Page 26 of A Very Beary Christmas
Then I launched myself at him.
He caught me easily, wrapping those huge paws around me until I all but disappeared. I nuzzled my face in his fur, breathing in the scent of my Sam, my wonderful Sam.
And then I cried.
I squeezed my eyes tightly and sobbed as relief and wonder overwhelmed me. I wasn’t crazy. The bear in my dreams reallywasSam. I think some part of me had always known that, but to have it confirmed, to know it was real, thathewas real, was axis-tilting.
I was barely aware of Sam shifting back into human form until he spoke into my ear. “Shhh, Chloe, please don’t cry. I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.”
I sniffed and leaned back to look at his face, confused. “Why are you sorry?”
“I scared you. I made you cry.”
I hiccupped out a laugh. “I’m not crying because I’m afraid, Sam. I’m crying because I’m so incrediblyhappy.”
“You are?” he asked doubtfully.
“Yes, Sam. You’re my bear.”
“Yes, Chloe. I’m your bear. I’myours, Chloe, and I always have been.”
I felt his words deep in my heart, resonating throughout me like a divine chime. Our eyes remained locked on each other’s, even as our heads drew closer until our lips touched. Fireworks exploded in my soul, my mind became euphoric, and the blood sang in my veins.
Sam’s lips brushed mine once, then twice, before he deepened the kiss. I parted willingly, inviting him further, teasing his tongue with my own. Unable to get close enough, I wound my arms tighter around his neck and pressed my body against his.
I had no idea how long our first kiss lasted. It could have been seconds. It could have been hours. All I knew was, by the time Sam broke away, I wasn’t the same person anymore.
“Chloe.” His voice was rough and husky, and only then did I realize that he was naked ... and aroused. A thin layer of flannel was the only thing that kept that extremely large, extremely hard part of him from the part of me now wet and aching. “Let me get dressed,” he rasped, gently untangling my arms from around his neck, “and then we can talk.”
Talk? I didn’t want to talk. What I wanted was far more carnal. I didn’t want to let him go.
I think I growled.
When Sam arched an eyebrow, I felt heat rush to my cheeks.
“Sorry, I don’t know where that came from.”
His lips curved up at the corners, and he flexed his hands around my waist as he lifted me off his lap. “That’s part of what we need to talk about.”
