Slowly he worked the hard inches of his flesh into me, filling me slowly. I gasped at the sensation, new and unique but familiar and comforting. Then Hale was moving inside of me and I stilled, letting him set the pace. He leaned up over me, still grasping at the cuffs, and growled into my ear.
“Mine.” With that one word my world exploded once more and Hale followed after me, his body driving into mine in a frantic pace that spoke of desperation, need, and love.
I felt his hot bursts as he filled my womb with his seed, his body shuddering behind me as he let out a wild groan of passion and fulfilment.
“Mine.” He whispered once more as he bent over me, his breath ragged and labored.
When he caught his breath once more he carried me up to his bedroom and explored our new world with me. We talked of things to come, of what we would do together, and how to ease me into his world. I fell asleep finally happy, finally free of my own self-doubt and loathing. I was stepping into a world I did not fully understand but with Hale to guide me, I knew we’d be able to make it. As he settled into sleep and the light of the moon broke through the window I could no longer hold back my curiosity and slid the covers down from his back. There, shining back at me in the moonlight, was a frame of trees and a moon, within it a proudly standing bear, arms open wide.
Chapter 4
The next day Hale drove me back to the resort in his ATV, our bodies closer than they’d been yesterday. Our souls were mated now and our physical selves were close, but our souls were much closer. We drove into the resort and he parked the ATV. Helping me down he pushed my hair back from my face where the wind had pulled it free from its tie.
“That’s the beautiful girl I saw that first day. You stole my heart that day. Will you come back with me tonight? Bring your things and you can stay with me forever. Just move in and later we’ll get your things from home. Or is it too soon?”
I hesitated, like a fool, I hesitated. Not because I had doubts but because I knew it was going to be a headache and I didn’t want to leave my job, I loved my job! I looked at him for a moment and saw his heart break.
“I can’t just decide to leave my job. I’m a teacher. I have responsibilities.” I told him, giving him my first protest.
“I’ll take care of you. I have enough money to support a village. That’s not a problem.” Hale responded.
“But I like my job.” I protested once more.
“You can work here, we have schools.”
“Alright. That’s an idea. I’ll tell you this evening. I have to think about it. It’s a big step for me. I just have to wrap my head around all of this, Hale. It’s not you. I’ve never done anything like this, I’ve never lived with a man, and I’d never even had sex until last night. I just need to assimilate it all for a few hours. I’ll see you this evening, alright?” I moved closer, wanting him to understand.
“Of course darling, I’m sorry. I should have thought. Of course, take your time. I’ll be here waiting, for eternity if I have to.” He smiled as he said the words and pulled me close for a kiss. That was our last kiss.
* * *
Three months later, I was sitting in a doctor’s office, stunned and unable to take in the enormity of what had just been said to me. I looked at the results of the test and my heart sank. What was I going to do now? Life as I knew it was about to end.
I went home and thought about the last few months, and those final moment of my life at the resort. I’d gone up to my room to change and found my phone filled with messages and missed calls. I’d rushed out of the resort, leaving notes for Cora, Kaia, and Hale as none of them were to be found. My mother had been rushed to the hospital with a suspected heart attack and I’d gone home to be with her.
Mom had recovered but it had been a long road so far. That road had been made harder for me by the lack of response from Hale. I hadn’t heard from him since that day, not a word. Between work and going home to take care of Mom I hadn’t had time to talk to Cora or Kaia. I hadn’t heard from any of them in three months now. I knew the ladies were fine from their social media but nothing about Hale.
Mom was recovering now and I was spending more nights at my own house than at hers now but I’d been feeling tired, run down, and just off. Mom insisted I go to the doctor and take care of myself. I’d expected to hear that I was stressed, that my nerves were shattered, not the news I’d received. But it was there, in black and white.
I was pregnant.
Whether he’d abandoned me or not Hale deserved to know about this. I arranged for a nurse to go and stay with Mom and drove down to the Singing Stones Resort one more time. He at least deserved to know he had a child on the way.
* * *
In my time away from Hale I’d learned quite a lot about myself. I no longer thought I was a troll that didn’t deserve to be loved or that I was so disgusting I needed to hide every inch of my flesh. I’d figured out my conservative streak had more to do with my own self-hate than anything else. I’d learned to wear clothes that highlighted my good qualities and hid the ones I’d rather not show off. I delighted in who I was and became a more open person.
He’d given me that much at least. I won’t lie and say his rejection didn’t break my heart, because it did, I felt like a piece of me was missing. I had, however, learned to live without that piece of me. Kind of. But he’d given me a new piece, something else to look forward to and to love. The idea was sinking in now. I was going to have a baby. Probably a shifter baby. I didn’t know how any of this worked but I’d figure it out as we went along.
The miles passed and soon enough I was pulling into the parking lot of the resort. It hadn’t changed, though the scenery had as winter set in. It was still a beautiful resort and inside its walls was the man I loved. I’d have to tamp down on that to get through this but I’d do it. Somehow. He’d rejected me but I had to make him listen and I had to control myself while doing it. As long as I didn’t break down crying I’d be happy.
I walked into the resort and the first person I saw was Hale. An overwhelming urge to scream my bottled up pain at him deflated as I saw a haggard man, worn with worry and sorrow stare at me with anger. What the hell, I thought. Why is he angry with me?
Hale took my arm and guided me to his office, a large room with a large desk and a leather couch in one corner. He marched behind his desk and pointed at a chair in front of it. I sat down, staring at him in resentment and disbelief. This bastard had the nerve to be angry that I was there! It hadn’t been enough that he’d rejected me now he was angry too. Fuck him!
I didn’t say that though. I didn’t get a chance to.
“What are you doing here, Tessa?” He asked abruptly, his tone cold.
“Excuse me?”
“Just what I said, what are you doing here?”
“I came to tell you something. Boy, when you are done with somebody you are done! You didn’t even bother to tell me “bye Felicia” and now you can’t wait to get me out of the door. But what more did I expect from you?”
“I don’t know who this Felicia is or why I’d call you that but you’re the one that left without a word. You haven’t even contacted Cora and Kaia! I know because I’ve asked! Not a single word in three months, Tessa!” His palm came down on the desk and I have to admit I jumped.
“That’s a lie! I left notes for all of you and none of you even bothered to text me. My mother had a heart attack and all of you left me to deal on my own.” Months of hurt and anger at all three poured out with those words. “She nearly died and what did I get from any of you? Not a damned thing!”
“What?” Hale looked shocked and hurt.
“I left notes for all of you at the front desk, I didn’t have time for texting, and my mother was dying. I sped all the way home and have since spent every moment at work or with her, trying to improve her health. It’s been a long road but she’s finally improving. And now, well now I have more news.”
“Wait, you left notes? But the clerk said you
’d left nothing. I asked him twice. He didn’t remember you.” Hale looked angry again now.
“Maybe he lost them? I don’t know but I left three of them, all basically the same but for yours. It said “I accept but please come to the hospital when you have time. I need you now”. But you never came, no matter how long I waited, you never came. I even put the address of the hospital on the note and you never came!” I was all but wailing by then and Hale came rushing around his desk to console me.
I was blaming my outburst on pregnancy hormones but I knew it was just months of heartache and pain pouring out.
“Shh, darling. It was all a misunderstanding. Hush baby, it can all be fixed. Please, stop. My heart is breaking, please Tessa, just stop sobbing baby.” He held me to him as my body shook with released emotions of all sorts. His suit jacket was soaked by the time I finally quieted down.
“It can’t all be fixed. Not the part where we’re tied together for the rest of our lives whether we want to be or not.” I hiccupped out, blowing my nose on a tissue he gave me. I think I needed another.
I reached for one more as the words started to sink into his brain. I could see the moment realization dawned.
“OH?” He asked, his eyes wide, a grin spreading over his face.
“Yes, oh. A baby.” I smiled at him, kneeling before me with wonder and excitement on his face.
“A baby. Oh. Wow!” I wasn’t sure what I was expecting but his response was endearing and as it sank in even more he just grew happier and happier.
“A baby! Oh my god, Tessa, a baby!” He was pulling me to him once more and as he pulled me to him to kiss me I could hear what sounded like applause outside of his door.
“I think they’re happy for us.” I whispered up to him, my hands going under his suit jacket to pull his shirt from his pants.
“There’s going to be a lot more happiness around here if you’ll have me, Tessa. I still want you here. I waited, hoping, but I let anger take over and that’s my own lesson to learn. You needed to be there for your Mom and I needed to be there for you but I wasn’t. I’ll make up for that now.”
He pulled me to him, nestling me between his legs as he sat on his desk. His hands pulled my clothes away, giving each piece an admiring glance as he did so. I laughed low and sultry, enjoying how his eyes went wide as he revealed my large round breasts, still swollen and tender but better now.
His fingers flicked at them gently and I gasped.
“Um, be careful. Over the last few days I’ve orgasmed just rolling over in bed because of those things.” I told him with a laugh.
“Really? Oh this might be fun.” He said with the curiosity of a little boy with a new toy.
His lips moved down to suck one and then the other. I’d been practicing at this masturbating stuff to learn control and to try to relieve the emptiness I’d felt inside after our separation but nothing compared to the real thing. I watched the muscles flexing in his arms as he took off his clothes and led me to the couch. I stretched out on the leather and pulled him to me, my body craving only Hale inside of me.
As he slid into my wet depths I knew this was home, this was where I belonged. Hale’s fingers found my hidden button at the same moment his lips found a nipple. The orgasm didn’t come as quick as rolling over in bed but it was oh so much better. I came around his hard cock, my body shuddering with spasms of pleasure.
Hale watched, pleased, as my body responded to his sliding touch. He let me rest and then he turned me over, my ass high in the air as he stood behind me.
“Put your right leg up on the couch Tessa. That’s it.” He guided himself into me as I lifted my leg and I couldn’t believe how good it felt.
“Just remember my love, they can hear you out there.” He urged as I moaned in pleasure.
This was another lesson in control. One of many I looked forward to learning. We were tied together now, for better or worse, and as he moved within me, as he stroked me once more to the heights of pleasure, I wanted nothing more from life. I wanted him, our baby, and to live a peaceful life. I came with him once more, his cock surging inside of me, as we moved in time together.
I had no doubts about my looks, nothing to be ashamed of. Only joy at finally being back with my shifter mate. We’d work the rest out and life would be what we made of it. We’d explore his world together and mine, joining them into a blend of what suited us best. Now that we were back together we could make quite a lot of our lives. Because we were mated. Forever.
The End
2 Fighters Bear
Chapter 1
Cora Walker slipped out of the door to her apartment and walked down to her friend Kaia’s place a few doors down. Rolling a suitcase along behind her Cora smiled and wondered what this trip was going to be like. Rubbing her barely rounded tummy Cora couldn’t believe she was so lucky to have such wonderful friends. Who else would sweep her away on a two week trip to help her forget her cares? Certainly not the baby’s father!
Cora’s smile turned into a grimace as she thought about Sean. He’d fled back to Ireland the day after she told him about the baby, leaving only a note behind begging for her forgiveness and protesting that he was sorry but he wasn’t ready to be a father. Odd how some men felt they could just run out and leave the woman behind. Cora hadn’t been ready to be a mother but apparently taking birth control pills and using condoms simply hadn’t been enough. She was four months along, 17 weeks really, and barely starting to show.
Now she and her friends were heading out of their suburb near Atlanta straight for the mountains in the north of Georgia. It was time for some fun before the baby came and she had to get used to life as a mommy. With her smile back in place the tiny red-head knocked on her friend’s door and waited, her excitement at going away making her want to do a happy dance.
She hadn’t been on vacation since she’d met Sean. Four years of “nah, not interested” had meant she had saved a ton of money on not renting a hotel room or airfare but it also meant she’d not been anywhere in ages. Before she’d met Sean she’d been all over Europe and to several South American states. He didn’t even like to go to the coast of Georgia. Cora could barely get him to move off of the couch to even go to the grocery store with her. He’d rather play video games when he wasn’t doing graphic designs as a freelancer online. He’d been little more than a lump after a while.
A lump that managed to get her pregnant and then disappeared. Dirtbag. Cora would have kicked the post on the porch of Kaia’s apartment if it had been hers but controlled herself. She could be the stereotypical red-head with a fiery temper to match her hair. Barely five foot three and slim, Cora was like a tiny matchstick but she was beautiful inside and out.
Jumping when Kaia opened the door, rolling her own suitcase out with her, Cora’s eyes met Kaia’s dark brown eyes. Kaia’s eyes squinted as she looked at Cora.
“You’re thinking about that dirtbag again aren’t you? I can tell by the color of your eyes. They’re light green when you’re happy but when you’re angry or thinking about him they go an almost brown color. You can’t help it that your baby daddy doesn’t want to be a baby daddy, Cora. You have us so stop worrying about that loser. You’ll never need him, not with Tessa and me around!”
“I know but it still makes me so angry when I think about it. Luckily he left some information about himself behind. I don’t think he realizes it’s all I need to collect child support from him. He can run back to Ireland all he likes, he’s not getting away from his responsibilities!” Cora grinned at her friend as they waited in the dark for Tessa to show up.
“Where is Tessa at?” Kaia fussed as she looked down at her watch one more time. “She’s never late!”
“You’d better call her. You gave her that horror novel to read. You know she never reads stuff like that. I bet she was up all night hearing ghosts and goblins!” Cora laughed and settled into her chair as Kaia called their friend.
Not long after they heard a vehicle zooming in t
heir direction and then the squealing of tires as the brakes were thrown on. Cora stared in wide-eyed wonder at her friend. Tessa never drove like that!
The next few minutes were spent getting settled into Tessa’s SUV then gaining an explanation of what had happened. Tessa’s alarm hadn’t gone off. When they stopped for food Cora wished she’d ordered two biscuits instead of the one she’d got. She was still hungry. After four months her craving for food had finally kicked in. The first three months had been spent being sick all day every day, now she was at a point where she could eat again and it seemed to be all she was doing. Eyeing Kaia’s biscuit she wondered if Kaia was going to eat it all.
“We may need to stop again soon. Baby says that one biscuit isn’t going to cut it.” Cora beamed a smile at Tessa in the rearview mirror and saw that her pale skin looked translucent today, lovelier than usual. Settling back into her seat Cora wondered how many more changes she was going to go through in the coming months.
Cora was a free spirit without a conservative bone in her body but she did have morals. “Living in sin,” as her mother had called her relationship with Sean, hadn’t bothered her. It might have if Sean was married but he wasn’t so it wasn’t an issue. But as she thought about her baby she realized that her independent streak was increasing. She wanted to provide for her child, she wanted to care for it and give it all the love it would need. She didn’t need a man.
But a tiny voice in the back of her mind said this whole process would be much nicer if she had a mate to help her. Or just someone to hold her for a little while. She knew people tended to think a pregnant woman was tantamount to a holy relic that could, and should, not be soiled but dang it all, she was lonely! She needed some tender, loving, care, and if she got that far on this trip, she decided, she was taking it.
Professor next Door Page 26
