The kitchen was a mess. She had more customers for a Friday than she expected. With three birthday cakes and a retirement party, she had never had a chance to put away her baking supplies. She surveyed the disaster in front of her.

She started with the bowls in the sink, washing each one and stacking them in the drying rack. As she reached for the mixing beaters, she heard the tap on the back door. Her heart fluttered, but she scolded herself for feeling it. It was Liam.

She pulled open the door. “Hi.”

He held up a white paper bag and a DVD. “Thought you might want to do dinner and a movie. Inside this time?”

He walked past her, his spicy juniper scent following him. She felt a little drunk with him in the room.

“I can’t,” she sighed. “I have this to deal with. Maybe another time.”

He shrugged, placing the food and movie on her makeshift desk. “I’m here to help.”

“It’s too much. I can take care of my own mess.”

It was pointless. He already had an apron over his wide chest and was scrubbing a muffin pan in the sink. She stared in amazement.

“Sometimes I don’t think you’re real.”

He reached for a spatula. “And why is that?”

“Because I have never been more of a bitch to a man in my life, and yet, here you are.” She folded a hand towel. “You’re washing dishes in my kitchen. You show up every morning for coffee. You put my apartment back together. You turned my parking lot into a private movie theater.” She couldn’t stop. Everything from the past month was pouring out of her.

Liam turned off the running water and rotated to face her.

“And no matter how many times I reject you and push you away, you show up flirting and happy to see me. With gifts and helpfulness. And with a stupid, sexy smile.” She threw the towel behind her.

“And this is a problem for you?”

“See? Like that. You’re doing it again.”

“Doing what?”

“Flirting.”

The look in his eyes suddenly changed. The coal flickered with raw hunger. She knew that look.

“And you don’t want me to flirt with you?” He slid one hand behind her, resting it on the counter, followed by the other.

She shook her head. “No.”

His body pressed into hers. She could feel the solid wall of his chest and smell his masculine scent. She swallowed. They had been close last night, but he had respected the boundaries. It didn’t feel like that now.

“I like flirting with you, Soph. And I like doing other things with you.” He stared into her eyes. It was unlike anything she had seen before. In that one intense gaze, he said everything. He wanted her. But it wasn’t just about taking her as his mate. He was in love with her—he had been for years.

“I want to make you happy,” he whispered. “Can’t you just let me do that?” He bent forward, dragging his lips over hers.

Her knees buckled, but his arms instantly wrapped around her waist and he lifted her to the counter.

She shook her head. “No.”

“Then let me make you miserable.” He nipped at the side of her neck, pushing the apron ties from her skin.

She groaned as he kissed along her skin, sending searing heat from his mouth against her throat and up to her lips. He thrust his tongue deep as her arms flew around his neck. She couldn’t kiss enough of him as he greedily sucked at her lips. The kiss heated as he nipped at her with his teeth.

The apron fell from her chest as he loosened the tie from her neck. He pushed her back on the counter. His large hands coasted over her breasts, squeezing and mounding at her flesh. He unbuttoned the front of her blouse, lowering himself to kiss her stomach, his palms smoothing over her skin.

She looked at him as his eyes lit up. He leaned toward the prep table next to them and grabbed a bowl of icing.

Sophia shook her head, but Liam’s fingers were already coated in icing, and he began spreading it over her stomach and chest. He pushed her bra down and generously lathered her nipples. She arched her back, moaning when she realized what he was about to do.

He set the bowl down and eyed his dessert. He licked along her stomach, sucking at her skin and wetting his lips, then moved up toward her breasts.

Her nipples hardened under his touch. She whimpered, knowing what would happen next. She closed her eyes, a loud sigh escaping her lips when his mouth hungrily sucked, licking her clean of the icing. She writhed as he moved to the other side, flicking his tongue over the perked bud. He toyed with her, making big swirls with his tongue. She reached for his head and lowered him to her breast.

Everything about this was wrong. The icing. The man. The bear. But damn, it felt incredible.

She closed her eyes, feeling the heat from his tongue. The fire in her belly was just as strong. Maybe he was right. She should stop worrying about how he made her feel happy, and just let the misery engulf her. This kind of misery was ecstasy.

He hadn’t tried anything physical with her in weeks. The tension had been growing between them. So had her feelings. It was there, on display, for him to see.

“Soph,” he growled against her sticky skin. He looked in her eyes. His beautiful, dark, lust-filled eyes.

She sat forward. She didn’t want to think about mates and futures and all the things that came with them. She wanted Liam to give her what he promised. She wanted his strong arms around her. She wanted his powerful body to make her his.

“Take me upstairs,” she whispered.

His eyes widened. “You’re serious?”

She nodded. “I want you.”

He walked to the side of the counter, scooping her in his arms. He climbed the stairs two at a time.

“Maybe a shower first?” she asked, looking down at her blue skin.

He walked to the bathroom and deposited her feet on the floor, then turned the shower on.

She knew Liam was a confident man. Anyone could tell after spending thirty seconds with him. But she wasn’t prepared when he stripped the shirt from his head and shed his jeans. There was a reason for that confidence. He stood in front of her, a naked specimen of perfection. His muscles were firm and rippled along his shoulder. His legs were strong and solid. She looked at the V-cut of his waist, and then, her eyes dipped lower. Holy hell. His cock was throbbing, wide, and thick.

She staggered backwards, reminded of what she was about to do, but Liam’s hand gripped her wrist and he pulled her against his chest.

“I’ve got you, Soph. Let me love your body, baby.”

Her nipples brushed against his warm chest. As her skin touched his, she felt a new calm wash over her. She shimmied out of her jeans.

He eyed her. “Can I take off the rest?”

She nodded, feeling the wetness between her legs.

He kneeled in front of her, planting a kiss below her navel. He blew across her center as his fingers hooked along her panties. She held her breath while he pulled them over her thighs and down her legs. She stood frozen as the silk hit her ankles. His face was inches from her naked body. He blew another hot breath against her skin and she sighed.

“God, I want to taste you,” he growled.

If it had been a request, he didn’t wait for an answer. His fingers immediately pried at her folds, and his tongue began to run up and down, making her legs turn to jelly.

“Oh, Liam.” She gripped the back of his head and rocked her hips forward. In that instant, his tongue plunged inside her. “Oh,” she moaned, feeling the joyous heat of his fiery tongue.

She couldn’t control the way she wanted him. The way she wanted all of him. His tongue. His cock. His fingers exploring her. She braced herself against the wall as he lapped and sucked at her. The room filled with steam from the shower while Liam took her to the brink of ecstasy. And then the quivers started. They were silent at first, slowly shaking her body. But his tongue moved in and out with such perfect timing—guiding her to the edge of the cliff—leading her to the place where he had all the control. His fingers worked their magic, spreading her wider, exposing her perked nub.

She heard the growl between her legs as he latched on the bud with a violent sucking that sent her spiraling. She screamed his name as the orgasm crashed through her. She couldn’t hold herself up any longer and began to sink to the floor, but Liam scooped her up and held her against his chest while the waves crested through her. He kissed her as he stepped into the shower.

“Did that feel terrible?” he asked, holding her with one arm while he grabbed body wash with his other hand.

She nodded. “So terrible.” She was still shaking and panting.

God, she wanted him to take her right then. He could just slide her over top of him and they would be joined. She was wet and aching for him. She knew it would never go away until she had him inside her.

“Good.” He smiled. “As long as you aren’t happy.” He kissed her. “Do you think you can stand for a second?”

“Yes.”

He put her on the floor and began to wash the blue icing from her skin. It circled the drain and disappeared with the bubbles. Liam was thorough, not leaving an inch of her body untouched.

She sighed as he washed her breasts and moved lower between her legs. She met his eyes.

She thought he might be impatient, but he took his time in the shower before turning off the water and wrapping her in a towel. She had made him wait weeks for this. She had even dangled herself in front of him like bait, only to stop him. It was a dangerous game to play with a bear. But his wait was over. Tonight, she would give herself to him.

“You know, I did bring dinner and a movie,” he reminded her.

If he was using reverse psychology, it was working. The thought of stopping what they had started was a horrible idea. It wasn’t going to happen. She wasn’t going to stop now. Her body was starving for him.

“No.”

“Soph, is this what you really want?” He laid her on the bed, peeling the damp towel from her skin.

His body was magnificent. So was his cock. She couldn’t stop staring at it.

She couldn’t ignore it anymore. The feelings had been seeping into her heart ever since Liam had first showed up at the shop.

He had been patient and kind. He had been strong and steady. He had been there for her. And he was here now in her bed. Every part of her was aching for him. His tongue had been a sweet preview of what he could do.

“I don’t want to change my mind this time.”

“God, I don’t want you to either.” He ran his hand between her legs and she moaned. “But I have to know.”

He feathered his hand between her legs and her knees fell to the side. He was making her dripping wet. She whimpered, knowing he was watching her. It seemed to turn him on, the more she rocked her hips.

“Know what?” she breathed.

He dipped a finger inside her and she clutched at it. “Know that you want me as your mate.” He lowered his head and ran his tongue over her nipple. A shot of pure pleasure ran from her breast to her core.

“Ohh,” she moaned.

He repeated the motion. This time, adding another finger before circling her tit with his tongue. “I have to know, Soph. This isn’t sex. This isn’t a one-night stand. This isn’t two friends hooking up.”

She nodded. She couldn’t say no to anything with the way he was playing her body. She was about to come again. It had been so long, she had no resistance. Her body was so tight that the slightest sensation ripped through her.

She looked in his eyes, fighting off the ripples, but they began to shake her.

He grinned triumphantly, then bowed to her breast, sucking while she bucked and vibrated under him.

“God, I love making you come,” he groaned.

“Now,” she urged. There was another wave of pleasure building between her legs. “Take me, Liam.”

“All of it. It has to be all of it.” His voice was firm. There was no doubt he had shed his playboy persona. Liam was serious and urgent. The words had to be spoken.

“I want your bear to make me his mate.” She blinked back tears.

She never expected to share this beautiful moment again. Having a second chance at this kind of love was a miracle. Looking in his eyes, she knew that now. It wasn’t a reminder of pain—it was a gift of unrelenting love. It was a gift of the purest kind of happiness.

“You’re crying.” He looked hesitant.

“Because I want this so much. I’ve wanted it for a long time. I just kept pushing you away.”

“And now?”

“I want to be your mate. Forever.” She bit her lower lip as her hips moved rhythmically with his fingers.

He closed his eyes, and for a second, she thought she saw pain in his face, but maybe it was relief. Maybe it was finally realizing he was going to have something he had wanted. She wasn’t sure. She was only sure that she wasn’t prepared for how she would feel when he nudged his thick shaft against her entrance.

He nestled the wide tip against her, coating himself. She felt the hungry need for him burning. She wanted him to take her. To fill her. To claim her with promises of protection and a life together. She wanted him to fuck her hard and deep until there was only one name on her lips.

He took a heavy breath. “I’ve always loved you.”

“I know you have.” She was about to crawl out of her skin from wanting him so badly. “Make me your mate. Take me, Liam.”

He looked in her eyes as he pushed deep inside her. She held his gaze as his shaft seared heat into her center.

She clutched at his back as he began to pump in and out of her. Each thrust grew stronger than the last. The pleasure spread through her limbs, carrying her onto waves of bliss. Liam kissed and licked her and squeezed her nipples, his mouth hungry for hers as his intensity grew. She spread her legs wider, taking him deeper. He reared up as the ripples began to vibrate through her again.

“You’re mine, Sophia.” He pulled out of her, then slammed his cock in her as she screamed his name. He sank his teeth into her neck while they both convulsed and shook through their orgasm. She tried to move, but he pinned her to the bed while his seed spread through her. She felt the warmth trickle down her neck and his shaft throb inside her with powerful pulses.

Her body began to hum and fill with utter relaxation. They were bonded in every way. She looked into Liam’s eyes.

He smiled at her. “You okay?” He looked worryingly at her neck. He bent to kiss her where he had punctured her with his fangs.

She nodded. “Pure misery.” She smiled.

He curled his arms under her back. “Thank you,” he whispered.

They drifted off to sleep, connected and bonded.