He stared at her. He didn’t know what had started it, but Sophia was laughing uncontrollably. Tears streamed down her cheeks. And for once, he wasn’t witnessing tears of anguish.

“You okay?”

She sniffed. “Yes. Yes.” She ran to grab a tissue next to the bed. “It’s just absurd. The whole thing.” She started laughing again and sat down on the edge of her bed.

“Absurd?” He puffed out his chest, not sure if she was referring to his handyman skills. He had been sure she’d be impressed if he could show her how much he could do for her.

“Yes,” she snorted. “This whole thing.”

He sat next to her, and her giggling fit seemed to cease. Her eyes widened. “What are you doing?”

He sighed, brushing a loose curl from the side of her face. “Sitting next to you.”

“Well, don’t.” She scooted closer to the pillows.

“How do you go from being pissed to laughing to being pissed again?” He couldn’t track her emotions. She was all over the place.

“We are definitely not doing this.” She tried to stand but he pressed his hands against her thighs, keeping her from standing.

“We are definitely doing this,” he growled. “You won’t talk in the kitchen. You won’t talk in the shop. You won’t talk at the cabin, or on the street. If the only place you’ll talk to me is in bed, then that’s where it’s going to happen.”

“I-I never…”

His hand moved from her thigh to her waist. “Talk. Get it out. Whatever it is that keeps you from giving me a chance.”

The truth was he didn’t want to talk. All he wanted to do was to rip the clothes from her body and love her until the sun came up. But that wasn’t going to happen as long as there was something she needed to say.

“Liam,” her eyes hardened. “You’re not going to leave until we talk, are you?”

He shook his head. “No.”

She exhaled. “Fine. I’ll talk. But it’s under duress.”

He grinned. “Your words. Not mine.”

“You are so aggravating,” she fumed.

“That’s not the first time a woman has said that.” He waggled his eyebrows, trying to lighten the mood.

“You can’t seriously think this would ever work.”

“It will work.” He moved his free hand to her other hip and twisted her to face him. He wanted to see every emotion on her face.

“See, you say it like it’s already going to happen. I’ve told you over and over I don’t want to be with you. I don’t want to be with anyone.”

“How do you know you don’t want to be with me?”

“I just do.”

He smiled. He could hear the steady thump of her heart growing louder. She was reacting to him. She was trying to ignore what her body felt.

“Give me a real answer.”

“You were Noah’s best friend. He would never be okay with this.”

With that one name, the entire mood changed. Liam knew he would be dealing with Noah’s ghost—he just didn’t know it would hurt this much to face it.

“Noah would know this is how things are supposed to be. You have to believe me on that.” He ran his hand along her back. “If it had been reversed, and I had met you first and you were mine first, he would have done the same exact thing in my position.”

“Is that how you justify it?”

“I’m not justifying anything. It doesn’t need to be justified because this is what is right, Soph.” He closed in on her, hearing her steady heartbeats jump erratically.

This was why the mourning period existed—to deal with the questions. To face the answers. Although, he was the only one who had come to terms with it. He had to believe Noah would trust him with Sophia.

“It can’t be right. I’m not… I shouldn’t…”

“You shouldn’t what?” he asked, inhaling her scent. God, she smelled like heaven.

She lowered her eyes. “Shouldn’t be happy with anyone else. I can’t.”

He tilted her chin upward to meet his gaze. “Don’t do that. Don’t rob yourself of the bond we could have because you don’t think you deserve it. You deserve everything in this world you want. And I’m going to give it to you.”

He wanted to let her talk more, but he couldn’t stop his bear any longer. He crashed his lips against hers, taking the kiss with desperate fury.

She did deserve to be happy. She deserved a mate who would worship her and love her. She couldn’t live the rest of her life alone just because Noah was gone. Liam wouldn’t let that happen.

He tugged at her lips with his teeth, nipping and sucking against her mouth. His tongue twisted along hers as he pulled her into his lap. Her legs instinctively wrapped around his waist.

He kissed her throat, finding places behind her ear that made her squirm. There weren’t words for this. There was no way he could tell her all the things she needed to hear to reassure her. He had to show her. It was the only way he could express how powerful he knew their bond would be.

His hand snaked under her sweater, cupping her breasts. She cooed when he rolled the tight bud of her nipple between his fingers. God, every part of her was perfect. He wanted all of her. Every inch of her curvy, luscious body.

His mouth devoured her lips, scooping her body under his.

“God, Soph,” he muttered, raking the sweater over her head.

Her lips were back on his as the sweater hit the floor. Her hips rocked forward and his cock jerked under his jeans. He could feel the heat between her legs, and it sent a deep groan through his chest.

He licked against her collarbone, making his way over the swells of her breasts. He had dreamed about them. He swore they were the most perfect tits in Bear Lake. He shoved the lace off of them and admired how her nipples pointed toward his lips. He growled as he took one in his mouth and began to suck.

“Ohh,” Sophia moaned, bucking off the bed.

It only drove him crazier to hear the sounds coming from her mouth. He had to know what all of her tasted like. He dipped his head to her other breast and inhaled the sweet skin, nipping at the tight bud.

Her head thrashed on the pillow and the mewing sounds sent him over the edge. He reached for her zipper and began to shimmy the jeans over her hips. His bear was losing control. He wanted all her sweetness. He wanted to claim her for once and for all.

No more deadlines. No more games. No more pressure from the clan. This was only about him and Sophia becoming one.

But as he tried to lift her hips to ease the jeans down her legs she froze.

“No.” She shook her head and pulled the bra back to cover her breasts. “Stop, Liam. Stop.”

He immediately let go of her jeans and sat staring at her.

“Sophia…”

“You have to go.”

He hung his head. “Don’t kick me out.”

“I shouldn’t have let you kiss me. Or touch me.” She wiggled out from under him and leaned toward the floor to retrieve her sweater.

“Don’t do this. Don’t beat yourself up for feeling good.”

Her eyes flashed to his. He could read the guilt and hurt as clearly as if it were stamped on her forehead.

“How can you say that?” Her eyes misted.

“Hey, hey.” He cupped her face in his hands. “I’m not saying it’s easy moving on. I would never say that. But look at me and tell me you weren’t enjoying yourself.” He raised his eyebrows.

She huffed.

“You can’t because you liked it, Soph. You like what I can make you feel.” He kissed behind her ear, knowing it would make her shiver. “And deep down you know I can do a lot more than that.”

“Stop doing that. Stop confusing me with your body.” She tucked her knees up to her chest.

“Aren’t you the least little bit curious how we would feel together?” He kissed along her neck.

Her lips parted with a sigh. “No.”

He smiled. “Well I am. You’re all I can think about.” He tipped his forehead to hers. “I want you so badly I can taste it. I dream about it. I fantasize about taking you in my arms. I picture what it would be like to bite you.” Her breath quickened and her blood pumped wildly in her veins. “I see you when I close my eyes. I imagine making you mine.”

He planted a kiss on her cheek before standing next to the bed.

She looked up at him. “You’re actually leaving?”

He nodded. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”

He strolled out of her bedroom, praying he had just made the right decision, and that it was the only way to end up in Sophia’s bed forever.