Savage Bear: BBW Paranormal Shape Shifter Romance Read online

  “Jared,” she squealed, wrapping her arms around his neck. “Put me down! I don’t want you to get hurt.”

  He stopped in the doorway and studied her.

  “Seriously?” he growled.

  “I’m a lot heavier than I look,” she said quietly.

  “You do realize I’m a shifter, right?”

  He knew she was aware he changed forms, but he had a point to make.

  “And I can assume you’ve seen my arms?”

  “Funny,” she said, her voice laced with sarcasm.

  “Well, then what’s the problem?”

  Almost a full minute passed while she worked out her answer.

  “Not a lot guys can lift me,” she admitted quietly.

  “Well, then, you’re hanging out with the wrong guys.”

  He finished his trek into the bedroom, and set her down next to his unmade bed.

  “You’re also wearing too many clothes,” he said, grabbing her shirt at the hem.

  She pushed his hands away and whipped the shirt over her head.

  “So are you,” she countered.

  Her lush breasts nearly tumbled out of the satin demi-cup bra she wore, and he pulled the straps down her arms to further expose the soft flesh. The satin brushed across both nipples, and the hard pebbles begged for his mouth. He pulled the cups of the fabric down and closed his hands around the glorious, ample mounds.

  “You are so beautiful,” he said, dragging the pads of his thumbs across the hard, sensitive flesh.

  A tiny gasp escaped from her lips and he bent down and sucked one of the nipples into his mouth. Leah threaded her fingers through his hair, and pulled, fueling his hunger. He licked, sucked and scraped his teeth over the hard pebble, and then he switched sides and loved the other one. Her nails dug into his scalp, and the tiny sounds she made called to his primal side.

  “Jared,” she whispered, breathlessly.

  “What is it, sweetheart,” he said, coming up for air. “What do you need?”

  “You,” she said. “I need to feel you inside me.”

  “Take off your clothes, and get on the bed.”

  She hastily removed her clothes and lay down with her head on his pillow. He removed his jeans and boxers and then stared at her as he rolled a condom down his thick dick. She was the most beautiful woman he’d ever seen, and he liked that she didn’t try to hide from him. Except for the heavy comment when he’d picked her up, she always seemed to exude confidence.

  The hunger he saw in her eyes as he protected himself nearly had him coming in his hand, and he wasn’t sure how much longer he could refrain from sinking into her warmth.

  “Spread your legs for me,” he said, kneeling on the bed, “I want to see your…yes.”

  Her bare pussy was soaking wet, and he easily slid two fingers into her cunt.

  “So wet,” he said, moving his fingers in and out. “So perfect.”

  Leah spread her legs wider and covered her breasts with her hands. She watched him intently as her pussy clenched around his hand, and she tweaked her nipples with her fingers.

  When her moans and cries became erratic, he pulled his fingers free and placed them in his mouth.

  “Mmm… I knew your cunt would taste like strawberries, too.”

  “Jared, please.”

  She arched her back and he watched her pussy contract, as if searching for his cock. He covered her body with his, and sank deep into her channel in one swift thrust. Her cry of pleasure raced down his spine, fueling his lust, and he pulled almost all the way out and thrust deep again.

  Leah crossed her ankles around his waist, pushing him deeper, and he nearly came when she dug her nails into his back.

  “You are so tight, sweetheart,” he said, taking a deep breath. “So perfect. You feel so damn good, I’m not sure I can go slow.”

  “We can go slow next time,” she said, circling her hips.

  He clenched his teeth, and grunted as a jolt of electricity raced across his skin. He felt the tips of his canines poke through his gums and he knew he was in trouble.

  Fuck!

  He clamped his mouth shut and started to move. Her blond hair was spread across his pillow, and every time he sank into her core, her breasts bounced, fueling his desire. She tried to kiss him, but he refused to open his mouth, so she placed chaste kisses on his bicep, shoulder and neck, as her hands roamed his back.

  He knew the second her orgasm threatened because she tightened her ankles and arms around him, and tried to pull him closer. He pushed deep one more time and she exploded beneath him.

  The sensation of her pussy tightening around his cock sent him over the edge, and he roared his release. He placed another chaste kiss on her lips before collapsing next to her on the bed.

  He pulled her close, wrapped his arms around her, and kissed the top of her head. Sex with Leah had been different—fantastic—but different. He’d never had his canines try to escape while with a woman, and though he understood the reason why, he hadn’t expected it.

  “That was amazing,” she said.

  “I think you’re amazing.”

  Shit! What is happening?

  She had him cuddling, whispering warm and fuzzy compliments, and actually feeling…happy? What the fuck was next?

  “Are they still out?” she asked.

  “Um…what?” he questioned, looking down at her.

  “Are your canines still trying to extend?” Her blue eyes met his, and he wondered how she knew him so well in such a short amount of time.

  “No,” he said, looking back up at the ceiling. “They retracted after I came.”

  “Is that normal?”

  “No,” he said, honestly. “It’s never happened before.”

  “Next time I want to see.”

  “Leah…”

  He sighed and looked down to see her raise an eyebrow just like he’d done earlier. Damn! He had a feeling he’d never be able to deny her anything.

  “Okay.”

  She smiled at the small victory, and returned her head to his chest. A few minutes later, she was fast asleep.

  Jared couldn’t sleep.

  The lack of tension in his body scared him half to death.

  ***

  Leah opened her eyes and glanced at the small clock on the nightstand next to the bed. It was a little bit after eight in the morning, but the sun stayed hidden, and she wondered if rain had been predicted in the forecast.

  Jared’s strong arm still held her against his chest, and she relished in the idea of being protected by him. His strength and power fueled her desire as much as his quiet brooding.

  She never expected to want a man who never smiled, but she did. She wanted him with her whole heart. His serious demeanor didn’t scare her like it did her friends, and she was already starting to understand the difference between anger and his other emotions.

  While she knew she’d never seen him happy, he’d been content when they’d made love. He didn’t show it with a smile, but she’d been able to understand his feelings wordlessly.

  The same had been true when she’d surveyed his apartment.

  After sitting in his truck, she hadn’t expected anything elaborate from his home, and she’d been right. Except for the flat screen TV and game console, the few pieces of furniture were a mash-up of hand-me-downs and garage sale finds. The surprise was the condition of each piece.

  Though the fabric on the couch was worn, it wasn’t dirty or tattered, and the table tops were clean and unstained. He’d obviously taken care when choosing his pieces, and maintained them the same way he did his truck.

  His attention to detail impressed her, and she hadn’t been lying when she’d complimented him on his minimal expression.

  The living room had a couch, an end table, a coffee table and a TV stand; and the kitchen had a square table with a speckled top surrounded by three yellow chairs. The TV stand held the TV, game console and remotes, but she didn’t see any games or movies and she had a feel
ing he didn’t own any.

  The bedroom contained a bed and nightstand, and when she’d glanced in his open closet, she’d only seen a small dresser, clothes and shoes. There weren’t any boxes possibly stuffed with mementoes or other things from his past.

  Jared didn’t do fear, or worry, but she’d immediately understood her opinion of his home meant something, even though he didn’t come right out and admit it. It was another testament to the fact that she could read him, even when he tried to mask his emotions.

  She risked waking him to glance up at his handsome face, and when he didn’t stir, she took the time to study him up close.

  His features were strong, with sharp angles, but she’d never seen a more attractive man. He had a strong forehead, high cheek bones, and a nearly straight nose. In fact, considering how many fights he’d been in, his nose looked pretty damn good.

  She looked harder, searching for hidden scars or blemishes, but she couldn’t find a flaw anywhere on his face. Even the beginning of a five o’clock shadow couldn’t extinguish her attraction, and she’d never been a fan of facial hair.

  His steady breathing lifted his chest in a calm, steady rhythm, and she slowly outlined the bear claw tattoo that covered his heart. The art suited him, especially because he was a bear shifter, but she didn’t think that was the reason he’d chosen it.

  The bear’s paw seemed to rip through the skin, as if escaping from its human confines, and she didn’t miss the fact that it had been done in several shades of gray and black without an ounce of color.

  She returned her head to his chest and thought about his other tattoos. The only visible one was the tribal skull on his left forearm, but the other two followed the same theme. His left bicep had an image of the Grimm Reaper laughing while surrounded in flames, and his right showed off a more elegant skull and crossbones encircled by an oval frame.

  Both pieces of art were stunning, more so because they had been done using only black and shades of gray, but the implied evil of the images wasn’t lost on her. Jared considered himself evil, unworthy of color for some reason, and the art reflected those views.

  She knew he wasn’t perfect, but he was far from evil.

  A few fights didn’t equate to evil.

  Whatever it was, it was in the past, and she knew he’d never willingly tell her. Could she live with not knowing? Even if he decided to take their relationship to the next level? She didn’t have to think about it, because she already knew the answer. The connection they shared was strong and she believed they were meant to be together.

  If he let her, she could handle his past, and help him find a brighter future.

  A life with him was nice to think about, but she needed to remember the reality. He’d been honest with her the night before in the parking lot, and she had no right to hope for anything more. They wouldn’t mate, they wouldn’t date and she wasn’t even sure how long he would keep her around once he woke up.

  The possibility of him ending it after one night was strong, and she refused to let him go without fulfilling at least one of her other fantasies.

  She smoothed her hand over his chest and stomach, enjoying every dip, bump and curve of his eight-pack. She kissed him and then scooted down the bed, careful of the arm anchoring him to her. Once free, she traced his large fingers with her own, and then leaned forward and licked the tribal skull tattoo on his forearm.

  She moved lower and wrapped her hand around his semi-hard dick. It swelled in her hand and she looked up to see his dark eyes watching her. He didn’t say a word, and she lowered her head and swirled her tongue around the tip, before teasing him with a chaste kiss.

  “Leah…”

  He growled her name in warning, but she laughed and ignored him. She moved her hand up and down his length until she was satisfied it had grown fully erect, and then she held onto him with one hand, leaned forward and sucked him into her mouth.

  He was big and thick, but she easily moved down the hard flesh until her lips bummed into her hand. She released him slowly, swirling her tongue around the silken rod until she reached his slit, then she licked him and sucked him deep again.

  “Fuck, sweetheart, that feels so good.”

  Jared placed one hand on her head, but he didn’t try to take control. His trust fueled her desire, and when she felt his cock throb, she moved faster. Allowing a man to come in her mouth wasn’t something she normally did, but Jared was different.

  “I’m going to come, sweetheart,” he said, tugging on her hair.

  When she didn’t relent, he leaned back on the pillow, and moaned. Seconds later, warm bursts of his essence hit the back of her throat and she swallowed every drop.

  She crawled back into the crook of his arm and reclaimed her spot on his chest.

  “Thank you,” he said, kissing the top of her head. “When I can move again, it’s your turn.”

  A few minutes later, Jared kept his promise, and she knew the whole apartment building heard her screaming his name as she came all over his tongue.

  Chapter Four

  “Hey,” Jared said, opening the door for Leah.

  “Hey yourself,” she said.

  She rose up on her toes to give him a kiss hello, and then brushed past him to the kitchen.

  “Are you sure store-bought cookies are fine? They know I don’t cook right?”

  “Yes, they’re fine. No one cares whether or not you cook.”

  “Whoa, that’s a lot of meat.”

  “You’re going to lunch with four bear shifters, and one of them is pregnant,” he reminded her. “Not to mention, it’s my secret recipe. That pan is coming home empty.”

  “Are you going to tell me what’s in it?” she asked peering around the corner.

  “Nope,” he said honestly.

  “Aww, you’re no fun,” she said, laughing. “What time do we have to leave?”

  “About an hour.”

  “Okay, good.”

  She walked into the living room holding a pint of ice cream and spoon.

  “I really want some of this.”

  She kneeled on the couch next to him and then swung her leg over both of his, sitting on his lap and straddling his waist. His hands automatically moved to her ass and pulled her closer.

  She dug up a spoon of the strawberry flavored ice cream and slowly sucked it into her mouth.

  “Do I get a bite of that?” he asked.

  “Maybe,” she said, scooping out another spoonful of the cold treat, “if you spill the beans about your sauce. Tell me, sir, what makes the barbeque in your sauce so barbequey?”

  She laughed at her silly mock interview question, and closed her mouth around the new scoop. He placed his hand on the back of her head and pulled her toward him.

  “Hmm, sir?” he said, teasing back. “I could get used to that.”

  As he expected, she opened her mouth to protest and he covered her lips with his own. His tongue danced with hers and explored the cold strawberry heaven. Her individual flavor mixed with the ice cream made his dick swell, and he released her so they could share another spoonful.

  Leah stayed on his lap, sharing her ice cream with scoops and kisses, until the container was completely empty. The quiet moment was intimate and sexy, and he reveled in how well they got along.

  It had been a little over a week since he’d approached her table of friends, and they’d been together at least a little bit every day. Leah worked as a restaurant hostess from noon until nine in the evening, and after work she usually met up with her friends at the Wild Bear. True to his word, he didn’t approach her table or treat her any different; and true to her word, she didn’t expect him to. Every now and then they would catch the other staring, but she still laughed and danced with her friends, and he still remained brooding and elusive to everyone else.

  After his shift was over, they would meet at his apartment and spend the night together. Aside from enjoying each other’s bodies, nothing had changed…except everything. He and Leah di
dn’t only have sex. They talked—although not about the important stuff—and teased, and enjoyed each other’s company.

  The layer of tension that disappeared after their first night together never returned, and though it worried him sometimes, he didn’t dwell on it. No one treated him different, and the respect he’d earned over the years hadn’t diminished. His reputation wasn’t in jeopardy.

  Yet!

  He silenced the tiny voice of doubt, and watched Leah walk into the kitchen. Her jeans hugged her big, round ass like a second skin and he wanted to peel them off, fill his hands with the soft globes and take her from behind. Without a condom.

  Fuck!

  “Were you staring at my ass again?”

  He looked up to see her leaning against the wall separating the two rooms.

  “It’s a fantastic ass,” he said. “I can’t help it.”

  “I’ll let you touch it later,” she said, winking. “Now come in here and open your gift.”

  “You brought me something?”

  “Just a little something,” she said. “Actually, it’s something I thought we could share.”

  He walked into the kitchen and she pointed to a small shopping bag with the logo of the local bed and bath store.

  “It’s not wrapped,” she said. “I just saw it and thought of you.”

  He reached inside the bag and pulled out a cardboard carton holding two coffee mugs. One was blue with a line of white bears circling the base, and the other was white with blue bears.

  “Now, I know the bears aren’t brown, but I figured it was okay because some of them are blue. Plus, I like the blue mug best, so you can use the white one. Do you like them?”

  Coffee mugs. She’d bought him coffee mugs, and he didn’t think it was because she hated using his disposable foam cups. Although that might be part of it, he had a feeling it was much more. Another layer of tension seemed to slip away, and he almost smiled. The urge was both empowering and suffocating.

  What kind of wimp lost it over a couple of mugs? He took a deep breath and steeled his resolve. They weren’t serious, and the fact that she’d given him something didn’t mean anything. She was just a thoughtful person.