by Anna Lowe
“My mate,” she whispered, trying the words out on her tongue. Weeks ago, they had sounded crude and foreign. Now, they felt just right.
Tim eyed her neck, making her blood rush. He slid a thumb over her skin, following instinct to the very spot he’d found earlier.
At first, she didn’t feel more than the usual arousal, but all of a sudden, a thousand little lights flared at the same time.
“Right there,” she gasped.
He nodded, looking more serious than she’d ever seen him before. “Right there. But not right here.”
He wrapped his arms around her and carried her away from the wall. Toward the bed, she supposed, but before they were halfway across the small room, she found her legs sliding down to the floor. Apparently, bears weren’t the only ones with instincts. Hers were suddenly calling out to her, loud and clear.
“How about right here?” she asked, pulling him to the floor. When they were both on their knees, she turned her back to him and nestled against his chest.
She couldn’t see his eyes glow from there, but the heat of his gaze warmed her neck, and when he slid his arms around her waist, she knew instinct had guided her well. Sex against the wall was a special kind of pleasure, but for mating — biting — she needed a more stable foundation, like on all fours.
“Perfect,” he murmured, sliding his arms around her once more.
They remained on their knees, and Hailey tipped her head back while Tim touched her. One hand caressed her breasts while the other explored between her legs, making her dance in place.
“So good…” she whispered.
Almost too good, really, and she wondered how she’d ever hang on.
“Tim,” she panted.
It was as if she were the one with an animal side, because she dropped to all fours first. She pushed back against Tim and practically yowled like a dog in heat.
“What you do to me…” she whispered, shaking her head. The man turned her to putty each time.
“What you do to me.”
His voice was a deep rumble as he came into position behind her. A position that promised exactly the kind of raw power she craved. He flattened a hand on the small of her back, then took firm hold of her hips and tugged her back. Then, with a sharp pump of his hips, he thrust in.
“Yes,” she cried, dropping her head low. Concentrating everything on the perfect pressure inside.
He murmured something unintelligible, pulling back slowly then hammering back in.
Hailey’s mouth hung open in an endless cry of pleasure as he pumped harder and deeper. Her necklace was the only item adorning her naked body, and it swung beneath her, rocking hypnotically in time with his thrusts. Her breasts jiggled, loose and free like the rest of her. How was it possible that a string of terrifying circumstances had led her to something so good?
They led you to your mate, something whispered in her mind.
She closed her eyes and rocked harder, suddenly desperate to complete the mating ritual. Living with Tim didn’t make him her mate. Only the bite did that, and she didn’t want to wait a moment longer.
“Please,” she groaned, turning her head to one side.
Her hair cascaded to her shoulder, and Tim combed the last strands aside, still moving inside her. A bead of his sweat fell between her shoulder blades, then another. He leaned over her, close enough for his breath to heat her neck.
“Yes,” she moaned as he scraped his teeth across her skin.
Weeks ago, a bite seemed terrifying. Now, it was all she desired.
The pearl swung back and forth, whispering to her of love and forever, all within her grasp.
At first, Tim’s teeth were a straight row, but the longer their bodies meshed, the more two points stood out. His bear fangs were extending. The rest of his body stayed all man, all muscle. All of it intent on pumping in and out of her. Driving her to wild abandon as she cried out again and again.
“Yes…yes…”
Mate, she swore she heard Tim whisper in her mind. Or maybe he shouted it. She couldn’t tell, because a split second later, he bit down, and her body jolted as if on fire.
She shuddered in the mightiest orgasm of her life, clamping her inner muscles down hard. An explosion of heat signaled Tim’s orgasm deep inside her. Her neck burned, and flames raced around her body, lighting every nerve.
Her mouth moved, but no sound came out as a dozen disjointed images crowded her mind. Deep, dark forests and rushing streams. Jumping salmon. Fragrant wildflowers that swayed in an alpine breeze. The taste of the earliest berries of spring, sweet and sour at the same time. A sky bluer than anything she’d ever seen. Primal, bear sensations, all underpinned by Tim’s voice, sounding clearly in her mind.
I will love you forever, my mate. I will protect and honor you to the end of my days.
She wanted to echo the words, but an aftershock of pleasure shook her, and she rocked back, begging his body for more. His teeth pulled at her neck, giving her yet another rush, and Tim stiffened, giving her one last, hard thrust.
“Yes…”
Her sharp cry faded to a moan until she finally drooped to the ground. Tim curled up behind her, panting hard. Hailey gasped for air and covered his hands with hers, keeping him as close as possible.
“That…was…amazing,” she whispered between breaths.
Tim let out a panting chuckle, keeping her tight against his chest. “Amazing is a good word. For you, at least.”
She shook her head. He was the amazing one, but she couldn’t think clearly enough to protest. She closed her eyes, watching the bear scenes continue to play out in her mind. Deep inside, she yawned and stretched.
Wait — that wasn’t her stretching in there, was it?
Everyone — even humans — has a hidden, animal side, Tim had told her early on.
She blinked hard, feeling transported to a different time and place. A different body. She was on all fours and slowly crawling out of a den after a hibernation that had lasted far too long. She blinked, half blinded by the sun, soaking in its warmth.
Then she blinked some more, and she was back on the braided rug on the floor, wrapped in Tim’s arms.
“Wow. Did you see that?” she asked in a whisper.
Tim nodded against her back.
“How long does it take?”
The question wasn’t all that clearly formulated, but Tim knew just what she meant. “Until your first shift?” He waited a second, placing a hand over her heart. “As long as you want. As long as you need.”
She reached for the pearl and pressed it against her chest, then pulled Tim’s hand over hers so both of them held it in place. The pearl felt warm and content, just like the vague sights, smells, and sensations that wandered through her mind.
“Something tells me that won’t be long,” she said, turning in his arms.
At first, she thought Tim’s eyes were glowing doubly bright, but then she realized they were reflecting her own glow. The glow of a happily mated shifter gazing at her mate. Then another surge of images washed through her mind, a little edgier than the rest. Images of teeth and skin along with a man’s voice, telling her Yes. Yes. Yes…
Her eyes went wide, but Tim just nodded like he’d expected as much.
“You saw that too?” she asked, staring at him. “Wait. What was that?”
He broke into a cheeky grin. “Your bite. The one you give me.”
She stared. “You mean we’re not mated yet?”
He laughed and hugged her closer. “Oh, we are, all right. One bite is enough. But you can repeat it anytime you want, and female shifters can bite too. Kind of like renewing wedding vows, I guess. You don’t need to…”
A low rumble sounded, and Hailey was shocked to hear it coming from her — or her inner bear.
“Oh, I need to,” she murmured, shifting her weight until she was straddling him.
Looking down at him gave her a ridiculous sense of power, and it was easy to imagine returning the bite. She
’d ride her mate for a while first, driving them both to the razor’s edge of ecstasy and desire. Then she’d lean over his neck for her own bite, and…
“Wow,” she murmured, blinking the vision away. “Not that I’m going to try that anytime soon. But someday…”
Tim grinned a cheeky, boy-next-door grin. “Whenever you’re ready, my mate. I’ll be here.”
She leaned down for a kiss that ended up delving much deeper and lasting a lot longer than she intended. Mating woke all kinds of extra desires, it seemed. She dragged her hips over his and narrowed her eyes on Tim’s. Was it too soon to want him all over again?
His eyes sparkled, and his cock twitched, giving her all the answer she needed.
“I might not be ready to bite you yet,” she said, trying to play it cool despite the fact that she’d been a howling mess a minute earlier. “But I could practice.”
Tim slid his hands over the rise of her ass, locking her into place. “Practice always makes sense.”
She rose slightly then lowered herself, slowly taking him in. Then she leaned back and started rocking like a cowboy at a gentle lope. Outside, leaves whispered in the wind, and in the distance, waves rolled across the beach, reminding her where she was.
“Where are you?” Tim whispered, reading her mind.
She rocked a little harder, going deliciously hazy again. Soon, passion would take over, and she’d work herself and her lover to another blazing high, followed by another soul-warming cuddle in the shelter of her mate’s arms. So she spoke while she could, just a few words.
“Home. I’m home, my mate.”
* * *
Thank you for reading Rebel Bear! If you enjoyed the story, please leave a review on Amazon or Goodreads. Reviews are the best way to thank an independent author for a story you’ve loved.
Rebel Bear is Book 2 of 5 in Anna Lowe’s new Aloha Shifters: PEARLS of DESIRE series. The action, emotion, and passion continues in Rebel Lion, Book 3. Click here for a sneak peek of Dell’s love story, or order it on Amazon today!
Did you know Rebel Bear is also available in audio? Audio brings the story to life in a whole different way and can be enjoyed anywhere, anytime.
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Sneak Peek: Rebel Lion
Rebel Lion - Aloha Shifters: Pearls of Desire, Book 3
Lion shifter Dell O’Roarke has never been serious about life, but life is about to get serious with him. The beautiful stranger who’s just arrived in Maui isn’t just looking for anyone — she’s looking for him. And that’s not just any surprise in her luggage — it’s a baby who looks a hell of a lot like Dell. Soon, he discovers there’s more at stake than his lifestyle as a swinging bachelor. Vengeful shifters are hot on the stranger’s heels, making Dell wonder — are they after the woman, the baby, or him?
Marketing executive Anjali Jain hasn’t taken a vacation in years — and she sure isn’t on vacation now. She’s simply keeping a promise, and then she’ll be back to climbing the corporate ladder. But there’s nothing simple about taking care of a baby — or handing that baby off to a handsome, mysterious stranger who feels like a long-lost friend. Easygoing, relaxed Dell isn’t her type, but the more he reluctantly reveals of his hidden, soulful side, the deeper she falls in love — and the more mysteries she discovers. How can one man possibly awaken so many lusts and desires at the same time? What evil forces lurk behind the brutal murder of her best friend? Any why does she have the feeling there’s something not quite human about the murderers — or about Dell?
* * *
Rebel Lion is an emotional, fast-paced paranormal romance filled with yearning, sizzling passions, and forbidden love. Ready to be swept off to sunny Maui’s suspense-filled shifter side? Get your copy of Rebel Lion today!
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Desert Wolf: Friend or Foe (Book 1.1 in the Twin Moon Ranch series)
Off the Charts (the prequel to the Serendipity Adventure series)
Perfection (the prequel to the Blue Moon Saloon series)
Books by Anna Lowe
Aloha Shifters - Pearls of Desire
Rebel Dragon (Book 1)
Rebel Bear (Book 2)
Rebel Lion (Book 3)
Rebel Wolf (Book 4)
Rebel Alpha (Book 5)
Aloha Shifters - Jewels of the Heart
Lure of the Dragon (Book 1)
Lure of the Wolf (Book 2)
Lure of the Bear (Book 3)
Lure of the Tiger (Book 4)
Love of the Dragon (Book 5)
Lure of the Fox (Book 6)
The Wolves of Twin Moon Ranch
Desert Hunt (the Prequel)
Desert Moon (Book 1)
Desert Wolf: Complete Collection (Four short stories)
Desert Blood (Book 2)
Desert Fate (Book 3)
Desert Heart (Book 4)
Desert Yule (a short story)
Desert Rose (Book 5)
Desert Roots (Book 6)
Sasquatch Surprise (a Twin Moon spin-off story)
Blue Moon Saloon
Perfection (a short story prequel)
Damnation (Book 1)
Temptation (Book 2)
Redemption (Book 3)
Salvation (Book 4)
Deception (Book 5)
Celebration (a holiday treat)
Shifters in Vegas
Paranormal romance with a zany twist
Gambling on Trouble
Gambling on Her Dragon
Gambling on Her Bear
Serendipity Adventure Romance
Off the Charts
Uncharted
Entangled
Windswept
Adrift
Travel Romance
Veiled Fantasies
Island Fantasies
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More from Anna Lowe
Check out the other side of Anna Lowe with a series even die-hard paranormal fans rave about: the Serendipity Adventure Romance series. You can try it FREE with Off The Charts, a short story prequel you can receive for FREE by signing up for Anna Lowe’s newsletter. Just click here!
Listen to what a few Twin Moon fans have to say about this new series:
This is as HOT as her shifter series. For those who want spicy without paranormal, this is a perfect start. I can’t wait to read more about these characters.
I’m enjoying Anna’s new series just as much as I do her Wolves of Twin Moon Ranch series.
It’s not my normal genre but I do love Anna Lowe’s romance books because of the great way she writes. I am really happy this book was the same great style.
Uncharted is different from Anna’s Wolves of Twin Moon Ranch but I enjoyed the story just as well.
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