Primal Attraction (Shadowlands Bear Shifters Book 2)

by Olivia Harp

  Then she moaned.

  His hand touched her breast, it had been years since she’d been touched like this. His cock pressed against her, hard as hell. She wanted it. She was dripping wet now, his mouth explored every inch of her neck. Kissing it, biting it, licking it. Going for her earlobe, then back to her chest.

  She wanted him to take her. Every inch of her was his.

  He pulled her tank top down, his other hand pulled her hair, taking control but not really hurting her.

  Her breasts were exposed, they were still outside, like a couple of teenagers unable to keep their hands to themselves. He found his way to her erect nipple, his moist tongue tasting her. She lost herself in lust.

  Her panties were soaked, her juices flowed like never before, he buried himself between her breasts, going to her nipples, then up to her chest, then a kiss, then back again. She moaned again, louder this time, as he undid her bra and pushed her blouse down, the narrow straps of her tank top held against her elbows.

  He bit her harder now, sending a fiery throb all over her body, his thick cock brushed her through the clothes. She couldn’t stop herself from grinding her center against it.

  She needed it.

  She needed it in her.

  But he moved first.

  His hand went to her thighs, she was so fuckin’ horny that when he slid his finger against her panties, her clit almost exploded.

  “Fuck,” she said, as he pressed softly against her nub, she was powerless to do anything, she couldn’t think, this man had her completely surrendered to him.

  In a swift move, he undid her jeans and lowered them to her knees.

  She was about to have sex in a car in front of her house. She’d never said anything about doing this. He told him he wasn’t going inside, in a way, she didn’t break her promise.

  She was incapable of controlling herself, but it was wrong, she knew it was wrong.

  Then he pulled her panties aside and touched her bare.

  His hot finger traced her slit delicately, her juices drenching it in an instant. It was embarrassing. So deliciously embarrassing.

  “Maverick,” she moaned, “this is wro—”

  He pressed his finger a bit harder against her and an explosion started to form inside. She was already on the edge of coming and he had barely touched her. He was too good.

  “Do you want this?” he said, his finger concentrating on her spot, his other hand pulling her hair back. She loved it, it was impossible to deny it.

  “Tell me,” he asked.

  She nodded,

  “Yes.”

  “I want to be inside you,” he said.

  And that was enough. An electric pulse exploded from her sex, her moans turned into yelling, her whole body shivering as the orgasm consumed her.

  She was unable to speak. Her eyes open but not really seeing, the sensation washing away bit by bit.

  She then realized she was breathing.

  Vampires don’t need to breath, it was a conscious thing they could do, not necessary.

  And she didn’t even notice. She was so lost in the moment that for a second she acted like a human. A normal person.

  Of course she did. She forgot herself. This had been the best orgasm of her life.

  Then he pecked her on the cheek, caressing her hair.

  “Where’s your necklace?” he asked.

  She sat up, her fingers speeding to her neck. What the heck?, it wasn’t there, she looked around the cabin but couldn’t see it. She jumped to the passenger side, her hands on the crevices of the seat, searching anxiously.

  “Let me...” Mav said, turning on the light, his eyes searching for it, too.

  “Where is it?” she said, her voice almost breaking.

  She got out of the cabin, it was easier to look for it that way, Mav did the same.

  She looked everywhere inside, the seat, the door, the floor.

  Mav did the same, she had looked in every nook of the cabin, she’d even looked in the glove compartment, which made no sense. Please, it’s got to be around here somewhere. Please.

  But it wasn’t.

  She had an empty feeling in the pit of her stomach. Where did she lose it? She felt like crying.

  “I can’t find it,” Mav said, “I don’t think it’s here.”

  She wasn’t paying much attention. Where is it? Where the fuck is it? Then it dawned on her.

  “That guy. The one I choked. He grabbed me by the neck.”

  Maverick clicked his tongue.

  “Shit.”

  “God damn it!” she yelled.

  Mav went to her, tried to put his hand on her shoulder, to calm her, but she moved away.

  She rubbed her eyes. Mav stood there awkwardly, watching her.

  “Was it very important?”

  She nodded.

  “It was a gift. A very special gift.”

  “I’m sorry.”

  “Don’t be,” she said curtly, “it’s fine, I just...”

  She looked at the horizon. The sun was almost there. An hour or two, perhaps.

  “It had sentimental value.”

  Maverick nodded in silence.

  “My mom gave it to me, years ago. It was special to me.”

  “I can go check.”

  “No! Come on, I’ll go myself, don’t worry. I hope it’s still there tomorrow. This has been cool. Let’s just leave it at that.”

  She wasn’t ready for a relationship. How could she ever be? Mav was interesting, a gentleman, could carry a conversation and he’s hot as hell, don’t try to hide it, but vampires and shifters did not mix.

  Shifters were creatures of light. They thrived on life, nature, that sort of things. Vampires were the living dead. The freakin’ opposite. Their fate was sealed from the moment they met. This had been a good adventure, but she couldn’t kid herself.

  “You’re a good person, I like you. But this can’t work, you know it.”

  “You’re sure of that?”

  “Yes,” she lied. She wasn’t sure of anything anymore.

  “Okay,” he said, “here’s my number. We can still be friends, right?”

  She held her laugh, yeah right, she’d try but they’d probably wouldn’t be able to keep their hands to themselves.

  “I guess so.”

  “Cool to have met you, stranger. See you around.”

  “See you around, bear man.”

  Maverick waited until she was inside the house, turned the radio on, and drove away.

  Chapter 7

  The bar was on his way home so Mav said screw it and drove back to it. It was almost dawn, he’d have to be at work very soon, but he figured he might as well check the area before more people came. The necklace could still be there.

  It smelled like morning already, though it was still dark. He walked around and retraced their steps. She grabbed him here, he stepped back and tried to pull himself off but couldn’t. He crouched and searched around. The fallen lamp post laid parallel to the building, someone had taken the time to at least move it away.

  I should apologize to Ike, even though it wasn’t my fault. He still didn’t pick Faith’s scent, that was strange.

  He grabbed her here, and then... Yes. The guy ripped it without noticing and flung it away. He took another step, turning around, searching in the gravel, all his senses sharp. Then faintly, on the far end of the lot, near the dumpsters, he heard movement.

  His bear pushed inside, wanting to come out. Enemy, it said. Everything inside him shouted danger, but he stood still.

  There was nothing there.

  It was strange, his bear never acted like that. Never flared up, going straight to self–defense mode. He wasn’t going to ignore it, but it would stay inside unless it was absolutely necessary. He could deal with anyone.

  He didn’t sense anything out of the ordinary. Maybe a small animal? Then he picked her scent.

  It was mixed with dirt and blood. The necklace. It laid half buried beneath the gravel. A
deep red stone, glistening in the orange electric light of a faraway lamp post.

  He couldn’t hide his smile. It was kind of embarrassing really, to be this happy to find her necklace. She’ll be so happy. Then he laughed. Really man? “She’ll be so happy”? You’re starting to sound like a teenager. She just wants to be friends.

  That was okay, he’d found something for a friend, he was happy for her, the night wasn’t ruined.

  And now he had an excuse to see her again.

  ***

  He parked his truck near his cabin, left the necklace inside and went down to the Communications Tower. It had taken him about forty minutes to get up here on the mountain from the bar, and the crew was already getting ready for their morning rounds.

  “Well lookey here,” Raiden said, “I see you ditched us yesterday for a good reason.”

  Enzo and Franklin laughed, Maverick just remembered he wasn’t wearing a shirt. He made it easy for them this time.

  Damien, his alpha, didn’t laugh, he just looked at him in silence.

  “Shut the hell up, man,” Mav told Raiden, “it isn’t what you think.”

  “I thought only rednecks drove without their shirt on.”

  “Cut it off Raiden,” Damien said, “the man’s tired, are you going to skip work today?”

  “Hell no,” Mav said, “I’m ready.”

  “Good.”

  “You need to teach Franklin how you do it, tho’” Raiden continued.

  “Hey man,” Franklin said, “I don’t need help to hook up with someone.”

  “Sure you do buddy,” Raiden laughed.

  Enzo smiled, he didn’t usually join the crew’s banter. His sense of humor wasn’t as acid anyway.

  “Hey fuckers,” Mav said, his cool wearing off, “it wasn’t a hook up, okay? Stop your shit and let’s get to work.”

  None of them replied. Not even Raiden, the smart ass of the bunch. Mav sat on a chair and took off his boots, throwing them near the entrance door.

  “You’re shifting?” Enzo said.

  “Yeah, I wanna get done with it as fast as possible. That okay, boss?”

  Damien knew he could trust him. Of course it would be okay.

  “Everyone, go do your job. Mav, you stay.”

  That was weird.

  The rest of the crew looked at each other for a second or two, shrugged and walked to the forest.

  “Tough night? You okay?” Damien asked.

  I better play it cool, I don’t want to give them the wrong impression.

  “Sure, boss, I’m fine, I’m just not in the mood for playing.”

  Damien looked at him intently, then nodded.

  “I can smell her, you know?”

  Sure, everyone could if they tried, so what?

  “I know what she is,” Damien remarked.

  That stopped him, his heart started beating faster. Damien was the best boss any crew could find, but he didn’t fuck around. Maverick didn’t say anything.

  “Remember your duty. Fight the Shadowlands. Now, I know you know what you’re doing. But her kind and nature don’t play well with each other.”

  Why did that piss him off? The fucking Shadowlands hadn’t dared come up here for over a year. And even if they punctured the world and started spreading the Rot around, they all could deal with it. That’s what they were born to do.

  He nodded, his gaze fixed on Damien.

  “Don’t worry, boss. I know my duty.”

  Damien extended his hand, helping Mav up his chair.

  “So how was she? Vamp girls are supposed to be wild.”

  “Oh damn it boss, you’re not gonna start shit too, right?”

  Damien laughed.

  “I’m just kidding, man, come on, it’s not like she was your mate or anything.”

  That word struck him hard. No, she wasn’t his mate, he’d just met her. He barely knew her.

  “Mav...?”

  “Boss, you know I’m a free spirit, why would I want a mate? I’m having too much fun without that kind of responsibility.”

  He shook his head as he went outside and shifted into his bear, a huge, beautiful Kodiak. He was anxious to stop thinking and lose himself in the forest.

  ***

  Everything was fine, as usual. He focused his senses, the distinct stench of the Rot was not there. He’d notice that in a second. When he was a bear, everything human faded into the background. He became one with the forest: its animals, its sounds, its smells.

  He knew every part of it, its predators and their prey. It would be extremely difficult for the rot to puncture this reality again. His alpha was the Primal Bear. He not only made the forest more powerful. His crew shared some of that power, too. They were all tougher now, their bear form more attuned to nature, their senses much stronger.

  The other crews knew it, too. The Rot was an affront to nature, the White Paws and the Primal Bear were nature’s warriors, born to hit it back into wherever it came from. He growled. He wished the Rot came back. He needed an enemy here, he wanted to destroy something.

  He was angry. Why?

  What Damien said. Her kind and nature don’t play well with each other. He was right. She was an immortal. A living dead. But so what? Did that mean she couldn’t be here? Did that explain why vampires preferred urban life than any other place?

  Damned if he knew.

  Wait. What was he thinking? Why would she come here? He wouldn’t bring her, that was for sure. He never brought anyone up here. His freedom was sacred. He had never wanted to have a relationship, and he made sure everyone knew that.

  Stop thinking of her.

  He tried, and almost could. He was able to push her out of his mind and carry on with his job. Only to find himself thinking of her again and again.

  The worst part?

  He enjoyed it.

  Chapter 8

  The small plastic bottle was only half full before Faith’s hand self–healed. Damn it, I need to cut again. She hated doing it, cutting the palm of her hand deep enough to bleed into the bottle.

  Yeah, she could heal fast, but pain was still pain, and her hand itched for hours. So she did it again.

  She whimpered, but the job was done, the drops started going into the small container again. She was listening to an old eighties music mixtape she made.

  That always took her mind off the pain.

  Or him.

  Stop kidding yourself and admit you like him.

  She shook her head, smiling. Good thing she wasn’t seeing him again. It might have been bad for everyone, shifters and vampires just don’t mix. She had to think of other things now.

  What was she doing that evening? What was there to do?

  She could go to the festival. It did sound like a fun thing to do. And he might actually be there.

  She rolled her eyes and focused on the bottle, almost full now, when the doorbell rang.

  She tensed up. What the hell? The drapes on the window next to the door were closed, obviously. There was no way to see who was out there. No one came here. She didn’t know her neighbors. Calm down, nothing’s happening. There was a moment of calming silence.

  Then the doorbell rang again.

  She jumped up, tipping the bottle on its side, she caught it just in time and screwed the cap on. The wound would take some minutes to heal, so she grabbed a napkin and pressed it against her palm.

  “Faith, are you there?”

  She recognized Mavericks voice. She took a deep breath and sighed in relief, opening the door immediately.

  He was there, dressed in casual jeans and a gray t–shirt that hung against his muscles a bit too deliciously. Anything looks good on this guy. His big smile was the cherry on the top.

  “Hi,” she said, glad to see him but still confused about all this, “I thought we weren’t seeing each other again,”

  “Sorry to bother you. I just wanted to give you this.”

  He took a chain out of his pocket. It had a beautiful pendant on it. It
took her a few seconds to realize it was her necklace.

  “Oh my God!” she said, snatching it out of his hand, jumping in excitement like a little girl.

  “Where did you find it?”

  “It was on the parking lot, easy find.”

  “How did you know—?”

  “Where else was it gonna be?”

  She laughed, “oh my gosh, thank you, thank you!”

  “I would’ve gotten here earlier but I had the chain fixed, it’s very beautiful, no wonder you like it so much.”

  His tone suddenly changed, “are you okay?”

  He was looking at her hand, blood dripping from it, staining the floor.

  “Oh!” she said as she put the napkin back on the wound, “Yes, just... it’s a long story.”

  He nodded, and looked around slowly, “well, I guess that’s it, right?”

  She bit her lip.

  “Well... you’re already here, want to come in? You can keep me company while this heals.”

  She was glad he found her necklace, but she was even happier to see him again, she couldn’t deny it.

  ***

  She wore yellow pajamas. Damn she looked good, he had to hide his erection as soon as she opened the door.

  She wasn’t wearing a bra. He thought stupidly. That’s gonna be enough for me for like, a year. Yes, he was talking about masturbation. He tried to take her out of his mind throughout the day, and now that he looked at her like this, messy hair, loose clothes, no make–up, it was going to be harder. She looked even more beautiful than he remembered.

  He couldn’t see her without getting fully erect, good thing she went upstairs to change as soon as he walked inside the house. That gave him time to calm down.

  Maverick waited on the entrance hall. The house was smaller on the inside than it looked. Take on me, by Aha played in the background, the catchy keyboard tune made him smile. She was tough and hard on the exterior. But deep inside, she was such a softie.

  “I’m sorry I can’t offer you anything. I’ve got no food.” She said as she came down the stairs, dressed in black shorts and a white tee, her necklace proudly displayed above her t–shirt, “you understand.”

  “Sure. What happened?”

  “Nothing,” she said smiling.

  She still had that napkin on her palm, a small dot of blood in the middle of it, “it’s work related stuff.”