her down, only allowing her to wiggle against the head of his cock a little, just enough to drive her crazy.

“Please, Connor,” she begged between kisses. “Fuck me.”

With a growl, Connor grabbed her by the hip and flipped her over on her belly. He undid the clasp on her bra and pushed the straps down her shoulders while he wrenched her up by the hips, leaving her on all fours. Without a second wasted, he entered her from behind. Those first few moments were pure, unadulterated bliss. His grip on her hips tightened and his fingertips dug into the soft, chocolate flesh of her thighs as he rammed himself into her tight tunnel, practically roaring.

“Yessss,” Cassie hissed, slamming herself back against him.

She felt so tight he thought he’d cum right away. The anticipation and the wait had been all worth it. Gathering himself, he bent his body over hers and started thrusting into her slowly, easing her on his cock until he could finally bottom out. When he did, he stayed there for a bit, enjoying the feeling of her hot cunt squeezing around his rigid cock.

He kissed her shoulder blades and one of his hands went up along her stomach and cupped her breasts, kneading them harshly. He rolled one of her nipples between his fingertips and Cassie practically mewled. It was a soft, sweet little noise that he couldn’t get enough of.

“I’ve waited for this for so fucking long,” he growled into her ear, loving the way she shuddered as he did so.

Connor pulled out a bit and then plunged forward again, impaling her on his cock. His strokes became faster and harder and Cassie threw back her head, gasping with each thrust. Seeking out her mouth, he kissed her, their lips crushing together in barely constrained lust. Sweat dappled her skin and her wetness seemed to engulf him.

He’d never thought he’d find someone quite as perfect as Cassie was. Not only her body, but her courage, her mind, her kindness. She was the perfect mate for him and his bear and he had to thank fate, and maybe that asshole Spade, for getting them together. Now, he knew, he never wanted to let go of her again.

Connor’s hand moved down between her legs, his rough fingertips teasing her clit with steady pressure. She bucked against him, demanding his attention with every movement. He loved hearing the way her breathing was growing faster and more ragged, her muscles tensing around him and squeezing him deliciously. When he knew she was about to tumble over the edge, he rammed into her harder, Cassie’s hands collapsing underneath her and falling into the covers.

“Oh my God, Connor,” she whimpered.

“Cum for me, honey,” he commanded, and she complied.

Her pussy milked him hungrily, squeezing him for all he was worth. Connor gritted his teeth, bucking into her as she rode out her orgasm, screaming and moaning through it. When her cries started dying down, Connor let loose as well, finally letting go of all that pent-up energy and desire for her. He shot his thick ropes of cum into her, filling her up and claiming her once more with a wall-shaking roar, every muscle in his body straining.

Grabbing hold of her slick, sweaty body, he fell to his side and pulled her to him as well. They were both gasping, heaving for breath, and Connor had the biggest, dumbest smile on his face. This time, it hadn’t been just sex. It had been a marker in time, a promise, a declaration. She was his. And he was hers just as much.

“Worth the wait?” she asked, snuggling closer to him.

“More than you could imagine, honey,” he said, basking in the warmth and pleasure of the moment.

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

Cassie

“I’m not sure I like surprises anymore,” Cassie grumbled, holding onto Connor’s hand.

Her eyes were covered with a green scarf and she couldn’t see a damn thing. Not only had Connor insisted on keeping it on her for more than an hour during their drive, he’d also been a real nuisance with hints and teasing throughout it all.

“Nonsense. We love surprises, don’t we little man?” Connor asked and Monroe replied with a resounding, “Yes!”

Cassie couldn’t help but grin. Fine. If both her favorite men were with her, she could tolerate a little more excitement. She squeezed Connor’s hand tighter as they stepped up a stone incline. She could smell the ocean and the forest, but she assumed as much when they started heading out of San Francisco toward the north. She really didn’t have any idea what Connor could have been plotting and it drove her batty!

“Connor, can we dispense with the mystery?” she sighed, though the smile on her lips gave her away. “I’m afraid you’re walking me into something dangerous!”

A blatant lie. She knew he would never risk her health or safety, or that of Monroe’s. The last few months had taught her that much, even if she wanted to pretend that the countless times Connor had saved her from harm wasn’t enough. She knew he would do anything for her and their son and that knowledge had only grown stronger with time.

Since disposing of The Arctics and finally discovering what Jonah had wanted her to keep safe, Cassie’s life had taken a definite upturn. She wasn’t hiding her identity anymore, for one. Connor’s employers had made a point of letting The Arctics know that everything they could have hoped to learn from her had already been discovered by them and that the virus could never land in their hands. After that, there was no need to hide anymore.

Cassie had told Adelaide everything and her friend had forgiven her quickly and happily, glad to know that Cassie and Monroe were safe and Connor wasn’t some psycho come to haunt their lives. Cassie hadn’t known how much it meant to know that she had a friend like Adelaide through thick and thin, before she’d been faced with the possibility of losing her.

She’d been back to see her parents in Chicago several times and as she’d expected, they were as glad to have her back as she was. And her whole family adored Monroe! She hadn’t quite figured out how to tell them about the fact that he was a werebear yet, but by the way he was scaling trees and furniture and all in all being a daring little bear cub, that should have given them a pretty good hint, right?

Connor had come back with her once as well. The look on her father’s face when he saw the hulking ex-SEAL had been worth the airplane tickets alone. The utter disbelief that reflected in her father’s eyes had been comical as well as endearing. It was the look of a father who was at last at ease, knowing that his baby girl was being kept safe and sound. To her relief, Connor hit it off with her family as easily as Monroe had.

But that still left the little question of what exactly were they to each other? Her tongue wouldn’t twist to call Connor her “boyfriend.” That seemed so… well, she wasn’t a teenager anymore, right? She’d liked thinking of him as her child’s father, but it wasn’t just that. She loved him. When she’d said it for the first time that horrible night in San Francisco, she’d meant it completely and the feeling had only gotten stronger.

He still went on missions, at least he started to after he got off of his nonsensical probation, but whenever he was stateside and on leave, he was with her and Monroe at the dingy little apartment they’d been given. The bond between father and son was getting stronger and stronger as well and Cassie loved seeing the way Monroe looked up to his dad. It was the sweetest thing, seeing him try to emulate Connor in everything he did.

Connor was certain it wouldn’t be long until Monroe would start accidentally shifting as well. Babies around that age with strong role models were found to do that. She certainly wanted Connor at her side when that started happening!

Finally, Connor stopped and Cassie did the same, skidding to a halt.

“Are we here?” she asked shakily, her heart pounding with excitement.

“Yup,” Connor said with a chuckle.

He untied the scarf behind her eyes and gently took it off. She looked at him first grinning back at her, with Monroe looking just as happy, staring around in wonder. They were standing in front of a beautiful two-story wooden house, nestled in a patch of forest, with the distinct smell of the ocean coming from the left. The house was adorable, looking like a place of refuge from the cruel, harsh world.

“What’s this?” Cassie asked, her brow furrowing slightly.

“This,” Connor said, sweeping his arm to encompass the vast area they were standing in. “Is our new home. And that,” he said, pointing at the house, “is our new house.”

“No,” she gasped, covering her mouth with her hand. “You can’t be serious!”

“I’m never not serious, honey,” Connor said, chuckling.

“Lies!” Cassie laughed, her stomach fluttering with excitement.

“Well, okay, you got me there. But I’m being serious now. I want us to share our lives together forever, Cassie,” Connor said, his tone getting more serious.

He put Monroe down and the little boy, holding onto his teddy bear, waddled toward the house eagerly. Connor dropped on one knee in front of Cassie, fishing a black velvet box out of his pocket. Tears pricked her eyes, but they were happy tears. Connor took her hand and held it in his while popping open the little box.

It revealed a gorgeous ring, a solitaire cut diamond that must have taken Connor forever to save up for, especially on top of the house. But she couldn’t deny that it was absolutely stunning.

“Cassie. I’ve known you were the woman for me since that night in Chicago. I was too dumb and too stubborn to admit it then, but fate gave us another chance and I don’t want to blow it this time too. I love you. I will always love you. My bear and I will do everything in our power to make sure you and Monroe are happy and cared for as long as fate allows us time together. I promise I will always come back to you. Cassie, will you be my wife?”

She could hear his voice cracking a bit and the expression he wore was not the carefree smile he often had, but the rigid, tense mask of battle. His heart must have been beating as hard and heavy as hers was, she was sure of that. Dropping to her knees, she flung her arms around his neck and crushed herself against his wide, strong body. His arms automatically locked around her, cradling her against him.

“Of course I will, Connor,” she said, her breath hitching.

“We’ll do it right this time,” he whispered into her ear, covering her neck with soft kisses. “I’ll never let you go, honey.”

“I love you,” she confessed, and she’d never meant anything quite as seriously as she did those three simple words on the grass in front of their new home.

Cassie looked up from the crook of Connor’s neck to see Monroe running toward them, his arms wide open and his face lit with a smile. He crashed right into them and both Connor and Cassie laughed, plucking him up and sitting him on Connor’s knee.