Donika jumped up and down, throwing her arms around Grayson’s neck as the cameras rolled and people cheered all around them. She was so proud that he had won the bake-off that she could barely contain her joy. Her smile spread across her face and her heart beat like a bass drum.

“I'm so proud of you,” she whispered in his ear before kissing his cheek.

The show was over. The cameras stopped rolling and the audience began to filter out of the event center. Grayson had his arm around her waist. The other contestants begrudgingly congratulated him, and the judges shook his hand.

With all the congratulations given, Grayson and Donika walked through the back of the event center. He grabbed his things, and they started for the back door.

“I'm going to treat you to a night out on the town,” he said with a smile.

“We can start planning that baking factory of yours,” she said.

“That's a wonderful idea. I want you to come stay with me from now on.”

“Me too.”

They went to the inn so Donika could grab her things. She shoved everything in her plastic boxes and took them outside.

“Where are you going?” Adele asked.

“I'm going to stay at Grayson's from now on.”

The other guests were sitting in the parlor and looked up from their tea. They would be leaving soon, now that the bake-off was over.

“All right then,” Adele said with a frown. “We’ll miss you around here.”

Donika hurried out of the inn, knowing her mother was disappointed. She probably wanted to keep her around longer. Donika was losing her mind, working as domestic labor for her family. She had much more to offer. Still, the last few weeks had taught her a lot and she didn’t regret it.

She made it out to her SUV and threw her things in the back. She knew her family missed her. She would have to come visit them more often.

Grayson drove off ahead, saying he would hop in the shower first. She climbed behind the wheel of her car and hurried down the road. Glancing in the rearview mirror, she noticed Martha standing on the porch with her arms crossed.

Donika made it to Grayson's house, and he was already dressed for a night out on the town when she arrived.

“I'll just hop in the shower and get ready.”

She went upstairs and took a quick shower. When she was done, she got dressed, fixed her hair and makeup, and met Grayson downstairs in the living room.

“All set?” he asked.

“I sure am,” she said, wrapping her arm through his.

When they arrived at the Fate Valley Resort, there was nothing short of a party waiting for them.

The audience, the judges, and the production crew from the show had already arrived and were drinking champagne. Camera flashes popped all around as the couple walked into the restaurant. A reporter from the local newspaper shoved a microphone in Grayson's face.

“How does it feel to have won a million dollars in the Great American Bake-off?” the reporter asked.

“It feels good,” Grayson said.

“At the end of the show you said you were going to open a baking factory? What are your plans?”

“I intend to produce the wholesome goodness I bake in the Fate Valley Café and Bakery to distribute to the world.”

“That's very exciting,” the reporter said. “How do you intend to distribute internationally?”

“That's a question for my lawyer,” he said, patting Donika's hand.

They pushed through the crowd and went to the table he had reserved. The hostess set their menus on the table and smiled.

“We have a complimentary bottle of champagne for you. And the chef has prepared a special dish just for you tonight.”

“That sounds amazing,” he said.

A moment later, the wine steward poured their glasses of champagne while the rest of the restaurant settled down in their chairs. The hostess ushered the reporter out the door, telling him he could no longer bother the guests.

“I think you’ve become a local celebrity,” Donika said.

“I didn't expect this.”

“I'm sure everything will go back to normal soon.”

“I sure hope so.”

The waitress brought their first course of lobster bisque and Caesar salads. The second course was chicken cordon bleu and steamed vegetables. Everything was delicious. Donika’s stomach was pleasantly full by the time they were done. They had drained an entire bottle of champagne and they were both feeling quite good.

“Do you want to go look at the warehouse?” he asked.

“I would love that.”

“I have the keys. Liam gave them to me earlier today.”

They drove over to the Fate Valley Café and Bakery and approached the large building next door.

“This can easily be renovated into a baking factory,” Grayson said.

He shoved the key in the lock and turned it. They walked inside, and he flipped on the lights. Donika gazed around at the space, her mouth dropping at the size.

“The mixers can be over there, and the ovens can be over there,” Grayson said.

“This is amazing. You can do anything in here.”

“This building is what originally gave me the idea. The more I thought about it, the more I wanted to do it. Since it was right next door to the bakery, I couldn't help but think all I had to do was expand. But I had no idea how to go about it. There are all kinds of licenses and regulations when it comes to mass-producing food.”

“I can definitely help you with all of that,” she said.

He walked over and swept her up in his arms, kissing her deeply.

“Have I told you how much I love you today?”

“You've been a little busy,” she said with a chuckle.

“I should never be too busy to tell you how much I love you.”

He kissed her again and she wrapped her arms around his neck, loving the feeling of being so close to him. It felt as if nothing would stand in the way of their love and their life together. Donika couldn't help but think about the lawsuit still looming over her head. She had to put an end to it somehow, so it didn’t ruin everything. Donika felt Grayson grow hard against her stomach.

“Want to get out here?” he asked, taking her hand and leading her to the door.

They hurried into the night and drove back to his house. They held hands and kissed, giggling on their way into the house. When they made it inside, he kicked the door closed and scooped her up into his arms. Her high heels fell to the floor and she gasped.

Their tongues danced as he charged upstairs and into the bedroom. He set her down on the bed and unzipped her dress, pulling it up over her head. She was left in her lacy white underthings as he gazed down at her with bright animalistic eyes.

He pulled out of his suit jacket and undid his tie, throwing it down on the floor before he unbuttoned his shirt and dropped out of his pants.

Donika watched Grayson strip down to his boxer briefs in front of her, her body gushing with desire. He sank to his knees, unbuckling her bra before he dove between her breasts. Kissing along her flesh, he reached her nipple and sucked. She threw her head back, gasping with pleasure. The sensation shot through her like a thunderbolt.

He slid his tongue over her chest and sucked the other into his mouth. He nibbled the delicate taut flesh.

She ran her hands over his shoulders, loving the feel of his hard muscles under her palms. He turned her over onto her hands and knees, pulling her panties down her hips and off her legs. He stroked her behind, sliding his fingers over her slit.

He teased out her desire as her moisture seeped from deep within. He sank to his knees and licked her from behind, dipping his tongue in and out of her channel as he stroked her pleasure bud.

She groaned as she sank to her elbows. He squeezed the globes of her ass, stroking her pussy with his tongue and fingers. Her desire reached a boiling point, and she burst into an incredible, screaming orgasm.

He stood up behind her and slid his hard dick up and down her slit. He popped the head of his cock into her pussy, and she groaned, her body still throbbing. He pushed inside her, sinking to the base as she gripped the bedsheets, and he gripped her hips.

“You like that?” he asked, bumping against her from behind.

“Yes!” she moaned, coming again.

He gripped her hips harder, whacking deeper and more forcefully with each thrust.

“Oh God,” she howled, her body clenching around his hard dick.

He shuddered with release, their mate bond vibrating between them. She could feel his pleasure as she knew he could feel hers. It made it exponentially more intense. She pulled the bedsheet off the mattress as hot jets of semen burst inside her, making her body throb with renewed pleasure. They collapsed together onto the bed, holding each other tight as the bedroom door creaked open.

Grayson pushed her off the bed just as a bullet sliced into the mattress. Before Donika realized what was happening, she fell to her knees, her eyes covered by her hair. A feral growl and a blinding flash of brown fur shot through the room. The grizzly slapped at the figure in the door, sending her tumbling into the hall. Donika pulled a bathrobe around her shoulders and hurried after Grayson.

“What’s happening?” she cried.

He growled as he chomped down on the shoulder of the figure below him. Someone had shot at them. She couldn't see over the massive body that clogged the hallway.

“Is that who I think it is?” Donika asked, tying the belt of the bathrobe around her waist.

Grayson just growled.

“I'll call the police,” she said, hurrying into the bedroom. She grabbed the phone from her purse and dialed 911. “We have an emergency. We need police and an ambulance immediately.”

“We have help on the way,” the operator said.

Donika ventured back into the hallway, and Grayson had moved slightly, giving her a view of Martha Howard pinned to the floor. Her gun had been knocked out of her hand and lay out of reach in the hallway. Several moments later, the police, paramedics, and men in black suits stormed into the house.

Donika gasped at the men in black, the ones who’d been following her since she’d arrived.

“Who are you?” she demanded as the Fate Valley Police arrested Martha.

“We’re federal agents, ma’am,” he said, flashing his badge. “We’ve been watching you since you came to town. We’re in the middle of a long-term investigation into Trans-Food Corporation. We saw the woman enter the house and heard the shots fired.”

Grayson shifted back into human form, and Donika threw a blanket around his shoulders as they carted Martha out of the house.

“She must be the one responsible for all of the recent deaths in town,” Donika muttered to the federal agents and Sheriff Bear. “I think she was hired by my boss.”

The federal agent nodded. A tear slid from her eye and Grayson enveloped her in a bear hug.

“If you have any additional information,” the federal agent said, giving her his card, “please contact us immediately.”