Page 69 of Bear's Heart

“Nope.”She leaned in, her arms wrapped around his neck.“I like it here.It’s really nice.”

“You’re impossible.”

“Thank you.”She kissed the side of his neck, breathing in the hint of his aftershave.“You smell delicious, too.”

“Josie.”

“Yes, Bear?”she said, kissing a spot beneath his ear.

“You’re not fair.”

“I’m tired of fair.Because it’s not actually fair.”She brushed her lips across his.“I dig you.Everything about you.But I think you know that.”

He dragged his fingers through her hair, scraping the long length back from her face, knotting the strands around his fist and gently but firmly tugging her head back.“I’m trying to do the right thing.I’m trying my best to protect you.”He gave another little tug on her hair, and she shuddered, her hips dancing on his lap.

“I don’t need protection.Not from you.”Her voice dropped.She raked her nails down his cheek.“And for your information, kissing me was not a disaster.Kissing me made us both feel better.”

“You think so?”

“I know so.”She drew a quick, tremulous breath.“And it’s something I’ve needed for weeks.”

He cupped her face and stared into her eyes.“You’re killing me, Josie.”

“I think resisting me is killing you.Maybe stop doing that and just kiss me the way you to want.The way I want you to.”

He did.

*

Josie slept thatnight in his room, in his bed.There were no more kisses, and everything was as circumspect as could be, except for the fact that Bear slept with his arm around her, and she didn’t think she’d ever felt anything as wonderful as being pressed up against his big chest, his hand laced through hers.

She knew he’d have to move in the night, and adjust the pillow between his knees, but it was the perfect way to fall asleep.It was peaceful and healing, and it answered the ache within her for more closeness.She loved him.She wanted a life with him.She wanted to be there at his side every day, for the good days and the bad.

But she knew he wasn’t ready to hear that.He’d been through a lot with Savannah, and he still worried about burdening those around him, and so she kept her love and commitment to herself.With time, he’d see how it was with them.With time, he’d realize how good they were together.Rome wasn’t built in a day.Winning Bear’s heart would take time, too.

It was enough for now to just savor his warmth, his arm wrapped around her, his body to her back, the steady rise and fall of his chest calming, reassuring.

Life could be hard, but it was also beautiful.

Her Bear was beautiful, too.

Chapter Fourteen

The next twoweeks passed in a blur of work and play.Bear agreed that a little kissing and cuddling was fine, but he drew the line at getting naked and intimate.

Josie suspected it was scary for him—his body had changed, making love would be different.She didn’t have a tremendous amount of experience so she wasn’t sure how it would all work, but she loved him so much that she wasn’t afraid, and she was happy to give him, and them, time.

The month of August was almost over, and Labor Day was approaching.Everyone was making plans to do something, but Josie had no desire to go anywhere and do anything but be with Bear.

“Do you think we should invite my parents and Jasper over for Labor Day weekend?We could grill—well, you could grill—and I could handle the rest.I know Jasper is dying to meet you.”

“Are you sure that’s a good idea?”he asked.

“Why wouldn’t it be?”

He shrugged.“Might be a little awkward for everyone.”

“You mean three wheelchairs at dinner?We’ll call it the wheelchair friendship club.”

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