The Cowbear's Christmas Shotgun Wedding (Curvy Bear Ranch 3) (11 page)

Chapter 11

The next day, Logan heaved the last box of her father’s junk into the dumpster. She’d kept the journals, her first written words, and three boxes full of other mementos, but she still hadn’t given him a solid indication of whether or not she was still planning on leaving. There was nothing to keep her here anymore. They’d cleaned the house from top to bottom, and all the repairs were complete. He almost wanted to kick down a couple of doors just to keep her there a few more days.

As he turned away from the dumpster, a black SUV roared up the driveway. Damn son of a bitch. He had some balls to come here after what he’d done.

Logan ran toward the house. Milton had better hop back in his damn car and leave. If Logan’s bear wanted to come roaring out, he sure as hell wasn’t going to stop the beast.

He reached the front door of the house at the same time Milton did. Logan slammed one hand against the door, then shoved Milton to one side so he could guard the door.

“Get the hell out of here. You have some nerve, coming up here after burning down the barn.” Logan’s bear roared in his chest.

“I did no such thing.”

“The hell you didn’t. You’ve got about five seconds to get back in that truck,” Logan snapped.

“Or what?”

The front door swung open. Kate tried to push past him.

“Hang on, honey.” Logan wrapped a protective arm around her waist.

“Honey?” Milton smirked. “What, are you two getting married now?”

“Yes, we’re engaged. We’re getting married tomorrow and she’s keeping the land,” Logan blurted. He had no idea where that had come from, maybe from the depths of his heart, but he had to say something to get rid of the bastard.

Kate gasped and stared at him while Milton’s eyes narrowed.

“Is that true, sweetheart? Are you marrying this backward piece of crap?” Milton asked.

“Yes, I am, and I’m not selling, so please leave,” Kate snapped.

Although Logan could feel her trembling against him, the anger in her tone was enough to send Milton scurrying to the SUV. When he reached the driver’s side door, he yanked it open.

“You’d better watch your back,” Milton snarled. “You wouldn’t want to see anyone in your family hurt, would you?”

“You ever come back here, I’ll shoot you on sight,” Logan said.

Milton’s eyes narrowed as he hopped into the SUV. He raced away in such a way that made Logan confident that he would never return to bother his mate, or his family.

Kate slipped out of his grasp and turned to face him. “Did you mean what you said?”

“About shooting him?” He knew what she meant, but just in case she thought he was kidding, he wanted to give himself a way out.

“No,” she said. “About getting married.”

He didn’t hesitate as he dropped to one knee. As he reached for her left hand, her right hand flew up to cover her mouth.

“Kate, I know I wasn’t the nicest guy back in high school,” he said.

“You were a jerk.”

“I was,” he agreed. “But I’ve changed, and so have you. The last few days have made me realize that I need you in my life. The thought of losing you is too much to bear. Hell, my bear’s going to rip out my heart if I can’t find a way to make you stay.”

“He doesn’t have to,” she said.

“He doesn’t?”

“No.”

Buoyed by her responses, he regained his composure. “I love you, Kate. I’ve probably loved you my whole life but was just too stupid to see it. I’m not perfect, but if you’ll have me, I’ll build you the biggest house Hebgen Lake’s ever had on its shores.”

“And who’s going to clean this huge house?” she asked with an arched brow.

“Well you are, of course,” he joked.

“Barefoot, pregnant, and cleaning… I can’t wait.” She slapped his shoulder playfully.

“Seriously though, I love you. I want you in my life—no—I
need
you in my life. I want to spend every day for the rest of my life loving you and protecting you.” When she smiled, he continued, “I would have waited to do this proper, so I don’t have a ring yet, but honey, will you marry me?”

“Yes.”

She flung herself into his arms, toppling them both over into the snow. He gave her a kiss hot enough to melt a glacier before scooping her into his arms. It wasn’t until he’d crossed the threshold into her bedroom that he realized she hadn’t said she loved him yet.

He gently set her down on the bed then stood beside it, staring at her like a fool. If he came out and asked her, she might not give him a genuine answer. But just when his chest started to implode, she pushed him down onto his back.

“Logan, I’ve really only known you for a handful of days. But in that time, you’ve helped me see that love is possible, and that it’s all around you if you really look for it. I love you. More than I ever thought I could love anyone. I’ve had all this love locked up in my heart my whole life, but never had anyone to give it to until you.” She leaned across his chest and lay her head over his heart. “I love you, now and forever.”

His throat went raw. He pulled her on top of his body so he could feel the solid weight of her. God, he loved this woman.

“Tomorrow morning, we’re going into town and I’m going to find a perfect engagement ring for you.”

“I can’t wait.” The vibrant smile in her eyes morphed into something dark and sensual. She shimmied down his body and straddled his thighs. As she unbuckled his belt, she murmured, “I want you again. Right now.”

“Yes, ma’am,” he said with a sultry grin.

Her fingers worked to unhook the buttons, then his zipper. After peeling his shirt and pants off, she slid his boxers down. Already semi-erect, he watched her through a haze of desire. He had no idea what to expect next, and he loved it.

“I want to kiss every inch of you…” She leaned over and grazed his abs with her lips. “Every hard muscle…” She nipped at his chest. “And every valley…” She kissed the dip where his thigh met his torso.

He lay back, enjoying the rasp of her tongue across his nipples, across his neck, then across his mouth. He cupped her butt through her jeans and pulled her up so he could tease the contours of her mouth with his tongue. She moaned as he swept his tongue across hers and whimpered when he sucked gently.

She pushed back to straddle his waist. In a slow, seductive display of pure feminine power, she stripped. Sweater, shirt, bra, pants, panties... as each layer came off, his cock hardened to the point of being almost painful.

Desperate to be inside her, he grabbed her hips and tried to pull her over him. She pushed him back, leaving her pussy just out of reach.

He growled.

“Not yet,” she said with a mischievous chuckle.

“Don’t tease me like this.”

“I won’t. I promise.”

As she slid down his body, her breasts brushed across his cock. The contact sparked bolts of need throughout his entire body. This striptease was going to kill him.

When her mouth reached the curly patch of hair over his cock, she slowed. With long, luxurious strokes, she licked him from base to tip and back. A single drop of pre-cum formed on the head before she swiped it away with her tongue.

As she closed her mouth over him, he tensed. Oh shit, she was going to make him come. He tried to think about anything but the velvet slide of her mouth against his cock.

After gliding up and down, deeper and faster, he couldn’t take another second. He grabbed her hair and dragged her mouth away.

“Mine,” he grunted before rolling her onto her back.

She spread for him, open, willing, wet. God, she was so wet. Liquid desire spread across his fingertips as he slid them against her clit. He teased and tempted her pussy until she writhed and begged him to make love to her.

But as he positioned himself at her entrance, she pushed him over and rolled him onto his back. She interlaced her fingers with his and undulated against his cock. The temptation to plunge into her was overwhelming. He couldn’t resist. As he surged up, she sat down hard, forcing his cock deeper than he ever thought possible. She tossed her head back in ecstasy, while smoothing her hands over her breasts. He leaned up and captured one nipple between his lips.

She rose and fell, advanced then retreated, never letting him slip away. His heart burst with love as he watched her through half-closed lids. She bit the edge of her lip and closed her eyes while moaning his name. It was enough to drive him insane with hunger.

He rolled her onto her back and plunged into her again and again, each time sliding closer to the point of no return. But he wouldn’t come without her. He shifted his hips, putting pressure on the sensitive spot that drove her wild. She clung to him. Her cries became a symphony of passion until one final scream tore from her lips. She clawed at his back as pulsing waves of ecstasy drew him into the softness of her body.

As much as he wanted to prolong her pleasure, he couldn’t hold back a second longer. He filled her with everything he had, before collapsing against her still-quivering body.

Her skin glowed with radiant contentment. She looked even more beautiful tousled and thoroughly taken. His bear curled into a sleepy ball in his chest, satiated by the knowledge that she would be his—now and forever.

***

Kate sat inside the oldest jewelry store in town. A week ago, she never would have dreamed she’d be looking for an engagement ring. Now, as she admired a multitude of rings, her hands balled into fists and rested in her lap. Getting engaged hadn’t seemed like such a monumental step forward until now. She’d been so swept up in his proposal that she hadn’t really considered the long-term implications. Was she really ready to be a wife?

Diamonds, rubies, and sapphires glittered in a rainbow of colors. She’d been staring at the case for ten minutes and had no idea which one to pick. But even worse, she wasn’t sure if she wanted to go through with it.

“Pick any one you want, honey,” Logan said.

“There are so many, I don’t know how I’ll ever choose,” she said.

“Do you want to go with something traditional, or something modern?” Edwin asked.

The ancient proprietor had owned the store for decades. Everyone in town knew him as the kind old man who could make any rock sparkle with a thousand facets of light. He shifted in his chair and leaned back from the case.

“I like the idea of something classic, but I don’t want a plain ring. I want something unique.” She took a deep breath. Of course she wanted to marry Logan; she was just letting her nerves get the better of her.

“Do you like sapphires?” Edwin asked.

“Yes. I love their blue color.”

“Sapphires come in a lot of different colors, not just blue. In fact, they come in every color imaginable.”

“Do you have any bridal sets?” she asked.

“I have a couple of new, one-of-a-kind designs I can show you. I’ll be back.” He headed into the storeroom.

“Are you sure I can pick anything?” she asked. “Some of these are really expensive.”

“You only get married once and you’re going to wear it every day for the rest of your life, so you deserve anything you want,” Logan said.

“Thank you, honey.” She leaned over and kissed him. It was enough to dispel her nervous energy.

When Edwin returned, he grabbed a black velvet cloth and laid it on the counter. He placed a small display case on it, and then flicked the top open. Stunning, unusual designs reflected light from all of their facets.

Of the ten bridal sets, two stood out. One featured a huge round-cut blue diamond in the center, surrounded by a swirl of white diamonds and blue sapphires. The other had a square-cut white diamond flanked by slightly offset twin blue sapphires. Both rings were worthy of a princess.

“Well?” Logan asked.

“I don’t know. They’re all so beautiful.”

“Which one calls to your heart?” Edwin asked. “If you’re not sure, try them on. Sometimes they look different on your finger.”

She hesitated. In the past when she’d tried rings on for fun, none of them were the right size. They were always too small. They never seemed to carry size nine, but maybe they could size it for her.

As Logan slipped the first ring over her knuckles, her heart soared. It fit. She couldn’t believe it. “Oh, I love it.”

“I like that swirly thing,” Logan said.

She couldn’t stop staring at the stunning ring. She didn’t want to have to take it off, but she had to try on the other one, just to be sure. After reluctantly sliding the ring off, she let Logan place the second ring on her finger. It also fit, which made the decision harder.

As she held it up to the light, her throat tightened. She couldn’t believe she was going to marry someone so amazing. How on earth had she gotten so lucky?

She silently thanked her father because in a way, he was the one to bring them together. He wouldn’t be able to walk her down the aisle, but she had no doubt that he’d be present in spirit when she got married.

“I love them both,” she said. “Can I try the first one again?”