Bear Again (Second Chance Shifters 3) (4 page)

T
here wasn’t much time
. He didn’t want to put any more pressure on Sophia than she was already feeling, but there were only a month until the eclipse. What were the chances that the official mourning period would end so close to the first eclipse? He thought he would have more time than this to convince her to let him take her as his mate.

Deep down, he wanted her to make the decision on her own, not because clan law guilted her into it.

If she knew about the timetable, she’d only dig her heels in more. There was no way she would listen to anything he had to say. He knew that now.

The only way this would work was if Sophia came to him because she wanted to.

The future of the clan depended on it.

Tonight would be another opportunity to show her how he felt. To remind her how much she needed someone in her life. She had been alone too long.

A
t five o’clock
, Liam pulled up behind the bakery. The kitchen lights were still on. He walked through the private entrance into an empty kitchen.

“Soph?” he called out for her.

He strolled to the café, but the cabinets were empty and no one was in the shop. The sign on the front door had been flipped over to read “closed.”

He was about to call her when he heard a loud banging sound overhead. He ran for the staircase in the kitchen and barged through the apartment door.

The clatter had come from her apartment. He called for her again, opening doors and looking for her.

He pushed open the bathroom door and stopped in his tracks.

“What are you doing?” Sophia stood dripping wet, scrambling to cover herself with her hands.

His bear growled with deep want. She was fucking gorgeous. Her body glistened with water as the droplets slid along her curves.

“Liam!” she screamed.

He pretended to cover his eyes. “Sorry, sorry. I heard a crash and ran up here.” He turned to face the door. His cock had jerked to life as he memorized every inch of her soft flesh. “Are you ok?”

“It was just the shower curtain. It does that all the time. You can leave.”

He didn’t want to leave. He wanted to turn around and press her soft and ripe body against the wall. He wanted to inhale her scent and mark her with his. But that wasn’t what she wanted.

“Right. I’ll just be out there.” He forced himself to exit the bathroom, finding the need for her almost unbearable.

A damn shower curtain. That’s all it was. He had heard something, and the fear of God had run through his body, thinking Sophia was hurt. He shook his head. If only she knew how much he had changed. He wasn’t the man she thought he was. He was capable of settling down. He could love her. Hell, he already did.

Twenty minutes later, she emerged from the bathroom dressed in a sweater and jeans. Her hair dry and her eyes bright.

“You look beautiful.” He stood to greet her.

“I was covered in flour. I had to take a shower. And I had blue icing in my hair. This wasn’t for you,” she explained. “This is not a date.”

He put his hands up. “No. Not a date. Just friends hanging out.”

“Hmph.” She crossed her arms, but he thought he saw a glimmer in her eyes. The same one he saw last night before he kissed her.

“How about I fix that shower rod for you?” he asked.

She looked puzzled. “Really?”

He walked past her. “Yeah. Let me look at it. I don’t want it falling on you again.” The bathroom smelled like her shampoo and lotion. It was as intoxicating as she was.

He lifted the rod from the wall and inspected the ends. It was a standard tension rod, but he could see it was extended too far. It was never going to hold.

“I think we need to take a ride to Tripp’s.”

Sophia stood behind him in the doorway. “Why? You can’t fix it?”

Liam shook his head. “The springs are stripped, and it’s not going to hold. Let’s get a new shower rod for you.” He placed the old one on its end against the wall.

“I have a feeling this isn’t what you planned on for our ‘hanging out.’”

Liam chuckled. “I only want to spend time with you, Soph.” He held the apartment door for her. “And if that means shopping at the hardware store, then I’m a happy man.”

“Bear,” she corrected him.

He sighed. “I’m a man too.”

“But that’s not why you’re here. It’s the bear that brought you. Not the man.” She eyed him.

He pulled his keys from his pocket. He didn’t want to start a fight with her about the semantics of their relationship. And he didn’t want to debate how much the man had to do with his feelings for her. The wall she had built against the clan was tall and wide.

“Come on, let’s get your shower rod.” He pulled her hand into his palm and led her down the stairs through the kitchen.

Tripp’s was the closest thing Bear Lake had to a Home Depot. Howard Tripp was the third generation to run the store. He was also an elder in Liam’s clan. Liam nodded at the man as he and Sophia walked into the store.

She waved nervously.

“Sophia. Liam. Good to see you two in here together.” Howard smiled from behind the counter.

“Glad we made it in before you closed.” Liam thought they had about thirty minutes before Howard left for the night.

“Can I help you find something?”

“Where are the shower rods?” Liam asked.

Howard’s eyes lit up. “A little house project? They’re on that last aisle at the end.”

“Thanks.” Liam tugged on Sophia to follow him.

She looked up at him. “Wait. Does he think… Does he know something about this?”

Liam shrugged. “Don’t worry about it.”

She stopped in the middle of the aisle. “How many people know?”

He could see the anger radiating through her. He could feel it. “Soph, I told you it’s clan business.”

“So how many?” She wasn’t going to move until he told her.

He closed his eyes. “Everyone.” He braced himself for her reaction.

She staggered close to a rack of brooms. “Everyone? As in the entire clan?”

Suddenly he realized bringing her with him to Tripp’s wasn’t such a good idea. “Let’s get the shower rod and we can talk about this at your place.”

She shook off his hand. “Don’t touch me. Howard’s watching, right? Everyone’s watching? Everyone in this damn town is a bear!”

“Keep your voice down, or else they’ll know our business.” He grabbed her above the elbow and escorted her to the back of the store. “Howard only knows what he sees.”

“And he’s going to spread the gossip to someone else.”

“Hey, you’re forgetting I’m the alpha.” He didn’t like to throw his title around, but it seemed like a good time to remind her of the weight of his status. “They aren’t going to do anything to piss me off. The want me to be happy. With
you
,” he added.

Liam grabbed a stainless steel rod with brackets and faced her.

“I don’t want to have anything to do with this. I told you that,” she hissed.

“Let’s not talk about this in the middle of the store, okay? Let’s get some dinner. We can talk about it over a bottle of wine. After I put up your new shower rod.” He grinned at her, trying to soothe her growing agitation.

“No and no.” She shrugged off his grip. “I’m going home alone.” She marched down the aisle.

Liam jogged after her, but stopped when he was in Howard’s line of sight. He let Sophia skirt out of the front door.

“Everything all right, Liam?”

He chuckled. “Of course. Just a little dispute over which style. She wants to redecorate the bathroom in porcelain.” He placed the rod next to the register and paid for it.

Howard handed him the receipt. “You know the other elders and I are anxious to get the date for your blood oath ceremony. Have you two set a date?”

Liam scratched the back of his head. “Not yet. But I’ll let you know.”

“The eclipse is soon, son,” the old man warned.

“I know when it is.” Liam opened the door. “Good night.”

S
he didn’t care
that she was walking while it was freezing outside. There was enough rage inside her to keep her warm. She crossed the street.

What was she thinking? Of course the clan members knew what was happening. They always did. When she started dating Noah, she couldn’t go anywhere without someone mentioning some kind of clan news. It didn’t help that they cared most about the alpha.

Most of them had been at her blood oath ceremony. They were there the night she vowed to spend her life with Noah. They had also sworn to protect her. In return, she had pledged herself to the clan as the alpha’s mate.

She stormed across the next street. She didn’t know what any of that had meant. She only knew she wanted to be with Noah. It seemed like a part of the ceremony—not something she’d actually have to live up to.

The headlights framed her shadow. She didn’t have to turn around to know Liam’s truck was the one following her.

He rolled down the window. “Soph, get in the truck.”

“No.” She trudged forward.

“Get in the truck.” He pulled in front of her so she would have to walk around to keep moving.

“I’ll pay you back for the shower rod. How much was it?”

“Come on, get in the truck. I’ll drive you back out of the cold.”

She shook her head. “I’m not getting in the truck with you. I’m not doing anything with you.”

Liam stepped out from the truck, closing the door behind him.

“What are you doing? You’re blocking the road.” She stared at him.

“Stop running and talk to me.” He gripped the sides of her shoulders.

His hands were hot even through her coat. She glared at him. “No.”

“Then get in the truck and don’t talk. I don’t care. Just get off the damn street.”

She knew this was futile. He could pick her up like a sack of sugar and put her in the truck if he wanted to. He was trying to give her the choice.

She walked to the passenger side and climbed in without saying a word.

Liam was silent the rest of the ride home. He pulled up next to her car, unloaded the shower rod, and followed her inside the bakery.

Inside her apartment, he went straight to the bathroom and began the task of assembling the new rod and securing it to the wall. She didn’t want to admit it made a lot more sense to have a rod that was actually screwed into the wall. She had been battling it for over a year.

Every few minutes she would steal a peek around the corner to watch Liam work. His biceps flexed under his T-shirt while he held the bar in place. She’d never noticed how sculpted his arms were before. She tried to quiet the place in her belly that was twitching.

She reminded herself she was angry and annoyed. There was an entire clan meddling in her love life and she wanted nothing to do with them.

She picked up a magazine from the coffee table and pretended to read the recipes while she flipped through the pages. But all she could think about was that there was an enormous, sexy man in her shower.

She scowled at herself and tried to study the ingredients needed for a soufflé. It was pointless. Liam’s muscles were all she could think about.

“Soph?”

She jumped on the couch. “Yes?”

“I’m done. Want to come take a look?”

She tossed the magazine on the table and headed to the bathroom.

He tapped on the top of the bar and applied pressure. “This one isn’t going anywhere.”

“Looks good.” She tried to sound unimpressed. She didn’t want Liam to know that she was, in fact, astonished that he could be handy.

He had an array of tools in his truck and knew exactly how to use them. She knew there were other skills he had. Her heart fluttered for a quick instant, but she caught it too late. Liam looked at her. Shit, he had heard it.

He took a step toward her, and she braced herself. He looked overpowering in her small bathroom. His shoulders filled all the empty space. She swallowed hard.

“Need anything else?” he asked.

“What?”

“Is there anything else around here I can help you with?”

“The light in my closet.” The words were out before she could draw them back in. What in the hell was she doing? She needed him to collect his stuff and get out. Not camp out doing honey-do projects.

“All right. Let me take a look.” He brushed past her and walked down the hall.

Sophia closed her eyes. Liam had moved from the bathroom to the bedroom. She was doing the opposite of everything she wanted to do.

He was flipping the switch on and off when she walked in.

“It’s definitely not the light bulb,” he reported. “I need to cut the power, I think, and check the wiring. Where’s the fuse box?”

“In the hallway behind a painting.”

“Be right back.”

Within seconds, the apartment was thrown into total darkness. Sophia held her breath when she heard Liam’s heavy footsteps approaching. Was this just a ploy? Was he trying to get her in her room in the dark?

He whisked past her with a flashlight. “I think I know what it is.”

She let out a pent up breath. “Oh?”

“Yeah,” he mumbled from the closet.

She tried not to think about him being inside her inner sanctuary. It was a wreck in there—clothes strewn all over.

She heard him click something into place, walk past her, and turn on the power. He met her at the doorway.

“Try your light now,” he instructed.

She flipped the closet switch and the light came on. “How’d you do that?”

He grinned. “I can’t tell you all my secrets.”

She didn’t know how it happened or where it came from. She didn’t think it was possible. But she started laughing. And it wasn’t a little giggle. It was a deep, belly-rolling laugh that made her sides hurt.

H
e stared at her
. He didn’t know what had started it, but Sophia was laughing uncontrollably. Tears streamed down her cheeks. And for once, he wasn’t witnessing tears of anguish.

“You okay?”

She sniffed. “Yes. Yes.” She ran to grab a tissue next to the bed. “It’s just absurd. The whole thing.” She started laughing again and sat down on the edge of her bed.

“Absurd?” He puffed out his chest, not sure if she was referring to his handyman skills. He had been sure she’d be impressed if he could show her how much he could do for her.

“Yes,” she snorted. “This whole thing.”

He sat next to her, and her giggling fit seemed to cease. Her eyes widened. “What are you doing?”

He sighed, brushing a loose curl from the side of her face. “Sitting next to you.”

“Well, don’t.” She scooted closer to the pillows.

“How do you go from being pissed to laughing to being pissed again?” He couldn’t track her emotions. She was all over the place.

“We are definitely not doing this.” She tried to stand but he pressed his hands against her thighs, keeping her from standing.

“We are definitely doing this,” he growled. “You won’t talk in the kitchen. You won’t talk in the shop. You won’t talk at the cabin, or on the street. If the only place you’ll talk to me is in bed, then that’s where it’s going to happen.”

“I-I never…”

His hand moved from her thigh to her waist. “Talk. Get it out. Whatever it is that keeps you from giving me a chance.”

The truth was he didn’t want to talk. All he wanted to do was to rip the clothes from her body and love her until the sun came up. But that wasn’t going to happen as long as there was something she needed to say.

“Liam,” her eyes hardened. “You’re not going to leave until we talk, are you?”

He shook his head. “No.”

She exhaled. “Fine. I’ll talk. But it’s under duress.”

He grinned. “Your words. Not mine.”

“You are so aggravating,” she fumed.

“That’s not the first time a woman has said that.” He waggled his eyebrows, trying to lighten the mood.

“You can’t seriously think this would ever work.”

“It will work.” He moved his free hand to her other hip and twisted her to face him. He wanted to see every emotion on her face.

“See, you say it like it’s already going to happen. I’ve told you over and over I don’t want to be with you. I don’t want to be with anyone.”

“How do you know you don’t want to be with me?”

“I just do.”

He smiled. He could hear the steady thump of her heart growing louder. She was reacting to him. She was trying to ignore what her body felt.

“Give me a real answer.”

“You were Noah’s best friend. He would never be okay with this.”

With that one name, the entire mood changed. Liam knew he would be dealing with Noah’s ghost—he just didn’t know it would hurt this much to face it.

“Noah would know this is how things are supposed to be. You have to believe me on that.” He ran his hand along her back. “If it had been reversed, and I had met you first and you were mine first, he would have done the same exact thing in my position.”

“Is that how you justify it?”

“I’m not justifying anything. It doesn’t need to be justified because this is what is right, Soph.” He closed in on her, hearing her steady heartbeats jump erratically.

This was why the mourning period existed—to deal with the questions. To face the answers. Although, he was the only one who had come to terms with it. He had to believe Noah would trust him with Sophia.

“It can’t be right. I’m not… I shouldn’t…”

“You shouldn’t what?” he asked, inhaling her scent. God, she smelled like heaven.

She lowered her eyes. “Shouldn’t be happy with anyone else. I can’t.”

He tilted her chin upward to meet his gaze. “Don’t do that. Don’t rob yourself of the bond we could have because you don’t think you deserve it. You deserve everything in this world you want. And I’m going to give it to you.”

He wanted to let her talk more, but he couldn’t stop his bear any longer. He crashed his lips against hers, taking the kiss with desperate fury.

She did deserve to be happy. She deserved a mate who would worship her and love her. She couldn’t live the rest of her life alone just because Noah was gone. Liam wouldn’t let that happen.

He tugged at her lips with his teeth, nipping and sucking against her mouth. His tongue twisted along hers as he pulled her into his lap. Her legs instinctively wrapped around his waist.

He kissed her throat, finding places behind her ear that made her squirm. There weren’t words for this. There was no way he could tell her all the things she needed to hear to reassure her. He had to show her. It was the only way he could express how powerful he knew their bond would be.

His hand snaked under her sweater, cupping her breasts. She cooed when he rolled the tight bud of her nipple between his fingers. God, every part of her was perfect. He wanted all of her. Every inch of her curvy, luscious body.

His mouth devoured her lips, scooping her body under his.

“God, Soph,” he muttered, raking the sweater over her head.

Her lips were back on his as the sweater hit the floor. Her hips rocked forward and his cock jerked under his jeans. He could feel the heat between her legs, and it sent a deep groan through his chest.

He licked against her collarbone, making his way over the swells of her breasts. He had dreamed about them. He swore they were the most perfect tits in Bear Lake. He shoved the lace off of them and admired how her nipples pointed toward his lips. He growled as he took one in his mouth and began to suck.

“Ohh,” Sophia moaned, bucking off the bed.

It only drove him crazier to hear the sounds coming from her mouth. He had to know what all of her tasted like. He dipped his head to her other breast and inhaled the sweet skin, nipping at the tight bud.

Her head thrashed on the pillow and the mewing sounds sent him over the edge. He reached for her zipper and began to shimmy the jeans over her hips. His bear was losing control. He wanted all her sweetness. He wanted to claim her for once and for all.

No more deadlines. No more games. No more pressure from the clan. This was only about him and Sophia becoming one.

But as he tried to lift her hips to ease the jeans down her legs she froze.

“No.” She shook her head and pulled the bra back to cover her breasts. “Stop, Liam. Stop.”

He immediately let go of her jeans and sat staring at her.

“Sophia…”

“You have to go.”

He hung his head. “Don’t kick me out.”

“I shouldn’t have let you kiss me. Or touch me.” She wiggled out from under him and leaned toward the floor to retrieve her sweater.

“Don’t do this. Don’t beat yourself up for feeling good.”

Her eyes flashed to his. He could read the guilt and hurt as clearly as if it were stamped on her forehead.

“How can you say that?” Her eyes misted.

“Hey, hey.” He cupped her face in his hands. “I’m not saying it’s easy moving on. I would never say that. But look at me and tell me you weren’t enjoying yourself.” He raised his eyebrows.

She huffed.

“You can’t because you liked it, Soph. You like what I can make you feel.” He kissed behind her ear, knowing it would make her shiver. “And deep down you know I can do a lot more than that.”

“Stop doing that. Stop confusing me with your body.” She tucked her knees up to her chest.

“Aren’t you the least little bit curious how we would feel together?” He kissed along her neck.

Her lips parted with a sigh. “No.”

He smiled. “Well I am. You’re all I can think about.” He tipped his forehead to hers. “I want you so badly I can taste it. I dream about it. I fantasize about taking you in my arms. I picture what it would be like to bite you.” Her breath quickened and her blood pumped wildly in her veins. “I see you when I close my eyes. I imagine making you mine.”

He planted a kiss on her cheek before standing next to the bed.

She looked up at him. “You’re actually leaving?”

He nodded. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”

He strolled out of her bedroom, praying he had just made the right decision, and that it was the only way to end up in Sophia’s bed forever.