Goldie and Her Bears (14 page)

“Unfortunately, we can’t prove he was here. We only know he was because Torben caught his scent and tracked him. No one saw him here shooting at you. Plus we won’t have a bullet wound soon to show proof of intent. But we’re not going to let him get away with it. We’re just going to have to find a way to prove his intent, his motive, and the fact he bought a long range weapon.”

“Well we will do whatever it is we have to do in order to ensure justice is served. He deserves to be strung up and castrated for hurting my Ark, and worse for scaring Josie. I hate to sound bloodthirsty, but there it is. I am just that. I’m so angry right now I could spit nails.”

“Well, no spitting nails, it sounds unhealthy.” Mahon touched her hair gently. “It will be okay, Goldie. We know who it is. Now we just have to prove means, opportunity and motive, and then the police can have him on a silver platter. I do need to call the cops. I’m going to do that, then we’re going to move you and Ark upstairs. You are going to shower off the blood while I clean up down here. Then, we all need to get our stories straight for the cops so we can avoid the whole part about Arkadios being shot.”

"Oh crap. I am a terrible liar," her confession shocked him. "It’s part of why clients adore me. I can’t lie to save my ass, so we need to think of something so I don’t get all frustrated and stuff okay?"

“We will, promise,” he smiled at her. Pressing a kiss to her cheek, he hugged her tight. “Go up and have a shower. Leave your clothes in the sink. I’ll grab them when you’re done. Laurie will be doing the same once she’s smothered Josie for a while. I’ll grab the guys and we’ll get Arkadios up to the bedroom so he can sleep. Go, love, you can cuddle with him after your shower.”

“Thank you.” Goldie gave him a quick kiss and then headed off for the stairs, trusting them to get the big sleeping bear up to the bedroom. How she had no idea, but if anyone could, her men could get it done.

Four hours later, the police left. She never even had to see them. Arkadios had shifted back to his human form. His wound was pink healed over and still healing. He was covered in blood all over his chest but hadn't yet had the energy to go and shower. He was just lying there holding her hand, dozing on and off.

Goldie moved so she was closer to Arkadios, and wrapped her arm around his waist so as not to touch his chest. “Please never scare me like that again,” she begged softly. “You are everything to me and to see you bleeding...” she was crying now, pressing in close to him as she did so.

"Shh," he breathed out. "I'm fine, love. We're pretty hard to kill, but I don't plan on being shot ever again. It fucking hurts." His other hand came up to brush over her arm lightly. "Please don't cry, Goldie, especially when I can't hold you like I want to."

"I can’t help it," she sniffled and moved in closer to him as close as she dared with his injury still looking as pink and angry as it did. "It’s my fault you were hurt. It’s killing me knowing I am the reason you were hurt and Josie...God, she could have been hurt." And that would have destroyed them all.

"It is not your fault, love," he said again. "The one responsible for it all is the guy who pulled the trigger. No one else, but him. You are as much a victim as everyone else, my darling mate, so stop taking the blame on your gorgeous shoulders or, when I'm fully healed, I'll beat your perky ass."

“And you aren’t supposed to threaten me with something you and I both know I utterly and completely love. I mean it. You are supposed to threaten me with something I wouldn’t like. I don’t know what but something other than a spanking from you, my big bear.”

Smiling, he gave her a light squeeze. “Well then, I suppose I will have to think of something. Maybe I should threaten you with a four-hour lecture about the reproductive system as dictated by someone who only speaks in monotone. Or maybe, I should threaten you with no dessert for a month. No!” He grinned suddenly. “No sex for a week, which includes no toys, rubbing, stroking, or using anything in, around, or near the house or office and anywhere in between to give yourself an orgasm.”

“No!” Goldie said with wide eyes. “You wouldn’t do that to me, would you? You wouldn’t do that to us, right?” She was utterly insatiable now that she’d found her men. A week without them inside of her, giving them all pleasure, it would be torture!

“Hey, you said to come up with some sort of effective threat. I think I just found it, darling,” Ark chuckled. “And I have to say, it’s damned ingenious now that I think about it. Sneaky, smart and it would teach you to behave yourself. Or are you telling me you wouldn’t learn better after such a punishment as that?”

“But it would punish you guys as well. That’s not very fair.” She hated the punishment he came up with. It was, well it was far too damn good. Damn it. “I don’t want to be the reason we all hurt. You have to come up with something else.”

“Why would it punish us?” His grin said he had a plan. “I said it was a punishment for you not to touch yourself or do anything for sexual release. Never said we couldn’t take care of business. Now did I?” he asked, fluttering his lashes her direction.

“Oh that’s bad.” She narrowed her gaze to him and shrugged. “That’s okay. If you get to take care of business, then so will I,” she huffed. “I mean it. I’m so not going to go a week without my bears. That’s far too long.”

“Nope. If it’s your punishment, then none of that. Those are the rules,” oh he was too smug. “But since I seriously doubt you will ever do anything deserving of punishment, why are you worried? Just remember you are adored, needed, wanted, and loved. But if you forget, oh,” he bared his teeth, “then the punishment is on.”

“Oh, you are rotten,” she muttered and curled back up against him once more. “Now, enough talking. More healing. More resting. Remember you were the one shot. We shouldn’t be talking about punishing me. Instead, we should be focused on you getting better.”

“Yeah, but I love to tease you,” he gave another chuckle. “It keeps me from scratching at the ever maddening itch I have going on right now. Healing is such a pain in the ass. The itch is, of course, the absolute worst part. I hate being bored. I never lay around in one place this long unless I’m asleep. Really, who does this?”

“Well don’t scratch the itch.” Goldie couldn’t help but laugh and shook her head. “Well, what can I do to help you, Mister Grumpy Bear?” she teased him. Getting up on her elbow, she looked down at him with a smile, love shining in her eyes. “How can I help you, babe? You are hurt because of me; so let me help you feel better. What do you need?”

“Woman, what did I say about blaming yourself for others’ actions? Do you really want a week of no sex and orgasms? I am fully prepared to enforce it.” He gave a tug, and held her close to kiss her lips, he said, “You can just distract me and tell me some more about yourself.”

“Well let’s see.” She moved so she could lie against him once more, and lay her hand lightly over his chest. “I have these three amazing men who would move hell for me if I needed them to, and I adore them for that. I also have a family now. That’s something I’ve never had before, and again, it’s because of those amazing men. Oh, and I do have to smack one of them occasionally with a rolled up newspaper because he likes to take the last of the coffee. That’s bad.”

“Really? Just who is this fiend you speak of?” Arkadios was really grinning at her. “I would have the name of this dastardly beast so I could slay him for you, dearest and most beautiful female. No male should ever be so cowardly as to steal the last of the coffee.”

“Oh really now?” Goldie rose up on her elbow and looked at him with a laugh. “That would be you,” she told him with a laugh. “You always tend to get the very last cup of coffee. I don’t know how you manage it but you do, and it drives me absolutely bat shit crazy. Then again…” She shrugged with a grin, “I really don’t mind all that much, if you would just rinse the canteen afterwards, that would be great.” She hated the last cup of coffee in the pot, but what was worse was the little burnt part it always left for some reason.

“I usually am distracted, or on my way somewhere. I’m sorry though,” he said quietly. “I will try to do better, and I will try to remember to rinse the pot. Or at least throw some water in it so you don’t have to scrape off the little bits at the bottom.”

“Thank you,” she said with a grin. “That’s all I ask. Or just put it off the burner so I know it’s in need of being cleaned. I promise then I won’t smack your beautiful behind with the rolled up newspaper, or something like that.”

“The last time wasn’t a newspaper you smacked me with. I know this because there was a squeeze involved. You say you don’t want excuses to smack me, but I think you go looking for them. You just love to grope me, admit it,” he was grinning again.

“Well what can I say? You have the singularly most amazing ass. I have to give it a good squeeze from time to time because it really is delectable. Plus, squeezing your ass typically winds us up in a closet or locked office somewhere, and it's really why I do it.”

“I did kinda figure that out,” he said, “given you always squeeze me in such a way it feels more like you’re going for my balls. I just figured it was your code for I’m wet and you need to fuck me now, but if you’re saying it’s not...” He blinked his eyes a couple of times.

“Are you kidding me? You look at me and I’m wet and ready. It doesn’t matter where I am or what I’m doing. All it takes is a look from you, a scent of your cologne, or whatever scent is that you put on, and I’m ready like, whoa.”

“I don’t wear cologne, none of us do. Our noses are too sensitive for such scents that are manufactured. It’s all me, babe. Well, me and the shampoo and soap I use but mostly me.” Arkadios moved his head slightly to look at her. “So, you’re telling me, right here and now you are wet?”

“Damn straight I am. Even though we went through what we did. I can’t seem to help it and I hate it. I shouldn’t be lusting after you with you hurt, but I am and it’s killing me. Goodness gravy it’s killing me.”

“Why are you hating it?” he was frowning at her now. “We’re alive. We’re healthy and sexual adults. Sex is an amazing way to reaffirm your lease on life. It’s one of the most primal ways to be with another person.”

“I’m hating it because you are hurt. Don’t you get that? You were shot only hours ago, Arkadios. There is no way we can have sex. None. You are still trying to heal, honey. Seriously?”

“Yeah, so?” he was grinning again. “Sex is wonderfully rejuvenating. Mind and body,” he wiggled his brows. “I’m not saying right this moment. I do want to have both hands on you, and I’m still waiting for all sensation to get back into my arm.”

“Well then, when you are fully and completely up to it, no pun intended, we will do it. Not a moment before. I mean it. I happen to really love you, and I don’t want you harmed any more than you already are. So please, just lay there, rest, and get better.”

“I am, love, I am,” he whispered. Pressing a kiss to her forehead, he gave her a squeeze with his good arm. “But I’m also bored out of my mind. I hate just laying around; it’s not me. Unless it’s after hot, steamy, and wild sex, what is the point?”

“I know, but you have to heal. Later we can make up for all the missed hot and steamy sex, but right now you just heal.” She laid her head on his shoulder again and asked, “Do you want me to get you a book? Turn on the TV? Anything?”

“No, couldn’t hold the book and at this time of day, there’s nothing good on TV. No, I just want to have you here with me. Tell me a story, darling, anything. But avoid saying sex for a while will you please? When you say it, you get this look on your face that has me picturing your lips wrapped around my cock and well, it’s starting to get a little painful.”

Damn. And that fast, she lost her train of thought and any story she had in her mind flew out the window. She could all but taste him, and it made her whimper. “Uhm…a story.” Crap, a story? Seriously? “Once upon a time?” she asked with a grin. She then proceeded to tell the story of how they met, in her own personal words.

Arkadios was a rapt audience; of course, he was kind of stuck there. He laughed in all the right places, growled occasionally at her word choices, and grinned at her version of events. When she was done, he was chuckling. “Well, it's not exactly a rated G version of events, but well done.”

“Thank you, thank you. I do aim to please,” Goldie teased him with a grin. “Now, you ready for a nap? Or are you ready to try to get up and take a shower to get the blood off you that I couldn’t get because you are just too damn big?”

“Oh now you’re complaining about my size?” he chuckled softly. “Woman. I could go for a shower now that you mentioned it. I’m not only itching at the wound but whatever is stuck under my arm and back. You’ll have to help me though. I won’t be able to reach everything with just one arm.”

“You just want me naked in the shower with you, admit it,” Goldie teased. Sitting up, she looked down at him, “Do you think you should shower? I said it without even thinking. I don’t want you to be hurt because of doing something you shouldn’t already.”

“I feel nasty right now, I need a shower. The wound is closed, it’s still healing yes, but a gentle wash won’t be all that bad. And you can wear a t-shirt or a swimsuit if you don’t want to be naked in there. Though, since I know what you look like naked, you will be naked in my head.”

Goldie laughed and shook her head, “You know damn good, and well I’m going to be naked in there. All right, let’s get you up and into the shower. Then, if you are feeling like it, you can sit in the chair and I will bring you up some food okay?”

“Food would be awesome. Especially since I was shot before I got my ribs.” Arkadios rolled slowly and eased up to a sitting position. “I swear. If they ate all the ribs then I’m really going to be pissed off. I was looking damn forward to those ribs.” Pushing to his feet he wavered a moment, “I’m good, just a little light headed, but I’m good.”

“Don’t worry. I think Josie saved you some. She was like a little cub defending your food and all. You would have been proud.” The child had made Goldie cry with the way she had reacted. “She’s such a special little girl, and loves you like crazy. When you are all cleaned up and ready for company I know she will want to see you.”

“I adore that cub,” he smiled. Moving slowly, he went toward the bathroom. “You are coming right? I seriously need someone to keep me on my feet and help me wash up, babe. Then I very definitely need to eat, I’m fucking starving.”

“Yes, I am going to come with you. Someone needs to ensure you don’t fall down, and since the guys all voted me to do it,” she grinned, “then I get the humble and amazing pleasure. Now then, do you need help to the bathroom?”

“They just don’t like being shown up even while I’m injured,” he grinned. He stopped in the bathroom to lean into the mirror. He was poking at the wound site lightly with a frown on his face. “It’s actually healing pretty quickly.”

She smacked his hand and shook her head, “And if you would quit poking it, I’m positive it would heal even faster. I mean it, stop it,” she muttered with a grin. “It’s really okay, love. Just stop poking at it because I swear if you make it bleed or make it worse.”

“I wasn’t poking right at it, I was poking around it. I wanted to see how it was healing.” He turned toward her, and grabbing her hand, pulled her closer. “Quit worrying so much. I’ll be fine in no time, then I will be jumping your ass.”

“Promises, promises. Just make sure you make good on them, buddy, or I am seriously going to be one pissed off woman. And since finding the three of you, evidently one pissed off horny woman,” she added with a grin.

“I never make promises I don’t keep. Haven’t you learned that yet?” He grinned down at her and pressed a kiss to her lips. “Shower now if you wouldn’t mind turning the water on. It’s a bad angle for me to get at the taps and adjust the temp.”