Mountain Man's Proposal

by Lauren Wood

Before, she felt like she was in control, but tonight, with everything raging inside her, she was borderline wild. She clutched as his shirt desperate to not let him get away this time.

  He growled as she ripped at his buttons. She needed to feel his naked skin her fingers. She needed to rake her nails across him and mark him for good. She didn’t give a damn about pack law. Micah Gordon belonged to her.

  Micah released her just long enough to rip his shirt off. She felt his muscles rippled under her touch, and she was vaguely aware that he was tugging her own shirt off. Obligingly, she lifted her arms. As the cool air rushed to her skin, she shivered and pulled her closer She needed his heat.

  His hands raced over her skin, and he thumbed her nipples through the thin fabric of the bra. She inhaled sharply. Her body was already on the edge, and he threatened to push her over.

  Deftly, he unsnapped her bra and filled her palms with her heavy breasts. “So perfect,” he murmured. “I love everything about you.”

  Stacey flushed with pleasure. She was usually self-conscious about her body, but under his gaze, she was a goddess. “More,” she begged. “I need more.”

  “We have all night,” he said, but her hands grappled with his belt. “Easy, love.”

  “I can’t wait,” she whimpered. “I need you now.”

  He pushed her back, and she felt her body slam into the wall. He was on his knees and tugging at her pants. Soon, only the thin layer of black panties separated them. He smiled mischievously as he tugged at them. “Sexy,” he whispered.

  “It’ll be sexier if you take them off,” she gasped.

  Instead, he slid his finger under the material and stroked her skin to the cleft of her ass. Without warning, he grasped the material and tugged. She cried out with the lace scraped over her protruding nub. “Micah!”

  “It drives me crazy when you say my name,” he growled and ripped her panties down. She shivered, exposed to his wandering eye, but there was nothing but desire in them. He reached up and stroked a thumb across her slit. “So wet,” he murmured. “So responsive to my touch.”

  She closed her eyes. Every touch sent her spinning, but he still wouldn’t give her want she wanted. She opened her legs wider, and he only chuckled. “Is there something you need?” he asked silkily.

  “Yes,” she begged. “Touch me.”

  “Is that all you want?”

  She bent her head and stared at him. “Taste me. Make me come.”

  “It would be my pleasure,” he whispered, and suddenly, she felt a finger plunge inside her. She knocked her head back on the wall and closed her eyes. He ran his finger over that secret spot inside her, and her legs trembled. Even before his tongue touched her, she knew it wouldn’t take long.

  Over and over again, he swirled his tongue. The muscles in her body strained for release, but still, he backed off whenever she got close. Finally, she twisted her hands in his hair and nearly wept in frustration. And when he raked his teeth over her, she screamed as she convulsed.

  When it was over, she began to slide boneless to the floor, but he was already catching her. Swinging her up, he carried her to the bed.

  She heard the sound of his belt buckle and opened her eyes to stare at him. He stood, naked and erect, at the edge of his bed, and her breath caught. Never in her life had she ever seen anything so beautiful. “Mine,” he growled before covering her body with his.

  He leaned down and nipped at her nipple, and already she felt herself growing wet again. She lifted his head to kiss him, and as she felt his erection trail up her thighs, she reached down to grasp him. As she squeezed and pumped her hands, he hissed. “If you don’t stop, I won’t last,” he murmured.

  She smiled wickedly. “But I’ve already had my pleasure,” she cooed.

  “Once is not enough. I want to see you come over and over again,” he whispered as he licked the side of her neck. She thought of him pleasuring her again and again, and her legs reached up and circled him.

  “You like that idea,” he said with a smile as he nudged at her entrance.

  “Oh yes,” she breathed. “You have no idea how good you make me feel.”

  He moaned as he entered her. “I have somewhat of an idea. God, you’re so tight,” he hissed through is teeth.

  She opened her mouth in a silent scream as he filled her. “You’re so big,” she moaned. “More. Give me more.”

  He lifted his body, and she looked down to watch him slid even more into her. The sight was so erotic that she clenched her muscles around him, and he grunted. “Fuck.”

  She gripped his shoulder, dug her nails in, and suddenly, he slammed all the way into her. She cried out when he reached a place inside her that she didn’t even know existed.

  “Shit, did I hurt you?” he asked as he froze.

  “Don’t you dare stop,” she moaned. “Please, don’t.”

  Laughing hoarsely, he slid out and pumped his hips again. He was tentative at first, and finally, when she couldn’t take the torment anymore, she reached up and sank her teeth into his flesh.

  Roaring, he pulled her knees up and began to pound her. She gripped the sheet in an attempt to hold on, but the ride was more than she could bear. She didn’t know if a minute or an hour had passed, but suddenly, she felt her body flying. As the orgasm hit her, she threw her head back and screamed. Her body convulsed around him.

  “Stacey,” he cried out as he bucked, arched his back, and emptied himself inside her.

  Chapter Ten

  He must have passed out, because when he woke up, she was sleeping soundly next to him. Micah glanced at the clock. Several hours had passed, and it was nearing midnight.

  Stacey stirred next to him, and he smiled. She looked stunning in his bed, like she was meant to be here. Her hair trailed across his chest, and when he reached over the stroke her back, her eyes fluttered open.

  “Hi,” he whispered.

  She smiled. “Hi, back.” Her voice was shy, and he watched fascinated as she bit the bottom of her lip. Leaning up, he nipped at it.

  Her hands wandered down his body, and he hissed as they passed over his erection. Her mouth dropped open. “So soon?”

  “That’s what you do to me,” he said with a smile. “But we don’t have too. I know you must be tired.”

  She grinned wickedly, and he felt his heart skip a beat. “It would be a shame to waste it,” she whispered as she twisted her body. Reaching up, he cupped her lovely ass cheek as she slid her tongue down his body. The woman wasn’t messing around. When she reached his cock, she immediately slid her lips over it. He moaned loudly. Just like her pussy, her mouth was warm and wet, but the woman was doing amazing things with her tongue.

  Carefully, he pushed her hips over until she straddled his face. Wanting desperately to taste her again, he reached up and licked at her clit. She moaned, and he felt the vibration of her throat. Delighted, he reached up and did it again.

  Soon, she was writhing on top of him, her moans muffled by his cock. As he gently pushed up his hips to fuck her mouth, her throat constricted with every wave of pleasure he wrought from her. Finally, she released him as she shrieked through her orgasm.

  He was up in one powerful move, twisting her around. Kissing her hard, he pulled her hips down and plunged into her. “Ride me,” he demanded. “I want to see you pleasure yourself on me.”

  Her body was already trembling around him, but he gripped her hips to provide some help. As she thrust her hips towards him, her breasts bounced, and he twisted them gently. She clenched around him, and he groaned. Never in his life had anyone fit him quite like this.

  “Oh, God,” she panted. “Micah. You feel so good.”

  He was close, but he wasn’t going to allow himself the release until he saw her face contort with pleasure again.

  “Say my name when you come,” he demanded. “I want you to know who’s making you feel like this.”

  As if he were possessed by demons, he thrust his hips up harder. Reaching between
them, he slid her fingers into her wet folds until he found her clit. She cried out and ground himself on her, and finally, she thrust her head back. “Micah,” she screamed as her muscles clenched around him.

  That did it. He could take no more. Gripping her hips, he anchored her to him as he spilled himself into her for the second time that night.

  * * *

  They spent twenty-four hours in the bed. It wasn’t until he had to face de’Massier that he finally dressed and kissed her goodbye. At that point, she was so spent that she could barely move. He felt a streak of satisfaction knowing that he’d done that to her.

  As protocol dictated, he met the new vampire leader on neutral ground. The clearing in the forest had been blessed by both sides. To spill any blood there would be an offense punishable by death.

  “Mr. Gordon.” Micah nodded his head as the leader approached. To his surprise, de’Massier was young looking and attractive. Still, he had no notions that the man was as young as he looked. Although the vampires were not immortal, they did live an incredibly long time.

  “De’Massier,” Micah said. “Thank you for meeting me.”

  “It’s time I introduced myself. I hope to strengthen our alliance,” the vampire said carefully. “Although, I have a feeling this isn’t about that.”

  Micah shook his head. He didn’t want to offend the vampire, so he chose his words carefully. “I do hope that soon we can talk about our peace treaties, but no, that’s not what this is about. A few days ago, a human was attacked. There were traces of vampiric energy and magic on the grounds.”

  “I will admit that there are issues amongst my people. The last leader was careless, and there were more than a few vampires that toed the lines of the law. For that very reason, my people have been on lock down. I have personally seen to it that none have left my territory for the past two weeks. So not only would it be strange for a vampire to play with magic, but it’s simply not possible that they left.” He paused. “Because of these new restrictions, I can tell you that there were two trespasser on my land. I let them come and go because they did nothing violent, but I did recognize them as bears.”

  Micah eyed the vampire. To have two shifters on vampire territory was unthinkable. “What did they do?”

  “They carried two charms around their neck. They took a bit of dirt from my yard and performed what looked like a ritual.”

  “They stole vampire energy,” Micah breathed. “How do I know you’re not lying?”

  De’Massier crooked his finger forward. “I have it on tape.” Another vampire came forward with a laptop and pushed play. Every muscle in Micah’s body tensed as he watched the screen.

  He didn’t even bother to say goodbye. As soon as the moon lit the faces of the traitors, Micah roared with anger and took off running.

  Chapter Eleven

  Stacey shot up in bed as someone pounded on the door. Wildly, she looked around. This was Micah’s home. Everything smelled like him. Everything felt like him. Here, she was safe.

  With a sigh, she pushed the sheets off and grabbed some clothes. Expecting Lynette or one of Micah’s men, she threw open the door.

  Bridgette stood on the other side. Upon seeing Stacey, her face contorted in rage. “Bitch,” she screamed as she shoved her.

  Stacey stumbled back and hit a table. Her eyes widened with Bridgette drew a gun. “Let’s go,” she said in a calmer voice.

  “Easy,” Stacey said in a soothing voice. “I know we need to talk, but we can do that without the gun.”

  “Get the fuck up off the floor, and let’s go,” Bridgette snarled.

  Stacey pushed herself off the floor. “If you shoot me here, everyone will know. You’ll never get away with it.”

  “That’s why I’m not going to shoot you here.” Bridgette smiled coldly.

  “Then why would I go with you?”

  “Because Travis is with Micah’s mother. And all I have to do is call him, and he’ll slip her a deadly cocktail. My brother is oddly talented with potions like that. No one will suspect a thing.”

  Stacey’s heart caught in her throat. “Why would you kill Lynette?”

  “I don’t want to. Actually, that’s a lie. I do want too. That bitch hates me. But you can save her if you come with me. Only one person has to die tonight,” Bridgette said. She cocked the gun. “Let’s go.”

  Keeping her eye on the gun, Stacey slowly walked out the door. Bridgette gripped her arm tightly and shoved the gun into her back. “If we pass anyone, and you tell, I’ll shoot you and them. Got it?”

  Nodding shakily, she stumbled as Bridgette pushed her onto the elevator. Twenty floors down, she stumbled into the lobby.

  The waning moon was high in the sky, and there wasn’t a single soul outside. Her heart sank. The chances of someone coming to her rescue were getting slimmer and slimmer.

  “Why are you doing this?” Stacey said. The chill of the evening shook her bones, and she shivered.

  “I told you that Micah was mine. You didn’t listen.”

  “Okay, but most people eat a pint of ice cream and cry. They don’t resort to murder.”

  Bridgette laughed. “Oh, you poor thing. This isn’t about love. I don’t give a damn about Micah. Once we’re married, and I’m carrying his cub, I intend to kill him. This is about power. Travis deserves to be alpha. My family deserves to be on top. Keep walking,” she yelled.

  Soon, they were walking deep into the woods. “Why didn’t you just challenge Micah?” Stacey asked as she tried to buy herself some more time. If Micah could feel her pain, she prayed that he was feeling something now.

  “There hasn’t been a challenge of the alpha in centuries. If we start one now, the entire clan will challenge Travis. I can’t risk that.”

  “All of this just for your brother? That’s one helluva bond you got there,” Stacey said softly.

  Bridgette heard her. “Shut-up. I have always looked out for my brother, and I always will. He’s twice the man that Micah is.”

  Stacey shuddered. It was clear that Bridgette had long ago lost her battle with sanity. Suddenly, it dawned her on. “You attacked me.” She whirled around. “You stabbed me.”

  A wicked smile crossed Bridgett’s lips. “Micah started acting differently, so I followed him. Imagine my surprise when I found him lusting after you Taking you out for a date.” Her lips twisted in a snarl. “A human.”

  “Looks like your plan worked real well,” Stacey taunted. “If I turn, I have a shot at winning over the pack.”

  “You’re not turning. You’ll be dead before the next moon rises.” Stacey felt a little relief with Bridgette suddenly put the gun away. “This is far enough.” Reaching back under her coat, she pulled out a long blade.

  “Stabbing is better than shooting?” Stacey asked as she eyed the knife.

  “Please.” Bridgette rolled her eyes. “I could rip you apart with my bare hands. But I need to place the blame on someone else. Once I break your neck, all it’ll take is two tiny puncture wounds on your neck. And Micah will never suspect. Until it’s too late, of course.” Tossing the knife down, she launched herself at Stacey.

  Ready for the attack, Stacey twisted herself at the last minute. As blood and adrenaline pumped through her veins, everything felt different. Her senses were heightened. She could almost see Bridgette’s move before it even happened.

  Ther tumbled onto the ground. Bridgette straddled her and attempted to her hands around Stacey’s neck, but Stacey easily bucked her off. Pulling herself to her feet, Stacey gasped for breath and circled Bridgette.

  “Putting a kink in you plans?” she taunted her. “After all, what human can fend off a vampire attack? Micah’s going to see the struggle.”

  Bridgette growled and threw herself at Stacey. This time, she could see the brilliant flash of blue in her eyes as Bridgette partially shifted. This time, Stacey wasn’t fast enough. She hit the ground hard. Her head struck something rough, and she saw stars.

  The bear sh
ifter was already rolling her onto her stomach. She felt the woman wrap her arms around her head, and she knew if she didn’t act fast, she would lose. Summoning all her strength, she gripped the rock beneath and hurled it behind her. Bridgette screamed and released her.

  “Stacey!”

  She could head Micah’s panicked voice cut through the darkness. Suddenly, they were surrounded by shifters. Micah raced to her side, but the cock of a gun stopped him cold.

  Bridgette stood over them, manic in her eyes as she aimed the gun at Micah. For the first time that evening, Stacey felt true fear.

  “Bridgette, what are you doing?” Micah asked softly. “You can’t kill everyone here. Give it up.”

  “Travis should be alpha,” she growled.

  “Travis is in custody. He’s not going to be alpha of anything,” Micah said. Stacey felt a bit of relief. At least Lynette was safe.

  “No,” Bridgette wailed. “All this time. All this planning. How dare you!” she shrieked.

  Everything seemed to slow down. Before she even pulled the trigger, Stacey could see the bullet exit the chamber. Everything in her body shifted, and she threw herself at Micah. Pain lanced through her as the bullet entered her, but she was bigger and stronger. Bones rubbed bones as she fell to the ground, and it was no longer the bullet hurting her. Her entire body was growing and stretching. Fear gripped her as she struggled to control her body, and suddenly, she felt Micah holding her, whispering to her. As she listened to his voice, the panic eased, and she felt the bear release her.

  Her body returned to normal and everyone gaped. Blood soaked through her pants. “I got shot,” she said in a dazed voice.

  Micah reached down and ripped the hole in her pants even bigger. “It just grazed you,” he muttered, relief in his voice. “What the hell were you thinking?”

  “I couldn’t let you die. I love you,” she said. “So I guess I’m a bear now.”

  He laughed as he held her. “My love, you are so much more than that.” He lifted her in his arms and kissed her. Around her, she could hear Bridgette wailing and the men muttering among themselves. But as Micah walked her out of the woods, all she knew was him.