Page 68 of Bear's Heart

Darren lifted a hand and gave the driver the finger.

Josie watched and shook her head.The world was full of monsters and beasts but at least at home she had her Bear.

*

Bear could tellsomething was upsetting Josie the moment she entered the house.She said it was because she’d dropped their dinner and had ruined the sandwiches, but he knew it was more than that.She wasn’t annoyed or frustrated as much as completely flattened.

“What’s wrong?”he asked, joining her in the kitchen where she was just standing at the counter, staring at nothing.

She shook her head.“Just tired, I think.”

“This isn’t tired.This is something else.I don’t know if you’re sad, or mad, but something happened.”

Still facing the cabinets, she reached up to swipe beneath one eye and then the next.“Some people are just a-holes.It’s like they love to be horrible and love to be unkind.Why?”

“Because it makes them feel powerful and better about themselves.”He took her hand and tugged her around so that she would face him.

She fought to stop the tears, but they kept falling anyway.He wanted to know what happened, but at the same time, he just wanted to comfort her.Bear pulled her down onto his lap and wrapped his arms around her.She pressed her face to his chest and cried.He’d never heard her cry like this.She sounded absolutely broken.

He cupped the back of her head, his palm smoothing her hair, even as he kissed her temple, murmuring that everything was okay, that he had her, that nothing could happen now.

He felt her take a deep shuddering breath, and then she lifted her head, her eyes like wet pansies.So beautiful.

“Can you tell me what happened?”he asked quietly, using his thumbs to wipe away the tears.

“I bumped into a horrible man.I knew him from Eureka, and he remembered my dad and mom.And Jasper.”She swallowed hard.“He was so demeaning toward my brother.The things he said—” She broke off, her brow darkening, as if remembering what he’d said or perhaps there was something else on her mind.“What is wrong with people?

“What did he say?”Bear persisted.

She shook her head.“I just hope I never see him again.”

“Well, if you do, point him out and I’ll knock his head off his block for you.”

Josie laughed and smiled at him, her smile lighting her eyes, making her the Josie he knew and adored.

“I would love that,” she confided.“I don’t usually condone violence but in this case, it’s completely justified.”

Then Bear did what he had vowed he’d never do—his mouth covered hers and he kissed her, and it wasn’t just a little kiss.No, once his mouth claimed hers, there was no letting her go, no way to not taste her and love her.

She was the most extraordinary woman.

He clasped her face, angling her head to better touch, lick, nip.She was so responsive, too, shivering and whimpering, pressing herself against him, her arms around his shoulders, her bottom in his hands and of course he caressed her, hearing her sigh, and pant as he slipped his hand between her thighs.He stroked her through her jeans and yet she jerked at the touch.He stroked her again, drawing circles and, crying out, she pulled back to stare into his eyes, her expression dazed and desperate all at the same time.

“Can’t do this here,” she whispered.

“Can’t do this anywhere,” he rasped, slowly coming to his senses.Blood pounded in his veins.Desire burned through him.“This shouldn’t have happened.I shouldn’t have done that.”

She was still fighting to catch her breath.“Yes, you should have.You’re a really good kisser.”

“I don’t think it’s relevant.”

“Of course it’s relevant.And I didn’t want to stop.I just hoped we could go to your room where we could be more comfortable.”

“That’s a big fat no.That will not happen.Kissing you was a mistake and mistakes do not need to be repeated because then it’s just plain stupidity.”

“Cowboy, it’s not as if we were doing the nasty.It was a kiss.I think you should relax.”

“Maybe you should get off my lap.”

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