by Meg Ripley
We walked for over an hour, stopping to smell the desert flowers and watch the other wildlife. Of course, we’d also scared off plenty, but it was no matter. In bear form, we could cover a lot more ground than on foot, and we’d seen a good portion of the trail already.
The one particular sight I wanted to show her was pretty far down the trail, in a spot most people didn’t know about. It was an unlisted landmark, but the locals knew about it, and the Rangers were always the ones who showed people how to get there.
I spotted the rock I was looking for and knew we were close. Guiding her past several cliff faces and over boulders, I climbed around a section of rock and entered a small opening. The entrance of the small cave was just big enough for a bear to fit through.
Inside, the best feature of the cave stood out in plain sight. A thick beam of moonlight shone down. The “roof” of the cave was more of a huge hole. I’d heard people describe it as a “roofless cave,” and that description fit. The hole that let in moonlight also let in daylight and allowed a patch of vegetation to grow among the rocks, which felt soft under the thick pads of my paws.
She sat and then rolled in the plush mossy plants. I joined her, but I couldn’t take not talking to her anymore. I turned to lay on my stomach for modesty and shifted back, then leaned on my elbows and looked at her.
“Is this okay? I don’t want to make you uncomfortable, but I wanted to talk.”
She got into the same position beside me and shifted. It was the hardest thing in the world to not stare at her curvy behind. But then, as I smiled at her and tried to recall all I’d wanted to say, she looked back, raised an eyebrow, and grinned.
“Did you just check out my ass?” I asked, pretending to be appalled.
“Oh, yes,” she said, chuckling. “And I’m glad I did.” She looked again and grinned mischievously.
“That’s not fair,” I complained.
“Mine’s not covered, either.”
I laughed and took a peek.
“Well?” she asked.
“It’s about the nicest ass I’ve ever seen,” I admitted.
She blushed. “Thanks. This cave is amazing.”
“Not many people know about it.”
“I like that. It’s exclusive.” She looked around. “It’s totally safe here?”
I nodded. “Sometimes deer wander in to drink from the little pool, but that’s about it.”
“I meant from people. Will anyone…find us here?”
“Oh. They shouldn’t. And we would hear them before they hear us.”
“Good.” She rolled over on her back and stretched out.
I gulped and kept my eyes ahead.
“It’s okay,” she insisted. “You can look if you want.”
I shook my head. “Can’t do that.”
“Why not?”
I met her eyes, but even that was too much. My eyes jumped down and quickly took in the sight of her. I felt myself stiffen further, my cock pressing painfully into the hard ground.
“Because,” I growled and hung my head.
“You’re not…with someone, are you?” she asked, suddenly panicked.
“No! No, it’s nothing like that. I’m completely single. I just…”
“Elijah.”
I looked into her determined eyes. “Valentina.”
“I want you to kiss me.”
I had no more reason to resist, leaning over to allow my lips to meet with hers.
The kiss was a spark that lit my insides on fire. The desire and passion I’d felt for days burned hot and loud as I slid into place over her.
“Oh my god,” she breathed. “Wow.”
“What?”
“Look at you!”
“I was too busy looking at you.” I dropped my head back down to continue kissing her.
Having our first kiss while lying together naked wasn’t something I’d planned. It made things intense…fast. She reached one leg around mine and tightened, pulling herself closer.
My hard-on rubbed against her and I could tell she was already wet. She let out a soft moan as I kissed along her neck and took her nipple into my mouth, flicking it with my tongue. I caressed her other breast and she ran her hands down my back, stopping to grab my ass.
I had to think of something stupid, quick. Baseball. Why is it always baseball? I didn’t even watch sports much. But then I realized it was working. Whatever progress I’d made was gone. I pulled back from her for a moment, breathing hard.
“Tease,” she whispered.
I raised an eyebrow. “What do you want?” I whispered, taking her earlobe gently into my teeth.
“I want all of you.”
“Are you sure?”
“Are you saying you don’t want to?” She sounded almost hurt.
“Definitely not.” I laughed once. There was nothing I wanted more.
She reached down to stroke me and I had to stop kissing her to close my eyes and just enjoy the sensation for a moment. When she got me too close, I lowered myself, trailing my lips along her belly until I reached her upper thighs.
Guiding her legs apart, I flicked my tongue over her most sensitive spot. She moaned, pressing her hips up toward me as I slipped a finger inside and began to work her.
The sound of her moaning was driving me wild. I withdrew my finger, positioning myself at her opening, but I didn’t push in far. I half expected her to tell me to stop, that she’d made a mistake and we shouldn’t do this. Instead, she grabbed my ass and pulled me into her deeper as she cried out.
I moved slowly, slightly swiveling my hips as I thrust in deep and slid back out. She was so wet and tight that I had to take my time. I wanted it to last.
I pulled back to turn her over. With her stomach flat on the ground, I grabbed her hips and entered her again, feeling the softness of her ass rubbing against me. My hands reached around and found her breasts, rubbing her hard nipples between my fingers, giving her a little jolt of pleasure.
She turned onto her side so that I was between her legs. In that position, I could get even deeper. She felt so good, I couldn’t take things slow any longer; the pressure was building and becoming too much.
Pulling one of her legs against my chest, I picked up the pace. “Yes! Yes!” she moaned, and I felt her tighten around me, the sensation setting off a chain reaction that coursed throughout my entire body. I pounded into her harder and deeper until the final release came, and when we’d both gone still, I collapsed beside her.
“Incredible,” I said between breaths.
“It was,” she said in a near whisper.
She breathed hard, her breasts rising and falling under the moonlight. I stared at her naked body beside me. A true gift. And somehow, she felt just as strongly for me. I leaned forward and kissed her.
“I don’t think we could have waited. It might have killed us,” she said.
“Good point. I thought I was about to explode many times.”
She laughed. “I’m pretty sure I almost passed out, it felt so good.”
“Wow.” I chuckled. “That’s quite a compliment.”
“And well earned,” she said, kissing my nose. “I could just lie here forever.”
“It might be my favorite spot in all of Big Bend. Even more so now.”
“Just make sure you leave that bit off the tour.”
“Right.” I didn’t give tours, but most other Rangers did. “Or I could have it added as a landmark. ‘This is the Get-Lucky Cave, here for any couple who wants to do it under the stars.’”
“Yeah, that would be awful. Imagine if we came and someone else was here. Or if someone walked in on us.”
I kissed her lips softly. “This will be our special place.”
6
Valentina
I couldn’t tell how long we laid there, but it wasn’t long enough. I know it took a while for me to get cold, but once I did, there wasn’t much to be done about it. I was warm beside Elijah, but whatever part of me wasn’t touchin
g him was covered in goosebumps.
“Next time,” he said as he helped me to my feet, “we’ll plan a date with clothes on.”
“That doesn’t sound like much fun.” I nudged him, then wrapped my arms around his neck. He pulled me in close and kissed me.
We shifted back and ran together through the park and to the border, and I led him to the spot where I’d stashed my clothing and passport. I’d always remember the night I got my first stamp in my passport.
Shifting to my human form, I started to get dressed. “I expect a phone call tomorrow,” I teased, fastening the bra clasp behind my back. “None of that wait-three-days crap.”
“Couldn’t if I tried,” he promised once he’d also shifted. “When can I see you again?”
“I’m not busy tomorrow night.”
His face broke into a wide grin. “Then I’ll plan something for us to do.”
“Can’t wait,” I told him, planting a kiss on his cheek before he shifted back to his bear and headed off.
As I walked toward the pedestrian crossing through customs, I felt freer than I’d ever felt in my life. The pain of missing my father was far from my mind when I was with Elijah. He made everything better. Running with him in bear form made me feel so carefree, and every second we spent together felt like magic.
This is what love feels like. I’d never experienced anything like it before. I was still seeing everything through my haze of infatuation when I saw something that made my high come crashing down.
I had just reached Boquillas and spotted Javier standing by a massive boulder with a man who lived near my family’s ranch. The man wore a large backpack and Javier was giving him instructions. He was Javier’s latest mule, and the fear evident in his eyes was unmistakable.
I tried to pass them without notice, thinking I’d gather some of the others and rescue him once Javier was gone. But before I could cross under the metal gate announcing “Boquillas del Carmen,” he called out to me.
“Tina! Come and join us, muchacha.”
I hated when he made up little nicknames for me. But I couldn’t let him know he got to me.
I waved and acted like I saw only him. “Out for a night stroll?”
He narrowed his eyes at me. “You say one word to anyone, and you’re next.”
I nodded. I knew he wasn’t making idle threats. My dad had accidentally uncovered something about Javier, too, and that’s why he sent him on a mission. It seemed to me like anyone who pissed off Javier was made the mule until he died, got caught or didn’t return. There was no getting out of it. Once he targeted you, you were done. And I already feared I’d been targeted.
The mule ran off, and I tried to remember his direction. I kept walking, but Javier hurried to catch up to me.
“You have the stench of that bear all over you,” he spat. “Wouldn’t you much rather make it with a coyote?” He lifted his arm and put his pit near my face, unwittingly choking me with his rank coyote stench.
“I’m a bear, Javier. Of course I’m going to be with a bear.”
“There’s no rule about bears and coyotes not hooking up.”
I wanted to say something mean to shut him up, but pissing him off would have been dangerous. “I don’t think I could even handle you.” Bile rose in my throat as the words left my mouth.
“We could certainly find out.”
I swallowed hard and fear slid into my stomach. “Maybe some other time.”
“Tease,” he sneered and my own word from earlier in the night came back to haunt me. He stuck an arm in front of me and caught me, bringing me close to his sweat-drenched body. “I am warning you, Tina. Stay away from that Big Bend bear. I don’t want your family to have to pay for your mistake. ¿Comprende?”
I nodded. He sniffed my neck, then licked along my chin. I shivered in disgust.
“Oh, you like that?” He laughed. “I have much more for you. And maybe, you’ll get to see one day. Either by choice or by force—that’s up to you. Keep seeing this Big Bend bear, let him sniff all around my business, tell him things about me, and you’ll find out exactly what you can handle and what you can’t.”
Hot rage boiled inside me again. The joy of being with Elijah had masked it some, but Javier brought it crashing back. I wanted to do nothing more than destroy him. I could lie in wait and pounce on him. A bear would win a fight with a coyote; I’d make sure of it. But doing anything to him would bring the wrath of his gang down on my family. Los Aulladores would surely want retribution for Javier’s death.
No, I couldn’t do it on my own, but I would find a way. “You have nothing to worry about,” I assured him, making my decision.
“Good girl. That’s what I hoped you’d say.”
He tucked a strand of hair behind my ear and I fought the shiver. “I have to get home before my mother worries about me.”
“Sure you do.” He let go of me and stayed in place as I walked away. “Until next time.”
I didn’t allow myself to think of anything except my hatred for Javier. I made it home, chatted briefly with my mom and sisters, then went to my room. Once I was there, I shut the door and leaned my forehead against it.
I had no choice. I couldn’t keep seeing Elijah, as much as I wanted to; as much as I needed to. My father had died to protect my family. I couldn’t throw away his sacrifice by doing something so selfish. If I could just take down Los Aulladores, then I could be with Elijah again. As if my father’s death wasn’t enough motivation for me.
Elijah. I pictured his face, recalled his scent, felt his touch again on my skin. The tears came fast, choking my throat and flooding my eyes. I sobbed into my pillow, keeping as quiet as possible. I didn’t want to explain it to anyone. I didn’t want them to talk me out of either plan: to take out Javier and his gang, or to stay away from Elijah until I could. Both decisions would be difficult to carry out.
I couldn’t stand the pain of thinking I would never see Elijah again, but the pain of losing my father hurt worse. When I thought of trying to sneak around and see him anyway, I thought of what it would feel like to lose another member of my family. Who could I live without: my mother? My sisters or brother? No way. I couldn’t live without any one of them, and the hole my father left behind was evidence of that.
It would be the hardest thing I ever had to do, but I vowed to protect them.
7
Elijah
Alex was at my side as I rode through the park. He did a lot of the tracking and reporting for the park, keeping up on things like the decline of certain species or an invasive plant growing out of control. We rode together that day, checking on a few items of concern on his list.
“I can’t wait for you to meet her,” I said. “She’s just…” My gaze turned dreamy as I thought of Valentina. “I don’t even have words.”
Alex chuckled. “You’re as bad as Sawyer was. Maybe even worse.”
“I can’t help it. No, really. Last night, we were out and the pull was just too strong. Neither of us could have turned away from it.”
“I’m happy for you,” he said. “You haven’t really dated anyone since that last nightmare.”
“Sure’nuff.” I wouldn’t take a moment to think of the woman who cheated on me and broke my heart a few years back. “Sawyer felt this way, and he and Maddy are fated. I think Valentina is my mate.”
“So, either our clan is special, and I’m possibly next in line to find my mate,”Alex proposed, “or lightening has just struck twice and there’s no way I’ll be fated.”
“This is why you do the reports.” I chuckled. “Always thinking of the stats. I don’t know what to tell you.”
“No way of knowing. Time will tell.”
“Do you think Sawyer’s parents are fated, too?” I wondered.
“Pretty sure they are.”
“It’s such a great feeling. I can’t even tell you. It’s like what we felt through Sawyer, but it’s so much stronger firsthand.”
“I can imagine. Gu
ess I shouldn’t put away my dancing shoes just yet. Looks like another wedding might be in our future.”
My neck flushed warm. “Well, we’ve only had one date. But if this keeps up, it probably won’t take long. I can’t stand being away from her now, and I’ve only known her for two days.”
“When are you seeing her again?”
“Tonight. Maybe I’ll take her out to get a bite to eat.”
“Tons of good options in Marathon.”
“Yeah…” I thought of a few and wondered what she liked to eat. “So, what’s new with the data?”
“Well, there is something I think you should be aware of. There’s been an increase in drug activity at the border.”
I nodded. “What have you found out so far?”
“According to Wyatt, the law enforcement Rangers think there’s a pack of coyotes causing trouble.”
My mind went instantly to Javier. “Any names yet?”
“No. But we need to increase forces there. Wyatt has made some requests, and I think we can move resources around easily enough to accommodate what’s needed.”
“Sure. Do whatever needs to be done. I’ll approve it and I know Sawyer will, too.” Thinking of Javier made me think of my first meeting with Valentina and the way he’d talked to her. Was Javier using bears to help him? “Have we caught any non-coyotes?”
“There was a bear caught not long ago. But he wouldn’t speak up for anything.”
I narrowed my eyes. I’d have to talk with Valentina about that. If something was going on, I’d want us all to team up to bring it down. Oscar and I could put a plan together once we had more information.
“I gave Wyatt a name yesterday,” I informed him. “Javier. He’s a coyote who’d steal the nickels off a dead man’s eyes. I’ll see what Wyatt found out. Javier might be involved in this. And I think he might be getting the people of Boquillas involved somehow, too.”
Alex nodded. “Boquillas is a convenient location, so close to the border.”