Page 57 of Cowboy Bear's Hope

“Goddamn right it is. You’re my destiny, Avery. Mine. My own. I love you so much, mate,” he said, pumping his hips and bringing me to heights I’d never experienced before.

“Show me, Dante.”

“I’ll show you. I’ll show you every fucking day. Come for me, Honey. Come on my cock,” he commanded, and just like that, my body obeyed.

I flew apart, secure in the knowledge Dante would catch me. And he did. He caught me. And he held me tight.

All night long.

Chapter Sixteen-Dante

Having Avery and Rosie at my place all weekend was amazing. But Monday morning rolled around, and I fucking hated dropping them off.

“I’ll be back after school to pick you up,” I told her after we saw Rosie inside.

“Oh? I just thought you’d be back Friday,” she said, and her cheeks turned a delightful shade of pink.

“Avery, you’re my mate now. I want you at the cabin with me. Look, if you don’t like how it’s decorated you can change everything?—”

“No! It’s not that,” she said, and the smile on her face eased the sudden panic brewing inside my chest.

“I just didn’t want to assume,” she murmured, looking down art her lap.

I gripped her chin, tilting her face so she had to look at me.

“Honey, being my mate is the same as being my wife. You and Rosie are my family, I want you with me. At the ranch. I’m already seeing to your car so you can have your space, or freedom, or whatever you need. I don’t mind driving you, though. And I can work my schedule around school.”

“Oh,” she replied, eyes wide.

“I’m doing this wrong. I should have asked you, and I’m sorry for bumbling, but I am asking you now. Live with me? Stay with me? Marry me, Avery?”

“You mean that? You want to marry me?”

“I want you in every way, in any way I can get you,” I told her honestly.

“Yes. Oh yes, I want that, too,” she said, and my heart damn near beat right outside my chest.

“Okay,” I said, kissing her hard on the lips before making myself let go.

This was where she worked, and I saw one too many people stop and stare at us already. My Bear growled, and Avery pressed her hand to my chest, soothing the animal inside me.

Good mate. Mine.

“Oh, um, maybe we can get some stuff from the house after school and start moving more stuff before Rosie’s birthday this weekend?”

“Yeah, we can do that,” I said, smiling from ear to ear.

“Okay. Bye, Dante,” she whispered, still smiling as she turned away.

I stood there like a damn statue, just watching as she said hello to a few kids and their parents as she walked inside the building. She looked back at me a few times, and I nodded, letting her see I was there, making sure she was safe.

That was when I noticed a man in a suit glaring at my woman. Compared to me he had a slight build, but I didn’t care for him either way. And I sure as fuck didn’t like how he watched Avery once she was inside.

He turned back and looked shocked to see me still standing there. In fact, I’d moved closer to the glass door.

The clear pane would do nothing to protect him from me if I chose to go through it. I wouldn’t. Not yet. But if this prick looked at my woman again, he was going to get to know me up close and personal like.

I straightened my posture and bared my teeth in a snarl that was nowhere near human. He just blanched and grabbed at his tie.

---