Chapter Twenty – Dean

Dean lay awake listening to the birds. They were singing of their need for a mate, and to warn others of their species that this was their territory. He was glad those days were over for him. His mate lay beside him, his territory, or at least his house, Sunnyside, the perfect place to raise a family. And damn, did he want a family.

He rolled over and put his arm protectively around Elizabeth, listening to the sound of her breathing. “You’re awake.”

“Busted.” She rolled over and looked at him, reaching out to stroke his face.

He kissed her fingers. “Good morning.”

“Good morning to you.” He leaned down and kissed her lips. “Will you have breakfast with me?”

“Of course.” She looked at him quizzically. “Are you OK?”

“Yes. I’m going to go and buy us breakfast and grab a change of clothes, I’ll be back here in an hour.” He got out of bed, and dressed quickly.

“Dean, are you sure everything is OK? There’s plenty of food here.” Elizabeth sat up in bed, the sheets pulled tight to her chin, which had the smallest of trembles.

He went back to the bed and kissed her lips, smoothing her hair back from her face. “I’m not running out on you. But there is something I need to do.” He strode quickly to the bedroom door, before he left, he said, “Dress warmly.”

“What the hell is going on?” she called.

“It’s a surprise.” He turned back around to face her. “Do you trust me?”

“I did.” She looked upset.

“I love you. I want you. And I will be back in an hour. It’s something you’ll like.” He nodded.

“Go on,” she said reluctantly. “I’ll be ready.”

He ran out of the house, jumped off the porch, and climbed into his truck. Checking the time, he swung the truck around, giving a silent promise to Elizabeth he would be back in an hour.

***

Fifty-four minutes later, Dean swung his truck onto the path leading up to the house where he hoped his mate would be eagerly waiting for him.

As he stopped the truck and got out, she met him at the front door. Elizabeth did not exactly look eager.

“Where are we going?” she asked.

“For a ride.” He smiled enigmatically.

She returned his look with a frown. “This had better be good.”

“It is,” he promised, looking up at the blue sky, with its warm spring sun a pale yellow disk.

She went around to the passenger side of the truck and got in. Dean didn’t hang around, he was in his seat, with the engine running, before Elizabeth had put her seatbelt on. Turning around, he drove back along the path and turned the truck toward the mountain.

“Are we going to Fiona’s?” Elizabeth asked, sounding disappointed.

“Nope, it’s just you, me, and the mountain.” He grinned. “I know you liked the trek up there the other day, I thought breakfast on the mountain would be romantic.”

Her expression cleared. “So why the secrecy?”

“Sorry. I thought I’d surprise you.” Dean focused on the road, hoping he wasn’t going to blow this. When he woke up this morning with the idea in his head, it had sounded great. But maybe it was great to his bear shifter, but not to Elizabeth.

Oh well, too late now.

He accelerated, and drove along the empty road, through the early morning to the place where he’d parked the truck before. Elizabeth undid her seatbelt, and waited for him to fetch the pack with their supplies in it.

“It’s a gorgeous day.” She slipped her hand into his, and he relaxed.

“It is. And I’m sorry to drag you up here, but I wanted this morning to be special.”

“You aren’t dragging me up here. I like the mountain, you know that. I just wish you’d told me.” She tightened her hold on his hand. “I was just scared you were running out on me.”

“Never.” He let go of her hand and they walked in single file through the trees, but instead of heading straight onto the plateau, he swung left to lead her to the area where he’d shifted.

“Is this where we’re going to eat?” Elizabeth asked, putting her hand on her stomach as it rumbled.

“It is.” He opened up the backpack and took out a blanket, which he spread on the damp ground. The sun wasn’t warm enough yet to completely chase the chill away. “Why don’t you sit down?”

Elizabeth did as he asked, still looking bemused. “Is there something you aren’t telling me?”

He hesitated, pulling his hand out of the pack, and putting it in his pocket instead. “It’s more of a something I want to ask you.”

“Dean, what’s going on?”

“Elizabeth McLeish, will you marry me?” He knelt on one knee, a box with a diamond engagement ring held out to his mate.

Who looked shocked.

“Yes.” His question didn’t appear to have registered fully, and he worried her answer was a subconscious reaction. But then she knelt beside him, hugging him. “Yes, a million times yes.”

Dean kissed her, then took the ring out of the box and slipped it onto her finger. It was as if his world was complete. His mate now wore his ring, a symbol of his claim on her for all the world to see.

“I love you.”

“I love you too, Dean. More than I thought possible.”

He kissed her, laying her down on the blanket, with the blue sky above them, and the mountain beneath them. She moved first, unzipping his jeans, and pushing them down over his hips. “Are you sure?”

“Yes.”

Dean’s fingers fumbled with her zipper, but between them her jeans ended up on the ground next to his, with the blanket thrown over them. Not that there was anyone around, his bear senses told him they were alone, the trees shielding them from anyone who might pass by.

Elizabeth straddled him, and he guided himself into her sex. She was wet, warm, and tight around him. He thrust upward, and she inched herself down onto him. Two bodies joined together in the act of making love.

He wanted to touch her naked skin, to kiss every inch of her flesh, but although his bear blood would chase off the early morning chill, Elizabeth would be cold. So he filled his mind with memories of the night before, conjuring up with feel of her soft skin and the taste of her flesh.

They kissed, while she moved her hips back and forth, riding him, as she lifted herself up, and then lowered herself down. His climax was close, the excitement of her accepting his proposal increasing his arousal. She would be his.

She would be theirs, his bear corrected.

Forever. She had conquered her fears, she had grown in confidence, and Dean could not wait to see the woman Elizabeth was destined to be, unfurled like a flower before him.

But most of all, as their bodies climaxed together, and he spurted his seed deep inside her, he could not wait for a child to grow in her belly. But if they were not blessed with a child of their own, he would still be the happiest man alive. Because Elizabeth was his. Against all the odds.