Oskar nodded. “You’re right. We just have to hold out hope. And, in the meantime, I get to be with you without sneaking around in fear of losing my life. I never thought that would be possible.”
Zora grinned. “Everything’s possible, if you have enough faith.”
“I guess so. But I’m still stunned. Happily stunned, I should say.”
Oskar reached over and pulled Zora into his arms, right there in the middle of the rickety shifter bridge. She let her heavy bag slide to the ground, and melted into his kiss. The moon above was bright, making the water below glitter brilliantly. Small chunks of ice floated in the water, glistening as well. On the banks of the river, blinding white snow covered the ground. The world felt still, and the moment was perfect. Zora didn’t care about everything she’d lost. It was no loss, really. Not when compared to everything she’d gained. For the first time in her life, she felt truly free and happy.
“Come on,” Oskar said, finally breaking off their kiss and reaching to pick up her bag. He ignored her protests and swung it over his back. “I’m fine. Carrying a bag of books isn’t going to break a bear, trust me. Now let’s get back home.”
Home. Zora had never had a place that she truly felt was home. But Oskar had changed everything.
When she was with him, she was home.
* * *
Oskar wiped the sweat from his brow and grinned at Zora, whose forehead glistened with sweat as well.
“You’re getting pretty good at that.”
Zora grinned at him. “You think?” Her face was flushed, but Oskar wasn’t sure if it was from the exertion of dancing, or from happiness. Perhaps both. They’d been dancing at Bear Hollow Brews for the last hour, almost nonstop. They’d paused once to guzzle down a quick beer, and then continued. Now, finally, they made their way to the bar top to rest for a moment and enjoy another beer at a more leisurely pace.
The place was packed, and everyone’s mood was jolly. Oskar was home for good, and Zora, whom everyone here had learned to love, had come with him. Seeing a shifter returned home from the Games, with a former Gilt Hollow noble by his side, gave everyone in Bear Hollow hope that the future might not be as bleak as they had always thought it would be. That, and the fact that everyone in here was well-fed. The secret tunnel had kept Bear Hollow well-supplied, meaning the bleak winter had turned out to be not so bleak after all.
Oskar had enjoyed being here in the bar, knowing that he wasn’t going back to Gilt Hollow at sunrise this time. He was home to stay. But now, he wanted to go home, to his actual house. He wanted to beat Whisper home by a long shot, so that he had plenty of alone time with Zora. He’d have to build his own house now that he had found a lifemate, but that would have to wait until spring. The winter weather wasn’t exactly conducive to any type of construction.
“Ready to get out of here?” he asked Zora. Her eager, shining eyes told him that she was. Oskar flagged Whisper down to pay his tab, but Whisper waved him away.
“Axel said your drinks are on the house tonight.”
“Really? He needs to stop giving away beer or he’s gonna go out of business.”
“You and I both know that’s not true. He’s got plenty of savings.”
“I guess that’s true,” Oskar said with a shrug. “Anyway, Zora and I are heading home. See you later.”
Whisper nodded and winked. “You two have fun.”
Oskar rolled his eyes and grabbed Zora’s hand to pull her away before Whisper could make any more smart aleck comments. They managed to make it out of the bar without being stopped by too many other people, and soon they were standing in Oskar’s house once again. He suddenly felt self-conscious about the size of his house, and he looked away from Zora as he pulled off his coat and gloves, and she did the same with hers. Zora was used to a bedroom larger than this entire house. Was she going to regret her choice to come live here?
“I know it’s not much,” Oskar said as Zora looked around the room as though seeing it for the first time. “But we can build a bigger house come spring.”
Zora looked at him and shook her head, tears glistening in her eyes. “It doesn’t have to be bigger. This is perfect. For the first time in my life, I feel like I truly belong somewhere.”
Oskar’s heart swelled and he pulled Zora into his arms. “God, how did I get so lucky? You’re perfect.”
“No, you’re the one who’s perfect. I can’t believe how strong you are.” She ran her hands up and down his biceps. “My bear of a man.”
Oskar let out a low growl as a thrill of anticipation coursed through him. “Enough talk,” he said. “I’ve waited long enough to have you without fear of losing my life over it.”
Once again, he picked Zora up and carried her effortlessly up the rope ladder. They were kissing before her feet even touched the floor, their hands all over each other as they tore off the clothes that stood between them. Oskar’s whole body was on fire, and he felt a pulsing, straining tension between his legs as his erection rose and stiffened.
He wanted Zora like nothing he had ever wanted before. She stood before him, naked and perfect, her smooth curves illuminated by the bit of moonlight that made it up to the loft, and he wondered how he had ever lived before her.
“I would have died without you,” he whispered in her ear. “In more ways than one. You make me come alive in a way I didn’t even realize I needed. You complete me.”
She only moaned in response, her breasts rising and falling against his chest as he wrapped her in his arms. Her breathing had become hungry and rapid, just like Oskar’s. There was nothing between them now—no clothes, but no worries, either. They were together, and no one would tear them apart again. They could make love whenever they wanted, they could hold hands in public, and they could spend their lives together.
Oskar felt so damn lucky.
And he felt so damn turned on. He slipped his tongue into her perfect mouth, letting it dance with her tongue as his hands moved to find her breasts. They were round and perfect in his palms, and he flicked his thumbs against the hard stubs of her nipples that rose to meet his thumb. She gasped, but kissed him deeper. Her thighs pressed against his legs, and he felt the dripping wetness of her desire for him.
She wants me.
The most beautiful, brave woman in the world wanted him. Oskar growled again, then pushed her down onto the mattress. He felt powerful when he looked down at her. There was something about being wanted by a woman like her that made him feel more like a man than he ever had before. He slid over her until his erection was hovering just over her dripping wet entrance, and then he paused.
He paused and tried to memorize what this moment felt like. He was together with Zora, filled with heat and fire and desperate to fill her with himself. And she was lying beneath him, panting and perfect, dripping wet for him as her breasts rose and fell with the rhythm of her breathing. Her eyes turned to his, and she smiled at him, a sultry smile, full of more beauty than one person should ever have been allowed. But she was just that beautiful, and she was his.
“What are you waiting for?” she asked.
He smiled back at her. “Nothing. I’m just trying to savor every second.”
And then, he closed his eyes and slid into her. She gasped, then raised her hips to meet his. Her warmth enveloped his erection, and he couldn’t help but groan as he slid back and forth inside of her. How could anything feel so heavenly? He moved faster, his hunger overtaking him. She arched her back and screamed out his name, thrashing beneath him as the passion of the moment overtook her as well. He felt her release come like an earthquake as her burning hot inner muscles clenched around him, claiming him over and over, tremor after tremor. When he felt her spasms, he could no longer hold back himself.
He threw back his head and roared, the heat and ecstasy pulsing from his core, out of him and into her. He came like an inferno, feeling the most glorious sense of release as he gave himself to her. He thrust into her again and again, determined to
get every last ounce of pleasure from making love to her.
They rode the tremors until, gradually, the earthquakes within them subsided. And then, he collapsed next to her on his lumpy pine straw mattress.
“I can’t believe this is the rest of my life,” she said. “I never thought I’d escape the horrors of Gilt Hollow. But not only did I escape, I found a bear of a man who loves me.”
Oskar smiled and kissed her nose. “I know how you feel. I felt pretty trapped over there. But now we’re free, and we’re together. And that’s all that matters. You and me together.”
“You and me,” she repeated softly. “And a growing resistance that will give more shifters and unhappy Gilt Hollow citizens the chance at a better life.”
“Indeed,” Oskar said, drawing her closer and kissing her forehead. “The future is full of hope. In large part thanks to you and the bravery you’ve shown.”
“We’ve both been brave,” Zora said. “And together, we’re unstoppable.”
“Yes, my love,” Oskar replied, breathing in deeply, relishing the scent of her and feeling her warmth in his arms. “Unstoppable. The future is ours.”
Thank You For Reading!
Book Two in the Shifter Games Series will be coming in July 2018!
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About the Author
There are shifters walking among us. Sloane Meyers is devoted to telling their stories.
Sloane thinks we could all use a little escape in our lives. And what better way to shake up the ordinary than to transport yourself to the mysterious world of those who have an animal within them, roaring to be let out. Sloane brings you hot shifter males, and spunky, spirited heroines—with NO cliffhangers! Each book can be read as a standalone.
When she’s not busy crafting shifter tales, Sloane enjoys a good glass of wine, preferably shared with good friends. She loves reading (duh!) and spending time in the great outdoors.
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