“Bla-a-ke...” she panted, almost out of her mind with pleasure and need.
She cried out as teeth sunk into her shoulder. Blake bit her hard, as his hand squeezed her breast and nipple. He pounded violently into her, his hands and teeth clamping down possessively on her. With a bellow, he shot his seed deep into her. Jasynta gasped as her walls began to ripple and tighten, clenching hard around his cock. A keening sound escaped her lips as jets and jets of his scorching seed lashed into her, stoking her fire, intensifying and prolonging her orgasm.
When he withdrew from her, she slumped to the ground, sated and exhausted. Pushing her wet hair out of her eyes, she turned around, not daring to hope, yet hoping with all her heart.
Was Blake...?
She saw a hulking figure in the shadows, staring at her with flickering blue eyes. He prowled forward on all fours, his body hard and huge, his eyes still hungry.
She whimpered his name, but he didn't respond, didn't seem to hear her. He only wanted one thing. To take his mate again.
The moon climbed higher, then gradually began its descent. Still, Blake took her. He was ravenous, insatiable. He wanted her again and again.
On the floor, against the cave wall, deep in the cave, out in the open, he took her.
But no matter how hard and how many times she tried, she just couldn't get him to look into her eyes. Cradled between her legs, he could suck, lick, kiss and bite her, but he just wouldn't look at her.
He caressed her, grabbed her, pleasured her with his whole body. But not his eyes.
His pale, tortured eyes remained fixed on a spot in the distance.
As the moonbeams faded leaving the world in utter darkness, Blake laid her on her back and began to make love to her again.
The moon had left the sky and the sun had not yet risen. It was that dark in-between when there was not a sliver of light in the sky. No moon, no stars, no sun.
In the desolate, hopeless darkness, she held Blake between her thighs and felt him slide languidly in and out of her. Her body was sore and trembling, lifeless with exhaustion and sorrow.
It hadn't worked. She had not broken the barrier.
Blake had taken her, over and over again, in all manner and position, all through the night. But now, as dawn threatened to break, he still didn't recognize her.
The thought that he was lost to her forever pierced and splintered her heart. She turned her face away, feeling the tears spill from her eyes.
As sobs wrecked her, she felt Blake still completely above her. He leaned down and inhaled deeply. The scent of her tears made him growl. He pressed his lips to her eyes, kissing her eyelids so tenderly it made her heart ache even more. Slowly, he kissed away her tears, his lips tasting and loving her. When his mouth pressed over hers, she parted her lips instinctively and wrapped her arms around his neck. The kiss was slow and sensual, gradually deepening until it melted her completely.
She opened her eyes, and saw that Blake's eyes were closed as he kissed her. She gasped against his mouth, and his eyes fluttered open. He blinked.
With each blink, the blue of his eyes darkened and deepened. A light flickered in his eyes, growing stronger until his deep blue eyes were shining fiercely down at her.
His throat moved, and she stared at him breathlessly.
“Jasynta?” he said hoarsely.
“Oh, Blake, I never thought I'd hear you say that again,” she cried.
“Why wouldn't I say your name? You are my mate,” he answered, then stared down at their joined bodies. He was still hard and deeply sheathed in her moist, feminine heat. His eyes widened, then slowly narrowed. “Did I miss my own mating? You mean the bear had all the fun?”
Jasynta almost sobbed with relief and happiness. Inhaling sharply, she turned her sob into a girlish giggle. “Oh yeah. Your bear was really frisky. And very lusty,” Jasynta confirmed, twirling a lock of hair coyly around her fingers. “He was an animal!”
Blake growled. “The bear can back down now. I'm back, and I'll be taking my mate, thank you very much.”
Jasynta let out a shuddering sigh when Blake clasped her to him suddenly and kissed her temple. “Thank you,” she whispered, her eyes glistening as she stared out at the shimmering lake, the smooth, shiny boulders dotting the shoreline and the gently swaying trees.
The wild was breathtakingly beautiful.
Hugging her tight, Blake whispered back, “Thank you, Jasynta. Thank you very much.”
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
“'The Right Stuff' rocks!” Blake beamed proudly. They had tested the potion on a few volunteers, and all reported very pleasing and desirable results. After rounds of trials and tests, it had been conclusively determined that the initial lusty reaction in Blake had been due to his pent up bear. But since his bear had saved his mind, his life and his mate, the hot-blooded beast was promptly forgiven by one and all.
“Never, ever deny your bear,” was the sage advice from Scott.
The Council was very happy with the progress of the health campaign. Health pamphlets had being distributed to every home and office in New Moon City, and 'The Right Stuff' had been successfully launched. Within days, every paranormal who tried 'The Right Stuff' got off their couches and signed up for PAC-endorsed fitness programs and clinics, pledging to embrace a healthier lifestyle. They had experienced through 'The Right Stuff' how great it would be to be fitter and healthier, and get their paranormal prowess back to shape.
Everything was right.
As Jasynta watched Blake speak excitedly to the other Council members, she picked up a sample bottle of 'The Right Stuff' and stared at the golden liquid. They had done it. They had done great.
The golden hue in the bottle was the exact same shade as the golden fur on a very handsome bear. Musing, Jasynta saw herself back in that cave with Blake. After Blake had taken her properly—as he put it, he had shifted swiftly into bear form. With Jasynta on his back, Blake had covered miles, running through the forest until he located his SUV. That trusty, hardy vehicle was sticking out from behind a bush like a sore thumb in the wild.
Shifting back, Blake had found some clothes in his boot and they had dressed hurriedly. Jasynta wore his huge t-shirt like a dress, and wrung her hands worriedly in the passenger seat as he drove like the wind.
“Do you think...my family is okay?” she asked softly. “I shouldn't have...”
“Don't worry, I will make sure they are okay,” Blake promised. “I'll wrap Camron's spine around his throat like a noose if they're not.”
Jasynta had been horrified to see the garden in ruins when she raced home. With Blake at her heels, she had burst in through the front door, her eyes and hair wild, to find the living room crowded with witches and music blaring from the speakers. The smell of food and alcohol was thick in the air. Lucinda was standing on the table, twirling her knitting needles in the air and gyrating her hips.
Her grandmother was having a party!
After lots of hugs, kisses and food, everyone wanted to know about—everything, especially how she'd snagged herself such a hunkalicious, besotted, devoted male.
“Did you slip him a love potion, sweetheart?”
“Or a lust potion?” Wink, wink.
“Tell me, where can I get two of that hunk-on-a-stick, preferably for the price of one? What? Everyone loves a bargain!”
Everyone spoke at once. Answers were given before questions were asked. Opinions and jokes were bandied about, and differing accounts of the duel were offered by witches in various states of intoxication.
But they all agreed on one thing. Lucinda had beaten Camron Quinn. To a pulp.
In dribs and drabs of drunken conversation around the kitchen table, Jasynta finally learned that on the night of the duel, her grandmother had proudly met Camron Quinn on her front steps. Camron had swaggered up the steps, thinking it was a walkover. But Lucinda had told him in a cold and commanding voice that the duel would be between him and her. She would be dueling him as Elder of the Morg
an coven. Melynda had summoned official witnesses from the Magickal Society of New Moon City for the duel. Other covens had heard about the duel, from Lucinda herself it seemed, and converged on their little street to witness the duel.
The witches recounted in awed tones the spectacular, extravagant fight between the witch and the warlock.
The duel had been roundly and decisively won by Lucinda.
The warlock had been no match for the powerful coven Elder.
Melynda stood on a chair and reenacted the fight, using two saucepans. “Gran ripped out Mom's rose bush and clobbered him over the head with it. Like this! Bam, bam, bam! I say she should have hit him harder! But she sure pounded him to a pulp with that bush. He won't be bothering us again. I made sure we had witnesses! Official, legal, no messin'-around, going-back-on-your-word witnesses. You should have seen her, Jas! Wham, bam, shazam!”
Anita groaned. “My poor rose bush!”
Jasynta hugged her mother and laughed, as Melynda wobbled off the chair and chugged down another mug of beer.
“And,” Melynda said with a burp, “I think Gran wanted to make a point with the rose bush.” She clanged her saucepans loudly together. “You don't need high level magick to beat a bully. You just need a healthy dose of righteous rage! Last I heard, most of the smaller covens that had been swallowed up by Carrot-top Camron's coven have issued a challenge to topple him as Elder. They're all going to beat him with rose bushes!”
The witches clapped and cheered, sloshing beer and throwing chips in the air like confetti.
“Lucinda was merciless. She was marvelous. She was magickal!” A witch raised her hands, shrieking in rapture, and turned towards the living room.
Cackling laughter could be heard above the trance music blaring from the living room. Lucinda and her friends were twirling and slinking sexily around a hapless and very helpless Blake.
As glasses were raised and toasts were made to the butt-kicking, warlock-pulping Lucinda Morgan, Jasynta repeated in a stunned, giddy whisper, “She beat him. Gran beat Camron Quinn.”
Heads turned when Lucinda announced her entrance by shrieking, “Conga line!”
Lucinda danced into the kitchen and shimmied right up to Jasynta. The other witches hooted and sloshed their drinks over their heads as they jostled into line.
“Come here, baby girl.” Tipping back her drink, Lucinda slammed her empty glass on the table and grabbed Jasynta's hand. Jasynta knew it was no use trying to get away. Lucinda was incredibly strong, and unshakable. Her grandmother grinned drunkenly, flashing her golden tooth.
Everyone started swaying and shouting in time to the music, and Jasynta found herself at the head of a line of reveling, tipsy witches.
As they danced round the house, Jasynta leaned back and shouted to her grandmother above the music and mayhem, “Gran, why did you ask me to go get the Moon Flower? That flower is—bad!”
“I did?” Lucinda yelled back. “It is?”
“Yes! You said it would help me win the duel but...”
“I never said such a thing!” Lucinda huffed. “And what duel are you talking about? Oh, that duel. I can jolly well fight my own fights, thank you very much!”
“But...”
“But nothing,” her grandmother snorted loudly.
Jasynta tried to twist round. “I'm a level three witch! I...”
“And I'm level three and a half!” Lucinda cackled uproariously and kicked up her heels with glee.
Jasynta turned and saw Blake bringing up the rear of the snaking conga line, trying his best to keep up with the jocular witches and the tempo. Jasynta caught his eye and his frown of intense concentration melted into a brilliant smile.
She smiled back, her heart swelling in her chest. Her Blake. Her mate. A big, hard bear with a sweet, golden center. Honey wrapped in dark chocolate, delicious, seductive and so satisfying.
And...sinful.
Jasynta gasped at Blake's deep, rumbling voice. She blinked up from her reverie to find herself in the Council conference room, smiling dreamily at a bottle of golden potion.
Blake was grinning and walking towards her.
“New Moon City will be the fittest and finest city!” Blake declared. “Thanks to my mate!”
The other Council members all smiled and spoke words of assent. One by one, they congratulated Jasynta.
Jasynta got up quickly. “It's thanks to everyone,” she said, looking around at all the happy faces. “The PAC, the Enforcers, the civilians, the city. The entire city got behind us and made this a success.” She turned and punched Blake in the arm. “Everyone had a part to play,”
“I know, I know,” he said, pretending to rub his arm. “But your part is—just a little bigger,” he whispered in her ear.
“If you keep at it, my head is going to get a little bigger.” He gave a low growl, and when she glanced down, she saw that something had indeed gotten bigger. A lot bigger.
The meeting soon wound down. Most of the PAC members had left in high spirits, leaving them to pack up the last few sample bottles. As Blake helped her seal up a box of sample bottles of 'The Right Stuff', his hand brushed against hers, and they both gasped at the searing heat and electricity between them.
Jasynta blushed furiously when Blake growled in her ear, “I need to get you home now.”
Jasynta jumped when she heard a chuckle behind them. Ella Wong, the Council Secretary, was leaning against the door, waiting to lock up after them. As a werepanther, Ella had paranormal hearing. Jasynta's blush deepened.
Ella locked up the conference room, and bid them goodnight, quipping, “To bed now, children. To bed. And—don't do anything I wouldn't do.”
“Ella!” Jasynta gasped, but Blake just laughed.
“And what wouldn't you do, Ella?” he called after her.
She snorted over her shoulder. “Nothing!”
The animal shifters were completely comfortable and open about their animal and bodily needs and instincts. Mating was natural to them, and they weren't at all bashful or demure about it. And shifters tended to be very attractive.
“Animal magnetism,” was what Blake had told her last night in bed, waggling his eyebrows as he pinned her under his hard body. “Simply irresistible.”
“You!” Jasynta had swatted at him in exasperation.
“I meant you,” he'd answered softly before he kissed her.
Jasynta looked up at Blake. “So,” she said, arching a brow. “To bed?
At her tone, her words, Blake snatched her up, bundled her out of the PAC Headquarters and into his SUV. There was little traffic at this time of night, and that was just as well or Blake would have turned into a bear at the steering wheel.
His SUV finally screeched to a stop in front of their home. Home was a beautiful house at the edge of the city. From their bedroom window, they could see the silhouette of rolling hills and the edge of the forest where Blake could let his inner bear out. The scenery was captivating, the wild beautiful and breathtaking. They were about an hour's drive from her coven, but with Blake's driving, they always got there in less than half the time.
Blake's den was a very spacious and comfortable bachelor pad. Scratch the bachelor status. Blake was taken. Well and truly mated.
As they pushed into their bedroom, Jasynta licked her lips. He was simply irresistible to her as well. Immediately, she saw his eyes darken with desire. She flushed when she realized he could scent her arousal.
He knew her needs, her fears, her wants.
Blake knew his mate, completely and forever.
“Jasynta,” Blake began in a low voice.
She raised a finger to his lips. “Talk. Later.”
Pulling him down for a deep, long kiss, she whispered, “Now, I want you.”
He growled against her mouth. “And I want you, now—forever.”
~ End ~
About the Author
Natalie Kristen is a writer who enjoys mixing the sweet with the spicy, the light with the dark,
the possibilities with the unimaginable. She enjoys exploring paranormal and dystopian worlds, deep desires and inspiring romances. She is hopelessly addicted to coffee, chocolate, reading and writing. She loves to hear from readers so please feel free to follow her on Twitter and Facebook, or visit her blog for the latest news and updates.
Blog:
nataliekristen.blogspot.com
Twitter:
@NatKristenBooks
Facebook:
www.facebook.com/NatalieKristenBooks
Bear Mate: BBW Paranormal Shifter Romance Page 14
