Men Love Curves: BBW Romance

by Ruby Madden

  If Emma wasn’t so turned on from being so close to her mate, she might have drifted off to sleep. Her tired body seemed to sink into the softness of the leather and there was nothing better than being the middle of a bear sandwich. Bad girl that she was, she briefly thought of what it would be like to have a naked Ryland in front of her and a naked Ryker behind her.

  She gave her cat a mental slap. Bad, bad, kitty.

  Ryker’s voice brought her out of her self-induced fantasy. “Give me your phone.”

  “What?”

  “Give me your phone. I want to program some numbers in it for you. If you can’t get me or Ryland, you need to call Quinn. He’s our brother. Or Paige. She’s Quinn’s mate. No, better not call her. Quinn would have a hissy fit if anything upset her. She’s pregnant with twins.”

  “What?” Emma said again. That was the most she’d ever heard Ryker say. She had a feeling it was the most he’d spoken in a long time by the look Ryland threw his way.

  “Your phone, honey.” He held out his hand and wiggled his fingers, indicating she should do as he said.

  “Umm.” Emma didn’t want to give him the prepaid phone. It was the cheapest phone on the market and even then, they could barely afford it. Abby had another one just like it. They usually changed numbers every time they moved in case the Panthera had somehow managed to trace them.

  Ryker continued to hold out his hand. Damn stubborn bear. She had a feeling he wouldn’t just let it go. Besides, Abby might need to call them when Emma left. She wasn’t too sure how the mating would progress when the bears found out their secret. She knew their protective instincts were already riding high, but Abigail’s mating instinct was still being suppressed. She needed that revved up and running, forcing Abigail to turn all her attention to the bears and away from Emma. Digging the phone out of the front pocket of her skirt, she handed it to the bear.

  “It’s not fancy. It was all I could afford.”

  The Blackwood brothers exchanged a look over Emma’s head. The thought of their mate going without anything made their animals furious. Knowing she had an unreliable phone made them even more determined to claim her as quickly as possible. They’d already noticed the worn look of her clothing and the unhealthy pallor of her face. She might be a bigger girl, but they could tell she wasn’t eating right and her cat definitely wasn’t getting the protein it needed. Dark circles beneath her beautiful eyes showed she wasn’t sleeping either. Ryker took the phone and programmed in the numbers.

  Ryland’s hand closed around Emma’s thigh, making her jump. He glanced down and found her watching him. Her eyes were the purest blue he had ever seen. She didn’t try to move away so he deepened his touch, resting the palm of his hand on the soft denim of her skirt and the skin of her thigh. His fingers tightened as he fought with his bear. He wanted to skim his hand beneath the fabric and find the sweetness between her thighs. When she’d entered the truck, he’d felt her flare of awareness. Had that been because of him?

  Ryker finished programming in the numbers and handed Emma back her phone. For some reason, Ryker’s bear wasn’t upset that Ryland was touching their mate. He leaned his head back against the seat, closing his eyes. This back and forth was killing him. If only he had a handle on it. He realized they needed to talk with someone who had gone through this. Their father had helped Quinn by putting him in touch with a shifter who had mated a human. Maybe he could set up a meeting with his uncles. They shared a mate and seemed perfectly content.

  “Where do you live, baby?” Ryker asked as Ryland continued to drive at a very slow pace. He knew his brother was trying to prolong the time they were with their mate. Again, he watched his brother’s hand caress her thigh and realized his bear had settled down. Why did he become so furious at times?

  “Two more blocks, then turn right. It’s the apartment building on the left.” Emma thought about giving them a wrong address, but realized quickly that it would do no good. One of them would insist on walking her to the apartment door, maybe even coming inside. No, that couldn’t happen. She’d have to hold them off, or at least be so loud, Abigail would hear and realize what was happening and hide. Thankfully, there was nothing in the apartment that would scream—hey, there’s two women living here. They’d learned to live in each other’s shadow a long time ago.

  Ryker slowed the truck as they neared the building and Emma wanted to cry as she looked at it through the tinted glass of the windshield. It was a run-down, falling down building that looked like it should have been condemned years ago. And it was all they could afford. The inside was in a little better condition. If you overlooked the water stained ceiling and the broken tiles in the bath. Or the antiqued appliances. A hot water heater that only worked some of the time and a fridge that barely kept food cold, much less frozen. There wasn’t even a stove.

  “Well, this is it.” Emma tried for cheerful, but she knew the two bears weren’t fooled. For a moment, she thought they weren’t going to let her out. She poked a finger at Ryker’s large thigh. “You need to move.” She put a little of her alpha bitch power behind her words. When he didn’t move she poked him again, letting out her claw. She felt it poke through the denim of his jeans and punch his skin but he didn’t so much as grunt at the pressure. “Anytime now, big guy.”

  She heard a low growl from beside her. Turning her head, she realized Ryland didn’t like her touching Ryker. Well, what do you know? She poked him in the thigh, seeing if she got the same reaction from Ryker. Nothing. Hope flared inside her. Was it possible that Ryland knew the difference between her and Abigail? Knew he was her mate?

  “Come on,” Ryland grabbed her hand and pulled her across the seat, out of the driver’s side door. Her skirt rode up high on her thighs, almost revealing her white cotton panties.

  “Hey.” What was it about bear shifters that they thought they could manhandle anyone smaller than they were. Oh, right, that was ninety-nine point ninety-nine percent of the population. Before she could continue her protest, his hands encircled her waist and lifted her from the seat. She heard a murmur of appreciation behind her and realized Ryker had caught more than a glimpse of her panties. He’d seen her whole damn butt.

  “I don’t like you living here,” Ryland stated as he walked her up the sidewalk and through the broken front glass door that was repaired with cardboard and duct tape. Any security measures that might have once been in place were long gone.

  She pushed around him and walked up the steps. She wasn’t surprised when he fell in behind her. Five flights later and Emma was puffing for air. How could she be such a swift and deadly predator in her cat form and get so out of breath after a couple of flights of stairs as a woman?

  As she rounded the corner for another flight, Ryland pulled her to a stop. “Slow down, baby.”

  At that moment, the world seemed to vanish around them. There was no peeling paint on the wall behind her. No unsavory smells emanating from the apartments around them. No muted shouts of couples fighting behind closed doors.

  “You are so beautiful.” The hood of her thin jacket had fallen away, revealing the glossy dark mane of her hair. With her a step above him, their faces were nearly level. Giving into the need that had clawed at him all night long, Ryland coaxed her forward with a slight tug on her hand. Her soft breath fanned his forehead and it was heaven. And hell. Ryland slid his hand across her jaw and caught the back of her neck in his large palm. His fingers spread and massaged the back of her head. The worn step rocked a little beneath his weight and he wrapped his arm around her back, drawing her closer still. “Come here and let me taste you again.”

  They were mates, but mates who knew almost nothing about each other. He knew better than to rush her, so he eased into the kiss, tilting her head and aligning their mouths. He sipped at her. His bear huffed at each hitch and shudder of her breath as he deepened their connection. He gloried in the shiver that ran through her and the softening of her body as she gave in to her ne
ed and melted against him. It was such an honest response.

  He finally gave into the temptation to taste her and swept inside her mouth, letting the flavors of his mate collide on his tongue. He’d known what to expect. Strength. She had that in spades. Caution. He needed to overcome that as swiftly as possible. Sweetness. Innocence. Passion. Orange blossoms and honey exploded in his mouth, ensuring he would never forget her taste.

  The mating heat grew with each velvet slide of his tongue over hers. He smiled into the kiss when her hand rose and fisted in his hair, telling him without words what she needed. He obeyed the silent demand to deepen the kiss, to drive them both a little crazy, and closer to the edge. The edge of no return where he took his mate, fucked her wet pussy and branded her as his.

  She offered no resistance as he plundered her mouth. He thrust his tongue between her parted lips and took what he wanted. He licked at the roof of her mouth, skimming along the row of her teeth before dipping down deep inside again. Finally, her tongue came out to tangle with his.

  Emma knew she would soon be a goner. The feel of his mouth and tongue was doing wonderful things to her body. Her pussy moistened and her nipples pebbled and hardened. Goodness, how she wanted him. And she couldn’t have him. She tried to ease away, to break off the kiss, but he growled and she sank back against him.

  Why couldn’t she have this moment? This night?

  Because the Panthera is coming for us—me. Her cat nipped at her, reminding her why she couldn’t do this. A large furry psycho was on her tail. Literally.

  Body shaking, she pulled back from the kiss. Kiss, huh. That was too tame of a description for what they had just shared. His lips were wet and moist, and redden, just like she imaged hers looked. She licked her bottom lip, her tongue finding the slight cut he’d caused when he’d scraped it with his teeth.

  “I, um.” Not only did her legs feel like wet noodles, but her brain was fried from the heat of their passion. Ryland’s smile was smug. No doubt, he could see the effect of his touch and the arousal he’d created. Her eyes dilated and her body shivered with need. She wanted him and he knew it. He continued to smile as he ushered her up the stairs. Two more flights and they were in front of the apartment.

  Before Emma could protest, he took the key from her and opened the door. Damn it, Emma growled to herself when she realized what was about to happen. His kiss had really addled her brain. What if Abigail was on the couch? Or worse walking around naked? Not that either of them made a habit of doing that, but she didn’t know what her sister did when she was alone. The thought of Ryland seeing Abigail in nothing but her birthday suit had her cat snarling.

  Moving swiftly, she pushed her way between him and the door. “I’m good. Thank you for bringing me home.”

  She placed one hand on his chest to push him away, while reaching behind with the other to find the doorknob and keep the door closed. She spoke just a tad too loudly and tried not to blink when he winced at the volume of her voice. So he’d just have to think she was a loudmouth. She was grateful when he didn’t push to get inside.

  “When do you work tomorrow?” he asked, one hand coming up to play with a strand of her hair.

  “Um, I don’t remember.”

  He raised one eyebrow and continued to twist her hair around his finger. “Then I guess I’ll see you when I see you.” He stepped away. “Goodnight, baby.”

  He smiled and Emma had to tighten her grip on the doorknob to keep from launching herself into his arms. He was devastatingly handsome when he smiled.

  “Now go inside.”

  For once, she didn’t embarrass herself and trip over her own feet. With one last backward glance, she slipped inside the apartment and closed the door on his smiling face.

  CHAPTER FIVE

  “What are you doing, Emma?”

  Emma jumped at the sound of Abigail’s voice coming from the hallway. It wasn’t completely dark inside the small apartment. A small circle of light shone from the cheap lamp near the couch. They always tried to remember to keep a light on, neither liking to walk into a dark room, never knowing what might be lurking in the shadows.

  “Crap,” she almost shouted, barely remembering to keep her voice down. She’d heard the sound of heavy footsteps on the stairs as Ryland left, but knew a scream from her would bring him running back. “Don’t scare me like that.” She pressed a hand to her pounding heart. Between the heated kisses and the scare she’d just received her heart was beating faster than a jackhammer.

  Abigail walked forward, stopping in the middle of the room, eyeing her twin. Emma refused to meet her gaze, choosing instead to bend down and ease off her secondhand sneakers. “You’d think a shifter wouldn’t get sore and tired feet, wouldn’t you?” she asked. To buy more time, Emma raised her arms over her head and stretched. Her cat purred in appreciation. The last five hours had been brutal.

  Well, it hadn’t been all bad Emma thought, remembering the kiss just now in the stairwell.

  “Emma.” Abigail stood in front of her, arms crossed, waiting.

  Emma knew that stance, that look and that tone of voice. It was Abigail’s big sister persona. She sighed. “I’m trying to get you mated.”

  “How? By kissing my supposed mates?” Abigail snorted as she walked to the kitchen counter.

  Crap on a cracker, Emma thought as she took a seat on the couch. Had Abigail sensed her attraction to Ryland?

  Abigail tried not to be angry with her sister, but she knew the woman was up to something. She had to figure it out before Emma did something impulsive and landed them both in hot water. Or worse.

  Retrieving the paper towel covered plate she’d left on the counter, she opened the small fridge and took out the last of the sweet iced tea she’d made earlier in the week. Nothing tasted better after a long shift than something sweet and cold.

  She handed Emma half of the tuna fish sandwich. It wasn’t much, but it kept the hunger pains at bay. Roger, the short order cook and owner of the diner, usually gave Abigail any leftovers. Today had been busy and there had been none to bring home. She felt guilty, knowing how hungry Emma was after her long shift. She was the big sister, she was supposed to be taking care of her.

  They’d probably need to go hunting again soon. Their animals were getting weak. In human form, they were existing on leftovers and cheap foods such as tuna. While a protein, and one a cat loved, it wasn’t enough.

  Weariness snuck up on her. Abigail sat on the busted sofa with a sigh, slowly eating her half of the sandwich and sharing the tea.

  “We need to move on.” Abigail hadn’t wanted to be the one to say it again. Both sisters knew they’d spent too long in Atlanta and despite Emma’s efforts to play matchmaker, there was no way she’d be able to claim her mates and leave Emma on her own.

  Once her parents had discovered Emma didn’t have a scent of her own, they’d known her life would always be in grave danger. As a child, Abigail hadn’t realized exactly what that meant. Now she knew.

  It had only been a matter of time before the Panthera of their pride had found out the Sorenson family secret. It had taken less time for the family to realize what the evil bastard had planned. Instead of banishing or even killing Emma, the Panthera wanted to use her as a broodmare. His own personal broodmare. The Panthera wanted to use her ‘faulty’ gene to breed an army of shifters that could go virtually undetected by both humans and shifters alike.

  Abigail shivered. The man was ancient and that was saying something about a shifter. He even looked old. So wanting to bed a twenty-something year old woman was just gross. Not that she would have gotten off Scott-free. She’d seen the lust in the man’s gaze as it had wandered over her the few times she’d seen him. He wanted both of the sisters in his bed.

  As soon as their parents had figured out the Panthera’s plan for the Emma, they had run. Leaving the pride in the middle of the night and moving from town to town trying to stay a step ahead of the beast the lion
king had sent after them. A year ago, the man had caught up with the family. He’d hired other shifters to take out the family while he retrieved Emma. Their parents had ordered Abigail to take Emma and run, refusing to allow the sisters to stay and help fight. Their mother had died at the hands of the hired shifters, but their father had managed to escape, meeting them at the next designated city.

  Again and again they had run. Now their father was missing. Probably dead as well.

  She snapped herself out of her trip down memory lane. Not that it mattered, Emma wasn’t listening. Again. “Emma, we need to leave.”

  “No, we don’t. If you claim Ryker… and Ryland, our troubles are over.” Or so she prayed. Emma kept her voice light and carefree. She had to sell her sister on this plan. Once she was safe in the bears’ protection, Emma would simply disappear, taking the threat with her.

  Abigail heard the hesitation in Emma’s voice when she said the twins’ names. She also remembered her sister’s enthusiasm when she’d kissed the bear in the storage room. Emma couldn’t have stopped her reaction even if the Panthera had shown up and threatened all their lives. And just now when she’d come home. Ryland had been the one to walk her to the door.

  She wanted answers. “What if I don’t want them both?”

  “What! Why wouldn’t you want them both?”

  Abigail smiled at Emma’s indignation. She’d passed off the kiss in the storage room as a means to prevent the men from discovering Abigail’s hiding place.

  “Emma…” She needed to know what was happening in order to protect her sister. Suddenly she knew. How could she have been so stupid? She wanted to laugh and cry all at the same time when she realized why Ryland Blackwood affected her twin so much. The bear was her sister’s mate. A mate, she thought she’d never have.

  In their world, shifters found their mate through the sense of smell. Just like a mother cat could pick out her babies from a group, a shifter could find their mate just by scenting the air.