Bucking Bear (Pounding Hearts 3)

“Yeah, but it would be a good way to keep you as mine alone.”

“I already said I was,” she says and I can feel the happiness emanating off of her.

I reach over and grab her hand tightly in mine.

“So tell me about this date Sunday with the runt.”

“It’s not a date! For the millionth time, Max, I promise. And why do you always call him runt?”

“He’s a little foul-mouthed bitch. A real man doesn’t go around grabbing people like he did to you.”

“I know… He is just really stressed and he… I cannot anger him. His lawyers could take Hope from me. He has money…”

“Not going to happen. Won’t happen. You’re the mama, it is really, really hard for a woman to lose full custody.”

I can feel the tension in the way her hand tightens its grip. “He’s got really good lawyers, Max. He isn’t afraid to use every single thing against me. My job doesn’t pay well, we still live with my parents…”

“That’s fucking bullshit, I promise you. I don’t give a fuck who his lawyers are. Mine will destroy anything his could come up with. I promise if he ever tries anything like that I will break him.”

We are quiet for a while, each in our own thoughts.

“Max, you know I’m not with you because of your money, right?”

“Huh?”

“I just wanted you to know that. You say things like you just did and I feel like I could be a burden to you. I don’t want to be that.”

Slowing down as we reach her neighborhood, I say, “I know that, Grace. If we ever did split, I would still help you with Carson. He will never get custody of Hope; I promise you that. I see what kind of parent you are, and I have seen what he does with Hope. He will never have her at his mercy.”

“I don’t know why you came into my life, Max, but…” Shaking her head, she scoots as close to me as she can with the console between us and leans up, kissing my cheek.

“Besides Grace, you’re mine.”

“Don’t forget, big Bear, you’re mine too.”

I like the feeling of that. She’s right.

“I still don’t like the idea of you going on a date with that dickless little shit.”

She giggles. “It’s not a date! He just wants to talk about Hope.”

“Yes, it is Grace, mark my words. Someone is coming near what he considers his territory. He is going to go for you.”

“He isn’t! That side of us is soooo over with. We aren’t like that and never will be again.”

Shaking my head, I hear her words but I’m a guy, I know how we work. He smells another animal near his territory and he doesn’t like the idea of someone like me taking over.

Fuck him though, I am the Bear in these fucking woods. He is the fucking lame deer about to be finished the fuck off.

Pulling up in front of her parents’ house, I lean over, grabbing her by the back of the head. Tilting her head to the side, I go straight for her neck. I kiss her there, slowly sliding my lips back and forth across the delicate skin.

She moans quietly for me. She is so responsive to my touch. I love playing with her body the way I do. I can’t imagine ever finding another woman who I would ever want to touch as much as I want to touch her.

Whispering quietly, I say, “I could leave a nice little mark here. Make sure everyone knows you’re mine. Mine and mine alone.”

She tries to twist her head but I don’t let her. “Please don’t, Max. I would so love to feel it, but it would cause way too many problems with Mom and Dad and Hope and work… Please...”

She would let me though; I can feel it in her words. She is absolute putty in my hands, so submissive to my wants. God, it is a heady rush, feeling how she desires me the same way I desire her.