BearTrapped

by Jaide Fox

  Kimber squinted. “And you think I’m odd?”

  He chuckled, and the sound rubbed her nerves in a pleasing manner. “I suppose we both are.”

  “That makes us a pair.”

  “Aye. We need to dry off and head back. I still have fishing to do, and your skin is pruned.”

  “I think you worry overmuch about food.”

  Braeden grinned. “One thing I picked up from my father—always be prepared. He had that constant worry with three boys in the house. ‘Tis hard to keep us all satisfied,” he said.

  He stood in the pool, pulling her up with him. She watched his face instead of the rivulets running down his long hair to his skin. Was he merely talking of food or something more? Her kind tended to mate and remain together until their young left home. She knew nothing of the Ursine and their habits, but she longed to know more and couldn’t fathom why she was so keen to learn. Hopes to prolong contact with him vanished with the evaporating steam from their bodies. He lifted himself from the pool, arms bulging with the strain of his body weight, and she admired his backside as he exited with a hiss as frigid air met wet skin.

  “Leaving is the worst part,” he said over his shoulder, shivering as he dried off and dressed before giving her a helping hand out. He wrapped the linen around her before she could get too cold and dried her as she sat on the lip of the pool. He retrieved her clothing and bent to slip her shoes on her feet so they would warm first. As his large hands engulfed her small feet, she couldn’t help but notice the intimate, tender act felt incredible. She couldn’t remember the last time she was cared for in such a manner—her parents had raised her to be independent. Being protected was unfamiliar but welcome.

  She dropped the linen from her shoulders, allowing him to slip the dress over her head and arms. When she thrust her face through the neckline, she caught his caressing gaze on her chest, and that familiar heat tingled inside yet again.

  She didn’t bother to disguise her disappointment or need with his refusal to act, or his strange idea that resisting their animal instincts was somehow noble. By now, he knew what she wanted.

  ***

  Braeden was damned skilled at retreating. She supposed it must be a talent he’d picked up from escaping from his family. By now, she found it as amusing as it was annoying.

  Kimber knew it was only a matter of time before Braeden gave in to her and put her out of the miserable pain of her mating heat. He pretended he didn’t want her, but she knew that was only an act—and he was a terrible liar. A man didn’t kiss a woman like that if he felt nothing. Feeling inexplicably giddy, she danced around the cave, stacking the wood he’d chopped inside along one wall. She straightened the bedding, imaging them tangled on the luxurious furs and again a dizzying feeling rushed through her. Giving in to her smiles felt wondrous, and she swept the ash out of the pit as well as the dust that had settled further inside.

  The dwelling cooled without a fire to warm it, but her movements kept her warm.

  Kimber wasn’t sure how long she’d danced around and cleaned without complaint—a light heart and step made the time go by quickly. Stepping through the entrance, however, outside seemed darker. Heavy cloud hung in the grey sky, and a brisk wind whipped the spruce and pine, flinging their snowy burden to the ground in clumps.

  Where was Braeden, she wondered. She began to worry about him taking so long fishing. She’d thought surely he’d be back by now. Perhaps he’d caught so many fish he couldn’t bring them all back on his own?

  Kimber discarded the long spruce bow she’d used to sweep, returned inside and slung her cloak on before going out once more to watch the sky. As if to accentuate her worries, snowflakes began fluttering down, clinging and melting against her hair and eyelashes as she looked to the path he’d beaten up over the rise.

  “I’m not just going to stand here making myself sick with worry,” she muttered.

  Making up her mind, she dashed inside and grabbed a small, burlap sack to help carry fish before setting out on Braeden’s path over the crest and back down to his stream. Keeping her eyes downcast to watch her footing, she noticed the snow falling heavier as she ascended. No longer could she see his tracks along the path, and if she didn’t move faster, her new worry was that the path would be engulfed by fresh snow before she could get back down to the river.

  “I hate the mountains. And winter worse,” she griped, picking up the pace until her breath expelled in great puffs. Her toes were freezing in the thin slippers, slipping on icy, flat boulders. She wanted to be warm and curled up by the fire in Braeden’s hairy arms. But first she had to find her big bear.

  Kimber was so focused on her descent and not losing her footing, she didn’t realize she was nearly to the bottom until movement drew her eyes. The broad furry back of Braeden’s beast came into view. Dampened by falling snow, his fur looked darker than she remembered. The water moved slower as slush and ice gathered in bends and curves. It would soon be iced over, she thought.

  At least he was safe. She sighed in relief seeing him standing on the water’s edge over a half-eaten fish pinned beneath a paw. He’d gotten hungry being out here all day, but she couldn’t see if he’d caught anything else.

  “Braeden!” she yelled and waved, stumbling down the hillside and tripping through a snowdrift.

  The bear turned at the sound of her call. Something was off in his demeanor—he huffed and shook his head, making the fat wrinkles on his shoulders and back ripple in response. Downwind from her, his scent was undetectable, but one look at his face transfixed her in a state of panicked pause. He stood on his back legs to his full height, nearly four feet higher than she stood. The monster opened his snout and roared loud enough to rattle her ear drums, confirming her worst fear—this bear was not Braeden.

  Chapter Nine

  Evette shivered and hugged her shawl tighter around her shoulders before heading back through the round door that marked the entrance to her house. Inside her boys sprawled on the straw-stuffed couches facing the main fireplace. Atop the faded red brocade, Donal and Kegan snored beneath knitted blankets. Their father, Melvin, was out hunting as usual, since he never thought they had enough to eat for the winter. Truth be told, with these behemoths at home, they didn’t.

  “Stop sawing logs and get up you two hair heads,” Evette said, snatching first one and then the other blanket off their sleeping forms.

  Donal snorted awake. Kegan rolled over and planted his face in the back of the couch.

  “Get up,” she said, pushing at his back and tugging his dark red hair.

  “I’m just so tired, Mama,” Kegan said, yawning.

  “I don’t care. A bad storm’s coming. I want you two to go get Braeden. I’m worried about him being out there alone. He’s never weathered a storm like this before. And I’m tired of him missing solstice with the family.”

  “He’s a grown man,” Donal said. “Let Dad go get him. If we go we won’t be back until tomorrow night. You’d rather us go out in this weather?”

  She crossed her arms over her ample bosom and gave them the look all mothers commanded. Donal and Kegan stood without hesitation and stomped around, trying to locate their cloaks and boots.

  “Where’re we supposed to look? You know he won’t come with us. He’s too hard-headed.”

  She sighed in exasperation. “You know where he goes every winter. It’s not that far. If you all weren’t such jackasses my baby would be home right now. Do what you have to to get him home. I want my whole family here for solstice. Go and get back.”

  Donal and Kegan stalled as long as they could under the watchful eye of their mother, but she wasn’t backing down and she wasn’t leaving the room so they could return to sleep. She pointed a plump finger at the round door until they ducked through the opening and left with unhappy grumbles.

  ***

  Indecision took hold with an agonizing grip. Kimber knew she shouldn’t run from the larger predator, that it wo
uld only provoke him further, but she had a little advantage with the distance. The possibility to outrun the much larger bear was slim, but she knew she couldn’t fight him on her own. Her only chance was to get ahead, find someplace to hide, and hope like hell he didn’t pursue her.

  Breaking her trance, Kimber whirled around and scrambled up the rocky incline, ignoring the sudden stitch in her side as every muscle in her body revolted with surging adrenaline. Snow-slicked rocks tumbled loose, clamoring down to strike around her pursuer as she barreled upward. The sound they made striking against one another created a hollow echo.

  She imagined the beast right behind her, could practically smell its fetid, fishy breath breathing down her neck. Fear and dread heightened her senses to horrific proportions, flooding her mind with images of jagged claws and teeth ripping into her. She used her horror as fuel, pressing forward, feeling tears sting her eyes and her breath harsh in her throat.

  Another roar ripped through the countryside. Flinching, she flung a backward glance to see how much time she had left to live. A second bear hurtled toward her attacker, smaller but no less deadly.

  “Braeden!” she said, recognizing him at last. She choked on a scream and bit her knuckles.

  He barreled into the larger, darker bear, forcing the beast to slide down the loose, gravelly path. Snow burst with the impact, powdering the air like tossed flour. Braeden growled deeply, long and loud as he shoved the aggressor back with his head and shoulder, squaring off to protect his territory.

  He was angling the bear towards the shore, away from the path leading up to her, using his head and shoulders to batter against the other. His foe growled and snapped. When they locked snouts over each other’s faces, Kimber gasped in fear, expecting to see blood. Enormous paws struck chest and shoulders, making horrendous, audible thumps. Kimber’s heart leapt into her throat, as they vied for domination. They were nearly the same size and coloring, making it difficult to keep track of which one was Braeden in the flurry of movement.

  Jerking free, Braeden’s beast stood on its haunches, holding his great paws up to strike his foe down. Now she could see he was smaller than his opponent, imitating a twisted dance of slapping paws and bravado. The rival bear slipped on the shoreline, falling onto his back as Braeden dropped over him. She swallowed a lump in her throat, her insides twisting with dread as the bear latched onto Braeden’s ear, struggling to push him off. Braeden dug his back feet into the ground, shoving, biting, and twisting.

  Their moves turned sluggish as exhaustion set in—she could see the slowed reaction of the bigger bear as he struggled back to his feet and tiredly hit Braeden, locking jaws one more time before releasing each other. The bigger bear dropped his head, huffing as he slowly backed away from Braeden down the beach.

  Braeden watched him go, breathing in great puffs as his foe—beaten—retreated.

  The blood that roared in her ears finally dulled as relief set in. When the rogue bear was no longer in sight, Braeden approached her. She held up her hands to stop him. “I’m okay. Go get your stuff and let’s head back to the cave.”

  He nodded his great head and rushed down the beach back to where he’d appeared from. Moments later, he returned in his human form, dressed haphazardly with his shirt and cloak askew and carrying a string of fish. The worried expression on his face couldn’t begin to echo the relief she felt seeing him safe and whole.

  “That was a rogue. I thought they’d all fled the area, but he must have smelled me cleaning fish up river,” Braeden said when he stopped in front of her. “That or…”

  All she wanted to do was hug him tight and never let go. She settled for cupping his square jaw, and the way he pressed his face into her hands caused a warm, tingling sensation to travel down her arms and shiver her spine. She withdrew reluctantly when he nodded toward the path. Snow fell harder, clumping on her shoulders and in her hair. The temperature dropped, but she hardly noticed. “Or what? Will he return?”

  He shook his head, taking her hand as he led the way back to their retreat. “He knows you’re under my…,” He glanced down at her. “Protection.”

  Braeden pushed through the deepening snow, clearing a path for her as the incline steepened. She appreciated his grip on her hand, aiding her through the pass. They were soon back to their cave. She shook her cloak out, and he buried his catch beneath the snow just outside the entrance, cleaning his hands before joining her inside. Kimber didn’t remove her cloak, for the air was chilly without their fire.

  “Let me get this going again,” he said, slinging his hands dry before gathering kindling. Kimber watched him in silence, breathing a sigh of relief as the spark caught and flames ate the bundled wood.

  He glanced around as he straightened from his crouch. “You cleaned. I thought you didn’t like home-making.”

  She draped her cloak across the wood pile to dry near the fire. When she turned, her face was inches from his chest. She tilted her head to find him looking down at her with hooded eyes. A breathlessness caught her lungs. “I…can be persuaded into a role. Sometimes.”

  Braeden caught her arms, rubbing them up and down as if trying to warm her. “You need warming. Your arms are like ice.”

  She shuddered. “I have been in need of a bear hug.”

  “I’m happy to oblige,” he murmured, closing her in his embrace.

  “I was so worried about you. I’ve never been so scared,” she whispered as she cuddled against his chest, enjoying the scent of his skin which peeped through the lacings of his shirt. “Am I still under your protection?” she asked, nuzzling his hard muscles and tilting her face up to his neck. The crook of his shoulder formed a perfect nook for her mouth and chin.

  He shuddered when she scraped her teeth against his skin. “A bear protects his mate from others. The rogue knows you are mine.”

  Was she crazy for liking his words? “Are you my mate?”

  “I will be,” he growled and lifted her into his arms. She yelped and giggled breathlessly as he strode the short distance to their bedding.

  He settled her onto the furs, taking the hem of her dress and lifting it up over her head before she could offer any protest. She lay back, sensuously writhing on the bedding to entice him to cover her with his body. He paused only long enough to rid himself of his clothing, and then knelt on the furs. His slow crawl toward her made delightful shivers creep down her flesh.

  “What changed your mind?” she said on a gasp as he dipped his head and kissed her raised knee.

  He slid his hands up her thighs, parting them for his passage. “When I heard you scream my name, I knew it. Seeing that rogue threaten you—you were mine in that moment. I will never let anyone harm you as long as I live.”

  He nibbled a path along her inner thighs, hot and wet and burning her alive with need. He nuzzled her slit, licking her juices and teasing her clit until it swelled beneath the tip of his tongue. A moan escaped her, and she lifted her hips as he ravenously sucked her clit.

  Speaking was an effort. “But, we are not the same. I should have never begun this. It can’t be.”

  Braeden lifted his head, capturing her gaze. “It’s happened before. It’s happening now. You and I are both trapped in this. Do you really want to go back?”

  She shook her head, taking a shaky breath. “No. I don’t have the strength anymore even if I wanted to.”

  “I’ve enough strength for us both,” he growled and slid her backside up onto his waiting lap.

  Looking down, she could see his thick, hard cock standing at attention. She closed her legs on his hips, fighting the urge to flinch and close her eyes as his strong fingers parted the folds of her sex. “Don’t hurt me,” she pleaded, feeling excited and afraid.

  “Never,” he promised, catching her swollen clit with his fingers. “Fate brought us together for this, Red. You were meant to be mine. In fact…” He caught her hands and pulled her up until she straddled his lap, sandwiching his cock be
tween her nether lips. Riding high on him, she was perfectly positioned for a kiss.

  He leaned his forehead against hers, slipping a hand around her back to cup one cheek. “Now you’re in control,” he said in a soft voice. “Take as much of me as you want or need.”

  Braeden wedged his free hand down to her mound, rubbing her cream over her swollen clit as he nipped her bottom lip. He sucked it into his mouth as she moaned and shuddered against him.

  She wrapped her arms around his shoulders, tilting her head into his kiss and thrusting her tongue into his mouth. She could well believe a part of her was lost kissing him, for her head spun in a dizzying rush of passion. Her blood pulsed, quickened by excitement. He suckled her tongue, famished and ravishing to her senses. She wanted so much from him—holding back was an effort.

  He tore his mouth from hers, breathing raggedly--his chest brushing against her nipples with every harsh breath. “Take me inside,” he said. “Lift up. I’ll help you.”

  She nodded shakily, doing as he asked. With his hand on the base of his shaft, he nudged the swollen head of his cock against her opening, stretching it impossibly wide. She stiffened, easing him inside infinitesimally. Every inch tortured her with equal parts pain and pleasure. Confirming her desire to be sensually hurt only heightened her longing, for she knew the sting was fleeting and would make the pleasure sweeter by comparison.

  Biting her lip, she saw him grimace, and a shudder rippled through him.

  “I…thought you’d…done this…before,” he breathed, holding stiff and still.

  She pushed down, gasping at the tightness, allowing her slick passage to slowly devour his length. “Not quite like this. It was more of…an accident.”

  Braeden gave a throaty chuckle, switching both hands to her hips to guide her. “You shouldn’t surprise me like this. Damn, you’re tight, Red. And so hot and wet. There. All the way inside. You kill me with your body.”