by Vivian Arend
The calming breath Alex attempted to take backfired as a full-on rush of Lara’s scent rolled into his nostrils and left him shaking with need.
Think. He had to think. If things progressed as usual, the urge to fuck would fade slightly then return, a little like a rollercoaster, for the next twenty-four hours. After that, there would be no stopping the animal instinct to mate, and the drive would continue on high for a good solid week.
After seven years of dealing with the fever, Alex had a well-established routine. When he reached this point, he would pack a bag and head into the wilderness to hide out for the duration, avoiding contact with anyone of the opposite sex. With the promise he’d made to his brothers and Gramps, that option was unavailable.
But he’d been strategizing ever since his brother James had mentioned his plan to deal with mating fever had been to track down his best friend and switch up their relationship to include hot fucking.
Alex had no intention of imitating the second part of his brother’s plan, which had ended up with James actually mated with his fever partner, but the basic premise was brilliant.
Find someone Alex’s bear wanted to get cozy with who was not otherwise compatible as a mate. Someone like the dangerous yet sexy Lara.
Did he want her in his bed? Hell yes. And not only there… He wanted her under him on the floor, and against the wall, and in the shower, and riding him like he was a goddamn pony.
Want her forever? Hell no.
He didn’t trust her, but that didn’t mean they couldn’t connect all the right circuits for one explosive week.
More time before the fever struck would have been nice, but the rush of need in his belly said he simply had to deal. So be it. What he needed to do was track down Lara then convince her that wild and dirty was vital to both their interests. Or at least both their libidos.
He knew she lived at the pack house, so he’d have to entice her away for the week. Maybe bring along a few incentives like chocolate and really good doughnuts, but after the heated passion they’d shared in the closet, he figured there was at least a chemical attraction to sweeten the idea.
Turning toward the door to sneak away and begin the next part of his plan, Alex caught a glimpse of a paper lying on the desk. Lara’s scent was all over it, her handwriting in the bottom corner.
Sheer delight rose as he examined the information, especially the part that noted a date at the spa beginning tomorrow and going on for three nights.
A wicked, wonderful idea struck. He didn’t need to convince her to come to his apartment. She already had the perfect mating fever getaway location organized. Brilliant woman.
Sexy, sexy wolf, his bear moaned.
For once, Alex had zero intent of telling his inner beast to shut up. But it did remind him there was a point he needed to emphasize. To be certain his bear was on the same page.
We can track down Lara, but you know what we do with her is just for fun.
Excitement rang clearly in his bear’s mental tone. Seriously? I get to play with sexy wolf?
There we go. Playing and fun and full-on frantic sex were all one and the same, and knowing that his bear was on board with that was fan—fucking—tastic.
We get to play if she says yes, Alex warned.
Because as much as he’d be going mindless with mating fever, he wasn’t an asshole willing to take an uninterested woman. If she said no, he’d be out the door and headed into the bush in his bear form to suffer alone. Screw the pact he’d made with his brothers—if he couldn’t have Lara, he wasn’t going to go find a random hookup.
The thought of being with another woman made his skin crawl.
Lara saying anything but yes became even more important. We might have to get creative when we ask her.
I will take care of that. I’m far more charming than you, the beast informed him jauntily.
Alex laughed softly as he made his way back to the roof of the pack house. The fresh air hit his face, sharpening his senses and brightening his spirits while he snuck away.
He stopped at his personal office to finish up a couple of vital tasks, slipping away an hour later with the happy sensation of starting a holiday. Which was a wildly different mind-set than how he usually felt at this point of the mating fever adventure.
He was headed to his apartment to pack a bag when an incoming call clicked through his hands-free phone.
Call from: Gramps.
Since the night of the gala, Alex had successfully managed to avoid the old man outside of business hours. No way did he want his gramps to know what was going on right now, either, since most of the messages on his answering machine involved the Borealis patriarch berating him for wasting energy on Lara.
Still, maybe before disappearing for a week he should do a little damage control to keep the old man off his scent. “Hey, Gramps. How goes the day?”
“My day is fine, but there’s obviously something wrong with yours,” Grandfather Giles complained. “Why am I leaving voice messages for you when you never return them?”
It was too much to resist. “I don’t know. Why are you leaving voice messages when I never return them?”
His grandfather growled. Alex barked out a laugh.
“Ungrateful cub.” Gramps clicked his tongue disapprovingly. “You are rather brilliant, though, so I’ll forgive a few little foibles like you forgetting your manners.”
“Thanks so much. It’s good to know you think I’m brilliant, although I’m not sure what brought that on.” Alex transferred to his phone as he left the car in the parking lot and headed up to his apartment. “Anything in particular?”
“Keeping an eye on that undersized woman from Midnight Inc. was smart. I like your initiative, although it would’ve been nice if you’d warned me the cozying up last week was all a job. Had me worried you were losing your senses for a while.”
Once again Alex wondered about his grandfather’s mental health. “Anything in particular about Lara give you pause? Anything concrete for me to trace, that is.”
Because random comments about how unsuitable and impassionate she was made no sense and just annoyed his bear.
“Woman can’t look me in the eye. Never trust a person who can’t fix you square on in the eye and give a polite hello,” his grandfather warned as if Alex were a preteen learning public etiquette.
“When did you last see Lara?” Alex didn’t remember his grandfather meeting her other than briefly at the gala.
“Five minutes ago. I was in the grocery store picking up a few things, came around the corner, and she was there pushing a cartload of junk food and ice cream.”
Unexpected food choices, and ones that his time with their office manager, Amber, told him Lara was looking for some comfort. Or she had a sweet tooth.
The things he didn’t know about her nagged like a sore tooth.
“Since when did you become a Canada’s Food Guide critic?” Alex asked his grandfather. “I seem to remember more than one bag of Halloween candy stashed in your office over the years.”
His gramps grumbled good-naturedly then tossed out the lulu of all suggestions. “I think she was heading out on a road trip. I might’ve eavesdropped a little, but it seems the woman is driving north in the morning. I don’t like the sounds of that, my boy. You have anything dire at the factory in the next while that you can’t put off?”
It was an unexpected answer to one of his problems. “Are you telling me to follow her?”
“I wouldn’t presume to tell you how to do your job, but considering we have holdings to the north and Midnight Inc. doesn’t, her trip strikes me as suspicious. Might be a good thing to keep an eye on her.” His grandfather had dropped to a quiet, conspiratorial tone. “Always better to keep ahead of the competition. Get a jump on them, so to speak.”
A violent ache shot through his gut as his bear offered a picture of Alex jumping on Lara. Both of them naked.
Alex gritted his teeth as he fought for control.
His voice still sounded raspy when he managed to answer. “Thanks for the heads-up. I won’t be in the office for the next few days. Depending on what happens, I won’t be answering my phone either. Don’t worry. I’ve got this under control.”
His grandfather answered politely, and then they both hung up.
Alex had to admit, at least to himself, that while it was the perfect solution to getting out of town and dealing with the mating fever on the sly, he’d totally lied his ass off.
Under control? He was the furthest fucking thing from it.
10
Lara lay on her back on a cloud of softness, relaxing in front of a roaring fire. The rug under her was made of something fluffy and was so sensuously addictive she couldn’t stop stroking it. Soft music played, turned on with a simple verbal command.
The lighting was low, and the scent of ripe strawberries hung in the air. They were one of the delectable items in the loaded dish of fruit and chocolate that had been waiting for her in the room.
Room? No, this place was bigger than her apartment, and she already knew leaving in three days would be tough.
The drive had been short, and checking in to Shimmering Delights had been remarkably like what she imagined living as royalty would be. Escorted through the main entrance and directly to the suite, she watched as people in uniform appeared and disappeared rapidly. Everything that she needed was within calling distance as luxury screamed out at her.
The only thing wrong was the aching hole inside her that longed to be filled by the company of her mate.
We’ll make a plan, she promised her wolf. As soon as we get back, I’ll go to Crystal and find out what’s going on.
Because once she knew for sure, she could take steps to maybe approach Alex. Maybe try to broach the idea of something more between them—
Lots between us, her wolf commented dryly.
Lara’s instant mental image of having nothing between them was sheer torture. She’d had his body against her now. Heck, she’d had her hands on his body, felt the heat and strength within him.
She found herself stroking the blanket, cursing softly at the realization each stroke reminded her of teasing her fingers through Alex’s hair.
Pounding need struck.
Good grief. Here she went again. Lara sighed as she slid a hand under the waistband of her pants, slipping her fingers between her legs.
The images weren’t going away, so she might as well indulge in a little pleasure-induced relief before the warning timer she’d set went off for her first spa session.
She’d gone for sheer comfort for her getaway. With no plans to go out in public the entire time, her clothing had all been pulled from the favourite part of her closet. Her current apparel was her oldest pair of pyjamas, faded and baby soft and worn so thin that she needed the heat from the fireplace to stay warm.
Or at least she did until she pictured Alex beside her. His dark eyes fixed on hers as he undid the buttons of his shirt and let it fall to the ground.
She’d felt his muscles under her fingertips. Felt the flex and power as he’d held her close. Felt the tremour in his core as she touched him, and she took the sweet delicious sensation in and imagined him curling himself around her. Resting his hands on hers and following along as he learned what she liked. Slow caresses, building pressure.
She moved her legs slowly against the soft caress of the carpet, adding layers of pleasure to the heat building in her core. Moisture covered her fingers at the thought of him working his way down her body. Hands pressing her thighs apart to expose her most intimate center.
Her legs quivered, tension spiraled, and dream Alex leaned in, mouth covering her sex as his tongue—
A firm knock rattled the door.
Lara’s fingers faltered for a stroke then picked up again. She ignored the summons. She wasn’t expecting guests, and there was nothing she needed to do more than deal with what she was doing at that moment.
Instead of his mouth, she wanted his fingers. Pressing inside slowly, slicking over the—
Bang, bang, bang.
Lara groaned in frustration and rolled to her side. She stumbled to her feet, tugging her pants into place.
Open the door, her wolf ordered eagerly.
What are you talking about? Lara demanded with annoyance as she put her eye to the peephole.
It’s him, her inner beast informed her as Lara’s eyesight confirmed the impossible truth.
Alex Borealis stood in the hallway, staring at the door with fire in his eyes.
Oh. My. God.
Maybe if she ignored him, he would go away.
Noooooooooooooo. An easily understood sentiment from her wolf.
In the hallway, Alex straightened, unfolding his arms from where they’d lain across his chest. “Open the door, sugar. I know you’re there.”
The words came out quiet but forceful. Demanding, as if he could order her around, and suddenly her temper flared.
Lara jerked the door opened and glared at him. “What the hell are you doing here?”
He took a deep breath and his nostrils flared. A shudder quaked through him. He closed his eyes, and every muscle tightened as if he was fighting an internal battle.
Then he straightened, his gaze locking on her eyes. “Christ, woman. You’re killing me.”
He knew. Lara licked her suddenly dry lips because it was clear he knew exactly what she’d been up to a moment ago. “What do you want, Borealis?” she demanded.
His gaze dropped to the floor briefly before he lifted it, this time without the demanding attitude and with one hundred percent truth held up like an offering. “You. I fucking want you.”
It was the last thing she’d expected to hear. Suddenly it was hard to think, considering the calisthenics her wolf was doing inside her brain. But she was pretty certain what he was saying and what her wolf wanted to hear were not the same thing.
The sound of voices down the hallway announced they were going to have an audience within seconds, so Lara did the only thing possible. She caught hold of his shirtsleeve, pulled him into the room, and closed the door firmly behind him.
“This is not me agreeing to anything,” she warned. “This is me trying to deal with what the hell is wrong with you without witnesses.”
Alex went surprisingly meek for a moment, marching at her side to what should be the safest place in the suite. Only, as she reached the kitchen and twisted to discover his gaze had been fixed on her ass, the truth was at this particular moment neither of them seemed to have full control of their brains.
She folded her arms over her chest. “Ignoring bigger questions such as how did you know I was here and what kind of creep follows a woman to her hotel when he’s not invited, I want to know what you mean by that outrageous comment.”
Alex caught her hand in his, tugging it toward him. He swore softly, eyes blurring for a second as he lifted it to his lips.
She should’ve moved sooner, because when he opened his mouth and sucked her fingers into the wet heat, she couldn’t move. He closed his eyes and rumbled, lusty and deep, and the pulse of need inside her grew exponentially.
His voice shook when he spoke. “Please tell me I can have more of that.”
Dear God, he’d licked the fingers she’d used to masturbate.
He curled his fingers more deliberately around her wrist, locking her in place.
“Alex. What is wrong with—?”
Oh, sweet mercy.
He stared at her as he ran his tongue between her knuckles. Fire was in his eyes, his chest moving erratically as if breathing was difficult.
His eyes weren’t human.
She was definitely talking to his bear, which meant something was happening, which meant…
Everything she’d heard over the years, plus all the research she’d done since discovering her mate was a polar bear, pointed to one thing. He was in mating fever, or about to be.
He is ours, her wolf said. Pleeeaase.
T
he whisper of information her friend Kaylee had shared slid in—the only way they could end up mated was if both of them agreed. And while Alex was here for some strange reason, and obviously wanting sex, that didn’t mean he wanted her forever.
Which was what she truly wanted. What she truly needed. Instead, she was being offered temporary, and it was going to break her heart and hurt like hell, but turning him down? Impossible.
Lara laid her free hand against Alex’s cheek, meeting his gaze head on. “Is it the fever?”
Happiness spread across his expression. He eased closer to press his body against hers. “Need you. But you choose—yes or no.”
He shuddered, then shook his head violently in a move she recognized from having strongly worded arguments with her wild side. Obviously his bear did not agree with giving her the option of deciding.
There were so many good reasons to not do this, but having a chance to enjoy the big bad bear for a brief time outweighed everything.
“Are you sure you want me?” Lara asked softly.
An inhuman growl escaped his lips, and she found herself airborne. A second later, with Lara seated on the island, he pushed her legs apart and stepped against her. The thick ridge in his pants lined up perfectly with the aching softness between her legs.
Okay. Wrong question. “You physically want me, I got that, but are you sure you’re not going to regret this later?”
He planted his hands on the island on either side of her. His head lowered and every muscle in his upper body bulged as he fought for control. When he lifted his head again, he was fully human, eyes full of questions and high intellect.
With his beast subdued, the man was ready to give an answer.
“You’re smart and you’re sexy. And you’re a fucking ninja warrior woman, and if I’m going to experience mating fever with anyone, it’s going to be someone who can kick my ass. I won’t hurt you physically, I swear I won’t, but I’m trusting you to have my back if the bear gets out of control.”
Out of all the pretty promises he could’ve made, this was the only thing she couldn’t resist. Offering his trust? It was one comment that set up something in her heart that really shouldn’t be there—
