Page 68 of Fearless Bond

“On that note,” Jordy said, “I’m opening in a couple of hours. Monty, let’s go.”

Monty shook Laure’s hand for an unnecessarily long time and repeated his invitation to come to the B&B. Finally, Jordy was able to drag him away. The rumble of snowmobiles from outside rose and quieted as they rode off.

We agreed that I’d meet Laure the next day and said our goodbyes. With four-wheel drive and winter tires, Laure and his bodyguards were able to navigate Barclay’s driveway without any mishap.

Standing in the kitchen window, I watched the car leave. When I turned around, Barclay stood right behind me. His eyes were bright with something akin to mischief.

“What are we…” The rest of my sentence became a squeal as he scooped me into his arms and kissed me.

Finally, Barclay and I were alone.

He set my butt on the kitchen counter and stepped between my thighs. His soft beard caressed my cheeks. Burrowing his hands under my hoodie, he hummed into the kiss.

It began to sink in.

I’d done it. I’d told my father and Damian everything and hadn’t broken down. My father knew, and he’d left. Neither he nor Damian had any power over me. I belonged with Barclay, and I was going to have a baby.

Barclay petted my stomach under the hoodie and smiled against my lips.

“How are you, my love?”

“I’m great.”

“And what do you want for lunch?”

“I don’t know. I’m afraid I’m not much of a cook. We always had staff.”

“You don’t have to be. I happen to like cooking. But if you want, we can make something together, and you can learn.”

“Okay.”

“Let’s defrost some soup now, then we can hop on the snowmobile and go grocery shopping. We can make a proper dinner together to celebrate.”

“That sounds lovely.”

He brushed my nose with his.

Gazing at his smiling face, I wondered how the whole shifting thing worked. I raked my fingers through his beard and studied the fine lines around his eyes. He looked so very human.

“Will you let me see you in fur again one day?”

Barclay shrugged. “Sure. I can do it now.”

“You can? Right now?”

“Yeah. Why not?”

I opened my mouth and closed it.

“Let me just pull the soup out of the freezer, and we’ll go to the living room.”

Barclay dumped the contents of a plastic container into a lidded pot and set the burner on a timer.

“Come on.”

I followed him to the living room, where he stripped without ceremony.

“Ready?” he asked.

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