Bear's Match (Bear Heat Book 6) Read online

  At that moment, she just knew that it would be so good between them. More than good. It would be perfect.

  As she pulled him down to her, he stretched out his arm and opened his bedside drawer.

  She smiled. She knew he would take care of her and she was right. He was responsible and careful with her, and he wouldn't risk knocking her up and getting her into a situation she wasn't prepared for.

  Softly, she stopped him by placing a hand on his arm. “I'm clean,” she whispered. “And I'm on the pill, to regulate my period. So...”

  Luke's eyes widened as he understood her meaning. “I'm clean too,” he said at last. “I haven't been with anyone since my last checkup, which was...”

  She nodded and pulled him to her. She had never ditched the condoms the first time she had sex with a man. But this felt different. She wanted to feel Luke skin to skin, have him close to her. She wanted to feel their connection at the most intimate level, physically and emotionally.

  “Are you sure?” Luke asked again.

  “I'm sure.”

  Luke's blue eyes seemed to glow and she thought she saw something primal and predatory behind his eyes. She shivered but not with fear.

  Luke loomed over her, his body hot and throbbing with raw lust and want. There was a sense of dark danger about him, and Nicole loved it. She wanted to be taken by him, and she wanted to shatter and scream beneath him.

  Kicking off his pants, Luke came to her and enveloped her in his powerful arms. He kissed her face and kept moving his mouth down her writhing body.

  Nicole cried out when he bit and sucked her hard, aching nipple, giving her the most intense pain and pleasure. Heat exploded in her core and pooled between her thighs.

  With a growl that sounded more animal than human, Luke slid his hands under her knees and spread her wide for him.

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  Luke pushed Nicole's long, slender legs apart and inhaled her erotic, feminine scent. She was wet and ready for him, her pink folds glistening with her juices.

  Luke slipped her engorged clit into his mouth and she bucked off the mattress. He swirled his tongue around the swollen nub, tormenting her relentlessly.

  Nicole thrashed her head and begged, as he laved his tongue down her sweet, sticky pussy. She was so wet, and the taste of her was intoxicating and addictive.

  He wanted more, needed more.

  Going down on her, Luke plunged his tongue deep into her quivering pussy. Nicole made a keening sound as he fucked her with his tongue. Her juices spurted into his mouth and he swallowed every sweet drop of her.

  He rubbed his thumb in slow circles around her clit as he licked and sucked her. When she began to pant, he thrust his tongue faster and harder into her as he massaged her clit. He kept his mouth on her even when she screamed and shivered, making her come again even before her first orgasm had subsided.

  The taste and feel of her coming on his tongue almost made him lose control.

  Luke pulled himself up and kissed Nicole deeply on the mouth, letting her taste herself on his lips. Their tongues tangled and Nicole thrust her tongue deep into Luke's mouth. Her hunger for him was fierce and palpable.

  “I need you inside me, Luke,” she whispered. “Take me...now.”

  Breathing hard, Luke hooked her legs over his shoulders and grabbed her hips. He couldn't wait any longer. He had to have her.

  With one forceful thrust, he buried himself to the hilt inside her. Her walls rippled and tightened around him immediately and he had to take a deep, shuddering breath just to hold on.

  She squeezed down on him again, and his eyes almost crossed. “Nicole, I'm not going to last if you keep doing that,” he grated.

  “Then don't.” She lifted her hips and whispered, “Just make sure you can go a second time.” She winked and added huskily, “Or a third time.”

  Luke growled low. He was going to have her the whole night, again and again and again.

  He began to move, sliding in and out of her hot, lush body. She was so tight and wet, and he loved the look on her face as she came. He wanted to see her come for him, again and again.

  Nicole's nails dug into his biceps as she sighed, “Luke...”

  He bent down and kissed her eyelids as he rocked into her. “You are so perfect,” he whispered.

  Nicole cupped his jaw and gazed deeply into his eyes as he made love to her. He moved slowly, savoring every movement, every stroke. Lacing his fingers through hers, he listened to her quickening breaths and watched her lovely face flush with pleasure.

  Nicole was beautiful, and she was his.

  Luke surged into her, taking her deeper and harder. He wanted to pound into her, bring her over the edge and feel her throb and climax. He wanted to hear her scream his name as he claimed her. He wanted her deliciously sore the next morning, so that she could feel him with every step she took and every little movement she made.

  The headboard hammered the wall in time to his thrusts. He stretched Nicole's long slender arms above her head and watched her breasts bounce as he took her furiously. Her eyelids fluttered as she begged, “Don't stop, Luke. Don't stop...”

  Arching her back, she let out a scream of ecstasy as he slipped her hard nipple into his mouth and sucked. He flicked his tongue over her erect peak and thrust faster and harder into her clenching body.

  Nicole screamed and shattered beneath him. Her walls clamped down on him and milked him greedily. Luke roared his release and grabbed her. As he pounded into her, he bit down on her shoulder and held her tight.

  He held her in place until her shudders subsided and she could open her eyes again.

  “Hey,” she said hoarsely.

  “Hey.” He blinked at her.

  “Wow.” She smiled shyly before saying, “If I'd know you were this good in bed, I would have jumped your bones earlier.”

  “The last time we saw each other, we were eight,” he pointed out.

  At that, she threw back her head and laughed. She turned to him and said, “I should have hunted you down, Luke Keller.”

  “You can't get rid of me now, Nicole,” he said, keeping his tone light and playful. But his eyes were serious. “I'm not letting you go.”

  Nicole gave him a lazy, satisfied smile as she snuggled up to him. Looking like the cat that got the cream, she yawned and said, “I'm not planning on going anywhere.”

  CHAPTER NINE

  Nicole snorted as someone shook her gently. “Go away,” she swatted the hand away. When the hand refused to go away, she buried her head under a pillow. “Shoo! Leave me alone. Let me sleep...”

  “Nicole, wake up. Your phone's been ringing non-stop. It might be important.”

  With a grunt, she threw the pillow aside and opened her eyes. Luke was sitting at the side of the bed with her phone in his hand. He pushed the buzzing phone into her hand and turned on the bedside lamp.

  “What time is it?” she asked drowsily.

  “Five-thirty,” Luke said.

  “I start work at nine,” she grumbled as she stared at the number on her phone. It was one of her clients. Scowling, she answered the call. “Hello?”

  “Nicole? Nicole, is that you?”

  “Yes, what can I do for you, Anna?” Nicole said, sitting up. She had handled Anna Ward's divorce a few years back. More recently, she had helped Anna adopt a baby boy from an orphanage. “Is everything okay?”

  “Yes, I...no! No! I don't know what to do. I need your help, Nicole! I'm really scared...please…I can't think of anyone...”

  “Anna, calm down,” Nicole said. Anna sounded like she was crying. “What's going on?”

  “I don't know, I don't know who they are and what they want. I just need to keep him safe. Please, can you come out and meet me? Now?” Anna was speaking in a frantic, urgent whisper as she hiccuped another sob. “Oh God!”

  “Okay, just calm down. I can see you at about...eight?” Nicole peered at the clock on the be
dside table. “Can you come down to my office and...”

  “No! No, I can't. I can't let them see me there. He won't be safe...”

  “Who won't be safe?” Nicole frowned. The woman wasn't making any sense. “What are you talking about?”

  “I can't...I just can't...” Anna's voice broke. “Please, please just meet me out here.”

  “Out where?”

  A pause. “Do you know the diner at the corner of Sixth Street? It's open round the clock.”

  “You mean Kit's Kitchen?”

  “Yes! Can you meet me there?”

  “Sure, how soon...” Nicole jumped out of bed and began to search for her clothes. She heard the desperation and fear in Anna's voice and decided that this wasn't a hoax. Anna Ward was a responsible, composed bank manager. She had never been hysterical and unreasonable. She was a good client, a good person. But the same couldn't be said for her cheating ex-husband. The scumbag was a cheat through and through. He had cheated on Anna and even tried to cheat her of her share of the house. But Nicole had made sure that Anna Ward got every cent that belonged to her.

  And Anna was a wonderful mother to her little son. After the adoption, Anna had dropped by Nicole's office bearing a big box of chocolates and cuddling her precious son. Nicole saw the genuine and deep love Anna had for the infant, and wished her well. They made a lovely family.

  Nicole was about to get on her hands and knees to search for her underwear when Luke tapped her on the shoulder and calmly handed over her bra and panties.

  Thank you, she mouthed to him as she dressed hurriedly.

  Over the phone, Anna was trying to muffle her sobs as she cooed something to her son. Nicole could hear the baby squalling in the background.

  “Now.”

  “What?” Nicole pressed the phone to her other ear as she tried to do up her buttons with one hand.

  “Can you meet me now?” Anna whispered.

  “Eh, okay. Yes, I'll see you at Kit's Kitchen. I'll order pancakes and coffee for you. Everything will be fine, Anna,” Nicole assured her.

  “Thank you, Nicole. I...I'm sorry to...”

  “It's okay. I'll see you in ten minutes.” Nicole clicked off and turned to see Luke coming into the room with her jacket. He was wearing a pair of faded jeans and an old t-shirt, and he had his car keys in his fist. Nicole made a face at him. How could someone look so good at five o'clock in the morning? She was still rubbing the sleep out of her eyes but Luke looked rested and relaxed. It wasn't fair. She bet she was a hot mess with her hair in knots and drool at the corner of her mouth.

  “Something came up with a client?” Luke asked, helping her into her jacket. He did it so naturally, like she had been getting out of his bed to dress for work every morning.

  “Yeah. She's...”

  “I'll give you a lift,” he said. “Is there time for breakfast?”

  “I'm meeting Anna at Kit's Kitchen.”

  He quirked a smile. “Their pancakes are legendary.”

  “Can I use your bathroom? I need to...”

  “Yeah. I just left a new toothbrush beside the sink.”

  “Thanks, Luke!” Nicole rushed into the bathroom, and freshened up as quickly as she could. She scrubbed her face and applied just a coat of lip gloss. She retied her ponytail and she was done. She never wore much makeup and she rarely took more than twenty minutes to get ready in the morning.

  As they took the lift down to the parking lot, Nicole commented, “You're pretty cool about me rushing out of your bed even before the sun is up.”

  “Clients call all the time,” Luke said simply. “The Black Bears office is open twenty-four hours. We work shifts and we're always ready, for anything.”

  Nicole quirked a smile at him. Gosh, could he be any more perfect? He would make a perfect partner for her. He understood the pressure and demands of her work, and he knew how to handle emergencies and urgent, unexpected situations. He wasn't easily flustered and his calm, easy-going manner steadied her.

  She felt really good around Luke. She could just be herself around him. She could be fun, flighty and flirty with him, but when she snapped into work mode, he was right there with her. For the first time, she understood what her happily-married friends and colleagues meant when they referred to their partners as their other halves. They were a team, a whole.

  Sex with Luke was not just intense, mind-blowing and explosive. It was also fun and warm and playful. He was her friend, but she didn't want them to be just friends with benefits. Perhaps they could have a first date, only it wouldn't really be a first date because…

  They had already gotten into the car, and Luke was peeling out of the parking lot. He broke into her whirling thoughts by saying, “Hey, I messaged Jade, and she said she's so excited to meet you tonight. Dylan will be coming too.”

  “T-tonight?”

  “Yeah, dinner tonight. With Dylan and Jade. Is that okay with you? If you're working late...”

  “No, no, it's okay. It's great! Gosh, I can't wait to see Jade again!”

  Luke grinned and turned to face her as he stopped at a traffic light. “I'll pick you up at seven-thirty.”

  “Oh, okay. Pick me up at my office. It's at...”

  “Morgann Hill's offices are on the top floors of Eco Building, right?”

  “Right.”

  Cocking her head at him, Nicole studied his profile and commented, “You haven't shaved. Your hair is all mussed up and tousled. You're wearing an old t-shirt with a frayed collar. Yet, you look drop dead sexy. I can't believe anyone can look so good and be so bright and cheerful before they've had their morning coffee,” she huffed.

  Luke gave her a dazzling smile and looked straight at her. “Well, I could say it's because I just had the most amazing sex of my life last night. But—that's not entirely true. It wasn't just the sex. It's you, Nicole.”

  Nicole forced herself to breathe. She was definitely falling head over heels in love with Luke. Feeling dizzy and a little disorientated, she murmured, “You're a good man, Luke Keller.”

  “I...I'm not what you think I am,” he began. “I'm not the same Luke you knew as a kid.”

  “Of course you're the same Luke.” She swatted his arm. “Stop talking nonsense.”

  The car pulled up in front of Kit's Kitchen and Nicole hopped out with a quick wave.

  “Thanks for the ride,” she called out. “I'll see you tonight. Bye!” With that, she blew Luke a kiss and turned towards the diner.

  CHAPTER TEN

  Nicole tried to hide the goofy smile on her face as she hurried into the diner. Even though she was meeting a client, and she was always professional and attentive at a client meeting, she was feeling just a little light-headed this morning.

  She knew that mind-blowing sex sometimes did just that. It could blow a woman's brain to mush, but this wasn't just about the sex. It was about Luke and her. They were good together, and she felt really good around him.

  They had known each other as kids, and the rational, planning, cautious part of her brain told her to take things slow with Luke. But she didn't want to take things slow. She wanted to jump right in and experience everything with him. He was her friend, and more. He was...hers.

  Nicole rolled her eyes at herself. “Next thing I know I'm going to put a ring on it and ask him to marry me,” she chastised herself. She stifled a giggle. “I wonder what he'd say if I really got down on one knee with a diamond ring? I might try it, just to see the look on his face!” she muttered delightedly.

  Still smiling, she scanned the booths in the diner and spotted her client.

  Anna Ward was sitting in a corner booth, clutching her infant son tightly to her chest. She looked deathly pale and her eyes kept darting around. She jumped when Nicole approached.

  “Hey, Anna,” Nicole said gently as she sat down. “Brendon's grown quite a bit,” she smiled, glancing at the sleeping baby.

  “Yes. He's such a good boy.”
Anna managed a shaky smile. “Thanks for coming. I wasn't sure you'd come.”

  “Of course I'll come. I said I would. You know you can trust me.”

  “I do. That's why...” Anna gulped.

  “What's the problem, Anna?” Nicole said, leaning forward.

  Anna glanced around, her movements sharp and jerky. “I don't know why this is happening...” she whispered.

  “I'll order some coffee and pancakes. You should eat. You'll feel better,” Nicole said briskly and waved to the waitress. Once the waitress poured them their coffee, Nicole took a sip and said, “Talk to me, Anna. Just tell me what you know, or don't know. What's the problem? I'll help you. You know I will.”

  “Yes. I know. That's why I called you. You will protect Brendon. You handled his adoption...” Anna smiled but there were tears in her eyes. “I love him so much. I can't bear...”

  “And you're going to stay with him and take good care of him,” Nicole said firmly. “You're his family.” Nicole's eyes narrowed. You're not thinking of abandoning the baby you adopted, are you?

  Anna glanced out the window. “They're not here. But they're coming.”

  “Who? Who's coming?”

  Anna turned wide, blazing eyes on Nicole. “You'll keep him safe, won't you? Promise me you'll keep my son safe.”

  “Your son is safe. With you.”

  “No he's not!” Anna took a shuddering breath and closed her eyes. “They want him, and I can't protect him...” she whispered. “Promise me, Nicole. Please, promise me!”

  “What are you talking about?” Nicole wanted to reach across the table and shake her. The woman wasn't making any sense and she was getting hysterical.

  “Promise me you'll protect him!” Anna screeched.

  “Shhh! Yes, yes I promise. Goodness gracious, just what...”

  Anna nodded and leaned back. “Thank you, Nicole.” She was calmer now, but Nicole saw the deep pain and resignation in her eyes.