Bear with Me (Bear Mountain Patrol Series Book 1)

by Addae, Sydney

  “Mate hungry?”

  “Yes, she needs food.”

  Grizzle roared and swiped him across his inner belly. “Feed mate.”

  Tag’s jaw tightened from the pain. “Stop that, I’m taking her for food but I swear I’ll stop this car if you do that again.” Some days dealing with Grizzle made him want to snatch the beast from wherever nature hid him and kick his ass.

  “Take care of mate.”

  Tag resisted rolling his eyes. “Yes, that’s what I’m doing. Be quiet.”

  An hour ago, he’d admitted to being sexually attracted to Camilla but the fire coursing through his veins signaled something deeper. Grizzle claimed her as their mate, could that be true? Human mates weren’t unheard of but he never thought it’d happen to him. No…Grizzle couldn’t be right.

  “Camilla is human.” He wanted to be sure Grizzle understood.

  “Human?”

  “Yes. Not mate, she’s human.”

  “Not mate?”

  “No. Human.” Tag spoke with more certainty than he felt. Grizzle didn’t respond.

  Now that he shut Grizzle down, inexplicable emotions jumped all over the place. He wanted to touch and taste her, keep her safe and share his secret honey stash. Whoa! Nobody knew about that. What the hell was going on? All they did was kiss, that didn’t qualify her to taste his honey.

  Tag parked at the restaurant and they took a booth near the back. After ordering a couple of entrées with extras, he met her amused gaze.

  “You really do eat a lot,” she said smiling.

  A knot of tension unfurled in his chest at her smile and voice. A tape of her talking or reading a book would be better than his mama’s tonic to help him rest. He stretched his legs beneath the table, touching hers. She rubbed her legs against his before resting the top of one foot on his.

  “You playing with me?”

  “Hmm, no. Not really. I like you and I don’t want to play games. So I thought I’d try the direct approach, see if you preferred that.”

  Even though her face pinkened, she wasn’t afraid and that turned him on even more. “Girl, my dick’s hard enough to break a brick right now that’s how bad I want to play with you.” He paused remembering his conversation with Ryan. “But I’m not looking for anything permanent or serious right now. There are some things I just learned that I need to handle personally. I’ll be leaving soon and I’m not sure when I’ll be back.” He stopped as the waiter placed a salad in front of Camilla and a glass of water.

  Camilla heard the words he spouted and waited for the pain over their impending separation. Nothing happened. She frowned. Earlier when she thought he was leaving town her chest hurt to the point she thought a heart attack was imminent. Her body reacted like a crazy person at the thought of him not being around or in her life. Now, when he says plainly he just wants to have sex and nothing more than a booty call, nothing happens inside. What the hell was going on?

  “Excuse me.” She stood and walked to the bathroom. Locking her stall, she sat on the toilet and wondered if this was what a breakdown felt like. Why wasn’t she upset? Or angry he didn’t want her the way she thought she wanted him? Did she still want him? That gnawing need in her chest, which had accompanied her since they met, seemed quiet. Was she over her crush? Possibly. How did she feel about that? She wasn’t sure; it was like her feelings were locked, frozen. Damn, none of this made any sense.

  The outer door opened. She stood and flushed the toilet. When she walked out, two women stared at her wide-eyed.

  “Is that your boyfriend out there?” one of the women asked her cheeks red.

  Camilla frowned.

  “Tall, muscular, damned good-looking? He belong to you?”

  Since that could be Tag, although she doubted it, Camilla nodded and washed her hands.

  “Whatever you’re doing to have a man wait on you like that, bottle and sell it to the rest of us please. I’d give my husband a dose.”

  “Hell, I’d make mine drink the whole bottle,” the other said as they entered the two stalls.

  Camilla had no idea what they were talking about and didn’t care. She had enough on her mind and asked no questions as she left. To her surprise, Tag stood outside and took her hand. They returned to the table and he sat next to her instead of on the other side.

  Would it be rude to ask why he was at the bathroom door? She had seen enough reality shows to know some women escaped bad dates by leaving instead of actually going to the bathroom. Did he think she’d do that after the way she threw herself on him? Ugghh. I can’t believe I kissed him like that, no wonder all he wants from me is sex.

  Their food had arrived and she pulled her plate in front of her while trying to decide how to tell him she didn’t want what he offered.

  “You’re not hungry?” he asked, pointing to her untouched plate.

  “Some.” She took a few bites but the food tasted like sawdust. Setting her fork aside, she cleared her throat and looked at his side profile. The man was too…arrogantly masculine and probably had a ton of women. Maybe that’s why he offered meaningless sex. Earlier today she would have said yes but not anymore. “Thanks for being honest,” she said.

  He stopped eating and looked at her.

  “But I’m not interested in what you’re offering. Maybe the way I came onto you at the condo gave the impression all I want is to have sex with you. But I’m 26 and want a relationship, not just a fling or someone to warm my bed when he has an itch to scratch.” Camilla didn’t know where all these words were coming from but they sounded right. “So thanks but no thanks.” She picked up her fork and continued eating.

  “You don’t want me?”

  Camilla picked up a thread of hurt or maybe she wanted him to be hurt, she wasn’t sure. She snorted. “I’ll probably always want you, Tag. For some reason you’re in here.” She tapped her chest, proud of the way her voice remained strong.

  “In that case forget everything I said.”

  She frowned at him. “This is serious for me. My feelings for you aren’t a game. I won’t play with you, don’t play with me.”

  Strong fingers took hold of her chin and turned her to face him. “Look me in my eyes then say that shit to me.”

  Camilla’s gaze fell into his. Her heartbeat stuttered then took off at the raw desire in his eyes mixed with concern and possibly affection. His lips brushed against hers.

  “Eat, you’ll need your strength for later.” He released her and pulled another plate in front forward while pushing the empty one away.

  “I’m serious Tag. I want a real relationship where we don’t see other people. That means I’ll be your only girlfriend.” Her heart slammed in her chest over his probable reaction.

  “I know what you want.” He nodded and continued eating.

  Camilla frowned. What was going on with him? He just said he didn’t want what she needed, now he’s agreeing? Puzzled over his turnabout, she finished her food while wondering what would happen next.

  Chapter 16

  The need to be inside Camilla grew stronger every moment they were together. Despite his earlier quiet, Grizzle demanded he take her. He ached to do that but she cooled toward him for some reason, even after he took back his words.

  Had he really followed her to the bathroom? Hopefully, Tiana never found out about that. Now he understood why men did it. After what he deemed a reasonable length of time, he needed to make sure she was okay. Her scent hadn’t changed so he knew she was good but Grizzle demanded they wait for her. So he joined the group of fools who waited for their women to finish in the bathroom. Worse, the whole time he waited in the hall, he called himself all kinds of idiot but couldn’t leave.

  Something happened from the time they walked in the restaurant and left. A flicker of concern went off when she didn’t agree to return home with him right away. She seemed preoccupied. Although finally agreeing, she asked to go home first to pack a bag.

  Behind her bedroom door, she whispered her con
fusion over her change of feelings to Tyra and her uncertainty of wanting a relationship after his “booty call” comment. Tag sat in the living room, hands clasped together listening as she debated on whether or not she wanted to see him again.

  The table had truly been flipped. After 30 minutes, she returned to his side with an aura of uncertainty. She had added a jacket and switched her contacts for glasses. The look she gave him lacked the fire and determination as before, more like she could stay or go, either worked. He didn’t like being the only one certain they needed to be together.

  Tyra wore a thoughtful look on her face as she watched them leave. During the drive to his place, Camilla constantly questioned his understanding of the word monogamous and his change in attitude.

  “This is kind of like the movie Serendipity, right? I mean we met a long time ago and now we’re together.” She pushed her glasses up her nose while staring at him, waiting for him to say something.

  It took a moment to realize she seriously referred to a movie. “I’ve never seen it.”

  “Oh. What about Before Sunset?” She looked at him. “You were, for me, that night - everything I always dreamt of in life.”

  He glanced at her smiling. “Really? You felt that way?”

  She frowned. “That was my favorite line in the movie. Do you watch movies?”

  “No, not really. It’s all make-believe and I prefer the real world.”

  Camilla clutched her chest and pretended to gag. “Please don’t tell me you’re one of those people who hate reality TV?”

  Tag frowned. “What?”

  Camilla sighed and stared out the window.

  Had he missed something? He went over her questions in his mind and didn’t see why she’d be upset.

  “You have a TV and DVD player at your home?” She asked without looking at him. Tag had the feeling he failed some test but didn’t know what.

  “Yes. It’s not connected but it’s there, why?”

  She looked at him and the heat of her gaze seared him. “You really don’t know anything about me, do you?”

  Taken aback by her outburst, he glanced at her then back at the road. “You’re a chemistry major, graduated undergrad with a 4.0 and are headed to graduate school. Your best friend is four years younger than you and calls you Milla. You like Italians and Italian food, sorry, no Italians in my line.” He chuckled pleased to have rendered her speechless for the moment. “You dated one guy in college, didn’t last long, one day you’ll need to tell me what happened. You are an only child, your mother lives in south Florida and your father is deceased. More?” He placed his finger beneath her chin and pushed up, closing her mouth.

  “No… that’s good.” She swallowed then shook her head. “Why didn’t you know I’m a movie buff? I live through movies, Tyra calls me the queen of videos.”

  Should he tell her that bit of information wasn’t in the report? Would she think less of him?

  “If you knew all of that, why haven’t I ever heard from you before? Be honest, when we met you had no interest in me at all, right?”

  Full stop, what man in his right mind wanted to answer a no-win question like that, especially on the way to his place for a night of sex?

  “You were Ryan’s cousin and off-limits.” Please let that be enough for her.

  “But we can be together now? What changed?”

  Why all the questions? If he understood why he wanted her now and not before, he would explain the gut-wrenching, visceral need to keep her close, safe and well provided for. But he had no clue.

  “Maybe it was your kiss and, like in the fairy tales, it awakened me.” If she could use movies, he’d use books. His senses came online and feelings awakened as if from hibernation or something. More to the point, she woke him out of whatever lethargic state he had been in since Amber.

  Bingo, she smiled. Her cheeks pinked. “You’re a good kisser.”

  Tag took her hand in his and kissed the back of it. “When we kissed I forgot everything else, you were the only person on my mind and I thank you for that.”

  “Really, kind of like the end of Pretty Woman, huh?”

  He smiled, having no clue. “Did he get the pretty woman in the end?”

  She nodded and smiled.

  “Well, then absolutely, this is like that.” He wiggled his eyebrows.

  She laughed.

  “Mate happy? Good.”

  Tag ignored Grizzle and pulled into his garage then grabbed her bag before opening her car door. She slid out in a graceful move, smiled at him and walked ahead to the entrance. Taking comfort in her confident stride, he unlocked the house and they went inside. Before she could say anything, he placed her bag down, grabbed her around the waist and pulled her close.

  The fast beat of her heart matched his. “What do you know about me?”

  Her eyes slid to the side. “Your mom lives in Montana on a ranch, you’re the only boy, with two sisters, triplets. Which is really cool. You graduated at the top of your class from the Military Academy, served for a while, did all of this at a young age, single, never married, no kids and super sexy.” She winked at him.

  That small gesture tugged at his heart. Impressed, he wrapped his arm around her waist pulling her flush against him. “You smell like all my favorites, I want to eat you.”

  She laughed. “So you’re the big bad wolf now?”

  Thinking of the wolf Alpha Chase and his beta Jasper, Tag frowned. As nice as those men were, he had no interest in being a wolf in a pack with a leader. He liked his freedom. “No, not a wolf, never a wolf. I’m…Tag, your Tag.” He brushed his lips against hers fully intending to deepen the kiss. Grabbing her hips, he pushed them into his hardness. “Lots of pressure right here,” he said against her lips.

  Camilla gasped at the contact. Oh my god, it’s finally happening. She struggled to focus, not wanting to miss a single minute. He captured her mouth.

  Heart racing, she melted against him. Tingles shot to her core.

  His tongue searched for hers. Moaning at the intrusion, she rubbed against his hard cock needing him more than before.

  He groaned at her rocking motion combined with a hip thrust, his hand tightened on her ass. “Again,” he mumbled.

  Elated by his demand, her confidence grew as she rolled harder against him, loving his grunts and moans. He reached around and pulled the edge of her shirt up and over her head. His eyes dropped to her breasts.

  She tensed. Normally this is when disappointment flared in the eyes of her dates when they saw her push-up bra and small breasts. With a flick of his wrist, he removed her bra. Unable to breathe, she waited for the shoe to drop.

  “Fucking beautiful.” His lips trailed from her mouth, down her neck and across her breasts, stopping at her nipples. He dipped his head and captured the right bud in his mouth. Jolts of pleasure ripped through her.

  A wave of euphoria rolled over her as she released her fears and hang-ups. If her small breasts didn’t run him off and he seemed to like her apple butt, as Tyra called it, maybe she could relax and enjoy tonight. Another first with a man. Closing her eyes, she savored every flicker of sensation traveling from the top of her head to the soles of her feet.

  Tag lavished attention to the other nipple while she held his head in place. His arm went behind her legs and like a fairy princess, he carried her to his bedroom. That dreamlike moment left her speechless. He laid her on the bed and, with a steady hand, removed the rest of her clothes.

  Camilla’s body warmed beneath his intense scrutiny. Insecurities she wished would die, didn’t and she prayed he wouldn’t say anything weird about her breasts. They were too small but that ran in her family. When she was excited, the freckles on her chest stood out like neon signs. His gaze swept over her from head to toe, setting off goosebumps in their wake.

  “God, you are magnificent. Thank you for wanting me, I promise you’ll never regret giving me a chance,” he said in a ragged whisper that brushed across the landscape of her he
art.

  No one had ever called her magnificent and he said it like it was her name. Not once did she think of debating his comment or pointing out her shortcomings like she did with her friends. At a loss for what to say, she smiled while thinking of a witty, mature, sexy response. Just when a line from one of her favorite movies rose to the surface, he pulled off his shirt. His muscles danced across his chest rendering her mute. A sizzling curl of lust built inside as she watched him strip out of his pants and underwear in one swift move.

  His gaze never left her.

  When he crawled onto the bed, the fluidity of his muscles mesmerized her. She didn’t snap out of it until he pulled open her legs then pushed them up so that her feet were flat on the bed. Moving forward, he lay between her thighs as if he had done it thousands of times.

  “Your taste … promise me I can have this every morning as my breakfast appetizer,” he said then blew air onto her lips.

  Shivery tingles ran from her throbbing core to her nipples and back again. He licked on her tender folds then wiggled his tongue against her clit before sucking.

  She gasped in pleasure.

  That sound spurred him into action. He licked, laved and suckled. Breathing became difficult beneath his sensual assault. Did she really think leaving this man was an option? He did some swirling motion on her clit with his tongue and she shot up yelling.

  Tag placed his large palm on her stomach holding her in place as if she had enough energy to leave. The exaggerated slurping noise he made from licking the same fingers that he fucked her with, made her smile.

  When he leaned up and rose above her, the passion in his gaze left her breathless. His eyes changed as if they caged an inner light. Blink. He needed to blink. Everybody blinked. Arousal turned into concern. She wanted to ask if he were alright but the words stuck in her throat.

  As she continued to stare into his eyes, warmth invaded her bones. In her mind, his fingertips outlined her face with the softest touch. Something soft, like a furry blanket brushed against her skin, tickling, arousing her again. Tag never moved yet he played her body like a master conductor. Liquid fire sped through her veins. Her back arched. Her core throbbed, demanding to be filled. Need for him consumed her. Would she need to beg?