by Zoe Chant
Maybe the prize goes to whoever manages to seduce the were-bear. Beauty and the Beast and Flavorless Rice, don’t forget to tune in tomorrow!
“I hope you’re hungry because this is… not good,” she said at his questioning look. “I’m not a great cook, but I usually do better than this. Just—we don’t really have anything but rice.”
“It smells good!” he said, just a little too quickly. Then he gave her another smile, and warmth spread through her once more.
He was still naked beneath the blanket, too. God, they’d have to do something about that. He was far too distracting with his bare chest! Also, she wasn’t sure if the rescue team would appreciate the sight quite as much as she did. And she really didn’t feel inclined to share the sight either way.
“I’m really sorry I did not tell you earlier,” he said later, when she had started to root through dusty drawers again to distract herself from the fact that he was still naked. So far, all she had found was a moth-eaten towel.
“I told you about my dad.” She couldn’t quite hide the note of hurt in her voice. It still hurt, because that moment had been so perfect. For the first time in her life, her trust hadn’t been betrayed. Chris hadn't pushed her away—instead, he’d made her believe that this connection between them was real. She had never felt anything like it before, but she’d instinctively known that she could trust him. Hadn’t he felt the same?
Chris took a deep breath. “I know. I know you did. You trusted me with that, and I wanted to tell you, I just—”
“You were afraid I wouldn’t believe you?” Eve asked.
She gave him a quick look. He did look quite miserable, all alone on the bed with the bandage wrapped around his chest. It was so tempting to return to his side, to run her hands over that warm chest and kiss him until they’d both forgotten everything that had just happened.
But she’d always forgiven Jeremy too quickly. She wouldn’t make that mistake twice.
Determined, she pulled one of the chairs forward, then climbed onto it to pull what looked like an old suitcase from the top of the cupboard. A cloud of dust arose and made her sneeze.
“Mostly I was afraid you’d be scared,” Chris said. “It’s not easy to explain. And a large bear is a pretty threatening animal. Not the mate most people are looking for.”
“Mate,” she said, wondering. Something about the word seemed strangely familiar.
“Ah, I’m… sorry.” Now Chris looked sheepish.
Eve’s curiosity grew.
“Come on, don’t stop talking now. Your secret is out, so you better explain everything to me,” she said with mock sternness. She was pretty sure she was going to forgive him—he was genuinely sorry, and not just that he’d been caught in a lie, but sorry that he had hurt her. That was new, and it made a part of her feel warm and loved.
“I told you that bears are solitary,” he began.
She nodded and pulled open the suitcase.
Jackpot! She wasn’t quite certain whether the clothes would fit him, but there was a hideous, checkered shirt, and cargo pants, all covered in dust. And old underwear, eww.
She wrinkled her nose and decided Chris wouldn’t need those, then had to glance at him again, cheeks flushed. Maybe she shouldn’t tell him she’d found clothes. At least not until they’d taken advantage of his currently clothes-less state again.
“But solitary doesn’t mean that we don’t fall in love,” Chris went on. “On the contrary. If we’re lucky and find our mate, it’s… they’re the one. The one and only for you.”
“Like a soulmate?” Eve asked and shook the dusty clothes until she had to sneeze again. Well, the trousers looked both too large and too short for him, but if Chris used a bit of rope as a belt…
“Like a soulmate.” Chris took another deep breath. “Eve, I was so scared to tell you because you felt right. I’ve never experienced this before. You’re gorgeous. You’re passionate. You make me laugh, and you make me want to undress you and kiss you all over and breathe in your scent and—”
Eve swallowed and turned to stare at him, the dusty trousers still in her hands. He couldn’t mean… A guy like Chris, could he really…
“You must think I’m crazy,” he said softly. “But I’ve fallen in love with you right from the start. It isn’t just that you’re the most beautiful and sexy woman I’ve ever seen. But you’re also so brave. When I pulled you out of that car—Eve, I cannot tell you what I felt at that moment. I was so afraid I’d lose you, but you've shown so much courage.”
“No,” Eve said slowly, still staring at him from wide eyes. Her heart was racing in her chest. “No, I don’t think you’re crazy. I felt it too. I’ve also… I think I’ve fallen in love with you.”
Chris held out his hand towards her, and, throat tight, she went to him.
His skin was hot when she rested her hand on his chest once more. The bandage was still white; the wounds had stopped bleeding, and she sighed in relief as his arms came around her.
Once more she was drawn onto his lap. His heart was beating beneath her palm, steady and strong, and then he kissed her until her sigh turned into a moan. His muscles flexed beneath her grip when she shifted to hold on to his shoulders instead. His mouth trailed a path of heat down to her throat, and with a breathless gasp, she arched back when he nuzzled between her breasts again.
“We can’t… You’re injured!” she gasped.
His hot tongue teased at her skin. His hands slid upwards beneath her shirt once more.
“Shifter healing will take care of it,” he murmured against her breast.
The look he gave her when he looked up at her made heat gather between her legs.
She squirmed with the strength of her need for him. She could feel that she was already wet, and his erection pressed against her. Mouth dry, she thought of how incredibly good he’d felt inside her.
Mates. Like soulmates. Maybe it should sound crazy, but it was hard to argue with her own body. No one had ever felt as right as Chris.
She gasped again when Chris pulled off her shirt. Then his hands unhooked her bra, his mouth immediately back at one of her nipples, teasing there until she clutched at his head with both of her hands and whimpered from how good it felt.
“Chris…”
“You want more of that?” he asked.
She nodded breathlessly, and he released her only to flick his thumb against her nipple again.
“So do I,” he murmured. “You drive me crazy, Eve!”
She stood so he could pull her jeans and panties off her, her knees already weak with desire for him. Again she thought of how they’d have to be careful, because Chris’ wounds had only just stopped bleeding—but then Chris grasped her, and despite his injuries, he was still strong enough to lift her effortlessly onto the bed.
She came to kneel above him. He’d kicked the blanket down meanwhile, and now she got a good look at him for the first time.
His cock was hard, curving proudly towards his belly, flushed with blood—and with need for her. She swallowed, nearly lightheaded with desire. She could see his muscles shift and flex beneath his skin as he pulled her closer. Then his lips were hot against her breasts once more, and his fingers slid up her thighs, following the trail of dampness until he could slide two fingers inside her.
With a moan, she bucked against him, trembling from the intensity of it. His fingers inside her felt so good, sliding in and out while she clenched around them in need of even more. He sucked a nipple into his mouth again, his tongue rasping against her. His name escaped her in a gasp. She could no longer think, could only give herself up to the heat his touch aroused in her—and then at last, he released her, only to draw her down onto him.
She cried out as he slid inside her. He was so large, so perfect, filling her so completely that her thighs trembled. Her core was molten heat, and with each thrust he stoked the fire higher. It was unbearable, it was too perfect, and she thought the word mate again and wanted to sob because t
he pleasure was just too much.
Orgasm hit her like a wave. It came upon her again and again, and she clenched around him with every pulse of ecstasy until she could feel the hot rush of his own climax follow her. Her heart was racing. All of her muscles felt weak, and if he hadn’t kept his strong hands on her waist, she thought she might just have slipped off him and turned into a little puddle of pleasure by his side. Just, wow! Who knew that sex could feel so incredible?
Chris’ hand drew little circles on her thigh. His other hand moved up into her hair, and then he guided her face down for another kiss. This one was slow and languid, and she sighed when he at last slipped out of her.
Incredible, she thought again and snuggled against his side while he huffed an amused, satisfied laugh against her shoulder.
Maybe she was stranded in the wilderness with a were-bear and a scary, hostile were-jaguar and nothing left to eat but rice—but it was the sexiest were-bear alive. And he was all hers.
Chapter Four
Chris woke the next morning to the sensation of Eve curled against him, warm and soft and still asleep. Chris had tried to stay awake for most of the night, just in case the jaguar should decide to return, but the night had been quiet.
Too quiet, Chris thought with a sigh.
By now, he’d been hoping for the sound of a helicopter. Even if their rescuers had checked the other roads they could have taken first, today at the latest someone would have to send a search team into the hills.
Eve woke when he pressed a kiss to her forehead. She gave him a sleepy smile, and Chris was struck anew by her beauty. The early morning light gleamed on her curves, and he wanted to run his hand down her luscious body and press her close, bury himself in her body and her scent and her love.
Later, he told his body sternly.
He’d woken half-hard for her already—but there was the jaguar, and the fact that they should probably go and make it easier for their rescuers to find them.
While Eve watched and valiantly tried to suppress her giggles, he put on the clothes she’d found in the suitcase. The shirt fit well enough—the trousers were another matter. Once Eve was finished laughing at him, she got up as well and rummaged for a piece of string, then pulled that through the belt loops.
“You don’t look happy,” she told him, and then grinned at his expression.
He stared at the pants and sighed. “How am I supposed to fight another jaguar in this?”
“You’ll destroy these anyway if you have to shift again,” she pointed out.
He couldn’t argue with that logic. Then her hand cupped him through his trousers, and he gasped.
“You could always take them off if you don’t like them…” Her voice was a purr, and the look she gave him was suggestive.
So was the swaying of her hips as she walked towards the door a moment later. With a playful little growl, he followed her, still limping a little, although he was relieved to find that his shifter healing had indeed kicked in overnight. The bites still hurt, but he could walk—and defend his mate, if it came to it.
They took the fishing rod with them as they went out once more. This time, they made certain to stay away from the creek where the jaguar had ambushed them the day before. Instead, they walked back to where the river had destroyed the bridge and taken the car with it.
The red cloth was still hanging from the branch where he had left it, undisturbed. Below, the river rushed past with just as much force, muddy from the soil it carried with it. It was impossible to cross. Maybe further upstream, he would have chanced it as a bear, if he could find a spot where the river was narrower—but even the thought was enough to make his bear roar at him in consternation.
Calm down! I’d never leave our mate behind.
And there was no way Eve could make the crossing with him. There was, in fact, a good chance he’d injure himself further if he tried it. A river swollen to such a torrent that it carried away a stone bridge that had stood here for years was an opponent even his bear was cautious of taking on.
“They’ll find us today,” he said and drew Eve closer. “I wish I’d told Jim what route I was going to take. But even if they’ve searched the other roads first, today someone is going to drive up this way and see that the bridge has been destroyed. And then—”
He fell silent when the bear in him suddenly tensed. His first thought was the jaguar. Was there going to be another attack?
Just when he’d decided that he’d better shift to see if he could make out its scent, Eve gripped his hand hard and pointed up at the sky.
“Look!” she said, excited. “Is that a plane?”
He squinted upwards. There, in the distance, was a small dark spot that slowly came nearer—and now he could hear it too.
“A helicopter!” he breathed. “Come on, we should build a fire so they don’t miss us!”
Relief lifted the weight on his shoulders as they hastened back up the hill to their cabin, laughing every now and then and talking about the things they’d eat. No rice for at least a month, Eve declared, and Chris didn’t want to argue with that. Eve was flushed and lovely, her cheeks rosy with animation and her eyes sparkling, now that rescue was so close. Chris lifted her up despite her laughing protest when they made it back to the shack and spun around with her, just to hear her laugh some more.
The helicopter was much closer now. Eve had fetched the moth-eaten towel she’d found and was waving it, while Chris had taken one of the burning logs from the fireplace and tossed it into the outside fire pit, where it smoldered while he added a handful of wet leaves. A pillar of smoke rose straight up into the sky.
It was impossible to miss it, he thought, watching as the helicopter came ever closer. Eve was still waving the towel—and then the helicopter changed its course and flew a curve, and another, swerving left and right several times as if to reassure them that they’d been seen.
“It can’t land here,” he told Eve when she let go of her towel to hug him instead in relief. “The clearing isn’t big enough, it’s too dangerous. But they’ve seen us. They found us! They’ll probably call for one of the teams from town. We don’t have the tech in Linden Creek to ford a river like this.”
“But we’ll be back home this afternoon,” Eve said and smiled at him, even as she brushed her hair out of her eyes. “We’ll have a shower, and pizza—”
“And some of your cupcakes,” Chris added. “And then I think I’ll have you for dessert. How does that sound?”
Eve laughed and twined her arms around his neck. “Are you sure you can have both me and cupcakes?” she teased.
“I told you I like sweet things,” Chris growled playfully against her throat until she giggled again. “And I can eat a lot. I’m always hungry.”
“For cupcakes—or for me?” Her hand was trailing up his chest beneath the shirt now.
Chris gave her another approving growl.
God, not only was his mate beautiful and brave, but she was also damn sexy.
“Mostly for you,” he admitted, his heart beating faster as her fingers slowly moved lower again.
He was already hard once more, just from the way she was looking at him, and when her fingers grazed the bulge in his pants, he made a hungry sound and pulled her close.
“I think it will take them long enough before we are rescued to—” He hadn't yet finished the sentence before the familiar, angry cry of a predator shattered the quiet once more.
Then the jaguar came racing at them out of a copse of birches.
***
Eve didn’t even have time to cry out in warning when something large and very, very fast exploded out of the trees before them. It was the jaguar once more, its jaw open to display sharp fangs.
While it was still in mid-air, Chris shifted, and Eve felt once more that fundamental sense of disbelief as the lines of his body blurred and a heartbeat later, the shaggy form of a large bear roared at the jaguar in fury. The attack had come so quickly that the cat managed to jump
onto Chris’ back—Eve cried out in fear as she saw those fangs pierce his shoulder. Then the bear rose to his hind legs and shook himself furiously, dislodging the jaguar, and scoring a hit with his own paw as the cat retreated a few steps.
There was blood on Chris’ fur. Eve’s heart clenched with fear. But the cat was injured as well: Chris’ claws had slashed across the creature’s back and opened wounds from which even now blood was running down the spotted body. The jaguar hissed at them, although it did not advance, and Eve frantically tried to remember where they’d left the axe. At last she spotted the tell-tale gleam of metal by the pit where their signal fire was still sending up a slender pillar of smoke into the air.
How many steps to the axe? Eve tried to think past the roar of blood in her ears.
The jaguar was hissing, still glaring at Chris from eyes full of hate, and the bear rose up once more in threat.
Could she make it to the axe? Right now, the jaguar seemed focused on Chris. They still didn’t know what it wanted. If she moved—would it come after her?
Ten steps to the axe. Less if I run.
But would Chris be able to tackle the cat in time, should it come after her instead? Her heart thudded so loudly in her chest that she thought the jaguar would have to hear it.
Ten steps to the fire pit. Twice the distance to the cabin.
She didn’t want to abandon Chris, but Chris was a bear, with claws and paws and teeth meant to rip, while she was just a human, perfect prey for a predator like the jaguar. Chris was defending her. She knew Chris wanted her to be safe—but how was she going to get to the cabin? She swallowed, her throat dry as she watched the jaguar take a step forward again, its teeth bared in a snarl at Chris.
For one moment, time seemed to stand still. Then the jaguar exploded forward once more, so fast that Chris only had time to raise up his paws in defense before it jumped at him. The sound of his roar was deafening, and in despair Eve took her chance to sprint towards where the axe gleamed in the grass.