Bearly Enough (26 page)

“I’ll think about it,” he said grudgingly.

Lucy nodded. “Good. Thank you.” She stood up. “How about a
late breakfast?” she asked, “I could make you something.”

Stone nodded. “That would be great.”

Lucy moved toward the door, but Stone stopped her. “Lucy?
And what about us? What happens next for us?”

“Let’s get you better first. Then we can focus on us.”

Stone walked downstairs and immediately noticed Lucy sitting
at the dining room table, dozens of pictures and blueprints scattered over its
surface. Her hair was pulled up in a messy bun, and she was wearing her
favorite grey sweatshirt and black sweat pants. She was so engrossed in what
she was doing that she didn’t even hear Stone approach until he was directly
behind her.

“Oh!” she cried, jumping up when he leaned down to kiss her
neck. “I didn’t even hear you.”

“I know.”

“You were so quiet,” she marveled.

Stone smiled, flexing his still bruised bicep. “I’m
healing.”

And it was true, he was definitely stronger, and he was
slowly feeling his body return to its normal state. And when he looked at Lucy,
he could only see a very slight purple shadow on her cheek.

“I know,” she laughed.

Stone sat down next to her, admiring how sexy she was, even
when she was just wearing sweats. “What are you looking at?”

“House plans.” She sat back in the chair and sighed.

“What’s the issue now?”

Stone and Lucy had decided to build a new house. It would
take some time, but it had always been a dream of Stone’s, and they were in no
rush. Even if they had a baby tomorrow, they could get by in Stone’s house, but
they would need more space eventually.

“I’m just trying to figure out the bedrooms.”

Stone covered her hand with his and pushed the papers away.
“The bedrooms are fine. We have a great layout. I don’t think you need to worry
anymore.”

He pulled Lucy towards him, and she came out of her seat easily
and perched carefully on his lap. It was killing Stone that they hadn’t been
able to have sex since they were both injured. He was going to pounce on Lucy
as soon as he was well enough.

And judging from the way he felt, that would be very, very
soon.

“You smell so good,” he growled softly, nuzzling her neck.

Lucy giggled.

“I want you so badly,” he said gruffly.

Lucy nodded. “Doctor’s orders,” she murmured.

“Damn doctor,” Stone muttered.

Lucy turned around and straddled him, taking care to not
hurt him. “It will be soon, baby,” she said softly, practically gyrating on
him, “and I can’t wait.”

“Christ, Lucy! You’re going to kill me,” he moaned, getting
hard. His bear awoke and Stone could feel the power growing within him. It
wouldn’t be long now before he was completely healed.

For weeks, his bear had lay dormant inside him, worrying
Stone to no end. What if he had been hurt so badly that he wouldn’t be able to
shift again? But over the weeks he had felt his strength returning. And his
bear was finally roaring inside him again—ready.

Aside from fucking Lucy, the next thing he was most looking
forward to was shifting and running through the forest, feeling the wind rush
through his fur, and his paws make contact with the soft earth.

Soon.

“Any word on you sister?” he asked, knowing he was broaching
a touchy subject.

Lucy swung her legs back around so she was no longer
straddling him and shook her head.  “I’ve done everything I can,” she
said, “I don’t think there’s anything else I can do.”

“That’s bullshit,” he said angrily.

Being the alpha now, Stone set out to make peace with the
Virtus tribe, mostly for Lucy’s stake. The two tribes were intertwined, not
only by the two sisters, but also by the death of Lucy and Gabby’s father.
After thinking it over, Stone believed it would be best for the two tribes to
have a truce. Creating an alliance would also help them with the Atrocitas
tribe, should they start problems anytime soon.

It took some convincing, but eventually both councils
agreed. Lucy had been overjoyed in knowing that she could freely see her
sister, but Gabby had been slow to warm up. Gabby had come over a few times,
but mostly to check on Lucy’s recovery. It was as if Gabby still felt the pull
of her sisterly duties, but she couldn’t bring herself to accept Lucy’s new
life.

“Is she still pissed that you chose me?”

“It’s not so much that I chose you,” Lucy explained. “It’s
that I chose this tribe over their tribe.”

“That’s ridiculous!”

“I know! I don’t know what else to do.”

Thanksgiving was two days away, and Lucy had invited Zane
and Gabby over, thinking it would be nice to have a Thanksgiving dinner
together. She was even willing to invite their mother if Zane and Gabby could
make it.

“So, no word on Thanksgiving?” he asked gently.

“No.”

Stone brushed a stray hair out of her face. “It’s not a big
deal. I told you that we could go to my parents if it doesn’t work out.”

“I know.” Her face fell. “I was just looking forward to
spending Thanksgiving with my sister, that’s all.”

“I know. But I think she will come around. Eventually.”

Lucy jumped off his lap, nodding. “Alright, happier things,”
she sang, changing the subject. “Let’s talk about a wedding.”

“First I have to give you a ring,” Stone said darkly. He
still hadn’t proposed to Lucy because he was going to want to jump her bones
the second she agreed to be his wife.

These fucking injuries were screwing up his plans.

Lucy waved her hand, “Inconsequential. I think I’ve finally
decided on a time to get married.”

Stone raised his eyebrows. “Really?”

Lucy nodded. “How about the winter?”

“The winter?” That was soon.

She nodded. “I mean, think about it. The winter is so blah,
and this will be something to look forward to. And it will be easy to plan
because there won’t be a lot of people.” She batted her eyelashes and gave him
a sexy stare. “Plus, with all the snow we’ll be indoors and that will give us
plenty of time to perfect our baby-making skills.”

Fuck, she was so sexy!

“You better brace yourself, woman,” he teased, feeling
himself get hard all over again. “Because the second that I have medical
clearance I am going to be all over you!”

“I can’t wait!”

“You won’t be able to walk,” he threatened.

“Oh, I hope not!”

Damn! She knew just how to turn him on.

“So, what do you say?” she asked sweetly. “Does that work?”

“Lucy, you know I’m fine with whatever. And we don’t have to
start a family right away. I know that’s asking a lot out of you, and you’re
young.”

Lucy shrugged. “I know.” She started scooping up the
blueprints. “I’ve been thinking about it. I think I’d like to start a family
soon.” She looked over at him and smiled. “I grew up a long time ago, Stone.”
She suddenly looked older and wiser than her years.

Because Stone had dealt with so much of his own pain, he
sometimes forgot about Lucy’s pain. She had lost a parent—one she had never
known—and her mother was a drunk. Gabby had raised her, which is probably why
Gabby keeping her distance was so hard.

“I know, baby,” he said, standing up slowly and pulling her
to him. “I know.”

“Stone!” Lucy shouted up the stairs. “I need your help!”

Stone came hurrying down the steps, and Lucy marveled at how
well he had recovered. She still couldn’t understand how he hadn’t gotten a
clean bill of health when the doctor came to visit the other day.

“You seem totally fine,” she sulked, “how could Jacob not
say you weren’t entirely healthy?” Jacob was the doctor for the tribe, and he
was older, which made Lucy question his decisions.

Stone shrugged. “Jacob is probably just erring on the side
of caution.”

Lucy frowned. It was so unfair. They couldn’t have sex until
Stone was completely healthy again—some weird thing about his shifting
powers—and it had been two months now. It was
killing
Lucy, especially
since they were trying to start their life together.

She handed Stone the wreath that had slipped off the mantle.
Again.

“Fucking thing,” Stone muttered, fixing it for the hundredth
time. He fixed it and stood back to look at Lucy.

“I still can’t believe that Gabby and Zane are coming,” Lucy
gushed, arranging the garland she had strung above the fireplace. She wanted
everything to look perfect.

“I know,” Stone said absentmindedly, “I was surprised too.”

“She’s been so weird, and I was really ready to just give up
on us being close again, but I don’t know.” She gave Stone a small smile. “I
have a good feeling this time.”

“Lucy,” Stone said, and she turned around to look at him. He
had a strange expression on his face, and she was suddenly worried.

“Are you okay? You don’t look well!” She hurried over to
him. Maybe Jacob was right after all. Maybe Stone wasn’t entirely healed.

“I’m fine, I’m fine,” he said quickly, shaking his head.
“It’s just—’’ He didn’t finish his sentence, and Lucy gave him a strange look.

He started lowering himself to the floor.

“Stone! What the hell?”

But then she realized he was getting down on one knee. Her
hand flew to her mouth in surprise. “Oh!”

He grinned at her, his blue and green eyes bright. He fished
in his pocket and retrieved a tiny, black velvet box. He opened it, and Lucy
gasped at the beautiful stone.

The ring looked like an antique, with a large oval diamond,
surrounded by smaller stones.

“Lucy,” he began, “I know we haven’t known each other for
long, and we got off to a rocky start, but I feel like I’ve been waiting
forever to get down on one knee.” He gave her a sly grin. “Would you please do
me the honor of making a decent bear out of me?”

Lucy laughed at his choice of words.

“I love you, Lucy. Please marry me.”

“Yes!” she exclaimed, throwing her arms around Stone’s neck
as he tried to stand up.

He laughed. “Let me put the ring on you!”

She laughed too, her heart feeling as if it would burst. She
held out her hand so he could slip the gorgeous ring on her finger.

It fit perfectly.

“Oh my god, Stone! I can’t believe it!” she exclaimed.
“Wait!” she cried. “You told me you weren’t going to do this until you were
totally healed because you wouldn’t be able to resist me?” She couldn’t help
pouting. She wanted to sleep with her fiancé.

Fiancé!

Stone smirked. “I lied. Jacob gave me a clean bill of
health!”

“What the hell!” she cried out, slapping him playfully. “You
tricked me! And you made me wait!”

Stone wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her to him.
She instantly recognized the darkening of his eyes—one of his most obvious
signs of desire.

“I had to wait for the perfect moment,” he murmured, running
his hands over her shoulders and down her arms. “You have no idea how badly I
want to fuck you,” he growled.

The words alone sent a delicious shiver up Lucy’s spine. She
wanted Stone in the most carnal of ways.

“Me, too,” she whispered.

That was all Stone needed to hear.

He yanked her shirt over her head, kissing her hard on the
mouth and trailing his hands over her bare skin. Lucy cried out in surprise,
and her skin came alive under Stone’s touch. She pressed herself further into
his body, desperate to be closer.

Stone groaned, grinding his hips against her and rubbing her
with his erection. Lucy moaned, feeling every inch of him through her thin
leggings. She tugged at the waist of his jeans and fumbled with the button and
zipper, desperate to get them down.