“This will work,” she murmured. “It has to work!”
Graham frowned and stared at Lisa. Her eyes were still closed, but she was muttering and tossing her head agitatedly.
“Lisa, Lisa, wake up,” he said, shaking her shoulder.
She gasped and snapped her eyes wide open. Blinking rapidly, she stared at the ceiling for a moment before focusing on him.
“I'm hungry.”
Graham's eyes widened when he heard a growl. He wasn't sure if the sound came from her stomach or her throat.
Lisa yanked him forcefully to her. Graham lost his balance and fell on top of her. Immediately her arms and legs wrapped around him and held him tight.
She tilted her face up to him, and he didn't hesitate. His mouth crushed against hers and he kissed her hard. He missed her so much when she was at the inn with Gramma and Ne-ma. He missed having her in his bed, in his house. Three nights felt like a goddamn eternity.
He began to tear away her clothes as he kept his mouth on her. Their tongues tangled and he ripped her blouse and bra from her body with a snarl. He was so hungry for her.
Lisa pulled his t-shirt up over his head and ran her hands greedily down his bare, broad torso. He hissed when she rubbed her palm against the huge bulge in his pants.
“I've gone without you for three days! I need you now, Graham,” she panted.
Her words unleashed all his pent-up primal lust and hunger. She was his mate, and they would always need and want each other. With a roar, Graham grabbed her and threw her on her back. His claws shredded her jeans and panties, and he slid his hands under her knees to spread her legs wide.
He couldn't wait. He went down on her and lapped and licked hungrily at her pussy. Lisa fisted the sheets and moaned as he fucked her furiously with his tongue. He penetrated her as deeply as he could, tasting and savoring every drop of her feminine juices.
Lisa came with a cry, her nails digging into his shoulder. Graham reared up and shed the rest of his clothes, keeping his eyes on her the whole time.
God, she was so beautiful. Her black hair fanned out on the pillows and her lips were swollen from his kisses. He grabbed her flushed, quivering body and kissed her deeply.
Lisa wrapped her arms around his neck as he took her mouth. She moaned when she tasted herself on him. Graham could scent her fierce arousal as she raised her hips to him.
“Please, Graham...” she pleaded.
His eyes glowed feral and he plunged into her body with one forceful thrust. Lisa gasped and cried out in ecstasy as he surged into her again and again.
Graham bent to suckle her as he stroked his cock in and out of her pussy. Lisa panted and began to writhe as he pinned her hands above her head. Staring deeply into her eyes, he made love to her, taking her, claiming her, letting her know how deeply he felt for her with his touch.
She made small yipping sounds as the pleasure began to grow and spread. Graham moved faster and harder, pounding furiously into her as her channel rippled and clenched.
A violent, explosive orgasm ripped through her and Lisa sank her teeth into Graham's shoulder to muffle her scream. Graham bit down on the mating mark on her shoulder as he released his seed into her. Shudders coursed through Lisa's body as she shattered completely beneath him.
Graham held her tight and kept moving in and out of her. Finally, he fell on the bed beside her, utterly spent and completely satisfied. He cuddled her and kissed her hair lovingly.
“Thank you, Graham,” Lisa whispered, nuzzling his neck.
“Are you thanking me for the sex?” he teased.
Lisa laughed. “The sex is good,” she agreed. “But...”
“Good? Just good?” he spluttered, looking terribly insulted.
“Okay, it's great. It's the best sex of my life.”
“Now that's more like it,” Graham huffed.
Lisa fell silent for a while. “Thank you, for believing in me, loving me and guarding me,” she said quietly. Before he could reply, she raised a finger and said, “I know you've been guarding the inn every night. I could see you from my window.”
“Well, I...”
“You don't have to guard me.” She gave a short laugh. “I'm not that important.”
“You are important to me,” he growled.
“You are important to me too,” she admitted. “You occupy a huge space in my heart. More than half, I'd say.”
“Half?” He pouted. “What's occupying the other half?”
“My work.”
Graham smiled. “Ah.”
Lisa sat up and faced him. “My work is important. So is yours. I don't want you to put your life on hold for me. You have work to do, and so do I. I can take care of myself, Graham. You don't have to guard me. Really. I'm safe here. You said so yourself.”
“But...”
“We're mated, aren't we?”
“Yes...”
“You trust me, don't you?”
“Of course!”
“So, don't worry about me!” she said with a broad grin. “I'm not going anywhere! I'm mated now, so I'm staying in Shadow Point. But—I need a job.”
“You'll have no trouble finding a job here,” Graham said confidently. “You're brilliant and you have so much to contribute to the community.” He kissed her and smiled. “We're lucky to have you.”
Lisa cupped his face with both her hands and gave him a long, lingering kiss. “And I'm lucky to have you,” she whispered. Quirking a smile, she added, “I'm hungry, really hungry now.”
Graham chuckled. “Well, dinner's ready.”
“Great!” Lisa threw back the covers and pulled him out of bed. “Let's eat!”
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
Lisa waved at Graham from the front door as he got into his car. She frowned when she saw his car lurch to a stop at the end of the street. He did a sharp, abrupt U-turn and came speeding back to the house.
“Did you forget something?” she asked as Graham threw the car door open.
“I don't feel good leaving you alone,” he growled, stomping up the front steps.
Lisa gave him a lopsided smile and shoved him playfully. “You're such a big, protective, guardian bear! Don't worry, I'll be fine on my own. I know my way around, and the town's pretty safe. You said so yourself. Go, go off to work.”
“But...”
“I know, I know, I'm your mate and you'll always want to protect and guard me.”
“Damn right!”
Lisa blew out a breath. She didn't know whether to be amused, annoyed or gratified. She wasn't a ditzy, airhead who couldn't take care of herself. But it gave her a thrill to have Graham go all caveman on her, especially in the bedroom. She knew she meant the world to him, and everything he did and said only confirmed his feelings for her.
He loved her as she was, quirks, warts, workaholic tendencies and all.
“Tell you what, I'll call you as soon as I reach the college. It's just a twenty-minute walk,” Lisa said. “Now go! You'll be late for work.”
He grumbled under his breath as she shoved him out the door. “If you don't call...” he warned.
“I'll call,” she promised and gave him a big kiss. “I love you!”
She watched his car until it was out of sight. Smiling, she locked the front door behind her and patted her waist pouch as she strolled down the street.
Graham was the one who suggested that she apply for a position at the new college. Shadow Point College was an up-and-coming college, and there were quite a few vacancies in the science department. A research position or a teaching position would suit her fine. She planned to spend the morning checking out the college and maybe have a chat with some of the staff and students. If she liked the place and the people, she would grab an application form from the office, fill it in and submit it on the spot. Then she could spend the afternoon fine-tuning the serum…
Lis
a spun round when she heard a loud crash. A car had just plowed into the back of a stationary truck. Horns blared as the drivers of the two vehicles got out and began to argue.
She gasped when someone grabbed her from behind. A hand clamped over her mouth, and she was swiftly and forcefully manhandled into a small white van that was parked at the side of the road.
Lisa struggled furiously but everyone was distracted by the loud argument between the two drivers. She whimpered and tried to call for help, but the chaotic, noisy scene prevented anyone from noticing her.
The door of the van slammed shut and Lisa heard the squeal of tires as the van sped off. That large hand was still pressed against her mouth and Lisa bit down viciously on that meaty palm.
The man released Lisa with a curse. She twisted round and saw a burly man glaring at her but he kept his fists at his sides. He wasn't going to grab her again. His job was to bundle her into the van, and he'd done that. His job was done, for now.
Lisa turned and saw two other men seated at the front of the van. The driver was another big, burly brute. Beside the driver sat a smartly dressed man with salt-and-pepper hair that was neatly slicked back.
Lisa gulped, her blood turning to ice in her veins.
“Hello, Lisa. It's nice to see you again.”
Dr. Burrelli turned and smiled at her.
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
“Burrelli.” Lisa greeted her ex-boss calmly. “That accident back there...”
Burrelli arched a brow. “What about it?”
“You staged that accident,” Lisa said. “To distract everyone, so no one will notice my kidnapping.”
Burrelli laughed. “I see you've acquired a little more street smarts, Lisa,” Burrelli said, looking amused. “You've always been smart, but you weren't streetwise.”
“I've wised up to your methods,” she answered impassively.
Burrelli smiled benignly at her. “I've always been open with you, Lisa. I told you what I wanted. Right from the beginning.”
Lisa didn't reply. She was paying close attention to the movement of the van. She wasn't being jostled from side to side any more so she guessed that they were traveling along a straight road. She made a rough estimate of the speed and observed the handles on the door.
“I want the serum, Lisa,” Burrelli said. The smile was gone from his face. “I want the formula.”
Lisa stared at the beefy bodyguard in the back of the van with her. He was staring straight ahead, pretending not to hear the conversation between her and Burrelli.
She nodded and let her shoulders slump in defeat. “You can have it.”
When Burrelli gave a satisfied smile and turned away, Lisa tensed and rammed her elbow hard into the bodyguard's crotch.
As the man grunted and reached out to grab her, Lisa yanked the handle on the door and wrenched the door open.
The van swerved but Lisa didn't hesitate.
She threw herself out of the moving vehicle, tucking her head in and rolling when she hit the ground.
Lisa groaned in pain when she finally came to a stop. She had rolled unstoppably down a steep, grassy slope and smashed into a tree. Pushing herself up, she gritted her teeth as a sharp pain stabbed through her leg.
“Shit, shit!” she hissed in pain as she struggled to her feet. She had to keep moving if she wanted to stay alive.
She heard Burrelli's voice and heavy footsteps stomping after her. Stifling a panicked cry, Lisa stumbled deeper into the woods. She gripped her waist pouch with one hand and limped away as fast as she could.
Someone grabbed her shoulder and shoved her to the ground. She looked up and saw Burrelli's driver standing over her. She blinked and stared at the man's face. Stripes were appearing on his face and arms, and his canines were lengthening.
Burrelli came striding up with his bodyguard. She stared at his bodyguard and saw the same stripes appearing on the man's face.
“Tiger shifters,” she breathed.
Burrelli smirked. “Mercenaries. They can find anything and anyone for a fee. Of course, they can also make someone disappear, for a fee.”
Lisa gulped. “You...”
“You've got nothing to worry about, Lisa. I need you alive, so you'll stay alive,” Burrelli said. Lisa heard his unspoken threat loud and clear. Once she was of no use to him, she would be dead.
She took a deep breath and balled her fists. Then she raised her head and screamed.
Burrelli strode forward and gave her a ringing slap across the face. Lisa fell to the ground, but she pushed herself up to a crouch and glared at him.
“Shut up, Lisa,” Burrelli snarled. “It's no use screaming. No one will hear you.”
Lisa kept her eyes on Burrelli and smiled. Wiping the blood from the corner of her mouth, she said, “Don't be so sure about that.”
Burrelli frowned at her. He whirled round when he heard a deafening roar behind him.
A huge grizzly bear appeared from the shadows and charged towards them. The bear turned and Graham's eyes held hers for a heartbeat.
Burrelli's bodyguards shifted into two white tigers and flew at the bear, their deadly fangs and claws glinting.
“Graham!” Lisa screamed. “Look out!”
CHAPTER THIRTY
Graham roared and shifted into bear form as he hurtled from the Sheriff's cruiser and charged into the woods.
“Graham!” Nick shouted and tore after him. Winston Knight, the Sheriff of Shadow Point, drew his gun and ran after Nick and Graham. It was Winston who had sped them out of Shadow Point at top speed in his police cruiser.
Graham could sense Lisa's pain and distress acutely. Nick had just finished briefing the crew about the new project that they would be working on that morning when Graham felt that horrible, sharp pain in his heart.
“I have to go now!” he said and raced to his car without waiting for Nick's response.
But Nick grabbed his arm and demanded to know what was going on.
“It's Lisa,” was all Graham said. When Nick spotted the Sheriff's cruiser coming down the street, he immediately flagged the cruiser down. “They're taking the highway,” Graham snarled to the surprised Sheriff when they jumped into the back seat. “They're taking Lisa out of Shadow Point!”
Graham saw two white tigers coming towards him. He roared and slashed at one of the tigers with his claws. Behind him, he heard Nick's voice change into a bear's roar. Nick slammed into the second tiger and swiped his claws across the tiger's belly.
Graham tried to reach Lisa but the tiger blocked him. A man in a long coat was holding her at knife point. He guessed the man was her ex-boss, Dr. Burrelli. Lisa wasn't struggling but the edge of the blade was digging into her neck and drawing blood. The scent of her blood drove his bear mad with rage and pain.
Winston Knight was approaching Lisa and Burrelli slowly. “Let her go,” Winston said, his finger tightening on the trigger of his gun. But he couldn't get a clear shot. Burrelli was using Lisa as a human shield.
Graham roared as the tiger bit into his side. Nick was fending off the other tiger, but the white tigers were merciless and relentless in their attack. They had been given the order to kill, and they would carry out the order.
Graham reared up as the tiger bit into his neck. He managed to throw the tiger off and stagger back. Snarling, the tiger flew towards him, aiming for his throat.
Graham moved with lightning speed and slashed at the tiger's face once it was within reach. He took out an eye and lunged forward, pressing his advantage.
Blind with pain, the tiger backed away and crashed into a tree. Graham moved in for the kill as his enemy went down. His powerful jaws clamped around the tiger's neck and he didn't let go until the tiger's body went limp.
Graham looked up and saw Nick step away from the mutilated body of the second tiger.
Graham and Nick shifted back to human form and stalked towards L
isa and Burrelli. Graham met Lisa's eyes and saw the glint in them. Her hand was moving very slowly to her waist pouch as she allowed Burrelli to drag her backwards.
Quietly, Graham put his hand on the Sheriff's shoulder. Winston understood immediately and lowered his gun.
“Don't follow us,” Burrelli warned, pushing his blade deeper into Lisa's flesh.
Graham growled and forced himself to remain still. Silently, Lisa drew a half-filled syringe from her pouch. Graham took a step forward and Burrelli's eyes snapped to him. “I said...” Burrelli shrieked.
He never finished his sentence.
With all her might, Lisa stabbed the needle into Burrelli's leg. She pressed the plunger all the way down and dropped to the ground as Burrelli released her with a jerk.
“You!” Burrelli pointed the knife at her. “What…!” His eyes widened in horror as he stared at the empty syringe on the ground.
Graham ran to Lisa and shielded her as Burrelli slashed madly at them with his knife. Burrelli raised his knife and let out a scream when he caught sight of his wrinkled, shriveled hands.
“What...what's h-happening to me?” he wheezed.
CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE
Graham stared at Burrelli in shock. The man was literally aging before his very eyes.
Burrelli's hair had turned white and was falling off in clumps. His skin became wrinkled and papery and his eyes grew dull and rheumy. His knees shook and he crumpled to the ground in a heap.
Lisa stepped forward and said, “You have the serum now, Burrelli. It's in you.”
Burrelli lifted his sunken face to her. “You…!”
“Isn't this what you wanted?” Lisa said, unable to hide the quaver in her voice. “You wanted the serum to degenerate the cells in a living body at an accelerated pace. In shifters, it would take away the prowess of their animals and make their bodies weaker, more susceptible to diseases and they wouldn't be able to heal as fast. Eventually they would die. In humans...” Her voice trailed off.
Guardian Bear: BBW Bear Shifter Paranormal Romance (BRIDES fur BEARS Book 7) Page 7
