According to Scott, the people of Pine Springs didn’t know that the people on Bear Mountain were shifters. They just knew they were different, and that was enough for the Pine Springs residents to hate the Bear Mountain residents. But in Caroline’s opinion, that was their loss. The fact that Scott could turn into a bear didn’t make her fear him or hate him. It made her admire him. What an incredible gift he had! She considered herself lucky to be a part of his life.
As he placed his lips over hers and she melted into his kiss, she felt that she understood him better now than she had before. Suddenly, his fierce personality made a lot more sense. One thing she knew for certain: she would never have to worry about whether Scott would take care of her. She might not know much about bear shifters, but she knew enough about bears to know that they were fiercely loyal to their own. Scott would be there for her, no matter what. His protective instincts meant that she would never have to face harm as long as he was around. She would never have to worry about him disowning her.
She’d found the perfect man, and that man was a bear.
Caroline knew it would take a while for her to fully process all of this, but for now, she let herself relax and enjoy this moment. No one had ever kissed her the way that Scott did. Now that she knew who he truly was, and knew that she definitely wanted to stay and build a life here with him, that kiss felt even better than it had the first time. She hadn’t thought that was possible, but here she was, melting into a kiss that absolutely took her breath away.
As his tongue slipped into her mouth, she felt a familiar fire beginning to burn. This was what it meant to be truly loved. She’d gone her whole life wanting this, and now that she had it, she could hardly believe it was hers.
But it was hers. Scott was hers, in all his fearsome, grizzly glory. She ran her hands across his chest, allowing herself to marvel at his muscles and how broad his chest was. It all made sense now. Of course he was the tallest, strongest man she’d ever known. How could he not be, when that human skin of his hid a bear? It was almost hard for Caroline to believe that a man like Scott had fallen for a woman like her, but there was no doubt that he had fallen. He’d brought her to the mountain to show her his life, and to show her that he wanted her to be a part of it. And oh, did she ever want to be a part of it.
As he continued to kiss her, and his tongue danced with her tongue, she felt the last of her worries and reservations fading away. She understood now why Scott didn’t care that the people of Pine Springs didn’t like him. What did he really have to fear from them? He was a bear, and he was mighty. They could threaten him all they wanted to, but they could never really hurt him. They could never take away the strength he held within himself.
And now, he was using that strength to draw Caroline tighter into his arms. He reached for the hem of her shirt and began to pull it over the top of her head. He only broke the kiss for a moment as he pulled that shirt up and over her head. Then he quickly went to work on her bra, unclasping it and tearing it off so quickly that Caroline suspected he might have actually broken it.
She didn’t care. She didn’t care about anything right now except making love to Scott. She’d thought that they might make love when she came up here to the mountain with him, but she’d suspected that it would be a goodbye fling before she left Pine Springs.
Now, she saw how foolish she had been to think that she needed to leave the area to avoid causing trouble for Scott. He hadn’t been kidding when he said that he would follow her no matter where she went. Nothing could take a bear from his mate, and so, as Scott reached to unbutton her jeans and push them off, Caroline knew that this was no goodbye. This was only the beginning of the rest of their lives, and she gave herself over fully to the moment.
Scott finished tearing off her clothes, and then pulled her down into the soft grass with him. Caroline had never been the type who would have thought she’d be making love outside naked in the grass, but in that moment, it just felt right. This grass was unlike anything she’d ever felt before, and felt softer than any carpet she’d ever walked on. It was cool and fresh against her back as Scott laid her down and moved his head so that his lips were right over her breasts. He began to tease her nipples, flicking his tongue across the hard nubs, and then using his teeth to nibble at her.
The heat in Caroline’s body intensified with every move he made. She could feel a hot pressure growing in her core, and now, when she felt that heat unlike anything she’d ever known, she knew that it was the lifemate bond. As improbable as it seemed, she believed now that the lifemate bond was real, and that she and Scott were destined to be together. The very thought turned her on even more. She could feel herself growing wet between her legs as the juices of her desire seeped out, preparing her for everything Scott had to offer.
When he reached to slip his fingers between her legs, all she could do was arch her back and moan in delight. He knew just how to move those fingers so that he hit her most sensitive spots. The pressure continued to build within her, becoming an overwhelming, tingling fire.
“That’s it, baby,” Scott murmured. “Burn for me.”
Caroline was definitely burning. She opened her eyes and looked deeply into Scott’s dark brown eyes. The intensity of passion she saw there undid her. With a loud, ecstatic scream, she gave in and let her release wash over her. Volcanic tremors rocked her body, spreading heat across the entire radius of her being. Her inner walls clenched around Scott’s fingers, and she squeezed her eyes tightly shut to take in the sensations that filled her.
Scott continued to move his fingers within her, drawing out her release for a deliciously impossible length of time. She knew that she could search the world over, and she would never find another lover like him. He was perfect, and he somehow knew her perfectly even though they hadn’t known each other very long. Caroline had never felt so loved. She had never felt so wanted. And she had never felt the security and passion that came from a man being so determined to claim her. Scott wasn’t afraid to step up and fight for what was his, and he’d made it clear that Caroline was his.
When at last the tremors in her body had slowed, Scott pulled his fingers out. He grinned at her as he brought those dripping wet fingers up to his lips and stuck them into his mouth.
“Mmm, you taste good. I want more of that.”
Before Caroline had even realized what was happening, Scott was dipping his head to put his tongue directly between her legs. Almost instantly, she was on fire again. He pushed his tongue deep inside of her, lapping up her juices and moaning with pleasure as he did. Ordinarily, this would have made Caroline feel self-conscious. She would have worried that she didn’t taste good, or that he wasn’t enjoying it. But with Scott, there was no wondering whether he was enjoying it. His deep, continuous moans of pleasure made clear that he definitely liked this. As he continued to move his tongue within her and flick it insistently across her clit, she found herself once again at the very edge of release. She could hardly believe that she had reached that point again so soon, but there she was, with the heat of Scott’s tongue consuming her. She didn’t even try to fight it as she felt the waves of passion swelling within her a second time. She gave in, and let those waves wash over her. Her inner muscles started clenching once again, this time around Scott’s tongue.
He kept moving his tongue within her until those tremors subsided, which took a long time. His heat filled and overwhelmed her in the best possible way. When Scott finally pulled back, all Caroline could do was to lie in the grass, staring up at the blue sky. Scott lay beside her and placed his fingers through hers once again. In that moment, the world felt perfect. Caroline felt as though she could have died happy, knowing she had everything she ever wanted.
But Scott wasn’t done yet, and as he moved to put his lips on hers once again, Caroline realized that she hadn’t quite had everything she wanted. Not yet. She could feel the stiffness of his erection poking at her, and suddenly she was turned on all over again.
; She felt the juices of her desire once again welling up and spilling over between her legs, and the heat that had been fading began to rise. She loved the way that Scott’s tongue and fingers felt inside of her, but she already knew they were nothing compared to his rock-hard erection. As he moved to position that erection right over her entrance, she couldn’t keep herself from moaning once more. She would have thought it was impossible to come three times in a row, but suddenly, the impossible seemed possible. She couldn’t believe how much the tingling pressure was filling her once again.
Almost before she could comprehend the fact that Scott was bringing her to the edge of ecstasy again, he was lowering himself into her. Nothing in the world could compare to this feeling. His enormous dick filled her completely, making room for itself as it stretched against her inner walls. As Scott began to shift his weight back and forth, thrusting his hips toward and away from her body in a smooth rhythm, Caroline could feel his erection rubbing against her most sensitive cells. Fire flooded her being, and she felt her insides crackling with electricity.
Scott began to move faster, growling as the hunger and desire they both felt began to overwhelm them. Caroline arched her back and grasped at the grass beneath her, writhing in an effort to contain the hot ecstasy of the moment.
But it was not something that could be contained. Before she knew it, she was once again tumbling over the edge. She screamed out in pleasure as her muscles clenched around Scott—this time, around his dick. The heat now was more intense than anything she had experienced up to this point. If she didn’t know better, she would have thought she was quite literally being electrocuted, but the electricity she felt wasn’t harmful. Instead, it was the greatest, happiest feeling in the world.
Moments later, Scott joined her in finding his release. He stiffened as he thrust into her and came, his thick erection pulsing a stream of himself deep into her. The sensation sent a fresh wave of electric tremors across Caroline’s body, and she once again cried out in delight.
The tremors they both felt seemed to go on for an eternity, but at long last those tremors slowed and faded away. Scott pulled out of Caroline and lay beside her in the grass, holding her hand. Both of them lay there in silence for a long time, just enjoying each other. At long last, Scott finally spoke.
“So, are you staying on the mountain with me?”
Caroline looked over at him and grinned. “Now that I know what life is like here, I couldn’t dream of going anywhere else.”
Scott squeezed her hand. “I can’t tell you how happy it makes me to hear that. I’ve waited my whole life for this, and now that you’re here, I feel like my life is just beginning.”
“I know what you mean,” Caroline said. “I’d never heard of lifemates before I met you. I guess it’s a shifter concept?”
“I think so,” Scott said. “I’ve never heard anyone else talk about lifemates other than shifters.”
Caroline nodded. “Well, now that I know about it, I realize that my heart had been searching for you. Even though I didn’t know what lifemates were, my heart was craving its lifemate. And here you are.”
“Here I am,” Scott said with a smile, then leaned over to kiss her cheek.
For a few more minutes, they lay in silence, staring up at the sky which was slowly fading into the orange-pink of sunset.
Finally, Scott spoke once again. “You know, Bear Mountain does its own version of an end of summer fair. It’s a week from today, and I’m sure if you wanted to, you could sell jewelry at the fair. It would be a good way for you to meet more of the villagers.”
Caroline’s heart leapt at the thought, but then she shook her head. “But I don’t have any jewelry. I sold out of all of it today.”
“Can’t you make more? It doesn’t have to be as much as you had for the Pine Springs End of Summer Fair. The Bear Mountain fair is much smaller, and it’s okay if you sell out of everything. It would just be a nice way to get to know people.”
Caroline considered this. “I guess I could do that. I don’t know how much I’ll be able to make in a week, but I can do my best. It would be nice to start getting to know people.”
“It’s settled then,” Scott said, apparently determined not to give her an opportunity to change her mind now. “And once you sell out of your jewelry, which I know you’ll do quickly, you and I can just enjoy the fair together. There are usually lots of games and good food. It’s a great, relaxed time, and the stuff for sale isn’t even the most important part. The most important part is all of Bear Mountain coming together to reminisce over the great summer we’ve just shared.”
“That sounds perfect,” Caroline said.
And it did. She could already tell that Bear Mountain was an amazing community, and she felt lucky to be part of it. Every moment she could spend with her bear, and with the people of his mountain, was a moment she wanted to take advantage of. She looked over at Scott and smiled, admiring the way the afternoon sunlight highlighted his chiseled jaw line.
This had turned out to be the best summer of her life, but the best part was that she had a feeling things were only going to get better from here.
Chapter Fourteen
One week later, Caroline was standing in a booth that had been set up in the middle of Bear Mountain Village. Several other booths lined the street, selling everything from local honey—which she was sure was much better than the honey that had been sold in Pine Springs—to handmade leather shoes, to jewelry, to beautifully crocheted winter hats. There was also plenty of food: nuts, burgers, big pots of chili from the Bear Paw Diner, and an abundance of seasonal fruits and vegetables harvested from the villagers’ gardens.
This was a community coming together to share in all the good things life on the mountain had to offer. As Caroline sold the last necklace from her booth, she felt like she had to pinch herself to believe that she had it so good. Who would ever have thought when she left her old town, where she had experienced so much heartache, that she would find a place as magical as this?
“All done selling?” Scott asked as he approached her booth with Joel and Anna beside him.
Caroline grinned. “Yup. Another successful day of sales. I’m ready to check out the fair now.”
“Good. Because Poppy just brought out a selection of freshly baked pies. You’ve never tasted anything like them, I promise.”
Caroline grinned. “You don’t have to ask me twice. Let’s go.”
The four of them made their way to Poppy’s spread of pies, where half the villagers had already gathered. At Anna’s recommendation, Caroline chose a slice of the strawberry pie. When she took her first bite, she moaned in delight.
“Oh my god. That’s the best pie I’ve ever tasted.”
“Right?” Anna said. “I could eat this pie all day.”
“These days, you do,” Joel said with a laugh.
The rest of the group laughed as well. Anna was expecting her first child with Joel, and apparently strawberry pie had been one of her biggest cravings. Without thinking about it, Caroline let her eyes stray down to Anna’s belly. Anna wasn’t showing just yet, but she was probably getting close to the point where she would, since she was over three months pregnant at this point. According to Scott, you could tell that her belly was rounder than it used to be. But for someone like Caroline who hadn’t known Anna before, it was still hard to tell.
What Caroline could tell was that Anna was glowing. She had never seen a woman look quite so happy, and for at least the thousandth time that week, Caroline felt a rush of gratitude that she had Anna here on the mountain with her. Anna had taken her under her wing, and the two had become fast friends. Anna had a unique understanding of what it was like to be a human with a bear for a lifemate, and she’d given Caroline quite a few tips.
Caroline hoped that she herself would soon enough be expecting a cub with Scott. It would be so fun to have a child close in age to Anna’s, but Caroline had a feeling that no matter the age gap between their children
, their kids would end up being friends by reason of the sheer amount of time she was sure she’d be spending with Anna.
An unexpected jostling at Caroline’s left elbow snapped her out of her reverie. She looked up to see a tall man with dark hair scowling down at her.
“If you don’t mind, I’d like to get some pie,” the man said. “Apparently, a bear can’t even get pie in this town without running into humans these days.”
Caroline swallowed hard, and looked at Scott with questions in her eyes. Almost everyone on the mountain had been kind to her, but this guy clearly didn’t like the fact that she was here, and was human.
Scott wasted no time in letting the man know that he didn’t appreciate his attitude. “Back off, Evan. Bear Mountain is meant to be welcoming to all. Any human that can accept us as shifters, we should be able to accept as human. Life is better when we all embrace our differences instead of complaining about them.”
“That’s right,” Joel said with a scowl of his own. “I don’t know how many times we have to tell you that to get it through that thick head of yours.”
Evan glared at all of them. “One million more times, at least.”
Evan loaded half of a strawberry pie onto a plate and sauntered off, muttering under his breath. Scott rolled his eyes, then turned to kiss Caroline’s forehead.
“Don’t worry about him. He’s the grumpiest bear on this mountain, but he’s harmless. He likes to complain about everything, and you make an easy target. But, as you can see, he’s the exception not the rule. Everyone here loves you.”
Caroline relaxed a little and batted her eyelashes flirtatiously at Scott. “Everyone? Even you?”
“Especially me. I love you more than life itself, and I’m the luckiest damn bear on this mountain. To think I ever questioned whether destiny had brought me the right woman…You’re perfect for me, and you’re the most beautiful, amazing woman I’ve ever met. This summer was the start of something good—the start of something magnificent. My life will never be the same, and this mountain will never be the same. What a wild ride it’s been, and I can’t wait to see what’s next.”
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