Lost To The Bear (BBW Bear Shifter Romance)

by Ariana Hawkes

  “Let’s have food,” he said. “What do you like?”

  “Italian,” she said immediately. “I’m a pasta freak.”

  They found a cute place with red-check tablecloths and photos of old Italian movie stars on the walls, and they ordered a mozzarella and tomato salad each and bowls of pasta. The place gradually filled up with a bunch of students, chatting about their classes.

  “This is great,” Paige said when they’d finished eating. “It’s just, like, normal.” He smiled at her, a little sadly, wishing she lived that existence every day. She deserved it more than anyone.

  Afterwards, they wandered around town for a while, stopped for coffee, wandered again. It got later and later, neither of them wanting to leave.

  “Is that a rock bar?” he said, as they passed a doorway, with a red neon sign above and band posters lining the corridor inside.

  “I think so,” she said, her eyes sparkling with a hint of excitement.

  “Let’s go in.”

  He didn’t need to ask her twice; she was already through the door. The corridor led to a small, dark bar with black walls and lots of rock and Mexican dia los muertos memorabilia. Contemporary rock was pounding from the speakers.

  “I love it here!” she said, clapping her hands together. “This is home.” He grinned, his chest flooding with that intense warm feeling again.

  They ordered beers and found an empty table. Before long, the place started to fill up, and some people started dancing in a small area by the bar. Paige was watching them eagerly. He didn’t think he could dance. Have I ever tried? he wondered. Fighting off his reluctance, he got to his feet. Well, I’m about to find out, he told himself, taking her hand. She gave him a look of delight and followed him over to the dancefloor.

  He didn’t need to move much, he quickly discovered, as Paige was doing enough dancing for both of them. She was a great dancer, with a lot of energy and rhythm, and he noticed several pairs of eyes turning in her direction admiringly. But no-one admired her as much as him, the way her curves looked so ripe and sexy, the look of bliss on her face as she moved to the heavy beats. He took a step forward, and she came into his arms. Somehow they moved to the edge of the area, he leaning back against the wall, and her body pressed tight against his. She continued to sway her hips, one leg sliding between his, and suddenly she was grinding on his thigh. It was almost too much. A bolt of desire ran right through his body, and he felt himself hardening. He wanted her so bad. His hands wandered over the curves of her hips and ass, thumbs grazing the sides of her breasts. That thing inside him – his bear – pushed at his skin, as if urging him to take her.

  “Paige,” he murmured in her ear. She looked up and met his eyes, her face full of passion. “I’m not going to be able to control myself if you keep doing that.”

  “Maybe I don’t want you to,” she said, very clearly. Instantly, he became even harder. Taking her by the shoulders, he pushed her away so she wouldn’t notice. “Let’s go home.”

  To his relief, the fresh air calmed him down a little, made him feel like he was once again in control of his animal side.

  Paige drove fast, but it still felt like far too long before they were back at Darlene’s Bar.

  As he walked up the stairs behind her, his head was spinning, caught between lust and the knowledge that he shouldn’t, couldn’t do anything with this girl.

  8

  When they came into the bedroom, Axel disappeared to the bathroom. Paige sat on the edge of the bed, fidgeting in anticipation. Dancing with him in the rock bar had been wild, hot, off-the-hook incredible. He’d driven her crazy with his passionate kisses, the light, skillful way he touched her, setting her body on fire. She couldn’t take it anymore. Sleeping beside him, snuggling so close had been torture, and now this.

  When he came out of the bathroom, looking troubled, his dark brows drawn together, she stood up and pulled him over to the bed. Immediately, her hands went to the top button of his shirt, and she unfastened it. He caught her wrists, encircling them with his huge hands.

  “Paige.”

  “What?”

  “I don’t think we should be doing this.” Her lips pursed.

  “Why not, Axel? I want you. I want this more than I’ve wanted anything in my whole life.”

  “I want you like crazy too, Paige. You can’t even imagine how much. All I can think about is that I want to take you, make you mine. But I can’t do that.”

  “Again – why not?” she said patiently.

  “Because I shouldn’t be your first when I can’t offer you any guarantees for the future.”

  “I don’t care about guarantees. I don’t care about tomorrow, or the day after, or the day after that. I just want you. I want you to be my first. I mean that. I don't care who you are – or were. I just know that you make me feel special.”

  With very gentle fingertips, he stroked her hair, her cheeks, her bare throat.

  “My sexy little wildcat, I want you so bad. You don’t understand. But it seems like I have this animal inside me. I don’t know what will happen when I unleash it. I’m having a very hard time keeping it under control as it is.”

  “You are?” As he opened his mouth to reply, she grabbed his shoulders and latched her mouth onto his in a searing kiss that left them both breathless. “It just so happens that I have an animal in me that’s not about to take no for an answer.” And as she said the words, she really felt it. She didn’t feel shy or nervous about something she hadn’t done before. She just wanted this big, sexy man to mate her, to satisfy that throbbing ache between her thighs.

  Continuing to kiss him hard, she unfastened all of his buttons and eased the shirt off his shoulders, reminding herself that she still needed to be gentle with his injuries. Then she pulled her own shirt over her head, leaving her in a forest-green lace bra. She watched his pupils dilate and at the same, a low growl escaped his lips. This was what she needed to do, she realized – push him to the brink, until he couldn’t hold back any more. Slowly, she slid her pantyhose down her legs and pulled them off, then she unzipped her black skirt and, taking a deep breath, slid it off too, relieved that her panties matched her bra. Axel took her in, from top to bottom, his eyes lingering on her generous curves.

  “Paige,” he murmured. “You’re so incredibly beautiful and sexy.”

  “Then take me, make me yours,” she breathed. Something shifted in his features – they seemed to broaden, become more fierce and hungry. And then he pounced on her.

  “I don’t want to hurt you,” he growled.

  “You won’t,” she said. But she wasn’t sure if she was speaking the truth. He was such a big guy, and a thread of nerves was buried deep within her desire.

  He stroked her breasts reverently before removing her bra with deft fingers. She bit her lip. No man had seen her breasts before.

  “So perfect.” He circled her pale-pink nipples with the pads of his thumbs.

  “Oh my god!” she cried out. “That feels so good.” She needed to touch him too. Carefully, she ran her hands over his torso, over those incredible taut muscles, covered in velvety skin. He lifted her up onto his lap, so she was straddling him, and he took her nipples into his mouth, one at a time, while she sunk her fingers into his thick, dark hair. As she lowered herself to kiss him again, she felt him, hard, pressing against her panties. He feels so big, she thought. But the pressure of his denim-clad crotch was driving her crazy, and when she rubbed herself back and forth it felt twice as good. She wanted him on top of her, his weight pressing her down on the bed. Then his hand slid down and ran over the crotch of her panties.

  “You’re soaked,” he said, his voice husky and low.

  “Is that a good thing?”

  “It’s a very good thing.” At long last, he lifted her off him and laid her on the bed, and she saw his erection jutting out, tenting the fabric of his jeans. She watched transfixed as he opened the zipper of his jeans and pulled them off, leaving him in a pair of blac
k boxers. He took hold of her panties and eased them off slowly. She tensed a little, but when he gave a long purr of appreciation, she relaxed.

  “I want to taste you first,” he muttered, and before she had a chance to say anything, he bent his head to her, his tongue sliding out of his mouth and licking her right between the thighs. She gave a squeak of surprise. She’d never imagined a man licking her there. But it felt good. Really good, actually.

  “What do I taste like?” she asked. He lifted his head and met her eyes, a wicked grin spreading across his face.

  “Like maple syrup,” he said.

  “Mmm,” she sighed, and his tongue ran all over, until it found a very sensitive spot. As he hit it, her hips bucked hard, and he grasped her thighs, holding her still while he ran tiny circles around it, sucking a little. She was tingling all over, and that throbbing ache inside her was growing stronger and stronger, as if it was demanding to be satisfied.

  “Inside,” she muttered. “I need you there.” And then his finger, long and agile, went right inside her. She gasped, and right away, little muscles that she didn’t know she had started to spasm in ecstasy. He drew back, studying her reaction.

  “Feels so good,” she managed to say. His lips curved into a sexy grin, and very carefully, he added another one. As he began to move them in and out, her hips gave little jerks. She couldn’t believe how much pleasure these little movements were giving her, making her clench tight around his fingers. His tongue continued to flick back and forth across that sensitive little place, and something began to build and build, and suddenly time seemed to stop and she felt like she was falling, and there was an explosion between her thighs. Axel kept licking her, kept sliding his agile fingers in and out of her, and the explosion continued, the ripples getting smaller and smaller, until she lay breathless and panting.

  “I think that was an orgasm,” she gasped.

  “I think you’re right,” he said with a grin. She pulled herself up and reached for him, felt his hardness through his boxers. He’s so big and thick, she thought. On a completely different scale to his fingers. But her touch had revved him up even further, and he stood up and pulled his underwear off, revealing himself to her. She bit her lip.

  “I won’t hurt you, Paige, I promise,” he said, and he climbed on top of her, his body huge and powerful, spreading her thighs. She felt so conflicted. Her body was crying out for him to mate her, but she was scared he was going to break her, and then the tip of his cock eased its way inside her and she cried out. It felt so right. Of their own accord, her legs wrapped around his thighs and encouraged him to enter her.

  “Paige, I can’t –” he muttered, trying to hold back, but her hips jerked a little and a second later, he was inside her. She cried out once, as a short, sharp pain gave way to a rush of ecstasy, then gazed up at him, her eyes glistening with tears.

  “My first lover,” she whispered.

  “Are you okay, sweetpea?” he said, his own eyes suddenly very soft.

  “I’m better than okay.” She grinned at him. “Come on, take me like you want to.” At her words, something uncoiled inside him, and he began to move, thrusting into her, his massive body arching over her, his mouth clinging to her own. She held him tight, her mind and body abandoned to the blissful sensations of Axel mating her. Every thrust filled her mind with stars. His mouth moved from her lips to her neck, and he kissed and nibbled at her, while murmuring compliments and endearments.

  At first he moved slow, but then his tempo increased, and as he took her harder and harder, she felt his roughness, his wildness, and she responded, her nails digging into his back and leaving long scratches as he brought her more and more pleasure. The faster he moved, the tighter the little muscles spasmed around him, and suddenly she began to get that delicious falling sensation again.

  “Axel! I’m going to come again!” she yelled in his ear. He paused to flash her a hungry smile, and then he balanced his weight on his arms while he thrust into her again, faster and faster, watching her face as she fell over the precipice of another orgasm, screaming and crying out his name. Then, before the final vestiges of her climax had died away, he let off a roar and came too, collapsing on top of her and holding her tight while his orgasm rolled through him in waves.

  He pulled out of her very slowly.

  “Does that hurt?” he asked, forehead puckered in concern. She shook her head.

  “I think I feel too good for anything to hurt right now,” she said. “You’re incredible. So sexy.” He turned onto his back and pulled her into his arms. He smelled of musk and fresh perspiration, and his features were blurry.

  “You are, my beautiful angel,” he said. “That was unreal. My mate –” He stopped himself. She wanted to ask him what he’d been about to say. But she couldn’t. She knew how he felt about his memory loss.

  She stayed in his arms, and before long, they were drifting off to sleep. I always wanted my first time to be special, Paige thought drowsily. And here, in this dingy old room, with a guy who doesn’t know who he is, it’s been better than I could’ve imagined.

  9

  When Paige woke up, she was still wrapped in Axel’s arms. She wriggled, confirming her suspicion that he was still naked. And he’s hard, she realized. But he’s still asleep? She touched between her legs experimentally. She was a little sore, but nothing like she’d expected. She’d read books about first-time sex being very painful and involving lots of blood, but he’d gotten her so turned on and ready for him, that it had felt nothing short of incredible. Just the thought of him entering her gave her a little tingle. She reached behind herself very carefully and felt for his cock, and immediately, that little tingle became a sharp ache. I want more, she thought, a mischievous smile playing on her lips. She’d waited all this time to have sex for the first time, and she was worried that he’d freak out again and decide it was only going to be a one-time thing.

  From his breathing, he seemed to be deeply asleep. Very carefully, she twisted around, and pulled herself up, until she was crouching over him, one leg on either side of his sleeping body. Then, she maneuvered herself until she was poised right over his cock, before lowering herself onto him. As his cock slid inside her, little flutters of pleasure ran all the way through her body. Her clit ached, and she got a lot wetter. She slid down and down, until he was all the way inside her, and she had to press her lips together to stop herself from crying out. She stayed still for a moment, enjoying the sensation of him filling her so completely, and then she began to move, raising and lowering herself on his shaft.

  And then he opened his eyes. He saw that she was arched above him, and he immediately figured out what she was doing.

  “Paige! You little minx!” he said in delight. “What do you think you’re doing, mating me in my sleep?”

  “I couldn’t wait,” she said, making no effort to hide her pleasure.

  “There are consequences for doing this, you know?” he said, and he took hold of her hips and thrust into her hard. She yelped. It was a lot more intense when he wasn’t trying to be gentle with her. He held her tight, and his hips moved rhythmically, pushing his cock deep inside. She moaned and groaned, and clung onto his shoulders. It was super intense, but it also felt insanely good, like pleasure and pain mixed together. He cupped her breasts in his hands, pulling her down so he could take them into his mouth in turn, and then one of his hands slid onto her clit, gently caressing it until she exploded again, coming very strongly around his cock. She collapsed on top of him, completely spent. But he wasn’t done with her, and he rolled her onto her back again and held her tight in his arms while he took her hard, fucking her into another powerful orgasm.

  Afterward, they both stared at the ceiling for a long time. Paige was dazed and sated and happy. He said something she couldn’t make out.

  “What was that, honey?”

  “I don’t want to remember,” he repeated. “I don’t want to get my memory back. I’m happy right here. Maybe I just
want to stay like this.” He lifted her hand and kissed it. “Paige. I’m starting to fall for you. And that scares me a lot. But it feels right. The past is past. I was so lucky I found you. My animal inside me keeps telling me that you’re my mate. Why should anything else matter?” She smiled.

  “Maybe it shouldn’t.”

  His expression turned serious.

  “What if we got a bar together in Gladstone? I’ll run it, and you can go to college?” Paige blinked hard.

  “Are you serious?”

  “Why not?

  “I like this idea.”

  “I like it too,” she said slowly. “And I’m about to be late for work.” Very reluctantly, she jumped out of bed and ran for the shower.

  As she left the room, she paused to kiss him tenderly.

  “I’m falling for you too, Axel,” she whispered.

  All morning, Paige was distracted at work. She even managed to get Bill’s drink wrong, which was funny, since he drank the same thing day in day out. Her body was thrumming with the remnants of ecstasy, and her mind was full of thoughts of Axel. She hadn’t known that sex could feel that incredible, that intense. And she felt so much closer to him as well. Leaving him this morning had been unbearable. All she’d wanted to do was climb between the sheets and spend the day snuggling and mating.

  “You got laid last night, didn’t you?” Darlene demanded, bumping her with her shoulder. Paige grinned.

  “What gives you that idea?”

  “Uh, that way you keep staring into space with that dopey grin on your face, and forgetting to pick up the glasses. I know you, girlfriend!”

  “Oh, sorry.”

  “Don’t be. I’m happy for you. But please tell me that dude upstairs isn’t really a relative of yours?” Paige blushed beet red.

  “No he isn’t. It’s kind of hard to explain.” Darlene raised her hands.