by Sophie Stern
Jake thought about it as he grabbed a slice of pizza. How could he tell? He’d heard stories his entire life about mates. His mother had promised that when you met your bear shifter other half, something changed inside of you. She and Jake’s father had been mates, but most bears weren’t so lucky.
Most bears were happy finding someone they could be content with. Sometimes someone you were attracted to and cared for deeply could be enough, but now that Jake had met Heather, he knew no other woman would ever satisfy him again.
“When I touched her,” he said. “I could sense it. I can’t even explain it. I just…knew.”
“And does she just ‘know’?” Ryan asked. It was a fair question. Could you find your mate but have them not know? Was there a chance she didn’t know?
Jake thought about the way Heather looked at him, about her arousal when he hugged her, about the way she acted when he spoke to her.
“She knows,” he said simply. “She’s scared of it, but she knows.”
Ryan slapped him playfully on the shoulder.
“Good luck then, buddy.” He took a bite of his pizza. “You’re gonna need it.”
5.
Heather didn’t sleep well that night. She tossed and turned into the early hours of the morning, then finally gave up. She was too nervous to think: too anxious to do anything but fantasize about what it would be like to finally be with Jake.
She had no doubt he was her mate, but part of her wasn’t sure she wanted it to be true. She had lived for years thinking the idea of mates was a myth. How had all of her beliefs changed so quickly? All it had taken was one simple touch and she was smitten.
Heather finally got out of bed, showered, and made a pot of coffee. She was wide awake, even without the caffeine, and nervous as hell to face the day.
She dressed simply in a sundress and a pair of sandals. She wasn’t particularly thin. Her bear stature was all curves. Still, she liked the way the dress accentuated those curves and the way it showed off her breasts. Would Jake like it? She thought so.
Heather spent way too much time fixing and refixing her hair, finally settling in a long, loose braid. With one last look in the mirror, she grabbed her purse and headed outside to wait. She lived a few minutes off base in a small house she had purchased the year before. The two bedrooms were more than enough for her and the small front porch was just big enough for a little swing and a potted plant.
Jake had agreed to pick her up on the way to the zoo. It would be easiest, he said. He wrapped the idea in the fact that she wouldn’t have to look for a parking spot, but Heather knew he just wanted to spend more time with her. She wasn’t going to fight him on that. She loved the idea of Jake wanting to be around her, to touch her, to play with her.
She loved everything about what was going to happen today.
Her phone beeped and she glanced at it.
On my way! See you soon!
She smiled. Jake. A flurry of butterflies when crazy in her stomach just then and she wondered if he felt as nervous as she did. She sent him a quick text back, locked up the house, and settled down on the porch swing to wait for him.
A few minutes later, he pulled up and she hurried down to the truck. She climbed in the front seat and put her seat belt on, then flashed him a smile.
“You look nice,” they both said at the same time, then laughed. Her butterflies disappeared. She felt nervous around Jake, but somehow, he managed to put her right at ease.
It was a 20-minute drive to the zoo and Jake put on some country music that Heather loved.
“I didn’t know you listened to country,” she said suspiciously. “I thought all airmen liked hip hop or rap.”
“Not the bears,” he said with a grin. “Bears are country through-and-through.”
“Do you miss it?” She asked him.
“Miss what?”
“Living in the country?”
“How’d you know I grew up in the country?”
She nodded toward the radio. “Through-and-through, right?”
He grinned and tipped an imaginary cowboy hat.
“I grew up just outside of Nellenston,” he said. “On a little farm with my parents. They had to sell it when I was a teenager and we moved to the big city, but I still miss it.”
“Nellenston?” She asked. “Isn’t that near the dragon island?”
He chuckled. “Yeah, but that’s a story for another day.”
“I want to see the zebras!” Ava interrupted from the back seat, and Heather turned around to peek at the girl.
“You really love zebras, don’t you?” Heather asked.
Ava nodded. “My mommy liked zebras.”
“Was she a-” Heather stopped herself mid-sentence. She didn’t want to bring up painful memories, yet Ava and Jake both seemed strangely comfortable talking about Ava’s mother.
“Christina was a bear shifter, like me,” Jake said. “But she was an artist and she had a penchant for zebras. She decorated Ava’s entire nursery in zebra print and zebra drawings.”
“That’s sweet,” Heather commented, and Ava continued talking about zebras and sharing different facts she had learned. “How did you two meet?” Heather asked quietly when there was a break in the conversation, and Jake hesitated for a second.
Then he reached over and gripped Heather’s hand. He held it and didn’t let go. He didn’t look at her or slow down the truck. He just kept driving, holding her hand, as if it were the most normal thing in the world to him.
“We met at the diner where she worked,” Jake told her. “We dated for a few years, then Ava came along.”
The pulled into the parking lot of the zoo and Ava began rustling around, grabbing her belongings and getting ready for a day of walking around. Jake leaned in and whispered to Heather.
“Don’t ever feel like you can’t ask me questions about my past, Heather. I’m an open book.” Then he kissed her softly on the lips and pulled away. He hopped out of the truck and went to help Ava get out.
Heather pressed her fingers to her lips.
Again, he acted as if it were the most normal thing in the world to be kissing her.
So why did she feel like her heart might explode?
6.
Jake guided Heather into the zoo. They immediately went to the zebra area and watched the animals walking around. The habitat was large and spacious: a vast improvement from the zoo’s prior years.
When they were done looking at the zebras, they explored the rest of the zoo and asked questions, read signs, and even attended a few demonstrations. One zookeeper showed Ava how to feed barnyard chickens. Another talked about what it took to care for birds.
By the time dinner rolled around, Ava was already yawning and they decided to grab some dinner at a nearby restaurant and then head home.
As soon as they were seated, Heather began to notice the women at the table next to them staring at Jake. What was that all about? She tried not to hear what they were saying, but her werebear hearing was impeccable. She wasn’t nearly as good at listening as a panther or lion, but she could still hear better than most humans.
“…so hot…”
“Why is he with her?”
“…totally overweight…”
“She’s so…”
Heather blinked a few times and tried to ignore the women, but Jake could obviously sense her frustration and discomfort.
“What’s wrong?” He asked, carefully searching her face. She knew he thought they’d been having a lovely day together, and they had. She had loved every minute they were at the zoo, but was dinner really where she wanted to tell him how completely insecure she was?
Those women were gorgeous. They were the type of female Jake should be with.
Maybe the women were right about Heather and Jake.
They didn’t have to buy into all this “mate” nonsense. They both sensed it, but that didn’t have to mean anything. They could finish dinner and both go their separate ways.
&nb
sp; Nobody had to get hurt.
“Nothing,” she said, plastering a smile onto her face. The women at the next table continued chattering, but Jake completely ignored them, choosing to look only at Heather.
“Doesn’t look like nothing to me,” he murmured, and placed his hand on hers. She held it and looked over the menu, trying to focus on what she would order.
When the server returned, Ava ordered spaghetti and Jake ordered a steak, but Heather only ordered half of a sandwich and a glass of water. The server left and Jake turned back to Heather. His eyes narrowed.
“Wanna tell me what that was all about?” He asked.
Ava was busy coloring on a piece of paper and ignored the grownups. She was wearing Jake’s headphones and listening to her favorite songs on his phone, so they were able to talk about anything they needed to without little ears to overhear.
“Nothing,” she said. “I’m not that hungry.”
“Try again, darling,” he said softly. He squeezed her hand and she looked up into his big brown eyes. How could he know her so quickly? How could he read her so fast?
“It’s just…I’m so…” She looked down and motioned to her body and Jake frowned.
“I hope you were going to finish with ‘beautiful’ or ‘gorgeous.’” He stroked her hand gently. “Because do you know what I see when I look at you?”
She shook her head.
“I see the most beautiful woman I’ve ever laid eyes on. I see a gorgeous, curvy girl who’s going to be in my bed tonight if I have anything to say about it. I see the woman I’m going to share my life with. I see the woman whose pussy I’m going to eat until she comes twelve different ways.”
The women at the table next to them gasped. Jake looked over at them and chuckled.
“Oh,” he said. “I think I know what the problem is.”
He stood up and pulled Heather to her feet, then grabbed her ass and yanked her close to him. Every eye in the restaurant turned to them and he kissed her, hard and long. She was too excited to be embarrassed as his tongue explored her mouth, tasting every bit of her. When he finally pulled away, she felt dizzy.
Aroused.
Needy.
“That’s what I think of you, Heather,” he said. “And I don’t plan on letting you forget it.”
7.
Heather tucked Ava in bed and kissed her goodnight. She sang her a song and before she was done, little Ava was fast asleep. Heather sat there for a minute thinking how lucky Jake was. He knew it, too. He wasn’t one of those fathers who had no idea how blessed he was. He knew full well just how amazing his family was.
And he wanted Heather to be a part of it.
He thought they were mates and she thought so, too. Once they had gotten over her insecurity at dinner, they had enjoyed a lovely meal. He had ordered more food – enough to feed three bear shifters – and they had laughed and eaten and drank and had a lovely time.
His kiss had silenced the mean girls at the next table for the rest of the evening and once she had calmed down, Heather had really been able to let go and enjoy herself.
How long had it been since she had really unwound?
How long had it been since she had felt so comfortable in her own skin around a man?
She knew her insecurities about her weight wouldn’t disappear overnight, but Jake had been so thoughtful and addressed the issue right away. He hadn’t promised that she was skinny. She wasn’t. She was a bear shifter and she was built like one. She was all hips and curves and boobs, but he made her feel delicate and precious.
He made her feel perfect.
“Asleep?” He asked from the doorway, and Heather stood.
“Yeah, she’s finally out,” she whispered. Heather took one last look at Ava and left the room.
“Good,” Jake said, pulling her into a hug in the hallway. He placed one hand in her hair and one on her cheek. “I want you all to myself for a little while,” he murmured, gently touching her face. She shivered with excitement and nervousness.
This was really going to happen.
Jake and her.
Her and Jake.
They were really going to do this. They’d been sharing awkward moments and tension all week, but now the moment of truth was finally here.
He led her down the hallway and into his cozy bedroom. He closed and locked the door behind them. Heather looked around for a moment, taking everything in. The large bed sat in the center of the room and was covered in a cozy, dark blue comforter with matching pillows. A dresser sat against one wall and a desk against another. There was an en-suite bathroom. Although the house was spacious, she doubted the shower had room for two bear shifters. Maybe Ava and Jake could move in with her.
The thought struck her suddenly, and she wondered why it surprised her.
She had plenty of room for both of them.
And she adored them.
Jake walked over to her and stroked her hair. Why did she love it so much when he touched her like that? She’d never wanted anyone to touch her hair before. Now she couldn’t get enough of it. He ran his fingers through her soft blonde locks and then he fisted her hair in one hand and brought her into him.
His lips were soft against hers, but there was no doubt in her mind who was in charge. Jake was a man who liked to be in control of things. He led his team on covert ops and he would lead her tonight in the bedroom.
She didn’t mind.
She liked it.
Jake made Heather feel safer than she ever had before. She felt loved. She felt adored.
She felt desired.
“You’re beautiful, bear,” Jake murmured to Heather. He hadn’t even seen her in bear form yet, but she believed him when he said it. He slowly slid his hands up her thighs beneath her dress as he kissed her, making his way up to grab her bottom.
She squealed when he squeezed her there, pulling her even tighter into his body.
“Can you feel that?” He asked, whispering in her ear. “Can you feel what you do to me? That’s all for you, baby. That’s all for you, sexy girl.”
She could only nod. She definitely felt his length pressing against her stomach. She groaned at the realization that she had turned him on that much and it just made her even wetter than she already was. Her body ached and yearned for him. She needed him – all of him – touching her.
“More,” she managed to whisper, and he chuckled. He pulled her dress up and over her head. She usually felt embarrassed being in her bra and panties, but not tonight.
Tonight she felt perfect, gorgeous.
Tonight she felt complete.
Jake kissed her neck and ran his hands up and down her sides. He stopped at her breasts and kissed down to the gentle curve where her bra met her skin. As he kissed her skin, he reached behind her and unclasped her bra, letting it fall to the floor.
Jake unwrapped Heather like a birthday present, like a special treasure that was just for him.
“Mine,” he whispered, flicking his tongue over each nipple. She moaned as waves of heat rushed right to her core, right to her center.
She was close to coming and they had barely just begun. Jake chuckled as she caught her breath and moved to his knees. He hooked his fingers beneath the sides of her panties and tugged them down. At the same time, he started licking her clit.
Heather thought she might explode.
When he slid two fingers inside of her, she did explode.
The orgasm rushed over her in waves. She had never come standing up before and held onto his shoulders as the pleasure washed over her. She wasn’t sure how she ended up on the bed or when Jake got undressed, but before she had finished orgasming, he was leaning over her, waiting, watching, murmuring sweet nothings to her.
“I want you,” she whispered.
“I want you, too, my beautiful bear.”
8.
Jake couldn’t believe he was staring down at Heather, naked and sprawled across his bed. Only a week ago, he never thought he’d find his mat
e.
Now he was taking her to bed.
Now he was making her his.
Only a week, and already he was a changed man. Already she made him crazy with desire. Already she made him feel like a better man, a braver man, a stronger man.
With her by his side, he felt complete. He could conquer the world if it would please her. He would do anything to please her.
“You’re gorgeous,” he murmured, and kissed her again. Holy dragons, he would never stop kissing her if it meant she’d smile for him. She didn’t disappoint: a bright grin lighting her face. She ran her hands down his spine and over his hair-covered chest.
“Hairy bear,” she murmured.
“Brat,” he nipped at her neck, but she laughed.
“I like it,” she said. “I like all of it.” Then her hands wandered lower, and her eyes met his as she reached where he really wanted her to touch, to stroke, oh, to never stop touching. She gripped him and he growled, waves of excitement rushing over him.
“I can’t wait much longer,” he said, and she nibbled at his bottom lip.
“So don’t wait,” she said.
That was all the permission he needed.
Jake slowly eased into Heather, not wanting to hurt her. Their first time should be special and sweet and slow. That was how he could make his mate remember this moment, only it wasn’t what he wanted. He wanted to own her, to dominate her, to show her exactly how crazy she made him feel.
“Jake,” she murmured, kissing him softly, running her hands through his hair. “Don’t hold back on me.”
“You don’t know what you’re saying,” he thrust slowly into her, achingly slow. He needed more.
“I need more,” she said simply. Then her eyes went soft and she whispered, “Please. Don’t be afraid to give in. You aren’t going to hurt me.”
No one had ever given him permission to be fully himself before, not like Heather was doing right now. No one had understood so innately his need to be rough, his need to be free.
As a bear shifter, Jake spent all of his time trying not to be bumbly. Yeah, he could lead operations of shifters and go on missions and deployments, but he would never be as silent as the tiger shifters. He would never be as sleek as the panthers. He would never be a silent predator like the cats.