She narrowed her baby blues, pushing her hands into his hair, unraveling him with the possessive touch. “Stop talking and kiss me.”
Hearing the desire in her voice set his body on fire. He crushed his mouth to hers, and she returned his efforts with reckless abandon, tugging his hair to the point of pain that pierced his skull and headed south. She went up on her toes, pressing her soft curves against him and making him hard as stone. Desire, lust, and greed wound together, coiling inside him like the devil, urging him on. One hand pressed flat against her back; the other still clutched the flowers. He should try not to crush them, but right that second he didn’t give a damn about the flowers, or anything else other than finally—God, finally—having Crystal in his arms.
Fuck. He needed to slow down.
But how could he ever stop kissing her? She felt too good, tasted too sweet.
A tiny meow slipped through the war raging in his mind, and he felt Harley’s tiny claws climbing up his jeans, reminding him they were still on the landing outside her apartment.
Crystal whimpered as he reluctantly broke away and scooped up the cockblocking kitty. He reclaimed his girl with an arm around her, keeping her close, and whispered, “I’m sorry.”
CRYSTAL TRIED TO pull her lust-addled head together. She’d thought about Bear all day, and having Harley with her had only made her miss him more. Remembering his kisses, the sweet things he’d said, and receiving his thoughtful texts throughout the afternoon had made her even more anxious to see him.
“I hope you’re referring to stopping and not the kiss itself, because I wanted that kiss,” she assured him. “You can make it up to me later.”
He chuckled, but she couldn’t miss the relief washing over him. She didn’t want him to worry, but she loved that he did.
“We don’t want our little girl to go downstairs and get lost.” As they walked into the apartment, her heart melting at his use of “our,” he added, “Define later.”
God, that pushy side was so Bear! She loved it! “That’s to be determined.”
She was a little surprised that even after all she’d revealed, and knowing she wasn’t ready to jump in the sack, snarky, sexy comments still rolled off her tongue easily. She’d worried that the changes she was experiencing as she opened up to him might alter her personality, and she’d reinvented herself so many times, she wasn’t entirely sure what her real personality was anymore. Maybe her snarkiness was part of the real her after all. She smiled with the thought, because despite going from blond hair to jet-black and having to adopt a new name, persona, and fake dating history, she thought she was a pretty cool chick.
He pressed a kiss to the top of Harley’s head, making Crystal’s insides melt a little more. He was wearing the leather vest with the Dark Knights emblem on the back she’d seen him wear often, but tonight it made him look even more badass. Or maybe that was just because she was finally allowing herself to really, truly see all of Bear instead of keeping him at arm’s length. She’d even changed his contact name in her phone from Him to Bear, which felt really good.
She closed the door behind them and noticed he was holding a gorgeous bouquet of orchids. There must have been at least a dozen in varying colors. Awestruck, she said, “Biker boy, did you bring me flowers?”
He eyed the bouquet with a playful expression. “These were for Harley, but I guess you can have them.” He set Harley on the couch. The kitty looked up at them with sad eyes.
“She knows you just gave away her flowers,” Crystal teased. He handed her the flowers, and she inhaled their beautiful scent. Telling him about what had happened had brought out a softer side of both of them. She was surprised by how much she liked it, but her mounting emotions made her worry about how she’d come across. Too girly? Too weak? She went with what was comfortable and familiar, a tease.
“I’ve never been given flowers. Does this mean we’re going steady? Boyfriend and girlfriend—”
“It means you’re my woman.” He hauled her against him again hard enough that their chests bumped, making her laugh at his possessiveness. “Now you have to wear a choker with ‘Property of Bear Whiskey’ printed on it.”
“In your dreams.” She sat on the couch taking a closer look at the flowers, and he sank down beside her. “These really are gorgeous. Thank you.”
“How about a choker that says, Bear’s?”
She laughed. “How about I admit that I’m your girlfriend and you know it here.” She touched his chest over his heart. “Can that be enough for a possessive guy like you?”
“Babe, after all this time, I think I deserve the choker. But hell, I’ll take it.”
He leaned in for a kiss, and she couldn’t help but think he deserved a Boyfriend of the Year Award. He’d taken that role before she’d allowed him to, and yes, he was pushy, but he was also protective, and loving, and many more things that had kept her riveted by him for so long. Thank goodness he’d somehow known they were right for each other and had refused to give up. She wouldn’t wear a choker, but she was proud to be willingly on his arm from now on.
She smelled the beautiful bouquet again. “I didn’t even know orchids came in all these colors.”
He draped an arm over her shoulder. “Neither did I, and honestly, I had no idea these were orchids. By the way, they’re safe for cockblocker over there. I asked.”
She laughed. “We are not calling her that.”
“Maybe not out loud.” He whispered, “I love her, but she is one.”
Smiling, he pressed his lips to hers. “I wanted to get you something special.” He took the bouquet from her and pointed to one of the flowers.
“These gorgeous babes are still finding their way. They’re outgrowing their innocent yellow base, striking out on their own with the orange and dark red spots. They look tough, but a little unsure. Those say ‘Chrissy’ all over them. The little girl whose life was turned upside down and forced to grow up too soon in a harsher world than she deserved.”
Chrissy. He had listened to every word she’d said. She reached for Harley, trying to distract herself from the unexpected rush of emotions. She’d never stood a chance of resisting him. He might be cocky and possessive, but he was equally tender and loving, funny and sweet, and she couldn’t believe that after all she’d been through, Bear was turning out to be the man she’d thought he was, and so much more.
He held her tighter, pressing a kiss to the side of her head.
He pointed to the pink and white flowers. “These delicate ladies?” he said in a voice so full of love she wanted to wrap it around her and snuggle inside it. “They were so smart, they knew how to blend in and fly under the radar. Look at them, so feminine and strong. They blow me away. Chrystina.”