Bear Essentials (5 page)

He pushed his door open and a rush of cool night air brushed
her hot face. Surprise made her slow as she fumbled for the door latch. Granger
pulled it open before she managed to get her fingers to follow her directions.
He offered her a hand and she stared at his upturned palm for a stunned moment
before laying her hand into his. He closed his grip around her fingers and
gently pulled her out of the low sports car seat. She brushed against his hard
frame, realizing just how short she was compared to him. She had to raise her
chin and tip her head back to see his face. Her heart wouldn’t slow down; it
thumped against her ribs in a crazy rhythm as she caught the warm male scent of
his skin once more. Her nipples drew taut, poking against her dress as she
quivered.

“It’s been a really long time since I gave my time away and
felt like I got the better end of the deal.” His voice was edged with confusion
as his gaze searched her face. “It really bugs me that you think I’m enough of
a jerk to use my mother as an excuse to cut the line too.”

“A lot of jerks try it.” But she didn’t like the sound of
the words as they passed her lips. They were little more than strangers, but a
euphoria seemed to generate around them when they were together. It was almost
magical and extremely addictive.

He stepped back and pulled her away from the car. “I’ve been
one too many times to count. I think you’re good for me.”

He flipped her seat forward and reached into the tiny
backseat. As a passenger compartment, it was practically useless. A neatly
wrapped box with a large silver bow appeared as he grinned at her. He held it
up, making sure she identified it as the Wish Bear he’d earned. His eyebrows
wiggled suggestively at her as he closed the car door.

“Maybe I can convince you that I’d be good for you too.” He
laid a firm hand on one side of her bottom in a quick slap that made her gasp.
A satisfied chuckle floated past her ear as he looped one arm around her waist
to sweep her along across the parking lot.

“I think I’d be better off to run.”

Warm lips leaned close to her ear as they neared the front
door and the people clustered around the entrance of the restaurant. “I may be
a bad boy, honey, but I’m a real good man. But if you’d like me to chase you,
lead on.”

There wasn’t a demon in all creation who could have taunted
her better. Passion flowed through her veins, chasing all ideas of practicality
away. But what really stole her breath was the silver-haired lady waiting for
them at a window table. She clapped her hands together as they approached and
Roslyn felt her heart give up any hope of not letting the man get inside.

He really wasn’t a jerk.

And she was in way over her head.

Chapter Four

Granger couldn’t take his eyes off Roslyn. She wasn’t the
prettiest woman he’d ever shared dinner with, not by a long shot. Her nose was
a little too large and her complexion too pale, with a dusting of freckles, but
she was stunning. She laughed as his mom recounted how his father had courted
her.

“My parents ran a small fruit and vegetable store downtown.
Granger’s father would come in and buy one thing on his mother’s list and then
leave. He’d walk around the corner and wait for a spell before coming back in,
claiming he’d been sent back.” Valerie Webb smiled from ear to ear with her
recollection. “The poor man never knew that I would run into the back room to
watch him leave and I caught him reading his mother’s list.”

“That’s priceless.”

Roslyn was sincere too. Granger couldn’t rip his gaze off
her. His gut was twisted into a knot, but he didn’t want it to loosen. He was
held spellbound by the feeling, savoring it like a fine whisky because he
suddenly realized that he’d been drinking the low-grade version of the stuff.
Sure, sex had been good with his last partner, but he hadn’t stared at her,
just anticipating the next time he’d get to touch her. Any kind of contact, a
brush of fingers, the meeting of their eyes, he felt as if he was on the edge
of his chair waiting for the next opportunity. Roslyn commanded his absolute
attention just by being herself. His mom’s stories suddenly made more impact,
touching off a need to prolong the meal. He flatly didn’t want it to end.

The best part was, Roslyn wasn’t itching to escape his
mother either. She listened intently and added her own parents’ stories to the
conversation.

“I’ve got a little surprise for you, Mom,” he announced.

His mother ran a finger over the Wish Bear and blushed.
“Granger, you’ve already outdone yourself. Do you know this bear has a
five-month waiting list?” She looked at the winking face and laughed. “I’m
beside myself right now.”

“You can thank Roslyn here for the bear.” Granger grinned at
her as he watched his mother clap her hands with glee.

“Not so, you earned it.” Roslyn insisted. “You raised one
determined son, Mrs. Webb. He danced his way to that bear this morning.”

“Was it some sort of contest?” Valerie asked.

Granger wiggled his eyebrows at her. “Not really. Roslyn is
the artist who created Wish Bear. She needed someone to wear her bear suit
today for a Children’s Hospital appearance.”

“Oh my…my…my!” I didn’t connect your name with the one on
the box, my dear!!! I adore your bears!”

“Your son made an excellent Wish Bear today. He danced all
around Children’s Hospital,” Roslyn elaborated.

Valerie beamed. Pride radiated from his mom’s eyes as Roslyn
watched her smile. It floored him because Roslyn wasn’t trying to impress him.
She was enjoying the older woman’s joy and didn’t even glance at him to see if
he was noticing. It was genuine and it had been a long time since he’d dated
any female who wasn’t thinking of his bank account instead of the moment.

May God help him tomorrow.

Tonight, he was lost in temptation.

“What are you thinking about?”

Roslyn bit into her lip as she considered her companion. The
lighthearted meal had been fun, but now her body was twisting into a knot as
she considered the temptations of being alone with him.

“That you actually took me to meet your mother on our first
date.”

He chuckled and cut her a glance that she couldn’t quite
read in the dark. “I bet she’s calling my sister right now to go over the
details.”

“She’s really nice, your mom.”

“Cooks like a saint too. Better fast before next Sunday so
that you can enjoy brunch.”

Granger pulled smoothly into a parking spot in front of her
factory. Cutting the engine, he pulled the keys out of the ignition before
pegging her with a hard look. “You promised you’d be there, but I’ll be happy
to convince you to hang out with me more often.”

A giggle escaped her lips. It was a silly sound, but fit the
moment. Her hands shook as she fumbled the door latch and pushed the door open
before Granger made it around to perform the task. Excitement nipped along her
limbs as she watched him close in on her. The mood had changed the second he
closed the passenger door after dinner. Playfulness was being replaced by clear
purpose. It twisted through her belly, fanning the flames that had never really
died.

“You still owe me a kiss.” His voice was edged with demand,
almost as if he was testing her nerve. Hard and male, it stoked her rising
passion, sending heat towards her clit. He raised one finger.

“The agreement was one kiss and you haven’t given it to me
yet.”

His eyes flashed with anticipation, but he stood his ground,
waiting for her to approach him. The flicker of heat in his eyes fascinated
her, drawing her forward towards the promise of the euphoria being near him
created for her. The pure confidence of seeing a man who looked at her as if
she was perfection. At that moment, she believed in love at first sight because
Granger looked as if he’d never seen another woman before her. It was an
unspoken thing, something she felt with her heart. There wasn’t a love poem
ever penned that could convey the feeling, only the look on his face.

“Well, I always keep my word.” Rising up on her toes, she
pressed a swift kiss against his mouth. It was over almost before it began. His
eyes narrowed to slits as she stepped away from him. He curled one finger in
her direction.

Shaking her head, she backed up farther, but a silly smile
decorated her mouth as she watched him begin to follow her.

“That was a sad excuse for a kiss.”

Another giggle passed her lips. Granger growled at her. He
raised his hands and spread out his fingers as she laughed at him again.

“Come back here, Roslyn, and finish what we started before
dinner.”

This time, his tone challenged her.

Roslyn looked at Granger and concluded that she’d lost
whatever sanity she’d had left. His challenge sounded better than dessert.
There was no way she could handle…him. But she sure wanted to try.

“If you can’t catch me, you go home cold.” It was a bold
statement, but one that met with instant approval.

“Deal.”

His shoulders suddenly looked massive. His gaze sharpened
and the bulge pushing out the fly of his slacks made her mouth go dry. He reminded
her of a predator as he stalked her.

His lips suddenly lifted, making her stare in fascination.
It wasn’t a leer, but rather an expression of delight. Never had a man looked
at her so intently, it sent heat along her skin as she felt her own lips answering
the expression.

“You’re not running.”

She shrugged. “Nope. Guess you shouldn’t have introduced me
to your mother. I’m morally corrupt.”

“You’re honest.” His face tightened slightly as he closed
the single foot of space between them. “I’ve got to tell you, honey, it’s sexy
as all hell on you.”

Time seemed to whirl past them as he reached for her chin
and tipped it up to keep their eyes locked. His body brushed against hers,
stroking over the hard points of her nipples. That male scent wrapped around
her, making her body lament the dress she’d put over her lacy undergarments.
She wanted him to see her just as she’d looked at herself in her mirror.

It wasn’t a naughty thought, instead it was honest. Strong,
hot and very true. But her body still quivered as she felt his body heat
against her skin. The kiss he placed on her mouth was delicate. Soft as
butterfly wings as he lingered over her mouth like a fine wine. The touch
traveled all the way to her toes as tiny goose bumps rose along her limbs.

One firm hand smoothed over her face as his fingers threaded
into her hair. Slowly, but firmly, he captured her in an embrace that was
solid. He left her mouth as he nuzzled into her hair, his fingers threading
through the long stands. Her ears listened to the deep breath he inhaled before
he caught the lobe of her ear between his lips.

Everything spun too quickly. Need pounded towards her brain
with demands that made her shudder. She had to think! Her body responded to the
emotion as she tried to rip herself away from Granger. His hands stopped her
before she’d moved an inch. His grip tightened only marginally, yet it made her
feel trapped, with the solid wall of his body imposing that captivity. He
tipped her head back until his eyes glittered at her. Half bathed in moonlight,
his face looked harsh and determined.

“We really need to think.” Her voice shuddered, betraying
her unsteady emotions. It sounded weak and she was almost desperate to cover
that shortcoming. “I’m not on birth control.”

There! She took a deep breath as logic arrived to shield
her. Unprotected sex was irresponsible. That didn’t mean she was afraid of him,
just that she was making wise choices. Of course, the truth was she was scared
of being so out of control that she didn’t care if they did spit at fate.
Dedication had built her life, having it crumble in one moonlit night left her
pitching out of balance over a deep ravine.

“You are joking, right? Every woman is on the Pill.”

Her eyes shimmered with hurt, making him cuss softly. Jesus,
Roslyn wasn’t a cold-blooded gold digger. If she’d wanted to trap him, she
would have led the way to her bed, not tossed the ice water in his face.

“I’m sorry, honey, I warned you that I can be a jerk
sometimes.”

Letting her go, Granger kept one hand on her wrist. He
turned and pulled her after him. Her heels clicked on the asphalt as she tried
to pull her hand free.

“Roslyn, we are leaving right now and tossing caution to the
wind.”

He pulled the passenger side door open again before letting
her loose. She didn’t look at the car, but instead her eyes were targeted on
the man giving her a choice. His fingers were white on the top of that door.
Instinct was written on his face. The gaze that watched her was almost
primitive as he battled to remain civilized and not carry her off into some
dark corner to mate with. If anyone had ever told her a man could look like
that, she would have laughed. Tonight she didn’t. Her own body seemed a
hairsbreadth from tumbling into pure impulse. The top of her thighs were slick
with the proof that nature wasn’t planning on being denied.

That idea shocked her, but it was as if there was a being
inside her who wanted to rip away the cocoon of safety that she lived in. She
needed to be free from the constricting holds that were strangling her. Freedom
to indulge her needs was standing in front of her, the hard erection beneath
his fly too tempting. She didn’t want to do the right thing, she wanted to do
the naughty one. Indulge herself and let passion lead the way.

“All right, just remember that you promised me a real good
man.”

Her words ignited a firestorm. His face lost every hint of
gentleness as his ears delivered her voice to his brain. Time froze around
them. Every second stretched into an hour as she watched him. He stepped around
the open door and captured her.

“I’m a man of my word, honey.”

Her body melted against the hard muscles of his, her fingers
ripping at the shirt that separated their skin.

“I hope so.” She sounded needy and didn’t care.

He lifted her off her feet and set her on the back of the
car. His hips pressed her thighs open as he caught her mouth with a hard kiss
that promised her immediate satisfaction. His tongue thrust deeply into her
mouth as he reached into his pocket and came back with a small foil package
between his fingers.

The condom seemed to give her permission to let go
completely. Only a sliver of moonlight lit the scene. Her thighs gripped his
hips and she purred as she felt the hard presence of his cock against her
spread body. Her skirt had risen up, leaving only a thin scrap of lace covering
the entrance to her body.

The material of his pants seemed rough against the insides
of her thighs. She craved bare skin but couldn’t control herself long enough to
even suggest they go inside. She was lifting her hips toward his engorged
length. Seeking penetration because she felt so empty, it hurt. She simply
wanted, and in that moment, nothing mattered but completing the union of their
flesh.

“God, honey, you’re hell on my control.” His fingers found
her center and thrust into her body. A whimper escaped her lips as that finger
left and entered her once more.

“That isn’t enough.” They were the most brazen words she’d
ever voiced. “I want you inside me.”

The foil ripped and she felt like purring.

The night air brushed her wet thighs as he hooked one hand
under her knee and lifted it to his hip. He smoothed his finger along her inner
leg, making her shiver as she waited for his touch to reach her slit. She was
desperate for even a light grazing over her clit. She needed that contact,
would have pleaded for it if his hand had stopped before finding her center.

“I can’t goddamn wait another second to get inside you. I’m
sorry, I’m a jerk.”

His words made her shiver. He stroked the open folds of her
slit with a single finger as a whimper rose from her chest.

“Because I swear, I’m going to have you right now.”

The harsh tone of his voice empowered her. His car hid them
from the road, but it was still so wicked to think of having sex in her parking
lot. There was very limited traffic in the industrial section of town at night,
but they might still get caught. He fingered her clit, making her shiver with
need. It was too intense to think about waiting. She wanted gratification and
she wanted him to be as frantic as she felt. Slipping one hand down his chest,
she stroked the ridges of his arm before reaching for his open fly. She found
the hard erection already half sheathed in the condom. She helped him push it
all the way to the base of his cock. He leaned more of his weight against her,
pressing her into his car. She hooked her thigh around his hips, allowing the
head of his cock to slip between the folds of her spread body.