by Ruby Shae
“I’m tired,” she said finally.
“We’ll take a rest when you take me down,” he said. “Let’s do it again.”
“I doubt anyone can take you down,” she laughed, setting her water bottle back in the corner next to her towel. She was good, but she wasn’t that good, and he was insane if he thought she could ever take him down.
“For the right woman,” he said, smiling, “I’ll fall like a bag of bricks.”
For the right woman…
But not for her.
Tears filled her eyes, and suddenly she couldn’t breathe. He was killing her, and she had to get away from him as soon as possible. She tried to climb out of the ring, but her sweaty hands foiled her plan and she landed on the hardwood floor in a heap. She felt Tobias’ shadow above her, but she couldn’t look at him or stop to hear his condolences.
In that moment, nothing else mattered except getting as far away from him as possible.
She crawled on the floor until she could get up without slipping on her own sweat, and then she raced out of the building. Tobias followed her to the door of the gym and called after her, but she didn’t stop or slow down, and soon his voice became a mere whisper in the night.
With nothing more than the clothes on her back and sweat dripping from her skin, she had no choice but to run. It had been days since she’d shifted, and her bear welcomed the chance to change forms.
A mile down the street, she turned down another road, and then another. Each turn led her closer to her favorite spot, and twenty minutes later she’d run into the forest on the edge of town.
She leaned against a tree to regulate her breathing, and after determining the area safe, she called her bear and instantly shifted into her animal. Her grizzly wasn’t as big as Logan and Jacob’s, but no one would call her cute and cuddly either. She was a predator, one of the biggest in the forest, and she didn’t need a man who didn’t want her.
She roared into the night, long and loud, and released some of her pent up anguish. It would never fully dissolve, but it was a start, and she felt noticeably better. Instead of running, she lumbered toward her favorite hot spring, taking the time to appreciate the smells of her surroundings along the way.
Even though it was located deep in the forest, the spring was a popular make-out spot, and she had to make sure the area was free from humans before she could relax. A brief survey of the area revealed no humans, and she let out a loud groan when she waded into the warm water.
The water wasn’t deep, or wide, which made it the perfect place for couples, but she could still easily float on her back and enjoy the night sky. Eventually, her thoughts turned to her mate and she lost her balance and sank under the water. She only came up for air long enough to fill her lungs, and then she disappeared under the surface until she needed another breath.
The next time she came up, she came face to face with a huge dark brown wolf.
Tobias bared his teeth and growled at her, but she rolled her eyes, sank back under the water, and mentally cursed her stupidity. She’d left the gym angry and upset, and the idea of him coming after her had never even crossed her mind.
Idiot!
He’d had no choice but to follow her, it was his job to keep her safe. Now that he knew about the make-out spot, he’d probably bring the right woman here all the time.
Stupid, stupid, stupid!
The wolf suddenly jumped in the water, and a million tiny bubbles surrounded her. He nudged her shoulder with the top of his head and pushed her off balance, forcing her to sputter to the surface. The wolf growled at her again, and then he started the change back into his human form.
Unlike her instant change, Tobias’ shift took close to a minute. She saw his hair recede, his claws and fangs detract, his muzzle reform into his nose and mouth, and everything was accompanied by the sound of his bones popping back into their human form.
It was the worst sound she’d ever heard, and she’d heard plenty of bones snap, crack and break. She knew some species had different magic ruling their animals, but the process seemed painful and she hoped he didn’t feel anything during the shift.
“I’m fine,” he said, as if reading her mind. “Change back.”
She changed back into her human form, and they stood toe to toe in the center of the spring. The warm water covered them from the waist down, and the cool evening air swirled around them.
God he was magnificent!
She’d never seen his bare chest before, and she desperately wanted to run her hands over his smooth taut skin. Muscles bulged in all the right places, and she’d been right about his abs. Eight bumps paved the way down to his…whoa!
“How come you’re naked?” she squeaked.
Damn, he was huge!
“I have to take my clothes off, or they shred during the change,” he said.
“Does it hurt?” she asked.
“There’s minimal discomfort, but it only lasts a few seconds.”
She nodded, unsure what to do next.
Tobias placed his thumbs on her cheeks and slid his fingers into her hair. His hazel eyes looked more green than brown in the moonlight, and she was suddenly surrounded by the smell of crisp coffee and chocolate. He’d unmasked his scent, and her bear went wild.
“I was talking about you,” he said. “You’re the right woman. For you, when your life isn’t in danger, I’ll fall like a bag of bricks.”
Technically, her life was still in danger, but she wasn’t about to bring that tiny fact to his attention. She wanted him, and for the moment he wanted her back. Right now, nothing else mattered.
***
Layla slid her hands up his chest, and wrapped them around his neck.
“Kiss me, Tobias,” she whispered.
He didn’t hesitate.
His lips crashed down on hers in a hot, desperate kiss that took her breath away and sent an electric shock to every nerve ending in her body. He kissed her lips, her cheek, the side of her mouth, and then her lips again. His movements were chaste, but possessive, and every time his lips touched her skin she felt branded.
She gasped when he wrapped all of her hair in his fist, and he used the opportunity to slide his tongue inside her mouth. She accepted him eagerly, and they kissed, licked and explored each other in a sensual dance that sent a shockwave to her core. Her pussy tingled in the warm water, and when she stepped closer, he held her close with his free arm and shoved his thick thigh between her legs.
She spread her legs to accommodate the massive limb, and her clit pressed against the muscled flesh at the perfect angle. She moaned and ground against him, peppering his chest with kisses, and creating enough friction to send her over the edge.
She felt wild, out of control, and for the first time in her life she didn’t care.
“You have too many clothes on,” he said, pulling her shirt up her waist.
She raised her arms above her head and let him pull off the wet garment. Next came her shorts, and she moaned in protest when he severed their connection.
“It’s only for a minute, sweetheart,” he said, kissing her neck and collarbone.
He kissed a trail down her wet skin, between her fabric covered breasts, and stopped at her belly button. He rimmed the hole with his tongue, and then he took a deep breath and disappeared under the water.
He pulled down her shorts and panties, but he’d forgotten about her shoes. When he tried to lift her leg, she placed one hand on his shoulder to steady herself, and then lifted her foot so he could remove her shoe and clothes. Once she was free, he switched to the other side and completely removed the items.
A moment later, he came up for air and threw all of her clothing in the same direction he’d thrown her shirt.
“I don’t think I’ll ever get used to the idea that you guys shift with your shoes on,” he said, unhooking her bra. “That’s crazy.”
“What’s crazy is we’re both naked and you’re talking about my shoes,” she said.
“Almost naked,” h
e corrected, removing her last piece of clothing.
He he pulled the lacy, nearly dry material down her arms, exposing her breasts, and groaned. Her nipples seemed to harden more once they were exposed to the cool evening air, and they pointed north, as if begging for his mouth.
The scrap of material flew farther than the rest of her things, and she briefly wondered if she would ever see it again. When he sucked one of her pert nipples into his mouth, all thought vanished.
She slid her hands into his hair and pulled when he scraped his teeth over the hard, sensitive flesh. He let it go with a pop, and she almost cursed until he moved to her other breast. The cool evening air danced around the wet bud, sending another blast of heat to her core, and her pussy contracted.
“Tobias, please.”
“What do you need, sweetheart?”
“I need you to fuck me.”
He turned her around, and she bent over and steadied her hands on the dirt edge of the spring. One of his hands held onto her shoulder, while the other smoothed down her back and over her ass. She widened her stance, and he moved his hand between her legs, slipping two fingers inside her pussy.
“So wet for me,” he said, placing a kiss on her lower back.
“Yes,” she admitted, even though it hadn’t been a question.
He moved the digits in and out twice, and then positioned his cock at her entrance. He gripped her hips and sank into her slowly, inch by delicious inch, and she moaned as her body stretched to adjust to his size. He was bigger than any man she’d ever been with, and she wanted all of him.
“Almost there,” he assured her, but she couldn’t take it anymore.
She pushed back into him and he sank into her balls deep.
“God, damn, you’re so fucking tight, sweetheart,” he said. “Are you okay?”
“I’m perfect,” she said, breathlessly.
“Yes, you are.”
He pulled almost all the way out, and then pushed back in slowly, touching every part of her of her soft, sensitive flesh, and sending her careening toward an explosive orgasm. Every time he pulled out, more of her honey gushed into the spring, dissolving into the warm water.
The warm spring water lapped around them, nearly undisturbed by their soft movements, and the only sounds that filled the air were their moans of pleasure.
Her pussy contracted around his cock, desperate to milk him dry, and when she felt his dick throb, she pushed back into him hard. Soon, she was meeting him half way on every thrust, and forcing him to go faster.
“Enough,” he said, tightening his grip on her hips.
She knew she’d have bruises from his fingertips later, but she didn’t care, she wanted him to fuck her hard and fast. She obeyed his command and braced herself against the ledge.
A second later, Tobias pounded in and out of her wildly.
The water in the spring bubbled around them and thrashed over the edge, soaking the surrounding forest floor and her pile of clothes. She’d pushed the wolf beyond the brink and the results were everything she’d hoped for. Pleasure ripped through her with every thrust, and the noises escaping her mouth were part human and part bear.
Tobias slid one hand down her stomach, and pressed two fingers against her clit. She exploded. She screamed his name as her orgasm ripped through her body, and vibrated around his cock. He roared her name seconds later, and came deep inside her core.
They stayed connected for several minutes, and then he pulled out of her slowly, sat down on the dirt ledge inside the spring, and pulled her down onto his lap. Both of her legs hung in the same direction, and she rested her head on his chest while he massaged her hips, arms and shoulders.
“That was amazing, sweetheart,” he said, softly. “You’re amazing.”
“You’re pretty amazing yourself,” she said, smiling.
She couldn’t keep her eyes open, but she didn’t care. Her mate would take care of her.
“Don’t fall asleep on me, sweetheart,” he said. “We still have to get home.”
“Okay,” she agreed, but she didn’t move. After four days of stress and intense workouts, the warm water and sex had taken the last of her energy. Every muscle felt like led and she had no desire to move.
She wanted to stay in Tobias’ arms forever.
Chapter Six
Tobias placed Layla on the bed and cursed the fact that he hadn’t bought new pillows yet. As tired as she was, she deserved to rest on more than an old folded up blanket. He pushed her damp hair away from her face, and made sure the blanket he’d wrapped around her covered her completely.
Her lips tilted up in a smile, but she didn’t wake, and he was both alarmed and relieved. He didn’t want to have their next conversation until morning, but her level of exhaustion unnerved him. His wolf paced below the surface, concerned for his mate, and he fought the urge to wake her.
He left the room, closing the door behind him, and walked into the living room.
After Layla had fallen asleep in his arms, he’d carried her out of the hot spring, and then leaned her against the trunk of a tree while he searched for her attire. He’d been able to find everything except for her bra. He piled everything in her lap, and then carried her to the place where he’d hidden his clothes and keys.
He got dressed and then loaded his mate into his truck. Luckily, he kept an emergency kit behind the seat, and he pulled out the blanket to cover her cold, naked body. She’d left her car, along with her personal belongings at the gym, but he’d decided they could pick up everything in the morning.
His cell-phone rang and he picked it up on the first ring.
“Tobias Black.”
“Tobias, is Layla with you?” Logan asked.
“Yeah, she’s here,” he said. “What’s up?”
“Mason found her car vandalized outside the gym. Mother-fucker broke all of her windows and spray-painted WHORE across the hood.”
“Fuck,” he swore. “Is the gym locked? We kind of left the place in a hurry and our personal stuff is inside. We both used lockers, and I have the keys, but there’s a couple of water bottles and towels in the ring.”
“No worries,” Logan said. “There’s no visible damage and Mason left the waters and towels in the office.”
“Okay, good. When will her car be ready?”
“A couple days. Bring her by in the morning and I’ll have a rental waiting.”
“Good deal. Listen…”
“What’s up?” Logan asked.
“I’m going to need you to do something for me,” Tobias said. “It’s going to be difficult, and it will probably make you angry, but it’s necessary.”
“Not a great lead in, Tobias.”
“I know,” he sighed. “Look, when I bring Layla in tomorrow, she’s going to be angry, and beg you to take me off the mission. You need to agree.”
“Why will she be angry?” Logan seethed.
“Because she’s going to think I don’t want her."
“What the fuck, man?”
“I’m pretty sure I know who’s trying to hurt her, but he won’t act until she’s alone. That’s why he waited until my truck was gone to vandalize her car.”
“That makes sense, but why do you have to hurt her? Why can’t she be in on the plan?”
“Because she won’t act normal,” Tobias explained. “She needs to be a little reckless. It’s the only way to draw him out and end this.”
“And if she gets hurt?” Logan yelled. “Have you forgotten that’s my sister? And your mate? What are you going to do if she gets killed? Some wounds can’t be healed! How can you keep her safe if she’s alone?”
“She’ll never be alone,” he said, calmly. “She just needs to believe that she is.”
“You’ll be in the doghouse, wolf, when she finds out,” Logan growled.
“Trust me, I know,” he semi-laughed. “The doghouse I can deal with, though, if it means she’s safe.”
“Okay,” Logan said, his voice a normal level
again. “I hope you know what you’re doing.”
“I do, and when it’s over, I’m going to need a clean up crew.”
“You got it, man.”
***
Tobias sipped his coffee and waited for Layla to join him.
The night before, after he hung up the phone with Logan, he’d made a sandwich, programmed the coffeepot, showered, and then spent the night on the couch. He’d known if he joined Layla in the bed, he’d never be able to carry out his plan.
With only a five-minute head-start, he’d successfully brushed his teeth, poured his coffee and re-masked his scent.
The door to the bedroom opened and Layla stepped into the hall with a blanket wrapped around her.
“Hi,” she said.
Her shy smile shook his resolve, but he kept his expression neutral.
“Hey.”
Her forehead crinkled, and he knew she’d caught on.
“Where are my clothes?” she asked.
He nodded toward her pile of clothes, and she scooped them up and disappeared into the bathroom. Fifteen minutes later, she emerged smelling of soap and mint toothpaste. Her clothes were still dirty from the night before, but she’d showered and brushed her teeth and hair.
“What are you doing?”
“Drinking coffee,” he said. “Do you want some?”
“You know what I mean. Why did you mask your scent again?”
“Look, Layla,” he said. “Last night was…perfect, but we still haven’t found out who’s trying to hurt you. Until we do, we have to keep our relationship professional.”
“Are you crazy?” she asked. “You want to go back to being just friends? What if we never find him? What if he doesn’t strike again for years? Or what if both incidents were random and have no connection at all? You’re willing to wait that long? Possibly forever?”
“Keeping you safe is the most important thing,” he said stoically.
“I’ll always be safe when I’m with you.”
He knew she meant it.
God fucking damn!
He hated this plan. He hated pushing her away.
She looked so vulnerable, so beautiful and so perfect standing in his apartment, and he wanted her there. Always. The look on her face nearly made him throw in the towel, but he knew he needed to finish it.
