The following morning, Lori woke up to a message from Bruno:

Call me when you’re awake. I want to make sure you’re ok, and find out if you’re free for a date tonight xx

A shot of adrenaline jolted her wide-awake. Yes! Things haven’t changed overnight! Her last thought before she’d fallen asleep the night before had been that maybe he’d only been saying those things in the heat of the moment, and he hadn’t really meant them. The thought of him, of the fleeting kisses they’d had yesterday filled her with vitality as she got up and bathed and fed Nancy.

She waited to call him until she was fully awake and showered, her voice no longer thick with sleep. He answered on the first ring, as if he’d been waiting for her call.

“Good morning, my beautiful mate,” he said in his rich, rumbling voice, and her breath caught and she tingled all over.

“Good morning, yourself,” she replied in a playful tone, surprised that she was capable of speech.

“How are you doing?”

“I’m good. I spoke to Andrea for a long time last night, and told her everything that had happened. She was really good and caring. It made me feel a lot better. Bruno – if I didn’t say so last night, thank you so, so much for rescuing me. I can never express my gratitude to you.” He gave a rumbling laugh.

“There’s nothing to be grateful for. First of all, I would have rescued anyone in that situation. And second of all, you’re my mate. Which means that I’d do anything for you, as second nature.”

“Your mate,” Lori whispered, liking the feel of that phrase on her tongue. He laughed again.

“Yes. I’m sure it’ll take some getting used to though.”

“No, I like it too!” she said.

“So – I was wondering if I could have the honor of having a date with you at our home tonight? I promise I’ll take you out on a restaurant date very soon, but I think Tad needs me to be at home tonight.”

“Yes, that sounds fantastic!” she said. “But are you sure Tad wouldn’t like to have some one-on-one time with you instead?”

“No, he’s excited to help me with cooking, and can’t stop talking about you! Please bring Nancy too?” Lori smiled to herself. They were too adorable.

“In that case, we’d both love to come,” she said. “And I’m not feeding Nancy any longer, so I’ll bring some wine for us to share.”

“Great! We’ll look forward to seeing you guys at around 8.”

Lori put her phone down, glowing with happiness.

* * *

Bruno drove to pick Tad up from his best friend’s house on the way back from his shift at the fire station. He felt calm and rested, as he couldn’t recall having felt in the past few years. He was at peace, he realized. The night before, he’d slept deeply. As usual, he’d had vivid dreams, but this time, the woman he was chasing wasn’t Karen. It was Lori. She was wearing a long white dress, and a train of fire followed her, but he understood that it was harmless. At one point, she stopped running and let him catch up with her. She turned around, her face lit with a joyful smile. And he knew it meant that they could be together.

On the journey home, Tad chatted constantly about the food they were going to cook for Lori and Nancy, and he wanted to know if he could help feed the baby. For the first time ever, Tad’s interest in Nancy brought Bruno pleasure, rather than guilt that he didn’t have a little brother or sister.

They stopped at the store and bought dessert and ice cream, and then stopped at Dalton’s place and picked up fruit and vegetables. Dalton was a full-time gardener, and he had every type of vegetable imaginable.

“Who you guys cooking for?” he asked.

“We’ve got a date!” Tad exclaimed.

“We’re having Lori and Nancy over for dinner,” Bruno said, a little self-consciously. Dalton’s brow furrowed.

“How’s she doing?” he asked.

“She’s coping well. Especially considering what she’s been through. She’s a tough one.”

“You shoulda got the clan to go with you out there, Bruno. That gang of wolves is real dangerous.”

“I know,” Bruno replied, squeezing his shoulder. “There just wasn’t time for anything. I knew I had to find her as fast as I possibly could, before they had a chance to hurt her. And I only got there in the nick of time.”

“I understand, bro,” Dalton said, nodding seriously. In a flash, Bruno understood that he’d offended his clan by not asking for their help, and they all probably thought that he hadn’t needed them. Tomorrow, he’d go and speak to every one of them, and explain that it hadn’t been the case.

“Thanks for the vegetables, Dalton. Let’s hang out at the weekend?”

“Sure thing,” Dalton said, and they gave each other a rough, growly hug.

When Bruno and Tad arrived home, Tad unpacked the groceries while Bruno shifted quickly and went out hunting. He came back with rabbits and a small deer. He prepared them for the barbecue out the back, got the fire started, then went and showered. As he toweled himself down in the bathroom, he glanced at his face in the mirror, suddenly feeling a little uncertain. He hadn’t had a date in so long. In fact, his last date had been with his previous mate. He’d never felt awkward around Lori, as he usually did around beautiful women, as he hadn’t met her as a potential mate: she’d been an accident victim, and then someone he thought he could never be with. And then she’d been a victim of abduction. But now, everything felt new. He knew she was his mate, and Shiftr had identified that they were a perfect match. But it still felt as if they were meeting as strangers.

He had a surprise that he couldn’t wait to tell her about. He’d spent half an hour on the phone with his buddy at the DEA that morning. The governmental agency had completed its evidence gathering at Lori’s old store, and, because the materials inside the building were hazardous, his buddy had signed off on the fire service clearing it out. This meant that Bruno could supervise the work, and he and his firefighter friends could make it real nice for her, so she’d be able to go in and start to get it looking like her old place again. His first shot at getting her business back for her had gone awry, so he was determined that this time, everything would be perfect. He’d also been making enquiries into the members of the werewolf gang. As far as everyone could discover, there had only been six of them. Four of them were going to be in jail for the foreseeable future, and the other two had been dispatched by him. He was satisfied that the gang wasn’t going to give Lori any more trouble.

He went into the kitchen and supervised Tad while they prepared the vegetables together, and before they knew it, the doorbell was ringing.

Lori looked stunning. Her hair was pulled up, off her neck, and her sparkly eyes and pretty lips were accentuated with make-up. She was wearing a dress with a low v-neck in the same violet shade as her eyes, and it clung to her curves in all the right places. She was carrying Nancy in her arms, and the baby’s eyes were wide open and full of curiosity.

“Nancy! Tad yelled, and held his arms out. “Can I hold her?”

“Of course!” Lori said, and handed her to him. “Hi,” she said, turning to Bruno. The soft, intimate tone of her voice sent shivers down his spine. To his surprise, she tilted her chin up towards him and stood on tiptoe, her soft pink lips pursed. He dipped his head and kissed her on the mouth, picking up the scent of a rich, floral perfume, like night-flowering jasmine. He also smelled the sweet, clean scent of her skin, and freshly shampooed hair. She handed him a bottle of wine.

“I hope it’s ok,” she said. “I took my time choosing it since it’s my first one in almost two years!”

“It looks great,” he replied. “Please come in.”

Since it was a beautiful, warm evening, Bruno and Tad had set up a table outside, near the barbecue.

“This is – amazing,” Lori said. “I can’t believe you guys did all this!” She went back to the car to pick up Nancy’s high chair, and Bruno and Tad served the food.

They ate, drank and talked and laughed constantly. Tad chatted about school and his friends and playing sports, and Bruno was touched to see that Lori was genuinely interested in what he was saying. Tad looked really happy to have the attention of two adults. Lori mashed Nancy’s food up and fed her expertly, in between feeding herself, and took occasional sips from her wine.

“I have something to tell you,” Bruno said, when there was a pause in the conversation, and he explained how his team was going to be working on her old store, getting it looking flawless for her. Lori gasped.

“Oh my god, that’ll be incredible!” she said. “I’ll call the real estate agent tomorrow and check he’s still happy to sell.”

“I hope you don’t mind, but I already did that. He said he’s very happy to sell, as he needs to raise the cash to restore the other properties on the street, and he looks forward to the positive effects of your business operating there.” Lori’s face lit up.

“Wow! I can hardly believe it. And it’s all down to you, Bruno. Thank you so much!” He shrugged, embarrassed.

“It’s the least I could do. And anyway, us shifters shouldn’t have let those werewolves run rampant in Hope Valley for as long as they did.”

When they’d finished eating, Tad surprised Bruno by volunteering to clear up.

“Thanks, son, but let’s make it a joint effort,” he said, noticing that Lori needed to attend to Nancy. Afterwards, they all hung out a while longer, until it was time for Tad to go to bed.

“Are you too old for a bedtime story?” Lori asked him.

“Never!” he yelled. “As long as I get to tell you one as well!”

“I would love that,” she said with a grin.

They all went upstairs and Tad scrambled under the covers of his bed, which was carved in the shape of a train, and Bruno, Lori and Nancy gathered at the bottom. Tad picked out one of his favorite books and Lori read aloud to him. Then he began to tell a long, involved story about bears, wolves and magic dragons. As it went on, his words got slower and slower, and his eyes started to droop. Bruno tucked him in and they kissed him goodnight and tiptoed out of the room.

“He’s such a lovely kid,” Lori whispered. “And I think this one’s ready for bed too.”

“Do you need to go?” Bruno asked.

“I guess so,” she said, but her eyes were full of regret.

“I do have a playpen out the back that you could put Nancy in if you wanted to stay longer?” he suggested hesitantly, not wanting to pressure her. “I’ve got plenty of spare comforters too.”

“That would be great,” she replied immediately. He brought it inside and wiped it down. He used to use it when he was watching friends’ kids, but it hadn’t been taken out for a while. Lori put Nancy down on the comforters and she continued sleeping.

“She’ll be out for a while,” she said.

They walked over to Bruno’s huge leather couch and sat down, a little distance away from one another. The tension between them was so strong that the air seemed to be crackling with it. There were so many things that they wanted to say to each other, but they hardly knew where to begin. Bruno stretched out his muscular hand, seeking out hers. She laid it in his palm, and he closed his long fingers around it, almost engulfing it. The roughness and calluses were already familiar, and the warmth of his skin ignited a fire deep inside her. He laced his fingers between hers, gently sliding them back and forth, and clasping them tight from time to time. It was very erotic – a small-scale replica of how their bodies could be entwined. She yearned for a closer contact, to feel his skin against hers, unhindered by clothing. But at the same time, she wanted this moment to last forever. She’d never known romance like this before, never known that the lightest touch could be so arousing. That tender spot between her thighs was aching, worse than it had when Bruno had lifted her off her feet and kissed her so hungrily in the forest. He leaned closer to her. His pupils were huge, turning his irises stormy with passion. The fingertips of his other hand danced along the bare skin of her upper arm.

“You’re so beautiful,” he whispered. He stroked her jaw, ran his thumb across her lips. She parted her lips and licked it, tasting salt. He drew in a ragged breath. She was turning him on. Butterflies fluttered in her belly in excitement at arousing the desires of this big, sexy man. He leaned still closer, and kissed her, gently at first. She sensed the restraint in him, and wondered what it took to control his animal. Her mouth responded and he began to kiss her harder, his tongue slithering between her lips while his soft lips crushed on hers. She made a sound of need, and something in him seemed to snap. He pushed her back on the couch and threw himself on her. His kisses became hard and biting, and his hands ran up and down her body, snatching at her thighs, her waist, her hips. She pulled him close, wanting all he had to give her.

But then he jerked away from her.

“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t be acting like this,” he said, shame showing all over his handsome face.

“Maybe I want you to. But perhaps not here,” she said with a giggle, casting a glance at Nancy’s crib. He looked at her very seriously.

“How would you feel about staying the night?” he asked, after a pause. She bit her lip.

“Excited, nervous and a little scared,” she admitted. He stroked her face as if her words had affected him deeply.

“Same here,” he said. She stared at him. She’d thought it was only girls who felt like that. He seemed so confident and comfortable in his skin. “I haven’t been with anyone since I lost my mate. And she was my first,” he said. “So, I feel a little – umm – out of practice.” He gave an embarrassed laugh. Lori gazed at him in awe. She’d assumed that he’d been with many women, not least because he was so sexy and charming. Discovering that he’d been saving himself for his mate – his first one, and now her – filled her with such tenderness that she almost burst into tears.

“I’ve only been with my ex,” she admitted. “And I never liked it. I never understood why people got so excited about sex.” Bruno lifted her hand and kissed her fingers.

“Mating is more than sex. It’s the most intense, powerful connection that you can have with your mate,” he said, and she gave a little smile, happy that his words echoed what the other girls had been saying. “Of course, it hasn’t been easy for my bear to go without mating for so long.”

“And how does your bear feel right now?” she asked.

“Oh, my bear is never easy to restrain when it sees you, but I’ve gotten used to it now. I can mostly hold it back, except for those rare occasions, like a moment ago.”

“Wow,” she said, intrigued. It was a little uncomfortable, but also very exciting to be discussing having sex with Bruno before they’d even done it.

“Shall we go to bed?” he whispered, and her head spun. She stood up and took a look at Nancy. She was sound asleep, and safe and comfortable in her bed. She turned around and gazed at this unbelievably handsome man, who wanted her, because of, not despite her big, curvy body.

“Yes,” she said simply.

Bruno took her hand and led her through the lounge, across the hallway, and up the wooden flight of stairs. He brought her to the bedroom door, then dashed across to the corner of the room and lit a lamp, suffusing the space with a soft orange glow. It was a rugged, masculine room – just as she’d expected. The bed was made from knotted dark wood, with a white comforter and a woven blanket on top. It looked supremely comfortable. They stood beside the bed, and she lifted hesitant hands and touched his arms, feeling the huge muscles of his forearms and biceps. He stood quietly and allowed her to explore his body. Growing more confident, she ran her hands over his pecs and amazingly tight abs. She restrained a sound when she felt how soft his skin was. She’d expected it to be rough like his hands, but it was silky-smooth. Impulsively, she lifted the hem of his T-shirt and pulled it up as high as she could. He helped her, lifting it right over his head, and casting it aside. She drew in a breath at the sight of his torso. His photo on Shiftr didn’t begin to do it justice. His skin was dusky colored, a deep honey tone, with a sexy scattering of dark hair across his chest, running in a line down the middle of his body to his navel, and all the way to the zipper of his jeans. His pecs were very well developed, and his abs and obliques were like the ripples of sand dunes. His hipbones just peeked out above the waistband of his pants, along with those diagonal grooves that she didn’t know the name of, but had drooled over many a time before when they belonged to models on the cover of Men’s Health. When she laid her hands flat on his pecs, his nipples hardened at her touch. They were flat and dark brown. Just delicious. She brought her mouth to his right one and licked it. He sucked in a breath through his teeth. She smiled. She’d never done that before, but she enjoyed his reaction a lot. She did the same thing to the left one, circling her tongue around it, and nibbling very gently.

“Jesus, that feels good,” he muttered. She ran her hands over his abs, and around his waist, luxuriating in the way that one band of flawlessly honed muscle ceded into another. He was absolutely perfectly put together. Hardly knowing what she was doing, she fumbled at his zipper.

“Wait,” he said, with a little laugh. “Not so fast.” He sat down on the bed and drew her onto his lap, turning her so she was sitting sideways. With one arm around her shoulders and the other beneath her knees, he dipped his head and kissed her tenderly. She stroked his neck, feeling the taut muscles that led to his shoulders. He paused and slid his hand down her bare leg until he reached her shoes. They were courts, and he pulled them off easily, before caressing her feet, touching every one of her toes.

“You’re so small and perfect,” he murmured, stroking her ankle, her calf, and then her thigh. Her dress was a wrap style, and it started to fall open a little, displaying more of her legs. She wriggled, caught between wanting to hide herself, and burning for him to rip it off and touch her everywhere. She hated that she was still carrying so much extra baby weight, but she was trying her hardest to forget about it, as he praised her curves and her petiteness.

As his hand moved to her belt, she held her breath, and kept holding it as he unfastened the buckle and pulled it loose. Her dress came open, displaying her huge breasts, round belly and the thighs she hated to his gaze.

“Lori, you have the most beautiful body I’ve ever seen,” he said, his voice thick with need. He fell on her throat, peppering her with hot biting kisses. He kissed a trail of fire along her collarbones, flicking his tongue into the hollow between them, then kissed her décolletage as far down as he could reach. “Let’s get into bed,” he growled.

He lifted her off his lap and pulled the comforter aside, before sliding her dress off her shoulders, leaving her in just her lingerie. She was wearing a brand-new set – the first non-maternity bra she’d worn in a long time. It was still pretty heavy duty, but it was from an online boutique that specialized in beautiful lingerie for bigger girls. It was wine colored, with lace trimming, and the panties were lace with satin panels. Shyly, she slipped into his bed. The sheets were crisp and freshly laundered, and her body tingled at the intimacy of being in the private place where he slept. She watched as he stripped his jeans off, gasping at the sight of him in his snug white boxers. The bulge in his underwear left her in no doubt about his desire for her. He lay on his side and pulled her towards him. At the first instance of skin-to-skin contact, she let out a moan. She’d never been held like this, never been in the arms of a good-hearted sexy man before.

“You feel like silk,” he whispered, kissing her lips, running his hands down her back. He lifted her leg and laid it over his hip so he could get closer to her. She felt his hardness pressing against the crotch of her panties and a bolt of arousal shot deep inside her. It was deliciously frustrating having him so close, with just two scraps of fabric separating them. He stroked her ass through the lace of her panties, and slid his fingers a little way underneath, easing her closer and closer to him. Unconsciously, her pelvis moved back and forth, rubbing her aching clit against his cock.

His hand rose from the small of her back and hooked under her bra strap. She squirmed away from him and turned onto her back. She preferred the way her breasts looked when she was lying down flat. He seemed to understand, coming with her, unfastening the hooks with a deft hand at the same time.Now, he lay on top of her, her thighs spread either side of his body as he slipped her bra straps along her arms and carefully lifted the whole thing off. She closed her eyes. Her breasts had not been sexual for a long time, and they hadn’t fully regained their pre-pregnancy appearance, if they ever would, and she had no idea how he’d react to them. She needn’t have worried. With a growl of deep appreciation, he dipped his head and took her right nipple in his mouth. His lips and tongue were gentle and oh so sensual. His hand cupped her softly, kneading just hard enough. She moaned and shivers broke out over her body, turning both of her nipples into stiff peaks. It was too much. Overwhelming. Her other breast cried out for attention. Seeming to know what she needed, Bruno cupped it in his other hand, the darkness of his tanned skin striking against the pale skin that never saw the sun. As large as her breasts were, they fit into his huge hands, and it felt incredible for them to be supported and possessed by him. He began to lash her nipples with the tip of his tongue, one and then the other, and she writhed on the bed in delight, pushing her pelvis up to meet his, inciting him to grind on her.

“I’m trying to take it slow with you, but you’re not making it easy for me,” he growled.

“I can’t take it any more. I want you inside me!” she exclaimed. He gave her a dirty grin.

“Well that’s too bad, because I’m planning on tasting you first,” he said. She pressed her lips together.

“You mean?”

“Uh huh.” His eyes filled with fire.

“But I haven’t – I mean, no-one has ever – ”

“Well, they’ve been missing out, because your scent is driving me crazy, Lori.” The low pitch of his voice sent vibrations all the way through her body. “I promise I’ll make you feel really good. Better than you could have imagined.” With that, he began to kiss a trail down her body. He kissed her all over her belly, murmuring in delight over the place she thought of as squishy and spongy. His tongue plunged into her belly button, creating a short circuit to her clit, and making her body jerk. Then he kissed the neatly-trimmed triangle of dark hair that led to her most private place. She’d jammed her legs together in embarrassment, but he patiently nudged them apart as he licked and nibbled at her upper thighs. At last, his tongue darted out and licked her just there. She gasped, and, before she knew it, her thighs had fallen apart and Bruno’s stubble grazed the tender, pale flesh. He licked her again, along her slit, teasing her, persuading her to open to him. She wriggled as she felt the tip of his tongue on her sensitive inner labia, and when he finally licked her clit, she almost levitated off the bed. He chuckled and only now did he take hold of her thighs with his hands, spreading them apart to allow him better access to her aching little bud. She felt his lips surrounding her clit and sucking a little, just as he’d sucked her tongue or her nipples. It felt as if her clit was growing, blossoming into his mouth. And then he began to lick her rhythmically at the same time.

“Oh my god!” she murmured. This was way more than she thought it could be. At least a thousand times better than her finger. She was vaguely aware that her hand had found its way to his hair, and her fingers were knotted into it, pulling him closer. A sound came from his chest – a relentless rumble. Kind of like a cat purring, but way, way deeper. It vibrated the whole bed, and seemed to be adding to her pleasure. From time to time, his tongue moved off her clit and dipped inside her, making her sigh and cry out. His technique was amazing. It was as if he knew all her most sensitive spots, and he took her right to the brink, before easing off again. She felt like an instrument being played by a maestro, blissfully helpless to his ministrations. Waves of pleasure radiated out from her clit and rolled through her body. Little spasms ran all the way inside her, leaving a deep ache in their wake. They were coming faster and faster and she felt her muscles clenching over and over again, and now her clit felt so sensitive under his tongue that she could barely stand it.

And then she exploded. Her body shuddered and buffeted as a powerful climax hit her. Bruno stayed right where he was, patiently drawing her orgasm out into one peak after another, until she was done, and lay spent and trembling on his sheets.

When she was finally able to open her eyes she saw that he was gazing up at her adoringly. He didn’t seem in any hurry to move either, but stayed where he was, tenderly kissing her thighs and lower belly.

“Come up here. I want to kiss you,” she whispered, self-conscious now. He climbed up her body and she tasted herself on his lips. It was a nice taste, she discovered to her surprise – sweet and salty at the same time.

“You taste incredible,” he growled into her ear and she shivered again. He lowered his body onto her, and as his underwear brushed her pussy, she jumped. “Sensitive?” he whispered.

“Yes,” she replied with a smile, and tugged at the waistband of his shorts.

“Are you sure about this?” She almost laughed. Am I sure? She’d never been surer of anything in her life. Despite her orgasm, there was still an ache deep inside her that could only be satisfied with one thing. She needed him inside her.

“Bruno, take me now, please!” He grinned at her.

“Really?” he said, in a teasing tone.

“Yes. Absolutely. I need you to take me, to mate with me, to make me your own,” she panted. His face took on a wilder, hungrier look. He sat back and stripped his underwear off in a single movement. Lori gasped at the sight of him. His thighs were so strong and muscular, and his cock – his cock was something else; long and strong like tree branch. He crouched over her again.

“Lori, I’m scared that I won’t be able to control my bear,” he said. “It’s been a very long time, you know. I want to be gentle with you, but if I’m too much, please tell me to stop.”

“It’s ok,” she said. “I want you. I want to take all of you.”

Bruno let out a low growl. His body arched over hers and his eyes were dark and fierce. His hands spread her thighs wide, and the tip of his cock slid up and down the length of her pussy, making her tremble with anticipation. And the he entered her. She thought she’d pass out from pleasure. Her pussy muscles rippled as they yielded to his thick shaft. He slipped all the way in, gliding on her wetness, until his pelvis was pressed against hers. Her body jolted out of control, flooding with euphoria. She cried out as he began to move, each thrust bringing a fresh rush of pleasure. She clenched around him, drawing him closer, wanting more and more. She ran her hands over his back and shoulders, sensing that his energy was tightly coiled, that he was holding back as much as he could.

“You can go harder,” she panted. He growled again and began to thrust with more force, and she wrapped her arms around him tight, hanging on for the ride. He lifted one of her thighs, and she wrapped both legs around him as he pounded in and out of her. She loved the way he was taking her. It was so primal, so real.

“My mate, my beautiful mate,” he muttered in her ear. “You’re fully mine now. All mine. Now and forever.”

His words were driving her crazy. She loved being possessed by him. As his tempo picked up, her muscles clenched down hard and another climax started to build inside her.

“You’re mine,” he muttered, and it tipped her right over the edge. With a cry, she exploded again, orgasming right around his thick shaft.

He gazed down at her, eyes filled with wonder.

“Lori, that felt unbelievable. Feeling you come around me like that… it did something crazy to me,” he whispered. She reached up and stroked his face, which glistened with the perspiration of his exertions.

“I want you to come now, Bruno. I want to feel you come deep inside me. I want to share your orgasm too,” she said. He let out a growl that was pure bear, and arched above her, huge and powerful as he thrust himself strongly into her body. It was rough, but she loved it, loved to feel the strength of this huge, fearless being in the moment of passion, sharing his sexual energy with her, and only her. He moved faster and faster and the sounds he made were wild and primal. Tension showed on his face and the hands that held her shoulders suddenly felt sharp and piercing.

“I can’t control it,” he muttered, and pulled out of her at the same time.

“What?” she faltered, too stunned to do anything.

“There’s too much of the bear in me right now,” he said.

“Will it hurt me?”

“No, of course, not, but I don’t want to scare you if you see me like this.”

A thought crossed her mind and her lips curved into a smile.

“How about if we do it like this?” she said, and flipped over, so she was on her hands and knees. Bruno let out a purr of appreciation.

“That would be perfect,” he said. His hands gripped her hips, and in a long, smooth thrust, he entered her again. She cried out. It was extra intense like this. As he moved inside her again, his cock stimulated her in a different way, rubbing the front wall of her pussy and a tiny, very sensitive little spot deep inside. She clenched down hard on him and her muscles rippled in jerky little contractions.

“Bruno, I think I – ” she said in amazement as another orgasm began to well up inside her.

“I want to come with you, baby, my mate,” he muttered, and he fucked her with abandon, his fingers sinking into her flesh, holding her tight. I’m his, she thought over and over, with every thrust. Finally he gave a deep roar and she tipped over the edge again at the same moment that he came deep inside her, filling her with his seed.

Almost immediately, he lay down, turning onto his side, and bringing her with him so she was snuggled against his chest, surrounded by his magnificent body.

He whispered her name over and over, telling her that she was his mate, now and forever. She reached up to stroke his face, and discovered that his cheek was damp.

“Bruno?” she wriggled onto her back so she could see him. “Are you ok?” he gave her a soft, beautiful smile.

“Yes, I’m fine, baby. It was very emotional for me. You know, it’s been so long, and I’ve wanted this with you for so long too. Ever since I first saw you.”

“Really? That first day, when I was in such a mess?” He nodded.

“Of course. I knew you were my mate – as if my bear wouldn’t have told me! I struggled so hard to repress the connection between us though.” He lifted her fingers and kissed each one. “But no longer. You’ve redeemed me. You’ve made me see that there can be light in my life again. I rescued you, but you’ve rescued me too.”

“Oh, Bruno. I don’t know what to say,” she whispered. His lips quivered, a question behind them.

“Lori Bianco, will you become my mate forever, and bond with me in a public mating ceremony?” he said at last.

Now tears filled Lori’s eyes too. She held his firm, angular jaw in her hand.

“Of course I will, Bruno,” she whispered, barely able to believe that she was uttering those words. “Nothing would make me happier!” His teeth were dazzling in the darkness.

“It’s not too much for you that I’m a bear, is it?” he asked, suddenly looking uncertain. “You won’t get bored of me and decide that you’d rather be with a regular guy?” Lori drew a sharp breath in.

“Are you kidding? It’s a huge plus that you’re a shifter!” she said. “It means that I get an amazing sexy man all to myself, and a strong, fearless bear all to myself. What more could a girl want?” Bruno laughed and hugged her tight.

“I love your take on things!” he said.

“So, what does this ceremony involve?”

“Oh, just some ancient rites and a couple of witnesses. It’s pretty low key. But you can have a human wedding if you like as well. Dina and Logan had theirs last summer at the town hall. It was a lovely event.”

“I think I’d love to have both,” she breathed.

“I’d love that too,” he said, and kissed her cheek and her nose and her mouth.

Half an hour and another orgasm later, she tore herself away from his warm embrace.

“Ok, I hate to say it, but we should probably get some sleep, since a certain person tends to wake up very early,” she said. “I’ll just go check on her now though. Do you have a robe I could borrow?”

“Uh, no. I’m not a very domesticated guy, I’m afraid. I never think about things like that. You could borrow my T-shirt though?” He handed her the one she’d recently taken off him. She pulled it over her head, and it went down to her knees. It smelled of his incredible, masculine scent.

“Perfect!” she said.

Nancy was still fast asleep, and hadn’t moved at all. Lori tiptoed back to bed. As she pushed the bedroom door open, the moment felt surreal. She couldn’t believe that there was an incredibly handsome, kind-hearted man waiting for her in bed. A man who wanted her to be his mate. Forever.

But there he was, holding the covers open for her. She climbed back into bed and snuggled into his chest. He wrapped his arms around her again and kissed the top of her head.

“I love you, Lori,” he whispered into her hair. “I should have told you earlier, and I’ve been wanting to tell you since I rescued you the other day, but I’ve only gathered the courage to say the words now.”

“Oh, Bruno, I love you too,” she said, tilting her chin up to meet his lips. He was irresistible. She adored the flickers of vulnerability that shone through his strength.

They couldn’t remember falling asleep, but when they woke up, they were still wrapped in each other’s arms. Nancy’s plaintive wails drifted up from downstairs. It was 6.45am. Not too bad by her standards. Lori got up with a sigh and put Bruno’s T-shirt on again.

Nancy stopped crying the moment she saw her mom and gave her a brilliant smile. Lori picked her up and held her against her body.

“I’ve got some very exciting news for you, little one,” she said.

Bruno came downstairs a moment later, dressed in pajama pants, his glorious tanned torso bare. He was followed by Tad, who broke into a grin when he saw Lori.

“You slept here!” he exclaimed.

“Yes.” She nodded, a little bashfully.

“Awesome!” He ran over and gave her a hug.

Lori volunteered to make pancakes and they all ate breakfast together.

“I wanted to ask you something,” Bruno said, once Tad had hurtled upstairs to get ready for school. “Feel free to say no, if it seems too soon.” He reached for her hand across the table. “But I was wondering if you and Nancy would like to move in here, so we could all live as a family?”

“You mean now? Like today?” He laughed.

“Today, or tomorrow, or the next day.”

“I would love that. And I think Nancy would too,” she said with a grin.

“You don’t need to worry about anything ever again, Lori. I’m here to love and protect you forever,” he said in his deep, rumbly voice, and something inside her let go. It was something that had been coiled tight inside her ever since she’d discovered that her ex-husband wasn’t the man he’d pretended to be when they’d first met. She didn’t have a name for it – it was hurt, sadness, and disappointment, all rolled into one. But now it was gone, because she knew that Bruno would protect her, and never abandon her.

They saved the news for Tad until he got home from school that night. When he saw Lori’s things piled up in the hallway, his eyes lit up. Lori hid in the kitchen to give father and son a moment of privacy.

“Are you happy for Lori to move in and live here permanently, Tad?” Bruno asked him.

“Are you kidding?” he said. “I would totally love that! Especially if she makes pancakes every morning!” Then he scooted around the house looking for her.

“Welcome to our home, Lori!” he said, and he stretched his arms up to give her another of his fierce little hugs.

She thought again what an amazing kid he was. He wasn’t jealous or resentful of her. He was positive and generous spirited, just like his dad. She’d be so proud to call him her stepson, and for him to become Nancy’s stepbrother.