by Honey Jans
"Keep it down, junior,” Cruz cautioned, looking toward the bedrooms. He didn't want Honey rudely awakened until he'd figured out what to say to her.
"Don't worry, she'll be asleep in my bed for a long spell. Surfing can wear you out if you're not used to it,” Lane said.
Tyson turned to say to Cruz. “I scanned the fishing shack."
"Anything turn up?"
"Nothing solid, just some muddled essences I found troubling. At any rate Lane is running some diagnostics on my specimens. And I made necessary repairs and brought back her things."
"They didn't steal her stuff?"
"I know, I was just as surprised. I drove back her car with her purse and laptop stowed in the trunk."
"I didn't see them out front."
"I hid them behind the barn. I figured you'd want them out of sight."
Cruz nodded, glad that his brother was so farsighted. He wouldn't rest easy until mating season was over. “Good. I should go wake Honey up..."
Lane shook his head. “I'd wait a while if I were you. She needs to sleep it off."
Tyson scowled at him. “What do you mean sleep it off? I thought you said she was just normally sleepy. You didn't put a spell on her?"
Lane flushed and looked away. “Well, she was getting ready to leave after we surfed. I had to do something."
"Shit,” Cruz and Tyson grumbled in unison.
"She said something about sleeping spells and I panicked,” Lane said.
Tyson growled. “She said something about that after my time with her after breakfast."
"I'm just as guilty, she did the same with me in bed this morning. When she wakes up, she's going to kick all our asses,” Cruz said with a growl. He turned and strode down the hall to Lane's bedroom. How in blazes was he going to sweet-talk her into staying and giving him another chance? Tension built as he opened the door and stepped into the room. Then he focused on the empty waterbed and his heart sank. Honey was gone. He didn't have to search the lodge to know it. He felt it deep inside. It felt like a punch in the gut. She didn't want an animal like him. She'd made that perfectly clear before but he'd been too in lust with her to listen. The animal side of him said let her go, but his newly discovered heart said, ‘hell no'. Besides, he had promises to keep. Damn it all, how was he supposed to protect her when she shut him out?
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Chapter 15
Honey walked through the shack, her can of mace in her hand in case the teenage vandals came back. Tyson had actually done a fine job replacing the broken window and zapping out what she was pretty sure were dirty words on the paneled walls. The place was actually feeling rather pristine which was creepy in itself. At least he'd been as good as his word, which was more than she could say for Cruz. She sighed feeling too demoralized to be scared. How could she have given her heart to Were-Bear? A lying, stinking overly macho Werebear. Having grown up around the species, one would think she would know better.
And then a sound behind her made her realize she wasn't alone. The world seemed to slip into slow motion as her heart pounded. Chills shot up her spine. Damn it, the vandals were back and she was through playing nice. Growling, she spun around aiming the can of mace toward the sound and pushed the plunger hitting Cruz straight in the eyes.
He coughed, waving the mist away and she gasped when it backwashed her way, making her eyes sting. “Here, give me this before you hurt someone,” he said, snatching the can out of her hand.
She glared at him, brushing the tears off her cheeks. The fact that he wasn't even crying spoke volumes. “How the hell did you get in here, Bear? My door was locked,” she demanded even though she knew the truth. He was a powerful Were and locks couldn't keep him out.
"A five year old could have jimmied that flimsy lock, but we both know I wouldn't have to bother with the mechanics,” he said with a rueful smile. “You shouldn't be here alone, Honey."
Was he really worried about her? The sincerity in his voice told her yes. And it was enough to temper her ire. “I'm fine. So you don't have to worry about babysitting me anymore."
Cruz winced. “Which one of my blockhead brothers said that?"
She noticed his discomfort but also that he didn't bother to deny it. “Does it really matter? I won't be a pawn in this power game you're playing. I'm sick and tired of warring Werebears and their lying ways."
"I didn't lie to you, Honey,” Cruz said, closing in on her.
"You didn't tell me the truth.” He hadn't actually lied but he'd deliberately misled her. It amounted to that same thing, didn't it? Part of her said no. Maybe he was trying to protect her. She wanted to fight him but her heart didn't. “I've got protection against the burglars,” she said, reaching for the gun she'd liberated from her granddad's gun safe. The approval she saw in his eyes made her feel better.
"Good,” he said, stepping closer. “But do you have protection against the fire between us? I know I don't."
Startled by his blunt words, she stood there, hesitating. It wasn't the most gallant come-on, but it sent a quiver of need through her. “No,” she said and could have bitten her tongue over the admission. His eyes glittered sultry fire as he closed the distance between them. Heat rushed through her, pooling in her sex and she knew then and there that she couldn't deny him.
"You want this?” he asked, standing still.
She nodded, aching for his touch. When he didn't move, she walked into his arms, nestling against his hard body. “More than you know.” Smoothing a hand over his rippling forearm, she peered up at him, seeing the banked passion smoldering in his eyes. Her being quivered with excitement as she came to a decision. She reached up on her tiptoes and kissed him. He went still for a moment and then kissed her back with a hunger that made her tremble. Her body melted as he pulled her to him. He kissed her like he wanted to consume her, like he couldn't get enough of her, and she felt the same.
He broke the kiss to murmur, “Are you sure it's me you want, Goldilocks?"
"Yes,” she said, nibbling his neck and hearing him growl in response. His animal passion thrilled her, making her tremble. Her hands roved over him as he picked her up and carried her into the bedroom. He was everything she wanted.
And then he was standing with her next to the bed. Her knees buckled when he nuzzled her neck while unbuttoning her top. His hot lips skimmed along her neck, his hand cupped her breast and she moaned, sagging against him. He peeled it off, stripped off the rest of her clothing, and laid her on the bed. Honey lay back, eyes shining as she watched him shed his clothes.
Then he came down on the bed on top of her. One of his big legs rested over hers, holding her still while his hand slicked down to toy with her pussy. His big fingers rubbed her labia, teasing her stiff clit, sending sparks of pleasure through her. She whimpered as he pressed her clit, her pussy flooding with moisture. He was slipping his fingers inside her, one, then two, stretching her. She touched his cock, feeling the surging heat of him, testing him. He groaned, rippling against her.
He gave her a stinging spank. “Stop that or I won't be able to wait."
"I don't want you to wait. I need you, Cruz.” She gasped as he played with her clit. “Oh yes, there."
He growled, teasing her.
"Yes,” she said, before kissing his neck, even more turned on by his reckless passion. He wanted her so badly, he was shaking; she could feel the tremors coursing through his body. She was on fire, hot for him, but he seemed to delight in making her wait. Playing with her breasts, he tasted her, sucking on her nipples, making her arch against his hungry mouth, seeking more. “Oh, please, please."
"Soon,” he said, moving onto the other peak, drawing hard on her nipple, licking it with his raspy tongue until she was quivering with pleasure. She now knew the meaning of domination; he was in charge. Two could play the teasing game. She reached down for his rampant cock. He jerked in her hand, growing to an enormous size, hot and steely. With a groan, he slipped from her grasp and
pressed a string of kisses down her body, stopping to lick her navel and then lower to her pussy. She cried out when his rough tongue licked her there, her head thrashing on the pillow. When he sucked on her swollen clit, she screamed—ripples of orgasm sweeping through her.
He made a place between her legs and surged into her. Honey sucked in a gasp, amazed by the sheer size of him. “You're so big."
"We're made for each other, Goldilocks, you're perfect for me."
He thrust inside her and she cried out in bliss. Then he started moving in and out of her, a rocking motion that made her crazy. Honey moaned, meeting his thrusts, seeing stars behind her closed eyes. Her pleasure built, waves of ripples increasing where they met. If anything, he seemed to be getting bigger inside her. She didn't understand it as she gasped, her body pulsing as their bodies joined. Then he reversed their positions so that she was sitting astride him.
"Ride me, Goldilocks,” he gritted out.
"Yes!” she cried, loving the sensation of being on top.
He grasped her hips controlling her movements as she went wild. He filled her deeper and harder as she rode him, quickening her pace. Pressure built inside her as her pussy milked him and then she screamed as orgasmic spasms overtook her, clamping down on him, making him growl. He stiffened, coming with a growl, emptying inside her. Just then she felt a searing pain above her right breast and she heard Cruz suck in an equally pained breath beneath her. She looked at the expression on his face worried that she'd hurt him. But he didn't look hurt he looked stunned as he stared at the location of her burn. Only then did she look down and take in the mating symbol now tattooed above her right breast. A Celtic blending of their two tribal marks. Then she glanced at the tandem mark on his chest and gasped in shock. She wobbled atop him and he reached out to steady her. “This wasn't supposed to happen.” Cruz's continued silence told her what she needed to know. He didn't want this.
"I didn't anticipate it, either,” Cruz said after a moment.
She didn't know what to make of his gruff admission but his troubled expression made her crumble inside. She tried to get off him only to have him hold her tight. “Damn it all, let me go."
"No. We need to talk."
"Not now,” she said, feeling hurt. “Now let me loose.” She wanted to call back the hurtful words and would have, but the next moment a bullet hit the headboard right over her head. In a move that took her breath away, Cruz rolled them both off the bed and hit the floor covering her with his body. “Oh my god, the housebreakers are back."
"Shit,” Cruz said softly.
Honey trembled under him as bullets exploded around them. As she gazed up at him her fears eased. She wasn't alone anymore. When Cruz's eyes glittered back at her she knew he cared even if he wouldn't admit it. “My cell is in my purse,” she whispered. “If I can get out there I can call for help."
"I've got something better,” Cruz said manifesting a PDA out of midair.
"What the heck is that?” she asked, hopefully gazing at the strange-looking device.
"The Bear signal,” he said with a wry twist of his lips.
"Just like Batman, huh?” she said wryly. “This must be one of Lane's inventions."
Cruz nodded. “It should bring help,” he said, pressing a fast kiss on her lips.
She gasped when she heard glass break in the living room. “They're coming in. We've got to go."
"Correction, you've got to vanish,” he said.
She didn't like his determined tone. “And let you take a bullet for me, I don't think so. We're in this together, mate."
"I can take care of myself and look at it this way, if I go our mating marks won't be binding,” he said in a soft tone.
He meant if he died. The comment really made her see red while scaring the shit out of her. Did he really think that she'd rather see him gone than be mated to him? “Don't even say anything like that."
"I'm an animal, Goldilocks, it's the way I think. Be good,” he said and stretched turning into a bear.
She knew he was doing it to make a point. “If you think that's going to make me run...” she started to say and then felt her world spin. A moment later she found herself standing in Cruz's lodge bedroom all alone. “Darn it all, he can't do this to me.” She sputtered and looked around the empty room.
"Lane, Tyson,” she called out but got no answer. Of course they were out helping him. While she stood here useless. And this was all her fault. If he got hurt, she'd never forgive herself. She knew then that she could never walk away from their binding, no matter what.
She looked around the room feeling his hot aura. It felt alive, like part of him. If only she could get to him. As she gazed at the spot in the corner where she'd touched down she saw a slight difference in the atmosphere. That was the portal. Could it work both ways? There was only one way to find out. She walked over to the spot, held her breath and concentrated hard. Nothing happened. Not so much as a molecule moved. Shit. Then she spotted one of Cruz's PDAs on the dresser. It had to be one of Lane's gadgets. He'd said they had supernatural powers. Could it beam her back?
The moment her hand closed over it she felt Cruz's vibes strongly, and his pain. Damn it, someone was hurting him. Concentrating anew, she felt the world spin and suddenly she was standing inside her grandsire's fishing shack. She took in the fight in a worried glance taking in the wounded Werebears lying crumpled on the floor. She let out a horrified gasp as one of them died flickering back and forth from Were to man, wondering how she was going to tell the good bears from the bad.
Cruz spun to look at her at that moment and growled. “I told you to stay away.” He let down his guard changing back to human.
"I don't listen very well,” she said, hurting for him when she saw his wounds. He had a wicked gash on his side oozing blood. She saw his eyes narrow, as he picked up his PDA, knew he was going to send her away, and glared back at him. “Don't you dare, or I won't bond with you,” she said, pulling the threat out of her ass. She was shocked when it worked and he hesitated. Did he really want to bond with her? Then she recognized a foul odor from the night the shack was broken into and cried out as she saw a motley Werebear sneak up on Cruz with a battle axe. “Look out behind you. It's the stinky bastard who broke in here the other night."
Cruz was already turning, parrying the bear's moves. “I smell him,” he said, making his opponent growl angrily.
She knew Cruz was pissing the other bear off to throw him off-balance, make him reckless. She picked up the mace she'd left on the coffee table and moved in. The white bear snarled, going for Cruz's throat raking him with a vicious swipe. Cruz feinted away and then moved in to bring him down with a blow. The dying Werebear flickered back and forth to a raggedly dressed Sundowner.
She sagged with relief as the battle suddenly ended around her. It was over. And then someone grabbed her from behind. A hand wrapped ruthlessly in her hair as a gun was thrust against her spine. “Move and I'll kill you, mutant bitch."
"Joelle!” Honey grumbled. “Damn, I should have smelled your perfume a mile away. Did you make the Sundowner stay extra stinky to cover your traces?"
The victorious Werebears having returned to human turned and looked their way. Honey saw tears in her grandsire's eyes as he looked at her, and fury in Lane and Tyson's. But the cold retribution she saw in Cruz's eyes almost made her feel sorry for her half-cousin.
"Joelle, girl, let Honey go,” Black Jack insisted, stomping their way.
"One more step, you old fart,” Joelle snapped, “and you'll be scraping your Honey child off the floor."
Honey realized at that moment just how crazy Joelle was. And how much she hated her, but why? She was no threat to her.
Black Jack glowered back at her but his eyes were worried. “So this is how you repay my kindnesses."
"Kindnesses, my ass. I'm your rightful heir, not this freak,” she said, tightening her hand on Honey's hair.
Honey winced but kept eye contact with Cruz. Whatever w
ent down, she wanted him to know that she loved him with all her heart. “Have you lost what's left of your mind, Joelle? I'm not Grandsire's heir. In fact I'm leaving the pack and you know it."
"Ask him,” Joelle spat.
Honey winced as her hand tightened in her hair. “Tell her it's not true, Grandsire. And we can all get back to reality.” The sad look on Black Jack's face told her shockingly that it was.
"You were the chosen one."
"Chosen one?” she asked startled. “I can't be. I'm only half-Were."
"See even the freak knows the truth,” Joelle crowed.
"Bite me,” Honey said under her breath.
"Don't tempt me, you stupid little commoner!” Joelle shrieked.
"Hurt my mate and you know I'll destroy you, Joelle,” Cruz said in a deceptively calm voice.
Honey shot a shocked glance his way as her heart warmed. He was claiming her publicly.
"Don't get your balls in an uproar, Cruz lover,” Joelle said. “Be a good little Bear and I might even let you fuck us both."
Honey burned at the insinuation. Cruz told her he'd never touched Joelle and she believed him. “Lay one skanky finger on my mate, cuz, and I'll scratch your crazy eyes out."
"Ooh, big talk from the freak,” Joelle mocked. “Now listen up, old man, you are going to abdicate and name me as your replacement..."
Honey literally saw red as Joelle dictated her terms and felt Cruz's aura reach hers. She glanced at Lane and Tyson and they nodded, latching on. Then the room began to glow making Joelle let out a gasp. “Police lights. What idiot called out the mundane police?"
Honey knew she'd never get a better opportunity. She shook off Joelle's grip, spun, and blasted her in the face with the mace. Joelle cried out, trying to cover her eyes. The gun fell out of her grip. Honey kicked it away and sent her angry vibes Joelle's way making her scream and drop to the floor.
"I told you she was the chosen one,” Grandsire said dryly before his guard took Joelle away.
Honey rushed into Cruz's arms, trembling in the aftermath. She wasn't so sure about being a chosen anything, she just knew that she was where she belonged. In Cruz's arms.