Mending the Bear

by Vanessa Devereaux

  “I’m outside and my motorbike awaits,” Ian said.

  “Then it will wait there a long time.”

  “Hey, this is a proper date tonight and it would seem weird for us to take separate transportation,” Ian said.

  “Okay, then how about you leave your bike here and I’ll drive us to the café and then drop you back here after we’ve eaten?”

  “Is that the way it has to be?” Eve asked.

  “Afraid so.”

  “Okay, I guess you win, but I am going to get you on that bike one way or another.”

  “In your dreams.”

  Next thing she knew he’d gone off the line and was knocking on the glass pane at the front door. She walked toward it and let him in.

  She almost wanted to whistle when he stepped inside. Tonight his sexy body was adorned with jeans, a white t-shirt, and a blue denim jacket. His sunglasses rested up on his head and that bear earring dangling from his left ear twinkled, and he smelled like…

  I guess how she hoped heaven would.

  “You ready?” he asked.

  “Nope.”

  “But you said five minutes and that’s up.”

  “I would have been if some guy hadn’t called and insisted I ride on his bike.”

  He smiled, flashing those pearly whites at her. “You look ready to me.”

  “I have to get my purse and jacket.”

  “I’ll be looking at the photos of your patients while I wait.”

  ****

  Ian couldn’t take his eyes off of Eve’s thighs as she drove them toward the Starlight Café. Good thing it was less than ten minutes away or he might have done something stupid like reach across to her side of the car and caress them.

  She glanced at him as if she could read what was going on in his head.

  “You look like you’re up to no good,” she said.

  “Mind reader, are you?”

  “Sometimes, yes. It stops me from getting bitten in my line of work.”

  He wondered if her sixth sense around animals included bears. What would she do if she saw his bear half come out? Being a vet, she probably wouldn’t be scared.

  Eve pulled into the parking lot at the Starlight Café. As was always on a Monday night, the parking lot was packed. Ian hadn’t missed one of these evenings since Hannah had started them shortly after she’d married Bear.

  He placed his hand on the small of Eve’s back and guided her toward the door. He stepped ahead and opened it to the sound of constant chit-chat and the delightful smell of salmon roasting out back.

  Ian had called ahead and reserved a table by the window, his favorite spot where he could chat with his fellow bear shifters and catch up on the news.

  Hannah waved to him as he guided Eve over to the table. He sat and then spotted something he hadn’t counted on. Joanne was dinning with Max. Why hadn’t they started a no cougar policy at Starlight?

  She looked over at him and gave him a half smile. Max turned around and glared at him.

  “Going to throw some more furniture?” he said.

  “Not tonight, maybe tomorrow.”

  Eve looked around and then back at Ian.

  “What was that about?”

  “That’s the asshole who ran off with my mate.”

  “Your mate?”

  “My girlfriend.”

  He’d wanted Joanne to see him with someone else to let her know he’d moved on, yeah, make her jealous, but now he was face to face with them, the whole thing made his blood boil.

  “She’s very pretty,” Eve said.

  Ian chose not to answer. Celia, another bear shifter who’d started working at Hannah’s as their Monday night waitress, walked over to the table.

  “It’s going to be a ten minute wait for salmon tonight. We’ve had a rush and Joanne and Max just had the last piece of our first batch, but more’s just about to hit the grill.”

  Ian gritted his teeth. The bastard had even taken the last piece of fish. When did cougars start liking salmon that much?

  “Can I get you something to drink?” asked Celia.

  “Beer for me,” Ian said.

  “I think I’ll have the same,” Eve said.

  He was impressed. A woman who wasn’t afraid to order a beer. Most of the shifter women thought it was much way too macho. Someone started to play the piano and Ian glanced over to see Dane sitting there as he began singing.

  “That guy has a great voice,” Eve said.

  “Yeah, Dane could probably get a record contract. He sings at just about everyone’s wedding and birthday parties, too. That’s his wife Melanie, and their little boy sitting over there.”

  “So you know everyone here tonight or what?”

  “Just about.”

  Celia arrived with their beers and placed them down in front of them, along with a basket of bread. “The chef’s assured me it will be just five minutes until the next batch of salmon is ready.”

  “Wait till you try the salmon,” Ian said. He could actually smell it grilling back in the kitchen and it was making his salivary glands water no end.

  Eve crossed her leg and while doing so brushed his. He didn’t know why, but he reached under the table and placed his hand on her thigh just above her knee. He half expected her to push it away, citing that they didn’t know one another that well, but she didn’t.

  He gave it a squeeze, getting what he interpreted as ‘I like it a lot’ look from her. In fact, she licked her lips and put her hand on top of his.

  Celia appeared again, this time with two plates of salmon and rice pilaf. “Sorry for the wait, but at least you know it’s fresh off the grill.”

  A few minutes later Eve took her first bite. “You’re right. This is the best salmon I’ve tasted. So much better than wearing it on your raincoat.” She nudged his foot with hers.

  For a human, she was a hell of lot of fun to be around. He nudged her foot in response while thinking about the condoms in his jacket pocket.

  ****

  Eve rested back on the chair and finished the rest of her beer. A few people had joined in singing along with the guy named Dane. Half way through their meal, Ian’s ex and her new man had finished their meal and left, but not without giving Ian what Eve knew was as an icy stare.

  She was pretty and Eve had felt just a tad jealous, but she wasn’t sure why. Sure she’d envy some people, but jealousy wasn’t a trait she’d ever possessed.

  “You ready to go?”

  Ian’s question jarred her out of her train of thought.

  “I sure am and that’s one of the best meals I’ve had in a long time.”

  Ian held the chair for her as she stood and then they made their way outside where it had started raining again. They rushed to her car and got inside.

  Ian turned on her heater as they sat off down the road with the windscreen wipers working double time, attempting to clear away the sudden downpour. Eve pulled into the lot of her practice.

  “Your bike’s getting wet,” she said.

  “Yeah, and I don’t feel like riding home in this.”

  “I could drive you home, but then you’d need someone to bring you here in the morning to get your bike.”

  “Or you could stay the night and then I’d have that someone to chauffeur me here.”

  Eve looked at him. “Remember it’s only our second date.”

  “So you finally agree the first one was an actual date.”

  “I didn’t say that.”

  Before she could say much more, his lips were on hers. She could taste the lingering remnants of the chocolate cake he’d had for dessert at the café. Damn, she should have indulged, too. Maybe next time. That was if he asked her for another date. He pulled away.

  “We could also go into my practice and have some coffee while the rainstorm passes over,” she said.

  “I like the sound of that,” Ian said.

  They got out and both made a run for the door. Ian took her key and opened it while she went insi
de and disarmed the alarm.

  “I just thought. What if it rains like this all night?” he said.

  “Then I guess you’ll have to sleep here.”

  “With you?” he asked. He pulled her in close, giving her another kiss.

  “I told you I don’t get horizontal until date three.”

  “Don’t suppose the coffee counts as a third one does it?”

  She ran her fingers over his lips and then across his cheek and touched the little bear charm on his earlobe.

  “You have a quite the bear theme going here. Your jacket and this earring.”

  “I also have a bear tattoo.”

  “Um, and that would be where?”

  “You’ll find out.”

  “So why bears?” she asked.

  “I like them, how about you?”

  “I’ve never met one.”

  “Yes, you have.”

  “No, I haven’t.”

  “One day I’ll prove you wrong.”

  “One day?”

  His lips were on hers again. This time their bodies banged into one another and then he backed her up against the wall. “You didn’t say anything about not getting vertical on a second date,” he said.

  “You like having sex standing up?”

  “You ever tried it?” he asked.

  “No, I can’t say that I have.”

  “Then don’t criticize it.”

  “You’re sort of bossy,” she said.

  “You have a problem with that?”

  “No, I find it sort of cute just like your dimples and the bear earring.”

  “You making fun of me?”

  She smiled. “No, definitely not making fun of you.”

  “I’m glad to hear that.”

  He reached up under her skirt and walked his fingers up her thigh.

  “Aren’t we going to have coffee?” she whispered.

  “You’d rather have caffeine than sex?”

  “I didn’t say that.”

  “Good.”

  Before she could get another word out, he’d pushed the legs of her panties to one side and his fingers were doing a windshield wiper motion across her mound.

  They looked one another in the eye as his index finger delved deeper into her curls and quickly found her clit. His finger felt heavy and strong against the nub as he began massaging it, and circling its very edge until it tingled.

  “Mmm.” The sound escaped from her lips.

  He rubbed his nose against hers as he continued to work his magic. He kissed her, masking the groan that started in her chest and made its way into her mouth. She was going to come and very soon.

  Eve put her arms around his shoulders, widening her stance, and relaxed into her orgasm.

  First time she’d had one of those, well, at least one that hadn’t been brought about by her own fingers, in what seemed like forever. And it had been a good one, making her cream, making her wet enough that Ian was able to use her juices to easily slide his finger into her pussy.

  He finger fucked her, tickling the back of her pussy and making her body hum. She kissed him. Running her teeth playfully along his lower lip, he teased her with the bliss that was to come, and then very skillfully pushed her over the edge. She held onto him as he removed his fingers, took his hand away from her body, and then unzipped her skirt, letting it fall to the ground.

  Eve thought he’d take off her panties, but instead he gave them a tug and the next thing she knew cool air was hitting her body. Black lace lay in shreds on the floor.

  “How did you do that?” she asked him.

  “Sssh. It’s magic. Don’t tell anyone,” he said.

  “It will be my little secret.” She reached out and touched his crotch, feeling his erection straining against his jeans.

  “Do you have condoms?” she asked him.

  “I do,” he said, tapping his pocket. “Does that question mean we’re going to have sex?”

  “No, it means I was just making polite conversation,” said Eve, pulling the zipper down on his pants. It was her turn to tease him. Yes, it hadn’t gone unnoticed how he liked to do that to her.

  He grinned as he pulled out a condom and handed it to her.

  “Would you like to do the honors?” he asked.

  “You are really confident that we’re having sex,” she said.

  “Maybe I just like wearing rubbers.”

  “Do you?”

  He shook his head. “This is a big sacrifice I’m making for you.”

  “Hope it’s worth your while then.”

  “It better be.”

  She pulled down his boxers and swallowed. She’d felt his erection pushing against her belly when they’d kissed, but she had no idea he was this big. She swallowed and was suddenly totally speechless. She’d heard women bragging how big their partner’s cocks were, saying how long and wide, but never believing them for a second. It was almost like it was an urban myth, but Ian had turned her into a believer.

  “Like what you see?”

  She was sure she’d blushed because he’d obviously caught her staring. She didn’t respond, but tore open the foil package and shook out the condom. Eve took his cock in her hand, ran her fingers, around it and then slowly slipped the rubber onto his shaft.

  He lifted her right leg, opening her wide and then inch by inch pushed his dick inside her.

  She groaned at first and not from any pleasure it was giving her. She knew she was tight from not being fucked in so long, and tight because she was a tad nervous, too. Having sex was a big deal for her and she hoped that she could just look at it as physical thing and not get emotionally involved like she always did.

  This is me time, she reminded herself as he slipped deeper and finally all the discomfort disappeared.

  He kissed her as he began a steady rocking motion, almost like he was warming her up and bam, he thrust into her, causing her butt to slam against the wall behind her.

  They held one another, groaning and muttering as he drove fast and hard. Eve wrapped her arms around him, trying to get her balance as she continued to stand on one leg.

  For some strange reason he stopped thrusting, but she could still feel his cock moving inside, beating around and causing her to go almost cross-eyed with pleasure. She opened her mouth to ask him how he was doing that, but he shook his head.

  “Just enjoy,” he whispered.

  She lifted her arms and slammed them against the wall as the first wave of her climax spread through her belly and pussy. She came quickly and then before she could get her breath back, she came again, and one more time until he thrust his hips again.

  She held the bar on the wall where patients could hang their coats and bit her lip as another climax hit her. Eve then ran her fingers through his hair, pushing them through the curls until he groaned and came.

  “See you’ve still kept your tradition of not getting horizontal until the third date. Our next one will be number three and yes, we will be getting horizontal for that one.”

  Chapter Nine

  He’d had his first sexual encounter with a non-shifter female and he had to admit he liked it. He guessed it had something to do with it being with Eve. As he rode his bike home, his cock still felt the thrill of being inside her. So much tighter and warmer. And their approach to the act a lot less demanding than a shifter. Now he could see what the other bear shifters were raving about and why they’d opted for human mates.

  However he knew Eve wasn’t his. Despite all the good things about her, he knew his one and only was still Joanne when she came to her senses, and she would.

  Ian turned into the lot housing his apartment and drove his bike into the underground parking ramp, while quickly noticing that his brother’s, Cade’s, bike was parked there. He’d given both his brothers keys to his place and they knew they were more than welcome to stop by or crash at his place whenever they were around.

  He headed up the stairs, saw the light on his place and opted to knock on the door r
ather than use his key. Cade opened it a few minutes later, standing there with bare feet and a huge sandwich in his hand.

  “Thought I’d make myself some supper, you want one?” he asked Ian.

  “No, I went to salmon night at the Starlight,” said Ian, throwing his jacket on the chair.

  Cade put his nose in the air. “I smell human all over you. I also smell pussy all over you. Don’t tell me you’ve moved on from Joanne with a human?”

  “So what if I have?” Ian realized how defensive he’d sounded with his response.

  “The guy who I heard caused havoc in a supermarket because his mate had been unfaithful and you’ve quickly found yourself a new lady who just so happens to be human. Does that really sound like my brother?”

  “Joanne’s going to come to her senses pretty soon and while she does that, I’m certainly not going to live like a celibate bear and pussy’s pussy.” He didn’t believe that for one minute. Eve’s pussy had been pure delight, but he wasn’t going to tell his brother that and not just because it wasn’t any of his business.

  “And she’s pretty?”

  “Very, she’s a vet and has her own practice. I’m acting as security for all the business in the area.”

  “So I’m guessing as you’ve been dipping in some human pussy that you didn’t hear about Charlie. That’s why I’m here. I’ve called Trey, too.”

  Ian went cold, Charlie was their Spirit Guardian, the old bear that’d saved lots of people when they’d crash landed in Kalispell. The man who’d taken three young orphans under his wings. In fact, he’d acted as Spirit Guardian to twelve young bear shifters. He had to be close to one hundred years old and Ian hoped he hadn’t passed away.

  “Charlie, is he okay?”

  “Bear McWilliams called me to say they’d admitted him to the shifter hospital this afternoon because he was having trouble breathing.”

  Ian grabbed his jacket. “Then let’s go and see how he’s doing.”

  Joanne would probably be working at this time of night, but he didn’t care about running into her, Charlie was his main concern now.

  ****

  Eve pulled a face as she got into bed. Her pussy had gotten some work out tonight. She wasn’t sure if it was because of the drought the poor thing had been experiencing, or because Ian was blessed in the dick department, but her pussy muscles ached.