Page 51 of Holly's Grizzly

Irving

My grizzly roars his approval from that deep, instinctual corner of my psyche where he likes to take up residence while I’m in this form, and for once I’m in total agreement with him.

I’d roar my own approval if I didn’t worry it would make Holly look at me like I’ve lost my mind, so I settle for the next best thing.

I lead her into the house and pause by the door so I can take off her jacket, drop to a knee and help her with her boots, then remove my own before I scoop her up into my arms.

I carry her into the living room and set her down on the couch while I build the fire back up, then join her there. Wrapping my arms around her, I tug her into my lap, into the place that will be hers for just as long as she wants it.

For a few long minutes, we sit just like that. Silent, basking in the warmth and the glow of the flames, in the flush of calm and comfort after what we both went through over the last hour.

Gods above, has it only been an hour?

I feel like I might have aged a decade in that time, but those years’ worth of stress and grief melt away with each beat of my heart and each moment I have this brave, strong, wonderful woman in my arms.

“I thought…” Holly says haltingly, breaking the silence. “I thought maybe I could stay a few days longer. I don’t have to go back to work until after the new year… and, I mean, if you wouldn’t mind…”

“Of course you can stay until then.”

You can stay forever, if you want.

I make myself swallow the words. There will be time for that. Later.

I’m a patient man, after all, and all good things come with time.

“Alright,” Holly breathes, nestling closer to my chest.

Is it possible for a heart to burst from sheer tenderness?

“And after that,” she goes on, “maybe we could figure something out. Some way the two of us could… make this a thing. Keep seeing each other. I don’t… I don’t want this to be over.”

I’m so damn proud of her, in awe of her, ready to fall to my knees in front of her and thank her for having the courage to come back and fight for what she wants.

And because of that courage, I’m more than ready to meet her halfway, to figure this out and find some way forward together.

“I want that, too. I was going to call you and tell you just as soon as you got home. Whether that means me coming to Seattle to see you, or maybe even looking for a place there some—”

“I wouldn’t mind moving up here.” Holly’s cheeks flush deep pink. “I mean, eventually. I can work from anywhere with an internet connection, and I like it up here. I… I love it up here. I’d love it even more if it meant being here with you.”

My heart feels too big in my chest, and I suddenly find it impossible to speak.

“God,” she says with a self-conscious laugh. “I’m probably getting way ahead of myself and scaring you, aren’t I? You know what, I can just get back in my car and—”

She leans away from me, and even though I know she’s not serious, I let out a low growl.

“You’re not getting ahead of anything, sweetheart.” I shift her in my lap so she’s straddled across me. A little shiver of pleasure races through her as she gets comfortable. My cock responds immediately, hardening against her, and she shivers again. “We can take our time to figure out where we go from here, but the one thing I know is that having you here, with me, is the least scary thing in the entire world.”

Holly winds her arms around my neck, burying her hands in my hair and pressing soft kisses to my jaw, my cheek, brushing her lips against mine before she whispers her reply.

“It doesn’t scare me, either.”

She kisses me deep, and I taste the certainty on her lips. I feel it in the way she melts into me. I hear it in the sparkling laugh she breathes into the kiss when I tighten my grip on her ass.

I know that certainty, because I feel it too.

Impossible, unbelievable, but I’m not going to question it anymore.

I’m not going to do anything but hold her and keep her close for as long as I can. For the rest of my life, if she’ll have me.

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