by Ruby Shae
As soon as they’d walked into The Bear’s Den, Nate had realized he’d found the other shifter family living in Longmeadow. The hostess, the bartender and two of the waiters, were all redheaded polar bear shifters.
“No, everything looks great,” Riley said. “Thank you, Holt.”
“You’re welcome,” the waiter said. “Flag down myself or Holden if you need anything.”
“Sure thing.”
Holt raced across the room toward another table, and Riley salted her fries, and then picked one up and dipped it into the tiny, ketchup filled ramekin on her plate.
“My brother, Reid, used to own this place,” she said, suddenly. “Did you know that?”
“No, I didn’t,” he answered cautiously. Considering he’d just delivered a loud, attention drawing speech a few moments before, she was incredibly calm.
“Yeah,” she said, dipping another fry. “Up until about three months ago, this place was a rough drinking bar called The Dirty Bear. Reid changed a lot after he lost his mate, and the bar was an extension of that. It made him a lot of money, but it attracted a lot of trouble. When Jillian came back, he became a silent backer and sold the place to Hayden.” She nodded toward the bar. “He’s the bartender. The hostess, is his sister, Hayley, and she had worked for Reid, too. Their cousins, the twins, moved up here about a month ago, after the renovations were complete. The difference between the two places is like night and day.”
“Wow, that’s a cool story,” he said, “and this place is amazing. It seems like Hayden has a great mind for business.”
“Reid does, too,” she nodded. “I think it’s one of the reasons they’ve always worked so well together.”
She ate a few more fries, and then spoke again.
“I appreciate what you did,” she said, “but I’m not sure I can be the mate you need.”
In true predator style, she’d softened him up before delivering the fatal blow.
***
Riley’s bear roared beneath the surface, rejecting her words, but her human side knew it was the right thing to do. From the look of indifference on Nate’s face, he knew it, too.
As much as she cherished his willingness to stand by her, and defend her in a room full of complete strangers, he deserved a whole mate, without baggage, who could give him everything.
“You are exactly what I need,” he said, his voice soft, but firm.
“I know your wolf thinks so,” she said, “but listen to your human side. You already get a ton of attention for being the new sexy, single sheriff, but it will never go away if you take me as your mate. I’m fat and scarred, and though it may not bother you, it bothers the people you protect. You’ll never get them to stop staring, or to stop wishing you picked someone better.”
“Riley, I—”
“Let me finish,” she said, cutting him off. “The scar on my face isn’t the only one, nor is it the smallest, or the best looking. Honestly, I’m not even sure you could stand looking at the rest of me, but that’s not the worst of it.
“I’ve only been with one other man, and it was…bad. So bad, sometimes I still have nightmares about it, and I’m not sure they will ever go away. I want to be intimate with you, but I’m not sure I can, and either way, I don’t want to have children. Ever. I know I should have told you this sooner, but it’s not something I’m willing to budge on. I’ve thought about it for a long time, and being a mom isn’t something that’s right for me.
“Also, I wasn’t joking when I said I was a horrible cook. I haven’t poisoned anyone yet, but I’m truly awful. You’d survive if I made you something, but you’ll be miserable for the rest of your life.”
There. She’d said it all.
She stared at her chicken sandwich, but a wave of nausea washed over her and she nudged her plate away. She hadn’t meant to be so brutally honest, but it was for the best. Now, Nate could make an informed decision and chose a compatible, worthy mate.
“We do need to talk about your past,” Nate said, “but let’s put that aside for a few minutes. Do you really not want to have kids? You’re not just saying that because you think it will make me run?”
“No,” she said, honestly. “I really don’t want kids.”
“Good,” he said, “because neither do I.”
“Nate—”
“Have you heard me mention children at all?”
“No.”
She hadn’t, she’d just assumed a family was something everyone wanted.
“Right, because it’s not something I have to have. If you wanted children, then I would jump in with both feet, but I’m fine with it being just the two of us. More than fine with it, in fact,” he said, winking.
“Which leads me to your other point. I want you. I’ve wanted you from the moment I first walked into Polar Bliss, and I want you now, but a mating is more than sex. It’s a bond that revolves around friendship, love, and protection. Let’s start by holding hands, and if you feel comfortable with more, then we’ll try more. If not, then we wont,” he shrugged, as if it were no big deal.
“I’m damaged, Nate,” she pleaded, softly. “Can’t you see that?”
“All I see is my mate,” he said, “and that’s all that matters to me.”
There was nothing she could say to make him change his mind.
“Fine,” she sighed in defeat, but a small smile lifted up the scarred side of her mouth.
She looked up to find Nate smiling back at her, his victory evident.
“Now that we’ve got that settled,” he said, his smile gone. “Who hurt you?”
She didn’t want to tell him about her past, especially now. If he ever found out how truly weak and stupid she’d been, he wouldn’t leave, but he’d never look at her the same. She didn’t want his censure, or his pity.
“I…”
“You don’t have to tell me the whole story if you’re not ready, but I want to know who hurt you. Does he still live in Longmeadow? Did the law get involved? Do you feel protected?”
“He’s dead,” she said, solemnly. “He can never hurt me again.”
“Good,” Nate nodded, resuming his dinner.
She thought he would be angry, or press her for more details, but he just ate. A few seconds later, she pulled her plate back and quickly devoured her sandwich. His calm demeanor had chased away all her worry, and her appetite had returned in full force.
“We need dessert,” Nate said, when his plate was empty.
He grabbed the dessert menu and scanned the choices.
“They all look so good,” he said, holding the pamphlet open for her to see. “Do you want to split one, or do you want your own?”
“I want my own,” she laughed. “You ate that burger in like four bites.”
“I was hungry,” he said, mock-pouting.
“I know,” she teased, “that’s why I’m getting my own.”
The rest of their evening was filled with laughter, chocolate sauce, and whipped cream. Nate even ordered another dessert to curb his sweet tooth, and they stayed in the restaurant until no other patrons remained.
When they got out of the booth to leave, Nate gently placed his hand on the small of her back, and guided her out of the building. It was a simple gesture, but for the first time ever, she finally understood what it felt like to belong to a mate, and him to her.
She’d found the home of her heart, and she never wanted to leave.
Chapter Five
Riley looked down at Nate's hand laced with hers and smiled. She traced one of his fingers with her own and tried to snuggle deeper into his side, but it was nearly impossible. They were already so close nothing could squeeze between them. At the beginning of the movie, she’d rested her head on his shoulder, and she hadn’t been able to concentrate since.
She inhaled deeply, and her pussy clenched as Nate kissed the top of her head.
Damn it!
She didn’t want to be kissed there.
It had been two weeks since thei
r first date in The Bear’s Den, and aside from holding hands, they’d only shared a few chaste kisses on the lips. Nate had been true to his word. He approached each stage of intimacy with caution, and concentrated on getting to know her better.
He still visited Polar Bliss every day on his break, and she’d even visited the sheriff’s office a couple of times on her off days. Their dates ranged from dinner and a movie, to running together in their animal forms, to furniture shopping for Nate’s new home.
At first, she’d been hesitant to show him the pieces she liked, but she’d finally given in when he refused to buy anything without her input because it would one day be her home, too, and he wanted her to be happy.
The deep, plum micro-fiber fabric of the sofa was soft and comfortable, and the cornflower blue throw pillows accented the color perfectly. He’d also bought two matching armchairs, and the three pieces of furniture formed a U shape around a dark, chocolate wood coffee table. Two matching end tables sat on either side of the couch, and the table and chairs in the dining room were the same color with cornflower blue fabric seats.
The deep colors of the room made her smile, and though they hadn’t redecorated his bedroom yet, Nate had sought her opinion about his bedding, too, and had picked two sheet sets and a comforter in shades of purple and blue. The designs were clearly feminine, and anyone who visited his bed would know he belonged to someone else.
The thought of another woman seeing his bedroom triggered a low, fierce growl, and Nate paused the movie.
“Everything okay?” he asked. He nudged her head up with his shoulder, and pulled back slightly so he could look into her eyes. She immediately felt bereft at the loss of his warmth.
“Yeah…sorry,” she forced out, her throat nearly dry.
She swallowed hard, and tried to remain calm as he studied her for a few seconds before moving back to his original position, and restarting the movie.
She wanted him, and it was getting harder and harder not to jump into his lap and beg him to ease the need between her legs. She glanced down at the hard bulge in his pants, and smiled as a sense of relief washed over her.
He wanted her, too.
Of course, she’d known that all along. He’d been telling her since before their first date, but she liked seeing the evidence. It made it easier, and at the same time, more difficult, to take the next step.
Could she do it? Should she?
Over the past two weeks, Nate had given her more chocolates, flowers, and a tiny stuffed grey wolf to remind her of his animal when they were apart. She’d slept with the wolf every night since. When her brothers found out, they’d teased her about sleeping with a dog, but deep down, she knew they were relieved. They’d both disapproved of her ex from day one, but they genuinely liked Nate.
After his first emotionally charged encounter with Ridge, her mate had made an effort to get know her brothers, and give them the opportunity to get to know him. He often talked with them during his visits to Polar Bliss, and he’d joined them for dinner twice in her family home. One of those times had been her night to cook, and though it was bad, he’d eaten everything on his plate without complaint.
The best part was, he didn’t try to hide her from anyone.
He was a good man, and a good mate, and she was ready for more.
“Nate?”
“Yeah, baby?”
“Kiss me.”
“Gladly.”
He leaned over, placed a chaste kiss on her lips, and turned back toward the TV.
“No, I want…”
He paused the movie, and looked at her again.
“What do you want, Riley?”
“More.”
She didn’t have to ask him twice.
Their hands remained locked together as Nate’s lips descended on hers slowly, as if he expected her to run or protest before they made contact. She placed her free hand at the nape of his neck and tried to pull him closer, but he wouldn’t be rushed. Instead, he watched her reaction as his free hand slid down her thigh, over her ass, and settled on her waist.
When she didn’t run, he brushed his lips across hers in the same chaste way he had before. She parted her lips to protest the innocent gesture, and he slowly slid his tongue inside her mouth. When his tongue touched hers, she momentarily froze, but quickly recovered as he withdrew.
Before she could protest, he licked her lips, and entered her mouth again.
This time she kissed him back.
Lazy, soft kisses soon escalated into deeper, more aggressive contact, but it was nothing like the angry, sloppy, forced attacks she used to receive from her ex. Nate was possessive and dominant—a true alpha male—but he didn’t frighten or alarm her. In fact, she couldn’t get enough of him. He soothed both her bear, and her human side, in a way she couldn’t explain.
When he pulled back and broke the kiss, she swung one leg over his lap and straddled him. His thick cock pressed against her clit, and she wanted to grind against him, but she was mortified by her actions. The move had been purely instinct, almost as if her body acted without thought, and she felt her cheeks flame.
“Oh my god,” she whispered, as shame swamped her. “I’m so sorry, Nate.”
She tried to climb off of him, but he had a firm grip on her hips, and she wasn’t going anywhere until he let her.
“There’s nothing to be sorry for, baby,” he said. “As long as you’re comfortable with it, I like having you in my lap.”
“This is okay with you?” she asked. “You’re not angry?”
“Of course not, baby,” he said, giving her another chaste kiss on the lips. The movement moved his cock against her clit, and the feeling was amazing. “Anything you do to me is okay.”
“I’m not ready for sex, but I need…something,” she admitted.
“Do you trust me?”
“Yes.”
Her answer was swift and concise. She did trust him, and there was no reason to deny it.
His hands moved to the button of her jeans, and she grabbed the hem of her shirt to make sure it didn’t rise up.
“If you say stop, I stop,” he reassured her. “Okay?”
She nodded, but he didn’t move until she voiced her agreement out loud.
“Okay,” she nodded again.
He unfastened her pants, and carefully slid his hand over her covered mound. His fingers were firm, but gentle, as he caressed her clit and circled the entrance to her core. Her pussy contracted wildly, and she could feel more of her juices soaking her panties.
“Damn, baby, you’re so wet.”
Nate tucked the fingers of his free hand under her shirt, and she grabbed his wrist and stiffened. She could feel her nails digging into his skin, but she couldn’t make herself let go. She wasn’t ready to fully expose herself yet.
He nodded and she released her grip. He had a red mark around his wrist, but he didn’t seem to care, and he didn’t stop touching her. Instead, his free hand moved to her ass and grabbed one of the huge, fleshy globes.
“Kiss me,” he said, seemingly giving her all the control
When her lips touched his, he pulled her panties aside, and slid one thick finger into her slick channel. He moved the digit in and out at a frustratingly slow pace, and she rocked her hips, desperate to find release.
Her orgasm was closer than it had ever been before, but it was still out of reach. She’d been so sure her mate could give her what she needed, that she couldn’t stop the onslaught of disappointment. She slowed her movements, and looked him in the eye.
“This isn’t going to work,” she whispered, sadly.
“It will,” he said, adding another finger to her wet hole. “Let your guard down, baby. I’ll be here to catch you.”
He pushed his fingers inside her again, and his thumb pressed against her clit. The two sensations were more than she could bear, and her pussy clamped down on his digits as she screamed and exploded in his arms.
He continued to pump his fingers in and
out of her channel until she collapsed against him, resting her head on his shoulder. Nate slowly pulled his hand out of her warmth, and circled his arms around her.
She closed her eyes, content, as the pain and regret of her past seemed to melt away, and Nate was the only thing that remained.
Safe in his arms, she allowed herself to truly rest for the first time in three years.
***
Nate banged on the door to the apartment above Polar Bliss, and waited impatiently for Riley to open the door. Beneath the surface, his wolf paced, and he couldn’t shake the feeling something wasn’t right.
He hadn’t seen Riley since the morning after he’d stroked her sweet pussy, and it was driving him and his wolf crazy. They’d both worked the following day, but a rare burglary had left him buried in paperwork and unable to take a break.
He’d planned on stopping by the coffee shop after work, but Jake had needed his help installing a fence, so they’d both left work together, and after the fence was done, he went home to shower before visiting her.
That’s when his family had arrived.
His parents and sister had surprised him by showing up, unannounced on his doorstep, eager to see his new home and meet their new daughter. As soon as he’d found Riley, he’d called his parents in California and told them the news. He should have known they wouldn’t be cool and give him time to court her.
His sister, Sara, had just rolled her eyes and laughed in his face when he’d growled at her for not stopping them from visiting so soon. She’d had a valid point. Neither one of them had ever been able to stop their parents from doing anything they’d set their minds to.
He’d called and left a message for Riley, and then taken his parents out to dinner. By the time he dropped them at their hotel, it was late and he was beyond tired. He’d called Riley again and left another message stating he’d be by in the morning to take her to breakfast.
For the first time since their meeting, they both had the same day off, and he wanted to take her to the pancake house in the next town over. He desperately needed coffee, and food, but he couldn’t find Riley anywhere, and she hadn’t returned any of his calls.
