That night, after Vicky and Bruce had gotten all the kids tucked in, they walked to the kitchen together and Bruce smiled. “Let’s go get some fresh air,” he said, stepping to the fridge. “Do you want a beer?”
“Well,” Vicky said. “I don’t normally drink, but that sounds nice right now.”
“I’m sure it’s been a long week,” Bruce said with a low chuckle. He grabbed a six pack out of the fridge. “Come on outside with me.”
Vicky followed. “It wasn’t that bad,” she said. “I’ve had much worse. I wasn’t kidding about your kids being great, a lot of the children I’ve taken care of lack the maturity they have.”
“Well, they had to grow up kind of fast,” Bruce said quickly, stepping outside and holding the door for Vicky. “Their mother left them when Marie was just about to turn one. It’s been hard on them all. But it is what it is.”
“You’ve done a wonderful job with them,” Vicky said softly. “They’re great kids and you can tell they are very well loved and well cared for. Some parents bring in a nanny because they can’t be bothered with the more challenging aspects of being a full-time parent whether they have the time or not. But it’s clear to me that you only did this out of necessity. I think that’s very admirable and…”
Vicky cut herself off before she could let the word slip out. It was sexy to her that he was such a loyal parent and so determined to take care of his family, no matter the personal cost to himself.
“And what?” Bruce asked, gazing intently at her.
“And telling…” she said instead. “It’s important to you to take care of the people you love. That’s special.”
“Well, it’s kind of important if they’re your kids regardless,” Bruce said modestly. But when he looked to her, his eyes were flashing. “I guess some parents don’t realize how lucky they are.”
“A lot of them don’t,” Vicky said with a small, sad laugh. She had seen many sad things in her day, despite the fact she did her best not to judge any of the families she worked for. Not only that, but she had her own dark experience to draw from.
“I know. It’s pretty sad.”
They fell into silence and Bruce led Vicky around the house to a patio, where there were chairs set up facing out, looking over the mountainside. It was a beautiful view, and Bruce seemed pleased with how dazzled she was.
“It’s really nice here, that’s why I chose this place,” Bruce said with a soft smile. “I wanted my kids to be able to have the best of everything as they grew up. And that included the most beautiful sights and sounds.
“It is absolutely beautiful,” Vicky said, astonished as she gazed up at the stars. The sky was so clear. She had never been able to see a sight quite like it in the city. All the stars were always muted by the light and the smog, and she found herself missing nature more and more.
“I’m glad you like it,” Bruce said, his gaze suddenly intent on Vicky. “I want you to be happy here. Comfortable.”
“I am,” Vicky said, returning his gaze. Every time she looked at him, she was shocked by the way he made her feel. Like she had never before seen a more powerful and intense man before. He was starting to invade her thoughts, whether she liked it or not. The entire time he was gone, she could feel his absence, whether she liked it or not.
She knew it was incredibly stupid and short-sighted of her, but what else was she going to do about it? She couldn’t just ignore the way he made her feel. It was impossible. At the least, she could try to deny it, or keep it to herself. Having feelings like this didn’t mean they had to be acted upon, right? It would only cause problems for the both of them, and neither of them needed that, especially where they were right now. She would lose the only job she had lined up. A place to live after being evicted. And he would lose the help he needed with his children.
“Is there anything more I can do for you? You know. To make you comfortable?” Bruce asked, peering into her eyes.
“For me? No, you have already done plenty,” Vicky said, smiling at Bruce. The fact was, he had gone above and beyond for her. She had her own bedroom set apart from the area where Bruce and his kids slept. He had given her access to a joint bank account for her to shop for food for herself and the kids. All her needs were practically taken care of. He had done everything he possibly could to make sure she was happy in his home, and she couldn’t believe the overwhelming generosity she was met with.
“It wouldn’t be any trouble,” Bruce said firmly.
“I’m sure it wouldn’t, but honestly, I am more than happy with what you’ve done already.”
“I’m serious. If there’s anything more you need that you can think of, just tell me. I will do anything for you.”
The way he said the last sentence brought a deep flush to Vicky’s cheeks. Everything they did together seemed highly charged, as if there was something unspoken and powerful between them. It made it hard for her to think about anything else, and now that they were sitting outside alone together without any of the kids, there was a sort of comfort and peace there that hadn’t existed before. This man captivated Vicky, entirely, and she wasn’t sure how she felt about allowing herself to be that way.
But there was no stopping it now, he was everything that seemed to have been missing from her life for so long. And yet, the thoughts were irrational and silly. She didn’t even know him very well. It was just a strange feeling she got whenever they were near. How could she allow herself to trust something like that when it was obvious that was probably just some ill-fated attraction that can never amount to anything?
No, she wouldn’t let herself. No matter how interested she was in him, it was not going to be a good idea to explore those feelings. Besides, she was a big girl. Not every guy was into that kind of thing. There was no guarantee those feelings were going to be reciprocated, even if she allowed herself to express them.
“So, tell me how things were while I was away,” Bruce said finally. “Everything. I missed my kids and to be quite frank, I was a little bit worried about you. They can be hellions when they put their minds to it.”
Bruce chuckled. He cared deeply about his children, that much was certain. What she couldn’t fathom was how he felt about her. But when she caught his eye again, she found herself feeling fairly certain she knew exactly how he felt.
And yet, there was still a nagging doubt plaguing her mind. Whether she liked him, and he liked her or not, there was still nothing they could do about it. Their minds would be left to wonder. And that’s all that would ever happen. She had to stay professional. If word of a torrid affair between Vicky and one of her clients ever spread around, she might never find work again. Many of the housewives she was hired by were too insecure to leave her with their children, let alone their husbands. She would just have to do her best to ignore anything she was feeling. The consequences, otherwise, would be dire.
“They were great. We got to know each other a bit. They were very vocal about their food preferences.” Vicky laughed, and so did Bruce.
“Yep, that sounds like my cubs.”
The way he said it made Vicky’s heart melt. He clearly adored them.
“So how did it go for you anyway? Are you making any progress?”
“Yes, we’re making tremendous progress. And we would never have been able to do it without you. I’m so glad you came into our lives when you did. My business was suffering tremendously.”
“Well, with the pressures and demands of being a full time single father, I can imagine,” Vicky said, smiling gently at Bruce.
He smiled back at her and they sat in a comfortable silence. Finally, Bruce spoke again.
“You know, you’re a blessing in our lives and I would do anything to make sure you feel safe and well cared for here,” Bruce said. “I’m always here for you. No matter what it is you need.”
He stood up and smiled at Vicky, who stood also and returned the gesture.
“Oh, look!” he said, his deep voice suddenly excited.
“Vicky, come over here and see this. It only happens once a month.”
Bruce shot off toward the outskirts of the yard and motioned Victoria to follow.
“This is something special,” he continued, smiling at her through the darkness of the yard. He pointed west. “Here. This is good. And it’s healing. Can you see it?”
“Healing?” Vicky asked curiously, following Bruce’s hand toward the sky. What she saw took her breath away.
“What is that?” she asked, deeply dazzled by the sight. “It’s so beautiful!”
“That’s the portal to our world,” Bruce said quietly. “The portal to the realm of the bear shifters. Not everybody can see it. I was hoping you could. I knew you were special.”
“What do you mean not everybody can-”
But before the words were fully out of her mouth, Bruce had taken Vicky by the shoulders and suddenly, their lips were touching. A hot jolt of powerful electricity rocketed through her body and Vicky gasped in surprise. The pleasure was alarming, and she tried to pull away. “Bruce…”
But he pulled her back in. Her self-control waned and she sighed heavily against his lips, her body giving in to the longing she hadn’t even realized she had. It was the most intense attraction she had ever felt before in her life, and to be honest, it was intimidating. She was scared of the way it made her feel; the lack of control that made her terrified more of her own desires than she had ever been before.
“I’m sorry,” he said suddenly, stepping away from her. She frowned, her heart hammering in her chest. Why was it that she was so disappointed now that he was actually heeding the impulse she had to break away and end this powerful contact once and for all.
“It’s okay,” she breathed, taking a shaky inhale. “But I don’t know what to do about this. You know it’s a bad idea.”
Bruce let out a low growl that spiked Vicky’s arousal. The man’s longing overwhelmed her. It was obvious in every feature of his face that he wanted her, and now, she had no reason to question the attraction between them. She had known ever since they had laid eyes on each other, and now, there was no fighting it anymore. This was how it was and how it had to be. What was she going to do?
“Of course, it’s a bad idea,” Bruce said, shaking his head in agitation. “I know it and you know it, and the kids would probably notice if they ever heard us talking about anything or even just the energy between us. You know that shifters have a very keen sense of energy. They would probably compare you to their mother and that would make everything strange and difficult, not only for us but for them. We can’t let that happen.”
“Then why did you kiss me?” Vicky asked, stepping forward, her eyes heavy with a strange melancholy sadness combined with a passion she was trying to keep at bay. She had liked the kiss. And now that it was over, she didn’t know what she was doing. “I want to be with you, but I don’t know if I can do it. Not like this. Maybe if I wasn’t working for you.”
“I know,” Bruce said, staring out into the distance. “I understand. I’m sorry I put you in such a strange position. That was very insensitive of me. I promise I won’t tell anybody what has happened.”
“We are adults, it was just a kiss,” Vicky said with a shrug, smiling weakly at Bruce. Bruce gazed at her, his eyes dark and serious, and suddenly, his body was close again and she inhaled sharply at the sensation.
“Kiss me again,” he said, his voice low and urgent. “We are adults. It doesn’t have to mean anything.”
Vicky found herself tense in his arms and pulled away, confused by the intensity of her attraction. Combined with the conflict within her telling her it was a terrible idea and that she should just say no. She should leave and never look back. This was bad for her, and it would be bad for Bruce too.
“Bruce, I don’t know…”
He let out a deep exhale and then wrapped his strong arms around her waist and pulled her close. It was the first time Vicky had ever found herself feeling surrounded by anybody before. It was a feeling she relished, especially knowing it would probably never happen again. She was a curvy girl, and never in her life had she imagined anybody as handsome and strong and powerful as Bruce would take an interest in her.
And yet, here he was, and rather than being repulsed by her body, it seemed to make him want her more. That was strange for her. As much as she liked it, she also didn’t trust it. How could he actually like her? What had she done to make him want her so much? He didn’t have to appreciate her like this. What if he was just acting this way because he was aroused because it had been a long time since he had been with a woman? Or what if it was just purely physical? As much as she was attracted to him and he was attracted to her, in a way, she wanted there to be more to it than that.
Sure, it felt as if their relationship was fated in a way, but at the same time, there was a physical attraction unlike anything she had ever experienced before and that made her nervous. Shouldn’t there be more to it than that? Shouldn’t they get to know each other a little bit before they gave in to these types of passions?
But suddenly, his lips were against hers again, and she found herself swept away by tumultuous power of her desire. What was it about her that drove him to her? She would never be able to tell. And yet, here they were, their bodies taking the lead despite all their best efforts to stop themselves and slow it down.
Bruce held Vicky tightly, his lips pressed hotly against hers. The contact between them brought an immense flood of longing surging through her body. She let him hold her against him, their bodies responding deeply to each other. Suddenly, he was pushing her backward and kissing her powerfully, his body pressed urgently against hers in an obvious display of arousal.
She could feel the firm bulge of his erection against her middle and closed her eyes, a fluttering gasp escaping her lips. The power consumed Vicky off her longing as she found her back pressed hard against a tree. Her body was quickly surrounded by Bruce’s and she inhaled sharply as tendrils of pleasure began to make their way through her body.
Bruce seemed able to sense them somehow and let out a low growl of approval that sent a shockwave of desire thundering through her. She let out a soft gasp that betrayed her excitement, and that seemed to be all Bruce needed to unleash the power of the beast within him. His eyes flashed intently as he pressed himself against her, tearing away her clothes with a force unlike anything she had ever seen.
She was almost offended that he hadn’t asked for her permission, but quickly realized she had already given it. The bear knew what it was she truly wanted, even if that was difficult for her to admit. She was tired of fighting the immense desire within her and closed her eyes. Silently she surrendered her body to the power of Bruce’s body, and the mighty bear within him.