Her Rogue Bear: A BBW Romance (Thorne Bears Book 1) Page 7

  “And I told you, I’m just doing a story on a bear. There is one running around. Maybe some people out here have seen it.”

  He shook his head. “They haven’t. Trust me, I woulda heard.”

  “How do you know?”

  “People can’t wait to go down to the Visitor’s Center and tell our Naturalists there about every bug, flower, and bird they see. You think they’d neglect to mention a bear?”

  He had a point. “Still, they should at least know that there’s one out there.”

  “Maybe there is, and maybe there isn’t. There’s been no evidence so far. No tracks, no kill sites. Just a couple beat up quads and some peoples’ opinions about what a bear looks like. It was probably just a big dog, anyway.”

  I ground my teeth. “It wasn’t. It was a bear. I saw it myself.”

  His eyebrows jumped. “Oh, did you, now? And where was that?”

  I swallowed hard. I was treading on dangerous ground. If I told Pruwitt where I really saw the bear, it might lead to more questions for Sean. But I had to say something or else he’d never give me the time of day. “Outside Kodiak Cliff, going towards Elderton,” I lied.

  “In the opposite direction from here, then? It seems your bear might be leaving town, anyway. I don’t think there’s much reason to worry the poor campers right now.”

  I scoffed, cursing myself. “Then why—”

  “Very good, Miss Brooks.” He stood, ready to showing me out. “I have other work to do. Now, I don’t want to find you in my campground asking questions and scaring off my campers again, hear?”

  I sighed, moving towards the door. He all but pushed me out and slammed the door behind me. Joan smiled sweetly, almost apologetically from her mini-desk.

  “That budget ready for next month or not?” Pruwitt snapped, all pretense of politeness gone while talking to a subordinate.

  Joan was quickly cowed. “Uh, yes, sir.”

  He slammed the door behind him.

  “What a charmer,” I mumbled, walking to the door. I stopped and quickly scribbled my cell phone number on a piece of paper before slipping it to Joan. “Just in case something happens,” I said, with a wink.

  She grinned and tucked it into the pocket of her horribly fitted, high-waisted, navy blue pants. Those park uniforms were not made for the modern woman.

  I went to the bar next, but no one was there except for Larry, reading behind the bar. It was seven o’clock, and there wasn’t a single customer in the joint. No music either. I sighed, thinking Sean really should have left Ryan in charge, instead of Larry. Annoyingly desperate to please was better than not giving a shit.

  “Where’s Sean?” I asked.

  Larry shrugged. “Said he’d be back tomorrow. Must’ve forgot to give me an itinerary.”

  “And Ryan? Why isn’t he around?”

  “Told him to piss off.”

  “What? You said that?”

  “Of course. Boss told me to.”

  I could not picture Sean saying that. Maybe in jest, but not seriously.

  “He was being a little pest. He wanted him to piss off, now he pissed off.” He lowered his voice, mumbling into his book. “Little prick thought he was taking my job. Ha!”

  Great, I thought, more good news for when Sean gets back. Whenever he does get back.

  After waiting to hear from Sean a few more hours, and calling half a dozen times to both the bar and his house, I decided to go over and see if he was home yet. Pulling up to the cabin, I saw his truck in the driveway. So, he was home then. As I was getting out of the car, he opened the door, shirtless. I stumbled over my words a minute, flustered at having such a perfect looking specimen in front of me. Goddammit, he is beautiful. “You’re back,” I said, stupidly.

  He simply nodded and stepped aside, letting me pass.

  “Where were you?” I asked.

  He flopped down on the couch with a beer. “I went to see someone. I had some questions.”

  “Did you get your answers?” I asked, sitting next to him.

  “Nothing that helps us with this situation.”

  He wasn’t making this easy. I took a deep breath. Not wanting to push my luck, I changed the subject. “I talked to Eileen Turner today.”

  Nothing.

  I cleared my throat and continued. “She’s sure that she saw a bear, but it was nowhere around here. She said he was wandering around looking really out of it. You know…for a bear. She couldn’t really tell me anything else, though. I was even less successful at the park. That guy Pruwitt is a real ass.”

  Sean nodded. “Yeah, he comes into the bar sometimes. At least he didn’t hit on you.”

  Finally, the man speaks! “Yeah, at least.” Encouraged, I decided to try asking him more about his trip. “Who was it? This someone you went to see, I mean.” Not an ex-girlfriend, not an ex-girlfriend.

  “My brother.”

  “Oh.” I nodded, stiffly, my lips pursed. First he doesn’t even tell me he’s back, and now it’s like pulling teeth to get him to talk to me. “And…how was that?”

  “Are you interviewing me now?” he snapped. He took a swig of beer and looked away.

  “Okay, fine.” I sniffed, throwing my purse over my shoulder. “I get that you’re stressed, and maybe I can’t do anything about it, but I’m only trying to help. So don’t talk to me like that. Chris used to all the time, and I’ve had enough of it.” Without another word or glance, I stood and turned on my heel, making my way to the door.

  I felt Sean’s hand around my arm as he pulled me back. His wide, strong arms closed around me, holding me close. “I’m sorry,” he whispered into my hair. “You’re right. Don’t go.”

  I softened against him. “I won’t,” I said softly.

  “Can we just…not talk for a bit?”

  “Of course.”

  I closed my eyes, feeling myself sink into his embrace. It felt so good to just be held, to breathe in the sweet, sultry smell of him. Pulling my hair away from my neck, he planted soft kisses along my neck. His lips moved along my shoulder and back up again.

  “Lacey.” It fell from his lips like a prayer as his hands moved down, behind my legs. With almost no effort, he lifted me off the ground, and my legs wrapped around his waist. I gasped, worried we were about to topple over. I was heavy enough that no one had even attempted to pick me up since I was a kid. He carried me through the house, to the bedroom, never even breaking a sweat.

  Gently, he lay me down on the bed. The flannel sheets under me were soft and warm and smelled deliciously like Sean. My hands passed over the roped, flexed muscles of his arms as he hovered over me. Damn, he is sexy. He worked slowly, stripping off each article of clothing with painstaking care until I was lying naked before him. I stretched back, loving the way his eyes roamed over my body, how he used his soft, tender touch in adoration instead of to grope like most men. Each time his fingers trailed over my skin, it sent shivers through me, moving to my core.

  “You’re perfect,” he whispered. He kissed me, gently at first, but growing more impassioned. I tried to pull him close, desperate to feel his body against mine, but he pushed me away. “Not yet. I’m not finished.”

  He moved down to my breasts. His tongue made wet, delicious circles around one nipple while he plucked at the other with his fingers. Everything inside me grew warm and tingly. Pulling away, he cupped his hands under my thighs and tugged me to the end of the bed, so that my legs hung off the side. One hand stayed at my nipple, fingers rolling and plucking, while the other went between my legs, spreading my sex. I quivered, as I felt myself open up for him.

  “Yes,” I begged, rolling my hips. I ached for it, to feel his tongue on my wet and needy mound. “Please.”

  With a short flick of his tongue, he began. I bit my lip, stifling a moan. Another. Now, longer, harder strokes from his tongue. My breath grew ragged as I dug my fingers into his hair. “Don’t stop,” I gasped, shaking. “Mmmmm.”

  His tongue moved over my swolle
n clit, driving me towards ecstasy. Plunging his fingers into my pussy, he pumped at my g-spot. A deep moan escaped my lips as my fingers clutched the bedsheets. My orgasm built hard and fast, moving through me like a freight train. I cried out, incapable of being quiet about it. “Yes! Yes!” I sucked in one last breath before everything went gloriously blank. All that mattered was the sensation that exploded from my center, radiating out into every part of me.

  “Hmmm, well done,” he whispered in my ear as I came down.

  “Well done, you,” I said, grinning.

  “Are you ready for Round Two?” He slipped a hand down along my belly, fingers slipping between my lips.

  I quivered, the area too sensitive from just coming. “Not yet.” I slipped out from underneath him to stand up. “Come here.” I held out my hand. He took it as he rose to his feet. “Now, it’s my turn.”

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN

  Lacey reached into my opened jeans, grinning like a fox. That confident, sexy look in her eyes promised this was going to be something to remember. A moan tumbled forth as she gripped my member and pulled me free. I pinched my eyes closed in anticipation as she lowered herself to her knees. I needed this. I needed to be close to her, to feel her. I threw myself into this moment, savoring every second, blocking out every other thought from my mind. A task which became infinitely easier as I felt her tongue lick the underside of my cock. I looked down to see her smirking up at me. Her hand gripped and stroked up, bringing forth a pearly bead of pre-cum. She leaned forward, and her lips passed over the swollen tip of my aching cock. I sucked in a breath, watching as my dick disappeared into her eager mouth. It felt amazing. She was amazing. My eyes rolled back. I braced myself on the wall behind, afraid my legs might crumble underneath. Her tongue, wet and warm, massaged the underside of my head as she sucked.

  It was unbelievably good. My hips bucked pushing farther into her mouth. Her nails dug into the muscled flesh of my ass, encouraging me. She seemed to know exactly what I wanted, what I needed at every turn. I buried my fingers in her hair. “Fuck, baby, that’s so good.” My breath turned heavy, my balls tightened. I pulled back. “Wait,” I moaned, cursing myself.

  She looked up at me, a grin dancing on her wet, reddened lips. “Why?” she teased.

  Pulling her to her feet, I moved to the bed. “I want to finish inside you.”

  “You were inside me.”

  We fell onto the bed. “Not nearly enough.”

  I lunged on top of her, pushing myself inside her wet and welcoming pussy. She enveloped me with warmth and silky softness. Her legs wrapped around my waist and flexed to pull me deeper inside. She arched her back, pressing her generous tits against me. It drove me wild. She was so responsive, so desperate for release. It was almost impossible to hold back. I thrust harder, deeper feeling my inner animal letting loose.

  “Yes! Don’t stop, Sean!”

  The sound of my name on her lips as she cried out like that was music to my ears. I felt her tense underneath me, screaming out her orgasm as she came, her pussy pulsing around me. I couldn’t hold it anymore. I released, letting myself come, turning myself over to the climax. For a moment, it was everything. Afterward, the world slowly came back into focus. The smell of her hair, the touch of her fingers trailing my back, her soft breathing.

  I love you, I thought but didn’t dare say out loud. I will protect you. I will keep you safe. It was a promise I made as I buried my face into the crook of her neck. Always.

  I don’t know how long we lay in bed for, Lacey’s body with all its soft, generous curves nestled in against me. I trailed her arms with my fingers, laughing as she giggled now and then when it started to tickle. It was late, but I was nowhere close to sleep. But no matter how perfect and peaceful this moment was, it couldn’t keep my thoughts at bay. Eventually, everything I’d been hiding from began creeping back in. Jason, my family, everything I left behind.

  “It was depressing.” I surprised myself by saying it out loud.

  She shifted in bed to face me, her brow furrowed. “What?”

  “Seeing my brother today. I was ready to feel…I don’t know, sad or lonely or whatever. But I didn’t expect this.”

  “What happened?”

  “They’re all gone. All except Jason. All my brothers, sisters, everyone. Scattered with the wind.”

  “Oh. That’s sad, but that happens to all families. I don’t know anyone who still lives with their brothers or sisters.”

  “It isn’t like that with bear shifters. We’re close. We need each other.”

  “You don’t, though, right?”

  “My father certainly thought so. Me too, I guess. I’m not so sure anymore.”

  “Why did you leave in the first place?”

  You’re the only one that can protect it, Sean. The only one. I couldn’t tell her that, though. It was already too much that she knew about me changing. If she knew about the amulet, things would be a lot more dangerous. It wasn’t just other people coming after it that I worried about. The amulet had great power, a kind of power that seduced and corrupted. And not just shifters were susceptible. I had to protect her from that too. I turned away. “It doesn’t matter now.”

  She pushed herself up to her elbows. “Look at me.” Cupping my cheek, she turned my face towards her. “It’s not too late you know? You could always go back. Make things right.” Her eyes turned sad. “If that’s where you want to be.”

  I shook my head, placing my hand over hers. “Here is where I want to be. With you.”

  She grinned. “Because I’m your mate?”

  “Well, not technically yet. You have to accept me as your mate first.”

  She didn’t shy away this time, which gave me hope. “If I’m going to take you as a…mate, then shouldn’t I see what you look like? You know, as a bear?”

  “You already saw me, remember?”

  She scoffed. “Only for like a second before I passed out!”

  “Exactly, you passed out the last time.”

  “I wasn’t ready then. I’m prepared now. I’ll be expecting it.”

  It wasn’t a good idea. Now with the rumor that there was a bear running around, getting spotted would be particularly dangerous. “I don’t think—”

  “Aw, come on. Just a quickie in the backyard.”

  Why does she have to make it sound so appealing? “Okay, fine.” The truth was, despite my protesting, I was excited to show her my other half. My bear was a part of me, and as important as it was that she accepted me, she had to accept my bear as well. How could we ever hope to be mates if she thought of half of me as a monster?

  I took her hand and led her out onto the back porch. I walked down onto the soft grass. She wore my sheet wrapped around her body, her eyes glinting in the moonlight. She’d never looked more beautiful, standing there, looking down at me from the porch. “You ready?” I asked her as much as myself.

  She nodded.

  “You don’t have to watch this part, you know? It’s not exactly pretty.”

  “I can handle it.”

  I inhaled slowly and let the change moved through me. The last time I changed had been too fast, but there hadn’t been any time for a slow, painless shift. Not when she was in danger. But this time I let it happen gently. My muscles grew heavy, thick. I felt my snout grown long. I smelled the world all over again through my bear’s nose. The trees, Lacey’s scent, the grass, the earth. I pitched forward onto my hands. My fangs and nails lengthened, sharpened. Fur sprouted on every inch of my body, covering me with warmth. Now, my breaths came in great huffs.

  I was almost too nervous to look at her. To see for the first time how she would see me. Would there be fear in her eyes? Disgust? Only one way to find out.

  Her eyes were wide. “Oh my God.” She didn’t run for the door, though. Cautiously, she stepped down, coming onto the grass. With every step, she seemed to grow braver. Her pale, soft hand stretched towards me and touched my fur. Her fingers grazing my fur was like the be
st massage in the world. A pleased rumble traveled from my chest as she scratched.

  “You’re…so soft!” she laughed. “You like that?”

  I gave an exaggerated nod, and she laughed again, scratching harder. Then, a phone rang from inside.

  “I should get that,” she said, slipping a hand under my jaw. “It might be something important.” She blew me a kiss before scampering back up the steps and inside the cabin.

  I changed back as she answered the phone. I followed her inside, shaking out my muscles as they re-aligned.

  Her back was turned to me, phone pressed to her ear. “What is it? What happened?” There was a worried edge to her voice. She gasped. Covering the speaker with her hand, she turned to face me. Her eyes were wide with panic. “A couple,” she said, “from the park. They’ve gone missing.” She turned back, returning to her conversation. “Yeah, I’m here.” She hurried to her bag and started riffling through it. “Just a second, I have to get a pen.”

  I left her in the living room to sort out the details as I went and got dressed as quickly as possible. By the time I finished, she was barreling into the room, snatching her clothes off the floor.

  “Who was that?” I asked.

  “Joan, the secretary for that asshole at the park.” She took a shaky breath as she pulled her pants on. “They don’t know how long the couple’s been missing. They were back-country camping, so they could have disappeared two days ago or this morning. They only noticed today, though. She said the campsite was totaled. The tent was shredded, like it’d been ransacked. The cops are there now investigating the site and sending men out looking for them. That fucking asshole. Pruwitt must be keeping this little development from the papers for as long as possible. Shithead’s probably more worried about losing out on camping registrations than actually protecting the public.” She stopped talking a moment and looked at me. “They think it might be—”