by Ruby Shae
“Thank you for coming,” she said. “Please, sit down.”
Collin sat next to her on the couch and Cade sat in the matching lounge chair beside them.
“I’m sorry. I should have believed you when you said you loved me and told me about your bears. I thought…,” she took a deep breath. “From our first date, I thought you were just using me to have some fun while you were in town helping Gage. I know I’m not perfect, and when we saw the woman in the mall, I was convinced you’d settled for me because I was the only one available. I’m sorry I didn’t trust you.”
“We never planned on leaving Bear Mountain, love,” Collin said. “One of the reasons we returned is because of Kate and the cubs she’s carrying. The energies of a pregnant bear, or mate of a bear, call to us and drive us to congregate.”
“As soon as we saw you,” Cade added, “we knew we’d made the right decision. The only place we want to go is to our new home. As soon as were done with Seth’s, were starting on ours. It’s going to be further down the hill from Gage’s, but we’ll still have plenty of privacy. You need to help us decide on the plans, but a large front porch, bigger than your dad’s, is a must.”
“Why?” she asked.
“We want our bear forms to fit on it comfortably,” Collin said matter-of-factly.
Cade touched the fingers on her casted arm with a softness she’d learned to expect from Collin. It didn’t fool her though; the underlying power in his caress gave him away.
“You shouldn’t have run,” Cade said.
“I know,” she replied.
“You’ll pay for this later,” he said and tapped her cast lightly.
“I can’t wait.”
“Be our mate?” Collin asked. “Let us mark you and live with us for eternity?”
“Yes,” she said. “I love you.”
Collin leaned forward and kissed her soft lips. He didn’t mean to force her, but he thrust his tongue inside her mouth, demanding her submission, and she complied. She met him stroke for stroke and didn’t back down from his assault.
When they broke apart, Cade kneeled down in front of her, slid his hand under her hair and pulled her mouth to his. She accepted his equally possessive claim and when they separated, Cade rested his forehead to hers.
“I love you, too, Cade. So much. I’m sorry said those nasty things and ran off.”
“Don’t ever leave us again,” he whispered.
“Never.”
Cade sat back in his chair, but kept one hand on her knee.
“Let’s go back to the cottage and get some—” Cade stood abruptly, pushing his chair across the floor. “Do you smell that?”
“Gas. Sam, go wake your dad and get out of the house,” Collin said and they both raced outside.
They ran around the house in opposite directions and met in the back. Jack stood with a gas can at his feet, and a lit match in the other.
“Burn in hell you sick fucks,” Jack said and threw the match at the house. The wall had been doused in gasoline and flames instantly spread and climbed up the wall.
Collin ran around the side of the house and grabbed the hose. He turned it on and sprayed the spreading flames while Cade ran back inside the home and dialed the fire department and the police.
The neighbors on either side grabbed their hoses and worked together to save the house until the fire department came. Cade stood with Sam and Mr. Hastings as the others tried to save their home.
When the fire department arrived, the professionals took over and put out the fire in minutes. If not for the help of the community, they probably would have lost the house. The back wall had been charred and would need repair, but the structure still stood and the damage hadn’t reached the inside.
Sam cried and she and her father thanked everyone profusely.
Gage showed as the fire truck pulled away.
“We need to talk,” he said to Collin. “I need the three of you to meet me at the sheriff’s office in ten minutes.”
A few minutes later, after the commotion died down, the trio walked into the sheriff’s office.
“Dave was out on patrol and saw Jack running from the Hastings’ yard. I got your call a few minutes later. He crossed into the National Park. Dave has him on surveillance in the old ranger cabin on the north trail,” Gage said.
“We’re going,” Cade said and turned to leave.
“Me, too,” Sam said.
“No way!” Cade roared.
“Yes, way,” she yelled back. “I deserve to see him brought to justice.”
“Sam—” Collin started, but Cade interrupted.
“Are you prepared to watch us destroy him, love? Because if he doesn’t give up and admit to the vandalism and the arson, we’re going to kill him,” Cade said.
“I’m prepared to watch you do what needs to be done,” she said. “We’re in this together.”
“Fine,” Cade agreed.
“I’ll drive her in my cruiser,” Gage said. “You guys run and we’ll meet you there.”
Collin and Cade walked out of the building, confident of Gage’s ability to take care of their mate. They ran north into the tree line, and used the dense vegetation to shield them from onlookers.
They shifted into their bear forms and hunted down their prey.
***
Sam opened the car door as the vehicle rolled to a stop next to the deputy’s cruiser. Two large grizzly bears sat outside the old dilapidated cabin and she ran up and stood between them. She smoothed her free hand down one furry back and the bear she touched gently nuzzled her casted fingers. His eyes were fierce, reminding her of the predator he was, but he was gentle and patient with her.
She turned toward the other bear and felt his fur in the same way. He watched her with an intensity she didn’t expect and she felt the love from his gaze surround her. The comfortable feeling assured her she’d be safe whatever happened when Jack emerged from the building.
She’d never seen her men in their bear forms, but she easily recognized their differences.
Gage spoke into a bullhorn and urged Jack out of the building. She glanced back and saw both the sheriff and Dave, the deputy, had their weapons drawn. They were ready for the worst.
“Jack, come on out now,” Gage urged into the bullhorn.
“I’m not coming out,” the man yelled from inside. “Send in Sam or someone dies.”
Cade let out a huge roar and Collin growled and pulled his lips back to reveal his teeth.
“Jack, I’m not going in there. Come out and talk to us. Why did you set my house on fire?”
“Because, you’re damned,” he yelled. “First two men at the same time, and now animals. You’re going to hell unless you stop this behavior. I was trying to save you.”
“It’s not your job to save me,” she reminded him. “You gave up that right when you dumped me. You only need to worry about saving yourself now, so come on out.”
“Never!” he yelled.
Sam saw the nose of the shotgun peek out through the broken window, but they guys were already in motion. Cade charged the window and Collin tore around the side of the cabin to the front door. She saw Jack step back to fire the weapon and see the bears coming for him.
Gage yelled into the bullhorn for her to get down, but his words didn’t register until the shotgun fired. She saw the moment it hit Cade, at close range, and she screamed his name as someone tackled her to the ground.
Cade roared out in pain, but the bullet didn’t stop him from charging through the window. Collin split the wood on the front door to race inside and for a few seconds, the only things that could be heard where Jack’s screams and her bears roaring as they dealt out their vengeance.
Soon, her two men emerged from the building in their human forms and Cade collapsed on the ground.
“Cade,” she yelled and pushed Gage off of her.
She ran over and dropped to her knees by his side. His shoulder looked chewed and mangled, as if it had survive
d a bear attack, and blood seeped out at an alarming rate. Collin ripped off his shirt and wrapped it around the wound, and soon the material was soaked.
“You shouldn’t have done that,” she cried as she held his hand. “Don’t leave me.”
“Never,” he whispered before he passed out.
“We have to get him to a doctor,” she screamed. She looked around at the other men who surrounded Cade’s lifeless body. “Do something,” she yelled.
“He’s going to be okay, Sam,” Collin said. “Remember what we told you? We can’t die. We just need to get him to the cottage so he can rest. He’ll be fine in a few hours.”
They did tell her, but a wound like that didn’t heal itself. Did it? She looked up and saw Collin nodding as if he’d read her mind.
“Back up now,” he said. “We’re going to lift him into Gage’s squad car.”
An hour later, she lay next to an unmoving Cade on the bed and wrapped both of her arms around his one good one. Collin slid up behind her and tightened his arm around her waist. His strong, warm body comforted her as she worried over his brother.
As soon as the men brought Cade into the cabin, Collin ordered her into the shower. He cleaned and rewrapped Cade’s wound, and got rid of the bloody shirts they’d used to stop the bleeding. By the time she emerged from the steamy bathroom, Cade lay resting on the bed as if nothing were amiss. She could almost believe him napping instead of recovering from an ugly gunshot wound.
“Are you sure he’s going to be okay?” she asked.
“I’m sure. He’ll be back to normal in a few hours. Until then, let’s get some sleep. It’s been a long night and a crazy morning, and you need your rest. I can’t have you passing out on us later.”
She heard the smile in his voice, a promise of things to come, but she still worried over Cade.
The events of the afternoon replayed over and over in her mind. So many things from the day had shocked her; she knew she’d been running on adrenaline since she ran out of the cottage in the middle of the night.
Cade and Collin had told her the truth when they admitted to being bear shifters, and they hadn’t lied when they said they would kill Jack if they had to. Jack turned out to be a whole lot of crazy she didn’t even know existed, and she was thankful her bears were there to protect her.
Dave, the deputy, was the only full-human in town who knew about the bears, but Gage trusted him with his life. He’d been loyal to the town, even when they’d elected Gage instead of him to replace the old sheriff. The whole clan, Gage, his brother Seth, and the twins, trusted him to help when things got complicated.
“Sleep. The sooner you rest, the sooner you can see his progress for yourself.”
“But…,” a yawn interrupted her protest.
“Rest now, love,” he whispered. “Trust me.”
She did trust him, and fell asleep holding onto Cade, anchored by Collin.
Chapter Seven
Sam woke hours later in the dimly lit room. The sun had started its decent and only the remnants of twilight filled the otherwise dark space. She felt Collin’s warm body shift against her back and she looked up to see Cade staring down at her. His blue eyes held the same demanding, unyielding passion she’d witnessed every time he made love to her.
“How are you feeling?” she asked.
“Better,” he said.
She glanced at his arm, unable to ask the question.
“It’s all healed, love. Take a look.”
Carefully, she removed the towel from his arm, revealing his smooth, tanned skin. No evidence of his attack remained visible.
“Amazing.”
“Yeah. It comes in handy from time to time,” he said.
“Will I be able to heal like that after you mark me?”
“Yes, you’ll have the same capabilities as us, except you won’t be able to shift.”
She nodded. “Do you want to—”
“Always,” he said. “Come here.”
He pulled her on top of him and kissed her with the same desperation she felt. Next to her, she felt Collin turn to face them, but he didn’t touch her. They’d said she could love them together or apart and she needed these few moments with Cade. She needed to touch and feel him, needed to confirm he was completely healed like he’d promised.
She wiggled her body on top of his and slid her clit over his large, hardened cock. She didn’t need foreplay. What she needed was raw, animalistic sex with her bears. She wanted them to mark her and claim her with the wild intensity she knew lurked under their skin.
Cade seemed to understand what she needed and he grabbed her ass and lifted her to her knees. She followed his lead and grabbed his cock with her good hand and positioned it at her entrance. He lowered her onto his hard dick and she accepted him with ease.
She moved as though she hadn’t a care in the world. She worked his cock slowly, teasing him, and allowed her breasts to bounce wildly in his face. She knew the moment he’d had enough.
“Are you sure, Sam? Will you be our mate and love us forever?”
“For eternity,” she confirmed.
He slapped her ass and thrust into her with a force she hadn’t expected. She could only hold on as Cade pounded fast and deep. When she thought she couldn’t take any more, he bit her neck and thrust deep one last time, releasing several jets of warm come.
Pain followed by pleasure raced over her skin. The moan that escaped out of her mouth sounded like a wounded animal, but she felt too good to care. Her pussy milked his cock with an urgency she hadn’t felt before. It was as if her body wanted every drop he offered.
He licked her bite mark and her pussy flared to life. She throbbed around him, eager for more. She kissed his mouth as she felt Collin move behind her on the bed.
She reluctantly released Cade and shimmied down his body until she bumped into Collin. She hovered over Cade, her mouth lined up with his still hard cock.
“Take what you want, love,” Collin said. “Suck him while I fuck you and finish marking you as ours.”
She took Cade’s still hard cock in her hand and closed her mouth over the tip. Cade placed his hands on her shoulders, touching her firmly, but allowing her to move freely. The heady flavor of their combined releases turned her on and she sucked him deeper, swirling her tongue around the smooth skin.
Collin entered her in one thrust, shoving his throbbing cock deep inside her pussy and pushing Cade’s dick deeper inside her mouth. He pounded into her in a desperate rhythm and she had no choice but to open her mouth and let his thrusts move her up and down Cade’s thick, steel rod.
Her orgasm swiftly approached, but Collin didn’t relent. He pushed harder and faster as she let out a long cry, garbled by Cade’s cock moving in and out of her mouth in a rapid tempo. Cade came again and she swallowed up his come as she felt another orgasm fast approaching.
Collin reached around and pressed his thumb to her clit at the same time she let Cade’s cock plop out of her mouth. Cade gathered her hair in his fist, and Collin leaned over her back and bit her neck on the other side, marking her as his. She came apart in his arms, moaning loud and long, as he continued to thrust his throbbing dick deep inside her warm, wet pussy.
When she felt she couldn’t take anymore, he thrust one final time and came. He held her close to him, until he’d spilled everything he had inside her warmth.
Collin pulled out, and Cade let go of her hair and pulled her up the bed to rest beside him. He turned to face her and she nuzzled in his arms. She started to pull away until she felt Collin position himself against her back. She needed them both beside her.
Wrapped in the arms of her men she felt safe, protected and loved. The pressures and prejudices of the world didn’t matter when she lay enveloped in their embrace.
Before Cade and Collin arrived in town, she’d always known her chances of being loved by one man were slim. Men didn’t like her extra weight and curves, and the possibility of more than one lover at a time seemed
ridiculous. Now that she had her men, she’d never let them go.
Sleep threatened, and she allowed herself to sink into the sweet abyss. Surrounded in the love of her mates, she couldn’t think of anywhere she’d rather be.
The End
From the Author
Thank you for purchasing this book. Your support allows me to continue doing a job I love every day. If you liked this story, please consider leaving a review so more people can find and enjoy my books.
Hugs,
Ruby Shae
About the Author
I write sizzling, sexy, shifter romance. Until I find my own tall, muscle bound, alpha shifter…I’ll keep writing about them. Visit my website to learn more about my books (and me!)
www.rubyshae.com
Also by Ruby Shae
Bear Mountain
(Stand-Alone Romance Novellas)
Lone Bear (Book 1)
Brother Bear (Book 2)
Double Bear (Book 3)
Idle Bear (Book 4)
Lost Bear (Book 5)
North Pole
(Stand-Alone Holiday Romance Novellas)
Jingle Bear (Book 1)
Silent Bear (Book 2)
