by Beverly Rae
How had she come to mean so much to him? Was he making more of their time together than was real? He opened his eyes, seeking the answer in her face and finding it in her smile.
Slipping his hand along her flat stomach, he paused and leaned back to take in all of her. She reached for his hand and guided it between her legs. She opened to him, bending one knee. Her wetness, smoother, silkier, unlike the slick wetness of the water, covered his finger with warmth. Cupping his neck, she urged him to take her nipple.
She was his heaven. She was the one person he’d waited for, yearned for, but had never allowed himself to believe existed. A long, slow moan rumbled in his throat as he dipped his fingers into her pussy. Chloe arched her back and grasped his arms to pull her body toward him. He slid his hand behind her, supporting her.
First with one, then with two, he worked his fingers against her sweet nub. She cried out and spread her legs wider, giving him the freedom to plunge his fingers deeper. Licking from one breast to the other, he rubbed his palm against her clitoris, moving faster.
She inhaled sharply, startling him, then pushed away in one abrupt movement. “Conan. No.”
“No?” Conan couldn’t fathom the word. How could she say no after what they’d already done? Fear that she would turn him away made his heart beat faster.
Chloe grabbed his hair and tugged. “I don’t mean no. Not really. I only meant—” She looked first one way, then the other. “What if someone sees us? Are we far from where we left Nina and Billy?”
Relief swamped him, leaving him shaking. “Doesn’t matter. Billy knows better than to bother me.” He glanced around the area. “As far as anyone else is concerned, they can either watch or get the hell out of here.” He took her chin, making her understand that he meant what he said. “I don’t care. Unless you tell me you don’t want me, I’m going to have you. Right here. Right now.”
Chloe bit her lip, her eyes taking on a mischievous glint. “Not if I take you first.” Laughing, she locked her legs around his waist. “Gotcha!”
Chapter Seven
Conan grunted and threw his body on top of hers, pinning her to the ground. Chloe squealed but made no effort to get away. She kept her legs firmly around him and marveled at the expressions that swept over his face, wondered at every flex of his muscles. She opened her mouth to tell him how amazing he was, then changed her mind. Words could never be enough.
He kissed her neck, feathering his lips across her skin. She shivered, a tremor born of lust and not the chill in the air. He cupped her breast, then pressed against her and eased the tip of his shaft inside her. She gasped, stiffening at the size of him. She’d remembered how large he was, but she hadn’t had time to think about his size, hadn’t had time to prepare.
Could she handle him again? She’d never seen anyone as impossibly long and thick. She had, in fact, felt raw after the first time. Raw in the best way possible. The kind of raw she wanted to feel again. Her vaginal muscles tightened in anticipation.
He caught her looking and understood her thoughts, a frown creasing his brow. “I should make sure you’re ready.” He tried to slip lower, but she clung to him and shook her head.
“I’m ready.”
He arched an eyebrow, a cocky expression on his face. “Are you sure? I wouldn’t want to hurt you.” A second later and the cockiness disappeared. “No, I’m serious.”
“I know.” She palmed his cheek, loving the way his stubble tickled her skin. “Hey, I was fine the first time, remember?”
“Yeah, but—”
“Conan, are you ever going to finish what you started?”
He chuckled, then repositioned his body. “Look at me.”
Doing as he asked, she held him, both of them locked in a spell of their own making. He pushed his shaft farther into her vagina. She stiffened, once again surprised at his size, as though it was the first time he’d entered her. Maybe she wasn’t as ready as she thought. He stroked her hair, comforting her.
“Breathe, Chloe.”
She let out a breath, then took deep breaths. Breathe.
“That’s it. Relax and let it happen.”
Chloe kept her gaze glued to him and concentrated on clearing her mind of everything else except Conan. She drank in the musky scent of him, an aroma that was part male and part wilderness. Wanting to taste his scent, she traced kisses along his shoulder, then flattened her tongue to feel the strength lying beneath the tanned skin. She ran her hands down his arms, letting her fingers slide over the swell of muscles. His breathing was steady, and she tried to match hers with his, but her heart raced too fast to do so.
He stroked her, gently, lovingly, making her ready. But it was the tenderness she saw in his face, in his eyes, that rushed the wetness between her legs. She blew out air and gripped her legs tighter around him
He pushed in, her walls welcoming him, cocooning him. She tightened around him, the pain easing to heat, her body opening to him as her heart welcomed him. Easing farther inside, he gripped the sides of her head, his hands stroking her hair.
Chloe arched against him, drawing him deeper than she’d thought possible. Conan nibbled his way from her earlobe down her neck to slip along her chest until he could latch onto her nipple. She clutched his hair as zings of lust ripped through her.
Conan moaned against her breast, the vibrations of the sound traveling into her. He sucked and nipped at her bud, tormenting her. Without warning, he tracked his tongue along her skin into the hollow between her breasts, then under the ticklish curve.
She held him tightly and rocked against him. Wetness flowed from where they’d joined, making wet sounds that drove her desire higher. He cupped her bottom, fondling her cheek, and rammed into her harder than ever. She cried out as an orgasm broke free. Throwing her head back in a wild scream, she sent the birds in the nearby tree soaring into the air.
“Easy, baby. You don’t want anyone to hear you.” Conan’s chuckle warmed her lips seconds before he closed in on her.
The kiss smothered her retort and softened her mouth. He toyed with her, dancing his tongue at the roof of her mouth, and a groan flowed from her throat. And still he plunged into her, releasing her only to plunge again. Breathless, she fought to keep pace with him.
The kiss ended, and she opened her mouth to speak. But her breath was swept away once more when Conan rolled over, taking her with him.
If she’d thought him big before, she now wondered if he would tear her apart. But, oh, what a way to die!
Conan filled his hands with her breasts and she mimicked him with her hands on his pecs and reveled in the hardness of his chest. He thrust upward, pounding into her. Keeping her arms straight, she cushioned her breasts as they bounced with each of his pushes. She lifted her face to the sky and closed her eyes, loving the way her hair danced around her shoulders as the warmth from the sun tried to match the heat between her legs. He released her breasts to take her ass in his hands, spreading her cheeks apart so he could play with her bottom. She lost the battle to remain silent as another shout of release echoed into the air.
She couldn’t think any longer and closed her eyes, focusing on the way he held onto her, the way his arms felt under her grasp, the way he kept her upright when it felt like her body could have dissolved into a molten pool. Her body reacted to his by instinct alone, calling on an inner primal hunger. Her exclamations of “oh, oh, oh” played accompaniment to his thrusts and she held on to him, to her consciousness.
Another orgasm, more intense than any other, ripped through her. Her body jerked, letting wave after wave sweep her along for the ride. She cried out, unable to care any longer if someone heard her. He shouted along with her, his release coming seconds after hers.
Conan grew still even as the sweep of orgasms rolled on, and as the last one quieted, she opened her eyes. “Oh, my God, Conan.”
She smiled, a woman satisfied, and looked down at his face.
Shock drove every thought away. Conan’s face was co
ntorted, his eyes glowing with a strange, amber hue. His mouth had extended and his lips were drawn back, exposing long, sharp fangs. Chloe screamed and threw her body off his, then scrambled on hands and knees to the other side of the small island. Staying in a crouched position, she whirled around, terror filling her lungs. She clutched her clothes to her chest, not only for cover, but for something to hold on to. Something real to cling to.
Conan sat with his head in his hands, his elbows resting on his knees. His shoulders rose and fell with an obvious effort to breathe.
Chloe swallowed, dislodging the fear clogging her throat. “Conan?” Hurriedly, she dressed, pulling her clothes on in quick movements.
Several moments passed before he finally raised his head. She inhaled, surprised to see his face had returned to normal.
“It’s okay, Chloe.”
“What the hell did I just see?” Her voice was a whisper. “Am I losing my mind? Tell me what happened just now. And don’t tell me I imagined what I saw.”
She saw the struggle on his features. Saw how he battled with himself to decide what to tell her.
“You didn’t imagine it.”
Now that she had confirmation, she wasn’t certain she wanted it. “No. I can’t believe it. I saw…”
He nodded, encouraging her to continue. “Go on.”
“I saw your face change. You looked… You looked like an animal.” She waited for him to laugh and tell her she was hallucinating. Maybe hallucinating was better than the truth she didn’t want to hear.
“I know.”
She stood, ready to run. From him. From what she’d seen. From her heart telling her to stay. “I don’t understand.” What possible explanation could he give her?
“Will you let me say what I need to say? Without running away?”
She glared at him, at once angry. Why did something always go wrong with the men in her life? How could he do this and take away what she’d found in him? What she hoped he’d found in her? She didn’t want to understand. Instead, she wanted to believe everything would be all right. But the burn in her stomach stole away the hope of her dreaming coming true. She gritted her teeth and gave him the best answer should could. “I’ll try.”
“Do you remember that day by the stream?”
Oh, please don’t. Don’t tell me what I don’t want to hear. But she had to know. “Of course I do.” Her anger faded, replaced by fear—and, God help her, curiosity.
“You saw me.”
Again, she couldn’t stop from answering. “Yes.” I should run. Why am I not running?
His gaze nailed her to the spot. “You saw me change.”
She licked her lips and tried to swallow in a mouth gone dry. Her heart beat faster, pounding in her ears. “I saw you. Then I saw a bear.”
Conan stood and took a step toward her. To her surprise, she held her ground, ready to face whatever came.
He nodded. “You saw me change into my other side. Into the animal side of me. You saw me shift into a bear.”
Even the birds had stopped singing as though they, too, prepared to hear the unbelievable. “No.”
“Chloe, don’t. You know what I’m saying is true.”
“I was drunk. I hallucinated.”
“No, you weren’t drunk. I smelled alcohol on you, but not enough. Not enough for you to see something that wasn’t there.” Conan took another step toward her, but halted when she raised a hand to ward him off.
She had to go in, all or nothing, daring him to make her believe. “I don’t believe this. What you’re saying is impossible.” Prove it to me. Torn, she wanted him to refuse and yet prayed he’d take her unspoken dare.
“Then I’ll show you.”
She stared at him, then tasted the blood on her lip where she’d bitten too hard. Wiping it away with her fingertips, she held herself tall and took his challenge. “Okay. Show me.”
He backed away, his naked body exciting her even as a different kind of excitement shot adrenaline though her. She waited, ready to see the truth.
“Please, Chloe, promise me one thing.”
Even with fear chilling her, she would have promised him anything. “What?”
“Promise me you won’t run.”
She laughed, the sound blurting from her lips in an effort to keep it contained. “I don’t know. I’ll try not to.”
He nodded. “I understand. But just remember that whatever happens, whatever you see, I won’t hurt you.” His expression jolted and thrilled her. “I’d never hurt you. I care too much to ever harm you. You believe me, don’t you?”
He cares. For a moment, only his declaration mattered and her pulse slowed. Did she care for him? She searched her feelings and found the answer. Yes, she did. She struggled to explain the why of it, then gave up. She cared. Why else would she have stayed?
“Do you trust me, Chloe?”
Did she? Could she trust this man she’d known for such a short time? Once again, her answer came swiftly. “I do.”
They regarded each other, and if he had asked, she would’ve gone anywhere with him. Surprised, she dipped her head, hiding the emotions she knew played across her face. How had she come to care for him so much, so fast?
Think, Chloe. Think with your head and not with your heart.
Regaining control, she lifted her head to find him still staring at her, his own emotions playing over his features. She took a deep breath. “Like I said. Show me.”
He nodded again, closed his eyes, then put his back to her.
At first she wasn’t sure he was doing anything because he stood so still. But then, as she narrowed her eyes, she noticed a subtle change coming over him. His skin, smooth before, became less distinct. She blinked, wondering if her eyes had clouded over. But the hazy outline covering his arms continued to spread over the rest of him. His broad shoulders grew wider, spreading outward as his torso thickened, becoming larger than any man’s could, even a giant of a man like Conan. Soon, the changes became clearer as coarse brown hair—no, fur—covered him.
Crack after teeth-gritting crack split the air and Chloe pressed her hand to her mouth against the painful noise. How could any human withstand the torture? She reached out for him, then drew back her hand as the man gave way to the beast. First one limb broke, then another as some limbs shortened and bent into odd angles while others thickened.
Chloe gasped and stumbled backward. Conan dropped to his hands seconds before his hands no longer existed. Instead, huge paws with deathly claws dug into the ground. A torture-ridden moan erupted from his thickened neck and he turned toward her. His eyes glowed, the darkness giving away to a liquid golden that overtook the black. A large snout filled the bear face, the lips pulled back to expose deadly fangs. Conan, the grizzly, shook his head and shuddered, moving his fur in small waves from his large head to the blunt tail.
Only moments had passed, and yet Chloe’s life had changed forever. A low growl rolled from the bear’s mouth, awakening her from her trance.
“Conan?” Unsure whether he’d heard her whisper, she tried again, forcing her voice louder. “Oh, my God. Is that really you?”
Conan took a step forward, his claws digging into the grass. That small movement sent her stomach leaping into her throat. She’d seen him change and knew the animal before her was the man she’d made love to. But had his mind, his thoughts changed along with the rest of him? Did he still think like a man? Did he remember who she was? She had to clench her fists to keep from fleeing.
Taking the biggest risk of her life, forcing herself to trust him more than she felt she should, she knelt to the ground and reached out her hand, her palm turned toward the sky. The bear cocked his head, then shifted on his paws as though deciding whether to charge at her. At once, he quieted, stopping in his tracks and snorting.
Chloe held her breath as he moved forward, slowly padding his way toward her. Her arm shook and a fine mist of perspiration formed on her forehead. She had no doubt that he could rip her apart wit
h a single swipe of his paw. Fighting to keep from squeezing her eyes closed, she watched the giant animal lift its head and place its face against her palm.
He stretched his mouth open, and fear once again shook her. Was he going to bite her? Would he show his ferocious fangs seconds before tearing into her arm?
A low, slow rumble reverberated into her hand. Although similar to his growl, the sound was different. Softer, almost soothing like a mother cooing to her child. Chloe stared in amazement as the corners of the massive mouth curved upward. Was he smiling?
Tension seeped out of her. Conan the man was still in control. How else could he have given her a smile? She touched the other side of his face and he snorted again, startling her, but she didn’t pull away. Steeling herself, she skimmed her hand just low enough to run her thumb over his nose, letting the cold wetness dampen her skin. He opened his mouth, the hot air of his breath flowing over her fingers, and she slipped her hand back from his mouth and over the side of his face again. She gasped at the touch of the coarse hairs against her palm, then slid her hand up to rub the tip of his ear. A satisfied rumble rewarded her for her affection as he tilted his head, leaning into her caress.
“So you like that, do you?” She scratched the other ear and received another happy moan. “Just don’t expect this much attention every time, okay?” Every time? Would there be more times? Could she stand watching him change again? The pounding of her heart had slowed to a near-normal rate and the heat of her fear had cooled on her brow. Seeking the man inside, she couldn’t help but feel the presence of the animal too.
“You wouldn’t hurt me, would you, Conan?” She shook her head, as much as to reassure herself as to answer for him. “No, of course not. You said as much.”
Although not complete, the trust within her grew. She sat on her knees, nervous tension keeping her body taut, and studied him. “You really are amazing. Scary as hell, but amazing.”