“How ironic, that while I was hiding my work here from her, she had her own secrets.”
Gail had nothing much to offer in way of support. She smiled bleakly and lifted her hand to squeeze his arm, then changed her mind. This wasn’t the time for uninvited physical contact.
No. It’s okay, Henry thought.
Gail looked up and found him already staring at her.
This was that look. The one that she’d only seen before in those illicit dreams she used to have of him. You were right. I was wrong.
Gail held her breath and did finally place her hand on Henry’s arm, actually touching him for the first time. You’re mine. I am yours.
That’s right.
Chapter Thirteen
Henry couldn’t explain how it had happened, but when Maggie had threatened to kill Gail, everything had fallen into place. The dilemma he’d struggled with ever since meeting Gail for the first time had cleared itself up. His feelings of guilt and misplaced loyalty towards Maggie had vanished.
He’d finally achieved complete clarity.
He and Maggie had lived together for two years, sure. But she was not his mate.
Gail was.
And while he’d been in denial, Gail had known it all along.
In trying to do the right thing and act honorably, he’d almost thrown away the best thing that had ever happened to him. He’d hurt her deeply, which he’d regret forever. In trying to not betray Maggie, he’d betrayed himself and everything he stood for as well. He was grateful to get a chance to make up for it.
Henry glanced at her from the corner of his eye as he started the van.
She had an exotic beauty about her. Her skin tone richer than most native shifters. And those eyes, nearly black, that’s how dark they were.
Gail met his gaze. Fiery black, did that even make sense? Either way, the intensity with which she looked at him was enough to light a fire under his imagination. The things he could do to her. The possibilities were endless now.
He couldn’t take her home. It didn’t feel right, with all of Maggie’s things littering the place.
The farm? That would be awkward, with his mom right there.
My place isn’t far from here. Gail winked at him and looked straight ahead out the window again.
Henry put the van into gear and drove off, following Gail’s directions.
“I’m sorry, you know. For everything,” Henry said.
“It’s okay. I know you’ll make it up to me.” Gail rested her hand on top of his.
Henry’s chest tightened, his breaths grew shallower. If they didn’t reach it soon, he’d have to pull over and act on his impulses right here in the van.
Take the next left, Gail directed him. It’s the house at the end of the road.
Henry focused once more on the road. Just a little while longer.
Once he’d taken the turn, he could see the house from afar. It was quaint, simple. A brick built cottage, much smaller than most houses they’d passed by on the way.
He parked at the side of the road and got out as fast as he could. Gail was already two steps ahead. They raced each other to the front door. Henry caught her on the last step.
Gail giggled. “Keen, are we?”
“Tell you’d rather have it another way, and I’ll tone it down,” Henry whispered in her ear.
“No way.”
Gail unlocked the door, and they stumbled inside. Henry wrapped his arm around Gail’s waist, twirling her around to face him.
The door clicked shut behind them. They were alone.
This wasn’t the first time they had been alone, but in a way it was. They were different now - at least he was. This time, they were both on the same page. Henry’s true self was no longer in hiding.
He stared into her eyes. The tension between them was electric. How close he had come to never feel this way? This was it.
Gail tiptoed to meet him, and Henry leaned down. Her arms wrapped around his neck, and his hands grabbed hold of her hips. They never looked away as their faces came ever closer.
He’d had no hope in hell to resist this woman if he’d ever given himself permission to really look at her before. Gail melted against him, their lips meeting in a kiss that set both their bodies on fire.
How would she like it? Fast, slow?
As their tongues explored one another for the very first time, their minds raced with thoughts competing with each other in intensity. How he wanted her, in any, or every way.
He couldn’t keep his hands off her. Her body felt so unlike his own. Soft, pliable, feminine.
Meanwhile, her hands were on a journey of exploration of their own. Up his back, over his shoulder blades, down his sides.
Gail pulled back, leaving him wanting.
No, don’t stop! He needed her lips back. They tasted sweeter than anything he’d ever known. Addictive, intoxicating.
Gail smiled naughtily, averting her gaze downwards. She tugged at his collar. This coat, it’s in the way. I want what’s underneath.
Henry shrugged it off, letting it fall onto the floor. Meanwhile, he tugged at the waistband of her jeans. So are these.
Gail bit her bottom lip. Race?
He’d never guessed she’d be in this much of a hurry, but he liked it. He rid himself of the remainder of his clothes, only stopping to watch her do the same.
More and more of her smooth, flawless skin came into view. He’d want a taste of all of that, eventually.
The scent of her arousal hit him more strongly now, without any barriers in the way. That’s when he lost control. He was no longer the same man who had tried to make a rational choice to resist the temptation she offered. He wasn’t capable.
This was where they were meant to be; what they were meant to do.
He grabbed her by the wrists and pressed her body up against the wall. Then he dove in, licking, sucking, and nibbling on the side of her neck, her shoulders. Even her earlobes weren’t safe from his affections.
She writhed against him. It was as though her body was begging for more. More touches, more kisses, more admiration.
Henry paused for a moment, finding that she’d shut her eyes. She dealt with the sensory overwhelm differently than he did. She had given herself over to pleasure, to him.
He sank to his knees, kissing his way down her ample chest and stomach as he went. She tasted of sweet vanilla, the expensive kind. Exquisite.
She moaned when he reached his destination. His fingers caressed her folds, before following the same path with his lips and tongue. Delicious.
He spread her as best he could with his hands and lapped at her juices, which had started to flow. Her pleasure heightened to dizzying levels. She was ready. He’d make it happen.
Gail cried out his name as he slipped his finger inside her wet slit.
He felt his entire body fill with a light so bright it overpowered everything. As Gail shivered underneath his continued manipulations, her pleasure peaked, spilling over from her being into his.
Henry closed his eyes and joined her on the wild ride of her orgasm. How keenly he could feel it. He could have never imagined this was possible.
She stirred in front of him. He looked up and found she was gesturing at him to get off the ground.
My turn, lover.
He might as well have been hypnotized. From now on, he’d never be able to refuse her anything.
As soon as he stood on his own two feet again, she took his hand and led him through the interior of the cottage until they reached her bedroom. She led him up to the bed and pushed him down onto his back. He went backward, and she followed, crawling on top of him.
Her hands found his hard cock, causing him to tremble.
I want you.
I need you.
I can’t wait.
Henry wasn’t sure who had formulated those demands, him or her, but it didn’t matter.
She mounted him, and he found himself burrowed deep inside her. He knew this feeling
. It was like a dream he’d had, which he’d forced himself to forget.
Gail’s voice filled the room. Moans, cries. Like music to his ears.
She rode him hard. That first orgasm had done nothing to slow her down.
Amazing, how the reserved Gail he had first come to know had vanished, and been replaced by this free spirit that sought to free him as well now. He wasn’t complaining, of course. He reveled in it.
After everything he’d done to her, he hardly deserved this. He didn’t deserve her, but here she was.
His body became hot, from the inside out. It was no longer blood that flowed through his veins, but liquid fire. From the farthest points in his body, it all traveled in the same direction, towards his core. And there it pooled until he was so filled with heat, he thought he was going to explode.
Gail showed no exhaustion; instead, she sped up.
He couldn’t take it anymore, bucking his hips upwards, into her. They were no longer two people, with differing opinions, opposing dreams.
Henry groaned as his body turned rigid.
They were one.
We are one.
Gail collapsed on top of him, shuddering, as tears streamed down her face.
We are one at last.
As soon as he caught his breath, he embraced her. Gail slipped off him, just far enough to straighten her body. After today, he’d never let her go.
“I love you,” Henry said. Strange, saying that out loud. He’d never said those words before, not even to Maggie. And yet, after such a short time as mates, they felt appropriate now.
Gail sighed and rested her head on his shoulder. “I love you too.”
They stayed like this for the rest of the night, dreaming, thinking, talking in silence.
For now, they were safe. But their peace wouldn’t last long.
Soon, Maggie would wake up. They both agreed that harming a fellow shifter, no matter what she’d done, would be unacceptable.
They’d have to let her go.
She would set Blacke and his men after them.
We’ve got more people now. The New Alliance has grown significantly these past days.
Exponentially? Like a virus. Henry smiled.
Gail ran her fingers over his lips. Something like that.
Perhaps it wouldn’t be long then. They’d go into hiding until it was time to come out to the world.
But we won’t have anyone inside Blacke’s office, Henry suddenly realized.
Oh, but I think we do. Gail lifted herself and gave him a peck on the cheek.
That was that then. Their new plan. They’d be okay, as long as they stuck together.
THE END
The Scottish Werebears Series concludes with Book 6, A Second Chance, in which we get to know Gail’s colleague and New Alliance collaborator, James Finch.
Scottish Werebear: A Second Chance
An Excerpt by Lorelei Moone. Buy on Amazon
This was it, the moment of truth.
James folded his hands and concentrated on keep his breaths even and deep. He was a calm and balanced man normally, but today was different. It was the right thing to do, but he couldn’t help worrying about what they would unleash.
Weeks of work would culminate in this one act of rebellion. By the end of tonight, the world would be a different place. They’d be free, or they’d be in more danger than ever before.
He looked around the van where his comrades - his brothers and sisters in revolution - sat. Each of the half dozen of them thoughtful, worried, excited. It was hard to pick just one emotion for tonight. They had worked so hard to make this happen, but there were no guarantees in life. It could all go horribly wrong.
“Five minutes,” Henry Weston, their leader remarked, while checking his watch.
Beside him, Gail McPherson - James’ former colleague - grabbed Henry’s hand, and they shared one of those looks that seemed to speak a thousand words.
Henry cleared his throat, causing everyone else in the back of the van to look up at him.
“You all know this, but I feel it should be said out loud. We’ve achieved so much in an incredibly short time. Kyle, your internet campaign has made a bigger impact than I ever thought possible,” Henry said.
Kyle nodded and looked down at his hands. In the short time James had known him, he’d quickly figured out that Kyle was even more socially awkward than most bears.
“Jamie and Aidan, you’ve managed to mobilize so many like-minded shifters through the network of contacts you’d built up. Today would not have been possible without your efforts.”
The two senior members of the Edinburgh Alliance office exchanged a look and a nod.
James meanwhile rubbed his hands together. So many men and women in such a cramped space meant it was warm, yet his hands had remained cold and clammy.
“James.” Henry looked right at him now.
James stopped his fidgeting and looked up again.
“James. The information and support you’ve provided from inside Adrian Blacke’s office has been invaluable. We appreciate the risks you’ve taken.”
James nodded at Henry, who nodded back and checked his watch again.
“The media will have collected outside. We’ve kept them waiting long enough. It is time.”
Henry had barely completed his speech when Heidi, Aidan’s mate, turned the handle on the back of the van and gave the door a strong push, causing it to fling open.
Some distance away, lights awaited. These weren’t just ordinary streetlights; they were clustered much closer together. TV crews.
“This way,” Gail called out.
The group of shifters changed direction and followed her lead, walking at first, then breaking into a sprint. They were going to meet the cameras from a more dramatic angle. As they got closer, the first reporters noticed them and started whispering amongst themselves.
The air was electric. Their campaign had managed to get everyone talking. But nobody knew exactly what was going to happen.
Until it did.
With ten feet to spare, Henry stopped and signaled the rest of the group to do the same.
James stood just towards his left, his breaths short and quick. He felt his body get ready.
This was something they had never done before. It was forbidden. It was dangerous.
But, it was also necessary.
Henry took one step forward to face the media. “We are the New Alliance.”
James closed his eyes as he listened to Henry speak. He thought of his reasons for doing this. Of his sister, Irene, who had first involved him to protect her family.
“You, and the whole world with you, will soon see things you may find hard to comprehend. Understand that we want above all a peaceful coexistence between our species. Do not fear us. Everything will be explained in time.” Henry stepped back into line and nodded at Gail, who stood to his right.
The reporters started to whisper among themselves again.
James’ skin started to burn and itch. His muscles tensed up. He wasn’t just doing this for Irene. He was doing it for himself too. For what he’d given up many years ago.
“Now,” Henry spoke in a whisper so low only a shifter could have heard it.
*** Want to read the rest? Buy on Amazon ***
About the Author
Dear Reader,
Thanks for reading Scottish Werebear: A Painful Dilemma, Book 5 in the Scottish Werebears Series. Although this is my first published series, I’m not new to writing in general. In fact, my mom still tells me to this day about how I would make up stories, and attempt to record them in my clumsy, shaky handwriting from the moment I learned to read and write. From there I went on to write fan fiction and other stuff meant for my own eyes only.
I’ve always enjoyed stories of the paranormal. Vampires, shape shifters, witches and magic, all featured in the books I loved the most, even when I was still growing up. But it wasn’t until much later that I got into romance. One of the first writ
ers (a self published author just like me!) I came across was Tina Folsom, via her Scanguards Vampire series. I was hooked. From there I went on to read more paranormal romance until I found a new favorite kind of hero: bear shifters, like the kind written by Milly Taiden, Zoe Chant, and T.S. Joyce. What I love about bears is how they can be all strong and independent, a bit reclusive, and almost grumpy, but they always end up having a heart of gold (plus they tend to know their food, and we all know that a man who can cook is doubly sexy). All that (except for the shifting into a powerful bear) almost exactly describes the sort of man I ended up falling for and marrying in real life, so it’s no surprise that this is what I started my publishing career with.
If this sounds like something you’re interested in as well, keep an eye out for my upcoming releases. All of my books will be made available in ebook, paperback and audiobook format.
To find out more, check:
LoreleiMoone.com
Sign up to my mailing list and be among the first to find out about new releases and sales,
or get in touch via Facebook or email at [email protected]
x Lorelei
My Books
Scottish Werebear: Books 1 - 3 Boxset. Contains: An Unexpected Affair, A Dangerous Business, and A Forbidden Love
Scottish Werebear: An Unexpected Affair
Scottish Werebear: A Dangerous Business
Scottish Werebear: A Forbidden Love
Sugar & Spice: A Scottish Werebear Xmas
Scottish Werebear: A New Beginning
Scottish Werebear: A Painful Dilemma
Scottish Werebear: A Second Chance
Scottish Werebear: A Painful Dilemma: A BBW Bear Shifter Paranormal Romance (Scottish Werebears Book 5) Page 9
