The time that Willa had spent with Boone had been head turning… no, head spinning..., okay, so there wasn’t a description that really fit. What it did to her was easier to define. It made her hungry. Now if she’d said that to Charlie, he would have made a joke about her size. He thought it was funny to poke at her weight and that was likely her fault.

Ever since she’d been a little kid, people made jokes about her weight.

And Willa learned to laugh so that people wouldn’t know how much it hurt.

The problem with learning to laugh, was that the more she laughed, the more people thought they could keep it going, take it further.

Boone didn’t joke about her body. He didn’t even try to avoid looking at her like some men seemed to do.

Instead, she knew that Boone appreciated her curves. Better yet, he really liked getting hands on with her curves.

And those hands, knew exactly what to do with her curves.

They hadn’t quite gotten to the point where they’d stripped each other bare in anything but their dreams, but Boone knew how to kiss, and he certainly knew how to mold his hands to her body and make her breathless in his arms.

After he left to go back to Sylvan City, it had taken her less than a day to decide she wanted to go and see him. When she called Gerri to see what options she had, the Matchmaker with the Mostest giggled and broke the news that Willa wouldn’t have to arrange her own transportation because Boone had left a prepaid ticket, first class, whenever she wanted to see him.

A quick call to Boone and Willa was packing her bags to leave, they were a little over the weight restriction, but she had things she just had to bring. She wanted to impress Boone, but she also wanted to impress a bunch of other people in his life… hoping she would be a part of theirs as well.

The plane landed at the closest airport to Sylvan City, just under an hour away and Willa managed to hold it together until she made her way to baggage claim and saw Boone waiting for her with a sign.

By the lettering on the sign, the random assortment of colors used, she had a feeling he hadn’t made the sign. The general shape of the text looked a lot like graffiti and that seemed to make sense. Boone had told her about how he’d met the boys and how he’d taken them in as fosters. A few of the boys had been in trouble before for misusing their more artistic skills.

In the days that they’d been apart, they’d spoken on the phone a handful of times, but nothing of real consequence. She’d come up with a list of questions about him and the boys and his life, but they all faded to the back of her mind as she stepped up to him and that amazing sign. Overwhelmed by his height, his size, the sheer delicious scent of him, she wondered if this was really going to work. She leaned in closer and drew in another breath and barely managed to keep her hands to herself.

Pulling her bottom lip between her teeth she struggled for control as she felt Boone leaning over her, his cheek brushing against her temple. “Willa?”

Blowing out a trembling breath she pried her lips open. “Yeah?”

Her eyes were almost closed, but she swore she could almost hear him smile. “What are you thinking about?”

No way was she going to answer that question. She’d had enough of being the one to lower her guard first. Not anymore. Never again. Nope. Not happening.

And then he spoke again, silencing the nervous voices in her head.

“I was thinking of kissing you.”

An indrawn breath was all she could manage.

“But I’m not sure I can keep it appropriate for a public place, so how about we go and get your luggage.”

His words weren’t any help in calming her nerves, but they certainly called to a part of her that had worried about her reception after their time apart. “I was hoping you didn’t change your mind,” she explained. “A week, well it’s enough time for you to realize that I’m not… what I mean is that you’d see that you’re not…” Her shoulders sagged as she struggled to find the right words, “that we’re not-”

“Hungry for each other?” His laugh was a deep-throated chuckle. “I know I want to taste you all over if you’ll let me.”

Oh wow, his words, the very tone of his voice had her weak in the knees and aching in all the right places.

“If I let you?” Touching her hand to his chest she felt the rushing pulse of his heart beneath her fingers. Leaning lightly against him she rose up on her toes and brought her lips close enough to brush against his ear, but she barely held back. “Thinking about you as much as I have been,” she confided with him, “I might be willing to beg for it.”

There was a moment of silence between the two of them and Willa worried that she’d gone and messed up… again. That she’d taken a precious moment between them and showed just how inexperienced she was.

Then she felt something warm against her hand. His hand engulfed hers, pressing her palm against his chest. The speed of his heartbeat left her breathless.

He wrapped his other arm around her and she felt the poster board bump against her backside with a soft thump a moment before his lips pressed a slow and tender kiss against her cheek. “You never have to beg me for anything, Willa. However you want to be touched. However you want to be loved. It will be my pleasure to give it to you. To give you pleasure.”

She was glad he had his arm around her, she wasn’t at all sure she would remain standing if left on her own.

“Boone?”

She almost felt him vibrate against her, under her hand. “Yes, Willa?”

She blew out a breath and asked for exactly what she wanted. “Take me home.”

He growled, deep and low in his throat. She heard the sound, felt the flutter through every inch of her that touched him. “Let’s get your bags, now.”

* * *

In the car, Willa kept to her seat, her hands fiddling with the straps of her bag as they headed toward Sylvan City, trying to keep her hands off Boone.

“The boys didn’t want to come to the airport?” She tried to keep her voice even, but she knew she let her disappointment bleed through her voice. “I was looking forward to meeting them.”

He lifted his hand from the wheel and reached over to wrap it around hers.

She felt his thumb brush against her thigh and she melted a little into the passenger seat. It was a heavenly heat that she felt through his touch.

“They wanted to come along, but I wanted a little time to ourselves.” He slid her a look across the front seat of his truck. “I wasn’t sure I’d be able to keep my hands off of you. Having them around might have been… difficult.” His touched stilled on her skin. “This is so different.”

“Different?”

He was hesitant. She heard it in his voice and it confused her.

“We spoke on the phone,” he explained, “but it’s just not the same. I can touch you now.” He gave her hand another squeeze. “But holding hands with you is only making everything else, more difficult.”

“Okay.” She wondered if he could feel the way she trembled beside him.

“Hearing your voice over the phone, remembering our kisses,” his thumb stroked over the inside of her wrist and then into the center of her palm, “I couldn’t help but imagine you with me, every night.” He slowed for a red light up ahead and came to a stop. Turning slightly, he met her gaze across the interior of the cab. “And I’m not going to pressure you to stay with me tonight, Willa. Nor any night. Just know that I mean it when I say I want you with me… when you’re ready.”

“When I’m ready.” She lifted her free hand and set it on top of his. “You said I could ask for what I want.”

“You just have to ask, Willa.” The light turned green and he waited for the other cars before them to move before he pressed the pedal down. “And I’m yours.”

The rest of the drive passed in silence. Willa had a lot to think about.

* * *

The heavy wooden gate swung open with a click from the controller and Willa leaned forward to look through the windshield to see the property with her own eyes. She’d looked over the photos that Boone had sent her and read and re-read the descriptions in his emails. She tried to pick out the individual buildings that he’d pointed out. It was so much to take in.

When she groaned he gave her a little chuckle and smiled. “Having second thoughts?”

“No,” she breathed a little sigh, “it’s one thing to see your life in pictures, but to actually be here? Amazing!” She looked over at him and narrowed her gaze. “How tall are the boys again?”

Boone shrugged. “Normal boys.”

She gave his hand a little pinch.

“Hey!”

“Normal boys,” she scoffed, “normal for bear shifters?”

He shrugged. “Pretty much.”

“And,” she laughed as he put the truck in park, “what does that mean against normal teenaged boys?”

He turned off the engine and pulled her closer for a quick peck on her lips before he let go of her hand and drew the key from the ignition. “They’re certainly loud enough. Now, let’s go and greet the mob.”

He opened his door and slid out, leaving her sitting stock still and shocked on the seat. “Wait, what? A mob?”

As Boone moved around the front of the truck, the front door of the lodge swung open and banged against the wall. Half a heartbeat later, nearly half a dozen boys rushed out the door, spilling out onto the sprawling front lawn.

When the passenger side door swung open, Willa saw Boone’s smiling face waiting for her, his hands outstretched. “Let me give you a hand.”

She nodded and tried to quell the worries boiling up inside of her. “Looks like you’re offering me two.”

His chuckle helped take more of the edge off. “Anything you want of mine, Willa, it’s yours.”

“Great, they’re already grossing me out.”

Boone’s head fell forward, his chin dropping out of sight. “Cobb?”

There was a flurry of noise and Willa caught sight of a bunch of arms and shoulders as the boys jostled each other, managing to shove one boy to the forefront.

Willa brushed the back of her fingers across Boone’s cheek and smiled as he looked up to meet her gaze. With a conspiratory wink she slid down into his arms. A few moments later she was on the ground beside him, her heart thundering frantically in her chest.

Turning, she looked at the boy standing out in front. “So, you’re Cobb.”

“Yep.” His head bobbed side to side. “I’m not big on corn, just so you know.”

“Noted,” she grinned as one of the boys tried to plant the toe of his boot in Cobb’s backside. “What about Cobb salad?”

He thought about it and then shrugged. “I’ll try anything once.” He looked at the other boys before turning back. “Except radishes.” Giving Boone a look he gestured at the truck. “You want me to get her stuff?”

Boone set an arm over her shoulders. “That would be nice, Cobb. Thank you.”

Willa blushed at the teen who very nearly towered over her like Boone, nodded his head in greeting. “Thanks.”

One of the others stepped up beside Cobb and nudged him with an elbow. “I’ll help him.” As they passed by, he extended a hand and gave her a shake. “You can call me, Sonny.”

Cobb rolled his eyes as he passed by. “It should be Sunny with a ‘U,’ he’s a sun bear. A cutesy little sun bear.”

“Cutesy?” Sonny jumped on Cobb’s back, stumbling them both into the side of the truck bed.

One of the others rushed past Willa. “Pino, ma’am.” He dove in and tried to get an arm between the two, only a second or two before the other boys joined in the sudden hill of bears.

Boone pulled her out of the way and turned them around to watch the sudden pile-up of teenage muscle and energy. The last two boys seemed to stay along the edges of the fray. The shorter of the two was broader in the shoulders and his demeanor reminded her of Boone and his softer ways.

“So that’s Bolt and Chad?”

“Chad escaped the name ‘Beanpole’ but that was only after a big wrestling match with the others, but Bolt is the most settled of the group.”

“You mean he’s like you,” she sighed with pleasure.

Boone shrugged, “I guess.”

Willa watched as Bolt leaned closer to Chad and pointed out something in the pile of flailing arms and legs. It took Cobb a few ducks to avoid a black eye, before they managed to break up the melee. After that, the boys wrestled the bags out of the back of the trunk and carry them toward the house.

Willa took a step toward the house and felt Boone step up against her side.

She looked up at him with a question clearly written in her expression. “We’re not going in?”

“In a moment.” He turned her toward him, grasping her chin with his fingers. “You’re going to relax tonight, Willa. The boys and I are taking care of dinner and you can get to know them, get to know more about me.”

She nodded. “I’d like that.” Willa lifted a hand and set it on his bicep, feeling the tight stretch of muscle under his cambric shirt. She should have stopped herself, but she couldn’t help the way she smoothed her hand up to his shoulder, and from his shoulder up to his neck. And when her fingers brushed along the ends of his hair at the back of his neck she felt his growl through his skin. “And I’d like to spend some time tonight, just the two of us.”

He leaned down and brushed his lips over hers. “Let someone try to come between us.”

* * *

In the end, it wasn’t any living thing that came between Boone and Willa. It was the excitement of the day. The boys continued on with their joking more than a half an hour after she fell asleep, curled up on the porch chair, her head on the overstuffed pillow.

Boone had watched her for hours, eager and hungry for any bit of her attention. He’d had his share of it during the night, but Willa had taken the time to get to know the boys. Five boys under the age of seventeen was enough to drive him into the ground every night, but Willa had taken it all in like she’d been born into their family.

And maybe she had. The look of joy on her face as they all vied for her attention made him want to rush across the deck, sweep her up and over his shoulder and up into his room, but even his bear, who had been pressuring him to do just that all day long, was content to remain there watching the firelight play over her features. She was home. Home with them.

They were halfway through the marshmallows when Pino grabbed at Cobb’s arm and nodded toward Willa. “She’s asleep.”

The conversation around the fire-pit dimmed as the boys all took note of her sleeping form.

“Looks like we tired her out.” Sonny elbowed Chad. “Get the dishes.”

Without a word, he slid off the bench, reaching out his arms for as many things as he could pick up before he headed inside and toward the kitchen.

Reaching up, Boone rubbed a hand across the back of his neck, working at the tight muscles under his skin. “I’ll put the fire out and-”

“I got it, Boone.” Sonny was already picking up the pieces of trash that had fallen to the deck around their feet. “Go on and take her inside.”

Standing there, amidst the bustle of activity, his cubs rushed to help clean up their mess, leaving him to take Willa to bed.

And that’s when his bear woke up, bright-eyed and ready for anything, especially taking care of their mate.

Instead of waking her up, Boone leaned over the chair and swept her up into his arms, resting her head against his shoulder. With a quick look at the boys, he took Willa inside and climbed the steps.

* * *

By the time he reached the top of the stairs, Boone was aching. Willa was barely any weight in his arms, her silken hair brushed against his shoulder and he wished he could feel it against his bare skin. She was a glorious sight cuddled against his chest.

Nudging the door to her bedroom open with his foot, he shouldered the door the rest of the way open to keep it from smacking against the wall and waking her up.

The bedroom was in near darkness, save for the moonlight falling in through the window, but he knew the room by heart. For the few days that they’d been apart, he’d walked the room at all hours of the night obsessing over what she’d think about the room when she finally arrived.

He set her down on the edge of the bed so he could reach over and turn down the blankets and slip her under, but Willa had something else in mind.

Fisting her hands in his shirt, she tugged him down with a sigh.

Surprisingly strong for a smaller woman, she was in real danger of being crushed by his larger body, but even as he worried about her safety, there was no way he was going to pull himself away from her.

Sliding an arm around her, he drew her against him as he lowered himself to the bed beside her.

He wouldn’t do anything more than fall asleep beside her, but that was more than enough for him.

Willa tucked her head against his shoulder and breathed soft puffs of warm air against his chest as she wiggled closer.

He closed his eyes and struggled to remind his body that they weren’t mates, not yet, but that couldn’t reverse the flow of blood. Lying there in the near-dark, Willa’s curvaceous body pressed tight against his, her intoxicating scent in his nose, he was as hard as a spike and desperate with need.

It did nothing to help when Willa drew her leg up and over his muscled thigh. The simple movement pressed her warmth against his hardened length.

She parted her lips and sighed.

All Boone could do was bite down on his lip, hard.

Her hands tugged on his shirt front again and he was almost half on top of her, managing to brace his weight on his hand. She drew in a breath, almost tasting his skin.

Her satisfied sigh was another nail in his coffin. Another moment later, her hands relaxed and she fell into a deep sleep.