“No. My parents died when I was sixteen. I found work with a circus and moved from town to town with the troupe. No one knew I was a bear shifter. Everyone just thought that I was incredibly tall and strong for a teenager.”
“That's where you met Jax and Joshua. In the circus,” Staci said softly.
Marcus nodded. “At one of the towns we stopped at, a bear tamer joined us. Bazl kept six cages of dancing bears. Most of his bears had been captured from the wild, but some cubs had been bred in captivity. One night, I saw him open the cage and yank out two tiny bear cubs. Bazl threw them on the ground and whipped them viciously. He kept shouting at them to shift.”
“I was about to stop him when one of the cubs shifted suddenly. I saw a shivering, skinny, crying six-year-old boy crouching beside the other cub. They were shifters, like me.”
Staci shook her head, unable to speak.
“Bazl kept whipping them. He whipped them until they both shifted into human form. He said they weren't shifting on command and it was ruining his act. But bear cubs sometimes can't control their shift. They're just kids...”
“So you freed them. Tell me you freed them,” Staci said fiercely.
“I did. I couldn't stand by and watch him whip Jax and Joshua. The two boys were crying and begging but he kept kicking them and beating them brutally. He punched Jax so hard in the ear that he damaged Jax's ear permanently. I stopped him. I rushed out and grabbed his whip and shoved him away from the boys. But he came at me with a knife. When I fended off his blows easily, he knew he couldn't hurt me. So...he hurt Joshua. He slashed at Joshua and he would have killed him. But—I...I killed him.”
Marcus looked up at Staci with tortured eyes. “I killed a man, Staci.”
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Marcus gripped the steering wheel and forced his eyes back to the road. He was driving Staci home after dinner. She made small remarks here and there, but was largely silent during the drive. He couldn't see her face. She was leaning against the window, away from him.
He didn't blame her. In fact, he was surprised that she had agreed to let him drive her home. Who would want to sit in a car with a murderer?
He wished he could say something in his defense. He wanted to tell Staci that he wasn't a killer. But that would be a lie.
The truth was he had killed a man with his bare hands.
He had done it to save his brothers, but…
No buts.
A life was a life.
Marcus could feel the blood on his palms as his claws dug into his flesh and he chuffed out a bitter laugh. Yes, he had blood on his hands all right. His hands were dirty. He couldn't touch Staci with his filthy, bloody hands.
Staci turned to stare at him and he saw the pain in her eyes. She opened her mouth to speak, but she couldn't seem to get the words out. Instead, she wrapped her arms tighter around herself and sighed.
“Marcus,” she whispered, leaning her forehead against the window.
He jerked as a sharp, punishing stab of pain lanced his heart. It felt as though his bear was slashing furiously at his insides. His bear was mad at him. His bear wanted to have Staci. It wanted to mate with her, claim her and mark her. But there was no chance of that happening now.
You should have kept your big mouth shut, his bear roared in fury and frustration.
Marcus shook his head hard. No, he would never keep anything from Staci. He would never lie to her and deceive her. He wanted her to know what and who he really was. Staci looked sad now, but she didn't look at him with disgust and anger. If he kept the truth from her and fooled her into loving a murderer like him, it would gut him if he saw the hurt and regret in her eyes. No. He would never do that to Staci.
Marcus pulled up in front of her house and killed the engine. Staci opened the door and got out, but she didn't scramble madly towards the safety of her house. She wasn't in a rush to get away from him. That was a good sign, but maybe she was just being polite.
Marcus walked her quietly to her front door and stared at her. He wanted to take a last, long look at her and remember every detail about her. How she looked, smelled, moved. He was sure that she would never want to see him again. He would respect her wishes and stay away, but he knew that there could be no other female for him. He had met his mate. His bear was going berserk under his skin, ripping his insides to shreds as it fought to free itself from its human constraints. The bear thought that the human was too fucking stupid! The beast would take her and claim its mate in a heartbeat, but the man was just going to let her go!
Staci unlocked her front door and turned to him. Marcus almost dropped to his knees in agony. He wanted to capture that sweet, beautiful face in his hands and kiss her. She was so lovely, so pure and good, and she deserved someone better.
Marcus couldn't bear the thought of another male touching her, knowing her, having her. He staggered back a step, growling in pain.
Staci gasped and reached out to him. Her hand landed on his biceps, and she closed the distance between them.
“Marcus,” she said, her gaze deep and searching.
“You shouldn't...touch me,” he growled.
She didn't look afraid. “Why not?”
“God, Staci. This is sheer torment!” He closed his eyes. “I want you so much,” he gritted out.
He couldn't help himself. He held her upturned face in both hands and leaned in. His mouth hovered inches from hers, and he inhaled her scent deeply. She was already a part of him, and he would care for her forever. She would never know this. If she knew, he was sure that she would be revolted. She would not want a violent, murderous man like him obsessing over her and watching over her.
Her lips parted, and it took every ounce of willpower to hold himself still and not kiss her.
“Marcus,” she whispered.
He should release her. He knew what he should do, but he couldn't do it.
Before he could move, Staci raised herself on her toes and pressed her mouth to his.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
Staci felt Marcus's body tense as she pulled him to her. His eyes widened and glowed with a raw, feral heat which made her body throb and ache maddeningly. The hunger in his eyes seemed to ignite her own lust and desire. She couldn't explain it. It was as if her body was responding to his. Marcus seemed to sense her need and arousal and she felt him grow deliciously hard against her.
She felt his hands close around her waist before his lips moved against hers. His kiss was hot, sensual, deep and demanding. Marcus let out a low growl which reverberated to the tip of her toes. Staci tugged him into the house with her as she moaned against his mouth.
Staci kicked the front door shut behind them as they fumbled in the dark. Marcus had told her everything about himself, his family and his past tonight. He had been honest and forthright, and he held nothing back. He didn't have to let her know everything but he did.
Staci didn't see Marcus as a killer. He had done what he did to save two frightened, helpless boys. He had only been sixteen himself. He could have walked away and pretended that he hadn't witnessed the horrific abuse.
Marcus saved his brothers. He did what he had to do. It was a horrible, terrible thing to have to do, but he didn't commit a murder in cold blood. He saw himself as a murderer, but Staci didn't.
She wanted to ease his suffering, assuage the guilt and pain that he was inflicting upon himself.
“Staci...” Marcus inhaled a ragged breath and forced himself to step back. “I want you, but I know I can't have you, Staci. I have to stop...”
She stood in front of the door to block him. “No.”
Marcus's chest rose and fell with his heavy breathing. There was hope and desolation in his eyes, and he stared at her with so much yearning and pain it made her heart ache. Staci pressed a hand to her heart and gasped. It was as if she could feel his hurt and pain, like they were connected somehow.
She took a step towards him and pressed a hand over h
is heart. His powerful, thundering heartbeats matched the rhythm of her pulse.
“I will have you, Marcus,” she said softly but firmly.
His eyes flashed. “No.”
Staci blinked at him. “You are denying me?”
“I can never deny you anything, Staci,” he said hoarsely.
She wrapped her arms around his neck and pressed her body flush against his. “Then don't deny me this,” she whispered.
Marcus growled and grabbed her. He took her mouth like a starving man, tasting her thoroughly. His growl deepened as their tongues tangled, and their hands began to peel their clothes off each other.
Clothes littered the floor, leaving a trail to her bedroom. By the time they tumbled into bed, they were completely and gloriously naked.
Staci writhed beneath Marcus as he laced his fingers through hers and pushed her hands above her head. He kissed his way down her neck and gently suckled her.
Staci arched her back and groaned. Marcus laved his tongue down every inch of her curvy body, leaving her quivering and whimpering in need.
She surrendered herself to his skilful, merciless hands and mouth. Marcus took his time with her. He gave her pleasure, and he made her beg for more.
But he didn't hurry. Her undulating body was spread before him like a buffet, and he fully intended to savor every part of her.
Staci trailed her hands down his rock hard body and wrapped her fingers round his huge, erect cock. Marcus jerked when she began to pump him with her fist, and he tried to move her hand away.
“I want to feel you,” she said. “I want you, Marcus.”
His throat moved. “Are you sure, Staci? Once I have you and claim you, there will be no going back.”
She held his face and whispered, “I'm not going back, Marcus. I'm here. And I'm yours.”
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
Marcus stared at Staci. She hadn't run away screaming after learning about his past. Instead, she made it clear that she accepted and wanted him. She was giving him her trust and her heart.
He almost couldn't believe that this beautiful, amazing woman was his. How could a bad, brutal bear like him have a mate like her?
“Staci,” he said, bowing his back to press his forehead against hers.
Gently, she smoothed the crease between his brows with her fingertips. “Take me, Marcus.”
Marcus swallowed and looked into her liquid brown eyes for a long moment. He could see the deep emotions glimmering in her eyes and he felt himself falling hard and fast. There was no going back.
He was hers. She owned him, completely and forever.
Marcus pressed his lips to her and slowly deepened the kiss. His large, calloused hands caressed her curves, kneading her bountiful breasts and moving over her round, generous hips.
Staci was a sensual, passionate woman. She had told him all about her ex-fiance, and Marcus thought that David was the dumbest ass on the planet. The fool didn't know what a treasure he had lost. That jerk definitely didn't deserve Staci.
Marcus caressed Staci's sweet face with the back of his fingers. He swore that he would cherish her, protect her and love her forever.
Parting her legs with his knees, Marcus pushed the head of his cock into her body and sucked in a breath. She was so tight. Staci whimpered as she wriggled her hips, trying to accommodate his girth.
Marcus inched very slowly into her tight, slick sheath. His breathing became louder and harsher. He wanted to start thrusting hard into her, but he didn't want to hurt her. She was so small and fragile and human.
Marcus rubbed his thumb over her pink, engorged clit, smearing her juices over the sensitive nub. Staci panted and cried out. He felt her channel rippling and clenching and his eyes almost crossed. She felt so, so good.
Pulling her nipple deep into his mouth, Marcus suckled her until he felt her growing impossibly wet. With one smooth stroke, he surged into her body and buried himself completely inside her. Staci's nails dug into his back as she moaned in pleasure.
Marcus began to move, rocking deep into her. He held her and looked into her eyes as he made love to her, feeling their soul-deep connection with every beat of his heart.
Staci was his. She was his mate, his one and only.
Staci's cries grew louder as she neared her climax. She looked so beautiful, with her hair spread across the pillow. Her skin was hot and flushed, and her ample breasts bounced as he thrust harder and faster into her. He wanted to see her like this every single night.
“Marcus...” She screamed his name as she orgasmed. As she shuddered in his arms, Marcus bit down on the base of her neck and emptied his seed into her hot, quivering body.
They clung to each other, panting and murmuring almost incoherently.
When Staci could open her eyes again, Marcus took her into his arms and embraced her tenderly.
“Thank you,” Marcus whispered.
She widened her eyes at him. “Thank you? As in wham, bam, thank you mam?”
“No!”
She giggled a little. “Don't look so appalled.”
“You're not...”
“A chick you picked up at the bar for a random fuck?” she teased. “Well, technically, you did pick me up at The Round Table and we did...”
“You!” He threw her on her back and pinned her wrists to the mattress. “You are asking for it, Staci. I'm going to fuck you raw tonight. And I'm not going to stop.”
With a wicked smile, she spread her legs for him.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
Staci kissed Marcus and hopped out of his car. She had spent the whole weekend with Marcus and his family. They'd had dinner at his place with his two brothers, and when Marcus ushered her to his car to send her home, Jax and Joshua had merrily stuffed themselves into the backseat and insisted on coming along for the ride.
“What about us?” Jax rolled down the window and stuck his head out. “Don't we get kisses too?”
Marcus turned around to scowl at them, but the twins ignored him and grinned hopefully at Staci.
She laughed and went to kiss them on the cheek. “Thank you for the lovely dinner,” she said.
“Glad you like our cooking,” Joshua smirked.
Jax jabbed Marcus's shoulder and said, “See, I told you we'd impress your mate with a nice homecooked dinner.”
“Homecooked dinner?” Marcus spluttered. “It was a microwave dinner!”
“We microwaved a banquet for her,” Jax said stubbornly.
“And I loved it,” Staci said laughing. “Really I did. I enjoyed myself very much!”
Marcus rolled his eyes at the twins as he got out of the car to walk her to her door.
“You don't have to do that,” Staci chided. “I can walk a few feet from the curb to my house by myself.”
Marcus smiled and waited for her to unlock the door. Pulling her to him, he gave her a lingering kiss and said, “I miss you already.”
Joshua made a gagging sound from the car as Jax asked, “What? What did he say?”
Staci looked over Marcus's shoulder and saw Joshua turning to speak quickly to his twin. She forgot that Jax couldn't hear out of one ear. Bazl had damaged the hearing of a six-year-old boy permanently with one cruel blow.
She saw Jax guffaw and grin at them. Despite his childhood ordeal, Jax was cheerful and optimistic. She saw that it was Joshua who was angry and bitter at his twin's handicap.
He hurt more because he loved his brother. Joshua was the older twin, and Staci sensed that he blamed himself for not protecting his baby brother.
“Good night. Drive safely,” she said softly to Marcus.
“Good night.”
She waved at the twins from her window as the car moved off. The three brothers were very close. They talked about everything and they wanted to know everything about her. Jax and Joshua were delighted when Marcus brought her home to meet them, and they had eagerly invited her to dinner.
And wh
en they saw the claiming mark on her neck, they were deliriously happy. “It's so nice to have a big sister!”
“Boss Marcus around, so he'd stop bossing us around,” Jax told her as he hi-fived his twin.
Staci chuckled. The twins had pulled out all the stops. They'd microwaved almost everything they had in the freezer.
There had been way too much food, but somehow they managed to finish everything.
Staci sighed and padded to her kitchen for a drink. Spending time with Marcus and his brothers made her think of her elder sister, Ethel. Ethel and her had been so close as kids. But as they became teenagers, they had different interests and friends. And then they grew up and drifted even further apart. They were busy with work, their own social lives and relationships, and they talked less and less.
What happened? Staci wondered, staring at her phone.
Life happened, a voice in her head said. But that voice sounded too defensive and self-justifying.
She knew that wasn't the real reason. It was just an excuse.
Staci shook her head. She should stop making excuses for herself.
Marcus and his brothers had gone through life as well, and their lives had been so much harder and harsher. They cared about one another, and they showed their care and concern in their own loud, rowdy way.
They didn't hide their feelings and censor what they had to say to one another. The twins were Marcus's greatest critics and cheerleaders.
Staci grabbed her phone and sat down heavily at the dining table. She wanted to call Ethel and tell her...everything. They used to share secrets and gossip, squabble and fight, but now...they were so polite and distant. She hadn't even told her sister that she had broken up with David.
Staci winced. Why? Why hadn't she told her sister?
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
Bad Bear: BBW Bear Shifter Paranormal Romance (BRIDES fur BEARS Book 1) Page 4
