by Olivia Harp
His cock slid inside her, faster and faster, her clit massaged as he joined her orgasm.
His hard arms tensed around her, his cum hot like a nuclear explosion, filling her insides.
When consciousness returned, five seconds later, he was looking at her, his penetrating gaze as full of shock as hers.
This hadn’t been just wild sex.
This had been heaven, and they’d gotten a glimpse of it.
***
Cassie giggled, she could barely walk. Raiden took her to the sofa in the middle of the studio.
They laid there, hugging, in the middle of beautiful images of the city, the sky, the moon.
Raiden was the first to speak.
“That was... incredible.”
She nodded, her mind still riveting, trying to make sense of what just happened.
She kissed his cheek as she cozied up in his arms. He laid beneath her, his chest swelling with each breath he took.
He caressed her hair and kissed the side of her forehead.
“You’re a wild one,” she said.
“It’s been a while since I’ve been with anyone.”
“Really? You seem very experienced in this.”
He let out a soft laugh.
“No. I’ve been with some women after my wife, but...” he stopped there.
“We can talk about something else—”
“No, no, it’s fine. That was ten years ago. It’s just that, after she passed, I’ve never felt like this.”
He snorted, as if mocking himself.
“This was—”
“Exhilarating.”
“Yes.”
There was a moment of silence, as they gathered their thoughts.
“I need to tell you something,” Raiden said.
Okay, here it comes. He’s not into me. It was fine but good-bye, let’s not see each other anymore. What are you going to say?
“It might come as a shock to you.”
“Please don’t tell me you have a—”
“No! Of course not. I’m not dating anyone,” he looked at her, “and don’t worry, I’m clean. I’m always clean.”
Her eyes turned to him.
“What do you mean?”
“What I mean is that I’m not exactly who you think I am.”
What the heck is going on?
“I’m a... I’m a bear shifter.”
She didn’t completely understand.
“What?”
“I’m a bear shifter, White Paws crew, down in Oregon.”
She stood on the sofa, took taking a look at him.
“Are you serious?”
“I’m sorry I didn’t tell you before. It never came out and then we were kissing each other. I’m an ass.”
A bear fucking shifter laid on her couch and gave her the best night of her life.
“I can’t believe it.”
“I can understand if you want me to leave—”
“Leave? Hell no, mister!”
Holy crap, I’d just had sex with a bear man. Holy crap!
She couldn’t hide her excitement. Bear shifters were the most powerful living beings. There weren’t many of them, but the few that existed were very important. They were either fighters, or special elite soldiers, even famous actors. It’s like she’d just had sex with Eric Bana or Tom Hardy. Only ten times better.
What the fuck? What was happening? How come a man like him wanted her? It was impossible.
“The growl...” she said.
“Yes, sorry.”
“Don’t be sorry, it was freakin’ hot.”
He smiled.
“You think so?”
“My god Raiden, thank you for not telling me this before, I would’ve probably messed everything up. I was nervous enough!”
“Why? You’re an incredibly hot artist, I’m the one who should be nervous.”
She looked at him square in the eyes.
“Really,” she said, unbelieving, “I’m the one that makes you nervous. Come on, Ray.”
“What?”
“Well...”
She shrugged.
“You know. People like you aren’t usually attracted to people...” her shyness flared up again, it was embarrassing to say it out loud, “people like me.”
“What do you mean by that? Why wouldn’t I be attracted?”
Her eyes said everything she didn’t.
“Damn it, girl,” Raiden said pulling her face to him, “You’re the hottest woman I’ve seen. I’ve wanted you from the moment I met you.”
“No but—”
“But nothing,” he commanded again, kissing her, a soft growl escaping his chest.
She felt his cock grow hard on her waist. She melted in his arms and then he pulled away from her.
“I’m gonna have to teach you a lesson,” he said, grinning, kissing her shoulders and back and going even farther down.
He pushed her back against the sofa, his tongue grazing her inner thighs, wandering closer and closer to her sex, teasing her, making her tremble with anticipation.
Then finally tasting her.
Yes. He had only just begun.
Chapter 7
Raiden’s arms were too warm and cozy to pay attention to that faint rustling sound, coming from far away.
Cassie heard it again and woke up, her eyes hit by the early morning light coming through the windows.
She was still laying on the floor, over Raiden. Oh, yes. Little by little, everything came back to her. They'd done it again on the sofa, then again on the floor over her coat.
The mere thought of the wild night made her quiver with excitement. Everything had been, in a word: astonishingly amazingly wonderful. Okay, those were three words but what happened yesterday couldn’t be contained in just a single concept.
She freely explored a lot of her hidden fantasies. Being under his power, above, below, on the sofa, on the desk, on the floor, he even lifted her on his arms, his manhood deep inside her.
She sighed, incredulous.
This connection between her and this bear man couldn’t be normal. It hadn’t been only the sex, but the way they talked, as if they knew each other for years—
The rustling came back, from main door, then she realized in terror that the knob started turning.
It was Paulie coming in to work.
She looked around. Her clothes were scattered all over the place, their naked bodies tangled right behind the sofa.
Oh crap, oh crap!
“Raiden!” she called, shaking his arm, “wake up! Someone’s coming in!”
The door opened, the soft hum of a song she couldn’t recognize reached her. It was like a death sentence, her whole body surged with adrenaline.
Raiden immediately realized what was going on and rolled away from view, he did it so fast she almost didn’t register it.
Paulie stepped into the room, looking down at the keys in his hand. She grabbed her coat and covered herself with it.
“Wait!” she yelled, “Wait right there, Paul Lancaster!”
Paulie froze in place, startled, his skinny face turning to her, his eyes opening wide in surprise as he saw her barely covering herself.
He took a second to be able to utter a word.
“Oh! I— I’m sorry, Cass, uhm...” he said turning away, “I didn’t know you were—”
The sofa was between them so she could only see his upper body. He faced the floor, embarrassed.
Then she realized her ripped underwear and blouse were at his feet.
Paulie saw what the ragged pieces of clothes were and turned to the wall, whispering a barely audible “oh my god.”
Dammit, this isn’t going to be good.
“Could you please go get us a cup of coffee or something? My treat.”
“S-sure, Cass, whatever you say, just let me—” he took out his lunch-it Tupperware and hurried through the kitchen’s side door.
He gasped loud. Very loud. She turned around and Raiden was no
where to be seen.
Oh, no. Please no.
She crawled up the sofa, not really wanting to, but unable to stop herself. She didn’t want to see. But there he was. Just in time for Paulie to scream in surprise.
Raiden tried to hide in the kitchen. His plan didn’t exactly work out as intended.
Raiden covered his junk with a t-shirt.
“Good morning,” Raiden said, ridiculously.
She was going to die from embarrassment. Paulie recovered his wits just enough to half cover his eyes and immediately turn back.
“Be right back!” he said as he ran outside, opening the main door, but not before turning back to Cassie, fixing his eyes on her and mouthing the word “wow.”
Cassie felt like crying.
Raiden slid the kitchen’s door open and just stood there, looking at her, bathing in the sunlight.
He looked gorgeous.
I need to take his picture. Was the first thought that came to her mind.
Then she realized she wasn’t thinking straight. He had to go, they were at work, she was still the boss. She couldn’t be caught doing this.
“I’m sorry,” she said.
He nodded, with a half puzzled-half amused face.
“That was interesting,” he said, putting on his shirt, letting his manhood out in the open as he looked for his jeans.
The sight of it once again sent her into turmoil. She wanted him, but he had to leave,
“That’s... Paulie, my assistant.”
Raiden chuckled.
Oh no, he couldn’t see her like this!
She had the worst case of sex hair, she still wore her makeup from the day before and she wasn’t too sure about walking around naked around him.
He sure could pull it off, but she couldn’t. Not in a million years.
“He’s coming back in a few minutes,” she said, her eyes full of worry.
He nodded.
“Yeah,” he said, “okay.”
He put his clothes on and stepped towards her with a smile on his lips.
“No, no, no,” she said urgently, “I’ll call you later, okay? Just go, Ray!”
The door closed behind him and she could finally take a deep breath.
She still had to re-arrange everything back to normal, and try to hide what happened: her ripped clothes, and all the mess around the office, before Paulie came with his dumb questions.
They had work to do, and her life, especially her sex life, wasn’t up for gossip. Not even for Paulie, not now, not ever.
***
Paulie knocked on the door three times and asked in his most mischievous tone, “Is it safe to come in?”
“Yes, you idiot,” Cassie said blushing and rolling her eyes.
She sat at her workstation, feigning innocence, only listening to Paulie move around the studio.
He didn’t say a thing. That was worse than listening to him babble about what he’d just seen.
Finally, she sighed and turned around to see him. He had a cup holder and a couple of Ventis. His “I-know-you’ve-been-naughty” face, was more unbearable than if he just came out and said whatever he wanted to say.
She tried holding back. Two seconds later she snapped.
“What?” she said.
“What what?” he replied, placing a cup on his desk and walking over to her.
“Just say it, Paul.”
He laughed, innocently.
“Laugh all you want, you dork, get it out of your system.”
He gave her her Venti.
“Here’s your coffee, mocha cappuccino frappe with extra whipped cream.”
She took it, her eyes fixed on him. He was teasing her worse than she imagined... but she could fight back.
“Okay,” she said, indifferent, then turned back to her computer and continued working
Out of the corner of her eye, he saw him flinch. He looked out at her for a few seconds, then retreated slowly to his chair, that’s it, spit it out.
“Just one thing,” he said.
“Ha! I knew it!”
“Well, what do you expect? You gotta give me something!”
“You missed your chance, I’m sorry.”
He ran to her, “Cassie just tell me where on Earth do you find a guy like that?”
“Why? You want one?”
“Who doesn’t?” he said as if it was the dumbest question ever uttered.
Well, maybe it was.
“I don’t know, really. He helped me change a tire on the highway.”
“My God. Cassandra Bennet, I swear you’re the luckiest person ever.”
“Shut up, dumbass!”
“I’m pinching my four tires and going out later on, don’t wait for me tomorrow.”
“We got a shoot tomorrow.”
“Oh, yeah. Damn. Does he have any friends?”
She rolled her eyes.
“I’ll ask, but let me tell you he’s an honorable man... unlike you, manwhore.”
He giggled.
“Honorable man,” he said, “just the way I like them.”
“Shut up!”
“Seriously, that’s the hottest man I’ve seen. Congrats, Cassie, you’re back in the game. Waaaay back in the game.”
She didn’t answer that. It had been years since she dated —really dated— someone. Paulie was always trying to fix her up with one guy or another but it never worked. That’s why he was so excited.
“Can you walk?” he asked.
“Paulie!” she yelled, throwing a marker to him.
He didn’t have to dodge it, her aim sucked. He laughed out loud, he was happier than she was, apparently.
“I’m happy you’re back, Cass, for real.”
She turned to him, more serious now.
“Paulie, let’s be clear. We had dinner, talked, drank a little more than we should have, and things got a little bit out of hand.”
A little bit more than a little bit, actually. And that was a good thing.
“That kind of man wouldn’t see me as partner material. Be realistic.”
Paulie looked at her for a long time, then shook his head.
“Don’t sell yourself short, girl. Never sell yourself short.”
She turned back to her station, fixing the last details on a previous photo session.
You wouldn’t know, Paul. No one’s broken your heart yet.
Chapter 8
The mansion’s backyard was bustling with people, the preparations for the arrival of the tribes the following day were in full swing.
“Look at the size of that table, dad!” Dee said, her voice full of wonder. She sat on his shoulders, her eyes darting from one place to another.
Raiden chuckled.
It wasn’t that Dee was easily impressed. More like she always looked at the world with bright optimism. The smallest things made her happy.
Today, the ice sculptures, the small fountains, and, of course, the huge, thirty feet long table that was the centerpiece of the whole affair captured her attention.
“You like it, honey?” said Elizabeth.
“Yes, Nana, everything’s bigger this year.”
Food would be overflowing tomorrow, when the two hundred plus guests arrived.
Dee’s reaction to the yearly event always made Raiden happy. It was wonderful to see how the little girl paid attention to such different things year after year.
This time she was commenting about more complex stuff, like the decor arrangements and layout of the place.
She was smarter than his old man. He chuckled. She always made him proud.
Everything was perfect. Normal.
Or was it? Deep inside, his animal grumbled. It was angry.
Raiden felt the bear’s frustration, like a quiet blaze in his chest and mind.
The animal held a roar. Raiden was the master and the bear would not carry him away.
His skin prickled and he held his breath.
He hated to admit it but it was because of her. Beca
use of Cassie.
The night had been perfect. He talked to her as if she was his mate.
Mate! His bear roared inside.
The thought made him shudder. No.
It couldn’t be his mate.
He was done with that. Besides, she was a city girl, he was a mountain bear shifter. Nature couldn’t have picked a worse pair.
But the roaring picked up even louder inside.
He took a deep breath and calmed down. The sexual connection had been instinctual, too. What the fuck is going on?
“Dad?”
He came back to the present.
“Yes, buddy?”
“Can I go?”
“Go where?”
Dee puffed, rolling her eyes.
“Calm down Deeandra, you’re gonna have a heart attack,” he chuckled.
“I want to take her to the Jump-O-Rama, she said she’s never been there.”
“What’s that?”
“It’s this huuuuuge playroom filled with trampolines and you can jump everywhere and...”
“Okay, okay, Dee, of course you can go.”
“Yippie!” she said kissing him on the cheek.
“Just be careful not to hurt anyone.”
“You too, dad,” he said giggling.
“Why do you say that?” Raiden said looking up trying to see her face.
She giggled.
“Papa Der is going too, you can shift into your bear so it’s not angry...”
How does she even know?
“Just don’t miss the meal tomorrow, dad.”
Deric and Elizabeth just smiled. Dee knew him better than anyone but being able to tell the state of his bear was something else.
“You go have fun, buddy.”
He put her down and she ran towards the house, Elizabeth behind her.
Deric turned to him.
“Are you all right?”
Raiden nodded, “sure, I’m great.”
“How was your date yesterday?”
Raiden shrugged. He wasn’t the kind of man who “opened” to other people. Besides, he was gentleman enough to not give out any details.
“It wasn’t a date, a friend wanted to give me something.”
Deric patted him on the shoulder and walked to the house.
“You came in early morning today, I guess she gave you plenty, right, man?”
Raiden tensed, he never liked people imagining that kind of things with him and his ma—
