Lost Bear Page 4

  She freed her hands from his grasp and slid them over his chest, outlining every muscle. Everywhere her fingers traced branded him as hers. He inched her sweater up her waist and slowly pulled it over her head, revealing an emerald green lacy bra.

  “You are so beautiful,” he said. He left a trail of kisses down her neck, and slid his tongue along the fabric concealing both of her breasts. “I wonder if your panties match.”

  He kneeled in front of her and unfastened the button on her jeans, then slowly unzipped the fabric. He groaned when the green lace came into view.

  “I knew it,” he said, and kissed her stomach.

  She laced her fingers through his hair, whether to stop or encourage him he didn’t know, but she didn’t interfere when he pulled the jeans down her legs and kissed her thighs. He helped her out of her pants, and stood back up.

  “You’re sexy as hell, baby doll,” he said and linked two fingers under one of her bra straps. “Did you buy this today?”

  “Yes,” she said, breathless.

  “It’s perfect,” he said, pulling the strap off her shoulder, “and so are you.” He pulled the other strap off and kissed her soft, creamy white skin, and turned her away from him. He gathered up all her hair, draped it over one shoulder, and kissed the other as he unclasped her bra. She trembled when the loose material slid down her arms and landed on the floor in front of her, and a sense of satisfaction filled him.

  “You don’t have to say those things,” she said.

  “Say what things?” he asked, kissing her neck again.

  “You don’t have to tell me I’m beautiful, or perfect, or whatever,” she whispered.

  “I know I don’t have to, but I want to,” he whispered back.

  She tensed and closed her eyes.

  “I’d rather you didn’t.”

  He stilled.

  “Why?”

  “I don’t need a lot of compliments and I don’t like being lied to.”

  He stepped to the side and raised her chin with his finger, forcing her to look at him.

  “Open your eyes.”

  She took a deep breath and obeyed his command.

  “You think I’m lying when I say you’re beautiful? You think I would sleep with you if I didn’t find you attractive?”

  “I know you find me attractive, but I’m not beautiful. I wasn’t trying to insult you; I just thought it would be easier if you knew you didn’t have to say those things.”

  She infuriated him.

  Smack!

  He did the only thing he could think of and gave her a good, hard swat on the ass.

  She opened her mouth, he assumed to protest, but no words escaped.

  “Let’s get something straight right now,” he said. “I never say anything I don’t mean, so when I tell you you’re beautiful, I mean it. You. Are. Beautiful. Get used to hearing it, baby doll, because I plan on reminding you of the fact every chance I get until you no longer question whether or not I’m telling you the truth.”

  She stared at him with her mouth slightly open, and her round green eyes filled with unshed tears. He knew it had been his words and not the spanking, that left her immobile, and again her vulnerability tugged at his heart.

  His shifter might be strong on the outside, but on the inside she needed him. Soon she would understand how much he desired her in every way.

  Smack!

  He spanked her again.

  “Do you understand?” he asked.

  “Yes,” she whispered.

  “Good.”

  He rubbed her ass to erase the sting and wrapped his other hand in her hair. He kissed her fiercely on the lips, claiming her the only way he knew how, and backed her up toward the bed.

  She kissed him back with the same intensity until her legs bumped the mattress and he pulled away.

  “Sit down,” he said, pressing on her shoulders.

  She lowered herself and watched with rapt attention as he removed his jeans and boxers. His hard, thick cock bounced against his abs, as if begging for her attention, and when he saw her pull her lower lip between her teeth, liquid escaped and beaded at the tip.

  He instructed her to lie down, and kneeled in front of her, gathering her panties in his fists. He pulled the lacy green fabric off her hips, and slowly revealed his gift. He continued inching the silky material down her legs until he slid them off her shiny, red-painted toes.

  He placed one thigh on each shoulder and pulled her to the edge of the bed, keeping her hips in place with his hands. She sat up on her forearms and watched as he dove in between her legs.

  He buried his face in her pussy and shoved his tongue into her warm, wet hole. She stiffened at first, but soon she laced her fingers through his hair and pulled him closer. He licked, kissed and sucked every fold and sensitive piece of flesh up to her clit and back, shoving his tongue in and out, and then he repeated the routine.

  Emma’s essence flowed like a never ending pool and he licked up every drop. Little mewling noises and gasps escaped her lips and he knew he’d never heard anything sexier than her satisfaction.

  She spread her legs wider, resting one foot on the bedpost, and he took the opportunity to shove two fingers into her warm channel, then sucked her clit in his mouth. He moved his fingers in and out and flicked her clit simultaneously with his tongue.

  He could feel her flesh contract around his fingers and seconds later, she tightened her grip in his hair and screamed his name. Pain shot through his heat, but pleasuring her was all that mattered. Liquid heat soaked his hand, and he continued to move it in and out until she loosened her grip and tried to catch her breath.

  He stood and reached into his nightstand for the nearly full box of condoms.

  After he covered himself, he patted her thigh.

  “Roll over, baby doll.”

  She complied and he spread her legs apart with his foot, and guided his cock into her pussy in one swift thrust.

  “Oh,” she gasped, and pushed back into him.

  He rubbed his hand down her back and pushed her hair off to one side.

  “Spread your arms out in front of you,” he said.

  She followed his directions and he held onto her hips and moved his cock in and out slowly, savoring the feel of her tight pussy. They fit together perfectly, as if she’d been made just for him, and he knew she wouldn’t feel so right if he wasn’t her mate.

  He felt a familiar tingling at the base of his spine and his cock throbbed when she tightened around him. Her hands fisted the blankets, and he pounded into her faster, holding her hips in a bruising grip, until they both came together with equally loud moans.

  He collapsed on top of her and rained little kisses on her back until he felt he could move, then he pulled out of her warmth and disposed of the condom in the restroom. He wet a washcloth with warm water and returned to find her in the same position he left her in.

  “Are you okay, baby doll?” he asked, and placed a kiss on her ass where he’d smacked her earlier.

  “I’m perfect,” she mumbled.

  “Yes, you are,” he agreed, grateful she didn’t fight him on the issue. “I’m going to make you more comfortable, and then we can go to sleep.”

  “Okay.”

  He gently wiped her thighs and the area between her legs, and then rinsed the cloth and did the same for himself. He tossed the wet rag into the laundry basket, and turned back the blankets and sheets on the bed.

  He tapped her ass gently, and instructed her to crawl up and rest her head on one of the pillows. She did what he said without question, and he turned off the light and then joined her. He wrapped one heavily muscled arm around her, anchoring her to him, and drifted off to sleep.

  ***

  Emma woke and glanced up at Dave. He was flat on his back, holding her in place with one arm, and she lay nearly on top of him. She’d used his chest as a pillow and one arm draped around his waist, while one leg wrapped around his thighs.

  She stretched her le
g and smiled when the movement caused her muscles to ache. It had been so long since she’d been filled by a man, and she’d never been satisfied so completely.

  Dave made her want things she shouldn’t want, and she knew when the time came to let him go, she’d have to shift back into a bear again to get away. Despite her plan, she’d never be able to see him every day, possibly with another woman.

  She pushed the troublesome thoughts away and focused on their night together.

  She’d purchased the matching bra and panty set during her shopping trip with Kate, and had worn it especially for him. She’d wanted him to see her in something sexy their first night together. When he’d claimed her beautiful and perfect, she’d believed him, and it made distancing herself even harder. He’d said and done the things she’d dreamed her mate would say, and his actions only made her want him more.

  Stop being so foolish and enjoy him while you can!

  She thought about how she would wake him if they had been mated, and carefully inched her way under the covers.

  His thick cock was already hard, and she desperately wanted to taste him. She closed her mouth around him and swirled her tongue around the tip. He stirred, but he didn’t wake, so she did it again, and then lowered her mouth on his shaft, sucking in more of him. She’d never be able to swallow all of him, so she closed one hand around the base, and used the other as leverage to hover over his muscular body.

  Her tongue licked and swirled around his dick as she released him, and then she repeated the act, taking him deeper. Her saliva eased the way, and she swallowed more, tightening the hand encircled around him.

  He groaned, and she moved faster, delighted to please him any way she could. His hands in her hair startled her, but she didn’t relent.

  “Fuck, that feels so good, baby doll,” he said.

  She responded by sucking him harder, tightening her lips around him. Her breasts bounced on his thighs, and her nipples hardened at the contact. His cock throbbed and her pussy tingled as if responding back to him.

  She wanted to lick up every bit of his release, and when the first few drops escaped, she licked him dry and sucked harder, pushing him toward completion.

  He squirmed beneath her, reaching for something, but she kept up her assault until he suddenly lifted her off him and flipped her onto her back.

  He covered her body with his and sucked one hard nipple into his mouth. He swirled his tongue around the stiff peak and scraped his teeth across her areola, biting the nipple gently. She cried out and dug her fingernails into his biceps. He switched sides and performed the same delicious attack on the other peak.

  When she thought she’d explode, he pulled away, leaving her exposed and empty in the cool morning air.

  “What—?” she raised her head and saw him rolling on a condom. “Oh,” she said and opened her legs wider.

  He entered her in one thrust, and she locked her ankles around his waist and scraped her nails down his back. He pounded into her relentlessly until she let go and came around his throbbing cock. Seconds later he slammed into her one final time and groaned out an expletive.

  She closed her eyes and relished in the feel of his body pushing hers into the mattress. She’d always been short, but somehow he also made her feel small, feminine and fragile. He didn’t move, keeping them joined, and she opened her eyes to find him staring down at her.

  “You are the best alarm clock I’ve ever owned,” he said. “Thank you.”

  She stiffened at the words, but relaxed when she realized he didn’t mean them literally.

  “You’re welcome,” she said.

  He lowered his body and captured her lips in a sensual kiss. It wasn’t the kiss of a man looking for sex, or a man marking his property. It was the kiss of a man in love, or at least how she’d always imagined one would feel like.

  Stop it! He doesn’t love you; he’s just a good kisser!

  He pulled away and severed their connection.

  “I’m going to take care of this and jump in the shower. Want to join me?”

  Yes!

  “No, you go ahead. I’m going to enjoy your bed for a few more minutes.”

  “You can stay as long as you like, baby doll.”

  She watched him walk into the bathroom and close the door, then she closed her eyes fell back asleep.

  An hour later, she woke to the smell of bacon wafting through the room. She got up, and stared at her clothes on the floor. She didn’t want to put them back on, so she looked in the bathroom for a bathrobe, and when she didn’t find one, she grabbed the sheet off the bed and wrapped it around herself.

  She entered the room tentatively, in case he wasn’t alone, and found him at the stove with a spatula in his hand. He wore a pair of new-looking jeans and a polo shirt, and both pieces of clothing looked as if they were tailored just for him. The muscles in his back and ass flexed as he worked, and she wanted to drop the sheet and offer herself up as lunch.

  Her stomach took that moment to betray her.

  He turned to face her, then walked over and planted a quick kiss on her lips.

  “Good morning, baby doll. Or should I say, good afternoon.”

  “Hi,” she said shyly. “Do you have coffee?”

  “Fresh brewed,” he said, handing her a cup. “I would have waited, but I’m starving and I figured you’d be hungry, too.”

  “I am, thank you.”

  He loaded up two plates and placed them on the table, then grabbed his cup of coffee and encouraged her to do the same. They sat down and ate together, mostly in silence at first. The dead air was comfortable, and she liked that he didn’t need to fill every quiet moment with mindless chatter. She’d spent a lot of time alone in the woods and she enjoyed her quiet time, probably more than she should.

  “What time is it?” she asked when she finished her meal.

  “Almost one.”

  “I need to go back to my hotel and get ready for tonight.”

  “Okay, I’ll drive you over when were done. What time do you want me to pick you up?”

  “What do you mean?” she asked.

  “For the barbeque? It only makes sense that we go together.”

  “Dave—”

  “I know, I know, just friends,” he made quotation marks with his hands. “Friends can go to a party together, though, you said so yourself.”

  She did say that. She’d also said they could hang out and do whatever they wanted including dinner, movies, and date like activities. She inwardly groaned. He’d been right, it did sound like they were dating, but she knew she couldn’t stop it now. He’d agreed to her rules, and she’d continue to follow them, even if they now seemed absurd.

  “How about five forty-five?”

  “Great.”

  They finished their food, cleaned up and he drove her back to the hotel.

  She’d see him again in less than four hours, and it seemed like four hours too long. In an effort to forget about him, she rented an action film, and painted her toe nails again.

  Unfortunately, the hero, and every other man in the movie, looked more like her mate than she cared to admit.

  Chapter Six

  “What the hell do you think you’re doing?” Gage seethed. “I trusted you.”

  Earlier in the evening, Dave picked up Emma and drove them to Gage’s house for the barbeque. When he knocked on her hotel room door, she’d greeted him with a quick kiss and then dragged him down the hallway, her excitement evident.

  She wore another new pair of jeans, and a stretchy, silver tank with sequins around the neck. She’d removed the red from her toenails and repainted them Emerald green. The shade was becoming his new favorite color.

  When they walked into Gage’s home together, Kate, Gage and Seth immediately got the wrong idea and congratulated them. As Emma was introduced to the rest of the clan, Seth’s wife Darcy, the Garrison twins and their mate Sam, and Aaron and Sara, each couple offered their celebratory words.

  The scene
was awkward, but Dave didn’t feel the need to correct his friends because he already thought of Emma as his. He still had to convince her of the fact, but he looked forward to the challenge. As far as he was concerned, their friends with benefits relationship had an expiration date.

  Emma, however, didn’t feel the same.

  “Excuse me, everyone,” she said after they had all been introduced. “It’s nice to meet you all, and I appreciate your approval of my relationship with Dave, but we’re not a couple.”

  “I’m sorry,” Kate said. “I saw the two of you holding hands, and I assumed you were together.”

  Emma had been holding his hand since he helped her out of his car, but upon hearing Kate’s words she dropped it as if she had been burned. He hid the sting of her rejection by seeking out a beer from the cooler.

  “We did arrive together, and we’ll leave together, too, but we’re friends with benefits, not boyfriend and girlfriend,” Emma explained.

  He stilled when everyone stared at him as if he were the one to blame.

  “Oh?” Gage asked, his anger apparent.

  “Yes,” she answered for him. “We’re attracted to one another, but we don’t want anything serious, so we’re just going to have some fun.”

  Even though Emma spoke, no one turned their glare away from him. Their scrutiny hurt, especially since he considered them friends. He thought they felt the same, but now he wasn’t so sure. Their lack of trust felt like a betrayal and words escaped him. The dead silence seemed to stretch for hours, when in reality it had been a little over a minute.

  “Well, I for one think we all need a little fun in our lives,” Kate said, squeezing Gage’s hand. “I’m starving. Let’s get those burgers on the grill.”

  The women all filed into the living room and Gage grabbed the meat and led the men outside. He put his beer on the counter in case things got ugly, and followed them. When the burgers were on the grill, Gage turned and interrogated him.

  “She’s our cousin for god sakes,” Seth chimed in.

  “Yeah, and I’m your friend,” Dave seethed back. “You say you trust me, but it sure doesn’t seem like it. All of you automatically blamed me as if you don’t know me at all.”