“So the spell doesn’t work on him?”
“Let’s just say that Calder has his own unique abilities and was able to see right through it.”
Bailey would have to file that information away for a later date. Maybe she’d ask Daisy what Gavin meant by unique abilities.
“And when you bumped into me today? What was that all about? You had to have known what I was the second you saw me.”
“I did. I was shocked. I couldn’t believe you were out walking around in broad daylight, on wolf pack territory without masking your scent. I thought you were insane! And I was worried about your safety.”
“So you decided to knock me into a puddle?” Bailey took a bite of her burger as she awaited Gavin’s answer.
“No. That was actually an accident. I got distracted and wasn’t paying attention.”
“Distracted by what?” Bailey wondered what could have possibly been on his mind.
“Um—you. And my bear. He was shouting pretty loudly in my head at the time.”
Was that an actual blush? Bailey thought she was the only one who did that. “What do you mean? Me? And what was your bear shouting at you about?”
“You’re not going to let this go, are you?”
“Nope,” Bailey took another bite of her food and tried to give her best you-better-fucking-answer-me look.
***
Gavin swallowed half of his burger before looking back up at Bailey. He wanted to be honest with her. He wanted to tell her that one look at her had his cock harder than a rock and all he could think about was fucking her until she screamed his name. That and claiming her as his mate, but he didn’t want to scare her away.
The only thing he knew about her was her name and the fact that she didn’t live in the area. He had no idea how she’d react.
“Guess it’s time to find out,” his bear said.
“Wish us luck. We’re going to need it.”
Bailey stopped eating and looked at him expectantly. God, she was gorgeous. Her dark hair hung perfectly around her heart-shaped face. He wanted to kiss her plump lips until they were swollen from his kisses.
“I was chopping wood this afternoon when the most amazing scent caught my attention. I dropped everything to set off in search of the scent that teased each of my senses.” Gavin looked deep into Bailey’s eyes.
“Imagine my surprise when I saw you walking out of the convenience store, and realized the most exotic scent I’d ever breathed was coming from you. It took all of my willpower and then some to keep from shifting right there in the middle of the street and claiming you as my mate the very second your scent slammed into me.”
“I—I don’t know what to say.” Bailey pushed her plate away and took a deep breath. “That’s kind of how I felt when I scented you for the first time.”
“Would you like to go for a walk? Maybe get away from here for a little bit?” Gavin held his breath, waiting for Bailey to answer.
“I’d like that, but I need to let Gerri and Daisy know first.”
Chapter Eight
Bailey watched in awe as Gavin shifted to his bear form. He was larger in this form than she expected, but that shouldn’t have surprised her. He was massive as a human, and the same held true for him as a full grown grizzly bear.
She still couldn’t get over the fact that he was her fated mate, but there was no question. Every inch of her body knew that she belonged to Gavin as much as he belonged to her. It was the way of shifters. She’d never be able to explain it to her human friends.
Gavin was stunning in natural bear form. Easily twice his human size and covered with the thickest golden fur she’d ever seen. She started to run her fingers through his fur, but hesitated and pulled back, not knowing what the acceptable protocol was. Was it okay because she was his mate? Bailey chewed on her bottom lip, confused by her lack of knowledge when it came to all things in dealing with your mate, whom you literally just met.
Her voice was soft yet uncertain when she spoke. “I know it sounds silly, but I don’t know what I’m allowed to do. It’s not like I’ve ever had a mate before. Well, that, and the fact that we haven’t known each other very long. Only like a couple of hours.”
Gavin nudged her with his nose, indicating it was okay for her to do what she had wanted to do.
“You’re really soft,” Bailey giggled. “I wonder if my fur is this soft, too.”
Without warning, Gavin shifted back to his human form, leaving Bailey scratching his human head.
“Hey!” she protested.
“I want you to do whatever your instinct tells you to do. Like right now, my instinct is telling me to kiss you.”
Bailey gasped, “Yes, please.”
Sparks of awareness shot through her body the second Gavin’s lips closed over hers. He started off slow, deliciously exploring her mouth. Bailey’s legs trembled beneath her as his hands roamed over her body, massaging every inch of her curves.
She didn’t remember a kiss ever tasting so good, or having such a profound effect on her. Bailey’s hands flew to Gavin’s chest, ripping his button down shirt to shreds, wanting to feel the heat of his skin pressed against her.
Sweet blissful moans fluttered from her mouth when Gavin’s fingers slipped beneath her pants, finding her wetness. Never had she been so bold—so hungry for a man. Her body ached with a need she swore she’d never in her life thought possible. Not that she hadn’t had her fair share of men. She had, but none ever set her body on fire like Gavin managed to do with a single kiss.
“Gods, woman. You’re so fucking wet for me.”
“Yes! Gavin, I need you. Please.” Bailey wasn’t beneath begging for him to take her right there in the woods. She didn’t care where the fuck they were, as long as he would soon be inside of her.
Gavin yanked off his tattered shirt and spread it out on the ground before kneeling down and reaching for Bailey.
She quickly took his hand, not needing to be asked twice. Their lips crashed together once again. A hungry growl shot from her mouth. Raw hunger pulsed through her body. God, she needed Gavin more than she needed her next breath.
With one quick tug, Gavin yanked her pants off and tossed them to the side. “I can’t wait to taste you.”
He didn’t wait for her permission.
Or for her to respond.
Bailey shouted his name when his soft, warm tongue parted her folds. Her hands tunneled through his hair, grasping him tight. Her hips arched beneath him as he licked her from top to bottom and back again, making her body tremble with the simple swipe of his tongue.
“Oh Gods, yes!” Bailey moaned when he slid two fingers deep inside of her. Her muscles clenched and unclenched as her first climax tore through her.
“That’s it, baby. You taste so damn good. I want you to come all over my face.” Already addicted to the taste of her sweetness, he begged for more.
Gavin added a third finger, sending Bailey crashing over the edge. Just when she thought she couldn’t take a single ounce more of the pleasure Gavin was dishing out, he quickly drew back, only to stretch his body over hers.
“I can’t take it anymore. I need to be inside of you.”
Guiding his cock to her entrance, his mouth once again closed over hers.
Bailey groaned in anticipation.
With one quick shove, he thrust deep inside of her, stretching her further than she’d thought possible. Swallowing her enchanting moans, Gavin stilled, allowing her a moment to adjust to his size.
Bailey wrapped her arms around his neck. Her hips thrust up against him. “More!” she begged.
He felt so fucking good. She loved the fullness his cock provided each time he sunk deep inside of her.
She thanked the goddess above that she didn’t have to ask again. Gavin pulled out, clear to the tip, before thrusting into her once again. Bailey’s breaths were uneven as her body shook with a raw pleasure she’d never in her life experienced. Incoherent words tumbled from her lips as he worked
her into a lust-fueled frenzy.
Her only thought—her only care, was the pleasure her mate gave to her at that very moment. The world around her could have exploded and she never would’ve noticed.
“You feel so fucking good,” Gavin grunted. “My beautiful mate. You’re so fucking hot. Tell me that you’re mine.”
“Yes! I’m yours. Only yours.” Bailey wrapped her legs tight around his waist, drawing him deeper inside of her, needing to feel every thick inch he had to offer.
“That’s it, take it all,” Gavin grunted again as he picked up his pace, slamming faster into her.
“Yes!” Bailey shouted as she sprinted toward another climax. Her bear pulsed just below her skin, wanting nothing more than to claim her mate. She tried to fight back against her bear, but she couldn’t muster the willpower or energy.
Any hope of coherent thought or action vanished with each thrust Gavin made. Bailey felt the bones in her face shifting, her teeth elongating. Before she knew what had happened, her fangs sank deep into Gavin’s shoulder. Blood poured over her tongue and down her throat.
Her bear roared in her mind.
“Mine!”
Chapter Nine
“Yes!” Gavin shouted as he felt Bailey’s fangs pierce his shoulder. His bear roared in his head when she claimed them as her own.
Not wanting to waste a second longer than he had to when it came to claiming his mate, Gavin succumbed to the pure pleasure his mate brought him. He pumped harder, faster—pounding his cock into her in a frenzy. His sac tightened, his climax within reach. The only thing Gavin could think about was claiming his mate.
One final thrust left Gavin rearing his head back with an inhuman roar rushing from his throat. His canines lengthened a second before they pierced Bailey’s shoulder. He knew he claimed her harder than he should have, but he just couldn’t seem to slow his thrusts or hold back the force in which his bear demanded to claim her. Now that Bailey was finally in his arms, he had every intention of making sure she was his, in every way that mattered.
With the claiming completed by both Bailey and Gavin, their minds connected as one. Her memories and thoughts became his, and his became hers. Gavin had no problem with most of the memories that flowed from his mate’s mind to his.
Gavin growled as recollections of her former lovers flashed through his mind. “You are mine now, Bailey.” His cock still hard, he pumped his hips, lazily circling his cock in and out of her. “I am the only one who will ever make you feel this good.”
“Yes,” she said, her voice reduced to nothing more than a lazy purr.
Gavin’s head shot up as a series of sharp yips and howls pierced the quiet calm countryside. As much as it pained him to pull away from his mate, Gavin flew to his feet.
Something was wrong.
Very wrong.
He knew that signal. It was the signal Calder used when there was an emergency. Every wolf in the pack knew it meant that trouble had come to Twisted Tail, even his bear knew it meant trouble.
Grabbing his jeans and throwing them on, Gavin’s mind swirled with worries. Worries about the possible threat, worries about his mate. His bear growled in his mind at the possibility of some sort of harm coming to her. “Bailey, I need you to go back to the Alpha’s house.”
She quickly gathered her clothes and started tugging them on, following Gavin’s lead. “What is it? What happened?”
“I don’t know what’s going on, but that sound was from Calder. He just put out a call for help. Think of it as the pack’s emergency call. I need to go and see if there’s something that I can do.”
“Maybe it’s something I can help with?” Bailey offered.
“Please do what I ask and head back to the house. I’ll meet you there as soon as it’s safe.” There was no way Gavin was about to run off into danger with his mate by his side. Absolutely not! He needed to know she was safe, far away from any potential threat. There was no way in hell he’d risk losing her. Not when he’d just found her.
“But—” Bailey tried once more to protest, but her words fell on deaf ears.
“Bailey, please. I won’t risk losing you,” Gavin’s tone was short, demanding that she listen to his order.
Her thoughts on the subject were crystal clear as they filled Gavin’s mind. His mate was a feisty one who didn’t appreciate being told what to do. He should have thanked the Fates for sending him a mate filled with spunk and sass, but at that moment, all he could think of was keeping her safe, far from harm’s reach. Even if that had meant pissing her off.
“Have it your way, you stubborn beast!”
Gavin breathed a sigh of relief as Bailey marched away, dropping cuss words he’d never envisioned coming from his mate’s beautiful mouth. “I suppose I’ll have to make it up to her later, but at least we know she’ll be safe.”
“Agreed,” said his bear.
Gavin shifted to his bear form and hauled ass to find Calder as soon as Bailey was out of his sight. Within minutes he found the Alpha and several members of the pack fighting off what appeared to be rogue wolves.
Calder quickly finished off his foe and nodded to Gavin, clearly grateful for any assistance the grizzly bear could offer.
Gavin’s roar stopped several of the rogue wolves dead in their tracks, but it was too late for the intruders. Once he set his sights on a target, it was game, set, and match. They had little hope of running away from the fight they’d picked, and even less hope of surviving the night.
Of all nights for an attack from rogue wolves, it had to be tonight. The one night he’d found his mate, this shit just had to happen. Why not a week ago? Hell, even three days ago when he’d been bored out of his freaking mind.
He would have given his left leg for a good fight.
Now it pissed him off more than words could express, because the only fucking thing he wanted to be doing tonight was hauling Bailey back to his house and spending the evening between her legs.
Could that happen?
Hell no!
And all because of some stupid ass wolves.
Yeah… pissed didn’t even begin to cover his rage.
Four wolves charged him at the same time. Gavin roared again. Not in anger, but this time issuing the mangy mutts a direct challenge to bring it the fuck on.
His bear wanted the fight… wanted the challenge. Wanted to hear the crunch of breaking bones. If they were stupid enough to interrupt his evening with his mate, he would gladly end their lives.
With one swipe of his paw, the first wolf went flying across the field and into a tree. The wolf lay in a twisted heap on the ground. No doubt the force of the collision breaking his back. It would take more than a few minutes for the wolf to recover from the injury.
Gavin turned as the second wolf went for his throat. A quick flick of his wrist and he struck the wolf in midair. Blood sprayed over him, coating his thick fur as the powerful jab with his claws sliced the wolf’s throat wide open.
Gavin didn’t wait for the other two wolves to attack. He took the fight to them, grabbing the first one by the back of the neck. He tore straight through the flesh, ripping his throat out, killing the animal instantly.
The last wolf tucked his tail and tried with all his might to make a quick getaway, but Gavin had other ideas. He shot off like a bullet after the animal.
“Don’t let that fucker get away!” Gavin shouted to his bear.
“That bastard isn’t going anywhere,” the bear agreed.
Just as Gavin was getting ready to tackle the asshole, the wolf shifted to his human form and begged for his life.
“Let this one live. I want some fucking answers,” Calder shouted to Gavin.
Reluctantly, Gavin agreed with the Alpha. It would be nice to know why Twisted Tail was attacked, seemingly out of the blue.
Chapter Ten
Bailey had been lost in thought, stomping through the woods on autopilot back to Daisy and Calder’s. F-bombs flying from her mouth with each angry step
she took. She was pissed. Especially after the perfect evening of making love to her mate and completing the mating ritual. The last thing she expected had been for him to flip the authoritarian switch and turn into a total dickhead.
“How dare he? Stupid man! Does he think I’m a defenseless wallflower or some tiny pathetic shifter who can’t handle her own shit? What the actual fuck?" she bitched to her bear.
“Well, well. What do we have here?”
She looked up, surprised to find herself surrounded by three shady as hell guys. One sniff confirmed they were disgusting and hadn’t bathed in what smelled like a year or more. Also, they were bears.
Not grizzlies like herself, but black bears. Smaller in size, but still ferocious.
She’d remembered all the people she’d met at the barbeque. If these guys had been there, she would have not only been surprised, but she would have remembered them.
The first guy took a step forward. “Looks like we found ourselves a pretty little bear.”
“I bet she’s scared all alone out here in the woods at night,” another teased.
“Danger!” her bear roared in her head.
“I know!” Bailey roared back, knowing damn well she was in deep shit.
“I’m not alone.” Bailey figured she’d try bluffing her way out of the situation. “My mate is right behind me. He stopped to grab something and said he’d catch up with me in a few minutes.”
Just as the words left her mouth, Gavin’s mighty roar sounded far off in the distance.
One of the men took another step toward her. “I don’t think so.”
“You’re lying, bitch,” the other man sneered.
Bailey took two steps back, discerning how badly she’d fucked up. If she hadn’t been so absorbed in her own damn thoughts, she would have easily scented the shifters surrounding her. “Who are you? What do you want?”
“You!”
“I don’t understand. Why me?” Bailey wanted to keep the men talking for as long as she could. Maybe if she distracted them, she could find a way out of this shit show.
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