by Ruby Shae
Without waiting for a response, he shifted and charged toward his brother.
***
Travis hung up the phone and turned to look out the window of the trailer. The job was almost complete and he knew he’d be able to take the following week off without leaving his brothers in a bind.
Placing that ad had been the best thing he’d ever done, and if he had his way, he’d marry Sabrina today. He would have suggested it to her, except he knew he needed to finish out the work week, and they wouldn’t be able to leave until Sunday anyway.
Only four more days.
The door to the trailer opened and he swiveled in his chair, expecting to see Sabrina or Trent. Tyler had called to say he’d be a few minutes late.
Instead, Cassie walked into the small box.
Cassie was a bear shifter he’d dated a few times nearly a year ago. He’d known on the first date she wasn’t the one, but he’d suffered through two more evenings with her in case he’d judged her too quickly. He hadn’t. After the third night he let her go with nothing more than a kiss on the cheek.
He had no idea why she would visit him.
“Cassie. What are you doing here?” he asked.
“That’s not a very nice way to greet me after all this time, Travy.”
Blah.
The shortening of his name had always made him sick to his stomach.
“Sorry, but I’m very busy. What do you need?”
“You,” she said, and sauntered around the desk toward him. “You didn’t have to send off for a human, Trav. I’ll marry you. Let’s get back together.”
“You want to get back together?” he stood to stop her from trying to sit on his lap. “You’re delusional. You and I were never together, we just dated a few times and it didn’t take long to figure out we weren’t compatible. Sabrina is my mate and her place is here, in Bear Canyon, with me. I’ll never send her home.”
“You and I were so good together,” she said, hugging him. “Don’t you remember?”
“Okay,” he said, pushing her away from him, “you have to go. There was never anything between us, and there never will be.”
“Fine, marry your stupid human,” she said, as she stomped toward the door. “There are plenty of men in this town who are better than you, anyway.”
He watched her shoulders slump and realized she wasn’t as confident as she pretended to be. In that moment, his anger faded and he sympathized with her. He knew how difficult it was to find someone you wanted to spend the rest of your life with.
“There’s someone out there for you,” he said before she pushed open the door. “He may not be in this town, but he’s out there.”
“Thank you, Travis,” she paused, still facing the door. “Tell your mate I said congratulations, and…I’m sorry.”
She pushed through the door and seconds later he heard her car start, and then she sped off the packed dirt in front of the office. It would take a special kind of man to deal with her day in and day out, but he hoped she found someone to make her happy.
Travis glanced at his watch, wondering about Bree. The wait at the sandwich shop never took more than ten minutes; she should already be here. He dialed her cell-phone and panic started to well in his chest when it went directly to voicemail.
Had something happened? Should he go look for her? Where was Trent?
His brother should have also already been here. Where was everyone?
He pushed open the door to look outside and saw Sabrina and Trent walking across the street. Both cars were parked on the curb, but it looked as if they had arrived together. Suddenly, Bree placed her hand on Trent’s forearm and kissed him on the cheek.
What the hell?
Irrational jealousy, rage and several other emotions he couldn’t define swamped him.
“What the hell do you think you’re doing?” he yelled.
Then he ran.
He shifted mid-stride and charged his brother. Sabrina, yelled for him to stop, and tried to wave him off, but Trent shoved her out of the way. He roared when she saw her hit the ground and slide across the dirt, but seeing her hurt only fueled his anger.
Trent was the enemy, and the man was going down.
His brother dropped his cane and started to shift. Travis hit him halfway through the process, and Trent flew. He finished his shift in mid-air and landed on all four paws.
Travis roared long and loud, and Trent responded with the same determination. He’d laid down the challenge and had Trent accepted.
“Travis! Trent! Please stop this!” Sabrina stood and pleaded for them to stop, but they both ignored her.
Travis took a step forward, prepared to attack, but Tyler ran over and stood between them. Always the peacemaker, Tyler held one palm toward each of them, effectively putting an end to the start of the fight.
“Whoa, what’s going on?” he asked, and then he checked on Bree. “Are you okay? What happened?”
“I’m okay,” she said to Tyler, and then looked directly at Travis as she spoke. “I overheard Travis talking to a woman about getting back together, but when I tried to leave, Trent stopped me and pointed out how silly I was to believe something I only heard part of, not to mention the fact that Travis and I love each other. I thanked him with a kiss on the cheek, like any good sister would, and Travis saw us and assumed the worst.”
Travis shifted back and walked over to Bree and hugged her. She hugged him back, hard, betraying her calm appearance. He’d frightened her.
“I’m sorry,” he said.
“Me, too.”
“Oh geez,” Tyler said, and picked up Trent’s cane.
He waited until his brother was out of earshot before he spoke again.
“I did assume the worst, though I’m not sure why,” he said. “I guess because I trust you, but I don’t trust him around you. You’re too perfect.”
“We’re both to blame,” she said. “When I explained what I’d heard to Trent, I realized how stupid I’d been. I’d hardly heard anything at all, but I’d been ready to run.”
“Well, to be honest, she did offer to marry me, but I told her I’d already found you and I wasn’t about to give you up. In the end, she admitted to being lonely and apologized.”
“That’s kind of sad.”
“Yeah, but it happens. That’s why I placed that ad; I needed to find someone to take away the loneliness.”
“I’ll do it,” she admitted, staring up at him.
“For how long?” he asked, semi-teasing. He’d been shaken, too, and he wanted to hear her reassurance.
“Forever.”
He lowered his head and placed a gentle, chaste kiss on her lips.
“Oh, god, get a room,” Trent yelled, on his way to the trailer.
He maneuvered past them with his cane in hand, and Tyler followed carrying their lunch.
“Will he be alright?” Bree asked. “It looked like you hit him pretty hard.”
“Yeah, he’ll be fine. It’s not the first time we’ve been in a fight, and he likes that I don’t take it easy on him because of the cane.”
“Lunch now, kiss later,” Tyler called to them. The two brothers were already waiting inside the trailer.
“We do have to keep your strength up,” he whispered, as he nuzzled her neck.
She laughed and pulled him behind her into the office.
Chapter Seven
Sabrina studied the diamond ring on her left hand. She wiggled her fingers and watched as the light caught on the three stones and reflected on the wall. The piece of jewelry was exactly what she’d always wanted.
The following day, before she and Travis went ring shopping, he’d admitted to a tiny white lie. In an effort to avoid gold-diggers and women who only cared about money, he’d stated he wanted a wife who could live off a modest income. He hadn’t changed his mind, but he had enough for extravagant things if she wanted them.
She’d already figured out he was worth more than he’d suggested, but she apprec
iated his honesty and trust before they wed. He offered both again when he’d given her free reign in the jewelry store, but she didn’t choose her ring based on the size of the diamonds or the price.
She’d picked out the piece that best fit her personality and style, which included a modest price, because she planned to never take it off.
A few hours before, she and Travis stood before the judge and promised to love, honor and obey each other for the rest of their lives. Tyler and Travis served as their witnesses, and after the documents were signed, they went to lunch, and then embarked on their honeymoon.
Travis had waited for her in the other room while she’d taken a bubble bath, and enjoyed the oversized tub. She’d also painted her toenails and restyled her hair. She took another look in the bathroom mirror and smiled at the lingerie she’d bought for their wedding night.
She smoothed her hands over the white, lacy fabric that covered her breasts, and then down the sheer chemise to the matching lace edge. She could see the matching panties through the fabric, and knew Travis would like the lace front and sheer back.
Her nipples hardened, and she squeezed her thighs together when she thought about the predatory way he looked at her, both in and out of the bedroom. He didn’t hide his desire, and she reveled in his possessive behavior. She knew he would protect, defend and love her for the rest of their lives.
The thoughts pushed her to open the door, and she left the bathroom in search of her new husband. She found him in the main room of the suite, resting in an overstuffed lounge chair. He’d removed his jacket and tie, and kicked off his shoes, but he still wore the pristine white dress shirt he’d worn for the ceremony.
She studied him for a few moments, and once again felt grateful she’d taken a chance and answered his ad. His shirt outlined his sculpted muscles, and the strong lines of his face reminded her a predator lurked underneath the surface. When she noticed his bare feet, and decided even the sharp lines and bones connecting his toes were sexy, she knew she’d won the husband lottery.
She padded across the room, crawled into the chair, and straddled his lap. He smiled, but he didn’t open his eyes until she pressed her lips to his.
“Hi, wife,” he said, lazily. “Feeling better.”
“Much better,” she said, smoothing her hands down his chest. “Thank you for waiting on me. I’ve been meaning to ask you,” she kissed him again, “what made you chose my letter out of all the rest you received?”
“Fate. Yours was the only response I received.”
She frowned.
“So you would have responded no matter what?”
“No. I liked your reply, and wanted to respond right away, but I thought I was rushing. When two weeks passed, and no other responses came in, I knew you were going to be the one.”
After hearing his explanation, she smiled again.
“I happened across your ad by accident, and I only responded because I liked what you wrote,” she said.
“See…fate,” he said, hooking his finger under the strap of her chemise. “Any regrets?”
“None. You?”
“Not one. Is this for me?” he asked, as he pulled the strap down to her bicep.
“Yes,” she whispered. She could barely think with his hands brushing against her skin.
“You look beautiful.”
He pulled the other strap down and closed his hands around her breasts. He gently massaged the covered flesh, and her nipples hardened from the contact. She moved her hips, and ground against his dick, desperate to ease the ache building between her legs. He abandoned her chest and slid one hand between them. He massaged her clit through her panties, and when she circled her hips against his finger, he slid the digit under the lacy hem and pushed it into her soaking wet pussy.
“You’re soaking wet, baby. Let’s move to the bed so I can take better care of you.”
She started to get out of the chair, but he stopped her and pulled her close with both hands on her ass.
“Hold on,” he said. In the next moment, he stood and started carrying her into the bedroom.
“Travis—” She began to protest, but he cut her off.
“I won’t drop you, Bree, I promise.”
He’d read her mind again, and she tightened her arms around his neck and let him carry her.
When they reached the bed, he laid her down in the center and kissed her on the lips. His tongue caressed her mouth, and her pussy tingled in anticipation of his tongue between her legs. She cradled him between her legs, but when he broke the kiss, she didn’t try to stop him from inching down her body. He kissed her breasts, stomach and mound through the lacy material, and then tore her panties off.
“Hey, those were brand new,” she protested.
“I’ll buy you another pair,” he said.
“You’d better. The back was sheer, and everything was very visible.”
“Mmm, sounds yummy,” he said.
He pushed her knees open and swirled his tongue around her channel opening, then he swiped it through her folds and licked her clit. He sucked the hard nub into his mouth and she screamed when he jabbed his tongue against it. He repeated the action several times, and pleasure spread throughout her body, causing her arms and legs to tingle as her orgasm approached. One more lick, and she’d be able to come.
She threaded her fingers through his hair and ground her pussy against his face, desperate for release. He teased her by pulling away and breaking their connection.
“Travis, please,” she begged. “I’m so close.”
He shoved two fingers into her pussy, at the same time he pressed on her clit with his thumb, and she shattered. She screamed his name as fireworks seemed to explode behind her eyelids. Intense, white hot, electricity seemed to race across her limbs and left every nerve ending tingling with pleasure.
He gently pulled his fingers from her cunt and she immediately felt bereft. Unable to speak, she whimpered at the loss of his touch, and reached out for him, silently begging for him to fill her again.
“I know, baby,” he said. “I have to get this shirt off.”
She saw his hands shake as he tried to undo the buttons of his dress shirt, and a second later he grabbed the material in both hands and ripped the pieces apart. Buttons flew across the room in all directions and landed on the floor, the dresser and the chair. He pulled on the cuffs and the buttons on each side also went flying.
When he’d successfully freed himself of the shirt, he attempted to take off his pants. She smiled when she saw him easily unbuckle his belt, grateful he had better luck with his lower half.
Seconds later, he rejoined her on the bed.
***
Travis loved seeing Bree’s chestnut hair spread out on the pillow, wild and untamed, as a result of their love making. The straps to the lingerie still hung off her shoulders and the sheer material was bunched up on her stomach, revealing her shaved, wet pussy. She looked like a sexy, fallen angel, and the sounds she made when she came had only intensified his lust.
He wanted her on a primal level, and his bear pushed him to mark her.
He crawled between her legs and positioned his cock at the opening of her pussy. She wrapped her legs around him and tried to pull him deeper, but she was still weak from her first orgasm, and he wouldn’t budge.
“Don’t tease,” she pleaded.
“I’m not…I can’t,” he said. “I love you.”
He slammed into her pussy in one swift thrust, and she cried out, welcoming the intrusion. He pulled out, slammed into her again, and felt her essence smooth his way. He repeated the controlled, swift thrusts until he felt her pussy start to throb around his cock.
“It’s time,” he said, and she turned her head to the right, leaving the left side of her neck exposed. Earlier, before her bath, he’d reminded her about the mate mark and how painful it would be. Her response, one of eager acceptance, had aroused him.
When he felt the familiar tingling at the base of his spin
e, his cock throbbed, and both his upper and lower canines extended. She would have a permanent bite mark that extended from her collarbone to the top of her shoulder blade.
He moved faster and pushed into her harder, propelling them both toward climax. He bit her neck and held on long enough to make the bite permanent. Bree screamed in what sounded like a mix of pleasure and pain as they both came.
He released her shoulder and balanced his weight on his forearms so he wouldn’t collapse on top of her. She looked up at him and her light brown eyes were rimmed with unshed tears. When she blinked, a single drop escaped and disappeared into her hair.
His heart ached at the thought of hurting her, and he hoped she would forgive him.
“I’m sorry. I—”
“Shh…,” she said, and shook her head. “I’m happy. That was the most beautiful thing I have ever experienced. Thank you.”
The ache in his heart swelled into something else and he couldn’t speak, so he kissed her. His lips moved slowly over her mouth, and she opened her lips and accepted his probing tongue.
When the kiss ended, he lay down next to her and pulled her into the crook of his arm.
“I love you, too,” she said, and then drifted off to sleep.
***
Travis lay awake and stared the ceiling as his mate slept beside him.
When he’d bitten her, he’d felt as if their souls connected, somehow bringing them closer. He’d never heard of a mating being so intense and life-altering, and the feeling had jarred him. When he’d seen the tears in Bree’s eyes, disappointment had filled him. To cause her pain, during something so wonderful, had nearly broken his heart.
Her words had closed the wound.
He thought back to earlier, when they’d exchange their vows, and remembered how she’d held his hand tight, as if she feared him running away. He’d thought she’d been nervous, but when he leaned over to offer reassuring words, he realized she’d been nearly bursting with excitement. Her grip had been one of giddy enthusiasm, not nervous fear.
After the wedding, both of his brothers hugged her, kissed her on the cheek and welcomed her into the family. This time he didn’t feel the need to shift into a bear and fight for his woman. He knew she was his, and he trusted her…and his brothers.
