by Desiree Holt
She pushed off and floated on her back, baring the curve of her belly and her deep-coral tipped nipples like some sort of Grecian fertility goddess. What cubs they’d have together. An image of a trio of little bears tumbling over the cave floor spilled through his mind, and his bear grumbled in agreement.
Mate.
She’s someone else’s mate. Or has been.
Could someone have two mates? Nothing about her “felt” mated. If she truly were, she’d miss him, even if she feared him. She’d carry a different scent, one that said hands off, or none at all. He watched her flip over onto her belly and stroke toward the falls. When she mounted the large, flat boulder there and stood, water streaming over her breast and belly and hips…any control he had deserted him.
Could be that Warren would rip him apart for dereliction of duty.
But would the alpha have stepped back from Karma? No way. He moved to the door and pulled the curtain closed, letting the rest of the clan know someone wanted privacy. Glenn’s roar shook the walls, and he shredded his clothes from him and stepped into the pool, striding after her, his stiff cock leading the way then swimming.
Nobody ever let her make a choice, and the one time she did, she chose him?
Mine.
Damn straight.
Chapter 5
Delia stood under the falls, doing her very best to seem calm when her fingers trembled where she buried them in her hair, lifting it into the spray to get it wet enough to shampoo. Late afternoon sunshine channeled down another chimney, like the one in the main cave, casting sparkles on the pool surface and banishing the shadows in all but the very edges of the cave.
She hated to be ungrateful to Jonathan and Roberto, but the relief at flying away from New Orleans had left her weak in the knees. Not that she didn’t love the beautiful city, but danger loomed too close. In a jail cell in the very same state.
Despite the more-than-adequate facilities at the Crossroads underground, she’d never felt really clean there, in fact had felt grimy since the day she left to mate Cerberus. His touch dirtied her. His clammy hands all over her body tarnished her soul.
She’d watched Glenn yank a curtain across the opening to the cave then turn to face her. He’d left his clothing in bits and pieces as he strode toward her, and she eagerly absorbed each inch of his powerful form he revealed. Nothing like her ex, who, although a bear, had a slithering way about him. He forever appeared behind her or in a room where she thought she’d been alone, frightening her and making her a complete nervous wreck. The man in front of her took heavy steps, not silent even above the splashing waters. And he did anything but slither.
Cerberus loved to pinch and prod, and although she hadn’t told the elders, she had been pregnant. But his beatings cost her the child. The cub that carried the future of the Bears of Epirus. She’d nearly died.
She shoved him out of her mind and focused on the real bear shifter headed her way. Glenn appeared no less imposing out of his clothes than in them. Even a bear had to work out to look that perfect, but then wasn’t he a bouncer here or something? His strength was his job. Keeping people safe was his job. Tonight keeping her safe was his job.
As he entered the water and splashed toward her, she swallowed and reached for the bottle of shower gel on the shelf tucked under the falls.
“Hang on a second.”
She froze, the bottle half-tilted toward her other palm. “I beg your pardon?” Glenn stepped up onto the boulder next to her and took the gel from her. This close, and this naked, he seemed as big as the mountain they stood within.
I’m not scared. Her heart thudded so loudly she wondered if he could hear it.
Glenn reached toward her and, without thinking, she cringed. He pulled his hand back, holding a washcloth. “I would never hurt you, Delia. I was just getting this, see?”
She nodded and tried to steady her breath and racing pulse. Even she wasn’t sure how much of her reaction was to him and how much was from the giant case of PTSD she’d developed since “mating” Cerberus.
“Nobody will ever hurt you again.” He enfolded her in his arms and pulled her tight against him, her cheek against his warm, hard chest. “Nobody. He pressed a kiss onto the top of her head and she snuggled in, aware of the cock digging into her stomach but somehow not afraid of it as she had been in the past. Even though it felt much bigger than the weapon used to hurt her.
“I believe you, Glenn.” She brought her arms around him as far as they would go, not nearly able to touch her hands together. “And, even if it’s only for tonight, thank you.”
He pulled her away from him, his golden eyes gleaming with a light that could chase away demons. “Not ever. You are mine.”
The sobs returned. She’d never wanted someone before. Maybe, if she’d felt that way toward Cerberus, he’d have been kinder. “I-I appreciate your saying that, but we know it’s not true. I can’t stay here forever. It’s just a break to let me catch my breath. I can’t be a danger to everyone here for long. It’s not fair to any of you. As soon as I get organized and figure out a place to go, I’ll be gone.”
Glen hugged her close again and stroked her hair. “Let’s not talk about it now. Let’s enjoy this moment and then go to bed and get a good night’s rest. We can discuss your plans with the alpha, okay?”
She sniffled. No wonder she didn’t have a good sex life. Who wanted a woman who cried in the bedroom all the time. “Okay.” She tilted her head back and met his gaze. “Do you think you could kiss me? I’ve always wanted to kiss someone I chose.”
His smile went all the way to his eyes and the glow softened. “See? You chose me. You are mine and I am yours and that’s all we will say about it for now.”
“But I—”
“No more talking. You asked for a kiss.” He winked. “And I never deny a request from a lady in distress.” His hands closed at her waist, the long, strong fingers lifting her to tiptoe. His lips met hers halfway, firm, but not demanding, questioning. Moving smoothly without attempting to take more than she was willing to give.
But when she parted her lips, he acted, tongue swooping inside to coax hers into action, twining together in an erotic dance that turned her nipples to points and sent a surge of heat to her core. She’d never felt anything like this before, never even wanted to be touched before, but the minute she’d met this man, she wanted him to touch her everywhere. To caress his skin as she even now brought her hands up to cling to his shoulders for balance.
To lie under him while he did anything—anything—he chose. Because she knew, and the bear rolling in joy inside her knew, he was right. They belonged to one another. She still had to leave, probably, but a single night with the right bear would give her memories for the rest of her life.
The kiss went on and on until they broke apart, gasping for air. He supported her until her weak knees could do the job then he chucked her under the chin. “Let me get you lathered up or we’ll stand here all night.”
“Oh.” She looked around. “You had the gel…did you drop it?”
“Yeah. I was a little distracted. It’s under the water somewhere, but don’t worry. We have more.” Extracting another bottle from the shelf, he squirted some on a fresh cloth and cupped her elbow. “It happens a lot. We take turns fishing things out of the pool.”
Delia preened under his care as he washed her inch by inch, avoiding her breasts and the area throbbing between her legs. Finally he ran out of other places and, with a grin, rubbed the coarse cloth over her aching breasts, the fabric abrading her aroused nipples. He trailed it down between her legs and stroked it a few times, but when she tightened her thighs around his hand, he turned her to face the falls and the suds rinsed away.
“Lean back.” He poured shampoo over her scalp and massaged it in then, when she was squeaky clean, he turned the cloth on himself, but she closed her hand over his.
“Can’t I return the favor?”
He chuckled and held his arms away from his body.
“Go for it, but it’s a big job.” He obligingly turned around and let her wash his back.
Her fingers were magical as they stroked the cloth over his skin. She moved slowly, as if mapping each inch of him, and he found himself caught between the ecstasy of his mate’s touch and the agony of wanting to complete their mating. He’d make love to her that night, but should not take it to its natural end. Now that he’d met her, he had no doubts where they would go, but with her history, he wanted her to also be doubt free.
She’d never had the ability to make a choice for herself. She still lived in the shadow of the choices made for her by others. She’d chosen him for the night. And he would accept the gift with gratitude.
But he and his bear would not rest easy until she bore the mark of his bite on her shoulder and he bore hers.
She moved around in front of him and lathered his chest and abdomen, but when she reached lower, he caught her hands in his and shook his head. “Best not, unless you want to be taken right here on the rock.” And while he would gladly do it, he’d rather things be a little more romantic and less bruising.
She lifted her eyes to his, a hint of mischief sparkling there, and skipped his manly jewels to wash his thighs and calves. And it barely mattered. No matter where she touched, it felt as if she gripped his cock. When she went to her knees to wash his feet, the pressure became too much. His dick bobbed right in front of her face and she looked up, mouth in an O perfect for slipping the big guy right on in. Glenn tried to shift away. He had the best of intentions. But his intent to let her make the choices kept him from denying her when she closed her fist around the base of his cock. She chose.
His dick disappeared between her lips and his legs wobbled. She took him in almost all the way to the root, her grip holding the last few inches in an incredible vise. His balls surged, and by the third or fourth time his cock reappeared, he knew he’d be coming down her throat if she did it just one more time.
“Enough, Delia.”
She shook her head and sucked harder. Her cheeks hollowed, the hot vacuum of her mouth drawing his cum up and up. Her head bobbed, and she scraped her teeth the length of him. Tangling his fingers in her hair, he held her in place and rocked his hips, riding the pleasure of her teasing tongue and teeth.
“Last chance to stop.” He prayed she wouldn’t.
Her free hand grasped his balls and gave a little squeeze and his cum shot into her mouth. She swallowed every drop, and when he finished and let go of her hair, she let him free and licked her lips.
“I’ve always wanted to do that.” Delia looked like the cat who finished a whole pint of cream. “Was it okay?”
Glenn bent and scooped her into his arms. “I came in two minutes. What do you think?”
She linked her fingers at his nape. “I was too fast. I’m sorry.”
Glenn hopped off the boulder and sloshed through the water, keeping to the very edge, and climbed out on a series of strategically placed rocks. “Nothing to apologize for there.”
He yanked the curtain aside and carried her into her room. Nudity didn’t bother shifters as a rule, but everyone in the main cavern stopped what they were doing to stare. If closing the shower cave curtain had not been enough of a hint, their not coming out of her room until morning would confirm what they probably already guessed.
The alpha hadn’t told him not to fuck the brains out of their guest. He’d forego asking permission now and ask forgiveness later, if necessary.
Glenn kicked the door closed and Delia experienced a moment of doubt. Just hours before, she’d been on the run from her ex. Well, she still was. But she’d also been convinced they were mated, and now she wasn’t so sure. The attraction she felt toward the big grizzly, her willingness to do something she’d refused to do with Cerberus, the fact she and her bear wanted to roll in a meadow with him and his…all those things she’d fantasized about doing with a mate one day—and had zero desire to do with the mate she’d been given.
What did this all mean?
Focus on tonight. This incredible man is carrying you naked to a bed…surely that’s worth single-minded focus.
“You?” He set her on the edge of the bed and sat beside her. “If you’d rather just go to sleep, I can go sit outside the door and keep watch.”
She reared back. “Says the man who already got his rocks off. You don’t strike me as the selfish type.”
His eyes widened, and he leapt to his feet. “I couldn’t be more selfless. Offering to forgo giving you pleasure is the toughest thing I’ve ever done.”
“Humph.” She dropped her gaze, but it landed on the cock right in front of her, already hard again and waving in the breeze. “This is distracting.”
Glenn dropped to his knees in front of her and urged her knees apart. “Last chance to accept my offer.”
She shook her head.
“Then lie back and enjoy the ride. I get the feeling what you did to me wasn’t the only thing lacking in your life. But I can’t be too sad about being the first one to share them with you.” He moved forward, pushing her legs wider until he knelt close enough to kiss her. This time with passion that stole her breath.
It was as if she’d known him forever, or as if an empty space at her side had been waiting for him. Her bear’s joy knew no bounds. She’d always thought the creature a little grumbly, but not tonight. Ending their lip-lock, Glenn pressed his palm into her stomach and she lay back, her bottom on the edge of the bed. He lifted one of her thighs onto each of his shoulders and bent close to her pussy then drew in a breath and sighed.
“The sweetest perfume in the entire world. Sage and flowers.”
She began to protest but remembered that she’d thought the same when she’d succumbed to temptation under the waterfall shower. She’d never scented anything that drew her like he did. And she’d gladly swallowed every bit of cum he produced.
Glenn bent closer and took a long lick from her entrance to her clit. Tingles followed his tongue and she jerked, fisting the bed cover. He licked again and then held her outer lips apart with two fingers and buried his face, licking and nibbling his way around her pussy. She’d never…her ex never….
Oh god.
She jerked against him, reaching to grab for his hair, but he lifted her legs off his shoulders, surged up, and lay over her, propped up on his elbows. “I have to be inside you. Now.” Rearing back, he knelt between her legs. “If you choose me.”
“I choose you.”
“For tonight?” The tip of his cock butted against her entrance, teasing, and she lifted her hips, wanting him inside her. He paused there, waiting for her answer.
“Forever.”
He drove inside, burying himself within her tight heat. Delia gasped and grabbed his shoulders, holding on tight while he built speed, plunging into her over and over again, so glad he’d come once already so he could hold back long enough to perform respectably. Because he’d never been so alive, every inch of his body aware of her in his arms and enclosing his manhood. He closed his eyes, the visual stimulation almost too much then opened them again, wanting to see her deep-blue eyes, the flush on her cheeks, her heaving breasts.
He’d never have enough of her. Not even in forever.
As he moved in and out of her, his bear grumbled softly inside him, perfectly happy for the first time ever.
Because she said forever.
He bent close and trailed kisses over her bared throat, inhaling her scent, stronger with arousal. She trusted him and he wanted to bite her. To seal the deal. To leave a mark to show anyone she belonged to him. But he had to wait. He’d decided firmly to wait at least until she had time to understand what mating truly was.
He nuzzled her throat, grazing it lightly with his teeth but so proud of his restraint. She tightened around him, her muscles massaging his dick until he became a bundle of sensation, almost too overwhelmed to come, gliding in and out, thrusting deep, welcomed by her beautiful body.
The growl stilled hi
m. It wasn’t him, wasn’t his bear. The sound issued from the rosy lips of the woman under him right before she lunged for his neck and bit hard. She’d made the final choice, and he opened his mouth and bit her back with a growl louder and longer than hers.
Mate.
Mine.
Yours.
He probably fantasized the last. But he liked it anyway. Still gripping his skin between her teeth, she tightened around him, her orgasm shoving him off the cliff into his own and they came, together, his hot cum shooting inside her, spraying her with the possibilities of more lives. Of the cubs they would have together.
Because now they were one. Mated. She’d never truly been mated to the other one, no matter what he’d told her. If she had been, she’d never have been able to be his like this. They both released their bite, but the marks would last for days. Just as it should be.
“Mine.” He rolled them over so she sat atop him, straddling his waist, his dick still buried in her.
“Mine.”
Chapter 6
Delia opened her eyes and saw…darkness. She didn’t recall Glenn turning on or off any lamps, but he must have because no light came from anywhere at this point. Way at the back of the cave, there were no windows and she hadn’t noticed any of those great chimneys either. So no way to know night or day without leaving the room.
Rolling over, she confirmed what she’d already known. She was alone in the bed and the cool sheets next to her indicated he’d been gone a while. A big bear guy like Glenn made for quite the bed warmer.
He’d be great in winter.
And she’d be here in winter. She stretched her neck, feeling the satisfying soreness of the bite. She wanted to see it. For some reason, the mating filled her with a sense of optimism. What had changed since the day before, really?
