Julius turned and huffed, swinging his massive body from side to side. She watched, and with a look of relief, followed him along the trail. He headed for the trees; he’d always found them calming. They’d stood for decades, waiting, watching, just as he had waited for his mate.
When they reached the trees he ran ahead, his big, lumbering body covering the ground quickly, before he skidded around and ran back toward her. He couldn’t let her out of his sight, but he needed to release the pent-up tension in his body. Catherine stood still while he ran in large circles, skidding to a halt to stand on his hind legs and rake his claws down tree trunks. He roared loudly as he let go of the devil on his back who told him he shouldn’t be taking this out on the trees. There was only one man who deserved to feel the sharpness of his claws.
“Enough now?” Catherine asked, as she stood with her arms folded across her chest, looking down on him with an expression that had gone past indulgence.
His bear hung his head, knowing how Mike and Liam must have felt to be scolded by their mother. He nodded, and then shifted back into his human form, a sheepish expression on his face. “I needed some time.”
“I got that.” Catherine tilted her head to one side and surveyed the man before her. “We’re mates, right?”
“We are,” he agreed.
“And mates never leave.” Her voice cracked as she said those words, and she turned away, wiping her tears.
“Catherine. I’m sorry.” He strode forward and caught her in his arms. “I had to get out of there or I would have killed him.”
She sniffed loudly. “I thought you were going to leave me.”
“Never.” He turned her to face him and he brushed her hair back from her face, wiping her tears from her cheeks. “But I told you before, I want you to be happy. If you choose him…”
“Choose him?” she asked hotly. “Why would I choose him? We both know he’s not my true mate!” Her incredulous expression told him just how much he’d misjudged Catherine’s reaction to Hector coming back into her life.
Julius gave a hollow laugh. “I really messed up. I should have stayed and fought for you.”
Catherine shook her head. “No, you did the right thing.”
Julius frowned. “Running away?”
“Yes.”
“And that’s a good thing?” OK, all his years as a hotel owner had not prepared him for how his mate thought.
“Yes, because I ran too. That should make it quite clear he’s nothing to me.”
Julius thought back to what Liam had said about his father. “How did he find you?”
“He didn’t find me,” Catherine said. “I think he was as much in shock as I was to find me there. He came for Liam.”
“For Liam? He wants to get to know his son. I can understand that.” He might find it difficult to tolerate Hector in their lives, but now that Julius knew Catherine’s heart belonged to him, he would find a way.
“Yes, while you were running around having your hissy fit, I thought it through. He came to find Liam after he saw the article about him and the egg hunters. The article also mentioned the store. His conscience must have got the better of him and he decided to visit his son at last.” Her fists clenched as her voice hardened. “He’d better not be here to hurt Liam again.”
“You would have made an awesome mama bear,” Julius told her.
“So, we’re good?” Catherine asked, her finger stroking his chin. “I’ve made my choice.”
“We’re more than good.” Julius lifted her up, and eased himself between her thighs as he rested her back against a tree trunk.
“How good?” Catherine asked.
He rocked his pelvis against her pubic bone, a gasp from Catherine told him he’d hit just the right spot. “This good.”
He claimed her mouth, his hand sneaking under her sweater to cup her breast in his large hand. The adrenaline that had filled his body was dissipating, but not fast enough. He wanted to claim her, to rid her of any residual scent left by that scoundrel who laid claim to his mate.
“Fuck me, Julius. Here in the forest. Mate with me.” She breathed the words into his ear, and his hand tightened on her breast, his thumb finding her taut nipple and teasing it.
“Are you sure? Once we start, I don’t think I’ll be able to control myself enough to stop,” he ground out his warning.
“Then don’t stop.” She kissed him, hard and fierce, as she slid her hand between their bodies and rolled her palm over the head of his cock.
Julius didn’t need any other invitation. He let her go, and she slid to her feet, using the trunk of the tree for support as he knelt before her, and unbuckled her jeans. He tore them down over her thighs, leaving her naked from the waist down. His nostrils flared as he breathed in the scent of her arousal, and his mouth watered at the promise of her sweetness.
Lifting her left knee, he placed her thigh on his shoulder, exposing her to him. Cath leaned back, her head turned to watch the branches above their head swaying in the breeze as he flicked his tongue over her clit. He needed more; he needed all she had to offer.
Closing his mouth over her clit, he sucked hard while his tongue flicked over the sensitive bud. Catherine plunged her hands into his hair, holding his head in place while he licked her, his teeth grazing her clit, pushing her arousal up in intensity. Julius ran a finger along the length of her sex. Damn, she was wet. Cath pressed her hips down, pushing his finger inside her. He couldn’t disappoint her, so he pushed another finger inside, stroking her inner walls, while his mouth continued to torture her.
In and out, he fingered her. Slick juices ran down his hand as he sucked her clit. She was close to coming, her fingers opening and closing as they pulled at his hair. She whimpered, not knowing whether she wanted him to stop, or keep going until she climaxed. It was too much and not enough. And he wanted to be more than enough.
He grazed her inner walls with his fingers, until at last he hit her G-spot. Her voice climbed in pitch, gasping for breath as he tortured her clit, then she exploded, her inner walls gripping his fingers, as they pulsed around them. He nearly came too, his cock, desperate to be free, to be buried inside her as she came, strained against his jeans.
When her orgasm passed, he lowered her leg and she set her foot down on the ground, her face turned away as she regained her composure. “Look at me, Catherine.”
She slowly turned her head, and their eyes met. “That was incredible. But it wasn’t enough.”
Catherine reached for his belt buckle and yanked on it. With confident fingers, she undid his belt and pushed his jeans to the ground, where they pooled around his ankles. She placed her hands on his shoulders, and he lifted her up, so she straddled him. Catherine held his cock in her hand, stroking the shaft from root to tip as she guided him into her.
With Catherine’s back pressed against the tree trunk, he thrust forward, filling her completely. He groaned, completely still as he fought for control. Her warm, wet sex wrapped around his cock, while the touch of her lips on his skin as she kissed his neck increased his arousal until he teetered on the edge of his own orgasm.
Only when he was fully in control did he pull out of her, before thrusting back into her hard. His bear simmered beneath the surface of his skin, the agony of the day making the veil between man and beast thin. But Julius would not relinquish his mate to anyone, even the other side of himself. Their lovemaking was a human action, and Julius wasn’t ready to let it end yet.
He kissed her, his hand threading its way under her sweater, and pushing her bra up so he could pinch her hard nipples. Her hips bucked and she bit his neck, the sensations joining with the thrust of his cock, and he came.
Julius moved his hand around where it supported her thighs, and pressed against her sex, toying with her outer lips, until she came, her sex gripping him, her body drawing his essence out of him.
He leaned against the tree, his fingers scraping against the rough bark as he caught his breath. “I’ve alwa
ys imagined what it would be like to claim you here on the mountain.”
“I’m happy to indulge you in one of your fantasies,” Catherine told him as she quickly dressed.
“We should get back, I guess.” Julius didn’t want his mate anywhere near her ex-husband.
“We should. I ran out on Liam. Although I sent him a text to let him know I was OK.” Catherine dug into her pocket and pulled out her phone. “He’s replied. Hector left.”
“Then I’ll take you home.”
“I am yours,” Catherine promised. “Hector told me we weren’t mates. In a note when he left. He said I belonged to someone else. He was right. I can see it now. So why did he kiss me?”
Julius kissed her cheek, relieved to hear her say those words. But also angry that Hector had played with Catherine’s emotions once more.
Chapter Fifteen – Cath
They reached Bear Creek, and the whole sorry episode brought Cath crashing back to reality. This was something she wasn’t going to be able to fix with a mother’s kiss and a Band-Aid. When she entered the store, her fears were compounded.
“I’m sorry I ran out on you.” She folded Liam into her arms. Casting a glance over his shoulder, she saw Beverly near the back of the store, her face like thunder. A sob rattled in Cath’s chest, she didn’t want to lose her son over this. “Are you OK?”
“I’m fine, Mom,” Liam said. “Don’t worry about me, I’m tough enough to take care of myself. Once upon a time, I’d have loved to meet my father and have a relationship with him, but he’s about twenty years too late.”
“Don’t say that,” Beverly told him, coming to join them. “He’s still your dad.”
“No, he’s a man who just happened to be there when I was conceived,” Liam said gently. Beverly pressed her lips together, for once being tactful enough to keep her opinion to herself.
“Did he say what he wanted?” Cath asked her son.
Liam shrugged. “He asked about the store, said he was proud of me for making something of myself. He wanted to go upstairs so we could have a chat. I told him I was on my own since my assistant wasn’t here today.”
“Did he say much? Tell you where he’s been?” Cath asked, aware of Julius behind her.
“No.” Liam looked up and caught her eye. “Although when I told him I was an undercover cop, he left pretty darn quick.”
“That doesn’t mean anything,” Beverly insisted. “Maybe he’s just wary of policemen.” She frowned and rubbed her temples. “Why can’t he be here because he wants to see his son get married?”
“Oh, Beverly, honey.” Cath went to Beverly and gave her a hug. “I’m sure he is. This won’t spoil the wedding, I promise.”
She gave Cath a weak smile, then said firmly, “Nothing is going to spoil my…our wedding. I won’t let it.”
“That’s my girl,” Liam said and hugged her, planting a kiss on top of her head. “I’m sure he just feels awkward because he’s been out of our lives so long.”
“You’re right, Liam. I was just shocked, we’re all on edge and just overreacting,” Cath told Beverly.
“He said he was staying in a local hotel and would visit again tomorrow.” Liam looked at his mom. “He wants to meet me alone.”
“Does he?” Cath asked. Then why the kiss? It was so out of character for Hector. His note said he realized she belonged to another. So why come back and kiss her like that?
“But he doesn’t get to make all the rules,” Liam said firmly. “He owes us both an explanation.”
“You’re right, he does. But I don’t want to mess this up for you, Liam.” Cath’s heart ached for her son. He was so strong, so positive, and yet this had hit him hard. The years stripped away until the boy remained.
“Sorry if I overreacted. I’m so nervous about the wedding and everything. This is a once in a lifetime experience. We are never going to get married again.” Beverly grinned. “Which is great, but it means there’s an enormous pressure to get it right.”
Liam wrapped his arm around her shoulders and pulled her close. “As long as we say I do, and then live the rest of our lives together, I’ll be happy.”
Beverly closed her eyes and smiled. “I’m going to let that one go.” She prodded him in the chest. “You’ve had a stressful day, I get it, but if you aren’t as committed to this wedding being fabulous as I am, you might just find your eagle plucked like an oven-ready chicken.”
Liam burst out laughing, the tension he’d been carrying gone. “My eagle is going to hide in a tree and never come down.”
Cath laughed and hugged Beverly. “I’m so happy to have you as part of the family.”
“Make ’em laugh. A coping mechanism for when I was growing up,” Beverly explained.
“Laughter is always is the best remedy,” Cath agreed.
“Come on, Julius, you’d better join the family hug too.” Liam held his arm out and Julius came to join in.
Cath put her arm around him. “Welcome to our crazy world.”
“I can’t think of a better place to be,” Julius admitted.
“You may change your mind before this is over,” Liam warned. “I’ve seen enough crazy to know what people are capable of.”
Cath turned a sorrowful gaze on her son. “Beverly might be right; your dad may be here to make up for leaving.”
“He might. And I aim to give him the benefit of the doubt. But I also want to see you happy. And if that means you need answers to finally put him behind you, then you deserve them.” Liam took his mom’s hand.
“When did you get so wise?” Cath asked.
“When he met me,” Beverly said with a straight face. “OK, just kidding. Liam is the most sensible person I’ve ever met. Except that time you sat on a nest full of decoy eggs.”
“You are never going to let me forget that one, are you?” Liam said with feigned annoyance.
“Oh, that one is going to be passed down to our grandchildren. I have the photographic evidence to prove it.” Beverly kissed Liam on the cheek. “I have to get back to work. See you all later.”
“Bye, Beverly,” Cath said.
“See you later, Beverly,” Julius added.
She waved as she left the store, and Liam walked to the door, and locked it behind her, turning the sign to Closed. “What a day.”
“I should get going too.” Julius kissed Cath on the lips. “Call me if you need anything. And I mean anything.”
“I will.” She smiled wearily. Her bones ached, her muscles ached; everything ached as if she had run a marathon. All she wanted was a nice hot soak in the tub.
“Are you OK, Mom?” Liam asked, after closing the door and securing it behind Julius.
“I don’t know.” She laid her head on his shoulder. “This morning everything was perfect, and now I don’t know what the hell is going on.”
“You know, I have a nice bottle of wine upstairs. Why don’t we open it, and I’ll cook us some dinner?” He put his arm around her shoulders and guided her toward the stairs.
“That sounds perfect.” She stopped at the bottom of the stairs. “Liam, I want to say one thing.”
“Which is?” he asked.
“You have to make up your own mind about your dad. I don’t want you to be swayed by what he did to me in the past. Or what I’ve said about him over the years.” Tears pricked her eyes. “You are an adult, and this is your choice.”
“I know, Mom. I know. But I mean what I said. He isn’t my dad. Just because he turns up and wants to get to know me, doesn’t mean I want to know him. It’s not his right. He has to earn it. He has to earn my respect, and the forgiveness of the nine-year-old boy who never had a dad come to his football practice. Who never shot hoops with him, or taught him how to fish. Or how to shift.” Liam’s voice rose as his anger erupted. But then he let it go.
“I love you.” There were no other words to ease his pain.
“I love you too, Mom. And I don’t mean that you weren’t enough for us. But he shou
ld have been more. And I can understand if something happened to prevent him being there. But…he should never have been there in the first place, he duped you.”
She took his hand. “Wine, food, and a movie.” They climbed the stairs together. “Do you know Carter Eden lives in town? He’s the actor from Space Monkeys, isn’t he?”
“He is,” Liam chuckled. “I didn’t know you were a fan?”
“Are you kidding, have you seen that guy’s face? He’s a god.”
“You know he’s in the mountain rescue team?” Liam laughed at her shocked face.
“You know him?” Cath asked.
“Yeah. He helped with the egg hunters.”
“That wasn't in the newspaper article.”
“That’s because he was a bear at the time.”
Cath stopped at the top of the stairs, her hands covering her mouth. “He’s a shifter? The Carter Eden is a shifter?”
Liam’s laughter rumbled in his chest. “He sure is.”
“Well, I don’t know what’s more shocking, your father turning up out of the blue or finding out a movie star is a shifter.”
“I love you, Mom.”
“I love you too, Liam.” She kissed his cheek. “Do you have Space Monkeys on DVD?”
“I think it’s on Netflix.”
“I guess that’s our evening’s entertainment taken care of.”
“I guess it is.”
They cooked dinner together and drank wine while watching Carter Eden star in Space Monkeys 1 and 2. It was what they needed, to take their minds off Hector’s arrival. There was no point trying to guess why he was here. They would find out soon enough, but as Cath watched Liam laugh at the movie, she promised she would rip more than Hector’s head off if he hurt her son again.
Chapter Sixteen – Julius
The journey back to Bear Bluff passed by in a daze. Autopilot had kicked in somewhere between Julius getting in the car and taking the road out of Bear Creek. There was no room in his head for something as mundane as driving, not when the thought of losing Catherine was so acute.
We’re not going to lose her, his bear told him firmly.
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