The Bear Claw Tales- Complete Series

by C. D. Gorri

  He knew what he was going to do as he eyed the three huge dogs that for all their scavenging ways didn’t seem the least bit underfed. He just hoped she’d understand.

  The animals were huge, scarred, and vicious if their snapping jaws and snarls were anything to go by. Marcus narrowed his eyes. Time to share some secrets.

  “Leya, I need to show you something.”

  “Now?”

  “Trust me.”

  “What do you mean? Why are you getting undressed?”

  He unsnapped his shorts an pushed them down along with his shirt and sneakers.

  “Just remember, I’ll never hurt you, got it?” She gulped, and he took that for a yes.

  He had no choice now anyway. A second after he uttered those words the first dog lunged to attack. And he was headed straight for Leya. Roar!

  Marcus focused on calling his Bear. That familiar pull of energy was welcome indeed as the sound of his mate’s scream did nothing to soothe his beast.

  Touch her and die! Mine!

  Chapter 9

  Oh, crap! What the-?

  Leya’s eyes bulged as she watched the man she’d been falling in love with, shed his clothing in the face of three huge mongrels. While she didn’t mind the view, the timing was kind of off.

  Surrounded by three snarling dogs was not exactly how she wanted to see her first fully naked man. Not that being amorous was what Marcus had in mind. Her gorgeous giant stood in front of her as if to protect her, butt-naked, as it were.

  Then something began to happen, something definitely out of her realm of knowledge. It was as if the air around Marcus’s body shimmered and warped. Under her watchful eyes, fur, thick, black-brown fur sprouted all over his body. His rapidly growing body. A Bear! Marcus is a Bear!

  The huge Black Bear in front of her roared loudly. His jaws created the deafening sound that seemed to scare off one of the dogs. The other two weren’t so bright.

  Heat and rage poured off the Marcus-bear and Leya backed up to the tent looking for something she could use as a weapon without taking her eyes off the scene in front of her. Sunblock? Seriously.

  The two remaining dogs seemed to take her movement as aggressive, and they attacked Marcus. Leya, clearly out of her mind with fear, tossed the can of spray suntan lotion at one of the dogs and yelled at him to go away as the other dog took a bite at his hind leg.

  Marcus really didn’t seem to like that. He swiped at the dog with his enormous paw and sent him flying. The second dog, having gotten up despite the sunblock, must have realized he was no match for the Bear and ran down the incline after his buddies.

  Marcus gave chase, but only for a few feet. He pawed the ground and bellowed in the direction the dogs ran, but nothing answered. He turned back to her. His familiar brown eyes roamed over her, and she realized he was making sure she was safe. Warmth pooled in her belly as she took a step forward, her hand raised.

  “Marcus?”

  His answering chuff made her giggle. A Bear? OMG. Marcus was a Bear! The enormity of the situation seemed out of her reach for the time being. She was full of awe and wonder.

  The kind she used to have when she read too many books as a child. Her early days were filled glued to the pages of books about magical beasts and daring adventures! She spent hours on end daydreaming about the day something wonderful would happen to her. Looks like it finally did.

  Marcus sat down on his furry rump as she tiptoed closer. He chuffed again, Bear lips opening and closing as if tasting the air. He allowed her to tentatively run her hands over his dense fur.

  He was so soft! Leya sighed as she felt his energy vibrating through his body. She pulled back meeting his eyes in wonder. Standing before her now was no longer a Bear, but a very naked, very aroused, Marcus.

  “Are you alright?” His voice was a deep grumble barely above a whisper. It sent shivers down her spine.

  “Am I alright? What about you? Oh, that mutt bit you!” She exclaimed noting the blood running from his calf.

  “Don’t worry about it, I heal fast.”

  “We need to clean that,” she said and turned to the tent. His voice still reached her as she looked for something to clean the wound with.

  “Did uh, did you really throw sunblock at one of them?”

  She nodded, feeling a little foolish now that the adrenaline was subsiding. Leya ignored her embarrassment and grabbed some wipes from the bag. She blotted the cut which was already miraculously knitting itself together.

  “Leya?” he knelt down too, halting her ministrations, “You sure you’re okay?”

  “Yeah but, um, what are you? I think you should tell me now, don’t you?”

  “Okay, well first, this is why I waited to, you know, with you, because, fuck, well as you just saw, I’m a Bear Shifter. My family, the Devlin Clan, are Shifters going back to forever I guess, but that’s not the most important thing I have to tell you.”

  “It’s not?”

  “No. My sweet, brave Leya, I, that is, it’s widely believed that Shifters have predestined mates. When we meet our fated mates, we know, there’s an instinct, a connection between them, mostly that doesn’t happen until the mates consummate their vows to one another. Sometimes the connection is so strong they mate bond without having, er, sex, but that’s the real way they sort of declare they are mates, oh fuck, I’m doing this all wrong-”

  “So, you are saying what? That we’re mates?”

  “Uh, yes?”

  “Oh. You don’t sound sure.”

  “I’m fucking sure,” he moved so quickly she couldn’t follow it. One second, he was a few feet away, the next, he was right in front of her.

  “You. Are. Mine. Leya, I know this is a lot to take in and that you have no reason to believe me, but I swear to God, I am crazy about you. I feel things for you that should be impossible-”

  “You mean like you, turning into a Bear?!”

  “No, well, yeah! I guess-”

  “So, you mean it should be impossible for you to feel anything for someone like me?”

  “God no! That’s not what I mean at all! Shit, I’m sorry. I mean that it’s impossible to expect you to feel anything for me. And now I probably fucked it all up cause you’re perfect and I’m this fucking animal!”

  “Okay, Marcus, I think we need to start from the beginning.”

  “Fine, just let me get my shorts on-”

  “No, you just sit right there and start talking.”

  Chapter 10

  He wanted to growl, to roar, to punch something, anything to get that horrified look off her face. One thing he never considered was possible rejection.

  Oh crap. The dirt under his bare ass was hot from the late afternoon sun and the pebbles sticking to his cheeks grated. It wasn’t that he minded sitting there in the buff, well, not exactly, but how was he supposed to answer questions when his cock was sitting at half-mast? As a Shifter, he was hardly bothered by nudity, but the smell of her so close was driving him fucking nuts.

  Not being able to touch her? Fucking torture. In those tiny cut-offs and that fitted tank top, she looked good enough to eat. Talk about good ideas! She sat back on her feet facing him and unconsciously thrust her perfect breasts forward. Drool.

  He could almost imagine what she was thinking behind those gorgeous blue eyes of hers. How could she not know how perfect she was? He had to wipe that confused frown off her face. For good.

  “Just to recap, you’re a Bear and you think I’m your mate?”

  “I know you’re my mate.”

  “And it’s possible we have some sort of close connection, but we haven’t bonded yet because we haven’t had sex.”

  Swallow.

  “Um, yes.”

  “So, if we have sex then we are what, like married or something?”

  “Yes. Sort of. We will be officially mated. It’s better than married to Shifters. Once I have claimed you, you can be damned sure, I will never let you go, and every other male around you will k
now you belong to me, but of course, a legal marriage would be prudent too.”

  “Okay, Captain Caveman, hold up a sec, are you saying you want to marry me?”

  Swallow again. Hard. Fuck.

  “Yes. Absolutely. I want you, Leya, only you. As my mate, as my wife, forever.”

  “Okay, then, there is only one way to see if this is true or not,” she stood up in front of him.

  Her skin seemed to glow against the rising moon as she took the band out of her hair and let the soft blonde waves fall down around her shoulders. She unbuttoned her shorts and Marcus hissed in a breath.

  “What are you doing?”

  “Unzip that sleeping bag, will you?”

  He moved mechanically following her orders, but his eyes never left her. She stepped out of her sneakers, stuffing her socks inside, and placed them inside the tent. His hands stilled on the sleeping bag as she stood just inside the opening.

  He tensed in his crouched position, eyes riveted to the movements of her hands as she unzipped her shorts and pushed them down her long legs. Marcus’ throat went dry. Before he could move, she had her tank top over her head, revealing lace-covered mounds of flesh to his starving eyes.

  “What are you doing?”

  “I’m taking my clothes off, Marcus.”

  “Why?”

  “I thought that was obvious,” she grinned, her hands moved to the front clasp of her demi-cup bra.

  Before she had the chance to unfasten it, he was there. His sweet, sexy mate was taking her clothes off. For him. Marcus shivered like an inexperienced cub, taking her in his arms as if she was something delicate and precious. She is.

  “Are you sure you want to do this?” he asked. Part of him was afraid she’d say yes, the other part of him wouldn’t move a muscle until she told him to. Her big, blue eyes looked up at him, trust and something else, something warm and all-consuming glistened in their depths.

  “Yes,” she said, “Marcus, I’m sure,” her blue eyes roaming his face as she raised her hands and pulled on his head.

  “I won’t be able to stop,” Marcus’ voice was a low growl. Longing and need threatened to consume him. Never like this, he thought as he struggled to hold on to his Bear.

  “I don’t want you to stop. Please Marcus, no more waiting. I want you,” she went back to the bra, but his hands swallowed hers and gently moved them aside.

  “Let me, baby,” his voice echoed through his body. More Bear than man, he had to will his skin to stay put as he, oh-so-gently, peeled the lacy fabric from her glorious skin.

  Better than any Christmas or birthday present. Those were always too hastily unwrapped to be really appreciated. Yes, this was something to be savored. For his mate, he would not rush. He’d go slow. Even if it killed him.

  His blood thrummed in his veins, heart pounding as, inch by inch, he revealed her gorgeous form. Her skin was smooth and unblemished. She was suntanned from their day on the beach. A lovely shade of gold, like honey. Grrr. His Bear growled as he tested her softness beneath his searching hands.

  She arched her back in silent submission. Her eyes grew heavy-lidded with desire. The scent of her arousal made his mouth water. He couldn’t wait any longer. Marcus bent his head.

  He took one plump nipple in his mouth while pinching the other with his fingers as he tasted her. Sweet as honey. And mine. Roarrr. She shivered in his arms and moaned his name, her hands tugging his long hair, pressing him closer to her sweet flesh.

  She tasted so fucking good. He burned for her. Finally, he had her in his arms. Joy and possession welled up inside of him. His lips left her breast to find her mouth. Their kiss was deep and passionate. Tongues tangled, teeth nipped, and hands roamed. Honey and lavender, sweetness and spice. His Leya was all woman, more than a handful for the mighty Bear.

  He fucking loved it. She pressed herself against him, hips swaying as she moaned her delight in the feel of skin against skin. Her boldness and the innocence that lurked underneath made his dick swell and throb against her soft belly.

  Fuck. If she kept that up, he was gonna come all over her. His Bear rumbled as her sweet musk filled his nostrils. Mate.

  “Finally, my sweet Leya,” his lips found her neck and he nipped her none too gently.

  “Marcus,” she moaned, “I think I’m ready.”

  “For what, baby?”

  “To see what all the fuss was about.”

  His whole body seemed to vibrate at the depth of passion in her gaze. He lowered her onto the sleeping bag and loomed over her. He was determined to give her everything she wanted, but first, he needed to taste all of her.

  “And I’m gonna show you, baby, but the Bear wants a taste first.”

  Her eyes widened with questions, but he let his body do the talking. His hands traced the curve of her arm up to her bare shoulders, his mouth followed, dropping kisses along her sun-kissed skin that seemed to glow in the moonlight.

  Marcus forced himself to blink just to make sure she was real. She looked like an angel and smelled like heaven. Tupelo honey and lavender. Her scent filled his nostrils. He caught her flower petal soft lips with his, then took them between his teeth and nibbled delicately.

  His mate was a virgin, fresh and untouched. His. She clung to him sweetly with her mouth opening slowly for his tongue, answering his need with her own. She was ripe and ready for him.

  Her entire body seemed to vibrate beneath him. She moaned low in her throat, and if possible, he grew even harder at the raw sound. Mine.

  His open mouth pressed kisses down the crevice between her breasts. He’d be back later to properly indulge himself with the sweet mounds, but for now, he had other places to tease and taste. Marcus needed her hunger to match his own before he took her.

  His hands roamed over her luscious curves. Leya was a fucking goddess without her clothes. Big enough to fill even his hands and sweet as the honey his Bear craved.

  Her passion was a delightful surprise. She met him kiss for kiss, touch for touch. Never shying away from him. No, his mate dove right in, submitting to him, but not leaving him in charge. Her nails scratched at his back, lips and teeth nipped his skin, hands cupped his ass. She was eager and responsive. A hot-blooded siren in his hands.

  Marcus wanted to make everything so fucking perfect for her. She pulled on his hair, but he didn’t mind as he knelt between the open v of her legs and moved the naughty little piece of lace that barely covered her to one side.

  She bucked under his exploring fingers. He used his hands to part her lips, the cropped curls teased his skin and he groaned aloud when his tongue snaked out to steal a taste.

  Leya moaned in response. Her hips jerked as he lapped at her warm, throbbing center. Unsatisfied with his access, he tugged on the lacy panties she wore. The fabric tore right off her supple body with a sound that sent tremors through him.

  He pushed forward, causing her to spread her legs wider. Oh, I fucking like that. He lifted her left thigh and draped it over his shoulder digging his fingers into the soft flesh at her hips.

  Mine. Roarrr. He thrust his tongue into her tight hole, growling when her muscles clenched. He could almost imaging how she would feel surrounding his dick. She was so hot and tight. It was going to be amazing.

  Fuck yeah. But she had to come first. Yes, Marcus needed that very much. He swirled his tongue around her quivering bundle of nerves. Long kisses, deep licks, and a few pulls on her tiny bud with his lips had her calling out his name.

  His Leya tried to buck him off, but he held her in place with his hands and stroked her from ass to clit with his long tongue. She tasted like ambrosia and he couldn’t get enough of her. He felt the second she reached her pinnacle, her pussy clenched and spasmed around his mouth. Her juices dripping, he lapped up every single drop. Fucking delicious.

  “That’s right, baby, feel it,” he growled against her, reveling in her pleasure. Pleasure he gave her. Grrr.

  Marcus watched as she slowly opened her eyes. Leya breath
ed with her mouth open, chest rising with each inhale, glorious breasts bouncing in the sway. So beautiful. He rose to his knees, ready to worship at the altar of his mate. Mine.

  “Leya?” He voiced her name like a question as he positioned his cock against her swollen lips. She was so wet for him, and so fucking hot. Still, the choice was hers.

  “Marcus!” She called out and opened her arms. Fingers clasping him and drawing him down to her sweat-slicked body.

  “Mate,” he growled and pressed inside.

  Marcus felt her barrier and was filled with a fierce sense of possession and pride. Untouched. Mine. Only mine.

  “Look at me, baby,” he said as he pushed his hips past her maidenhead. He claimed her in a roar that filled the tent.

  Her body froze in the midst of his deafening yell and he forced himself to still.

  “Marcus, I don’t think you fit-” she panicked and squirmed underneath him, but he did not move.

  “Relax, sweet, allow your body to adjust to me. Like a stone falling into water, you can take me, baby, you were made to,” he stared at her, lost in her blue gaze and felt the second she relaxed and accepted him into her.

  She was so tight. Perfect. Made for him. Her body softened and opened around him, then he began to move. He felt her enjoyment in her pleasure filled cries and the way she raked her nails across his back and shoulders as his body moved over hers.

  Fucking music to his ears. The pain only adding to his pleasure. Leya twined her arms around his neck and panted. Leya, sweet, sexy Leya. Love. Mine. Mate.

  Blood thundered in his ears; his Bear roared inside. Every thrust of his cock he seemed to touch more of her inside. Stroking her walls, heightening their pleasure. His cock pulsed in time with ever squeeze of her channel. Fuck, soon now.

  Their scents mingled, entwined, and a new one emerged. Theirs. Yes, that felt right. It was the scent of their mating. One she would always carry. As would he. Marking them both as taken, mated forever. Marcus groaned as he thrust deep inside her quivering warmth.

  She pulled him down for a soul scorching kiss that made him tremble. He needed her to come one more time before he could reach his pleasure. Marcus grabbed her legs, and she followed his lead, locking them around his waist. He slipped even deeper inside of her. Oh fuck. Gonna come. No, not without her. No fucking way.