Saving Her Bear: A Second Chances Romance by Alana Hart, Michaela Wright Read Free Book Online Page B

the road mark that signified the borders of the reservation, and John gassed it back up. Catherine watched the way he moved when he drove – the tendons in his hands and forearms, the movement of his legs. Somehow, something as simple as the way he waved to drivers passing on the opposite side of the road made her even fonder of him. She remembered the last time they’d taken a long drive like this. Back then, the Canadian border only required a license to pass, leaving them to roll right into New Brunswick, their families oblivious to the distance of their children.
    Now, they’d driven around the corners of their part of Maine for hours, and the evening was creeping in fast. As they reached the far corner of the rez, John pulled off the main road onto the dirt path that offered back access to the Fenn property. Before they were more than a hundred yards in, John pulled onto the shoulder and put the truck into park.
    Catherine turned to watch him. “What if Gramps comes down this way? You’ll get me in trouble.”
    John smiled, turning to her. “You can blame me.”
    She exhaled in a half laugh, but the laugh was stilled instantly as John’s hand touched the side of her face.
    She swallowed. “What are you doing?”
    John searched her expression a moment as Heroes by David Bowie came on the truck radio. “Do you remember the last time we did this?”
    “Did what?”
    He chuckled. “You know.”
    “Yes,” she said, fighting with everything she had not to smile at the memory.
    “Well, I was kinda hoping that maybe you’d let me do that again.”
    Catherine gasped. The sheer thought of this man kissing her stole her breath. She couldn’t find the words to say yes, even as her heart screamed out over and over. She wanted it, and it terrified her at the same time.
    John unbuckled his seat belt and slid across the front seat toward her. She fought to hold her ground and not pin her back to the truck door. He tucked a strand of her dark hair behind her ear, then leaned in, touching his nose to her ear. He inhaled there, sending chills down her spine. Then he pulled away just enough to meet her gaze. Then he kissed her.
    The memory of the last time she felt this sensation flooded her mind – the way her teenage hormones had fired off, and she’d attempted to curl into him, tearing at his clothes there in the front seat of his truck. Yet, he hadn’t taken her then. The same urge struck her now and she grabbed hold of his flannel shirt, clutching it in her fist.
    She was no longer a hormonal teenager. She could contain herself, now – maybe.
    John pulled from the kiss, glancing at her eyes, then her lips. He exhaled a shaky breath. “You have no idea how bad I wanted to do that this morning.”
    “Really?”
    He smiled. “Waking up with you in my arms was one of the greatest tests of my life.”
    Her face flushed. She’d thought he’d been asleep.
    Her hand shot up to cover her face, and he grabbed it, pulling it toward him as he planted his lips on hers again, taking her face in his hands. He shifted in the seat, moving closer to her, pulling her toward him with enough force to collect her into his lap. A second later, he slipped his tongue into her mouth, taking hold of her hair to kiss her properly. Catherine was helpless there, opening to him in every way as his arms wrapped around her, tugging at her shirt to keep his grip on her. She whimpered against the force of his kiss, her body growing weak in his arms. He kissed with the purpose of a man who intended far more, and she knew if he continued, she’d let him have it.
    John pulled away, letting her catch her breath as he smiled at her. “As good as you remember?”
    She grinned, panting. “Better.”
    This time it was her turn to grab him, tugging at the collar of his flannel shirt to pull his lips to hers. He responded to her forceful endeavor with one of his own, hooking his hand under her knee and yanking her leg toward him, forcing her to lean