Bearly Rescued: A Howls Romance (The Mates of Bear Paw River Book 3)

by Everleigh Clark

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

  “Don’t move too much yet, baby. I don’t want to hurt you, okay?”

  She needed him in her, now!

  He must have seen the frustration in her eyes because he pinned her to the bed, his hard grip almost hurting. “I don’t want you moving until I give you the okay.” He leaned down and solemnly kissed her forehead.

  She held so very still as he slowly entered her inch by agonizingly slow inch. His thick cock filled her more than she’d ever thought possible. Then the moment she’d feared and welcomed. The sharp twinge of pain stopped her breath in her chest. Then it faded away, and, within seconds, the dull ache disappeared, and she pistoned her hips up and down for all she was worth, mewling unintelligible noises up at him.

  He released her and met her stroke for stroke. Holy crap, she’d never dreamed it could be this wonderful. The way his thick, long cock filled her, the way it slid in and out, creating a delicious friction that was delighting her and making her practically weep for more at the same time. She needed more. Faster, harder.

  She dug her fingers into his firm ass and pulled him down hard onto her, demanding he give her more, and he complied with harsh, fast strokes. She couldn’t breathe, couldn’t think. There was nothing but Caleb and her and the love growing so fast, it would surely firebomb the whole place when she found her release.

  Her body tensed as the moment built upon itself, each tiny neuron in her firing as her senses collided. The sound of their skin slapping, Caleb’s hard grunts, the smell of their sweat and sex filling the room, the delightful feeling of him pumping in and out of her.

  She almost wept when he pulled out of her and gazed at her, his whole body still shaking from rugged breathing, his eyes almost all black. He yanked her over onto her tummy and pulled her up so her bottom was in the air and her face was on the mattress.

  “Going to claim you now.” His guttural voice sent shivers down her spine. “This is your chance to say no. But you’d better say it quick, or I won’t be able to control myself.” He stroked her thigh and gently kissed her shoulder. “Say the words, Princess. Tell me you want me to claim you.”

  “Claim me, bear.”

  She reared up toward him, and this time he didn’t waste any time stroking her or smacking her ass. He didn’t tickle her clit with his finger or kiss her shoulder. He took the moment in hand. Caleb took her hips in a punishing grip that was sure to leave more bruises in the morning and entered her. No slow buildup this time. This was hard and fast, and animalistic in its savagery. He pummeled her with his cock, deeper, harder, growling as he fucked her. And she let him. She sank her cheek so deep within the mattress she could barely breathe as she undulated her hips, meeting his every harsh stroke. It hurt so good.

  Her stomach tightened then her legs, her nipples, her clit, every bit of her gearing up for the moment which would surely kill them both with its intensity. Her pussy tightened and clamped down on his cock, and the pleasure coursed through her whole body. A sharp pain in her shoulder let her know he had bitten her, but the pain mixed with the pleasure, and all she knew was joy. And Caleb. She shrieked his name as she lost hold of everything. He bellowed her name in return, and his hot seed filled her. A few seconds or an eternity of surging and crescendoing, and then they fell back to earth.

  Her body sagged into a heap onto the mattress, and Caleb collapsed on top of her with a loud groan. He rolled off her and took her into his arms. She was still trying to catch her breath while he gently licked the wound on her shoulder. Her mating mark.

  She was officially mated, and she knew nothing but peace. Izzy welcomed the sleep overtaking her and snuggled deeper into her mate’s hot chest. She was safe, loved…mated.

  ~.~

  Caleb watched the beauty laying in his arms and said a prayer of thanks to the Mother Goddess for her. For everything, blessing him with the knowledge he hadn’t hurt his cousin; he wasn’t really the monster he’d always thought he was. And for giving him this feisty, little wolf princess who would always keep him on his toes. Izzy calmed the beast in him like no other, and he was grateful. He loved her more than life itself and knew this was only the beginning of something awesome. Now, if he could just get her to wake up. Stone had texted an hour ago with news about another facility and wanted to meet. There was still a lot of work to do, shifters to be saved, these assholes to be taken down. But Caleb needed to talk to Izzy first. Would she hate him for leaving so soon after their mating? Did she want to go back to her family? Stay here in Bear Paw? They hadn’t really talked anything through before their wild, but amazing, mating last night. Not the smartest thing to do. But it felt right. Izzy and he together were perfect. They’d make it work. He smiled down at her when she rolled over and beamed at him in a way only a well-satisfied mate could, bedhead included.

  “Hey, Princess, I thought you were going to laze about all morning dreaming about unicorns or something.” He gave her a kiss, and she returned it before sitting up leisurely. Her mate mark proudly showed along her creamy skin of her shoulder, healing up nicely. But it was there. His mark.

  “I don’t dream about unicorns, silly.”

  “Then what do you dream about?” He took a strand of her hair and wrapped it around his finger, loving the way the soft silk curled then released.

  Her hand traipsed down his stomach to grip his already-hard cock. “I dreamt of all the cool things I want to do to your body today.”

  A low growl rumbled from his chest as his mate stroked the length of his cock. Yeah, they could wait a few more minutes before meeting Stone. But duty reminded him who he was, and he pulled her hand off gently. “I’d like nothing more than to make love to you all morning, and make you howl your voice hoarse.”

  She giggled.

  “But we need to address some things first.” He sat up and pulled away to give her his most professional gaze. It worked on everyone else. Not his mate. She just grinned and fondled her right nipple. “Naughty minx.” He pulled her into his arms and kissed her until they were both breathless. “Give me five minutes then I’ll reward you.” He kissed her forehead and that adorable pout was still in place, but at least she’d stopped trying to seduce him. His cock was already about to burst.

  “I’ll give you three minutes. Then I’ll reward myself.” Her eyes bored into his, all princess, all mate, and he loved her even more for it. For not succumbing to his alpha-ness. Yeah, she was definitely his mate.

  “Okay, here’s the deal.” He rattled off everything he could think of, clicking a finger in the air with each new item. “I’m not the monster I thought I was. I pushed you away accidentally, thinking I would hurt you. You calm me like no other ever has. I love you more than anything. I forgive you for stabbing me and kidnapping me. I hope you forgive me for trying to kill you when I was under that asshole’s control. I never want to lose you, but I have to leave again tonight or tomorrow. We found a few more leads and Stone asked me to lead a new team.

  “You can stay here at Bear Paw in my cabin as soon as it’s fixed up—sorry, our cabin,” he amended as he saw her eyes darkening with anger. “Or you can go back to your family. Whatever you want. Or you could come with me to Bol—” He didn’t get to finish his sentence because he was flat on his back on the floor, keeled over, gazing up into the angry eyes of the beautiful she-wolf whose sharp, white fangs were precariously close to his neck. And those damn claws? Shit. One was scraping even closer to his poor manhood which had suddenly lost all its initial gusto.

  She growled once more and grazed a thin long line along his thigh. Please, no closer. Please, no closer to the big boy. He winced and prepared to throw her off him just in case she decided to go Lorena Bobbitt on him.

  “Baby, this is probably the wrong time to tell you this.” He crossed his legs, so her claws were now on his hip and chest instead of his prize.

  A low growl vibrated from her chest as she
came closer to his face.

  “Well, I promised I would tell you like it is, and we said no more secrets. So…”

  She cocked her head.

  “Your breath is killing it right now. Like seriously funky. If you don’t feel like shifting back and brushing, could you at least go munch on some doggy dentine or something?” Yeah, always the idiot. Never knowing quite when to stop, but… This is how they originally hit it off, right? Stupid humor? “I’d try to think of a good movie quote about bad breath, but all that’s coming to me is ‘Nice beaver,’ and I’m pretty sure he wasn’t talking about halitosis.”

  That did it. The wolf shook so hard, he thought she was going into conniptions. Then a naked—human—Izzy was sprawled on his chest, giggling so hard tears were running down her face. “Did you...did you seriously tell me I stink?”

  “No! Just your morning breath. You know. It’s actually not bad, and I’m pretty sure mine is worse. But hey, that’s what mouthwash and brushes are for. We, uh, can go de-stinkify our morning breath together. Or not. Whatever you want. Is that too intimate?”

  She laughed even harder before finally sobering and sitting up to pin him with a loving but firm stare. “Thank you for being…honest. I accept your apology, forgive you in return, and am glad to hear I help calm you. As for leaving me to go find those assholes…” She frowned again.

  “I figured that was the part that pissed you off. Sorry.”

  “What pisses me off is you assuming I wouldn’t want to go with you. These shifters need help, and my special abilities would come in handy. I can be a huge asset to this team, and I know what they are going through because I went through it.”

  He moved to sit up, but she pinned him back down, holding his shoulders in place as her eyes flashed and a low growl came from her. He could have picked her up easily, but this was his mate. And she wanted all of his attention. He’d give it to her. Then he’d pick her up.

  “I choose to be wherever you are, you big lug. Here, out on the road fighting bad guys, doing intelligence work behind the scenes while eating gas-station snacks and small-diner food until we finally decide to settle down and have pups or cubs or both… I’m open to it all. The only nonnegotiable thing is you leaving me behind for even a week. It won’t happen because I will scent you, follow your ass, and pummel you so hard, your great-grandfathers will feel it. Get me?” She growled again, and a flash of canines appeared.

  “I have a warrior princess as a mate. All right, sweet, Princess, I get you, and I’m sorry. But I do have one thing to address myself.”

  She sat up and straddled him.

  “I’m in charge of this new team. You must defer to my authority, even if you don’t agree. I’ll take into account your wisdom and experience,” he added as her frown increased. “And I will ask your opinion for big choices. But…” He pulled her in and kissed her. “You will not put yourself in any danger, you will follow my orders when I give them, and you’ll let me know when you’re ready to settle down and have young.”

  “Anything, as long as we’re together.”

  “All right. Anything else?”

  Biting her lip, she mused for a moment. “Do we have time to make a quick pit stop in New York? I have a few things to say to my ex-best friend. And my mother said my father is sick. They’re coming to do some healing sessions with Ida in a few weeks, but I’d like to see them before we go. I forgive them.” Her gaze warmed. “And I want them to meet my mate.”

  “As you wish, Princess.”

  She giggled, and his body heated at the sound his beautiful mate made when at peace.

  He’d make her do a lot more than laugh. “Now that that’s settled.” He pulled her over his shoulder and stood as she shrieked in surprise. Carrying her easily and very caveman’ishly, he strode into the bathroom then set her down and grinned at her. “Let’s get cleaned up so I can do dirty things to you.”

  As they clung to each other under the hot steaming water, Caleb saw his future in the gaze of his beautiful mate. They had each been running for far too long. He, from the pain and guilt of his past. His mate—from her own fears and pain. Yes, he’d rescued her from a prison, but she had done more for him. Isabella Werner—now Alexander—had rescued his heart, his soul, his mind, his bear.

  They’d rescued each other.

  From bearly rescued to fully mated...

  And their life together was just beginning.

  The End

  Sneak peek at Sam’s story

  Sam hobbled out of the building on four shaky feet. Her bear wasn’t doing too well—not with a fucking bullet in her shoulder and one lodged right above her knee. She’d told Mom and Caleb to go ahead with the rest of the really injured shifters. Her bear groaned again. Poor baby. It’s okay, I’ll shift back so you can rest for a while. You chill. Okay, Sam never talked like this to anyone except for cubs—well, and her bear. No one would have ever guessed, but her bear was softhearted, kind, sweet. Hated anything to do with violence. Come on, Win Win. I’ll take over from here. You did a great job, and I’m proud of you. Her bear chuffed, pleased to be helpful, and eased to the back. As the air around her shimmered, Sam felt a piercing ache in her thigh. She let out a huge groan in human form and sagged to the ground. Shit, the face-plant on cement was going to hurt. She pushed her hands out in front of her and prepared for hard contact.

  A pair of strong arms grabbed her around the waist and hefted her upward. Into the arms of the scariest dude she had ever seen. Scars ran down his left cheek and over his eye. She stifled the scream in her throat. Tall, Blond, and Scary wasn’t a bad guy. He was a shifter of some sort and had come in with his buddy and the tiger dude in charge of the shifter rescue team.

  “You all right, female?” His gruff voice sent shivers down her spine. His blue eyes softened for a moment as he assessed her.

  “I’m not a damsel in fucking distress. Put me down.” Yeah, way to piss off the guy who kept you from breaking your nose. But she couldn’t stop herself. Between the pain, the aggression still surging through her body and her mating heat building up to hammer her within the next few weeks, she was a mess. And her inner filter was on permanent vacation.

  His lips tilted up at the corners in a hint of a smirk, and the scars disappeared for a moment, showing him for the rugged bad boy with panty-dropping good looks. Shit.

  “I’m not even wearing panties.”

  “Is that a problem for a bear?” He grinned down at her, and she cursed herself for being such a flake. So yeah, bullets weren’t really her thing.

  “Put me down before you hurt yourself.”

  “Since you almost face-planted a minute ago, I’m going to ignore your request.”

  “It wasn’t…a…request.” She growled and fumbled for a way out of the firm arms and warm chest making her feel tingly and safe instead of warrior bitch.

  “Sweetheart, I’m not letting you down until I have you safe in the truck.”

  “My name isn’t fucking sweetheart. It’s Sam. And I am not going in a vehicle with you. Take me over to the van my mom’s driving.” She gave him a hard shove, which did nothing but jar her already sore fingers.

  “I’m sorry, Sam.” Another male strode up to them. Where her current mode of transportation was all Greek god and blond, this male was cute, taller and dark haired—with dimples. She loved dimples. Gah!

  “Ida says the van is full, and she has to hurry back to your town to get medical help for some of the more injured shifters. She asked if you’re okay driving back with us. I’m Noah, and this is Traeger.”

  “Do I have a choice in the matter?” she grumbled and wiggled in Traeger’s arms.

  “Of course, you got a choice.” The blond tightened his arms around her. “You can come with us or fucking walk home with a bullet in your leg.”

  What the hell?

  “Stop being an asshole,” Noah said to him and smiled at her. “You can go back home with anyone you want. We thought you might do better stretched out i
n the back of our truck instead of curled up in a van with the rest of the injured parties. We have the luxury of stopping for the night, too, so you can get a shower, rest …” He smiled, and the damn dimple appeared again. “Whatever you want to do, Sammie.”

  She wasn’t a huge fan of nicknames, but damn, the way Dimples said her name… Hell, she could let it slide this once. She examined the lot for her prospects. They had to get going quick before the place exploded. The Impala Zach and Nissa drove wasn’t going to fit her big ass, not now that Izzy had commandeered the back. The van was full. She didn’t know the tiger dude in charge of this little group. Shit. “Fine. I’ll ride with you guys. But you can let me walk myself to the damn truck.”

  “No time. Our bombs are about to go off, and I want to be past Main Street when the first one goes.”

  “What is with you, alpha assholes?” She fidgeted until he put her down with a scowl. Ouch, yeah, standing didn’t feel much better. She should take him up on the supernatural taxi offer. But her pride was not feeling up to it.

  He leaned down until his stern gaze and strong chin was right in front of her. “Come on, before your leg gets worse. We don’t know what kind of alloy they used in their bullets.”

  “Fine. You can help me walk to the truck. But I’m not letting you carry me anymore.” A sudden jolt of pain shot through her whole body, and she whimpered in pain and almost keeled over. This time, he didn’t wait for her approval before he scooped her back into his arms. And damn if she cared at the moment. Her leg was killing her. But she was a badass. Sam Cooper wasn’t supposed to be carried off a battlefield like a damn porcelain doll. “I can…walk…” Yeah, even she didn’t believe her own words.

  “Sweetheart, we can do this the easy way or the hard way.” He carried her as if she weighed next to nothing.

  “What’s the hard way? A splint and a tourniquet using duct tape and dental floss?” She winced as the pain grew.