The Bear's Virgin Bride (Honeypot Darlings Book 3) Read online

  Fuck, if she isn’t the sweetest thing.

  “Micah,” she murmurs.

  “Bedtime,” I repeat.

  I lower my hands to her body and lift her shirt. I tug on it only a little, waiting to make sure she’s comfortable with what I’m doing, and she nods. Slowly, piece by piece, Evelyn allows me to undress her.

  Slowly, carefully, she lets me take her clothes off.

  Slowly, carefully, I unwrap my sweet darling like a fucking Christmas gift and damn, if she’s not the loveliest thing I’ve ever seen.

  When she’s naked as the day she was born, I can’t help but look at her. I just want to stare at her all day, forever. I don’t, because that would be weird, but I want to.

  “Okay,” I manage to say, my voice deep and husky. “Into bed you go.”

  “Into bed,” she repeats, but her eyes are on mine, and I know it’s not my imagination that she wants me, too.

  “Into bed,” I say.

  “Yes,” Evelyn seems like she’s trying to convince herself. Finally, she turns around, wiggling her hips and sweet, curvy ass, and she climbs into my bed. “Yes,” she murmurs, then Evelyn falls asleep.

  Chapter 14

  Evelyn

  I wake up alone and go take a shower. Micah has an impressive gaming setup in his cabin, and if I wasn’t so groggy, I’d absolutely snoop through and see what video games he has and what other cool things he’s got.

  As it is, a glance at one of his many clocks tells me I’ve slept the day away and it’s nearly nine at night.

  Oops.

  I slip out of bed and go to the bathroom. I love how sweet and cozy it is, but right now, I feel gross and just want to get cleaned up. I take my time washing my hair, soaping my body, and letting the heat of the water just wash away my pain.

  I let it wash away my anxiety.

  Everything has changed for me. Everything is different now. In the course of a single day, everything I’ve ever known has completely shifted. I’m not sure how I should feel about that. I’m not sure what I think.

  I should be scared, afraid, terrified.

  I should be horrified.

  I should be worried.

  Only, the thing is, I’m not. I don’t regret what happened yesterday because if Dustin hadn’t hit me, I wouldn’t have run, and I never would have met Micah. Maybe it really was fate. Maybe we really are destined to be together. I’m not sure. I’m not sure if I believe in any of that stuff, but I do know that today, I have a bear to find.

  When I come out of the bathroom wrapped only in a towel, I’m not surprised to find that Micah’s back, sitting on the bed. He looks me up and down with the gaze of a man who is hungry. He looks at me like he wants to devour me, like he wants to lick every little bit of me.

  You know what?

  I just might let him.

  I walk toward him, dropping my towel as I do, and I straddle his lap. My bare pussy rubs against his jeans as I sink onto his thighs, and he lets out a low groan as I rub my breasts against his chest.

  “I missed you when I woke up,” I tell him.

  “I wanted to let you sleep. My brothers needed my help this afternoon, and then I had to go answer some questions for Edwards, but I hurried back. I hope you weren’t awake too long, princess.”

  “Not too long,” I say, and I start to kiss his neck. Micah makes me feel safe, good. He makes me feel happy. He brings me to life in so many ways. He makes me feel like the world isn’t so bad after all.

  “Princess,” he pulls back and looks at me. “If you keep kissing me like that, I’m not going to be able to stop myself.”

  “I don’t want you to stop.”

  “Are you sure about this, Evelyn?”

  “Are you?” I pause, suddenly unsure of myself. I’m suddenly very aware of the fact that I’m naked and he’s not. I’m bare and he’s covered. I’m on top of him, throwing myself at him, and he’s just sitting there.

  “Evelyn, I’ve never felt this way before. I don’t know why we have this instant connection, but you’re the one for me, sweetie. You’re the one I want for my mate. If we do this, though, there’s no going back. It’s always and forever, baby.”

  “Always and forever,” I repeat softly. I like the sound of that. I’ve never had a place where I truly belonged before, but here with Micah? Here I belong.

  Then I realize there’s something Micah doesn’t know about me.

  Something big.

  “Micah,” I say, and the giddy look on his face vanishes. He thinks I’m going to reject him and his offer. He thinks I’m going to say I don’t want this, don’t want him, don’t want to be together. That couldn’t be further from the truth.

  Suddenly, he has a look on his face like he’s a lost, scared little boy who didn’t get chosen for soccer or who was always in his big brothers’ shadows.

  “No,” I say quickly. “It’s not that. I want to be with you, Micah. You’re amazing, incredible. You’re the best thing that’s ever happened to me. You have no idea.”

  “What is it?” He says. He looks simultaneously relieved and confused.

  “I…I’m a virgin,” I say, and scrunch my face when I say it.

  I’m not sure what I expect Micah to say. I’m not really sure how shifters feel about virginity, if they think it’s important or not. I’m not sure what I want him to say, what I want him to do.

  Really, I kind of just want him to be cool about it.

  Micah cups my face and kisses my nose.

  “That’s the sweetest thing I’ve ever heard,” he says. “You want me to be your first, baby?”

  I nod, slowly, my eyes filling with tears.

  “I want you to be my only.”

  He leans his forehead against mine and we sit like that for a long minute, then he whispers to me.

  “I’m going to make this so good for you, baby.”

  Chapter 15

  Micah

  Maybe it’s wrong that I’m so excited to be her first, but I’m so excited to be her first. I wouldn’t have expected Evelyn to be a virgin simply because she’s so self-confident. It’s probably cliché, but I picture virgins being more timid and shy. The way she came out and straddled me after her shower is definitely not shy.

  She is all woman.

  More importantly, she goes after what she wants. I love that about her.

  “Let’s get you comfortable, baby,” I whisper, and help her lie on the bed. Her hair fans out around her on the bed. It’s still damp from her shower, but neither one of us minds.

  “I’m a little nervous,” she admits.

  “Then I guess I’ll have to help you calm down.”

  I push her legs apart and kneel between them.

  “Oh!” She squeaks, and slams her legs back together. Chuckling, I spread them again.

  “Don’t get shy on me now, baby. I want to see everything.”

  She’s shaved, which I love.

  “For Dustin?” I ask, raising an eyebrow.

  “No,” she shakes her head. “I just…you know, I wanted to look good.”

  “You look good. You look really good.”

  I don’t waste time on pleasantries. Instead, I swipe my tongue along her slit and immediately begin licking at her clit. She moans and arches against me, and it’s not long before she’s coming against my face. Fuck, she tastes so sweet: like honey and roses.

  After she comes, her body turns to mush on the bed, and I kiss the insides of her thighs.

  “How was that?”

  “Perfect. I didn’t know I could come like that.”

  “Have you ever had anyone do that to you before?”

  “Never.”

  “I’m glad you enjoyed it.”

  “I want more, Micah. I want you. I want you inside of me.”

  “Is that so?”

  “Yeah,” she says breathlessly. “Please, Micah. Please fuck me now.”

  We kiss for awhile on the bed, and I take this time to touch and play with her breasts.
She’s soft and curvy in all the right places. An image flashes in my mind of her pregnant with our babies, and I can’t help but smile. Evelyn is going to be an amazing mom.

  My lips cover her throat and chest, then I move back up to her mouth.

  “I can’t wait much longer, baby,” I admit.

  “Now, Micah. I want you, too.”

  Positioning myself over her, I begin to move slowly, easing myself inside of her.

  “Fuck, you’re tight,” I murmur.

  “More,” she says.

  “I don’t want to hurt you, sweetie. We can take our time.”

  “Micah, now!” She insists. Then she grabs my ass and pulls me toward her, pulling me inside of her body.

  “Evelyn,” I groan. “Baby, you feel so good.”

  “Micah,” she kisses me. “This is perfect. I need more of you. More.”

  “You’re eager, virgin,” I smile as I nip at her ear, but she just laughs.

  “I’ve been waiting a long time for this,” she says. “I want to experience it all.”

  “Trust me, baby, we’re going to try everything there is to try,” I whisper.

  I kiss Evelyn deeply, silently promising her the world. She’s everything to me. Everything. Before she waltzed onto the ranch yesterday, I was lonely and afraid of everything: afraid of letting my family down, afraid of not being good enough. Now? Now I have her. If I’m good enough for Evelyn, then I’m good enough for anyone, and that thought makes me feel about ten feet tall.

  “I’m going to come, baby,” I murmur.

  “Come in me,” she agrees, whispering, kissing me. Her tiny hands claw at my back, and soon I’m coming, exploding, filling her.

  I’ve never felt so safe.

  I’ve never felt so perfect.

  It’s all over too soon, and I curl up next to her on the bed. Evelyn climbs on top of me and lies on my stomach, resting her head on my chest.

  “I love you, Micah,” she whispers.

  “I love you, Evelyn.”

  “I know it’s soon,” she says.

  “Shh,” I tell her. “It’s just right, Evelyn. It’s just right.”

  We may be about to embark on an incredible journey, but something tells me that me and Evelyn? We’re forever.

  Epilogue

  Evelyn

  3 Months Later

  “You’re the most beautiful bride I’ve ever seen,” Hope says, wiping away a tear.

  “Hey! What about me?” Savannah jokes, and Hope just starts crying harder.

  “I’m sure you were both beautiful brides,” I say to my new sisters-in-law, and they just smile.

  “Welcome to the family, sweetie,” they say, and I grin. I’ve never felt so happy or so at home as I do now.

  Shortly after my crazy adventure meeting and falling passionately in love with Micah, I quit my job in South Claw and moved permanently to Honeypot. We both agreed that we were rushing into things, but that neither one of us really cared about that.

  Today is the day we made our crazy, whirlwind romance permanent.

  Today is the day we stood before our families, our friends, and most of Honeypot.

  Today is the day we promise to love each other no matter what happens, no matter where life takes us.

  Micah stands with his brothers as they hug and congratulate him, but his eyes never leave me. He can’t stop looking at me. He stares at me like I’m the most beautiful thing he’s ever seen, like nothing could compare to me.

  He looks at me like he loves me more than anything else.

  He looks at me like I really am a princess.

  Micah and I have a lot to learn about each other and I have a lot to learn about shifters, but we both have determination, strength, and courage on our side. We’re both dedicated to making this thing work.

  We’re both ready to love each other forever.

  Finally, Micah breaks away from Wyatt and Carter and comes over to me. He looks fine as fuck in that tuxedo and sweet as pie. He reaches for me, kisses me, and hugs me like he’s never going to let me go.

  Everyone cheers and laughs as the watch our display of affection, and I realize that no matter where life takes me, no matter what happens, everything is going to be okay with Micah by my side.

  The End

  Keep Reading

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  Hard.

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  Can they make it through the journey together?

  The journey continues in The Jaguar’s Baby.

  About the Author

  Sophie Stern writes paranormal romance and contemporary erotica for readers who like to have fun and explore new worlds. When she’s not busy writing, you can find her pole dancing or reading zombie novels. Sophie lives with her ex-military husband who is always happy to help her conduct research for her books.

  Find out more or at www.sexysophiestern.com or join her mailing list to receive updates and information on sales.

  Staff Sergeant Polar Bear

  As a thank-you for being a valued reader, please enjoy this complimentary copy of my short story, Staff Sergeant Polar Bear!

  1.

  “Heather, can you come help me with this puzzle?” Judith called out from the toddler half of the Hourly Care room at the Child Development Center. Heather glanced over and nodded.

  “Just a minute,” she said. “Let me finish cleaning down the changing table.” She grabbed a fresh pack of wipes and carefully sprayed the changing pad before wiping it down. She dropped the wipes and her plastic gloves in the trashcan, then headed over to the waist-high partition that divided the Hourly Care room into two separate rooms for children.

  Heather liked the divider because it made caring for children who weren’t regular daycare attendees very easy. She could talk with the other workers and ask for help when she needed it, but she didn’t have to worry about the toddlers accidentally stepping on the infants. Hourly care attendees were usually drop-in children whose parents needed last-minute care for their kids. Since the CDC was located in the middle of an Air Force base, they had to offer flexible hours for care. Parents never knew when they might get called in to work, so they had to be ready for anything.

  She stepped over to Judith’s side and helped her friend and coworker begin cleaning up the puzzle. It was the end of the day and the children had all gone home. Everyone, that is, but Ava.

  Ava was a quiet little thing and sat on a little chair watching Judith and Heather work. Today had been her first day at Hourly Care, but the girl’s father said she would be coming on a semi-regular basis. Heather and Judith had both tried their best to make Ava feel comfortable, but they knew she was having a hard time being around other people. Her mother had died at birth, so her primary caregivers had all been babysitters.

  “Did you have fun today, Ava?” Heather asked, reaching for a puzzle piece.

  Ava just stared at her.

  Judith shrugged and finished boxing up the rest of the puzzle before sliding the box back onto a shelf. She stood and glanced at the clock.

  “I hate to leave you alone,” she said slowly. “But I promised Bruce I’d meet him at seven. Any chance you can close up shop without me?”

  “Yeah,” Heather smiled at Ava. “We’ll be fine on our own, won’t we, Ava?”

  Ava said nothing.

  “It’s fine,” she reiterated, looking back to Judith. “Her dad should be back soon and I know you’ve been looking forward to your date.”

  “Thanks,” Judith said. “I owe you one. He’s super hot.” Ava giggled and both women turned to her, then Judith blushed. “Oops,” she said. “Guess I need to watch my mouth. Later, hon,” she kissed Heather on the cheek, grabbed her sweater from a cubby, and left the room.

  “Well, looks like it’s just you and me, kiddo.” Heather said. She grabbed a book from a shelf and sat down at the table with Ava. Opening the book to the first page, she started to r
ead.

  The CDC officially closed at six, but the Hourly Care room closed at five. Parents who picked their children up after 5:01 from the Hourly Care room would have to pay a fine. Heather thought about it worriedly as she kept glancing anxiously at the clock.

  She would get paid overtime for staying with Ava, but that wasn’t what worried her. Where was her father? Surely he knew the rule about picking up children late?

  Finally, at 5:59, Staff Sergeant Jake Adams strode into the Hourly Care room looking exhausted. He was in his blues, of course, because it was Monday. Everyone had to wear their dress uniforms on Monday to build morale. He looked uncomfortable and tired. He had dark circles under his eyes, but a smile lit his face when he saw Ava.

  “Daddy!” She squeaked, finally talking. She jumped up and ran to the door in the divider, and waited for him to open it. The door latched on the outside of the partition so toddlers couldn’t accidentally escape. At four, she was older than most of the Hourly Care kids, but the daycare manager had made an exception for her. Apparently Staff Sergeant Adams had some sort of special duty he couldn’t get out of and needed a little extra help with Ava.

  “Hey, princess,” he said, sweeping his daughter up in his arms. He held her for a long moment, then put her down and turned to Heather. “Hey, Heather. I’m so sorry I’m late. I should have called.”

  “It’s okay,” Heather said with a smile. She felt bad for him. His wife had died and he had to pull special duty with a daughter. Being a single parent couldn’t be easy. Though she was exhausted from being on her feet all day, she couldn’t imagine what he was going through. “No big deal. Did you pay Stephanie?”

  Stephanie worked at the front desk and was responsible for scheduling, getting kids checked in and out, and taking payments. She wasn’t known for her charming personality, and Heather suspected she was responsible for at least part of the Sergeant’s weary look.