Truly, Madly, Whiskey(48)
Big Bear misses you. She’d returned the text with a playful one. How can a text make me swoon? His response had been immediate. It’s not the text. It’s the memories of my paws all over you. Feeling cheeky, she’d responded with, I do like your paws, and your mouth, and your…Now let me work before my boyfriend catches you texting me and kicks your ass. He’d responded with an emoticon of a bear and the word growl.
She loved the feelings he stirred and reveled in allowing herself to finally experience them. But what she loved most was sharing that newfound confidence with him.
Grinning like a fool, she snapped a picture of the costume she’d been working on and sent it to Gemma with the text Warrior Princess is almost done!
She went into her bedroom and grabbed her chunky, silver-studded black boots out of her closet. She’d chosen one of her favorite outfits for her date with Bear. A short, black lace dress with a studded leather belt, stud earrings, and a wristful of black and silver bracelets. She pulled on leather leggings beneath the dress for the ride.
Her phone vibrated, and she sat on the edge of the bed and opened Gemma’s text while she laced up her boots. A stream of pictures of tattooed penises popped up, and she laughed out loud. They were the pictures she’d sent to Gemma when Gemma had first started dating Tru. Crystal had teasingly asked if Tru had ink below the belt.
An increasingly familiar wave of guilt washed through her as a second text rolled in from Gemma. Well?
Her smile faded as she typed her response—Haven’t explored that area yet—worrying over how she’d ever be able to reveal her lies to her best friend without losing her. Her finger hovered over the send button as she contemplated texting something like, Can we talk later? But they were in the middle of planning Gemma’s wedding. If she told her the truth now, she’d be hurt and angry, and…
Crystal’s throat thickened at the thought of hurting her. She couldn’t do it. Not until after the wedding. She’d waited this long, and it wasn’t like Gemma knew she had anything to confess. At least after the wedding she wouldn’t hurt her and ruin her big day. A knock at the door sent her thoughts scattering. She quickly transmitted the text and went to greet her man.
She pulled the door open and was immediately swept away by Bear, looking devilishly badass dressed in head-to-toe black. He’d trimmed his scruff, bringing out his chiseled chin and making him look even sexier. He raked his eyes from her face all the way to her toes, and like a leaf in a windstorm, her body quivered.
“Damn, baby cakes. You look good enough to eat.”
She grabbed him by the shirt and yanked him forward, her stomach swirling with memories of him doing just that earlier. “If we’re going to make it out of my apartment, you can’t say stuff like that, because my newly unleashed hormones are like live wires desperately seeking a plug.”
He cocked a brow.
Yes, please.
“No,” she said firmly, and pressed her lips to his, pulling away quickly. “No long, lusty kisses, either. You make my insides feel like the Fourth of July.”
“I’m totally digging this new Crystal who spills all her secrets.” His arm circled her waist, and he kissed her so freaking deliciously she mentally debated throwing caution to the wind and forgetting their date.
Harley wound around Bear’s feet.
“CB.” He scooped up the kitty. “Did you miss me?”
“Her name is Harley.” She grabbed her backpack and shoved her keys in the pocket where she’d tucked a worry doll. A little extra courage never hurt anyone. Her phone vibrated, and she checked the text message quickly. It was a picture of Jed holding up a paycheck with the caption Told you I was really working.
“Everything okay?” Bear asked.
“It’s from Jed. I think he really is trying to clean up his act. He sent me a picture of his paycheck.” She returned his text. This makes me so happy! Love you! Then she stuffed her phone in the backpack.
“That’s great. When will you see him again?”
“Two weeks from Sunday, when we see my mom for dinner.”
“Yeah? I’d love to meet the woman who raised you.”
“No, you wouldn’t. Trust me. She’s a hot mess.” She lifted her bag over her shoulder.
“I don’t care. I’d still love to come along.”
“Didn’t your parents ever teach you it’s rude to invite yourself places?”
“Not where you’re concerned. I want to meet your mom so I know what you’re dealing with. I want to hang out with Jed and hear all the embarrassing stories about when you were little. And I don’t want to argue about any of it.”
“You’re a pain.” As embarrassed as she was about her mother, she was still oddly pleased he was pushing so hard to meet her.
He kissed Harley and set her in her new satin bed with a surprised expression. “That’s what you did with the satin and lace I picked out?”
“Some of it.” She grabbed his vest and tugged him out the door. She wasn’t about to tell him that she had a sexy idea for the rest. A girl needed a few surprises up her sleeve.
Twenty minutes later they rode over the bridge, leaving Peaceful Harbor behind. Riding on the back of Bear’s bike on wide, open roads was completely different from the short stop-and-go trips they’d taken in town. As they passed long stretches of rural land, the air smelled fresher, and even though she was wearing her leather jacket and pants, she still sensed pockets of warmer and cooler air. She tried to tie them to the clouds, but it was impossible.