Lion's Love (4 page)

As we passed through the lobby I could see the Big Bull Inn was furnished simply but elegantly. I knew I would be comfortable staying there. Adrian led me into a small bar off the lobby. There were a few customers sitting at the bar having a drink.

“Close your eyes, Sherry.”

“Wha…”

“I have a surprise for you.”

I had no idea what Adrian had in mind for me, but I did as he said and closed my eyes tightly. My stomach was doing flip-flops the whole time.

“I’m going to pick you up and carry you to a special spot, but be sure to keep your eyes closed.”

I could feel a knot of excitement in my tummy as Adrian swooped me up in his muscular arms. I wanted to open my eyes so badly and see what was going on, but I could tell from the excitement in his voice he wanted it to be a surprise.

I leaned against Adrian, my eyes tightly shut. I could hear his heavy footsteps as he walked across the room.

“I hope you like it. You can open your eyes now. But don’t sit down.” Adrian gently placed my feet on the ground and I snapped my eyes open.

“Oh my gosh!”

Adrian had placed me in front of a small private table in the bar. It had been set with a dozen roses, a plate of cheese, crackers and fruit, and two glasses of champagne. It was lovely. No man had ever cared enough about me to do something special like this.  Then I noticed something. Next to the roses was a small blue box.

As I looked over at Adrian, he returned my gaze. The connection I felt with him…the energy…we both knew it was meant to be.

In a flash, Adrian was on his knees, the blue box in his hands.

“Sherry, I know from our long chats online, from seeing you now, and the way I feel when I hold you, that we were meant to be together. I know you are the one for me.” He snapped the lid on the box open.

I gasped as I looked inside.

There it was, a beautiful, simple round diamond set in white gold.

“Will you marry me?” Adrian asked, his lustrous blue eyes sparkling.

“God, yes!” Maybe for some women it takes a lot of time to know if they have met the right one, but I just knew in my heart of hearts this was the man for me.

As Adrian slid the ring out of the box, he leaned forward and slipped it on my finger. It fit perfectly. Even with the dim lighting of the bar it sparkled. But Adrian sparkled even more. His face was lit with happiness and joy.

“Would you like to sit down and have some champagne?” He started to reach for the champagne glass, but I put my hand on his shoulder.

“I don’t need any champagne, Adrian.”

“Do you want a piece of cheese or a cracker?”

“I don’t want that either.”

“Oh, do you want to go to your room?” Adrian’s amber eyes flashed with disappointment. “Of course, you must be very tired.”

Then I realized Adrian thought I wanted to get some rest. Rest? I was totally charged up!

“I want
us
to go to my room,” I said.

I was stunned at my own brazenness. Where was that shy woman that had set out for Shifter Villages just a few short hours ago? Right now, I felt on top of the world with the man I loved.

“Will you take me upstairs, Adrian?”

A huge smile crossed Adrian’s face. “You bet I will.” 

He pulled me towards him in an embrace, but just as our lips met Vic ran in the bar shouting.

“There’s a fire at Kane’s!” 

“Damn,” Adrian bellowed.

“Kane’s is close by isn’t it?” I asked. I knew I’d seen a sign for it.

“It’s about a block away.” Adrian replied. “Our fire department needs all the help it can get. I’m going to have to go see what I can do.”

“Of course,” I said.

“I want you to stay here where you’re safe,” Adrian added sharply. “And I’ll be back as soon as I can.”

“I’m going with you,” I said firmly.

Adrian hesitated, but he caught the look in my eye and knew I wasn’t going to let him go without me.

“Well, come on then.” He grabbed me by the arm and we raced through the lobby and out the doors of the Big Bull Inn.

It took us just minutes to get to Kane’s Bar and Grill. There was a huge crowd gathered. The smell from the smoke was overwhelming but though the air was acrid, I did not see any fire.

“Thank God,” Adrian shook his head. “It looks like they have it under control already.”

“I wonder how it started.” I mused. “It’s a restaurant—maybe it was a grease fire?”

Adrian shook his head. “I guess it could be, but I doubt it. I don’t want to scare you off, Sherry, but we’ve been having a lot of trouble in this town lately. Someone has been starting fires, vandalizing billboards, and a lot more.”

He pointed to a large man a short distance away. “That’s Dirk Matthews. He’s the sheriff of Shifter Villages. Let’s go find out what’s going on.”

As we made our way over to Dirk, Adrian explained how over the past couple of months someone had been creating havoc in Shifter Villages. They’d set fire to the Crazy Cakes Bakery, stole from people’s cars and trashed a home and now this…another fire.

“How do you know it’s the same person or people?” I wondered out loud.

“Each time they do something they leave a calling card.”

I looked at Adrian quizzically.

“Yeah, they spray paint the words ‘FU Dirk’ somewhere on the place they set fire to, rob, or vandalize. It seems like someone doesn’t like the sheriff much and is causing trouble for him and the town.”

“I saw that! I saw red lettering spray painted on the Crazy Cake’s Bakery billboard as I drove into town.”

Adrian shook his head. “You’d think someone could find a better use of their time than to create trouble. Kids maybe…”

As we got closer to Dirk, Adrian shouted out to him to catch his attention. “Dirk, can we help?”

Dirk was a beefy, handsome man, but time and trouble had weathered his good looks. As he turned to look at Adrian, I could see the concern etched across his face.

“The fire department has this one under control. They caught it fast and there is very little damage.”

“Was it deliber…?”

Adrian didn’t have a chance to finish his sentence before Dirk nodded his head. “Yeah, same MO. It’s just like the fire at the Crazy Cakes Bakery and the other crap that’s been going on in this town…the big ole ‘FU Dirk.’” He waved his hand to a corner of the building where we could see the words spray painted on the side.

“Well, that sucks, but at least it didn’t do much damage,” Adrian said. “I’m sure Kane’s relieved about that. Kane Foster is the owner of this place,” Adrian added for my benefit.

“Yeah, it’s under control, but it sure does stink,” Dirk said. “I hate to let them run me off, but I feel like things might be a lot more peaceful if I wasn’t the sheriff anymore.”

Adrian grimaced. “You’re a fine sheriff. We’ll figure this out.”

“Yeah, if they don’t burn down half the town first,” another man said.

“Sherry, this is Dirk Matthews, our town’s sheriff. And this is his right hand man Deputy Bob—Bob Griffith.” Adrian waved a hand at the man who had just spoken.

“Nice to meet you,” I said softly. “Sorry about the fire.”

“This is my girl, Sherry,” Adrian said, tightening his grip on my hand. “We just got engaged and she’s soon to be my mate,” he added proudly.

I felt a little thrill in my stomach. It felt so good to have him call me his girl and amazing to hear him refer to me as his future mate.

“Congratulations to you both!” Dirk said heartily, slapping Adrian’s back. He looked at me curiously, “Are you from the ‘Luscious Lads and Ladies’ site that Vic started?”

I nodded.

“I’d heard Adrian had signed up, but then, so have a lot of the men in this town.”

“Yes, Adrian and I met on the site.”

“Wow, I can’t believe it actually works,” Dirk shook his head. “You sure are pretty. I ought to try it myself.”

“Who would want an old coot like you?” Bob laughed. “They’d run for the hills if they saw your photo.”

I glanced at Bob. Maybe he meant to insult Dirk as a joke, but it sure had a nasty ring the way he said it. His jab was like something my nasty co-worker Roxanne would say.

“Thanks a lot,” Dirk said sourly. “Anyway, I’d best go talk to Kane and see if he saw anything suspicious.”

As Dirk left, Bob shook his head. “He’s just not getting the job done.”

“He’s a damn good sheriff,” Adrian retorted.

“Well, I hope he figures this one out, or this whole town is going to go up in smoke,” Bob grunted. “Adrian, can you help us clean up this mess—we need to scrub the spray paint off the building and clean up the debris around here.”

“Uh, sure…” Adrian said. “I’ll take Sherry back to the hotel and come back.”

“I can help,” I offered.

“No, you must be exhausted from your trip and you don’t need to be inhaling all this soot either. Let’s get you back to the Big Bull,” he added firmly.

Adrian wrapped his arm around my shoulders and I didn’t resist, leaning into him as we walked the short distance back to the Big Bull Inn.

Though I had been charged up earlier, the excitement and stress of the day had gotten to me. I was tired and knew I was dragging as we ambled back to the hotel. We didn’t say much but we didn’t need too. It felt so good just to be together. Adrian walked me up to my room and kissed me goodnight—a gentle, soft kiss that promised something more. Though his embrace was light and easy, I could sense the animal behind it waiting to be unleashed. A shudder of anticipation ran through my body.

“God, I want to stay here with you…but I need to go back and help.”

“I know you do,” I said. I could hear the disappointment in his voice. “You could stop by afterwards?”

“You need to sleep and who knows how long this is going to take.”

I bit my lower lip. I didn’t want to appear to be too needy. I knew Adrian was trying to be nice and considerate, but damn…

“Well, what do you think?”

I stared at my reflection in the mirror. Adrian had picked me up late in the morning. He’d offered to take me for brunch, but my stomach was still in knots from the excitement of the day before; meeting Adrian in person, the fire…it had been a whirlwind of a day. So instead of brunch, we’d gone to the Crazy Cake’s Bakery for something simple.

Though their bakery had burned down in a fire just a short time ago, Adrian told me that Conrad and Kurtis, the owners of C&K Realty, had helped the bear shifter bakers find another property and they were back in business quickly.

Adrian introduced me to the twins, Evan and Grant Myles, the owners of Crazy Cakes, and the two bear shifters apologized for their limited selection as they were still getting their business back to normal after the fire. But I couldn’t imagine what more they could offer. The bakery boasted dozens of delicious, gooey pastries to choose from. Adrian and I debated if we wanted cream puffs, glazed donuts, cinnamon twists, cheese Danish, or one of the other succulent looking choices. I finally settled on a puff pastry with a rich, creamy maple flavored filling, and Adrian opted for a blueberry muffin. We washed down our selections with warm lattes. After we ate, he’d offered to cut my hair, and now I was sitting in a chair at his barbershop as he washed it.

“Mmmmm, that feels so good.” Adrian’s strong fingers were working their way through my hair as he massaged shampoo into my scalp. “And I love the smell…what is it?”

“It’s a special honey shampoo…guaranteed to make your hair do whatever you want it to,” Adrian joked.

I laughed. “I believe it. Mmmmm, and you can wash my hair anytime!”

Adrian rinsed off my hair and wrapped it in a towel. As he led me over to his work area, I glanced around the shop. It was a Sunday so it was empty, but there were at least a dozen workstations, each with a barber’s chair and a side booth with scissors, razors, brushes, towels, hair clips, and other tools of the trade.

I nestled into the comfy barber’s chair and Adrian combed out my hair. He began snipping, and I couldn’t help but admire his muscular arms as he confidently combed and clipped my locks.

When he’d finished trimming, Adrian pulled out the blow dryer and took his time using a round brush to style my hair.

“What do you think?” he asked. He put the dryer down.

I hated seeing my birthmark so I usually avoided looking in the mirror, but I lifted my head and looked. I couldn’t help but let out a gasp of surprise.

My normally limp auburn locks had taken on a life of their own. My hair looked full of body and the cut was flattering, showing off my eyes. Of course my birthmark was there, but for some reason it didn’t bother me as much as it usually did.

I glanced up in the mirror and caught the reflection of Adrian’s copper eyes as he fluffed my hair.

“Do you like it?”

“I…I love it. You…you’re so incredible and so talented.” I patted a strand of my hair.

“You’re a beautiful woman, Sherry.”

“Thank you, Adrian. You make me feel so special in so many ways and I love the way you do my hair,” I smiled.

Adrian laughed. “One of the perks of being with me…you’ll never have a bad hair day.”

“And I want to be with you, Adrian…in every way.”

“And I want you, Sherry,” Adrian said throatily. The way he was eyeing me in the mirror, it was like I was the most desirable woman on earth. “I need you, Sherry.”

I nodded, a lump forming in my throat. “And I want you too, for now and forever.”

“Are you sure?”

I nodded again.

Adrian leaned down and kissed me. I could smell and feel his animal as he pressed his lips against mine. It was a hard, passion filled kiss. Then, he moved his lips away from mine and nibbled my neck so gently. My eyes shot open as suddenly I felt a sharp, piercing pain burning into the side of my neck.

“Wha…?” It was so painful, yet it felt so good.

“I am marking you as mine,” Adrian murmured. “Just relax into it.”

An indescribable sensation swept through my body as I let go with Adrian, trusting my body to him.

Adrian removed his lips from my neck and I touched the tender, swollen flesh. I knew he had marked me, and now I was his. I was so ready for him in every way possible.

Adrian looked in my eyes and I knew he could see what I wanted…what we both wanted. Without speaking, he lifted me up out of the chair. I wrapped my arms around his neck as he carried me to a door at the side of the room.

“I have marked you, but now I need to claim you fully,” he growled as he carried me up a flight of stairs.

A wave of pleasure rushed through my body and I closed my eyes. I could not wait to feel this huge, powerful man in every way possible. I had experienced him in my dreams and now finally I would experience him in real life.

When he got to the top of the steps, Adrian pushed the door open. His apartment was a man cave with large, oversized leather chairs, a mega-TV and dark wood furniture. I barely had a chance to take it in as he carried me through the area to the bedroom.

He gently tossed me on the king-sized bed and pinned me with my hands above my head, climbing next to me.

“I can’t tell you how long I’ve been waiting for this. I just want to devour you.” He nuzzled his face into my neck. “I want to explore every inch of your hot, sexy body. Does that sound good to you?”

I could hardly speak. There was nothing I wanted more than to have him do exactly that. I just barely managed to squeak out, “Oh God, yes.”

Adrian started kissing me, his lips finding mine, his tongue exploring inside my mouth.

As our tongues tangled I arched my back. I wanted him to touch me so badly. And then, I couldn’t stand it any longer. I moved his hand to the top of my shirt, over my breasts, and placed it firmly on top. There was no mistaking what I wanted and needed.

If at first Adrian had tried to be gentle, his animal had lost control now. In seconds, he had my shirt pulled over my head and was nuzzling his face between my breasts as he worked to pull my bra off.

“Damn it!”

I could feel his frustration as he tried to unclasp the hooks and I reached around my back and undid them, sliding the bra completely off.

I could see his annoyance turn to appreciation as my breasts splayed out, free from their confinement.

“No more clothes. I don’t want anything separating your body from mine,” Adrian grunted. “Take them off.” He stood up on the mattress and pulled me up next to him.

Who was I to argue with this sexy hunk? As I wiggled out of my jeans, Adrian started stripping down, pulling off his shirt. It was hard not to stare at his deliciously muscled chest. Brawny, with some chest hair, Adrian’s clearly defined muscles rippled as he flipped his head back to finish pulling off the tee.

Adrian yanked his denims off in one quick motion and I was stunned to see that not only was he commando under his jeans but his shaft was fully erect. And his body…it was just as I imagined in my dreams.

He was thick with muscles and his cock was so enormous I had no idea how he would fit inside me. But one thing I knew for sure—I was going to try and take every last inch of his luscious member. I couldn’t help but let out a low moan as I eyed his cock and imagined it plunging deep inside me.

Adrian grabbed my ass. All that separated us now was my flimsy pair of mesh panties. He squeezed my butt cheeks firmly as he pressed me tightly next to his body.

He licked his lips. “Your ass is so sweet. I can’t wait to taste and fuck every part of you. You’re so fucking beautiful.” Running a finger along the outline of the crotch of my panties, he grinned. “And you’re so fucking wet. I can smell your scent.”

“Mmm,” I pushed myself harder next to Adrian. I could feel his shaft enormous in its girth, pressing into my skin.

“Gorgeous. Your tits are beautiful.” Adrian lowered his head to my nipples and licked them in long, greedy slurps.

The ache in my body was intense as I treasured the feel of his raspy tongue, knowing that in minutes that tongue would be licking another even more sensitive part of my body.

Adrian pulled me back down on the mattress and licked my breasts as I wrapped my arms tightly around his neck. I could feel my heart pounding out of my chest. I wanted this man so badly.

“You make me so fucking hard,” Adrian moaned.

“Mmmm…” I made him hard? I was so wet I was dripping, and in moments I was sopping as Adrian swirled his tongue from my breasts and licked his way down my belly. When he got to my pussy he inhaled deeply.

“I love your scent. I love that you want me,” Adrian said.

I was throbbing with need and I couldn’t help but push Adrian into my pussy as I spread my legs as far apart as I could. He deserved easy access.

He took long, slow slurps, flicking his tongue up and down. He drove me wild as he focused in on my clit, circling it with the tip of his tongue.

My muscles clenched and I was on the verge of exploding when he pulled himself back up the length of my body. Pulling my hips towards his, he pushed the tip of his cock into my pussy slowly, and then deeper and faster.

“That feels so good,” I moaned as his thick shaft glided further into me. It hurt, but at the same time felt so incredible. “Fuck me, Adrian. Fuck me hard.”

The feeling was so intense, and I knew he was feeling it too. His eyes were tightly shut and he was bathed in a light coating of sweat as his big dick plummeted the depth of my pussy.

“You’re so fucking wet and tight, Sherry. You feel so good.”

“Fuck me, Adrian. Fuck me hard. I want to feel all of you.”

Adrian pounded me hard, his breathing deep and heavy as he stroked in and out of my wet slit. My hungry pussy clenched around him, taking everything he had to offer.

Suddenly, I couldn’t stand it anymore. Intense release washed over me as I came, spasms rippling through my body. Adrian came at the same time I did, with spurts of creamy white fluid oozing inside me and along my thighs.

It was just like my dreams…only better. This was real. I moaned with pleasure, wrapping my arms around him. Words could not describe how much I loved being with Adrian, my ferocious lover…my mate.