by Jane Jamison
That had to have been confusion on her part. She’d gotten confused after getting knocked down. No man could change into an animal. That was ridiculous.
It made sense that her mind had created the animal as a bear. Her mother’s obsession with bears had passed to her. Plus, she’d just been thinking about her mother moments before. No wonder that the hallucination would be that of a bear instead of a dog or a cat.
But what was driving her to heights of lust she’d never experienced? And why couldn’t she think of anything except finding that man?
As the week went on, she’d needed more and more release. If she didn’t pleasure herself, relieving the tumultuous craving that stole over her, she couldn’t think straight.
Closing her eyes, she gave into her body’s demands and let his handsome face and rugged body flow into her mind.
He dipped between her legs, pushing down her jeans, then ripped her panties away. With a growl, he pressed his face against her, spread her lips, then sucked on her clit. She reached for his hair, but he pushed her back. His hands skimmed under her shirt, took hold of her bra, and yanked his arms up and out, tearing away both her shirt and her bra with one smooth motion.
She cried out, but her cry suddenly died as his tongue circled her tender bundle of nerves. His hands were huge, dwarfing her breasts with plenty of hand left over. Rubbing her nipples, he brought them to their hardened peaks, then pinched them as though punishing her for their reaction to his touch.
She lifted her head, loving the way he bobbed up and down, slurping her cream, then letting out a breath only to suck on her more. His broad shoulders bumped against her butt cheeks. Then, wrapping her legs over them, he lifted her hips and rose to his knees.
His dark eyes, flecked with strange bits of amber, stared at her from over her mound. More and more, he drank from her, nibbling every so often to change the rhythm and keep her unnerved.
“Oh, please, fuck me.”
He chuckled, sending the warm air over her pussy. “Would you like that, baby?”
“Yes, please. Now. I can’t take it any longer.”
He growled again, the sound coming from even deeper in his chest. For a moment, she thought she saw the tips of fangs. But how could that be?
Then, without warning, he pierced her pussy, driving his cock hard into her. She dragged in a ragged breath as her body recognized him and ached to trap him inside her.
He straightened her legs, holding them up so that her ankles bumped against his ears. His ripped abs worked, tightening then loosening as he plunged into her over and over. His stonelike pecs worked, flexing with his movements.
She tried to move her hips against his, but his power, his unbelievable strength wore her out. He was flesh-covered steel, unyielding, focused on driving his long rod into place.
Her ache became a beautiful torment, surging through her body to wage war with her reason and her freedom. She gave herself to him as the whirlwind grew, controlling her every move, the very breaths she tried to take.
His gaze never left her face, locked on her like she was his last and only meal. She’d have gladly given him whatever he wanted, but he wasn’t the type of man who waited. He was the kind who’d take what he wanted, when he wanted it, for however long he wanted it.
Two men moved to stand beside him. She couldn’t see their faces, but she knew that they were there for her. They were a part of the first man, which made them a part of her. She reached out, begging them to come closer.
“Josh, please.”
Mayla bit down on her lower lip, then choked back the cry that her family might hear. Her body tensed, coiling like springs, then released, letting her cum and her heart fly. It took several moments before she could open her eyes and stare at the ceiling. The shudders took longer to end as the fantasy faded.
Who were the other men?
During the first couple of nights, her fantasy had only included Josh. On the third night, the two other men had eased into place behind him. And yet, no matter how much she wanted, she could never see their faces. The fact that they were in her fantasy had to mean something. But what?
Had she hit her head when Josh had run into her? She’d checked for any pain that night, but found nothing. And she hadn’t suffered any vision problems or headaches. But how else could she explain seeing him change into a bear? Or had the bear been there all along and she’d mixed them up in her foggy head?
Yet the persistent question kept plaguing her. What if what she’d seen was real? What if a man could change into a bear?
She slid off the bed and grabbed her clothes, determined to find the answers to all her questions. First, however, she had to get away from her father and brother.
Mayla tried to act nonchalant as she walked into the combination living area and kitchen of the rental cabin. The after rush of her masturbation still glowed over her body to mix with the excitement in taking steps to find out who Josh was and where she could find him, She knew she was taking a risk. If her father or brother wanted to come along, she was screwed.
“Hey, honey. How’re you doing?”
“Fine, Dad.”
“So have you talked to Mathew today?”
She waved off the coffee he offered her. “No. I already asked him about taking another week off.”
“Honey, it’s not that I don’t enjoy your company, but don’t you need to get back to work? What about your clients?”
She’d asked to stay yet another week, telling Mathew Wallingford, the head of the Austin law firm where she worked as a junior partner, that she needed more time at home to handle “an unexpected problem.” Lying didn’t come easy to her, but what else could she have said? Should she have told him that she’d met a naked man while out hunting and couldn’t get him out of her mind? That the naked man she’d found had changed into a huge grizzly bear and run off? That she had daily sexual fantasies about him and two unknown men?
That would’ve gotten her a quick pink slip without a doubt.
“She’s hanging around so she can find that bear she supposedly saw.”
Mayla closed her eyes. Why couldn’t they believe her? “That’s not it at all. Can you blame me for wanting more time with my family? How often do I get up to the Panhandle anyway?” She gave John a look that warned him to back off. She added, “Make that more time with my father.”
John knew she was teasing by not mentioning him. They’d been close as children, but after their mother’s passing, they’d come together even more, forming a solid friendship. Of course, that didn’t mean they didn’t grate on each other nerves every so often. Especially whenever they got to teasing one another.
He fisted his hand, then put it against his chest. “Ow. I’m hurt. You just stabbed me in the heart.”
She wrinkled her nose at him. How could she love someone who irritated her so much? But she’d do anything for her brother.
“You’re welcome to stay as long as you want, honey. The landlord said we could take all the time we wanted. But then I’ve got to get back to Amarillo.” Her father had his own law firm to think about. John was one of the other two attorneys in the firm, but it was her dad who kept the place running smoothly.
“Thanks, Dad. I guess I needed this time off more than I thought.” She kept her gaze down and let him draw his own conclusions. He’d never guess the real reason she wanted to stay. How could he? She didn’t believe it, either.
“How about going out tomorrow?”
“Yeah, sis. It’ll give you another chance for the quails to laugh their heads off when you shoot and miss.”
They’d asked her every day that week, but she’d turned them down. The man who made her ache for him, the one who made her wake up in perspiration-filled awareness of a wet dream, had scolded her about shooting animals. She’d never given it much thought, but it made sense. Didn’t quails hurt when they were shot? And for what reason? For her enjoyment? She hadn’t told her father or brother about her decision to never hunt again, b
ut she couldn’t put it off any longer.
“Actually, I’m kind of over the hunting thing.”
They both acted as though she’d told them that she’d come from Venus. Hopefully, they’d understand without making her explain too much.
“What do you mean? Are you sure you’re all right? I mean, you aren’t hurt from falling, er, getting knocked down, are you?” Her father studied her, his brow knitted.
Even he doubted her now. But she couldn’t blame him.
“I’m fine.” She held her ground, meeting her father’s gaze. “I know this will seem fast and all, but I gave it some thought and realized that I can’t bring myself to kill an innocent animal just for sport.”
John put the back of his hand against her forehead. “Are you sick? We’ve gone hunting for years and now you’re done with it? Just like that? What’s really going on?”
She averted her gaze, knowing that, although he kidded her a lot, her brother was as astute as any attorney she’d ever met. He wasn’t anyone’s fool.
“Nothing. I just don’t want to do it any longer.” She’d long ago recognized that she’d started hunting to release the anger she’d felt at her mother’s passing, but that anger was gone. She’d continued going hunting as a way to stay close to her father and brother, but, although she never wanted to give up that closeness, they’d have to find another activity to share. “I don’t need to do it any longer.”
John began to question her more, but her father put a stop to it. “Let her alone. She has a right to her opinion.”
“But it doesn’t make any sense. One day she likes hunting, then the next she doesn’t? Something’s up.”
“John, leave it alone,” warned her father.
“Fine. You and I’ll go it alone. Right, Pops?”
“Of course.”
“Good.” John picked up his laptop and headed for the second bedroom of the small cabin. “I’ve got a few e-mails to attend to.”
She knew her father well enough to know he wouldn’t let it rest. “Does this have anything to do with the bear you saw? Are you afraid of getting attacked again? If you are, I understand.”
Afraid of getting attacked? If it meant having Josh on top of her, then she’d welcome another “attack.”
“I told you. I don’t want to kill any more. Not without a good reason. Doing it as a sport just isn’t enough for me any longer.”
“Okay, okay. I get it. But you’re staying anyway, right?”
She hugged him, and for the first time ever, noted that his firm shape seemed softer, less toned than she remembered. He was getting older, and she didn’t like thinking about it.
Instead, she put her mind on her plan. “I, uh, thought I’d go into Forever tonight.”
He pulled away, keeping his hold of her arms. “What for? Oh, wait. I think I heard something about a town meeting. Is something interesting going on? Should I come with you? We could try out that diner we saw when we drove through town. What was it called?”
“I think it was Milly’s Coffee Spot.”
“Yeah, that’s it. I’d rather give that place a try before going back into Shatland. Although I can’t say the welcome mat was out in either town.”
He was right. Forever and Shatland were very similar. They were both small country towns with one main road running down the center of them. Each of the towns had quaint shops lining the main street, including one grocery store and a hair salon, and houses spreading outward on the side streets. Ranches dotted the land around the towns. While Forever had Milly’s Coffee Spot as the local dining spot, Shatland had Earline’s Eatery.
Although the people in both towns hadn’t done or said anything to make them think so, they’d felt like outsiders. She hadn’t been able to shake the impression that the residents of each town had a secret. Smiles had greeted them, but they’d been accompanied by stares. The people had appeared normal, even though she’d noticed a few with larger than average teeth.
Now she knew why.
“No. You should stay here.”
“You want me to stay here, huh?” He eyed her in that way protective fathers eye their daughters. She could still remember how her mother had criticized him, telling him not to interrogate her like she was a witness against one of his clients.
“Yes.” She didn’t elaborate. The less details she gave meant the less chance for a slip up.
“Okay, I get it. You need a little space. Or maybe some time to check out the locals?”
“Hardly. I am not interested in any man. Especially a man who lives hundreds of miles away from Austin.”
“Uh-huh.” He strode over to the kitchen counter and poured a cup of coffee. “Just be careful, okay?”
“No problem. Thanks, Dad.” Trying not to seem too eager, she forced herself to walk to the front door in a slow, no-reason-to-hurry stroll. It wasn’t easy, especially since the meeting was due to start in less than thirty minutes.
He probably won’t be there anyway.
Yet, with no other leads to try, what did she have to lose?
* * * *
Curt led his cousins toward the back side of the Moonstone Bar that lay on the outskirts of Forever, Texas. They’d waited upwind for the past hour, letting the residents arrive and take their time getting into the bar. His legs were stiff from crouching behind the bushes that surrounded the place, but the soreness would be worth it if they gained any news about the woman Josh had knocked for a loop. They hadn’t asked around, fearing that she might be visiting someone in Forever. If that was the case and her friend was a werewolf, then soon every werewolf in the small town would know what had happened.
They had, however, checked out Shatland, knowing that word of a human female in town would spread faster than a grass fire. Some people reported having seen a family of three, two adult children and their father, grabbing a quick bite to eat at Earline’s. Could that have been their intended mate and the two men with her? All they could hope was that she was still around.
During the week since they’d seen her, they’d gotten grouchy and on each other’s nerves. The way Curt figured it, he owed them a prank just to ease the tension. Knowing they were itching to see their future mate again, he’d sent his cousins rushing to Sharon Glossen’s house, by telling them that their mate was staying with her.
Sharon, an older werebear who’d lost both her mates to heart attacks years earlier, had greeted Josh and Jadon with open arms, a yellowed smile, and sagging breasts. She’d had a crush on them since they’d reached maturity and had told them that if they didn’t find their intended mate soon, she’d lay claim to them.
The sight of his cousins hightailing it away from her house with Sharon’s flowery housecoat flapping in the wind behind her as she chased after them still gave him a good chuckle. Yeah, what they’d needed was a good prank, even if he had caught hell for it later.
“I still don’t understand why she didn’t come to us. Isn’t that what the connection’s supposed to do?”
He didn’t bothering looking at Josh. Instead, he motioned for him to keep his voice low. “You know as well as we do that the connection has different ways of working. It’s only been a week.”
One glance at Jadon told him his oldest cousin was thinking the same thing. A week was a long time for intended mates to get together. Especially after one of them had already touched her.
“What if she doesn’t show up?”
For fuck’s sake. When did Josh get so pessimistic?
“Damn it, Josh. Give it a rest. She’ll show. At the very least, we’ll hear something about her. These werewolves don’t let people walk in and out of their land without knowing.”
Thank you, Jadon.
“Are you sure we can trust Virton to unlock the door?”
“He’ll do it. He owes me a favor. Not to mention, he’s trying to sell me that extra land adjacent to our ranch.” Jadon groaned as he shifted from one foot to the other then squatted behind them.
Robert Virton wa
s the local realtor. As such, the faerie tried to please all the supernaturals since vampires, werewolves, werebears, and the rest were all potential customers. Faeries were natural pranksters which meant he and Robert got along well.
“Did anyone see her go in?” He hadn’t taken his attention off the place, but there was always a chance that he’d missed her. He got his answer when neither of his cousins answered.
“Are you sure, Josh? Is she the one?” Curt had asked the same question often since the day Josh had knocked her off her feet. Could Josh be pulling a prank on the prankster? But no. One look at Josh’s face when he talked about her was enough to know he wasn’t lying.
“Damn, man. How many times do I have to say it? Yeah, she’s the one.”
“But are you certain?” He and Jadon had talked about it amongst themselves. Was what Josh said he’d felt really the connection? Since they’d only heard about how others felt when they’d gotten it, they couldn’t be sure what to expect. That begged the question. How could Josh be sure?
“Once you get close enough to smell and touch her, then you’ll know. I don’t have a doubt in my mind.”
Jadon was as skeptical as Curt was. “Describe it again.”
Josh didn’t mind answering that question. In fact, he’d told them about it several times. Each time he told them, it sounded better than the time before.
“It’s like getting struck by lightning except that it’s not painful. A massive sizzle rushes through you, and for a moment, you’re not sure which way is up. It’s like someone picked you up and shook you. Your body goes haywire and your mind stops working. Then, all at once, you can’t think about anything but her. When it hit me, I just knew.”
Curt couldn’t wait. Listening to Josh talk made him jealous. If only he’d gotten to touch her. Or at least gotten close enough to sniff her. But when Jadon and he had heard the two human males charging up the rise, they’d known they had to get away. They’d growled a warning at Josh and were almost ready to dash out and tear him off the girl when he’d finally come out of his trance and run away.