RANCHER BEAR’S BABY(103)

I adjusted myself just enough so I could move my face closer. I already knew what he smelled like, but I wanted the chance to get closer. I brushed my nose over his neck and then to his ear. My voice came out sounding hoarse and barely above a whisper. “You smell like the ocean. Like a wave hitting the beach. Fresh.”

Tucker shivered under me and it caused his chest to brush against mine. A groan escaped his lips and his hands clasped my hips and yanked me into him completely. “I need you.”

I couldn’t have walked away from him if I wanted to. My body was screaming at me to jump his bones right there on the kitchen floor. “Let’s go.”





CHAPTER 8: Tucker




“Well, you kids seem to have your hands full.” Aunt Carolyn stepped into the kitchen with Mom and grinned. “If you’ll watch out for that glass on the floor, I’ll take care of that. You two should go for a walk… or something.”

Mom’s eyes were practically glowing, she looked so excited. “Yeah, go for a walk or something.”

Having my aunt and my mom walk in on a moment like this should’ve killed my raging hard on that was pressing into Lettie’s stomach, but no. I moved so that she was standing in front of me. “How are the kids?”

“They’re entranced with the movie right now. We’ll keep an eye on them. We’re opening presents as soon as it’s over. Don’t make us send one of the boys out looking for you.”

I had to get out of there. It was too much. A conversation with them was the last thing I wanted to do. “Okay, we’ll be back soon.”

Lettie seemed frozen, so I slid my hand up from her hip and gently squeezed. She wiggled, effectively torturing me. The way she looked at me cemented the fact that I wanted her, and I wanted her now. My brain sizzled, and I gave up trying to be a gentleman.

I scooped her into my arms, praying no one saw my erection, and headed out of the room. “Keep an eye on the kids, please!”

Lettie wrapped her arms around my neck and groaned. “They know. They know exactly what’s going to happen.”

I liked the way she implied that it was still happening, no matter what. It was a big green light and I couldn’t wait to go. “Does it bother you? Because when we come back, you’re going to smell a whole hell of a lot like me and then everyone is going to know.”

She twisted and I thought she wanted down, but instead she wrapped her legs around my waist and pressed her plump lips to my ear again. “Take me wherever we’re going. Fast.”

The front door opened and I took it as my chance. We passed Matt coming back inside and he just raised his eyebrows and held up his hands. “Don’t let me get in your way.”

I carried Lettie to the barn and then set her down next to the ladder that led to the loft. “Up.”

She squealed when I slapped her ass and sent a dark look over her shoulder at me. “Watch it.”

I pushed the barn door shut and grinned. “Don’t worry. I am.”

She’d barely gotten her feet under her when I was hurrying over the ladder and into the loft. It was a pretty modern barn and the entire backside of the loft was a large window that looked out over the farmland. I knew the view was beautiful but I was focused on my mate. For every step I took towards her, she grinned and took one backwards.

“Come here, little Lettie. The big bad bear has something for you.” I called to her softly and watched as shivers rocked her body.

Her nipples pebbled under her sweater and she bit her lip. She didn’t listen, though. “I haven’t seen your bear. What’s he look like?”

He wanted to come out and show her, that was for sure. I couldn’t trust him not to charge at her in an attempt to claim what was ours, though. “Big. Hungry. Dangerous.”

Her butt pressed against the bottom of the window. “Should I be worried?”

I growled low in my throat and pinned her in place with just my hips. “Very.”

She reached out and unbuttoned my shirt before slipping her chilled hands inside and stroking my chest. She pushed it off and then ran her eyes down my body. “Sheriff Long, you’ve been hiding quite a lot in that uniform.”

I caught the hem of her sweater and pulled it over her head. In just her bra, she looked delicious. I took the tiny front hook and made quick work of it. As the material fell away, her perfect breasts tumbled out and into my hands. “So have you, Ms. Jay.”

“Why does this feel so right? Why now? We’ve know each other… forever.”

I pulled her into my arms and kissed her, hard and long. Then, I turned her around and rested my chin in the crook of her neck. “Look at it. A Christmas snowfall. The first white Christmas we’ve had in Landing in years.”