Stripped Bear Read Online Free
Author: Kate Baxter
door. He’d effectively caged her in and yet she wasn’t afraid. Far from it. The scent of Leah’s arousal was a sweet perfume that further hardened his cock. “Yes,” he murmured. “ Mine . Mine to touch. Mine to kiss. Mine to fuck. You might not be able to explain it, but you know it, Leah. You felt it the second your skin met mine.”
Cade had never been known for his diplomacy. Or his patience. In fact, he had none. If he thought it wouldn’t scare her half to death, he would have shifted right in the middle of the damned foyer to let her see once and for all what he truly was. Explaining their situation to her would no doubt take more forethought than a wild shift and a mandate that she accept the claiming. Right now, Cade could barely manage an articulate sentence, let alone a well-thought-out explanation. Though even without him spelling it out for her, Cade knew Leah felt it. She might pretend to be outraged. She might want him to believe that she couldn’t be bothered to give him a passing thought. He knew better. Her body vibrated with his nearness, her want enveloped him in her heady scent. Her breath raced and the sound of her heartbeat was a wild rush in her chest. Cade didn’t have time for gentle civility. He would take what belonged to him and then they’d go to L.A. together.
“You’re out of your damned mind.” Leah’s voice quavered and she cleared her throat. “I haven’t seen or talked to you in sixteen years. You show up out of the blue, demand that I end my engagement , and have the nerve to suggest that I’m your property that you can do whatever you want with? Jesus Christ, Cade. Are you even hearing yourself? It’s insane. You sound like an animal.”
A low growl gathered in Cade’s throat. She’d learn the truth of her words soon enough. “I never said I was civilized.” He brushed the length of her chestnut hair off her shoulder. His mouth hovered at her ear, so close that his bottom lip grazed the outer shell. “And yes, that’s exactly what I’m saying. If it makes you feel any better, you can do whatever you want with me as well. You claimed me, after all. I’m yours to fuck, fondle, and suck.” He paused and flicked out at her skin with his tongue. He couldn’t help himself. “If that’s what you want.”
Just talking about it made his cock so hard it ached. If he thought he could get away with it, he’d strip her bare right here in the foyer and fuck her up against the front door. The effects of the claim Leah had made on him had irrevocably changed Cade. It wouldn’t have mattered if it had been sixteen or sixty years since he’d seen her last. All it took was a simple touch to make her his. To ignite his passions and need for her. His want of her would never again slake.
“What I want,” Leah said on a shuddering breath, “is for you to take your hands off the door so I can go home.”
Cade pushed himself away and put space between them. Leah pulled open the door and slid out to the portico. She cast a quick glance over her shoulder, her blue eyes burning with a heat that set Cade’s blood on fire before she raced for her car. He watched as she climbed inside and started the engine. He continued to watch as she pulled out of the driveway with a squeal of tires until the red of the taillights disappeared in the night.
Cade closed the front door and headed back up the stairs. The trek to the second story was purposely slow as he needed a few extra minutes to cool his lust before he ventured back into his grandmother’s room. When he finally went inside, she was seated on a dainty settee, dressed in a pair of conservative slacks and a silk blouse. She stared idly toward the fireplace, a self-satisfied smile curving her thin lips.
“Looking for the perfect spot on the mantle for your Academy Award?”
Luanne’s smile grew as Cade shut the door behind him. He settled into a chair to her left and let out a heavy sigh. “You scared me, you know. If
Cade had never been known for his diplomacy. Or his patience. In fact, he had none. If he thought it wouldn’t scare her half to death, he would have shifted right in the middle of the damned foyer to let her see once and for all what he truly was. Explaining their situation to her would no doubt take more forethought than a wild shift and a mandate that she accept the claiming. Right now, Cade could barely manage an articulate sentence, let alone a well-thought-out explanation. Though even without him spelling it out for her, Cade knew Leah felt it. She might pretend to be outraged. She might want him to believe that she couldn’t be bothered to give him a passing thought. He knew better. Her body vibrated with his nearness, her want enveloped him in her heady scent. Her breath raced and the sound of her heartbeat was a wild rush in her chest. Cade didn’t have time for gentle civility. He would take what belonged to him and then they’d go to L.A. together.
“You’re out of your damned mind.” Leah’s voice quavered and she cleared her throat. “I haven’t seen or talked to you in sixteen years. You show up out of the blue, demand that I end my engagement , and have the nerve to suggest that I’m your property that you can do whatever you want with? Jesus Christ, Cade. Are you even hearing yourself? It’s insane. You sound like an animal.”
A low growl gathered in Cade’s throat. She’d learn the truth of her words soon enough. “I never said I was civilized.” He brushed the length of her chestnut hair off her shoulder. His mouth hovered at her ear, so close that his bottom lip grazed the outer shell. “And yes, that’s exactly what I’m saying. If it makes you feel any better, you can do whatever you want with me as well. You claimed me, after all. I’m yours to fuck, fondle, and suck.” He paused and flicked out at her skin with his tongue. He couldn’t help himself. “If that’s what you want.”
Just talking about it made his cock so hard it ached. If he thought he could get away with it, he’d strip her bare right here in the foyer and fuck her up against the front door. The effects of the claim Leah had made on him had irrevocably changed Cade. It wouldn’t have mattered if it had been sixteen or sixty years since he’d seen her last. All it took was a simple touch to make her his. To ignite his passions and need for her. His want of her would never again slake.
“What I want,” Leah said on a shuddering breath, “is for you to take your hands off the door so I can go home.”
Cade pushed himself away and put space between them. Leah pulled open the door and slid out to the portico. She cast a quick glance over her shoulder, her blue eyes burning with a heat that set Cade’s blood on fire before she raced for her car. He watched as she climbed inside and started the engine. He continued to watch as she pulled out of the driveway with a squeal of tires until the red of the taillights disappeared in the night.
Cade closed the front door and headed back up the stairs. The trek to the second story was purposely slow as he needed a few extra minutes to cool his lust before he ventured back into his grandmother’s room. When he finally went inside, she was seated on a dainty settee, dressed in a pair of conservative slacks and a silk blouse. She stared idly toward the fireplace, a self-satisfied smile curving her thin lips.
“Looking for the perfect spot on the mantle for your Academy Award?”
Luanne’s smile grew as Cade shut the door behind him. He settled into a chair to her left and let out a heavy sigh. “You scared me, you know. If