The caveman in him loved that he was her one and only.
“I’ve gone out with guys since college. Not many. Just a few first dates here and there. I never panicked when I kissed them good night because there was nothing there. No desire for even a second date. And then you came along, and you burrowed into my life like you belonged there.”
“I’m not about to apologize.”
She laughed. “I don’t want you to. I’m trying to say that it’s not the orgasms I’m addicted to. It’s the man who’s giving them to me.”
“Me too, babe. I’ve got a bad case of Crystal Moon addiction. Spend the day with me and we can try to fight our addictions together. We’ll get cleaned up, grab some breakfast, and then we can go for a ride.”
“Breakfast? I already ate the leftover pizza.” She glanced at her kitchen. “I guess I can burn you some toast if you’re feeling adventurous.”
He reached for his shirt to help her dress. “Thanks, but I think I’ll pass.”
“I’ll get my own shirt so you don’t have to ride home shirtless.” She hurried down the hall as she spoke. “I love pizza for breakfast. No judging, remember?”
He watched her pink panties disappear into her bedroom, and a minute later she came out wearing a fresh pair of black panties and pulling a T-shirt over her head.
“Okay, so no breakfast.” He put on his shirt. “Tell me you’re mine for the day and let me cook you a real dinner tonight.”
“You cook? What other hidden talents do you have?” She wound her arms around his waist and gazed up at him with a sweet smile.
“Babe, I’ve got talents that will make your head spin.”
“I bet you do, and I’m getting more curious by the minute.” She hugged him tighter. “I promise not to torture Little Bear anymore. It’s just that I had been thinking about you for hours, like ice cream when you’re on a diet. You were all I could think about.”
“I think I know a thing or two about wanting what you can’t have.” He arched a brow.
She buried her face in his chest. “Ohmygod. I’m a cocktease.”
He lifted her chin. “A very beautiful cocktease, and worth the wait. How about our date?”
Her smile reached all the way up to her eyes. “I have to work on the costumes for a little while longer. Can we go later? Maybe around noon?”
“Perfect. I’ll let you get back to work and see you around noon. Wear long pants and your leather jacket.”
“It’s going to be warm today,” she complained.
“We’re going on a long ride. I may not own you, but I damn well want to protect you. Leather, baby cakes. You want to bring a pair of your sexy shorts in your bag, be my guest.” He leaned down and planted a hard kiss on her lips. “In fact, please bring your sexy shorts.”
CRYSTAL WORKED ON the costumes for most of the morning, taking a short break to make a bedcover for Harley out of the red satin Bear had picked out. She added a few strips of black lace and fitted it over the kitty bed. Harley purred as she curled up on the luxurious fabric with one of her toy mice. Crystal picked up her phone to text Gemma, glancing at the beautiful orchids Bear had given her. She’d set them by the windows so she could enjoy them while she worked.
She startled when Jed’s ringtone sounded in her hand. “Hey?”
“Hey, sis. You sound like you have way too much energy.”
She paced. “Sorry. Big day planned.”
“With…?”
“Not sharing details,” she said with a smile.
“I’d come over and torture it out of you, but I can’t drive, which is why I’m calling.”
She stared up at the ceiling. “Oh, Jed. What did you do now?”
“I brought Mom cigarettes, which unfortunately is not on my way to or from work. Dickhead McCarthy pulled me over.”
“You’re a few weeks from getting your license back. Why would you chance it for her?”
“Because she guilted me into it. But I’m taking the ticket to court to try to avoid points and hopefully still get my license back on time. My buddy referred me to a lawyer, but I need a ride a week from Tuesday around one. Any chance you can take me?”
She rolled her eyes. “Yeah. I’ll have to clear it with Gemma, but she loves you, so I’m sure she won’t mind.”
“Thank you. And thank Gemma for me, too. I have another favor to ask.”
“Jesus, do you need me to fight the ticket for you, too?”
“I figured it’s better to lay all the shit on you at once. My buddy’s wife is going in for surgery and I’m taking on more hours at work. Can you make dinner at Mom’s two Sundays from today instead of during the week?”
“Sure. Do you need a ride to her house, too?”
“I’ll let you know.”
“Okay.”
“Shrimp, you sure you don’t want to tell me who you’re going out with?”
His curiosity took her by surprise. He never pushed his way into her personal life. “I’m sure.”
He tried to joke it out of her. Every joke was worse than the last.
“Jed, please. Why do you even care?”
“It’s been a long time since we’ve really talked. I guess I just miss you.”
She wanted to believe him, but she’d been let down so many times in her life, she was afraid to let him in. Because letting him in would make it that much harder when he let her down.
“Thanks, Jed. I miss you, too. We’ll catch up when we have dinner.”
After she ended the call, she opened and reread the text Bear had sent half an hour after he’d left.
Big Bear misses you. She’d returned the text with a playful one. How can a text make me swoon? His response had been immediate. It’s not the text. It’s the memories of my paws all over you. Feeling cheeky, she’d responded with, I do like your paws, and your mouth, and your…Now let me work before my boyfriend catches you texting me and kicks your ass. He’d responded with an emoticon of a bear and the word growl.
She loved the feelings he stirred and reveled in allowing herself to finally experience them. But what she loved most was sharing that newfound confidence with him.
Grinning like a fool, she snapped a picture of the costume she’d been working on and sent it to Gemma with the text Warrior Princess is almost done!
She went into her bedroom and grabbed her chunky, silver-studded black boots out of her closet. She’d chosen one of her favorite outfits for her date with Bear. A short, black lace dress with a studded leather belt, stud earrings, and a wristful of black and silver bracelets. She pulled on leather leggings beneath the dress for the ride.
Her phone vibrated, and she sat on the edge of the bed and opened Gemma’s text while she laced up her boots. A stream of pictures of tattooed penises popped up, and she laughed out loud. They were the pictures she’d sent to Gemma when Gemma had first started dating Tru. Crystal had teasingly asked if Tru had ink below the belt.