Bear-ly Human (Bear Claw Security Book 4)

by Terry Bolryder

  “Why did we even fight?” she asked.

  “Because you couldn’t let my past go,” he said, nipping her ear. “Because you had to know if I was suitable.”

  “No,” she said. “I just wanted to know why you were holding back from me, if you meant for us to be together.”

  “I didn’t know if we would be together,” he said.

  She took a quick intake of breath and started to pull back, but he put a hand on her back to steady her.

  “But I always knew you’d be it for me. The only one I’d love,” he said.

  She sighed. “That’s sad. That you’d just give up on that.”

  “I don’t know what would have happened if you hadn’t come. It took time for me to start living again, after my work in the Special Forces was done. I buried myself in work after we broke up. When it ended, I was doubly lost.”

  “What did you do before the military?” she asked.

  He frowned down at her. “I thought you weren’t going to pry this time.”

  She sighed. “I can’t help it. I want to know everything about you. But fine. Don’t tell me.”

  “Not much to tell,” he said, licking down her neck to her delicate collarbone. She shuddered, and her fragrance filled the air, delicious and sweet and floral. He wanted to bathe in it, be wrapped in it until the air was nothing but her. “There’s nothing like you, Hera,” he said. “No one in the world that is anything like you. That makes me feel the way you do.”

  “How so?” she gasped out as his hand played over her full breast, making her body quiver.

  “You’ve been slowly turning me inside out ever since you showed up at the office. Did you know I actually picked out the clothes myself? I wanted to impress you. Dammit, even as I’ve been trying to do the right thing and push you away, I can’t help it.” He nuzzled her neck. “I want to be close to you.”

  “Then be close to me,” she said. “Be close and never leave me.”

  Images of everything they’d shared flooded through him, leaving a bittersweet tinge. He didn’t know what to think anymore. He just knew right now, straddling him, looking down at him with those commanding blue eyes, her soft thighs encompassing him, she owned him completely.

  “What do you want from me?” he asked raggedly, pushing his hair back over his shoulder. “I don’t know what you want.”

  She ran a hand down his chest, feeling every ridge. “For now, I just want you. I just want to have what we had. I just want to feel you. We can work out the rest later.”

  “That’s what we thought the first time together, and we went down in flames,” he muttered.

  “Better flames than an ice storm,” she said, kissing him and pushing him back onto the bed at the same time. She undid the buttons of his shirt, baring his chest to her. He shrugged out of the shirt and felt the last of his resistance break into a thousand pieces.

  He’d been miserable without her. A part of him had been totally dead. It was waking up now.

  And maybe, just maybe, a part of him thought as he kissed the woman he loved, he could finally let someone accept who he was.

  If there was anyone it could happen with, it had to be her.

  But the thought was as far off as a star.

  He moved back fully onto the bed with her, let her straddle him as her silky negligee fell over one shoulder. He raised one hand and lifted it off of her, baring her gorgeous breasts. She arched back, and he felt the silk of her thighs and her panties as she came fully against him.

  This was madness, impulsive.

  It was also completely inevitable as far as he and Hera were concerned.

  He reached for her neck and pulled her down for another kiss, harder this time. Every time their lips pulled apart and then came back together, the passion grew, feelings surged. It was so much more powerful than he’d even imagined. It woke things in him that had been sleeping for years. It made him feel like a man again. Whole, complete. Loved.

  Was it really possible she could still love him, after everything that had happened?

  He stroked her cheek and studied her face as she arched back, enjoying the feel of being on top of him.

  This was his Hera, wild in the moonlight. She reached for the zipper of his pants and pulled it down. Then he helped her kick them off. She then got rid of his boxer briefs, leaving nothing between them.

  She looked down at him, owning him like the queen she was, and without much hesitation, she lifted herself as if to settle herself over him.

  As much as he wanted nothing more than to feel her against him, he put up a hand to stop her.

  He gasped and adjusted himself. “Wait,” he said. “Condom.”

  She blinked in surprise and then pulled one from her robe pocket. “Sorry, I almost forgot. When I’m with you, I just…” She handed it to him, eyes glowing with excitement.

  He ripped open the packet and slipped it on in one smooth motion and then slid inside her for the first time in what felt like forever. Yet when they came fully together, he had the swirling feeling it was only yesterday.

  It felt like home. Felt like he’d never wanted anything this much in his life. Felt the familiar hold of her body encompassing him. Felt like the universe was encapsulated inside her.

  He hated the barrier between them. He wanted to take her and mark her and spill inside her. But he wasn’t going to claim her as mate. As much as his rational thoughts were breaking, he couldn’t go that far.

  Even if at one point they did, that was a choice to be made with a lot of talking in broad daylight. Not in the heat of the moment in the dark. Not with his complicated history.

  “You feel amazing,” she said, eyes turned skyward in rapture. When she turned her gaze to him, she was glowing. He took in the gorgeous sight of her curvy figure on top of him. Her strong shoulders, her proud breasts, her curvy hips and thighs, her softened stomach with a beautiful little bellybutton he wanted to stick his tongue in.

  “Is this enough for you?” he asked, remembering how much foreplay they’d enjoyed before.

  She nodded rapidly, biting her lip. “I couldn’t wait. I had to feel this. Always my favorite part.”

  He loved everything they did together. Licking her everywhere, kissing her everywhere. He wanted to pin her down and enjoy every part of her. But he was too busy watching his queen in the moonlight.

  “Can I move?” she asked, biting her lip. “I can’t hold back anymore. Her short hair shimmered silver in the moonlight, and he locked the image in his mind.

  He put his hands on her soft waist as she started to move. He held her, taking her weight as she pulled up and then sank down, gasping in pleasure as she took him again.

  And again.

  She was so wet and warm and real. She melded together their past and their future in a way that made him breathless. He held on to her hips, enjoying the feel of her taking every ridge.

  When her eyes met his, it was like they’d never been apart. It was all perfect once again.

  He almost expected to wake up and realize this was all a dream. That would be cruel.

  But no, his eyes were fully open, and she was here with him, murmuring softly, tangling her hands in his hair as pleasure began to take over, as pressure built between them.

  His Hera, here, taking her pleasure from him as if it were all that mattered in the world. Maybe it was. Little sparks were going off as he tried to hold back sensations building inside him. He bit down, watching for each little hitch of her breath, each little wince, the soft pulsing of her wet heat that would mean she had gone.

  She was close to the edge; he could feel that now. He flipped her over onto her back, wanting to control this last part. Wanting to dive into her to push her over the threshold. Wanting to look down into her eyes and let her lie there and focus solely on feeling amazing.

  She looked at him in shock for a moment, but then her eyes glazed over as his hands entwined with hers and he dove into her again, enjoying that tight fit they had, pushing
her to the limit as he felt his own body go over.

  She screamed and tilted her head back, and he held on tight as he felt himself jerk and convulse. He trembled at the pleasure of it, at the totally overwhelmed feeling only she could give him, at the way his body was suddenly home joined with hers. He only wished there were nothing between them. He couldn’t think of his past, couldn’t think of reason, could only think of her beautiful face twisted in pleasure and the rocking sensation in his body, like powerful waves were pulling him under and he didn’t even want to fight.

  He rested against her, and her hands let go of his and wound around his back, her nails digging into him in a way that was pleasurable and painful all at once. Kind of like things had always been for them.

  But it was worth it. He knew that for sure as he held her again. Why had he even tried to fight this? Why had he tried to hold himself back?

  He pulled away and looked into her eyes, soft with pleasure, her lips parted and full, her face flushed with exertion.

  This woman was his.

  He curled around her and held her against his chest wordlessly. He didn’t know how he could ever let her go.

  Chapter 9

  The next morning, Hera woke before Hercules and eased carefully out of his bed, letting him sleep.

  He’d always been a heavy sleeper when they’d spent the night together.

  Well, that was only half true. It was mostly that he was tired in the mornings because he hadn’t gotten proper rest at night due to tossing and turning from nightmares.

  She always wondered what those nightmares were, but she usually just brushed his sweat-soaked hair back from his face and tucked herself against his side, hoping it would make him rest better.

  Hera pulled on her negligee and then went to the closet, opening it to find something to wear to get breakfast.

  Behind her, Hercules stirred on the bed, looking gorgeous in the bright morning sun just starting to peek over the treetops. He ran a hand through his long hair, looking like a barbarian who had somehow found his way into her bed.

  He gave her a tired grin, and, remembering everything they’d done last night, she felt tingles down to her toes.

  “How are you feeling?” he asked.

  “Good,” she said, picking up a robe from a nearby chair and pulling it around her. “You?”

  “Good,” he said, his voice relaxed and deep, sounding how it used to.

  “Breakfast?” she asked.

  “Hera… we need to talk.” He tented his hands in front of him on the sheets. His powerful arms and chest were bare, reminding her that under the sheets, he had nothing on…

  “I don’t see why,” she said, nervous about how that conversation would go. “I told you there were no expectations. I know we talked a little differently during sex, but then feelings were bound to come out. But I meant what I said. I’m going to try not to push you. I’m not going to pry. I’m just going to show you how good we can be together and let you draw your own conclusions.”

  He put his hand in his hair again and let out a long sigh. “I’m sorry it has to be so complicated. I’m complicated.”

  She walked forward and got on the bed, between his legs, leaning forward to kiss his forehead. He looked up at her curiously. “I like you just as you are. Complicated or not.” She got up and walked to the closet again. “But yes, you are complicated. I guess I’m fine with that.” She rifled through her shirts, hung carefully by color.

  She heard him come to stand behind her, looking over her shoulder. She could feel his incredible height, the warmth of his presence, his breath.

  “Nice organization,” he said.

  “Goodness, you’re huge,” she said, turning around to look at him. “I forgot how massive a male could be when I was away from you.”

  His arms curled around her, making her feel tiny and warm and safe when she really was much bigger than the average female. But not with Hercules.

  “I suppose I should sneak up to my room and get dressed before anyone sees us.” He rubbed the back of his neck. “Want to do breakfast in my room?”

  “Heck yes,” she said. “I’m not ready to let anyone intrude on us yet.”

  “Right,” he said. “I want to focus on getting you fed, not punching Bentley in the face.”

  She nodded. “All right. You get dressed and head up first. I’ll follow.”

  Hercules nodded, picking up his clothing off the ground and roughly pulling it on.

  When he was dressed, if a little disheveled, he walked over and gave her a kiss on the cheek, then squeezed her hand and disappeared through the door.

  Hopefully, it was early enough her guests, who had travelled the previous day, would be sleeping. She put on a soft-green sweater that fell to mid thigh over white leggings that made her legs look long and graceful and then fluffed her hair, washed her face, patted on light foundation and lip-gloss, and walked out to meet the morning.

  Everything looked different after a night with Hercules. The sun seemed brighter, the air seemed clearer, and there was a pleasant ache between her legs telling her with every step that he’d been there.

  She sighed as she made her way to the kitchen to see what she could pick up as far as breakfast. She saw Bentley, Adam, and Dean already up and eating with her parents, and she cursed quietly to herself.

  She snuck away from the scene before anyone could see her and then tiptoed swiftly down the hall. On the way, she saw their assistant chef, a thin man named Sorensen. She quickly told him to bring breakfast up to Hercules’s room, and he nodded knowingly. She’d grown up with most of the staff in this house, and they all were loyal to her.

  Then she snuck up to Hercules’s room, once again hoping no one would notice. She heard footsteps coming from the direction of the kitchen and hurried up, fairly running until she got to his door. She knocked, and when he opened the door, she rushed in and shut it behind her.

  She looked up at him with a grin and saw he’d somehow managed a quick shower and had a towel wrapped around his waist, his damp hair streaming over his shoulders.

  “Breakfast?” he asked playfully, pulling her up against him.

  “Ordered it,” she said. “I couldn’t grab any because the douches were up.”

  “Ouch, nice way to refer to your suitors.”

  “I’m engaged,” she teased, ignoring the bitterness of it being a joke. “I don’t need suitors.”

  He grinned and walked over to a closet where he’d hung up things from his suitcase. He pulled out a new polo, ripped the tags off it, and pulled it over his head. It was a dark red that looked amazing against his tan. It was extra long and covered his torso, but she wasn’t sure any polos were made for men with Hercules’s gigantic chest and arms.

  She giggled and felt herself flush just looking at him.

  “Some important intel I’m missing, Hera?”

  She shook her head, stifling more laughter, as he pulled on black slacks and zipped them up, sliding a belt through the loops. He narrowed his eyes on her playfully and walked forward, pretending to be threatening.

  “You sure?” he asked, flexing his arms as he walked forward, looking impossibly huge. Impossibly hot.

  “I’m sure,” she said, as she backed into the wall softly, already hot and wet, though he wasn’t even touching her.

  His intense brown gaze moved over her and his hands rested on the wall above her, his body caging her in.

  “Can’t take the heat, goddess?”

  She shook her head. “I can’t.” She put a hand out and lightly grazed one bulging pec, giggling again. “Goodness, I don’t think preppy clothing was made for you. But you look damn good in it.”

  He grinned and pushed off the wall, leaving her a quivering mass of lust just from being close to him that long. His grin deepened. “I would have worn clothing like this before if I knew it turned you on like this.”

  “Anything tight does,” she said. “I’d almost forgotten how a real man could look.”
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br />   “Don’t forget I’m not just a man,” he said, pulling his hair back. “I’m half god, right?” His tone was sardonic. He walked to his nightstand and put on his watch, then slid his phone in his pocket.

  “Did you check in with Bear Claw?” she asked.

  He nodded. “Yeah. They trust me, though. Funny, this isn’t what I pictured for my first big assignment.”

  “Oh yeah?” she asked, folding her arms.

  He sat on the edge of the bed and pulled her against him. “Yeah. It’s so much better.”

  She laughed and let him hold her. Someone knocked on the door.

  “Breakfast!”

  “I’ll get that,” he said, blocking her from view and going to the door. He was polite with whoever had shown up and then turned toward her, carrying two large trays. He set them on the desk by the TV and then dragged the whole thing over to her.

  “Hungry?” he asked.

  “Yes,” she said, feeling her stomach growl. He pushed a plate toward her and grabbed a glass of milk for himself, chugging it before he walked to the bathroom to work on his hair.

  “Must be a lot of work,” she said, watching. “I love mine short.”

  “I love yours short, too,” he said, winking. “Easy access.”

  She flushed at that. She also loved how easy it was for him to kiss her neck, her ears, that little place below her jaw…

  “Anyway, it’s not much work,” he said, running his fingers through it and pulling it into a ponytail.

  “Do you ever do a man bun?” she asked, thinking of men she’d seen on the internet.

  His eyebrows screwed up in confusion. “What?”

  She finished the piece of toast she was eating and then walked over to him, grabbing the ponytail he’d done and twisting it into a bun and securing it with another loop of the band he was using.

  “There,” she said, turning him toward the mirror.