by Ruby Forrest
He thrusted within her stronger, pushing inside of her, and Maria cried out his name, arching and moaning. She did not care who heard, did not care of this rung out across the mountain, and did not care if everyone knew. He felt so good and she couldn’t be quiet about it, could not keep it under wraps. Not when he was making her shake like this. Not when he was making her tremble until her whole body hurt, until her head pounded and the heat between her legs felt like a volcano, felt like nothing else she had ever felt. She wanted him. She needed him. She wasn’t going to let him go.
"Jack- Dean, please, I need you!" She moaned again, only this time, it was stronger, it was louder, it was more intense, feeling the need rise inside of her, deeper and deeper, stronger until she felt dizzy, until she felt like maybe, just maybe, she would pass out from the pleasure alone, from the aching need
Jack- Dean groaned and thrusted strongly within her, slamming against the sensitive spots inside her body, the ache inside her that blanked her mind and left her a trembling, gasping, pleading mess, who wanted him and ached for him and was not too proud to beg him to take her harder and harder.
Maria thought that she was going to lose her mind, moaning and twisting beneath him, arching her back and panting as the sweet pleasure rose in waves. She felt so close to him, felt like there was nothing between them, nothing between them at all. They felt so close and suddenly, all the hurt, all the secrets, all the pain that had been lying dormant in her chest, it all seemed to just fall away, leaving her feeling so much lighter, so much happier, so much brighter and more settled and more comfortable. It was okay, it was all okay. She felt like herself, felt like she was finally in a place that she could breathe. She thought of the forest and the way that she had felt like she could finally breathe, finally take a breath. It was like that, only so much better, and so much more intense. It was like that, only it was perfect in a way that she had never seen or understood before now. She did not even know she was craving it until she felt it for the first time. Now she knew that she could never get enough of a feeling like this, never get enough of a feeling like this. She shuddered and shut her eyes as she rocked to the motion, to the sensation of him thrusting within her and blowing her mind, thrusting within her and leaving her breathless. It was everything and it was nothing and it was perfection on a grand scale, perfection in a way that she had only dreamt of in the past, only ever considered in a fleeting daydream.
She remembered the dream that had filled her until now, the panic and the pain and the betrayal. She remembered the whispered words, the murmurs of reassurance, that he was not going to hurt her and that she just needed to trust him, that she just needed to give into the sensations and let him take control, just give in and make sure that she took his words for it, so that he could save her and keep her safe. That felt so accurate, while she moaned and twisted in his arms. It felt so right. She had felt betrayed, felt like he didn’t care and wasn’t really who he said he was, wasn’t to be trusted. But now, now she had been proved wrong, so very wrong. Now, she had been proved that he was truly there for her, that he cared and that he would never hurt her. He was only trying to save her, only there to help her, and the forest and everyone in it. She was lucky. She was so lucky and she was so happy to be in his arms, to feel him against her skin, to know that he was here for her, that he wasn’t going anywhere. That he was the good guy, not a guy who was walking out on her and all his beliefs. That it would all be okay.
Maria moaned, feeling the pleasure build inside of her like a light, like fireworks that were about to explode, about to go off, and about to overwhelm her with the blissful light and passion that rose inside of her. It was perfection. It was everything that she had ever craved and wanted and more, so much more. Maria threw her head back, moaning and rocking her hips, desperate for more of the sweet friction, to feel more of him inside of her, to feel the pressure building between her hips, feel the pleasure blinding her and sending shudders through her body. Maria moaned and held onto him tight, feeling the joy build inside her, the happiness that maybe, just maybe, despite all of the strife and challenges, things would be okay, that maybe just maybe, they would finally be able to move forward, move past this and fix everything that was wrong with the Forrest. Maybe, just maybe, she was here with the right man and they were going to make a difference. And right then, twisted in Jack- Dean's arms and holding him tight, Maria couldn’t help but think that she was right, couldn’t help but think that yes, yes they were going to make a difference and it was going to be okay, it was going to be everything that they dreamed of, everything that both of them had wanted for so long.
Peace, peace and safety and a reason for being. Because she sensed that Jack- Dean wanted that too, Jack- Dean, with his arms wrapped around her and his hair against her skin, with his breath on her neck and the feel of his hands on her skin, curving around to hold her tight, to hold her near, and to feel her against him. She moaned and shuddered, feeling the climax build inside of her, build and build and build until there was nothing left but the feeling of Jack- Dean, nothing left but the relief and the passion and the sweet blinding pleasure that was too much to handle. She shut her eyes and rode it, rode the waves of the please, the waves of ecstasy, the need that was crawling up her skin. She was so close, so, so close. She moaned and bit her lip, whispering Jack- Dean’s name over and over and over again, feeling the need and desperation for him rise to a fever pitch. Her climax hit her hard and fast and unyielding, rising up inside of her like a wave, like a breath of fresh air, like something strong and forceful inside of her.
She screamed, feeling his name tumble off her lips, feeling his name gasp out of her over and over and over. She didn’t give a damn who heard them. She didn’t give a damn where they were or what was happening or the problem that were overwhelming the both of them. Right now, she did not give a damn about the war, the fighting, and the pain. Right now, there was only Jack- Dean and that was more than enough that was more than enough to get her through the night, get her through the challenges that they were both facing, get them through it all.
She clung onto him, feeling the waves and waves of pleasure drown her, crash over her and leave her gasping as she held him so damn tight, held him with all of her might and then some, she shuddered and moaned and gasped as she clutched him.
When Jack- Dean climaxed it was with all the force that she wondered if he had been holding back. It was with the shuddering waves of pleasure that drowned her and then some, it was with the roar of an almighty bear, the bear that he was so closely connected tp.
And it set fire to Maria's mind, her body, her soul and everything in between. It set fire to her skin, to hear him cry out, to feel his body shuddering against hers, to feel him gasping and hear the way that he moaned, hear the way that his breathing caught in his chest, in his throat. She gripped onto him right and they rocked together in pleasure, in bliss. She held on with everything she had and prayed that it was enough.
When the pleasure finally eased, it left behind a blissful glow that seemed trap around them both. Maria collapsed back, feeling the stress and tension and perfection of the moment rise and ebb in her body, rise and fall and rise and fall. She shut her eyes tightly and shook her head, swallowing and trying to speak. But it was useless. In that moment, there was nothing to say, nothing to do but revel in the moment, in the perfection that had flooded both of them until that moment that was perfectly breathtaking.
Jack- Dean held her tight and he sagged against the wall, pulling her softly on top of him. Maria was more than happy to. She tumbled gently on top of him, shutting her eyes and breathing, burying her head into the curve of his shoulder and breathing in his scent. He smelt like the forest and Maria could understand now why he was so attached to it. It truly was his home, in more ways than one and she couldn’t believe that she had ever doubted him, that she had ever wondered about his loyalties.
He was loyal to the forest. He was loyal to the forest in ways that most people cou
ldn't even begin got imagine, couldn’t even begin to understand or to realize, or to feel. He was perfect and she was realizing more and more how damn lucky she was to have him here, in her arms.
Jack- Dean did not say much either, just held her tight as they both basked in the afterglow, as they both wrapped each other up and held onto the pleasure that rose and fell within them, hat followed them both whenever they were together.
Maria never wanted to let Jack- Dean go, not in a million years.
Maria was sure that they would have to move eventually, but right now, she did not want to think of it. It was only when Jack- Dean shifted, that she signed, realizing that the inevitable was here. She lazily rolled off him and fumbled for her things. She was still smiling, despite her reluctance, because Jack- Dean was beside her, Jack- Dean was here, moving with her and getting ready to tackle the problem at hand. They stayed like that for a moment, dressing in silence, feeling each other beside them, feeling the companionship that both of them had longed for so long.
Maria smiled as she grabbed the last of her things and pulled on her shoes. It was lovely, knowing that he was there for her, that he had her back. It was comforting and it was something that she hadn’t realized she wanted or needed, until she no longer had it. She smiled to herself, humming quietly as she pulled on her clothing and shoes and stood up.
Jack- Dean stood too, already dressed. He smiled at her and it seemed to light up the whole cave, far more than the lantern did. He shrugged, "Time to go?"
She nodded, 'I guess so." She smiled at him and shrugged in return, "So where to?"
"Well, I guess it is best if we retrace our steps. The bear will be long gone by now. I do not know him, but no one stays in place after an attack like that, no matter how cocky. He doesn’t know if I am bringing backup or not, so it might be a good place to start."
"And what if we do find him? What if we find the one doing all of this?"
Jack- Dean sighed and she could see the real conflict in his eyes, "Then we end him, but I am not sure if that will happen."
Maria nodded, feeling tension and stress build inside of her again, the last of the pleasant glow burning away into nothing as reality hit hard and fast, "But it is okay." His voice was soft and reassuring, "You won't have to hurt anyone, I promise." There was something in the way he spoke that was full of determination and conviction that believed in her, in himself, in what he was saying. He did not like violence and he wasn’t about to make her endure any more than she had to. The thought was comforting. Maria had enough of death and violence already and she did not want to be part of anymore.
He sighed and swallowed, "If one last kill will end all of this, I'll do it, but if I don’t think it is the right ways, and I hate the idea anyway, then I'll find another way to go in, another way to deal with this and make them see reason."
Maria smiled and laid a hand on her arm, "And I will be right there to help, in any way that I can." She smiled at him and something in his features settled, became quiet and still.
"Thank you, Maria." His voice was quiet and intent, "Thank you for standing by me. I do not know of many people who would. I do not know of many people who would be willing to do what you have been doing for me." He smiled and it was as if the sun was shining, bright and unyielding and everything that she had ever dreamt of. He was everything that she had ever dreamt of and so much more.
Maria nodded again, "its okay, Jack- Dean." She sighed and shook her head, "I'm just sorry that I doubted you. You were just trying to protect me and I doubted you and made your job so much harder and, for that, I'm really sorry."
He shook his head, "No, I wasn’t clear with you about it all. That was on me."
They smiled at each other and Maria knew, beyond the sex and the common mission that they shared, they were going to be alright, they were not going to drift apart any time soon and it sent happiness leaping in Maria's heart.
"Let's go."
Jack- Dean pulled away the huge piece of wood that shielded the exit and made sure to blow out the lantern. Then he headed out and Maria followed suit. She did not know where the day had gone, but things already seemed dark, dark and quiet and not at all inviting. She swallowed but stayed firm. Jack- Dean knew what he was doing, and she had to believe that he would not lead them astray.
She smiled, feeling confidence return to her, feeling the burning in her heat flutter like the brightest light. She would help him fix this, no matter what it entailed.
"So, do you think getting this guy will fix things?"
Jack- Dean nodded lowly, "Maybe? He seemed to be the one causing all the uproar, leading the rogue faction. If we can get him to stop all of this, it shouldn’t be hard to sway his followers." He shook his head, "I do not know if that was him, or if that was a hired goon. Either way, following his trail will help. He's certainly not one of ours that much I know for sure."
Maria nodded, reassured by his words, "And if you can't reason with him..." She swallowed, "I'll help in any way that I can. This forest needs help, the shifters need help and so does every creature and person who lives here." She swallowed her feat, pushing it back deeply, "I want to help, Jack- Dean. I want to help in any way that I possibly can."
Jack- Dean glanced at her, surprise in his eyes, "Maria...Thank you." He smiled again, "But I do not want any blood on your hands. You're a researcher, you came here to help, you did not come here to kill and I cannot ask you to do that, not for me."
"It is not just for you, Jack- Dean It is for everyone. We need to make this right."
Maria swallowed, feeling the memories of before rush up inside of her. She remembered the dream that had filled her until now, the panic and the pain and the betrayal. She remembered the whispered words, the murmurs of reassurance, that he was not going to hurt her and that she just needed to trust him, that she just needed to give into the sensations and let him take control, just give in and make sure that she took his words for it, so that he could save her and keep her safe.
She had felt betrayed, felt like he didn’t care and wasn’t really who he said he was, wasn’t to be trusted. But now, now she had been proved wrong, so very wrong. Now, she had been proved that he was truly there for her, that he cared and that he would never hurt her. He was only trying to save her, only there to help her, and the forest and everyone in it. She was lucky. She was so lucky and she was so happy to be in his arms, to feel him against her skin, to know that he was here for her, that he wasn’t going anywhere. That he was the good guy, not a guy who was walking out on her and all his beliefs. That it would all be okay.
"I'm here to help. I mean it."
Chapter 8
Jack- Dean smiled and she knew that they were definitely going to be okay. They kept moving through the forest and Maria wondered how the heck Jack- Dean knew where he was going. Maria did not notice anything that spent tracks, and she didn’t know how he could see much anyway in the fading light. She chalked it up to something that she did not quite understand, something to do with the fact that he was a shifter, and that she did not necessarily understand that part of his life, that part of what made him who he was. Maybe he could track by smell, or maybe his eyesight was better. She could only assume that he kept some of the bearlike traits. Maria could imagine that that would be incredibly useful. She wondered, idly, as they moved through the bushes, if there were other animal shifters, if they enlisted in things like the military, to get an advantage. She wondered what else was out there in the world, that she knew nothing about, that she didn’t quite understand.
She wondered why she had been so blind all her life, stuck in her little bubble, never seeing the rest of the world for what it was. She shivered, feeling the ache move up her skin.
Then Jack- Dean stopped and she knew that it was the time to be very quiet. She watched him as he dipped down, checking the dirt, looking for something, or confirming something that he had already found.
He nodded to her and Maria swallowed, knowing what that mea
nt. They were close. She bit her lip and tried not to let her fear seep out. She realized that if Jack- Dean was tracking by scent, then they were probably just as easy to track in return, just as easy to find and to attack, if they got too close. Jack- Dean leaned over and pushed something into her hand. She looked down and was surprised at the tazer. He shrugged.
She knew that a tazer could seriously hurt an animal if put to a high setting. She also knew that this was an important way to protect yourself, without actually killing the animal. Usually the sound and sparking electricity was enough to get one to back off.
She didn’t think that this would be the case now, but she appreciated it anyway. She did not feel half as bad about hurting a shifter, who might look all bear, but had the capacity to kill and hate and plot just like any other human. Especially this shifter, the one who was intentionally going after others of its kind with murderous intent. Who had tried to kill her just because she was a human, and no other reason? The thought made her sick. She had no problems hurting someone like that.
Jack- Dean took a step forward and she noticed that, while he had no weapons in his hands, everything about his body language had changed. He was focused, he was predatory and she did not doubt that he would change in a second, if he thought that he needed to, if he thought that that would help him, and help Maria, get out of this in one piece. He was ready to fight, ready to take anyone who was in his way down, and Maria was glad to have him on her side, instead of on the side of the enemy. She had a sneaky suspicion that he was one of the main reasons that his side was winning this thing, despite the body count.
