Bearly Rescued_A Howls Romance

by Everleigh Clark

  “I’ll pay for it.”

  She glanced over at the tiny stones lined up on her balcony and the pile of larger rocks by his feet and stifled a giggle. “Could you be any more cliché?”

  “Unfortunately, yes.” His eyes were bright, beautiful, hopeful, as the lights in the surrounding townhomes and the rooms below hers turned on, bathing him in gold. He opened his mouth, closed it, furrowed his brow then cleared his throat loudly.

  “Oh God. Whatever you’re planning to do, please don’t.”

  “Hello, my baby, hello, my honey…”

  She winced as his off-key bass voice filled the night.

  “Hello, my ragtime girl…” he continued. As the notes went higher, his voice became louder and more strangled. “Badum badum dum duuuuuum…”

  “You forgot the words already?” She couldn’t stop the giggle as she watched the poor man flail around with a rendition that would have brought American Idol to a standstill. Simon Cowell would be eff bombing and rolling his eyes through the whole thing. When Caleb mimed dancing with a pretend top hat and cane, she lost it. “Okay, okay, please stop.”

  His voice cracked on another high note, and a dog howled from the next street over. Followed by two more.

  “Caleb, please!” It was a cross between belly-shaking laughter and tears at the silly performance below her.

  He stopped. Suddenly sober. “I am singing. For you. Badly.”

  “I can hear that.”

  “I’d do anything to get you back. I’ll eat tofu. Sing Britney Spears, dance ballet. All the above. Just forgive me and hear me out.”

  “This is not the appropriate time for this—”

  “There’s never a more appropriate time to make an ass out of yourself to get back the woman you love.”

  “You’re an idiot.”

  He grinned. “Yeah, but I’m your idiot.” He shrugged. “And I can still beat you at Jeopardy. Let me up, so we can talk?”

  She opened her mouth to reply, but a flash of red stopped her. Mrs. Gibbons was in her bathrobe, heaving a broomstick above her head, scowling between Caleb and her. “I will smack you upside the head until my broom is blasted to smithereens if you don’t leave my patrons alone, Caleb Alexander!”

  Caleb ducked, but allowed the second swat along his broad back. “A little help here?”

  “Wait, Mrs. Gibbons.”

  The broom stopped mid-strike, and Caleb peeked from under the bristles up at her, his eyes shining with hope.

  “All right, all right. You can come up. We can talk on one condition.”

  “Anything.”

  “You have to promise me you won’t ever sing that song again in public.”

  He laughed and gently pushed the broom away from his face. “Agreed. And I’ll pay for the window, too,” he told the angry fox shifter before walking toward the front door. He only made it a few steps before the broom went straight onto the back of his jeans.

  “That’s for waking up my customers and making me hate my favorite song,” Mrs. Gibbons growled and tromped back into the bed-and-breakfast, letting Caleb in behind her.

  Isabella heard the shouts of cheer as she closed the door and waited for him to come up the stairs.

  A soft knock preceded his entrance. “So, can we talk?”

  Who was she kidding? She was so excited he was here, healthy…uninjured. Launching into the air, she wrapped her legs around his waist and gripped his face, kissing him. “We’ve got all night to talk. I need this first.”

  Chapter Twelve

  Caleb held his beautiful mate and rushed to the bed, barely taking his eyes off her as he laid them both down. “I’m so sorry I hurt you, baby.” He stroked her cheek and nuzzled her, lying on top of her. Straddling her, carefully so as not to squish his perfect mate, he kissed her full lips, reveling in the tart, spicy taste of her mouthwash.

  “It’s okay, I hurt you first,” she said somberly. “Turnabout’s fair play, right?”

  He growled and looked away, trying to focus on anything but her brilliant blue eyes. “You hadn’t accepted me as your mate yet, and your head was fucked-up. You did what you had to to survive. I had no such excuse. I should have fought harder, protected you with my life or died trying.”

  “Look at me, big guy.”

  He turned to her, ready for her to lash out and kick him out of her bed, to tell him how badly he fucked up; he was a monster. But all he saw was love and adoration in her gaze as she rose to kiss him. She commanded his lips with her own, demanding he yield to her needs. And damn, if it wasn’t the hottest thing ever. His feisty little mate was trying to out-alpha him. Hell, he’d worship the ground she walked on, give her anything she desired. Anything to make her happy, and to keep her soft body in his arms.

  “I love you, you big dolt. I had to come to grips with it in my own time and accept it. But I did. I was being an idiot, too. I want you as my mate. To hold me, kiss me, make love to me. To drive me bat-shit crazy with useless trivia and off-key singing of my favorite songs—just not “Somebody to Love” by Queen, okay?”

  She laughed, the tinkling sound sending a thrill down to his groin.

  “That one is sacred. But the rest are all yours. I’m yours. Now, please claim me before I throw you down and take you myself.”

  “Don’t you want to talk?”

  “Talking’s overrated.” She grabbed his cock and gave it a light tug. He groaned at the silky, smooth hands gliding up and down within his pants.

  Before he knew what was happening, she had shimmied her legs up and around his waist. She pressed out hard and fast and rolled him to the side, catching him by surprise. Then she tackled him with her own body. He was on his back, and she was straddling him like the hot alpha princess she was. And damn, it was sexy as hell. “You got me where you want me now, don’t ya, Princess?”

  Her grin turned seductive, and she lowered herself to kiss his lips, his stubbled cheek, his neck. A sharp tug and bite along his collarbone sent him reeling, and his cock felt like it would explode. She hadn’t broken the skin, but fuck she’d been close. “I’m going to mark every inch of your body with my tongue and lips.” She practically purred, continuing her mission southward. He grimaced and fisted the sheets when she pulled up his shirt, her soft tongue lapped at his nipple and she drew it between her perfect lips.

  “God, I think I love make-up sex.”

  She closed her mouth, and her teeth grazed his nipple, hard. Okay, shit, that one probably drew a bit of blood. She licked it again, soothing the sore spot away, causing more blood to flow to his already-raging-hard cock. “This isn’t make-up sex,” she said, peering up at him through her long, dark eyelashes. “This is a claiming. I claim you as my own. I’m going to lick you, suck you, and drive you crazy until you beg me to let you come.”

  “Is that so, Princess?” He grinned. He’d let her play her game a bit longer, since his whole body seemed to be enjoying this. But, in a matter of moments, she was going to be all his.

  “Damn straight.” She sank back down and trailed hot, feathery kisses down his abdomen, bypassing his aching groin, down to his inner thighs. Little minx was toying with him.

  “If you keep playing with me, little wolf, I’m going to punish you,” he growled and let his eyes flash. Oh yeah, this was the hottest fucking thing he’d ever done. His body was on fire.

  He lifted his ass so she could pull down his jeans. Another soft lick and kiss, a mere inch from his cock. The rumbling was building in his chest. She circled his cock, her hot breath engulfing it, but her lips didn’t touch him. “What kind of punishment are we talking?” she asked before sending another hot breath up and down over his cock.

  He grabbed her hair, fisting it hard, close against the scalp, and yanked down her pj bottoms and panties. Then he brought the palm of his hand down on her bare ass. Once, twice, once more for good measure. The sound of the hard slaps echoed through the room, and she groaned and let out a cross between a shriek and a giggle. “Who’s in c
harge in this bed, baby?” he growled and focused on her dilated eyes and pink cheeks. Her breathing was fast and heavy as she rubbed her core against his thigh furiously. Score. His little wolf liked it. Her arousal permeated the air, and she wiggled her ass for all it was worth, practically begging him to do it again. To slap her perfect round globes with his hand and squeeze them as he fucked her senseless.

  “Y-you are.” She grinned. “For now.”

  She squealed when he smacked her right buttock, and he pulled her into his chest before turning them in the bed, rolling them both over.

  “I ought to really punish you.” He leaned over her and nipped her neck. “Tease you like you teased me. Spank you hard. Lick your gorgeous nipples. Tickle and tease your wet pussy. Get you all ready to explode. And then not let you come. What do you think?”

  Her brow furrowed, the pout she gave him priceless. “No,” she wailed. “Please. I’ll be good. You can do any of the stuff you just mentioned, but it will kill me if you don’t let me come.”

  “Right answer. I’m going to taste you now. And if I’m feeling charitable, I might let you come this first round.” He grinned at her pout. “Hold your arms above your head, spread your legs for me, and don’t move an inch. Or else.” He cocked his brow, making sure she understood the “or else” meant no more fun. Who was he kidding. He’d die, too. “Spread your legs a bit wider, Princess. I want to see every bit of you while I feast.”

  She complied quickly, with a pink tinge to her cheeks. He had to remind himself she was a virgin, and not get too carried away. Another of those things she’d accidentally told him while drugged out in the prison. He wouldn’t take any chances on hurting her.

  He drew his tongue in circles around her rosy, taut nipples, loving how they reached out to him for his mouth to pleasure. Her soft moans gave him a heady sense of delight as he sucked and caressed each one, drawing one then the other into a peak into his mouth. One between his lips, the other a stiff peak between his fingers, he played her like a violin—a very happily groaning and begging for more violin. He carefully closed his teeth around one, and she shrieked underneath him. He hadn’t drawn blood and was very careful to keep everything pleasurable.

  “Do it again! Please,” she said breathlessly, tugging his head over to her other nipple.

  “Arms.” He didn’t even have to raise his voice. She complied quickly, her arms shooting upward to clasp her hands above her head on the mattress. “You want me to nibble on this sweet bud, too, baby?”

  “Yeaaaaaah.” Her long, throaty groan was killing him. He wouldn’t last much longer if he didn’t get inside her.

  He nipped at the other firm bud, careful to only pinch the soft skin of her nipple, not to draw blood. She mewled, and her pelvis rocked up and down below him, but her arms stayed put. Good girl. When he released the bud, he blew on it and gave it a tender flick of his tongue to the sensitive spot, and she almost bolted off the bed. He was lucky to have a mate who was so willing, so in tune with her body, so sensitive. He’d never take this for granted. Trailing kisses down her abdomen, he worked his way to the coarse hairs between her legs and gave a soft blow.

  She shuddered, and her legs started to close, but he pulled them so she was spread out perfectly for him again. “I promised I wouldn’t tease you like you did me, and I won’t. I’m just getting a good look at what belongs to me now. I can’t wait to see if you taste as rich and perfect as you smell.”

  Her cheeks flushed; her pupils dilated. She seemed to appreciate his words as she opened herself even more to him.

  He knew she was a virgin, but had anyone ever touched her? The thought made him want to go kill whoever might have touched his mate before him, but he let it go. They were in the present, he couldn’t change the past, and the things he would do to her body would ensure she would never even think of another male again. He dipped his head lower, taking a deep breath, loving the scent that was all Izzy. Her arousal mixed with her pure feminine musk, and he felt overloaded, like he could die a happy man after one taste of her. He brought his mouth to her core, loving the way the soft hair tickled his mouth. One flick around her sweet pussy.

  She groaned and pushed her pelvis up toward him, but he pressed her back down easily with one hand. His breaths were hot and ragged as he gave in to temptation and allowed himself the nirvana of his mate. His first taste as he dragged his tongue across her plump, wet pussy lips was heaven. He needed more. More of the sweet honey, drenching her hair and thighs. He groaned and dove against her pussy, tasting, licking, for the first time in his life—living. He could never have enough. Darting his tongue, exploring every inch of her core, her sweet lips, the engorged nub in the center. Every bit was more glorious than the last, and his cock bellowed at him. He needed to take her. Claim her. Fuck her hard and fast and roar with the knowledge she was forever his.

  He calmed himself, reveling in her soft groans of delight—he even allowed her to tug at his ears for a few more moments—as he pleasured his mate. Her first orgasm came so suddenly, it surprised him. Her whole body tightened, and her knees were suddenly up around his ears as she shrieked and flailed beneath him. Holy fuck. He’d done that to her. Made her come unglued.

  He gave one more soft lick as she eased back, shakily against the bed again, her legs no longer trying to pummel into his ear drums.

  “Oh...my...God…” Her voice was as wobbly as he felt.

  “Good?”

  She smiled at him, eyes still glazed over. “Better than good. Best of the best. I… I don’t know how to explain it. Is that what sex is going to feel like?”

  “Princess, sex is going to be a million times better because it’s us.”

  She smiled and leaned back again. “I’m ready.”

  “Not quite, little wolf. But you’re close.” He kissed her on her lips and lay on his side not taking his eyes from the beauty next to him. “I’m going to help you get ready, and then I’m going to take you. Nothing between us but our love and our mating. Then, when you’re at your peak, I’ll claim you with my mating bite. Do you understand?”

  A flash of apprehension only lasted a second before being replaced with resolve then eagerness. “Yes. I’m ready, Caleb. Claim me.”

  ~.~

  Izzy leaned back against the soft pillows and waited for the moment that would change her life. Yeah, a bit cliché, the whole losing your virginity and seeing stars thing, right? She focused on all she had learned over the years. She might still be a virgin, but she wasn’t innocent by any means. She’d read up on it, researched it, listened to her friends as they explained the joys of sex and mating. Most of it sounded pretty hot. Orgasms, yeah. Love, yeah. Frenzied sex while teeth and skin met, scorching new paths as each person marked the other—mind, body, and soul. But she’d never found the one man who called to her and her wolf. And as much as her friends teased her about it, she wasn’t going to give something so special to someone she wasn’t meant to spend the rest of her life with—so she remained unpracticed. She knew what she liked, though. She’d tried her own fingers, bought specialty toys. But no one else had ever claimed this special, untouched area. This was for her mate alone—for Caleb. And now, he was going to finally teach her, give her the completion she had yearned for, for years. She whimpered at his dark gaze as he perused her naked body. A jolt of lighting sped to her core, and her tummy spasmed. God, she wanted him. Now.

  He lowered his head and took her lips with his own. Not a gentle kiss, either. It was the claiming kind, showing her she was his, that he would never let her go. Her lips tingled as he thrust his tongue into her, exploring every inch, leaving her breathless and dying for more.

  When he released her lips, he gave them a gentle tug with his teeth, not breaking skin, but definitely adding fuel to the fire already building within her.

  “Open up, Princess.”

  She opened her mouth and moaned when his thick finger entered, brushing gently against her lips and tongue. She closed her mouth and sucke
d him, loving the way his eyes rolled back into his head for a moment. Yeah, she could do even better if he gave her his cock. She sucked harder and gave the tip of his digit a long swipe.

  “Good girl.” He pulled out and held his wet finger in front of her.

  She licked it again for good measure, and he grinned. Without touching any other part of her body, he went straight down to the spot between her legs and stroked. Oh God, the heat from his finger combined with the wetness from her own lips was enough to make her explode. The feelings were so intense. He tickled her clit, pulling up more of her wetness, and entered her with one finger. One drew wetness, sliding through her curls, brushing her pussy lips, as the other pressed farther in then out. In. out. Exquisite. Her body was on fire.

  He withdrew his fingers and popped them into his mouth, his face showing sheer joy and ecstasy. “You’re delicious, Princess.”

  Not knowing if she was supposed to politely thank him or nod her willingness, she opened her mouth to address him. “Take me already, or I swear to God, I will roll you over and take you myself.” She growled even harder at his low chuckle.

  He pressed her back down to the bed and nipped her ear. “You be a good girl, or I’m going to punish you again.”

  She whimpered. Not at the thought of another oh-so-yummy punishment by her mate, but at her increasing need. Her body was going to explode a million times, die, or catch on fire—something—if he didn’t claim her soon!

  He didn’t take his gaze off her when he pressed two of his thick fingers into her slowly. Gently stretching her while playing with her clit and withdrawing. It felt so good having him inside her, and she promised herself she would be patient.

  A vibration against her clit brought her to the edge again. “I’m so...close.”

  “I know.” His eyes flashed gold, and he withdrew his hand and propped it behind her buttocks, holding her firmly. “This first part is going to pinch a bit, but I promise it will go away.”

  She eagerly bent her legs and lifted her butt off the mattress as he positioned his cock at her entrance.