Page 34 of Having the Bear's Baby

Liam scooted closer, making her heart flutter. He laid a hand on her bare knee and thigh, the corded tautness of his biceps presented before her like a masterpiece.

“It’s certainly not all rainbows and unicorns,” Liam said, smirking. “It’s a lot of bullshit. Like this.”

Liam had the note that Emma had found in his pocket. He ripped it out and waved it like a flag. She could still sense the sadness in his voice, even when he was attempting to divert the experience with humor. It was something men were accustomed to doing, even in her human world. She had to know how he was really feeling, or her love for him would be damned.

Love. She swallowed as she thought about the word.

Boldly, Emma reached for the note and took it from Liam’s hand. She stared at it, feeling anger and fear rise in her chest. She pressed the paper against her chest and found Liam gazing at her again, his tenderness palpable and stunning.

Does he feel the same way about me?

“Whoever wrote this would benefit from you being weakened. And if we lost the baby…”

Liam let out a grunt mixed with a sigh that she knew wasn’t entirely an expression from his human side. He shook his head back and forth with his eyes closed, squeezing the glass between his fingers tightly.

“Don’t even say that. I don’t want to imagine such a fucking thing happening.”

Emma was falling for him. There was no doubt in her mind anymore. She leaned forward and placed the note along with her glass on the coffee table in front of them, then shuffled in even closer to Liam. His forest-like musk was enchanting and encouraged her to set free the words that she had been holding in as if they were chained in her esophagus.

She ran a hand up his shoulder while the other nestled onto his chest. When his eyes opened, Emma was pulled in like a rope was tied to her heart, and Liam’s bewitching blues were the anchor.

“Liam, I want to tell you something. I know we are together for the baby, so your shifting clan legacy can go on. But there’s something else between us. Something that I’ve been feeling for a while now.”

Liam turned his body to face her, one hand resting on her thigh, the other on her waist. He thumbed at both with calming reassurance.

“Tell me,” he said firmly.

Emma couldn’t wait any longer. She had to tell him, and she had to know if he felt the same. The world would crumble around her if he didn’t, but at least she would know before the baby was born. She would have time to mend her broken heart that would shatter like a dropped vase.

It was one of many brave things she would have to do.

“Liam, I’m falling in love with you. I know I am going to carry your baby … but this means more to me than that. Everything that we have been through and will go through matters because of this feeling I have inside me.”

She had never in her life before told anyone that she was falling or was completely in love with them. It was a risk, a daring jump, one that had to be calculated. No matter how sure you might be, humans have a tremendous ability to be astonishingly wrong. Emma knew she was not spared from that statistic.

But miraculously, a tidal wave hit her as Liam leaned in and pressed his palm against her cheek. She melted into his touch, knowing without him having to say anything at all.

“God, Emma, I was hoping you felt that way too,” he said, eyes becoming shiny. “I am in love with you. There is really no other way to put it.”

Perhaps out of relief or as her body’s way of releasing the adrenaline soaring through her body, Emma began to chuckle. Liam did as well, their faces pushed together in a hysterical and freeing moment of understanding and reciprocated adoration.

“Oh, my God, thank God,” Emma muttered, still laughing. “I was so scared, Liam.”

“No need to ever worry, darling,” he said, bringing his mouth to hers and nibbling on her chin. “I want to be with you. It’s not just about a baby. I love you.”

Passion set Emma’s body on fire. She pulled his mouth up to hers and crushed him. A sensual moan emitted from her lips as her body softened against him. They began to make out on the loveseat, with Emma’s tiny frame sliding down onto her back while Liam draped over her with his own. Her body was moving naturally as her legs entangled around Liam’s waist, desiring him to be impossibly close.

There was no going back. The discussion on the betrayal had been tabled for the moment, distracted by their need to physically express their devotion, but it would return. She couldn’t have anything happen to him, nor to their baby. It would be a collaborative effort from this point forward.

FOURTEEN

LIAM

Liam woke and stretched, reaching out an arm to stroke the still-sleeping Emma’s hair. He generally woke before her and was surprised when his groping hand came upon empty sheets. “Emma?” he said sleepily.

There was no reply. He propped himself up in bed and looked at her side. The sheets were in disarray. Memories of the night before drifted through his mind, making him smile as his heightened sense of smell took in the scent of their lovemaking.

“Emma?” he queried a little louder. His bear started to stir.

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