Bearly Magic: (Bear Meets Girl: BBW Paranormal Shapeshifter Werebear Romance)

by Catherine Vale

  Cole cleared his throat, drawing her attention. “You know; you’ve really got to stop doing that.”

  Angela blinked up at him. He was sitting stiffly behind the wheel, his brows drawn together in consternation. “Doing what?”

  “Thinking… whatever it is that you’re thinking, that’s making you so damn horny.” He turned to look at her, his violet gaze so full of heat, that it scorched her even more with desire. “It’s hard to concentrate on traffic, when all I can think about is getting you naked.”

  Angela swallowed hard, her mouth suddenly dry. “That’s gotta be the weirdest reprimand anyone’s ever given me.”

  Cole laughed, as he pulled up to her building, but it was strained. “Maybe, but it’s true. I… it’s been too long since I… never mind.” He unlocked the passenger’s side door with the flick of a button. “I’ll call you in the morning.”

  Angela reached for the door handle, then looked back at Cole with a frown. “You’re not coming up?”

  Cole gave her a bewildered look. “I don’t think that’s such a good idea.”

  Angela bit her lip. He was probably right, yet… “I think we should stick as close together as possible while we figure this stuff out, and bring Raina home,” she said. “I have an air mattress I can inflate for you.”

  Cole stared at her for a long moment, his lips curving into a smile. “You sure about that?”

  “Why not?” Angela frowned. “We’re working together, right? So let’s just go get some rest so we can back to work.”

  Cole nodded. “Sounds good to me.”

  He killed the engine, then popped the trunk, and went around the back to grab his luggage. Angela waited for him to sling the single duffle bag over his shoulder – clearly he packed light – before leading him up the stairs, and into the apartment complex.

  Her one bedroom was located on the third floor, and while it was considerably cleaner than Marcus’s studio, it wasn’t really much bigger. The open floor plan definitely helped make it seem more spacious, though, with the kitchen off to her left, and the dining area to her right, leaving a path straight through to the living room where she kept a small flat screen, a love seat, and a bean bag chair.

  Cole winced when he saw the couch. “I’m definitely going to be needing that air mattress.”

  Angela laughed, trying to imagine Cole scrunching up his huge frame on her cozy little love seat. “I’ll go get it set up for you. Why don’t you make yourself something to eat? You can help yourself to whatever’s in the fridge,” she said with a shrug, knowing there wasn’t too much in there. If he ate her out of house and home, it served her right – she needed to go shopping anyway.

  “Sure, thanks.”

  She retrieved the air mattress, and the electric pump that went with it, then dragged them out into the living room. Cole had already moved the coffee table aside to make room for the mattress, and was sitting in the beanbag chair, staring out the window at the Golden Gate Bridge, its lights making it glow like a beacon in the darkness. That view of the Bridge was the main reason she’d picked this apartment, even though there were slightly nicer ones in the area for the same price. When she was up late at night, with too many thoughts crowding the space inside her skull, she could look out the window, and just allow all her worries to float away, as she gazed out at the Bridge.

  Cole’s gaze swung back around to her, and he watched as she crouched down and set up the pump to begin inflating the mattress. “This should just take a few moments,” she told him. “I’ll go get some bedding for you.”

  She stepped over the mattress, and headed back to the bedroom, but he grabbed her wrist before she could make it past him. Startled, she looked down into his wild, violet eyes that burned brightly, his expression completely unreadable. “What is it?”

  “Why are you doing this?”

  “Doing what?”

  A frown creased the skin between his brows, and he gestured around the living room. “Inviting me up here. Making up a bed for me. Offering me food. Looking at me… the way you were looking at me earlier.” His lip curled, as a spark of rage lit his eyes. “What the hell do you want from me, anyway?”

  Fear blossomed in her chest, as a voice in her head screamed for her to back away, and the look on his face told her that he heard that voice just as loud and clear as she did. But her instincts told her that would be a fatal mistake if she ever hoped to work with him, so she stood her ground, lifting her chin as she held his gaze. “Maybe I just want you to get a good night’s sleep, so we can put all our efforts toward rescuing my partner tomorrow. She means a great deal to me, you know.”

  He narrowed his gaze. “You don’t need to invite me into your home for that.” In one fluid motion, he rose to his full height, all six foot six, of rippling muscle, and leather, and chiseled man. “There’s something you want from me, isn’t there? Some kind of charm or spell, or a vial of my blood, or a piece of my hair,” he spat. “Just admit it already.”

  She gaped up at him. “Why the fuck would I want any of that?”

  He tensed. “Are you saying you don’t? Seriously?”

  Huffing, she folded her arms. “I would go to the Order, if I needed any kind of protection spells. And I’m not some kind of black market dealer that collects blood and hair from rare creatures, or hybrids. I’m a fucking Protector, and the only thing I care about is finding my partner…and friend.”

  He searched her gaze for a very, very long time, and as she bore the scrutiny, she began to wonder if he had actually had to barter his powers, in exchange for food or shelter, in his lifetime. How could someone as powerful as he be forced to stoop to such levels?

  He wasn’t always as you see him now, she reminded herself. Everyone starts off alone or vulnerable in this world.

  “You’ve never been given anything freely, have you?” she asked softly.

  He finally looked away. “There’s no such thing as free in this world,” he said gruffly. “Everyone wants something from you. Don’t be so naive.”

  Taking a gamble, she reached out and gently gripped his chin, turning his gaze to hers again. “I won’t deny the truth to your words,” she told him, trying to focus on his eyes, rather than the sensation of his stubble prickling her fingertips. “But that doesn’t mean I can’t offer you kindness, especially since you’re helping me find Raina.”

  He glared at her. “You don’t need to be kind to me for that. Raina’s father is already paying me for the service.”

  She glared at him. “Has it ever occurred to you that maybe I’m being kind to you because I feel like it? Because I’m a decent person who just wants to be kind whenever I can?”

  His jaw clenched. “You’re just trying to get me to lower my guard,” he hissed. “I’m over two-thousand years old, and no shifter or mage has ever shown me kindness just because. I’m an abomination, do you understand that? You know how people treat half-breeds. Don’t act like you don’t know.”

  Pulling away from her grasp, he brushed past her and stormed for the door, but she grabbed him by the arm and pulled him around to face her again.

  “No,” she hissed at him, right before she pulled him against her, her eyes blazing in a mixture of desire and fury. “You do not get to walk away from me.”

  Chapter Five

  Cole couldn’t breathe, as Angela crushed her mouth to his. His entire body froze, as she overloaded his senses with her body – the sensation of her breasts pressed against his chest, of her full lips moving against his mouth, of her scent filling his nostrils and making his head swim, not just because she smelled sweet, of oranges, but because he could also scent her desire, and the pheromones, and the knowledge combined, made his head spin.

  She wanted him. There was a female shifter standing in a room with him, kissing him, and she wanted him more than anything.

  Hesitantly, he lifted a hand to touch her hair, then sank it deep into her locks when she didn’t pull away. The tresses were silky smooth, and seemed to
draw him into her, tangling up in his fingers as he held her close. His other arm wrapped around her waist, drawing her into his body, and he nearly incinerated her clothing as her belly pressed against his aching erection.

  Growling, he backed her up, until her ankles hit the beanbag chair, and they went down together, his knees driving into the lumpy cushion and nudging her thighs apart. Instantly her legs hooked around his waist, clamping down.

  “Clothes,” she panted, shoving his jacket down his shoulders. “Too many clothes.”

  Growling in agreement, he shrugged off his jacket, and allowed her to rip the shirt from his body, exposing the scars on his chest. Rather than recoiling, as he expected, she ran her tongue along the one that stretched from his shoulder, to the top of his rib cage, and he moaned as hot chills swept through him, making him even harder.

  “You’re gorgeous,” she purred, her hands trailing over the hard muscles of his chest and abdomen. Goosebumps broke out over his skin, as his muscles trembled beneath her touch, and he held his breath, as he watched her hands travel lower, lower, until her fingers rested at the top button of his jeans.

  But instead of popping the button, she looked up, and her eyes widened. “Your eyes. They’re glowing. Like they did when we bypassed the lock at Marcus’s apartment complex.”

  “Sorry.” Cursing, he looked away. “Sometimes when I get heated, my magic rises to the surface.” His jaw clenched, and he began to move away.

  She clamped her legs down harder. “Just where do you think you’re going?”

  He blinked down at her. “I thought you wanted me to stop?”

  She scowled at him. “When did I say that?”

  He hesitated, confused. “Usually when women see my eyes change from blue to violet, they curse me …then they’re frightened.” It was why he didn’t have sex very often. Mages and shifters wouldn’t touch the likes of him, and it was very rare he came across a fae that he trusted enough to even talk to.

  Human women were out of the question, as it was hard to hide his magic around them, and he couldn’t take the chance.

  Her scowl melted into that tender expression he’d seen on her face before, the one that was dangerous because it made him feel as if she might actually understand him. It was better for Cole not to get caught up in emotions. He learned, the hard way, that emotions drive wrong action, made you fall apart in ways he refused to, made you weak. No, he had learned to keep emotion out of the equation when it came to women. But with this one, he was in serious trouble.

  “Your eyes are so beautiful,” she said softly, cupping his face in her hands. “You don’t need to hide them from me. I was just wondering if maybe something was wrong.”

  He shook his head. “No, nothing is wrong, babe. It’s just that women like you don’t come along every day.”

  She grinned a little, then unzipped her jacket and shrugged it off. “Oh, you’re right about that,” she said, stretching her arms over her head, and arching so her chest pushed out a little more. “Why don’t you see for yourself?”

  She pulled up the thin cotton of her t-shirt to expose her breasts, which were round and full and covered by a lacy red and black bra, with a little lock dangling from the front clasp. Grinning, he popped the clasp off, and let the lingerie fall to the side, as her breasts spilled directly into his hands. She moaned a little, as her nipples brushed against his palms, arching into him more.

  “Yeah,” she breathed as he rubbed his palms up and down, deliberately scraping her nipples against his skin. “Do more of that.”

  Emboldened, he squeezed her breasts more firmly, and used his thumbs to rub her nipples in slow circles, his fear of rejection rapidly wearing off. She squirmed beneath him as he teased her, and he watched, captivated as a pink flush spread across her cheekbones, her tongue darting out to wet her parted lips. Her gem-like eyes were half-lidded, full of sensual promise, and he was seized by the desire to watch her go blind as she came.

  Dipping his head down, he took a nipple into his mouth, and sucked it hard. Her gasp of pleasure sent a rush through him, as she tangled her hands in his hair, pulling him closer to her breast, as he pleasured her. It was followed quickly by a surprised cry, as he slid a hand beneath the waistband of her jeans, to cup her through her panties.

  “You’re so damn wet,” he growled, his breath rasping against her skin. He lifted his head, and brought his hand back up, so he could breathe in the scent of her pussy, and she actually blushed, biting down on her lower lip in a manner that made her look so damn sexy. “I want to taste you.”

  She lifted her hips in offering. “Yes…Please.”

  He moved down a little, settling his knees onto the carpet so that he was nestled right between her legs, and then drew her jeans and panties off in one smooth motion. Tossing them off to the side, he hooked one knee over each of his shoulder, intending to go straight for her pussy, but the sight of her creamy thigh next to his cheek, made him pause. She had gorgeous legs, smooth and muscled, with just enough thickness to them, to keep them from losing their feminine shape. He felt the muscles of her quadriceps quiver, as he pressed a kiss on the inside of her thigh, and then another, slowly working his way to her center.

  “Cole…” she breathed, squirming a little beneath him, and he smiled against her skin. She was so responsive, reacting to each individual touch of his body against hers. He felt her suck in a sharp breath, as he nipped at the sensitive flesh of her thigh, and he smiled wickedly up at her, before he ran his tongue up the length of her swollen pussy.

  She groaned, her eyes closing, as she grinded against his mouth. Gripping her hips to hold her still, he lapped gently at her silky folds, with his tongue, enjoying the sounds of her pleasure. Soon she grew even wetter, her pussy slick and glistening, and he moved a little higher, his tongue slipping between the folds to find her clit.

  She cried out, her hands fisting in his hair, as she pulled him closer. He flicked his tongue rapidly back and forth across the little nub, sending tremors through her body, with his pleasurable assault. She stiffened then, screaming his name as the tremors turned into full-blown shudders, and she soon exploded, her juices flooding into his mouth, as pleasure overwhelmed her senses.

  “Oh my God,” she panted, collapsing against the beanbag chair. He didn’t give her time to say anything more before scooping her up into his arms, and making his way toward the bedroom, tossing her on the bed. She lay there, anxiously waiting to feel his body on hers. He smiled at her, that devilish smirk that told her she had no idea what she was in for. He tugged his pants down and kicked them aside, and within seconds, she felt the mattress curve beneath her, as he joined her, his muscular frame hovering above her, that dark look of desire, burning in his eyes.

  She wrapped her arms around his shoulders, her lips parting, waiting for him to kiss her. Finally, after what felt like eternity, he lowered his mouth to hers, crushing her lips in a passionate kiss. His tongue felt as though it was on fire, as it made its way into her mouth, and she found herself growling against him, her sounds muffled by the intensity of his kiss.

  “I want you so much,” he whispered against her mouth, in between kissing her and biting her neck. She shivered, her nipples harder than they had ever been, her body humming, every inch of her sensitive to his touch.

  In the back of her mind she knew that she had to slow it down just long enough to make sure he was wearing a condom. It was too easy to just go with it, to ignore the fact she barely knew this guy, to toss all common sense out the window. Somehow, between moans and whispers of what was to come, she managed to squeak out the word.

  “Condom.”

  When Cole lifted his face from the place it was buried in her neck, his cheeks were flushed, and his eyes were as wild as ever. He nodded. “Where are they?”

  “Night table.”

  He lifted himself from her, but didn’t leave the bed. He reached over to the night table, pulling open the drawer, looking for the box of condoms. Within secon
ds, he was ripping the package open, and rolling it on. That smirk was back, slightly lopsided, and she knew that there would be no more words until he was buried deep inside of her.

  This time when he slid on top of her, he didn’t kiss her. The look on his face told her that he wanted to watch her every move, see the desire in her eyes, and the sweat beading her forehead, as he claimed her as his own.

  Without word, he shifted just slightly, aligning himself with the sweet spot, and then she felt every inch of him, as he pushed inside of her. The sensation of her hot, wet pussy clamping around his thick cock, was almost too much, and he struggled to hold back, biting down on the inside of his cheek to keep himself from coming right then and there.

  Angela’s brow furrowed, and she reached up to touch his cheek. “Are you okay?”

  The concern in her eyes nearly undid him, and he looked away, turning his cheek into her palm. “I’m fine,” he growled. “It’s just… it’s been awhile for me, and you feel too damn good.”

  She gave him an incredulous look, her green eyes sweeping up and down his body. “I find that pretty hard to believe, considering that you’re built like a fucking god.”

  Pleasure warmed his chest, at the look of hunger in her eyes. “You’re the sexiest woman I’ve ever met,” he growled into her ear, his breath hot against her cheek. “So curvy…so fucking hot.”

  “Fuck me, Cole…harder.” She reached around, and squeezed his ass, and he practically roared, with desire. “You’re the hot one, baby.”

  He kissed her neck, his teeth grazing the soft skin before capturing her mouth, in a deep kiss. She opened her mouth to receive him, her tongue tangling desperately with his, as she hooked her ankles at the small of his back, drawing him even more deeply inside her, and holding on, as if she didn’t ever want him to let go.

  “That’s it, baby…” she moaned, stroking her hands up, and down his back.