by Ruby Shae
“That sounds amazing.”
It really did. Knowing he’d already made significant changes made it easier to trust him. She wasn’t sure she could forgive him everything, but it was a start.
“Okay,” she said, slowly. “We can start dating and see how it goes.”
His answering smile warmed her from the inside out, and she had a feeling she was in way over her head.
Chapter Seven
“Damn! Is that Reid?”
Jillian smiled at her coworker’s description, and leaned forward so she could see out the window. Reid was walking toward her classroom carrying a dozen red roses.
“Yes, that’s him,” she gleamed.
“Girl, I am not ashamed to admit I’m totally jealous,” her coworker said. “That man is fine. Where is he taking you again?”
“Bear Crossing Bed and Breakfast.”
It had been four wonderful weeks since Reid had arrived in town, and he’d been true to his word. While she was at work, he’d filled his days roaming around the forest in his bear form, or doing odd jobs for the senior couple that owned the rundown hotel he’d been living in.
In the evenings, and on the weekends, they’d dated and gotten to know each other again. Sometimes they went out, and sometimes they stayed in, but at the end of the night, Reid always went back to his hotel. Other than holding hands, and a few soft, g-rated kisses goodnight, nothing physical had happened between them.
Frustration, fear, and silent self-doubt had started to suffocate her until Reid had suggested a long weekend getaway. She’d eagerly agreed, and used a wellness day for the following Monday. They would have three whole days together.
Bear Crossing was a small town in Northeastern Pennsylvania, with a climate similar to Longmeadow, and the bed and breakfast consisted of several single, private cabins.
She and Reid would be sharing a bed, but hopefully, they wouldn’t be sleeping.
“Oh man,” her friend cooed. “You are so getting lucky.”
“Shh,” she reprimanded, waving her hand around.
“Oh, please,” her friend chided. “No one goes to a bed and breakfast for the breakfast.”
Three loud knocks filled the room, and her cheeks heated as they both turned to see Reid standing in the doorway. She ignored her embarrassment, tried not to think about getting Reid into bed, and quickly performed the introductions.
A few seconds later, her coworker excused herself and left the room encouraging them to “have fun” in a sing-song voice. Jillian laughed nervously, thankful Reid seemed to completely disregard her friend.
“These are for you,” he said, handing her the flowers.
“Thank you,” she said. “They’re beautiful.”
“So are you. Are you ready to go?”
“Definitely.”
She picked up her bag, and inwardly swooned when he took it from her. He’d always done things like that, even in high school, and the tiny gestures made her insides melt.
They walked to his car hand-in-hand, and drove to her apartment in silence. That morning, like many others, Reid had given her a ride to work, and after a quick stop at her apartment for her bag, they set out for their mini-vacation.
Three hours later, they arrived at their destination.
Reid parked in the lot, and once they’d checked in, he loaded their baggage on their assigned golf-cart and drove them to their cabin.
“Are the owners’ shifters?” she asked, looking at the lonely cabin on top of the mountain.
The man behind the desk had warned them about probable bear sightings, and the groundskeeper who lived in the isolated cabin on top the hill. He often worked odd hours, and they didn’t want anyone alarmed if he was spotted in the middle of the night.
“Bears,” he winked, “but not polars. They’re grizzlies.”
“Did you know when you booked the room?”
“I had a feeling, but I didn’t know for sure.”
“They know about you right?”
“Yes,” he smiled. “We can recognize each other by scent.”
She nodded and gasped when they pulled up to the cabin.
The wooden cabin had the charm of a cozy little cottage, complete with a quaint covered porch that housed a swing. The decorative valances and shutters looked newly painted and reminded her of something out of a fairy tale. The inside was beautifully done in polished wood and dark green accents, giving the space a rustic, cozy, and comfortable feel. They had a small family room, a separate bedroom, their own private bathroom, a fireplace, a huge entertainment center, and a full kitchenette.
The main building housed a small café, and there were several small eateries around the town, but Reid brought along two boxes of provisions just in case. They would only be in the cabin for three days, but Reid’s boxes made it look like they planned to stay for three weeks.
“How long do you expect to be here?” she laughed when he set the overfilled boxes on the counter.
“What?” he asked innocently.
“It looks like you’re planning on staying until next winter.”
He looked at his supplies, as if seeing them for the first time.
“Huh,” he said, surveying the boxes again. “I guess I went a little overboard.”
“A little?”
“Hush,” he playfully scolded. “If we get snowed in, you’ll be begging me for these packages.”
Yes, I will.
Her pussy tingled, and she let out a tiny gasp. She’d be begging, but not for what he’d packed in the boxes.
Silence stretched between them as the alternate meaning of his words registered. Suddenly, Reid cleared his throat and backed away from her.
“I’m going to get the suitcases,” he said, darting out of the room.
Great!
She hadn’t even touched him yet, and he was already running from her. Uncertainty started to surface again, but she tapped it down. Reid wasn’t going to attack her when they hadn’t even been in the room for five minutes. They had the whole weekend.
“Want to check out the town and get some dinner?”
“Dinner sounds wonderful,” she smiled.
He held out his hand, and she happily took it.
She was worrying needlessly. Over the last month, Reid had worked hard to prove to her he’d changed, and he had. Though she wanted him to want her, she couldn’t fault him for taking her to dinner first.
Besides, they needed fuel to last all night.
***
Reid glanced at the clock again, and silently cursed.
After dinner, he and Jillian had walked down Main Street of the tiny town and then come back to the cabin, put in a movie, and snuggled together on the couch. He’d been hard the entire time, but it had been worth it to hold her in his arms again.
When the movie was over, she’d sleepily shuffled to the bedroom, and he’d stayed on the couch. It had taken a tremendous amount of willpower not to crawl into bed beside her, but they hadn’t talked about the sleeping arrangements, or sex, and he didn’t want to overstep his bounds and ruin the trust he’d built over the last month.
Fuck!
It had been two hours, and though he’d tried not to think about Jillian’s soft, curvy body, and how it felt to hold her in his arms, he’d failed miserably. He’d been wide awake, antsy and hard since she’d gone to bed.
His bear paced below the surface, and he contemplated going for a run in his bear form to burn off some energy. It was either that or a cold shower, and he didn’t want to wake his mate.
His decision made, he started to sit up when he heard the bedroom door quietly creak open. He stilled, and watched Jillian creep toward the front door with her suitcase firmly grasped in one hand.
Oh, hell no!
He waited until her hand was on the doorknob, and then he spoke.
“Going somewhere, honeypie?”
She let out a tiny scream and turned to face him.
“I’m leaving,” she said.
Her voice was strong, but he felt the trepidation in her words.
She didn’t want to go.
He crossed the room, and took the suitcase from her hand.
“Why are you trying to leave me, honeypie?
“I know you’re not attracted to me anymore, and I—”
“What makes you think I’m not attracted to you?”
“You’re sleeping on the couch,” she spat.
Her tone and eye roll implied he was the stupidest man on earth, and he’d had to hold in his laugh. Sassy or not, she was beautiful.
“So?”
“So, I’ve seen the kind of women you…hang out with now, and I look nothing like them. And I never will. I know I’m your mate, but I refuse to be with someone who doesn’t love all of me. I need more than friendship from a potential boyfriend.”
“I’m not a potential boyfriend, I am your boyfriend, and you’re not merely my mate, you’re my everything. I was trying to be respectful, to prove to you I’ve changed, but I want you, honeypie. More than ever.”
“I…what about all those other women?”
“Not my type. The women were a way to control my urge to shift, and to fuel my anger, but it only worked if they didn’t remind me of you. I love your soft, curvy body, honeypie. You’re perfect.”
“I doubt that,” she laughed.
“Well, you’re perfect for me,” he said.
She took a step forward and placed a hand on his chest.
“Reid?”
Her proximity nearly drove him insane, and he swallowed hard.
“Yeah?”
“You were my first, and my last—”
“You’re only,” he said. “Forever.”
He dropped her bag, wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her close. Whether she’d waited for him specifically, or just never found anyone else worthy enough to appreciate her, he didn’t care. The fact that his mate had never been with another fueled his desire.
“Yes.”
His cock throbbed at her admission, and his control nearly snapped. He’d never come from mere words before, but he hadn’t been with his mate in seven long years. In an effort to regain some control, he bent down and lifted her over his shoulder.
“Reid!” she screamed. “Put me down.”
“No, I don’t think so,” he said, marching toward the bedroom.
She kicked her legs and pounded against his back, but he smacked her ass hard, and held on tight to the backs of her legs. Her reaction was exactly what he’d needed, and by the time he dropped her on the bed, his dick had calmed down. He was still hard as a rock, but he’d lost the urge to come in his pants.
“What do you think you’re doing?” she asked, scampering off the bed.
“This.”
He leaned down and covered her lips with his, and he knew the exact moment she decided to give in and forgive him. Her lips parted slightly, and he shoved his tongue inside her mouth. She stroked her tongue against his, and moaned as they tasted each other again.
Mmm… Brown sugar and honey.
She still tasted like brown sugar and honey, and he needed more.
He pulled her shirt up, and when she raised her arms, he lifted it over her head and threw it across the room. Next, he unhooked her pink lace bra and slid it down her arms. He pulled back to see her perfect breasts, and her nipples hardened under his gaze. He closed his hands around the ample flesh, and groaned when she spilled out of his palms.
“You are so beautiful,” he said.
“You have too many clothes on,” she responded.
“So do you.”
He reached for the button on her jeans, but she got to the hem of his shirt first. She pushed the material up his chest, and he grabbed the edge and ripped it off.
He growled as her soft hands explored his burning flesh, but she ignored him and traced every dip and groove. She outlined his shoulders and biceps, but when she moved to investigate his back, he grabbed her arm to stop her.
“Later,” he grunted. “I need you, mate. Right now.”
Her answering smile told him she knew she was driving him crazy, and she reveled in it. He loved seeing her confidence return. Seven years ago, she never worried about whether or not he wanted her, and he didn’t want her to worry now.
“Take off your pants,” he growled.
When she started to obey, he stripped off his jeans and boxers only to find her still in her pink lace panties. She crawled on the bed, shaking her perfect round ass in his face, and he nearly lost it. She laid on her back and burst into a fit of giggles.
He grabbed the lace material in one hand and ripped the panties off.
“Reid! Those were my favorites.”
“I’ll buy you a dozen more,” he said, pushing her knees apart.
Oh yeah!
Her bare pussy was soaking wet.
“If you’re going to rip them up all the time, I’ll need more than a dozen,” she playfully scolded.
“I’ll give you my credit card,” he said.
She opened her mouth to respond at the same time he swiped his tongue over her wet hole. She cried out, and fisted the bedspread.
“That’s wonderful,” she said.
“The credit card or my tongue?” he asked.
“Both. Don’t stop,” she said, breathlessly.
As if he could.
He licked from her pussy to her clit in long, hard strokes until she laced her fingers through his short hair and pulled. She was stronger than she looked, and he was happy she only had about an inch to hold onto.
He playfully scraped his teeth over her clit, causing her to cry out, and then he jabbed his tongue inside her pussy. Her essence spilled into his mouth, and he circled her lower lips, licking up every drop, and then he filled her again. When he felt her pussy throb around him, he slid his hands under her ass, and pulled her closer, shoving his nose into her clit. He worked his tongue faster and faster until she came, screaming his name.
Heaven!
He was in fucking heaven as he licked up her sweet honey.
Both sets of his canines elongated, and he felt his eyes change into the dark orbs of his bear. He looked up, and met Jillian’s honey brown stare. Seven years ago, he’d been able to control his animal side when they’d made love.
Not any more.
“I want you, mate,” he growled through two-inch teeth. “Forever.”
“I’m yours,” she agreed. “Mark me, Reid.”
He slid two fingers into her pussy and sank his teeth into her fleshy inner thigh. Her pussy clamped down his fingers as another orgasm ricocheted through her body, and she cried out in both pleasure and pain.
His saliva sealed the wounds closed, but she would always have a scar and carry his scent. Other shifters would know exactly who she belonged to.
“That was amazing,” she sighed.
“Turn over,” he growled.
She looked down at this swollen cock, and quickly rolled over, putting her weight on her forearms and her ass in the air.
He grabbed her hips and entered her in one smooth trust.
Her pussy fit him like a glove, and his cock throbbed wildly. He moved in and out of her cunt, slowly at first, pushing deep. He loved watching her pussy swallow every inch of his length. She was so tight, so wet, so perfect, and he couldn’t hold back anymore.
His fingers held her hips in a bruising grip as he pounded into her relentlessly, and when she cried out, it was to beg him for more. He slid one hand between her legs, circled her clit with his fingertips, and she was done.
She came again, and when her pussy clenched around him, he froze and exploded deep inside her.
When he finally let her go, she collapsed on her stomach like a rag doll. He went to the bathroom and ran a washcloth under the warm tap water, and then returned to the bed to find her fast asleep.
She didn’t budge as he wiped away the remnants of their mating, and he nervously checked her pulse before climbing into
bed behind her.
His bear roared in satisfaction, curled up into a ball, and happily slept while Reid wrapped his arms around his mate.
For the first time in seven years, he felt content.
It was perfectly amazing…just like his mate.
Epilogue
One week later…
“Welcome to The Bear’s Den,” Hayley smiled.
“Hi Hayley,” Jillian said. “Are the Hollands here yet?”
“Yeah. Follow me and I’ll take you back.”
“We’ll find them,” Reid said.
“Okay, enjoy your lunch.”
Jillian followed Reid as he walked through the restaurant. It was the grand opening weekend of The Bear’s Den, and the place looked wonderful. When they saw Hayden, they stopped to offer their compliments.
“It looks amazing,” Reid said. “Congratulations.”
“Congratulations to you both as well,” Hayden said.
He was referencing their mating, and she and Reid both smiled.
“Thank you,” Reid said.
“Thank you, Hayden,” Jillian added. “This place is fabulous.”
“Thank you both,” Hayden beamed. “I couldn’t have done it without your generosity.”
“We don’t know what you’re talking about,” Reid winked.
“Have a wonderful opening day,” she said as Reid pulled her toward their family’s table.
She and Reid had arrived in Longmeadow the night before, but after working all day, the five hour-drive had been exhausting. They’d opted to see their family the next day, and celebrate the grand opening and their mating at the same time.
She couldn’t wait to see their faces.
The previous weekend, after their initial mating, Reid had woken her many times during the night, and they’d stayed in bed the entire following day.
After eating most of their provisions, they’d emerged another day later and visited the café for lunch, and then roamed around in the fresh snowfall. Reid had wandered with her in both his forms, and she felt closer to him than ever.
After a month of dating, and waiting for more physical contact, she hadn’t been disappointed. His mouth had tasted sweet and minty again, like it had seven years ago, and his amazing tongue still drove her wild.
