Holly’s Grizzly (Monster Relations Bureau #4)

21

Irving

My grizzly roars his approval from that deep, instinctual corner of my psyche where he likes to take up residence while I’m in this form, and for once I’m in total agreement with him.

I’d roar my own approval if I didn’t worry it would make Holly look at me like I’ve lost my mind, so I settle for the next best thing.

I lead her into the house and pause by the door so I can take off her jacket, drop to a knee and help her with her boots, then remove my own before I scoop her up into my arms.

I carry her into the living room and set her down on the couch while I build the fire back up, then join her there. Wrapping my arms around her, I tug her into my lap, into the place that will be hers for just as long as she wants it.

For a few long minutes, we sit just like that. Silent, basking in the warmth and the glow of the flames, in the flush of calm and comfort after what we both went through over the last hour.

Gods above, has it only been an hour?

I feel like I might have aged a decade in that time, but those years’ worth of stress and grief melt away with each beat of my heart and each moment I have this brave, strong, wonderful woman in my arms.

“I thought…” Holly says haltingly, breaking the silence. “I thought maybe I could stay a few days longer. I don’t have to go back to work until after the new year… and, I mean, if you wouldn’t mind…”

“Of course you can stay until then.”

You can stay forever, if you want.

I make myself swallow the words. There will be time for that. Later.

I’m a patient man, after all, and all good things come with time.

“Alright,” Holly breathes, nestling closer to my chest.

Is it possible for a heart to burst from sheer tenderness?

“And after that,” she goes on, “maybe we could figure something out. Some way the two of us could… make this a thing. Keep seeing each other. I don’t… I don’t want this to be over.”

I’m so damn proud of her, in awe of her, ready to fall to my knees in front of her and thank her for having the courage to come back and fight for what she wants.

And because of that courage, I’m more than ready to meet her halfway, to figure this out and find some way forward together.

“I want that, too. I was going to call you and tell you just as soon as you got home. Whether that means me coming to Seattle to see you, or maybe even looking for a place there some—”

“I wouldn’t mind moving up here.” Holly’s cheeks flush deep pink. “I mean, eventually. I can work from anywhere with an internet connection, and I like it up here. I… I love it up here. I’d love it even more if it meant being here with you.”

My heart feels too big in my chest, and I suddenly find it impossible to speak.

“God,” she says with a self-conscious laugh. “I’m probably getting way ahead of myself and scaring you, aren’t I? You know what, I can just get back in my car and—”

She leans away from me, and even though I know she’s not serious, I let out a low growl.

“You’re not getting ahead of anything, sweetheart.” I shift her in my lap so she’s straddled across me. A little shiver of pleasure races through her as she gets comfortable. My cock responds immediately, hardening against her, and she shivers again. “We can take our time to figure out where we go from here, but the one thing I know is that having you here, with me, is the least scary thing in the entire world.”

Holly winds her arms around my neck, burying her hands in my hair and pressing soft kisses to my jaw, my cheek, brushing her lips against mine before she whispers her reply.

“It doesn’t scare me, either.”

She kisses me deep, and I taste the certainty on her lips. I feel it in the way she melts into me. I hear it in the sparkling laugh she breathes into the kiss when I tighten my grip on her ass.

I know that certainty, because I feel it too.

Impossible, unbelievable, but I’m not going to question it anymore.

I’m not going to do anything but hold her and keep her close for as long as I can. For the rest of my life, if she’ll have me.

Holly moves her hips on me while we kiss, grinding against the ridge of my erection. She’s restless and demanding, working herself up while she does the same to me, and when she pulls back, panting, I’m done for.

“Sweetheart,” I say, low and rough, as I lean in to press my teeth to her throat. “Tell me what you want.”

Anything. Anything she wants, it’s hers.

“You. I want you.”

With another satisfied growl, I stand from the couch, keeping Holly held firmly against me and swallowing the surprised little squeak she lets out against my lips. I carry her to the stairs and then up into the loft, sprawling her across my bed.

I join her there, pressing her into the mattress as I get to work sliding off her layers, exploring every inch I lay bare. Kisses pressed to her throat and clavicle, hands mapping the slender curves of her hips, teeth rasped lightly against the taut peaks of her breasts, the underside of her ribs, just above her navel. I take all the time I want.

She lets out another breathless laugh—effervescent with her joy—and the reality of it hits me all at once.

Time.

Holly and I have time.

Time to get to know each other more deeply. Time to figure out where this might lead. Time to savor slowly and enjoy.

With that in mind, I get back to work taking her apart bit by bit.

I taste and tease, kiss and nip, make a study of every glorious inch of her. And, when she’s good and riled and ready to combust, Holly surges up and rolls me over so she can do the same. Hands threaded through my hair, lips pressed to my skin, body warm and eager against mine.

We end up on our sides, facing each other. We’re both breathless, straining, desperate for it as I catch her leg around the back of the knee and hitch it up over my hip. Lining myself up at her entrance, I take her chin in my hand and kiss her deep as I thrust into her, devour her moan as we start moving together.

Holly shatters first, and I follow just a few short seconds later, spilling into her with a force that whites out the edges of my vision and narrows my entire world down to her, only her.

Even then, in the glow of the aftermath, there’s no rush.

There’s nothing to do and nowhere to be, nothing that matters more in this moment than savoring the connection between us.

It’s later, much later, when the moon shines brightly through the skylight and the fire burns low in the fireplace downstairs, when we’re cleaned up and tucked back into bed, that those moments slow even further.

Sleepy touches and even breaths, the steady beat of her heart as I rest my head on her chest and she runs her fingers through my hair.

We fall asleep just like that. Together. With all the time and all the peace in the world wrapped securely around us.