by Lauren Wood
Natalie slid into a table at the coffee shop and sent out tentative waves of energy. She felt no hostility. Younger shifters stared at her with mild curiosity and older shifters out right stared. It was obvious that they were still trying to adjust to the changes their alpha had made.
She kept her eyes down and slowly drank her coffee. Jackson had told her that no one would bother her, but frankly, while she felt like she could trust Jackson, she knew that not everyone could be monitored all the time. People’s moods changed for no obvious reasons.
But here, she could finally breathe. Slowly, she felt the eyes drift away from her, and she sighed. How had her life come to this?
And more importantly, why, after everything that happened with Paul, was she so willing to trust another bear shifter? It’s not like her intuition hasn’t been wrong before.
She shivered when she thought about her last interaction with Paul.
“Where the hell is it, bitch?” His eyes were wild with rage. Natalie pressed herself against the wall and tried to make herself as small as possible.
“Paul, I didn’t take anything,” she said softly.
“Don’t lie to me! What happened? How did you figure it out? Did you finally feel that something wasn’t right? Did that weird power of yours finally kick in? I’m going to kill you!”
Someone knocked on the door, and he immediately calmed down. She watched in horror as his twisted face returned to normal. “Get in the bedroom,” he hissed. “And don’t make a sound.”
She scurried to the bedroom, but rather than waiting for him to attack her, she grabbed her purse and her jacket and snuck out the window. Without a second thought, she began hitchhiking. She needed to get as far away from him as possible. And she knew that he’d come looking for her.
“Natalie.”
A jolt ran through her, and she lifted her gaze. Jackson was seated in front of her. “Are you okay?”
“You keep asking me that question,” she muttered. “I’m fine. I just needed some extra caffeine.”
He lifted an eyebrow. “Because you are planning on running?”
“No,” she said softly. “It’s a full moon tonight. I imagine I won’t be getting much sleep.”
He reached across the table and took her hands. She felt a warm jolt as his thumb caressed her skin. “I don’t know what it was like with the last pack that you were with, but you have nothing to fear here. The condo is as secure as it comes in this territory. As long as you don’t leave, you’ll be fine. And even if you do, I suspect you’ll still be fine. We teach everyone in our pack how to remain as human as possible during the shift. We might look like bears, but we do recognize you. We mostly just hunt in the woods and run around like a bunch of wild animals.”
“And your alpha returns tomorrow?” she left the question she really wanted to ask unspoken, but Jackson seemed to read her thoughts.
“Micah will protect you. He’s my best friend, and trust me, he’s as fair as they come.”
She looked up from her coffee. “Jackson, I haven’t actually thanked you yet. Or apologized. I know that you don’t need me, but I’m not this woman. I don’t steal from people or piss shifters off. I was just looking for acceptance, and I got more than I bargained for. So thank you for not having me arrested.”
He smiled at her, and suddenly, she was filled with warmth. He squeezed her hand and left her without saying a word. And suddenly, she was confused. She barely knew him, and already she had mixed feelings inside her. It wasn’t like Paul. This was something entirely new.
Chapter Five
It was almost two o’clock in the morning when she felt his vibrations. Cold. Calculating. Cruel.
Her eyes flew to the door. The full moon lit her room, and she’d been watching the window all night. She told herself she was just keeping an eye on things, but she knew she was just hoping to keep see Jackson.
But it wasn’t Jackson on the other side of the door.
Bile rose in her throat as fear bloomed. Paul had found her.
He must have sensed her fear because he roared on the other side. It was hardly human, and she screamed. Immediately, the door began to shake. He must have been throwing himself at from the other side.
Jackson had already told her that she’d be the only person in the building, so she knew that no one was coming to save her. She immediately began scouting the room for a weapon. Paul was a powerful shifter. It was only a matter of time before he found his way in.
Panicked, she tried to calm down. There was an assortment of things she could use. The lamp. A wine bottle. The television. But nothing was large enough to take him out cold. Racing to the kitchen, she found a large butcher knife. Gripping it tightly, she slid to the floor and shook.
The door splintered and cracked, and suddenly, she could feel his waves of anger and triumph as clear as day. Looking over the counter, she opened her mouth and screamed.
Paul was mostly in human form. Though his arms and legs had shifted, he was still caging the bear. “Natalie,” he called to her in a singsong voice. “Don’t you want to give me a kiss?” His head turned and their eyes locked.
Natalie jumped up and brandished the knife. “Go away, Paul.”
“Stupid bitch. You thought you could run from me?” he roared. “You thought you could seek protection from another pack? No one is as strong as me! No one!”
He shifted fully into a bear and launched himself at her. Natalie screamed, but Paul never touched her. Out of nowhere, another bear ran at full speed at Paul, and they both tumbled on the floor.
It was clear that they were both powerful. Paul was black and grisly, but this new bear was sleek and grey. Both were angry, but one was protective. She felt his energy reach out to her and comfort her.
Jackson.
Paul must have decided that the fight wasn’t worth it. Or he knew more members of the pack would be arriving soon because he bounded out into the hall and disappeared.
The grey bear turned to her and snorted. Natalie trembled, but she didn’t back down. He didn’t approach her though. After a few minutes of eye contact, he curled up on the floor and went to sleep.
***
She hadn’t slept. Jackson was still passed out on the floor. At least, she hoped it was Jackson. It felt like him, but she was having trouble trusting her own instincts these days.
As the sun rose, she heard the cracking of his bones. Turning her back to allow him some privacy, she waited until the transformation was finished. When she turned, he was staring at her.
And he was stark naked.
Her breath caught in her throat as she quickly averted her eyes. Reaching over, she snagged the edge of the blanket and tossed it his way. “Here you go,” she muttered.
“Are you okay?”
She felt the intensity behind his words, and she finally looked at him. “Peachy,” she squeaked.
“Damn it,” he swore. “Did he hurt you?”
She shook her head. “He didn’t touch me. He’d been in the room for less that two minutes before you showed up.”
Jackson frowned. “But I felt your fear before that. That’s why I came.”
“I don’t know what you mean by that, but I was scared. I could feel him getting close, and I panicked.”
He stormed closer to her and snagged her chin. “Tell me the truth,” he said harshly. “Were you scared of me?”
“You?” she jerked her chin away. “Hardly.”
“Then why are you still holding the knife?”
Her eyes settled on the weapon that she still gripped in her hand. She didn’t even realize she was holding it. With a sigh, she let it clatter to the tiled floor. “Just in case he came back,” she muttered.
“He’s big. Powerful,” Jackson muttered. “But he’s not alpha.”
“Probably because he’s crazy. He only partially shifted so he could taunt me.” She shook her head. “How did he get onto your territory?”
“I don’t know, but I intend to f
ind out.” There was an intense heat behind his words, and she shivered. Without warning, he pushed her up against the wall. Natalie’s heart pounded. This wasn’t fear or aggressions. This was purely sexual. “I was scared for you,” he murmured.
Her hands slowly reached up and tentatively touched his skin. “You had excellent timing,” she whispered.
Jackson leaned down and inhaled. “You are so intoxicating,” he murmured.
“And you’re still coming down from the affects of the shift. I know it can be arousing,” she managed as she swallowed hard.
His hand came up and forced her chin up. She gasped when she saw the lust in his eyes. “It’s not the shift, and you know it, “he murmured, and his mouth descended.
Natalie moaned. His kiss was urgent and demanding, and she was only too happy to comply. Her lips opened eagerly, and her tongue reached out to taste him. Jackson growled and deepened the kiss.
Her hands wrapped around his neck for support. Her legs were already growing weak, but Jackson was soon cupping her ass and pulling her towards him. The sheet did nothing to conceal his erection, and she rubbed herself on him eagerly. “Natalie,” he moaned. “You’re driving me crazy.”
But she hadn’t had nearly enough. As she braced her back on the wall for support, she wrapped her legs around him. Even through her clothes, she rubbed herself on him. Everything inside her was hot, wet, and ready. She needed him.
Suddenly, the wall disappeared. Jackson carried her to the bed and gently laid her down. “If you’re not ready,” he whispered. “We can stop.”
She leaned up and slipped her shirt over her head. “Don’t leave me,” she begged. “Please.”
He closed his eyes as if he was battling his own demons, and then he unwrapped the sheet and pressed his body against her. She shivered as he trailed kisses down her body. There was something entirely new about the way he made her feel. This wasn’t just sex to burn away the extra energy. This was about a desperate need, seduction, and passion.
Jackson stroked her nipples through the thin fabric of her bra, and the erotic sensations cascaded through her body. She struggled to breathe and gain control of her body, but he was already removing her bra. Before she could even react, he had one nipple in his mouth and another one rolling between his forefinger and thumb.
“Jackson,” she cried out. Christ, she was about to come just from this.
“Everything about you is absolutely perfect,” he murmured. Her toes curled, and she whimpered in despair when he finally released her. “Don’t worry,” he said with a smile. “We’re not even close to done.”
He slid her sweatpants down, and she gripped the sheets in anticipation. At the rate he was going, she wouldn’t last much longer. She felt his fingers graze the outside of her panties, and her hips twisted in need. “Touch me,” she begged. “Please.”
“Oh my sweet Natalie,” he breathed. “It would be my pleasure.” He pulled her panties down, and almost immediately, she felt his lips on her inner thigh. It was insane what his kisses did to her. She bit her lip to keep from moaning loudly as she felt the warmth of his tongue trail higher and higher. Suddenly, he slipped a long finger inside her and pressed his thumb gently to her clit.
She reacted violently. Without warning, her climax broke, and she arched her hips up and cried out as she convulsed. He held on, and when her body finally relaxed, she reddened. “Sorry,” she whispered.
Jackson leaned up and captured her lips. “Do not ever apologize for an orgasm,” he said harshly. “I love a woman that can enjoy pleasure, and believe me, if I have my way, you’ll have many more before the night is over with.”
And then he was gone, sliding back down her body. He nipped gently at her outer lips, and she fell back against the pillow. He teased the outside of her most sensitive spot gently until finally, he licked her clit.
Still sensitive, she gasped and gripped his hair. “More,” she urged him. He rumbled in laughter, but he didn’t apply any more pressure. His licks and nips were gentle and teasing, and soon, the tension began to build inside her again.
“Fuck,” she whimpered. Sex had never been like this before. She’d had orgasms and she’d felt passion, but this was love and torment and seduction and pleasure weaved all into one action. The air was thick with need as she tried to arch her hips and urge him to do more. He didn’t need a second signal.
She gasped as he slid two fingers inside her. They curled over that sensitive spot inside her, and his warm and wet tongue slid over her clit. Over and over again, his fingers and tongue urged her higher and higher until she finally peaked. She clawed into the bed helplessly as her orgasm took control once again.
Finally, he released her and slid up. Settling his weight over her, he kissed her gently. She tasted herself on him, and wrapped her arms around his neck. His heaviness settled between her legs, but he made no move to go any further.
“You…I…” she hesitated. What was she supposed to say after that?
“Shh,” he whispered. His finger stroked the skin where her neck and her shoulder joined. “Give your body a minute to rest.”
She’d never been with a man who had that much control before. He’d been playing with her body for close to half an hour, and she knew he was struggling not to force himself inside her. “I want to make you feel good,” she said.
“This morning is about you,” he said as he moved his body away from her seeking hands.
She narrowed her eyes and finally wrapped her fingers around his hard length. “It’s about us,” she insisted, and he moaned.
Resting his forehead on her, he pumped his hips gently into her fist. “If we keep this up much longer, I won’t have anything to give you,” he said as he forced his body still.
“Roll over,” she said with a smile. She was already wet and ready.
He complied, taking her with him. Biting her bottom lip, she straddled him and pushed her torso off him. He was bigger than anything she’d ever had before, and she was desperate to have him inside her.
Slowly, inch-by-inch, she slid down his cock. He stretched and filled her. Jackson’s length twitched and glided over her usual sensitive spot, and she moaned. But when she went further down, she realized that he reached a spot she didn’t even know existed.
All the way in, he pulsed and vibrated against the new area, and she cried out. “So good,” she whimpered.
He gripped her hips. “It’s about to get better,” he said roughly and forced her body up. As he slid out and back in, her nails dug into his skin. He was right. It did get better.
Much better.
Suddenly, she couldn’t get enough of him. She leaned over, licked, nipped, and kissed every inch of skin she could reach as she pumped herself up and down. Side to side. Round and round. No matter how she moved, he felt absolutely amazing inside her.
Her whole body began to shake from a desperate need. If she didn’t find her release, she would simply die. What began as slow and languished movements quickly turned desperate and wild.
Jackson held on to her as he suddenly sat up. The angle changed, and he immediately surged deeper. She squealed but kept going. “Natalie,” he cried out. “God baby, you feel so good.”
She couldn’t even respond. They locked eyes as she continued to move against him, and when her body could take no more, she threw back her head and screamed his name as she finally fell apart.
He moaned, gripped her hips, and pulled her convulsing body down and ground his hips into her. She felt his whole body shake as he emptied himself in her.
Collapsing on the bed, he immediately circled his arms around her and held her as she shuddered on top of him. Never had she come so much in such a short period of time.
Never had she come so hard.
And when she closed her eyes, sleep finally embraced her. She felt no fear and no worry. Only safety and love.
Chapter Six
It was well after noon with Jackson woke back up again. Natalie was still sl
eeping peacefully next to him, and he gently smoothed the hair out of her face. The past few days had been a whirlwind for him.
Seeing her trapped between the wall and the bear had knocked at least ten years off his life. Never before had Jackson felt so scared, so angry, and so desperate in his entire life.
Paul was powerful. Strong. And as much as Jackson hated to admit it, it was obvious that Paul was stronger than him. But he knew without a doubt that Jackson would have laid down his life last night if it meant that Natalie would be protected.
It was a startling revelation, but this morning has sealed the deal. Natalie belonged to him. And now that he knew that, he would stop at nothing to keep her safe.
Her curvy body was pliant and warm next to his, and as much as he wanted to lean down and kiss her, her knew he had to figure out how Paul had gotten on the reservation.
Not to mention that Micah would be back soon.
He eased himself gently out of the bed. She turned in her sleep, trying to find his warmth, and he covered her with a blanket. After stroking her hair for a minute, she fell back asleep.
He hoped her dreams were peaceful.
Frowning, he realized that he didn’t have any clothes in her room. He wrapped a towel around his naked body and prayed that no one would see him as he made a mad dash to the elevators.
Brent was, of course, already in the elevator when the doors opened. He held out his arm, and Jackson was relieved to see a pair of pants and a shirt. “I was on my way to get you,” Brent explained.
“How did you know where I was?” Jackson asked as he quickly pulled the clothes on.
“I review the security footage every morning after a shift. I saw the new bear breaking into the building. And I saw you go in after it. You weren’t in your room, so I figured you were either dead in Natalie’s room or you spent the morning there.”
Jackson rolled his eyes. “Good to see you shed a few tears for my possible death.”
Brent smiled. “It takes more than a psychotic shifter to kill you, my friend.”
