Tapping his temple with the pad of his index finger, he’d gotten that twinkle in his eye that made her body tingle as he’d waggled his eyebrows and teased, “Oh, it’s fair.” Sliding his hands under her arms, he’d pulled her up his body. “And even more fun.” Kissing the tip of her nose, he gave a sexy growl. “And, don’t forget, my love. You can read mine, too.”
Laying her lips to his, Lucy had reenacted his every thought, until once again, they were both breathless and spent. Another hour of cuddling, and she forced herself out from under the cover and into her clothes.
Patting the blanket next to his hip, Beau scooted over as he urged, “Sit down for a second. We need to go over the ground rules one more time.”
Doing as he asked, only because he had asked—not ordered or demanded, but honestly asked—Lucy took a seat and her bear’s outstretched hand. Looking at her smaller fingers intertwined with his, something in the deepest part of her soul clicked into place.
Being with the one who called to her soul was so much more than words could’ve ever explained. It was amazing, life-affirming, and wonderful in all the right ways.
Falling into Beau’s dark brown gaze, she’d smiled and nodded. “Okay, hit me, big guy.”
Brows instantly furrowing, his head tilted to the side as he looked even deeper into her eyes. Long seconds ticked by before he grinned. “You’re not mad at all, are you?”
“Nope, not even a little.”
“I was sure you’d tell me to shut up and go to hell. That you’d do what you wanted, and I could kiss your ass.”
“Now, why would you do that?” Lucy laughed. Laying her hand over his heart, absorbing the strong current of the electricity of their bond, she smiled. “You’re worried about me. Anything that you say is because you care. You want the best for me, for us. Why in the world would that make me angry?”
Beau chuckled and shook his head. “Damn, I’m one seriously lucky bear.” Pulling her to him, he’d kissed her soundly then immediately sat her at arm’s length. “If I don’t stop, you’ll never get out of here and that means you’ll never get home, and well, I need you back here just as quickly as you can.”
“And I will.”
“I know.” He blew out a sharp, exasperated breath. “Just like I know you have to do this by yourself.” Grabbing her hand and holding it between his, he went on. “But that doesn’t mean I have to like it,” he growled, shaking his head, his expression dark and his tone haunted. “I don’t trust Cleland any farther than I can throw him. I know he’s your dad and all, but…”
“But he’s a no-good snake in the grass who should have his head chopped off and his carcass fed to the coyotes.”
“Yeah.” Beau snorted with a sad chuckle. “That about sums it up.” Pulling her close, so close Lucy never wanted to leave, he kissed her cheek. “I hate to say this, it pisses me off to think it, but he thinks of you as a possession.” Kissing her other cheek, he went on. “And he’s gonna see us being together as theft. Cleland does nothing without reason. And I know, just as sure as God made little green apples, that he is using you as payment to Terrance for something or another. He’s not gonna go down without a fight.”
“Well, he’s just gonna have to get the hell over it,” she’d assured her mate. “I want you. You want me. We are meant to be together. That’s all there is to it. Dad will just have to write a bigger check, or marry off some other girl, or pound of sand.” Laying her lips to his, she whispered directly into his mind, “Now, I have to go. I’ll be back before you even know I’m gone.”
Touching his bite, the mark he’d left on her shoulder for all to see, Lucy had let her voice drop to a sexy growl as she climbed into his lap and bit his shoulder, leaving a mark of her own. After making love one more time because she just couldn’t resist, she’d kissed him soundly, gotten dressed for the second time, and told her big grizzly to expect her back in less than an hour.
Thirty minutes sounds even better…
Walking through the field, it felt like she was experiencing the sun for the first time. The rich scent of the wheat, the glorious aroma of the spring flowers in bloom, everything was better now that she and Beau were together. Even the nerves, the sour pit in her stomach that always roiled when approaching her house, were gone.
“There’s nothing you can do, Dad,” she told the butterflies, the tips of her fingers once again going to her shoulder. “The deed is done. I’m free. I’m in love with a wonderful man, and I’m free.”
Chapter Eleven
Refusing to use the back door, unapologetic that she was wearing the same clothes from the day before and she knew the scent of her mate wouldn’t be missed, Lucy grabbed the brass door handle and pushed. Walking over the threshold like she owned the place, because, well, she would someday, it was a surprise to find her father’s guards absent.
“Must be in the pavilion,” she mumbled under her breath. “Goddess knows, Dad has to supervise the biggest party of the year, and he can’t be without security. Maybe he does know the whole world would stab him if they had the chance.” Mimicking her father’s raspy voice, she mocked, “Everything has to be perfect. This is the one and only time we allow these people into our home. They have to have something to aspire to.” Rolling her eyes, she couldn’t help but scoff, “Oh, brother, when I run the show—”
“When you run the show, it will be in name only. There will be an alpha wolf by your side, and you will be doing as you are told.”
Hand on the railing, one foot on the bottom step, Lucy’s head snapped to the side. Glaring into her father’s fiery stare, she shrugged, “How about a bear, Dad? Don’t you think a nice, upstanding bear, who’s a good man with a good heart, who actually cares about people would make a nice addition to the family?”
Approaching slowly, his eyes never leaving hers, her father’s thin, bloodless lips curled into a nasty smirk. “No, I don’t think that will do at all.”
Stepping down and turning to face him, Lucy stood tall. For the first time in her life, she wasn’t going to lose her temper, or back down, or anything she’d ever done before. No, this time, she was going to have an adult conversation with her father, and he would have to accept her decision.
Tilting her head slightly to the side, making absolutely sure there was no way her father could miss Beau’s bite, she took a step forward. However, her father had to get his two cents in first.
“That…” jabbing his finger at her like a saber, he seethed, “…will heal. You will cover it with makeup for the ball, and for the sake of the goddess, wash that stench from your body. You will not embarrass me in front of the whole community.”
“No.”
Going on as if she’d hadn’t said a word, Cleland fumed, the apples of his cheeks getting redder with every syllable he spat. “You will do as you are told. The deal has been made. The blood oath is sacrosanct. You will mate Terrance Holloway. He is already feared. With my help and you by his side, he will be revered. Your children will be—”