“Okay,” Bella said, understanding. She knew the demands of his job as a prosecutor were intense, far more stressful than her own. While s*x could be a great stress relief, she was well aware of how demanding she could be in bed. Tim never complained—in fact, he loved it—but she also knew it left him completely spent, which wasn’t ideal before an important day in court.
She smiled up at him. “Sunday, then?”
He laughed, leaning down to tap her nose affectionately. “Definitely Sunday.”
As he stood, he grinned at her. “Wanna walk me out?”
Bella knew her children would be safe for a few minutes as she walked Tim to the front door of the building to see him off.
Once they stepped outside, Tim slid his arms around her waist, pulling her close. She recognized this as his way of guarding himself against her attempts to keep him longer—it was affectionate but also protective. His lips found hers for a deep kiss, and she felt Tyler roll her eyes and turn away in her mind. Bella ignored her wolf. She had needs too, and Tim’s touch reminded her she was wanted.
She felt his hands slide down her body, lingering over her curves before gripping her bottom firmly. She pressed herself against him, grinding her hips into his.
He groaned, his breath hot against her lips.
“You know you want to,” she teased softly, her voice low and inviting.
“Mm, I do…” he murmured, pulling her harder against him. Bella sighed into his mouth, feeling the heat between them rise as he responded to her movements. The tension in her eased slightly, replaced by the thrill of knowing she could turn him on so easily.
But Tim groaned, his tone tinged with regret. “My sweet, please… I really do want to, but I’ve got a big day in court tomorrow.”
She rocked against him harder, her persistence evident, but he reluctantly stepped back, creating a small distance between them. His gaze swept over her body, lingering in appreciation.
Bella smirked and gave his shoulder a playful shove. “You’re going to convince yourself to stay at this rate,” she said with a devious smile.
Tim chuckled, shaking his head as if to clear his thoughts. He knew she was right—any more of this, and he wouldn’t be leaving. Turning abruptly, he walked toward his car, his resolve firm.
She watched him go, her arms crossed over her chest, a teasing grin still playing on her lips. Halfway to his car, he turned back to her and yelled, “When are you going to marry me?”
Bella laughed, calling back, “When you actually propose!” She dropped into a neat curtsy, to which Tim responded with an exaggerated bow. They both burst into laughter before he climbed into his car and drove off.
Bella returned to her apartment, smiling to herself. At least once a month, Tim would yell that question at her. It had started six months ago, and her reply was always the same.
Neither of them seemed to take it seriously—or at least, she didn’t think so. They had been dating for two years now, and neither had expressed a desire to move in together. Bella’s three rambunctious children were reason enough to keep their lives separate.
The kids seemed to like Tim, and he got along well with them, but she had always sidestepped the topic of their father when Tim brought it up. At first, he had asked often, frustrated by her refusal to answer. Eventually, he stopped asking, respecting her boundaries even if he didn’t like them.
Bella didn’t pry much into his family life either. Their relationship revolved around the present, about who they were as individuals, not the baggage they carried. Tim had been persistent, pursuing her for six months before she finally agreed to give him a chance.
She had decided long ago that she wasn’t going back to wolfen society, so she figured she might as well see where dating could take her. Tim turned out to be funny, charming, and intelligent. Their interests aligned, and she found herself genuinely liking him. It was nice to have someone to share meals with, someone who went out of their way to make her laugh, and someone who simply got her in a way she hadn’t expected.
Bella hadn’t planned on sleeping with Tim. Their relationship had been steady but uncomplicated, and she’d expected it to stay that way for a while longer. But one night, three months into their dating, everything changed.
She’d been about to leave his apartment when he’d pressed her roughly against the door, his lips crashing onto hers in a hungry kiss. The sudden intensity had caught her off guard, igniting something inside her she hadn’t felt in years. What started as a flicker of interest had quickly turned into a raging fire of want—no, need.
Looking back, Bella now realized it had been the roughness of it that pushed her over the edge. It had been so long since anyone had touched her, let alone wanted her. When she felt his hardness pressing against her abdomen as he ground against her, her body overruled her mind. Her hands latched onto him, and she ground herself against him in return, surprising them both.
The words had spilled out of her lips before she could stop them. “I want to have s*x.”
Tim had groaned against her mouth, murmuring, “Thank god. So do I, sweets.”
He’d pulled her into his bedroom, but to his surprise, Bella had practically ripped his clothes off. She shoved him onto the bed and climbed on top of him with a primal intensity he clearly hadn’t expected. He barely had time to grab protection before she lined herself up with him and sank down, hard and fast, taking him fully into herself.
She’d ridden him with abandon, her movements fierce and demanding. His hands roamed over her body, touching and exploring every inch of her.
That night, they’d had s*x three times. She let him touch her, taste her, and take her, but she had also taken him—fully and completely. It was good, and it had sated some of her needs. But not all of them.
