Bearliest Catch
Page 12
“What do you want, Jet? Will you be one of those living underwater?” he teased her.
They hadn’t yet talked about where she’d live, but he knew her heart. If she felt the same depth of feeling he did—and he was reasonably sure by now that she did—she would stay with him. And since he couldn’t breathe water…
“What do you think?” she teased right back, smiling up at him.
“I think that as long as we’re together, nothing else really matters.” Oh, he knew they’d both be fighting the good fight against the leviathan and its minions, if necessary, but it all boiled down to that single sentiment. Together, they could face anything.
“Good answer.” Nansee’s voice came to him as if from afar. He looked to the side to find the older woman watching them with an indulgent expression on her face. She was smiling, which he took as a good sign. “You know, she doesn’t have to live underwater with us. Land or sea, a mate’s place is with their mate. We won’t hold your landlocked state against you, bear. Promise.”
At this, all the mer started to laugh, their musical voices filling the shore with a joyful sound, mirroring the joy in his heart. His mer had changed him. She’d brought happiness to a lost soul and healed the broken places within him, when he thought nothing would ever be able to fix him completely.
Nansee would still have to talk to John, of course, but Drew was happy to leave the politics to the leadership. They’d figure things out. Drew would help in whatever way he could, and he knew Jetty’s warrior spirit would keep her in the thick of things too. He liked that. They could work together, live together…just be together.
“I love you, my pearl,” he whispered for her ears alone, right before he swooped in to steal a kiss while the mer cheered…
Epilogue
Nansee and her top people held a series of meetings with John and the town council. Drew was part of the council, and Jetty came along with him to the meetings as representative of her hunting party, since Sirena was still laid up at the doc’s.
The entire pod had come to the cove, most staying beneath the water, setting up places to live out of the way of casual observers. A few were laying out buoys to mark off safe paths for boat traffic. Drew had worked with Jetty and the mer assigned to the task, since he had a vested interest in knowing where it was safe to steer his boat in the now-densely-inhabited waters of the cove.
When the mer set to work, things started happening fast. Nansee had sent a group to Seattle in a borrowed vehicle, with John’s approval. They came back loaded down with bags and bags of clothing and all sorts of business contacts.
Within a day of their return, a small branch office of a big national bank had opened in a disused corner of one of the art galleries, complete with an ATM. Construction plans for a larger permanent bank building were being fast-tracked, and the land had already been set aside. They’d signed a lease for a term of years, renewable subject to the agreement of both parties.
Grizzly Cove was not only getting a shifter-run bank, but another of the mer was making plans to open a small beachfront hotel that could accommodate the occasional paying guest—human or otherwise—as well as any water-dwelling mer who wanted to spend the night on land once in a while. They were including plans for private swim-up access, as well as special rooms on small piers, designed especially for mer sensibilities.
Work had started on a large boathouse-slash-gift shop, which would stock clothing for those who wanted to come out of the water. The back rooms were going to be built on a pier, over the water. Mer could swim up, enter the structure in complete privacy, then shift and dress, coming out ready to walk the streets of town without raising any eyebrows.
Once they set to work, the mer were industrious, and they seemed to have a lot of cash too. Many had tried to hire bear shifters to build their structures, but the guys in town who were able worked for free, or much-reduced rates. Everybody felt bad that the ocean-dwellers been chased away from their home by the leviathan, but they seemed to be getting along well with their changed circumstances for the most part.
The one wrinkle was Sirena. She wasn’t responding as quickly as they’d all hoped, and she was becoming a somewhat surly patient. Even Sven had lost some of his legendary patience with her in a very out-of-character screaming match that had been heard by all the neighbors. Of course, a full-grown polar bear shifter roaring in frustration was hard to miss.
After that, some of the more audacious mer and bear shifters began taking bets on which side would win…fur or fish.
*
Thanks for reading Bearliest Catch (Grizzly Cove #6). If you enjoyed this book, please consider leaving a review.
The next Grizzly Cove story is called The Bear’s Healing Touch. Coming later this year.
A complete list of all of Bianca’s books, separated by series, follows the excerpt. You can also check out Bianca’s website at WWW.BIANCADARC.COM. Or you can sign up for Bianca’s Newsletter to be alerted when new books are released.
If you’re new to Bianca’s paranormal romance world, check out the excerpt below from her first vampire romance story, One & Only. The book that started the entire Brotherhood of Blood story line, that ties in with all of the Tales of the Were books as well, including the one you just read. Enjoy!
Excerpt from
One & Only by Bianca D’Arc
When Lissa Adams woke, darkness engulfed her. Straining to see in the absence of light, her breath accelerated as she panicked. She was laying down. She could feel an uneven surface against her back.
Her apprehension grew when she realized another person lay beside her. A soft dripping sound echoed through what she supposed was some kind of underground chamber or cave. That’s what it sounded like—and smelled like. She felt rough rock and scattered grains of sandy dirt beneath her palms.
She knew the mountains were dotted with such places, but she couldn’t remember how she’d gotten here. Or why she was so groggy.
She tried to sit up, but the effort it required nearly blacked her out again. The being beside her stirred at her movement, and she felt more than saw the person rise to lean over her.
“Where are we?”
“I moved us to shelter.”
Rich and warm, his voice bathed her senses in a dark and dangerous way.
Sexy, she thought. She’d heard that voice before.
The memory of it was accompanied by flashing blue eyes and chiseled features. A man’s face flickered through her mind. She’d been fascinated by him and instantly captivated. She remembered thinking he was quite possibly the most striking man she’d ever seen.
“You stepped on my foot.” Her voice was weak to her own ears.
He chuckled at her innocent observation, setting her insides aflame.
“Indeed. But that was more than twenty-four hours ago.”
He stroked a gentle finger down her cheek and she shivered, not in fear, but in surprising arousal. If just the brush of his finger on her face could elicit this response, she wondered what he could do if he really tried.
That thought stopped her cold. Men like this one didn’t usually go for women like her. Better to focus on the peculiar situation she found herself in than daydream about her rescuer.
“What happened? I remember the bus swerving…”
“Ah, yes. Just before we rolled down the side of the mountain. You hit your head very hard, I’m afraid. That’s probably why you’re still a bit fuzzy.”
“Where’s everyone else?”
He paused only slightly. “Dead.”
Her breath caught in shock as her mind raced. “How did we…?”
“Relax, sweetheart.” He moved closer. “I pulled you from the wreckage and found shelter, but I was badly damaged in the accident as well. I’m sorry for it, but I need your essence to speed my healing.”
“My what?” Hot breath bathed her ear as he settled closer to her side. His strong arms enveloped her shoulders as his mouth stroked over the line of her jaw and lower.
�
��Don’t be afraid. I won’t hurt you, but I need your blood, and I’m too weak to cloud your mind. You’ll have to trust me.” His words whispered against her shivering skin. He dragged sharp teeth back and forth over her jugular as if savoring the moment before the feast.
She barely had time to take in his words before he struck. A piercing pain registered only for a flash, followed by the greatest bliss she had ever experienced. Intensely sexual, it engulfed her in a way she’d never known. He sucked at her neck, licking at the essence of her, swallowing like a thirsty man in the desert. Yet reverence and gentleness communicated through his tender handling of her bruised and battered body.
Oddly, she didn’t object. She knew she should be afraid, but an intense arousal overwhelmed her. She didn’t have the strength to voice even the faintest protest.
He drank for what seemed a long time, his hands moving over her body, molding her breasts and stroking her skin. Only then did she realize she was naked. She gasped as his long fingers stroked down between her legs, angling inward, invading her most intimate places as his mouth caressed the tender skin of her throat.
He knew his way around a woman’s body. Those skilled fingers knew just where to stroke, just where to pinch to drive her excitement to the highest possible point. She teetered on the precipice as his fingers slid in the arousal he drew from her body. His mouth sucked at her neck, his breath feathering through her hair, his pleasing masculine scent teasing her senses. And the feel of him. He was hot and heavy against her, hard as only a man could be and muscular in a way she hadn’t expected.
One hand cupped her breast, teasing her nipple as his fingers finally pierced the imaginary boundary, sliding inside her, where few men had ever been. But this man—though she’d known him only a few minutes, really—was like no other man she’d ever encountered. He fired her senses like no other, sending slick, hot arousal to her core. Even the thought that he was some sort of dark creature out of legend couldn’t stop the most intense sexual experience of her life.
That one tantalizing finger pumped into her, stretching her. He added a second digit as she whimpered in need. She hadn’t had sex in a long time. She was tight, but her body remembered pleasure, and this man—this vampire!—proved himself a master at manipulating her responses. He owned her pleasure.
Two long fingers stroked within, his thumb teased higher, rubbing in perfect counterpoint. She came with a wrenching jerk of hips that threatened to dislodge him, but his great strength kept her easily in his clutches. He continued the stimulation, extending her orgasm for long, intense moments while his upper body covered hers, his lips feeding hungrily from the small incisions he’d made in her neck. The pleasure washed over her in the most intense waves she’d ever known and right then she didn’t care if he was a vampire, werewolf or Indian chief. All she knew was his mastery. And she already knew she wanted more.
To read more, get your copy of One & Only by Bianca D’Arc.
About the Author
Bianca D’Arc has run a laboratory, climbed the corporate ladder in the shark-infested streets of lower Manhattan, studied and taught martial arts, and earned the right to put a whole bunch of letters after her name, but she’s always enjoyed writing more than any of her other pursuits. She grew up and still lives on Long Island, where she keeps busy with an extensive garden, several aquariums full of very demanding fish, and writing her favorite genres of paranormal, fantasy and sci-fi romance.
Bianca loves to hear from readers and can be reached through Twitter (@BiancaDArc), Facebook (BiancaDArcAuthor) or through the various links on her website.
Welcome to The D’Arc Side…
WWW.BIANCADARC.COM
Other Books by Bianca D’Arc
Paranormal Romance
Brotherhood of Blood
One & Only
Rare Vintage
Phantom Desires
Sweeter Than Wine
Forever Valentine
Wolf Hills*
Wolf Quest
Tales of the Were
Lords of the Were
Inferno
Tales of the Were ~ The Others
Rocky
Slade
Tales of the Were ~ Redstone Clan
The Purrfect Stranger
Grif
Red
Magnus
Bobcat
Matt
Tales of the Were ~ String of Fate
Cat’s Cradle
King’s Throne
Jacob’s Ladder
Her Warriors
Tales of the Were ~ Grizzly Cove
All About the Bear
Mating Dance
Night Shift
Alpha Bear
Saving Grace
Bearliest Catch
Guardians of the Dark
Half Past Dead
Once Bitten, Twice Dead
A Darker Shade of Dead
The Beast Within
Dead Alert
Gifts of the Ancients: Warrior’s Heart
Epic Fantasy Erotic Romance
Dragon Knights
Maiden Flight*
The Dragon Healer
Border Lair
Master at Arms
The Ice Dragon**
Prince of Spies***
Wings of Change
FireDrake
Dragon Storm
Keeper of the Flame
Hidden Dragons
The Sea Captain’s Daughter Trilogy
Book 1: Sea Dragon
Book 2: Dragon Fire
Book 3: Dragon Mates
Science Fiction Romance
StarLords
Hidden Talent
Talent For Trouble
Shy Talent
Jit’Suku Chronicles ~ Arcana
End of the Line
King of Swords
King of Cups
King of Clubs
King of Stars
Diva
Jit’Suku Chronicles ~ Sons of Amber
Angel in the Badlands
Master of Her Heart
Futuristic Erotic Romance
Resonance Mates
Hara’s Legacy**
Davin’s Quest
Jaci’s Experiment
Grady’s Awakening
Harry’s Sacrifice
Print Anthologies
Ladies of the Lair
I Dream of Dragons Vol. 1
Brotherhood of Blood
Caught by Cupid
The Beast Within
* RT Book Reviews Awards Nominee
** EPPIE Award Winner
*** CAPA Award Winner