by Vivian Arend
A steady stream of curse words spilled from the lips of one of the fallen bears. Shaun pointed toward him. “You have a first aid center in town? That one needs more than a beer.”
Nadia motioned at the crowd, and a couple stepped forward to pull the bear away, his heels dragging on the ground. All the tension in the air simply dissipated, and understanding finally hit Gem. She turned to stare at the lynx in wonder.
“You’re an Omega—and you can control all the shifters.” Gem had never heard of pack hierarchy crossing shifter species boundaries before.
The blonde blinked at her. “And you’re black.”
Gem paused, taken aback for a moment. “What’s that—?”
“Getting described like that is rather offensive, isn’t it? Because that’s not all you are. Don’t define me by the obvious.”
Shaun had a supporting arm around Martin, and a disapproving frown on his face as they paced forward. “Cut her some slack, Nadia. She didn’t mean anything by it.”
A smile twisted the corner of Nadia’s mouth. “So the mighty Shaun is mated. I’m interested to hear how this turns out.”
“You know each other?” Gem eyed them suspiciously.
The blonde batted her eyelashes. “No worries, it was a long time ago. He’s all yours now. Really, I don’t poach.”
Gem jerked back, moving toward her mate instinctively.
Martin pushed off Shaun’s assistance. “Thanks for calming things down.”
“Part of the job, you know.” The blonde held up her hands like they were guns, blew smoke from the tips and pretended to holster them.
“Sheriff Nadia. Good one.”
She turned and walked away.
Martin sighed, then faced Shaun. Gem slipped in close, tucking herself against his torso. Her pounding heart matched the tempo of his.
The bear shifter held out his hand and Shaun shook it. “Thank you. There’s bad blood between that clan and mine. I appreciated your help.”
“No worries. Shit this bad happen around here often?”
The big shifter laughed, the sound turning into a groan as he wrapped an arm around his ribs. “The fights? Off and on all winter. Typical shifter stuff. But with territorial debates going on, tempers amongst the bears are running shorter than usual. The ballots close in a month or so. Until then, there’s a lot of maneuvering happening. Plus, the more unscrupulous clans are going after the undecided with intimidation, or buying their votes outright.”
“I’ll say it again, you bears have weird ways.” Shaun squeezed her shoulders, his touch reassuring. Most of the discussion washed over Gem. All she wanted to do was to haul Shaun aside and make sure he was okay.
It seemed to take forever to get back to their hotel room after they said their farewells to Martin, the big man rumbling down the street, small clusters of shifters moving away as he passed.
Gem stared into the mirror at Shaun as he removed his shirt. He groaned as the material slipped from his shoulders. She helped him tug the fabric free, noting the bruises rising on his torso.
“You’re a mess.” She pressed a kiss to his chest as a penance for her words.
He cupped her face, letting his gaze trickle down her body. Her new dress was dirty and ripped, the pretty fabric stained from a combination of liquids off the barroom floor and the dust of the street.
The expression in his eyes—she’d never felt more beautiful.
“I should be a mess. That was a hell of a lot of bears.” He leaned closer and touched his lips to hers before groaning again.
She rushed to turn on the shower and help finish stripping his clothes off. “You were very brave.”
“I was?” He shuddered as the water landed. Gem tore off her tattered dress and grabbed a facecloth, stepping into the shower with him. His eyes were closed, but he smiled as she touched the soaking cloth to his torso to clean away the blood and dust from the fight.
“You were. I was proud of you.”
“You were mad at me.”
Well, yes, that too. “Shaun, what were you doing with Nadia?”
He sighed, a weary sound full of confusion. “Same thing I was doing back in Dawson when you got mad at me for not explaining myself. I was looking for information, trying to make sure… Well, it’s northern politics and I didn’t think you’d be interested.”
She stroked the cloth over his right pectoral and higher to where his shoulder muscle bulged. With every touch he responded, a small moan or a twitch. Gem wiggled behind him and carried on, thinking hard. He had known she was upset in Dawson and didn’t say anything.
Was it really something she needed to get all the details about right now?
The steam built around them, thickening the air on every breath she took, and clouding the sight of his smooth flesh only inches away from her. Slicking her fingers over his skin made the connection between them burst upward, a longing for his touch overwhelming the need for answers.
Gem leaned her cheek against him, her hands resting on his hips. He threaded his fingers through hers, his thumbs rubbing gently back and forth.
One small lean brought their bodies into full contact, her breasts pressed to his back.
“Gem…”
She shushed him, gyrating an inch at a time, letting the moisture of the shower become the only barrier between their flesh. Shaun tilted his face upward and let the spray hit him fully in the face.
Gem snuck her palm forward, leaving his hip. His hand stayed behind for a moment, his fingers stroking her forearm, tightening into a firm clasp as she made contact with his groin. She continued until his erection filled her hand, the hot, heavy length pulsing as she closed her fingers and stroked.
The splash of the water against the tiles faded into the background as his moans filled her ears.
“Gem…”
The timbre of agony mixed with ecstasy in his voice made her smile. “Like this?”
He nodded, his hand covering hers and tightening. Increasing the length of her stroke, then shortening it. His fingers urged her on, forceful, then relaxing away as he rocked his hips, thrusting into her hand.
There were too many sensations to keep track of them all. Touching him made her achy inside, and the noises from his lips made her even hotter. Knowing she brought him pleasure after the pain he’d received—giving to him filled an enormous need.
This was another part of being mates. She took a deep breath through her nose, thrilling at the mixture of their scents. He squeezed her left hand where it rested on his hip, pressing harder into her right hand. He shuddered, and his shaft jerked, the heat of his seed splashing her fingers.
Shaun turned and half-collapsed against the shower wall, his head resting on the tiles as he pulled her into his arms. “When my brain comes back online I’m planning on making your world spin at least as hard as you just—holy fucking hell.”
He gasped for air, and Gem bit back the giggles. His swearing didn’t upset her this time. Neither did the fact he’d kept a secret from her. In fact, she was sure right now there wasn’t much that could upset her.
When he kissed her, his hands pulling back her hair and beginning a slow seduction of all her senses, she felt as if life was pretty much as perfect as it could get.
Then he slipped to his knees, and the moment got even better. Gem closed her eyes and let her mate love her.
Part Three
I wanted the gold, and I sought it,
I scrabbled and mucked like a slave.
Was it famine or scurvy—I fought it;
I hurled my youth into a grave.
I wanted the gold, and I got it—
Came out with a fortune last fall,—
Yet somehow life’s not what I thought it,
And somehow the gold isn’t all.
“The Spell of the Yukon”—Robert Service
Chapter Eleven
There were aches on his pains when Shaun woke, but the physical ailments weren’t the first things to catch his attention
.
Nope, it was the way Gem was all snuggled up tight against him, her cheek resting on his chest. One hand wrapped around his biceps as if she was never letting him go. The list of shit to figure out remained huge, but the list of things he liked about the mating deal grew bigger all the time.
He kissed the top of her head and eased himself away. She wiggled and sighed drowsily, burrowing back into the blankets. He didn’t have the heart to wake her since this would be her last day in civilization for a while. She refused to abandon her research project.
No matter how much he’d come to admire her, ensuring she knew the realities involved in their upcoming trip was going to be nasty.
Shaun stretched one arm, then the other, pleased with the result. The damage was minor relative to how he could have felt. He had been beat up, torn up and kicked around a lot worse before. If he had taken the time last night to change into his wolf and back he would have been less stiff this morning, but Gem hadn’t wanted to shift, and she’d been far too enticing in her human form to leave for long.
The sex had done wonders for making him feel better.
Add in the fact the pains were from performing a totally unselfish act of kindness—he was still grinning when he caught a glimpse of himself in the mirror. He’d done something because it was the right thing to do. Not to screw anyone, or get screwed, even though that had been a bonus side effect. Yup, the fight had been pretty damn cool.
There was just one cloud hanging over his head. Somehow in the next couple days, he needed to decide both the best time and the best way to double-check that Gem understood the road was about to get a lot rougher.
He chose wrong.
“What do you mean ‘if I want to cancel the trip’?”
Shaun cringed, glancing around the hangar to see if anyone else had heard the outburst. So she did have a volume other than soft and gentle. “Gem, we can’t disturb the caribou. There’s a minimum fly-by radius we aren’t allowed to break—the cows are more susceptible to loud noises when they’re pregnant, so the government increased the permissible space between any public disturbances and the animals.”
Gem stepped back, crossed her arms and glared at him. “I’m not an idiot. I’m well aware of the rules regarding the herd. Research paper, remember?”
“Right. Then you know that while we can approach the birthing grounds ahead of time to get your information, we need to retreat to a protected location to make further observations. We can’t take the chopper. We have to land and hike in.”
Her eyes narrowed to evil slits. “Are you deliberately trying to be offensive, or is this just coming naturally to you?”
Shaun studied the ceiling in the hope inspiration would strike. He thought through all his words, attempting to figure out what he’d done to piss her off this thoroughly.
Nope. Nada.
“I can honestly say I don’t have a freaking clue what you’re so upset about.”
Gem gave her head a violent shake. “You basically told me that after being in the north for nearly two weeks, you don’t want me to complete the research I came to do. At least, that’s what I heard.”
“Wait, no, I just wanted to be positive you know the specifics. This isn’t going to be a one-day stroll in the park.”
“Shaun, I’m well aware the only way in and out of the area is on foot. Why do you think I brought hiking boots? Why I’ve been training for the distances we’ll need to travel?”
She had? “Really?”
“Why is that so impossible to believe?” Gem crossed her arms and glared at him. “Just because I don’t cuss and slouch all over the place doesn’t mean I’m not an intelligent, capable woman.”
“I never said you—”
“Asking me if I want to bow out at this point is like saying it.”
“But I—”
“And assuming because I have soft hands that automatically means I’m a spoiled, lazy creature is insanity on your part, not mine.”
“Right, and I’m sorry—”
“Plus, you did agree to guide me. If you had an issue there should have been a formal complaint made way back even before I arrived.”
“Yes, although—”
“Furthermore—”
Shaun couldn’t take it any longer. He picked her up and slammed his mouth over hers and kissed her. Hard. Gem stood motionless for a moment before she relented, her arms rising to wrap around his neck. Their lips remained in contact as he smoothed his hands up her back, grapping hold of her ponytail so that eventually he could pull her away gently.
He didn’t separate them for a good long time.
When he did, they stared into each other’s eyes, and that deep sensation of being one person in two bodies hit again. Upsetting her made him ache inside. Happy and content was what he wanted, not this frustrated, volatile creature.
Shaun cleared his throat. “I assume you’d like me on my knees to grovel and ask for forgiveness?”
Gem fought from smiling. He saw it, the corner of her mouth twitched. Twice. “You are good in that position.”
He snickered. “Dirty girl.”
She let go of a little more of her rigid control. “I’m still mad at you.”
Shaun fell to his knees. She shrieked as he clasped her hips and hauled her close. He buried his face against her belly, rubbing from side to side. “I was terribly mistaken. Forgive me.”
A tug on his hair brought his gaze up to meet hers. “I don’t want teriyaki muffins. Not even fluffy ones.”
What the…?
She grinned outright. “Whatever you just said was muffled. I doubt you were really talking about indigestible breakfast food.”
Shaun grabbed her hand and yanked, catching her by surprise. She fell without a sound and he caught her on his lap. He kissed her cheek then nuzzled the side of her face. “I’m sorry. Really. The only thing I have in my defense is that long line of southern bookings who freaked when they couldn’t see an outhouse for miles.”
“Ick. Okay, I kind of sympathize with them regarding that issue, but Shaun? I’m not everybody.”
“You’re right. You’re not.”
Gem tapped her long fingers on his arm. “If that’s the usual you get, then I understand the whole ‘insane’ thing you were talking about better. I’m sorry I snapped at you, but really, I understood this project would take physical work.”
Pride swelled inside him. “And I’m sorry I ever doubted you. We’re going to work together, right?”
She nodded rapidly. “It’s just another example, though, of me not feeling in control of my own life. I’m getting tired of it, Shaun.”
“You stepped forward and took control damn well the day of the fight.” He rearranged her so he could kiss her more easily, enjoying having her rest on his thighs.
The smile on her face lit the area. “I did, didn’t I?”
He chuckled, and she hit her fists against his chest in mock anger. He caught her hands and kissed her fingers, making sure they made eye contact. He wanted the words to sink in deep. “Listen. I want you to do this. I know you can do this. I’m going to help you any way I can, and in the end you’ll have everything you need to finish your research.”
Gem smiled before eyeing him with suspicion. “Why did you decide to wait until now to have this discussion?”
Oops. “I didn’t say anything before because…”
“You hoped I would give up, right?”
Busted. “Honest truth? At first, when we were back in Whitehorse, and even in Dawson? Yes, but for the last few days, no. I’ve discovered you’re more than capable, but…” He stroked her fingers, sighing lightly. “I guess I’m guilty of wanting to protect you, when you don’t really need it.”
Comprehension lit her eyes. “That’s what you were doing the other day, isn’t it? You were keeping secrets about northern politics to protect me?”
Damn, she was good. Full-out confession seemed the only way to redeem himself. Shaun nodded slowly. “There
is so much about the north that’s wild and out of control—I was trying to make sure you saw the positive parts.”
Gem wrinkled her nose. “Like bloody brawls in the streets?”
Shaun snorted. “I’m obviously not a very good spin doctor. In some cases, what you see is what you get.”
She wiggled, and he set her free, rising to his feet as she paced over to the pile of camping equipment he had laid out. She stared at it for the longest time before turning. Her beautiful face was smooth, but there was a fire in her eyes he was coming to love. The stubborn determination that made his body squirm with desire as she made a decision that was all hers.
“Teach me.”
He nodded as he stepped forward. “I can pack for us—”
“No, teach me.” Gem caught him by the arm, and this time she pulled him against her body. “If I don’t know how to do a task, I’m more than capable of learning how, but only if you trust me enough to let me try.”
Something inside him got up on its feet and cheered. “I trust you.”
She tugged off her sweater and folded it over the back of the chair. “So, what’s the best way to get all our gear into the pack?”
A trickle of sweat ran down her back. How could it be this warm? They were in the north—the barren land should be cold, challenging. If they actually held a true Survivor contest somewhere other than where the women could wander beaches nearly naked, Gem had always imagined the event would take place in the north.
She really didn’t want to be the one voted off the island today.
In front of her, Shaun slowed, waving a hand. She waved back and motioned him on.
Yesterday he’d given her lessons on packing. When he’d snuck the extra heavy objects into his own pack, she hadn’t said a word. That kind of help she would accept, for a few days at least. No matter how many Pilates classes and P90X workouts she’d done, it wasn’t the same as carrying all her possessions on her back.
Her boots were killing her.
There was no way she was going to tell him that.