The doorbell rang just after noon, and I ran to the door, excited to finally see Bear. But when I opened it, it wasn’t him filling my doorway but Morgan instead.

“We gotta talk,” he barked and pushed past me, walking into the hallway and kicking off his shoes.

I slammed the front door and turned to face him with my hands on my hips. “Nice to see you too.”

He didn’t seem amused today. “Drop it, Ma.” He stalked off into the kitchen, and I followed close behind him.

“What’s the problem?”

“Bear.” His voice was flat, and I couldn’t read him.

“What about him?” I asked, toying with the cross around my neck.

He pulled a coffee cup out of the cabinet and helped himself to the fresh pot I’d brewed for Bear. “I want you to stay away from him.”

I glanced toward the door, hoping Bear wasn’t about to knock. I’m sure once he saw Morgan’s car in the driveway, he’d wait until the coast was clear. “Why?”

“’Cause he’s trouble.” He carried the cup to the table and made himself at home.

Sitting down across from him, I rested my chin in my palm. “I’m an adult, Morgan.”

He leaned back in the chair and stared out the window. “I can’t have my mom messing around with a fellow employee. I have to look him in the face every day, and I shouldn’t want to punch his lights out. It’s not fair to either of us.”

“You know I love you, right?” I tried to be diplomatic, but in no way was my son going to run my life.

“Yeah.” He dragged his eyes to mine and narrowed his gaze. “What’s that have to do with anything?”

“You need to mind your own business.”

“This is my business. I work with Bear. I can’t have you gallivanting all over town with him like some love-sick kid.”

My head jerked back. “Gallivanting? Is that what I’m doing?”

“What do you call hanging out at the Neon Cowboy with him, Ma? Seriously, you need to act your age.”

I placed my hands flat on the table and moved them back and forth across the cool wood to stop myself from slapping his pretty little face. “Should I just move into the nursing home now?” I asked sarcastically.

“No, but don’t go to bars and dance with men. At least, the ones I know, please.”

Oh, no, he didn’t. “So you’d rather me go on Tender and hook up.”

His head cocked to the side like he hadn’t heard me, when I knew he did. “Tinder?”

“Yeah. Want me to just go on there and find a man? I mean, there are millions of them on there that would love to get a piece of this.” I motioned toward my body and giggled.

Poor Morgan looked like he was about to pass out. “Ma, you gotta stop with this shit. You can’t go on Tinder. It’s too dangerous.”

“Bear’s dangerous. Tender is dangerous.” I mispronounced it just to aggravate him and waved my hands around like a lunatic. “Should I just sit home and crochet until I die?”

He turned the coffee cup in his hand and grimaced. “Fuck! You’re so hardheaded.”

“Listen, kid. I stopped trying to run your life a long time ago. I know you’re worried, but you need to stop your shit. I’m an adult. Bear’s an adult. I’m barely fifty. I’m not ready to become an old lady just yet.”

He stared at me as he lifted the mug to his lips. “I want my mom back,” he grumbled into his coffee.

“I’m still here, kiddo. For the first time in a long time, I actually enjoy spending time with someone, and you want to shit all over my parade.”

“You were spending time with Johnny,” he said with a cocky smirk.

“And he was a thief and a liar. Bear isn’t any of that. You didn’t have a problem when I was with Johnny, so you’re just going to have to swallow your pride and move the fuck on, baby.” I added the little term of endearment to ease the blow of my curse words.

“Fine, Ma.”

“And I had you when I was barely legal and got hitched right away to your piece of shit father. I’m ready to actually have some fun before it’s too late.”

“Okay, okay.” He threw his hands up in surrender. “I get it. Just be careful and tell Bear to keep his hands off you for now. I couldn’t handle seeing him paw you.”

I stood and took two steps to stand over him. “Sure, sweetie,” I lied, placing my lips in his silky black hair. “I wouldn’t want to make you uncomfortable.”

“Thanks.” He smiled up at me when I gave him a pat on the back.

“Shouldn’t you be getting back to work?” I glanced toward the door again.

He looked down at his watch and yawned. “Yeah, it was a long night, but I should at least make an appearance.”

“Okay, baby,” I said, already walking toward the door so he’d be gone before Bear arrived.

Morgan leaned over and gave me a kiss as I opened the door for him. “I’ll call later and check on you.”

I smacked him on the chest playfully. “I’m fine. Spend some time with your wife and stop worrying about me. I’m playing bridge with the ladies later anyway. I won’t be home.”

“Have fun.” He jogged down the front steps toward his car.

“Yeah, it’s going to be a wild night.” I laughed nervously and looked down the street for any sign of Bear, but nothing.

When Morgan’s engine roared to life, he gave me another wave before backing out of my driveway like a maniac. The boy never did learn to drive slowly. It probably wasn’t the best choice for him to get a car with over 400 horsepower either.

I waited for him to pull away before closing the door. Hurrying into the kitchen, I put his coffee cup in the dishwasher and checked my makeup before Bear arrived.

Just as I picked up my phone to call him, there was a knock at the door. “Coming!” I skipped to the door like a kid—at least, feeling like one with butterflies fluttering around my stomach on warp speed.

I yanked the door open and immediately became shadowed from the sunlight. The man was so large that his entire body filled the space, letting no light inside. I smiled gleefully and squinted up at him. “Hey, handsome.”

His gray eyes were hooded as they raked over my body. “Hey, sweetheart. Aren’t you a sight for sore eyes?”

I could get lost in him. The years had been fair to him. His eyes weren’t large, but narrowed and focused from his life on the road. The tiny lines in his cheeks and near his eyes gave him even more character but were marred by his beard.

“Wanna come in?” I asked like an idiot, but I was too nervous even though this wasn’t our first time together.

He leaned in and lowered his voice. “I’d bang you out here, but I don’t think the neighbors would appreciate it.” My body began to sway with his words, but he wrapped his large hands around my arms and steadied me. “You okay?”

I laughed and my cheeks burned, but luckily he kept his hands on me. “You just get me so…” My voice trailed off.

He leaned forward and kissed my cheek, sending a shiver throughout my body. His lips grazed my ear and he whispered, “Horny, Fran?”

My toes curled from the vibration of his voice. “I can barely walk, Bear.”

“It’s a good thing you don’t need to stand for what I have planned.”

“Bear,” I said and cleared my throat, trying to get myself out of my lusty haze. “We better go inside before—” I glanced around to see if any of the busybody neighbors were watching.

“Want me to put my bike in the garage?”

“Great idea. I don’t need Morgan coming by again and seeing your bike in the drive.”

“You go inside and get naked, and I’ll stow it.”

“Wait,” I said with one foot inside the doorway. “You expect me to get undressed now?”

“Fran, sweetheart, don’t question me. I only say what I mean, and what I want is your fine self naked and waiting. Hurry or I’ll have to spank that pretty little ass of yours for not following commands.”

“Well,” I said and pulled the cross still dangling from my neck from side to side. If I weren’t already going to hell, Bear would make sure to get me a one-way ticket.

I ran to the kitchen to open the garage for him before making a beeline to the bedroom. My clothes couldn’t come off fast enough as I contorted to work my way out of the super clingy pieces Maria claimed I had to have. Dear God. If Bear had to remove them, it would be a nightmare.

I stood in front of my bed and wondered if I was supposed to lie down or stand here. I fidgeted and shifted on my feet, glancing over my shoulder. When the garage door started to close, I hopped on the bed and tried to look sexy by stretching out on my side with my head propped up in my hand. The girls in Playboy always made it seem like a sexy position.

“For the love of God,” I muttered when I glanced down and caught sight of my belly flowing into the mattress like a mound of half-melted ice cream.

When he walked into the hallway just outside my bedroom, I flopped onto my back to help hide my fluffy stomach. I sucked in a breath as the door swung open, and I waited.

“I love a woman who can follow orders.” He kicked off his boots, and I stared down the length of my body to watch him undress with so much excitement that it was hard to be still.

My chest heaved, and my breathing grew more ragged. The anticipation of what was going to come next was killing me. My heart pounded against my insides so hard I wondered if my old ticker would just give out. God, I hoped he’d at least dress me before calling the coroner to remove my body. My greatest fear has always been to be found like this, sprawled out and naked as the day I was born.

The other night, I didn’t really have a chance to take in the beauty of Bear. We were too busy undressing and getting down to business to really appreciate each other. Even though his face was hairy, he only had a smattering across his chest. There had always been something about a man with chest hair that just screamed manly to me. I wanted to run my fingers through it.

I was so lost in the moment, taking in all of him, including his “pretty dick,” as I’d told Maria, that I hadn’t noticed him stalking toward me. He grabbed my ankles and pulled me down the bed so quick I didn’t even have time to squeal my surprise.

My feet were in the air and over his shoulder moments later. When his mouth came down against my pussy, I twisted against the sheets and lost my breath.

“I missed this beautiful pussy,” he mumbled against my skin before clamping down hard over my clit.

I fisted the comforter, writhing back and forth because of the way he ate me like a starved man. Two nights ago, he’d spent so much time licking me that my head spun. I’d had some good oral sex in my time, men who took their time and treated my vagina more like a sacred flower that they didn’t want to break. But Bear… Bear chowed down like it was the best thing he’d ever had in his mouth. It wasn’t that he rushed it. Fuck, he spent over an hour licking and sucking every inch between my legs.

“So fucking good,” I moaned and dug my heels into his back to trap him against my body.

“Greedy,” he murmured with a tiny chuckle that vibrated against my clit, causing me to spasm uncontrollably.

I ground myself against him and dug my fingers into his hair. I’d always been meek and mild in the bedroom, but there was something about Bear that brought out a different side of me. One that didn’t give a fuck what he was thinking, even though I knew Bear wouldn’t judge me. For once in my life, I was out for me. Greedy, he called me. And I was. Unapologetically, take-what-I-want greedy.

He watched me, our eyes locking on each other as he worshiped me with his mouth. I’d always been the turn the lights off before we get down to business type of gal, but with Bear, I wanted to see him the way he saw me.

It was written all over his face. His attraction. His need. The want he felt for me was almost electric. Why hadn’t I seen it before?

“I’m so close,” I said, pushing his face deeper and holding his mouth hostage against my flesh.

The man had a tongue that worked magic. Swiping to the left, then to the right before making a complete circle that could only be described as magnificent. My feet moved back and forth, my muscles strained as I felt the orgasm building inside me.

His mouth was that good. So good that I wanted him to do it all day, but I also wanted the feeling of euphoria I hadn’t ever experienced, except for the few times I’d experimented with drugs.

When two fingers dipped inside me, stroking that spot that made me lose my breath, I couldn’t hold it back any longer. Everything inside me seized up, including my ability to see straight.

I stared down at him through blurry eyes as he hummed his satisfaction against me, drawing out my climax and my inability to breathe. As each wave crashed over me, his fingers still stroking my insides, I let oblivion take me.

“Franny…” Bear’s voice was soft at first, almost distant.

Mmm. This is so nice. Heavenly.

“Franny.” There was more urgency in his voice this time.

He’s just the best.

“Franny!” he yelled as my body began to shake back and forth.

“What?” I asked, finally opening my eyes and snapping back to reality.

“Fuck,” he hissed above me, his eyes serious. “I thought you were dying.”

I laughed and cradled his face in my hands, even though my arms felt like they weighed a thousand pounds. “It’s the perfect way to go.”

“Don’t do that shit to me, woman. I thought I was going to have to explain this to Morgan. I kinda like livin’.”

My laughter grew louder, and I dug my fingers into his salt-and-pepper beard. “I was in that perfect spot until you pulled me back.”

His eyebrow drew down, and his jaw clenched. “What spot?”

Pulling my head up, I kissed his lips softly and tasted myself. “The darkness and warmth where you’re alive, but on the edge of nothingness.”

“You’re crazy, Fran. Simply crazy.” He slammed his mouth down against mine, pushing the back of my head into the pillow.

My arms snaked around his neck as I opened to him, letting our tongues tangle together in the most beautiful dance. I felt his passion and need in the way his lips covered mine and in his ragged breaths that fed me.

When he collapsed onto his back and took me with him, I was shocked when he said, “Just lie here for a few and close your eyes. The day is young.”

My fingers slid through his chest hair, settling against the space between his pecs. “Don’t you want me to take care of you?” I asked softly with my lips against his skin and my hand covering his massive erection.

He kissed my forehead and let his lips linger against my skin. “I had a long night last night. Just lie with me.”

Snuggle?

Bear wanted to snuggle me?

Never took him for a man who wanted to cuddle a woman. Hell, I’d never been much for it either. But the pull of the nothingness I’d felt before started to grow heavier behind my eyelids, and the last thing I thought was—I liked being greedy.