Brock's Bunny (3 page)

“I’d
love to.”

“Great.”
Hollie
wrote his address on a notepad she pulled out
of her apron.
Candi
returned and they said their
goodbyes.

“Bye
Hollie
. I’ll see you tonight at six.”

“See
you then. Bye Brock, bye
Candi
.”

Chapter Four

Hours
later,
Hollie
was still shocked that Brock was
changing his famous steakhouse menu, and that he’d asked her to help him
taste-test after laughing at her the night before. Something had made him
change his mind and the only logical reason was her. Her mate had reached out
to her, possibly by accident, but she couldn’t help getting excited about their
date. It seemed like things were turning around. Maybe there was hope for them.

She
arrived on his doorstep a few minutes early, a bottle of organic white wine in
her hand. Though not expensive, it was her favorite brand.
Hollie
opted for a casual look and wore khaki Capris and a lavender t-shirt.

Brock
answered the door in jeans and a navy blue tee. The sight of him was almost too
much and
Hollie
nearly dropped the wine. She wanted
to plaster herself against his hard frame and feel his strength around her.
Thoughts of his naked body next to hers consumed her as she followed him into
the kitchen and sat on a barstool surrounding the island workstation. Legs
crossed, she tried to focus on anything but the thought of his hands touching,
rubbing and soothing her ache for him.

Brock
opened the wine and handed her a glass. She gulped it when he turned his back
to check something on the stove. Instead of dousing her heat, a warm buzz
surrounded her and she could feel her cheeks darken.

Brock
refilled her wine glass but she only took a sip before setting it aside. She
stood up and walked around his kitchen.

“It
smells heavenly in here.” Top of the line appliances and gadgets surrounded the
large space. His cookware was designer too. Brock moved around the kitchen
rhythmically. He was comfortable and relaxed like he had been the other times
she’d seen him, but there was a subtle difference. She probably wouldn’t notice
if he wasn’t her mate, but
Hollie
got the impression that
for him, being in the kitchen was more than just cooking. It was where he
belonged.

“Hungry?
I have three dishes for us to try.”

“Starving!”
she laughed. “Sampling them all won’t be a problem.”

****

Brock
was still amazed at
Hollie’s
beauty. All day she’d
consumed his thoughts. He longed to hold her and never let go. What would she
feel like in his arms? What would she taste like? How would she sound? He
couldn’t remember ever being so consumed by a woman. He’d had plenty of sexual
thoughts over the years, but with
Hollie
it was
something different.
Something more.

He
didn’t know how to explain, and so he’d kept his feelings to himself. He’d
discarded his plan to ask
Candi
about her because he
felt obsessed. When they ran into her at
The
Harvest
, it’d taken everything he’d had not to scoop her up, throw her over
his shoulder, take her home and pleasure her until she begged him to stop.

He
should have run, but he’d asked her over instead. Now she was in his house,
close to his bed, and Brock was in hell. His relaxed façade was wearing thin,
and soon
Hollie
would see through it and the macho
sex-maniac would be revealed.

He
needed to get rid of her. She deserved so much better.

“What
to watch a movie?” Oh, God, that wasn’t what he meant to say.

“Sure.
What are you in the mood for?”

You.
Oh, geez.

Brock
tried to think of the
most non-sexy
movie he could.

“Just no horror.
I can’t watch that stuff.”

There
went that idea.

They
decided on
Die Hard
, and Brock
thought he would be okay. An estranged couple, a terrorist not afraid to kill,
lots of guns, blood and some crazy cops: perfect. Until he sat on the couch and
Hollie
sat next to him. Someone was killed in one of
the first scenes and she jumped, held his waist and buried her head in his
chest.
And never left.

He had
no choice but to put his arm around her. He smelled her hair, and he was gone.
Brock hoped the dim lights hid his erection as he hopelessly tried to get rid
of his lusty thoughts.

Blood.
Guns.
Death.
His mother.
His grandma.

Damn!
Nothing worked.
Hollie
noticed.

She
pushed off his chest with her hand, sat up, and looked him in the eye. She was
so close, but Brock waited for her angry words and tried to think of an
explanation.

“Brock,
kiss me.”

He
didn’t waste another moment.

He
planted his mouth on hers with the urgency he felt. Deep down, a little voice
told him to slow down, but he was so far gone he couldn’t figure out how to do
that.

Hollie
didn’t seem to mind his eager assault and pulled him down on top of her.
They kissed aggressively and she brought her knees up, cradling him between her
legs. He pressed his hips against her center, the jeans scraping his sensitive
flesh. He needed more, but this was their first time, and he didn’t want to
rush her.

Brock
kissed down her neck and slowly eased his body away from hers.
Hollie
tightened her legs around him, pulling him back,
moving against his length.

“Brock, please.
I need more.”

He
pulled back to gauge her reaction, and
Hollie’s
fingers started on his button and zipper. She seemed as far gone as he was.

“Hang
on.” He ran to his room and came back with a condom in hand, then striped off
his t-shirt and jeans.
Hollie
followed his example
and once he was covered, he positioned himself between her legs again.

“Are
you sure?” he asked.

“Yes,
Brock, I need you.”

In one
swift movement, he pushed his length deep inside her warmth.
Hollie
accepted him with ease and her tight passage felt as
if she’d been created solely for him. He closed his eyes and tried to regain
some control. He never wanted to leave her embrace.

Hollie
locked her ankles around his waist and forced him deeper. She moaned and
he knew he wouldn’t last long. One more deep breath and he opened his eyes to
make sure she was still okay.

Her
platinum hair was spread out and surrounded her head in every direction. Her
eyes gave away her desire. The violet had changed to a deep purple and when
they caught the light, they sparkled like rare amethyst gems.

He
didn’t need to question her again.
Hollie
needed him
the same way he needed her.

Brock
pulled back slowly, intent on making their first time memorable, but he soon
gave up the ill-fated plan.
Hollie’s
moans and gentle
urgent words spurred him on, and they both came quicker than he’d intended. Drained,
he lay down against the back of the couch.
Hollie
turned, burrowed her face against his chest and fell asleep.

I’m finally home.
Moments later, sleep claimed him.

Chapter Five

Hollie
couldn’t help the smile that formed when she’d thought about Brock. Last
night had been so much more than she’d hoped for. The meals he’d made were
wonderful and after much debate, they decided the grilled portabellas would be the
steakhouse’s new signature vegetarian dish.
 

They
talked endlessly over their meal, and
Hollie
now understood
why he chose to use his business skills over his culinary ones.
Even if he was a culinary master.
His abilities could entice
her to eat anything. Almost anything—she still had principles.

The
morning sun had broken the warm cocoon of his arms, but
Hollie
wasn’t complaining. Brock’s lips planted soft kisses on her lips and stopped
just short of declaring his love. He wanted to see her again, often, and he
felt obsessed by his feelings toward her. He didn’t say the “L” word, and
neither did she, but it seemed they both wanted to.

Hollie
had to tell him about her bunny before he said it, otherwise, she
wouldn’t know if it was true. It wasn’t something she wanted to say before she
rushed off, though, and she had to open the store today. Brock had to work at
the restaurant tonight, but they were going to meet after. She was going to
tell him then.

Her
four hour shift had seemed endless, and the night seemed so far away.
Hollie
wanted to see Brock again. Calling him seemed needy
when they already had a date planned for later, but the pull of her mate was
strong, and she was restless.

An idea
struck and she grabbed her keys and drove to the National Park. She stored her
clothes in the cave, shifted and hopped to Brock’s backyard. If she was lucky,
she’d catch another glimpse of him through the window. The only downfall was if
he saw her. When she told him about her bunny, she’d have to explain why she’d
been in his yard again.
Stalking him.
No. They’d
already shared their deep desire to be together. He would understand once she
educated him about the mating.

Like
the previous day, she rested on the patch between the lemon trees and studied
the house alternating between the three windows that faced the forest. She
could smell him and was surprised that his scent was so strong outside, mixed
with all the scents of the forest.
Almost too strong.

The
snap of a twig alerted her to his presence a second too late. Fear caused her
to run, but he was faster.
Hollie
tumbled into the
bottom of a sack and found
herself
being hauled away
from the trees in a pillow case.

Why?
What did he want with her? Had he figured out her secret? Was he hunting for
food? Several thoughts raced through her mind, but only one remained.

Her
mate had captured her like a wild animal. She had to get away from him, even if
it left her heart in pieces.

****

Brock
didn’t understand why catching the rabbit felt so wrong. He walked toward the
house, rubbing the ache in his chest. He was doing the right thing. The
pristine white animal obviously belonged to someone and he could help. His mind
was convinced, but his heart still ached as if it was a mistake.

He
closed the sliding glass door and walked over to the animal cage he’d bought the
day before. Now he’d be able to take a good picture and put the word out around
town. Someone would claim the bunny, he was sure of it.

First,
he had to get the thing in the cage. He knelt down beside the open door and put
the open end of the pillow case through the entrance. Fresh food and water
waited, and he was sure the animal would walk in easily.

As soon
as he removed his hand, the rabbit cautiously sniffed her way out of the case
until her nose came in contact with one metal bar. He encouraged her with
tender words and put pressure on her rump. The animal dug her feet into the
floor and wouldn’t budge. Brock tried again and suddenly she pushed off his
thigh, and she ran toward the glass door. Brock chased her around the kitchen
and into the living room. He was fast, but she easily dodged him.

He
would’ve laughed if it was someone else, but he was starting to get concerned.
Every time he grabbed for the animal, she slipped out of his reach. He expected
one of them to get hurt any minute.

Unexpectedly,
the rabbit missed a jump from the couch to the ottoman and landed on her side
on the floor. Before she could recover, Brock scooped her up and whispered
soothing words as he stroked her fur.

The
rabbit’s rapid heartbeat seemed to slow until the cage came into view again.
She squirmed, scratched his arm with her nails, and he let go at the same time
she jumped.

Hollie
landed on the floor instead of the rabbit. She was naked and she jumped
to her feet with her arms out as if to placate him. He wanted to run, but shock
kept his feet planted. In one moment she was the bunny he was chasing around the
room, and in the next
Hollie
stood before him. If he
didn’t see it with his own eyes, he wouldn’t believe it, and yet… He didn’t
believe it.
Hollie
, his
Hollie
,
the girl he was falling in love with, was the white bunny.

“Brock,
take a deep breath. I can explain.”