The Bear and the Heir: BBW Bear Shifter Paranormal Romance ((Arcane Affairs Agency))

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The Bear and the Heir: BBW Bear Shifter Paranormal Romance ((Arcane Affairs Agency)) Page 11

by Leslie Chase


  "If we run, it's not just me that gives up everything, is it?" she said. "You wouldn't be able to go home again either."

  "Come with me and wherever you are will be my home," he told her. The fierce certainty in his voice was too strong for her to doubt, and it made her smile. So strong a man, and he'd give up everything to be with me.

  She shook her head. She couldn't do that to him. "You have a home," she said. "A family, just like I do. A job, and it's an important job. You'd be miserable if I dragged you away from all of that."

  Pain flashed in his eyes, and she knew that she was right. He wasn't thinking about that, he wasn't thinking about his own life — just hers and how he could save her. It was down to her to protect him.

  That was a scary thought, but she couldn't escape it. Running away would wreck both their lives.

  "I can't go with you," she said, the words crushing her heart as she spoke them. "We'd never ever be safe, and I can't do that to you."

  "Don't worry about me," Cole said, taking her hand and holding it to his chest. "I'll be fine as long as I'm with you. That's all that matters to me, Fiona."

  "It is now. But how will you feel in a year? In five?" she shook her head. "There isn't any other way, Cole. You know that as well as I do."

  "No. That's not true. If I'm with you, I'll be happy. And if you're with me, you'll be safe."

  How she wished she could believe that. But how could she? He would have to give up everything, just like her. If she stayed, if she went with the fae, at least he could go back to his life and be happy.

  The sadness that settled over her had at least that bright point. Cole would be happy, he'd move on and find someone else. And who knew, maybe she could too. Walking away from her normal life was scary, but being Queen didn't sound so bad. Maybe in a few years she'd be happy.

  Living on the run didn't sound like it offered either of them that future.

  "No, Cole," she said, her voice firm even if it was choked with emotion. "I'm going to go with them. My mind is made up; it's bad but it's the best option."

  He opened his mouth to object but fell silent as she touched a finger to his lips.

  "Please don't make this harder than it already is," she asked him. "I don't want to fight you as well."

  Slowly, reluctantly, he nodded. The pain in his eyes was almost enough to make her doubt herself, and she knew that if she let that happen she'd never make up her mind. Throwing her arms around him, she clung to Cole, her face buried in his broad chest where she didn't have to see anything.

  His powerful arms folded around her, holding her tight. "Alright, Fiona," he said, his deep voice full of anger and pain. "If that's your decision. I won't force you to do something you don't want to."

  She squeezed him harder, and after a moment she pulled back to look up at him. "Thank you," she said. She couldn't think what she'd have done if he had argued, it would have been too painful to contemplate.

  He lifted her up with casual strength that surprised her as he kissed her lips tenderly. "But you're not going right away."

  She nodded, and he started to walk without putting her down.

  "Where are you taking me?" Fiona asked.

  "To your room," he said simply. "If we're not going to see each other again, then I want to say goodbye to you properly."

  Fiona blushed, her heart speeding up as he looked her in the eye. His feelings for her shone in his gaze and she couldn't resist the urge to lean in and kiss him. If this is going to be the end of our time together, let's make the most of it, she thought. No point in leaving things undone to regret later.

  His kiss was powerful enough to wash away her fears and doubts, the electric connection between them rocking her to her core as he carried her into the hallway. Her hand fumbled behind her, finding the door handle and opening it as they hungrily kissed.

  As soon as the door swung shut behind them, Cole growled and the sound reverberated through her body. Fiona gasped, her breath catching as his strong hands squeezed her, and all her senses were full of him.

  For the moment there was no future to worry about, no past. Just him, and the feelings he evoked in her.

  With unsteady fingers she tugged at his shirt, undoing the buttons and pulling it open. Pulling it off his body Fiona ran her hands across his muscles, feeling his heart pounding under in his chest. She caressed him, running her hands across his taut abs, his powerful arms, trying to commit the feel of him to memory.

  "Oh, Cole," she moaned, looking up at him. "God, I need you."

  As she spoke, her hands came to his belt, trembling as she undid it. Cole groaned as she undid his jeans, reaching inside to find him stiffening at her touch. His body called to her, and the feel of his cock hardening in her hand made her tingle and shiver.

  Freeing his erection, she stroked him gently. The silky feel of his thick cock in her hands was indescribable, but she wanted more. So much more.

  Sinking to her knees in front of him, Fiona felt his hands slide through her hair as she bent to lick the head of his cock. His gasp of pleasure was her reward, and she shivered as the sound made her body ache. Taking him in her mouth, she groaned around him. Cole was so much bigger than anything she'd experienced before, and it was difficult to take all of him, but she did her best. And the little noises of pleasure he made as his fingers tightened on her made her smile.

  Fiona could feel him swelling in her mouth, his breath shortening, his body tensing. If she kept this up, she knew he wouldn't last long. But as much as she wanted to taste him, there was so much more that she wanted to do. The mere thought of him inside her made her pussy tighten and her body ache for him. She sat back on her heels, letting his cock slip from her lips and giving it a little kiss before looking up at him.

  He nodded wordlessly, and lifted her again, carrying her to the bed. His body felt so perfect against her, even through her clothes, as he lowered her onto the covers. Strong hands pressed her down and stripped her. Fiona tried to help, but he wasn't having any of it. Each time she moved, he took her by the wrist and gently but firmly lifted her hands away.

  Clearly, he wanted to have all the fun of undressing her. She couldn't object, not after how much she'd enjoyed taking his clothes off. But her need for him made her moan impatiently and squirm.

  Cole wasn't going to be hurried, though. Holding her wrists in one hand, he kept her still as he undid her blouse and ran rough but gentle fingers over her skin, brushing across her breasts. Fiona shivered, moaning something wordless, and his hand gripped harder, fingers digging into her skin. The sensation was delicious, powerful, and made her arch her back pushing her body to him.

  He chuckled, bending over to kiss her, and the urgency of his mouth belied the patience of his exploring hand. His tongue pressed between her lips, seeking hers, and they shuddered together. The kiss sent a jolt of pleasure through Fiona, her body trembling and taut, Cole's hand squeezing and caressing her breasts as his tongue played with hers.

  Finally he sat up, panting, and released her arms. His hands stroked down her arms, across her body, undressing her as he went. Squirming out of her clothes she reached up to stroke his body, and soon they were both naked against each other. His body felt so unbearably hot against hers, Fiona almost couldn't stand it.

  Pressing her down onto the bed again, Cole slid between her legs and she felt the hard length of his cock against the folds of her pussy. Fiona gasped, gripping his hips and pulling as he thrust into her, completing her. One powerful motion brought him fully inside her, his thickness so close to being painful. Stretched around him, she felt incredible, perfectly whole in a way that she couldn't without him.

  The look on his face above her told her that he felt the same. His eyes were locked on her as he moved slowly but forcefully, pulling back and then driving home again. Each time faster, harder and even deeper. Each time making her gasp and writhe as a wave of pleasure rocked her. Each time getting a louder cry from her.

  His hands moved over he
r breasts as her fingers dug into his back, urging him onward. Fiona gripped him tight as he thrust again and again, making her shudder under him, her body overwhelmed with the pleasure of their lovemaking. Cole looked as though it was taking every ounce of his willpower to keep himself under control, and Fiona felt her own break under his touch. Cole's fingers tightened on her breasts, squeezing her and sending another wave of sensation through her, making her gasp.

  "Oh god, I'm so close," she said, meeting his gaze, watching his control slip. Their rhythm sped up, pushing them both closer and closer to the brink.

  "You are so beautiful," Cole said in a hungry, breathless voice. His words were the final push she needed to send her over the edge, send her crashing into a powerful orgasm. Her body squeezed tight around him and she heard him gasp too, following her. Inside her, she felt him let go, cumming hard as they both shouted with hoarse joy.

  "Yes, oh god yes Cole," she groaned as their bodies shook with a shared pleasure. Fiona felt him twitch inside her as her pussy squeezed him again and again, until finally, both spent, they collapsed on the bed beside each other.

  Cole growled something she couldn't follow, couldn't even be sure was words. His powerful arms gathered her up and pulled her against him, his lips pressing a kiss on her forehead. Both of them were slick with sweat, their bodies trembling from exertion and emotions, and they clung to each other without speaking. It felt like heaven. Not the soaring, mind-emptying pleasure of the sex they'd shared, but a quieter joy of shared touch and exhaustion that Fiona wished could last forever.

  As much as Fiona tried to hold onto the warm and happy feeling, though, it started to fade as memories of the day started to creep back in. She couldn't keep herself from thinking that this was their last time together, that they'd never even see each other again.

  Holding onto his mate, Cole tried to ignore the words that bubbled up in his mind. The words he knew he shouldn't speak, but wanted to so badly. 'I love you' would only make things harder for Fiona to deal with. It wouldn't be fair.

  But fairness was getting both of their lives torn apart. No matter how hard he tried, Cole couldn't keep his mind away from the fact that he couldn't protect her the way she needed to be protected. That she couldn't stay with him. He tried his hardest to stay in the moment, to treasure the little time that they would have together before she left, but it was impossible.

  Damn the Agency and their rules, he thought, doing his best not to show his emotions. The last thing he wanted to do was spoil what little time they had. If they couldn't be together, the least he could do was make sure that their memories of each other were happy ones.

  Fiona was lying against him, her head resting on his chest, rising and falling with his breath. Leaning down, he planted a kiss on top of her head, smiling as she muttered something under her breath. At least she seemed happy, and that was what mattered most to him.

  That was why he had made such a powerful effort to control himself. The urge to bite Fiona as they made love had been almost irresistible — to mark her, to claim her, to complete their mating and bind the two of them together forever. But that would have been a monstrous thing to do to her when they were going to part for good. Without that, maybe she could forget him.

  He knew with a stone cold certainty that he would never forget her.

  He couldn't tell how long they'd lain together, but eventually it was time to move. Both of them felt it, and regretfully they stretched, sat up and moved apart. The thin pale light of dawn peeked through the window, and Cole wondered if they'd gotten any sleep at all in the night. It didn't feel like it.

  "Good morning," he said, kissing Fiona gently. The sad look on her face was too much for him to bear. She hugged him hard, gripping him tight, and he could feel his heart breaking at the thought of losing her.

  I can't do this, he realized. If I stay here, this will tear me apart. And her too, perhaps.

  Fiona looked like she was feeling as torn as he was, but the grim determination on her face told him that she wasn't considering changing her mind. It did, at least, promise to be an advantage for her at the fae court. She would need to be strong-willed amongst them.

  "Fiona," he said, struggling to keep all that he was feeling out of his voice. She needed him to be strong now, and he would be. For her. "Fiona, I should go. This is only going to get more painful for both of us."

  She stepped back from him, looked up into his eyes, and looked as though she was about to argue. But after a long pause, she simply nodded and looked away.

  "You're right," she said quietly. "I wish there was another way."

  "There is," he said, stopping as she shook her head. There were tears on her cheeks.

  "I can't go with you," she said with a simple finality. "I won't do that to you."

  He growled, lost for words they hadn't already said. There wasn't anything he could do to argue with her, not without hurting her more. And that was the one thing he wouldn't do.

  Sweeping her up in his arms, he kissed her. Knowing it would be their last kiss, he lost himself in it, in the feel of her. It was so perfect, and the way she instantly responded made it clear that she felt the same way.

  But it couldn't last. When he put Fiona down again, she was short of breath, unsteady on her feet, and smiling sadly. Cole tried to find words to say to her, something to express his feelings, some way to let her know what was in his heart. But there was nothing. No words would come that wouldn't simply make things worse. After a long, painful moment, he shook his head sharply and turned his back, striding out of the room and towards his own.

  I can't stay here, I can't see her go. And if I see any of those damned elves in this state of mind, I will kill one of them. Growling to himself, feeling the anger and confusion of his bear perilously close to the surface, he stuffed what clothes he'd unpacked back into his luggage.

  The sooner he was out of town, the better.

  14

  Fiona wanted to cry but knew that she couldn't let herself. If she started, she might never stop. Outside her room she heard Cole leaving the apartment and wondered if she should go and say goodbye. But it was pointless, it would just hurt them both more, and they had already said their farewells. Not with words, but with their bodies, and there was nothing to add to that.

  Staring at the wall, she told herself that was the end of it. She had to repeat it several times before she could convince herself, and start to get up for the day.

  An hour later, she left the apartment herself. She didn't know what to wear or what to pack — nothing that she owned was remotely appropriate for a fae court, or at least she didn't think it was. But then, she didn't look much like the fae either. All of them that she'd seen had been tall and elegant and slender; she was shorter and curvy. Dressing like them would have looked ridiculous, even if she had the clothes to do it.

  So she was wearing jeans and a t-shirt as she stepped outside into the rain, letting it run off her as she looked around. Sure enough, a couple of elves were waiting for her across the street, Erion and a woman who she thought she recognized. The one who'd tried to kidnap her in the van? Fiona couldn't be sure, and it hardly mattered. This time she was going willingly.

  Crossing the street to meet them, she didn't know what to say. Erion took the lead, bowing low, and his companion curtsied as well.

  "Princess Fiona, I'm glad you made the right choice," Erion said, offering her his arm. "Allow my companion and me to escort you to your new home."

  This time it was a car they led her to, not a van, and Erion opened the passenger door for her like a gentleman. Maybe he'll be alright, Fiona thought as she got in, the female elf sitting behind her and Erion taking the wheel. She allowed herself to hope.

  The drive through Argent Falls was short and silent. Fiona wasn't in any state to make small talk. If Erion introduced his companion, she missed it while she was staring out of the window at the streets they drove through. The clouds overhead were dark and heavy, but for now at leas
t the streets were dry. The weather looked like she felt — her tears were all pent up and ready to flow at the smallest provocation.

  Soon they arrived at their destination, and Fiona was surprised to see that they were parking at the mall. It seemed a strange place for them to go, and she turned to Erion, confusion on her face. He laughed, not unkindly, and gestured outside.

  "You've been amongst the humans too long, Princess," he said. "If you can't see the paths of the Fair Folk that pass through here. We live all around the human world, but off to one side where they can never find us."

  "Allow me to show you, my Princess," his companion spoke before Fiona could reply. She reached forward and around Fiona, bringing her hands up to Fiona's eyes slowly enough not to panic her.

  Fiona tried to relax, wondering what was happening. As soon as the lady's hands blocked out her vision, the world seemed to twist around her. There was a feeling like the light fall of spring rain, and the smell of the forest after a storm filled the car. Fiona gasped as a tingling sensation washed over her eyes, and when the woman lifted them again, she could see.

  It wasn't something she'd ever be able to describe, and it didn't feel as though anything had changed. More like the woman had shown her how to do something that was natural and easy, that had just needed a little push.

  Outside the car, in the parking lot, there were paths that turned in directions Fiona knew she couldn't point. But now that she could see them, she knew that she could walk them. So that's how Meallan got away, she realized, remembering how he had simply vanished from view after Cole had beaten him on the day they'd first met.

  Cole. That memory hit her hard enough that her world seemed to wobble around her. She didn't have him to lean on anymore. Steeling herself, not wanting to show weakness, she got out of the car and walked towards the nearest of the fae paths. The air had the heavy feeling, like right before a storm, and it felt somehow right. Almost as though she was coming home.

 

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