Bear Guards: A Paranormal Romance

by J. S. Striker

She could tell by the tone of his voice that his definition of crazy was different from hers, and her heart skipped a beat. She didn’t even know her heart could still skip a beat, or that her stomach could jolt, or that some invisible magnet would make her step even closer instead of fleeing to safety.

  “I’ll drive you crazy until I drive you away,” she declared.

  “So, is that it? Is that why you kissed me?”

  “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

  “Damn it. Did you kiss me because you wanted to? Or was it all just a game to you?”

  His nearness made her lose her breath, but she’d be damned if she backed off. She met his gaze until their eyes clashed, burning her. “Game. It was all a game.”

  His blue eyes darkened again, turning positively dangerous. She saw the decision shift in his eyes before he spoke.

  “Then let this be payback.”

  Then it was too late to back off as he yanked her towards him and captured her mouth in a shocking kiss.

  It was hard. It was punishing. She could taste the anger in him, could taste how he fought whatever was happening between them by trying to be harsh, maybe even cold. But there was nothing cold about this kiss, and she felt whatever resistance he had slowly melting off as he kissed her for real this time, the energy from him unleashed and jolting her with electricity.

  Mistake, her brain screamed.

  But her mouth opened to kiss him back, and her tongue tangled with his.

  And she knew that they had both lost this game that they were playing and that they had won it at the same time.

  Heat rose, and so did desire. They realized it together, even while they kept kissing each other and tasting what they could. She felt herself being guided down the hall and was dizzy until the very end when she heard the door click and realized he’d steered her right into his room, which was designed like every other room here—to minimize noise for sensitive hearing.

  He wasn’t going to allow any interruption to come, and that made her core throb.

  “Be quiet,” he murmured, breaking the kiss—but only to glide those lips and that tongue down her neck, where he stirred up too many emotions until she was trying to stifle the moan from her throat.

  Pleasure rose. She couldn’t fight it…she didn’t want to. Not to be beaten, she hurriedly removed his shirt and let her hands glide down his muscles, which were slick and bunched up under her touch. With a quiet growl, he ripped her shirt off, earning a gasp from her. Her gasp turned into a soft moan when he removed her bra and used his thumbs on her nipples, right before that mouth slid down to cover one and suck gently.

  Oh, my God.

  His lips were firm, and the way he licked her had her eyes rolling in bliss. She burned for him, shaking when he sucked harder.

  She wanted more. She couldn’t stand this, and the warring emotions had her yanking his head back up so she could kiss him again. Her back hit the wall with a thud, and his hand took hers and guided it down to his erection, which already formed a hard ridge against his pants.

  A huge ridge.

  Blind with need, she unbuttoned and unzipped his pants, then slid her hand inside his boxers.

  Angel froze, her eyes widening as comprehension dawned at the full length of him when she wrapped her fingers around his cock.

  Garrett groaned, the sound vibrating in her mouth. He broke the kiss and breathed harshly against her, then slid his mouth near her ear.

  “Tell me all the dirty things you want me to do to you.”

  Oh, my God.

  Her mind told her no, but it was washed away like dust. She found herself speaking, unable to stop it.

  “I want you inside me. I want you to…”

  “Yes?”

  “Fuck me.”

  Her panties were ripped, legs slid apart, and fingers plunged into her core. She bit back a scream and stroked him with a vengeance, feeling him grow even bigger.

  Dear God, he was hung.

  And she loved it.

  Shock slid through her at the need to slide down and take that cock in her mouth. But before she could act on it, he was pushing her hand aside and spreading her legs more, and the tip of his shaft was there, poised at her entrance.

  “Tell me if you don’t want this.”

  “Too late for that,” she whispered. She looked down at him again, mesmerized at the size and the look of his mushroom-shaped tip. Her body burned. “You’re too big.”

  “I’ll take it slowly,” he murmured. “But I’ll take you, Angel. Say my name.”

  She shook her head but stopped when she felt him slowly sliding in. She buried her head on his shoulder and bit it, trying to keep herself in control. But it snapped out of her when he stretched her beyond belief and slid in to the hilt, the corresponding pleasure so intense that she was almost blind with it.

  He moved. He moved with so much precision, driving inside her repeatedly until her body bounced and her mind lost all semblance of thinking. His mouth ravished hers, and his hands grabbed her ass as he pounded inside her pleasure point and made her lose her mind completely.

  It didn’t take long before she was poised on that edge. Her eyes met his, lost in it.

  “Garrett…”

  Angel gave up the resistance and surrendered herself body and soul into it, feeling him utter a curse, then her name, as she exploded for him. She called out his name, again. Over and over.

  Garrett cursed once more. Then he, too, followed her into that explosive dive.

  Chapter 9

  “Aren’t you going back to that bunkhouse?”

  The question came from Charles, who was patrolling the area with him and for once doing a good job at it, checking and rechecking all access points before moving on to the next, with Garrett in tow. Garrett observed his movements and tried to ignore his question, but in the end, he couldn’t find it in him to be rude to the obviously hardworking boy.

  Considering how Dan had been fired just recently due to the report about the breach on vampire territory, Garrett couldn’t alienate another rookie in the same month.

  “Just to check up from time to time. They’re doing great, so I don’t believe they need constant supervision anymore.”

  “Oh.”

  Charles’ answer sounded skeptical, which had Garrett looking in the boy’s direction. He thought over his next words before speaking. “I’m going to present the experience of my stay there to the council soon. Do you want to know what I think?”

  “What, sir?”

  “Vampires are just like us. Predators, but they need this sanctuary as much as we do.”

  Surprise flitted in Charles’ expression before he nodded. “If you say so, sir.”

  That was the last conversation they had about it, but it didn’t matter. It catapulted to the forefront of Garrett’s mind—particularly, the woman that he slept with last week and left before what was between them would happen again. Her reaction, naturally, was to treat him coldly after, pretty much ignoring him again and only speaking when it was completely necessary.

  It frustrated him how they were back to square one, at the same time how despite the coldness between them, he knew more about vampires and was starting to care for their well-being more than he wanted to admit. He patrolled their area at night, making sure the surroundings were safe, and that Dan and his friends didn’t come to attack again. He accompanied the three new vampires and tried to spend time with them, even when it wasn’t really part of his task. He finally got through to Daria, who switched from being nervous around him to actually consulting him regarding some important decisions whenever Angel wasn’t around.

  And now it was back to Angel, whom he couldn’t stop thinking about. Despite not really talking, he observed her, watching her work hard, sleep late and put her everything into protecting the vampires’ welfare without stepping on anyone’s toes.

  Perhaps a little check on her wouldn’t hurt as a police officer—at least, that was what he told himself as he
drove towards the bunkhouse after his shift. He found the three newbies and Daria about to head to the hospital for their stock of blood and was told Angel returned to her house to rest up. Garrett tracked her down and stood on her simple one-story house’s doorstep for a long time, unsure what to say.

  We need to talk.

  I want you.

  I can’t forget about it.

  I’m sorry.

  All of them sounded unacceptable. But the images flashed in his head, anyway, heating him up instantly. Desire rose, and the need to kiss her came again—to touch her skin, to taste and explore the parts of her he hadn’t yet.

  To make her moan in pleasure from it all.

  Damn it. She turned him inside out, and she didn’t even know it.

  And he was an ass for leaving her like that.

  Garrett knocked, deep in his thoughts. Silence came from the other end, her footsteps not even heard as she opened the door. He opened his mouth, torn between apologizing and just telling her right off that what was between them couldn’t be over, not yet.

  All the words disappeared when he saw her.

  Angel’s eyes were puffy, the gray in them duller than usual. It was so different from her usual smoky gaze that worry slid in right away, especially since she looked even paler than normal. Her usual brand of sassiness was gone, and the way she stared at him made him think that she was going to sway in her spot at any moment.

  “Angel…can I talk to you?”

  As if on cue, she sneezed. She mumbled a reluctant come in. Then she paled even further and ran, and Garrett stepped in just in time to catch her slamming the door to her bathroom, where he heard muffled heaving inside.

  He looked around and found the makings of a flu—tissues everywhere, a bowl of already cold soup and a stack of DVDs for what seemed to be a movie marathon. The domesticity of it surprised him, as he didn’t even know vampires got sick.

  Then he was moving to action right away.

  She took her time in the bathroom, which was just as well. By the time she was done, still looking weak but smelling of minty toothpaste, he already had hot water boiling, and the place cleaned up. He indicated the mug he placed on her coffee table.

  “Tea with honey and lemon. It will help.”

  She sat down and sipped it, closing her eyes and inhaling. He sat down beside her, watching her quietly until she turned her head to look at him.

  “What are you doing here?” she asked.

  “I wanted…I wanted to apologize,” he finally said. “I’ve been an ass.”

  He expected some snide comment, but her shoulders slumped instead. She sipped on her drink some more before sighing. “I started that game. It’s my fault to begin with.”

  “Still, the blame’s not all on you.”

  “Let’s just forget about it.” She forced a weak smile.

  “Can we?”

  She looked at him. He looked back at her, watching those dull eyes recall the exact moment he slid inside her. They sparked with heat, turned smoky, and an answering response ignited in him.

  Awareness floated. He cursed softly as realization sank in that they couldn’t run away from this no matter how they tried. It made his fingers itch, made him want to pull her towards his lap and have his way with her.

  Her hands fisted, and her breath hitched. He took that hand and pulled her slowly towards him, waiting for a protest.

  None came.

  The urge to kiss her was strong, but the dullness that returned to her eyes, despite the flash of desire he saw there, made him crane his neck up to place a kiss on her forehead instead. Her eyes widened. Unable to help himself, he gave her a kiss after—this time on the mouth, so brief but full of hunger to show her exactly how he felt about all this.

  Just as she started kissing him back, he broke the kiss and backed away.

  “I’ll tuck you in.”

  Her brows raised, and she stood up to protest. He ignored it and practically pulled her to her bedroom, carrying her halfway as her legs gave way and she sneezed again. She made excuses about why she shouldn’t be carried, but he ignored her and deposited her in bed, leaning forward.

  Her cheeks were flushed and she eyed him warily, then eyed the space beside her. “There’s…”

  “I’m not sleeping with you, Angel.”

  She glared. “Oh, really?”

  He nodded, a grin sliding out. “Really. Get well first.”

  There was a promise to that, one she heard clearly. Her eyes widened again, confusion sliding in with the leap of desire before she yawned.

  “Go away,” she muttered.

  “Okay.”

  She looked like she wanted to fight some more, but her body just wasn’t revved up for it. A few seconds later her eyes closed and she was fast asleep. He walked out of there as quietly as he could.

  Outside, clarity came—that he still wanted her, and that it didn’t matter anymore that she wasn’t his kind. The dislike for their kind was gone as he realized they all had the same thing going for them: dreams, goals, the want to call something home.

  His shoulders straightened.

  He would give her all the time she needed to recover now. He would take care of her.

  And he would wait it out.

  Chapter 10

  The little stick said the same thing on her third try, which made her lose all hope of this sickness going away anytime soon. Despair set in, followed by wonder as she let it slide over and over in her mind.

  Morning sickness didn’t go away that fast.

  Angel steamed in it. She worried over it, driving her mind crazy until only one reason made sense: that the vampire who bit her hadn’t been bitten himself, but had been born out of a vampire father and a human mother. They were rare, but they were there. Bitten ones normally weren’t affected no matter how impure the vampire who bit them was…but here she was, anyway—pregnant and growing out of her control.

  So, two things, really: it was a goddamn miracle.

  And she was going to be in so much shit once Orville found out.

  She stared at the double red line again. Then Angel threw the stick in the trash and got dressed, ignoring the way her stomach turned, determined to get over her “sickness” and start working again. She was in the bunkhouse in no time, where she found the three vampires already up.

  Garrett was with them.

  She stared at his back, watching the broad lines as he moved and gestured, wearing his police uniform that fit him like a glove and made her mouth water. He was speaking in a low voice to them, and she cocked her ears to listen.

  Don’t stifle the need for blood. That’s why it’s a need. Just let it come, but also respect that you don’t need to harm anyone to get it. That’s why Orville is here. That’s why we want this to be a home for you. Respect the people, and they will respect you. Always remember that.

  Her heart softened at the words. Something in her ached, but she forced it back and swallowed, putting a hand on her stomach before she drew it back. Then she stepped forward.

  The three vampires looked up simultaneously, their eyes lighting up at the sight of her. Her heart warmed as they blurred and suddenly stood surrounding her, asking where she’d been and how she was faring. She shot Garrett a look. He grinned in return, making her body react at how it transformed his face from rough to irresistibly sexy.

  Good Lord.

  The man was sin personified.

  Questions were asked. She fielded them and was careful while trying to seem casual, but relief came when they went out on their merry way. The fact that they still did everything together, even after all these weeks, had amusement sliding inside her as she watched them run off like teenagers. Then she was turning her attention towards Garrett, who stayed behind.

  Nerves sparked as he walked closer. She tried to calm herself down and search for an excuse to leave already, even with all the paperwork she left behind. But as if anticipating the movement, he blocked the way with his body, staring at he
r until she was forced to look up.

  Blue eyes met hers, quiet and probing.

  “Are you really okay now?” he asked.

  She nodded. “Yes. Of course. Thank you for tucking me in.” Her voice came out frosty as she recalled how he dangled that kiss to her and made her long for the next few days. She reminded herself she was a strong, capable vampire—no, a strong, capable woman. “I have to do some paperwork.”

  She slipped past him but stopped when a hand clamped on her wrist. Electricity traveled between them, and he dropped her hand like he was burned. He cleared his throat.

  “Good to know you’re okay,” he said before he walked away. Belatedly, she saw the bag he was holding and frowned.

  “You’re staying?”

  “Yeah. I figured I should just finish my time here.”

  “But the month is up next week. Then they’ll find apartments and jobs.”

  “And how long will that take?”

  Her frown deepened. “Depends. Two, three more weeks? You know how we screen thoroughly.”

  “Then I’ll be here. I’ll help.”

  Well, damn it.

  That meant she was going to be near him all over again.

  *****

  Being pregnant meant having a heartbeat inside her, and the tension of anyone finding out made the first few days back in the bunkhouse almost unbearable. But vampires rarely got sick and staying at her house and pretending to be sick would only complicate matters.

  To her surprise, the living thing inside her was a quiet one, and nobody was the wiser.

  It made her feel just a little bit safer, though a part of her was suspicious that it wasn't because of the baby's silence, but rather the presence of a certain man in the bunkhouse with her.

  He didn't exactly crowd her in, but those eyes...they followed her, a silent watch that had her skin tingling and her mind distracted. She knew he was worried, and the fact that he was made it hard for her to fight the urge to just go over and talk, to tell him all about her secret. But the idea of opening herself up raw scared her to death, so she kept her mouth shut and resisted Garrett's kind little actions, like putting tea on her desk or leaving food on the table when she was too busy to cook.