“Not that. Not tonight,” he said.
Carly folded her arms and pouted, making Zeus smile.
“I promise to make it up to you,” he said, pulling off her pants in one swift, smooth motion. She was wearing a pair of soft, pink panties with a lacy fringe, and Zeus ran his hands up the length of her thighs, coming painfully close to the center of her hips before coming back down. He was torturing her with every touch. And she loved it.
First he kissed the tops of her feet, then licked a long trail up the inside of one leg, working past the knee and all the way inside her thigh. He stopped right as he reached the edge of her underwear and then came up the other leg and did the same. Every time he came nearer, nearer to where she wanted him most. Even the smallest touch was like a blazing fire, a burning heat that could only be quenched by release, which he held the key to.
After that, he ran his fingers right across the top of her underwear, playing with it and passing his fingers under it ever so slightly. As he did that, he licked along the same edge, coming so close yet feeling like a million miles from exactly where her body screamed for him to touch.
All of the foreplay was so hot, so thoroughly sensual. But she couldn’t hold on much longer. It was driving her mad with lust, and every nerve in Carly’s body was tensed, coiled, waiting to explode.
As if he could hear her thoughts, Zeus held both her hips with his huge hands and came down and placed one long, hard kiss at her center. Even through her panties, the perfect, insanely hot pressure drove her over the edge of desire. Her entire body shuddered, the built tension releasing through wave after wave of pleasure coursing through every nerve and vein. Carly screamed out Zeus’s name as he came over her and held her in his arms. She dug her nails into his back, wanting to avoid touching anywhere near his wound but unable to form any other cogent thoughts, and rode out the rapid succession of sweeping release coming through her.
Before Carly had even fully relaxed, Zeus hooked a finger on each side of her panties and gave her a wicked look. Carly was still wearing the T-shirt she’d put on, and normally, she would have expected both of them to have more clothes off before going to that. But for some reason, still being partially clothed and Zeus still having his shirt and jeans on felt hot and naughty. Like there wasn’t time for disrobing, just pleasure. The pleasure he wanted to give her and the lust she had for him that he alone could satisfy.
With a smooth motion, her panties were gone, leaving her bared, and Zeus spread Carly’s legs, filling her with thrilling anticipation.
No man had ever given her this much pleasure. Ever.
That thought was interrupted as he placed several soft kisses at the apex of her thighs, lightly brushing her with his lips. Every touch was lightning on her skin, more intense now that she had come once already. He extended a finger and ran it once, slowly, against her clit, and her body arched off the bed from the incredible pleasure.
Zeus slipped a finger inside her, feeling her wetness, stroking gently and hooking upward to touch her most sensitive spot. It wasn’t the same as having him inside, but it still felt amazing.
“You’re so wet, so ready for me,” Zeus said, pulling out his finger and licking it, looking pleased.
The sight was so hot. In the air, she could pick up what must have been his scent again, masculine and musky. Everything he did drove her further and further into the throes of unimaginable pleasure.
He dipped in his finger again and brought his other hand to her clit, holding his finger directly over it, but not moving. She could feel the intensity of the pleasure, anticipated it. Every fiber of her being wanted it, wanted him.
“You like that, don’t you?” Zeus said, his voice low and commanding.
Her body felt suspended, waiting and wanting him to keep moving. It was as if he held her entire body in his control with only two fingers.
“I’m the only man that turns you on like this,” he said possessively. Both a question and a statement.
“Don’t stop,” she pleaded.
“Say it,” he commanded her.
“You’re the only one,” she responded hoarsely. Every nerve was waiting for him.
“The only one who…” he said, his intense blue eyes watching her intently, heated and dark in the low light.
“The only one who turns me on like this.”
“Damn straight,” Zeus said as he stroked inside and on her clit at the same time, both fingers moving right across the pinnacles of her personal pleasure in one smooth motion.
Her entire body came apart again, grasping at the headboard, the sheets, anywhere she could hold as she orgasmed. Her legs clenched around Zeus’s hand, and she saw him give her a heated, satisfied smile that owned her.
Carly didn’t know how long they had together. She only hoped it would be forever. Because even forever would never be long enough to fully receive the amount of pleasure he alone gave her.
She came down from the orgasm, feeling even better than after the first, and stretched out over the bed.
“Zeus, that was amazing. Thank you,” she said. Her entire body hummed with satisfaction.
“You’re not done. Not yet,” Zeus said assertively.
Carly looked up at him wide-eyed as he came over her and gave a long, deliciously pleasurable lick over her clit. She moaned loudly at the sensation and closed her eyes, overcome by the shockingly good feeling it gave her.
This man was entirely overwhelming in every way.
And she loved it.
Zeus held her thighs with his hands, anchoring her as he stroked her again and again with his tongue, slowly and thoroughly. Her body moved in time with him, pushing against his tongue to increase the intensity even further. The rhythm was ecstasy, driving her quickly to one more release.
Carly felt completely engulfed in the experience. The sight of Zeus’s head below her, intensely focused on her. His smell filling the air. The touch of his hands holding her. The sound of her hurried breathing, trying to hold back the inevitable. So much.
Zeus gave one last stroke, and Carly felt herself careen past the boundaries of the pleasure building in her, sending her into a euphoric release stronger than any other. This time, he came over her and held her tightly to him, surrounding her and protecting her as she melted in his arms and rode out the incredible release.
If this was a fantasy, she never wanted it to end.
Once her body had relaxed, feeling fully satiated and unable to take any more, Zeus pulled the sheets over them and came behind her, spooning her. He wrapped both arms around her, making her feel so safe, and Carly gave out a long, satisfied sigh.
“That was incredible,” she said. “Now you.”
He shook his head. “Not tonight.”
“But… I can’t just… take everything.” Disappointment surged through her, but she knew he had his reasons. Still, she wanted to see her big man lost in the throes of pleasure, growling her name as he pumped inside her.
“You can and you will,” he said. “I love giving you pleasure. But that’s all I can do. At least for tonight.”
“All right,” she said, snuggling into him as the feel of her afterglow gushed through her, uninterrupted this time. “But you better make it up to me next time.”
He kissed the top of her head. “It’s a promise.”
They held each other until they relaxed, and Carly turned to Zeus, a question in her eyes. “Can I sleep in here tonight?”
He growled and pulled her against his chest. “I wouldn’t have it any other way. I want you right here where I can protect you. Pleasure you.”
She laughed at his possessiveness. “All right. Then here is where I’ll stay.”
She was rewarded with a long, deep kiss that blanketed her with peace, a full feeling of well-being, and as she snuggled into a comfortable position beside him, she knew this was exactly where she belonged.
11
The next morning, Zeus looked down at his mate in his arms and felt a surge of pro
tectiveness flow through him.
She was beautiful. More than beautiful, she was incredible. Her silky brown hair was splayed over his pillow and her soft body rested in his arms. Her lashes rested on her cheeks as she let out quiet, peaceful snores. He wanted to just stay there with her, watching her, imagining he’d already told her and they were bound together forever, but he had other things to do.
It had been torture to wait, to hold back and not claim her. His bear had known it was so close; it would have been so easy to just take her right there. He knew if he lost control, if he let himself go inside her, his animal would take over, and he couldn’t let that happen yet. Perhaps he was a coward, but he just wasn’t ready to go over all of that with Carly yet. They had time, right?
Just as the thought passed through his mind, the door to the house opened and slammed closed, and he heard Ares’s heavy footsteps in the living room, smelled Ares’s scent. He crept quietly out of bed, making sure she was still sleeping soundly, and walked out of the bedroom and down the hallway, still wearing his rumpled clothes from yesterday.
Ares was sitting at the counter, looking tired, faint dark circles under his brilliant green eyes. He looked up at Zeus with a wry grin and raised a mug in toast. “To long nights in the woods with criminals.”
Zeus frowned and joined him at the counter. “What happened?”
“They roped me into helping,” he said. “It would have looked bad if your best friend wasn’t up there looking for you too. They aren’t sure where to look now that the woods seem to be clear, but my guess is they’ll regroup and try to come here soon.”
Zeus nodded. He got up and poured himself a cup of coffee and sipped it as he sat next to Ares. Ares sniffed the air and looked at his friend suspiciously.
“What?” Zeus asked, avoiding his gaze.
“You smell different,” Ares said, scenting the air and then laughing and pushing his hair off his forehead. “Nice job.”
Zeus growled. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Yeah, you do,” Ares said, grinning and sitting up a little straighter. “Did you claim her?”
“No,” Zeus snapped. “You know it wouldn’t be right. Not with all the things I can’t tell her yet.”
Ares sighed. “Look, man, you know I respect you. But I think you’re going about this thing with Carly the wrong way. You’re going to give her the wrong idea.”
“What do you mean?” Zeus asked.
“You know, doing this kind of thing with a woman, you need to be clear with her on what the end game is. Otherwise, it’s going to be real awkward when this whole thing is over.”
“What do you mean?” he asked.
“You know, when the Devils are handled and you two don’t have an excuse to live together anymore,” Ares said, waving a hand. “A woman like that, she’s gonna want some regular commitment, to start dating like an average couple, and you know that’s not how it works for men like us. We don’t do normal,” Ares said.
Zeus nodded. His bear didn’t want normal. Didn’t want to let Carly go back to her apartment and her job and let him show up now and then to take her on dates. He wanted to propose to her now, tell her everything about his bear and how much he wanted her, and take her back to his cabin in the woods to live happily ever after.
But if he told her before this was all over, she might end up running or not want him to keep protecting her, knowing he’d been pursuing her from the start. Maybe she’d think he was a stalker or crazy. And all of those things could lead to her leaving his side and not allowing him to protect her.
The thought of Carly captured by the mob, taken from him forever, beaten or bruised or worse, filled his mind and made a low growl rumble from his chest.
“Hey, don’t get mad at me for saying what has to be done,” Ares said, misunderstanding the direction of Zeus’s anger. “I mean, what happens if you don’t tell her?” Ares raised an eyebrow at him. “You just take her back to your cabin and go along with this make-believe game and keep dating her? Meanwhile, she goes along with it in ignorance, not knowing it isn’t what you want at all?”
“You don’t understand,” Zeus said. “I’m going to tell her. I just think it’s best to wait until this thing with the Devils is over and I don’t need her to stay.” Then the only thing at risk if she ran would be his own heart and hopes. And he could handle that, as long as he knew she was safe.
Ares shook his head. “I still think you’re playing with fire, my friend. And I think you’re underestimating Carly’s ability to handle the truth. She’s a big girl. But I guess you’re right. We have other shit to deal with. The Devils are probably regrouping as we speak. They were up all night and are probably still recovering from the bear attack, but they’ll be back soon. And they’ll want Carly.”
“Right,” Zeus said. And he’d never let them take her. He and Ares would just have to put their heads together and hurry and solve the Devils issue once and for all so he could finally take his mate aside and tell her just what she meant to him.
But in the meantime, his bear’s need to reveal itself would have to take a backseat to her safety.
* * *
Carly stayed pressed against her closed door, heart silently breaking at what she’d heard.
She hadn’t meant to eavesdrop. She’d just wanted to sneak out and surprise Zeus with a hug and kiss while he was eating his breakfast.
Last night had been wonderful, another step in what she thought was a promising relationship. Even though Zeus had never said anything explicitly, she’d always felt a sort of commitment from him. And he didn’t seem like the type of man who would say sweet things to a woman and then just walk away.
But Carly had been abandoned before. She knew how quickly a man could go from whispering sweet nothings in the dark to taking the next ride out of town, leaving her to pick up the broken pieces.
But she’d tried not to think about it with Zeus, tried to be open to something new and trust he wouldn’t hurt her.
Perhaps it was all her fault for getting her hopes up again. For seeing forever in a man’s eyes when he only saw today.
But his conversation with Ares had been more than clear. He’d admitted to Ares he couldn’t just go on dating normally after this was over, that men like that didn’t do “normal.”
He meant military men, she supposed. Men who fought and lived a rough life alone. It made sense. Zeus had lived solitary in those woods for so long. What made her think he would want company now?
And Ares had called him on the fact that if they kept going as they were, they’d be living a lie. That Zeus would be continuing things with her just because he was afraid to cut them off. The picture Ares had painted of an ignorant life with Zeus at his cabin was Carly’s worst nightmare.
She wasn’t angry with Ares, though. Someone had to say something. At least now she knew what she’d never had the courage to ask Zeus. Where this was going. Apparently, it was going nowhere, and he didn’t want to tell her that until he had to.
Right now, he could have his cake and eat it too. Keep her there trusting him, knowing she didn’t have a choice with the Red Devils hunting her, and then tell her at the end, when things would be at a natural close.
Why had she assumed when he’d said he’d always been interested that it meant he wanted a long-term commitment? Why did she keep thinking men would want to settle down and make a home when it was clear there was only one thing they wanted?
Hurt broke through her. The hurt of her ex leaving her with all their debts, which she hadn’t even fully processed. The hurt of Zeus, too afraid to tell her he wasn’t looking to date her normally after all this was over. The hurt of being unwanted once again.
Well, that wasn’t entirely true. Zeus definitely wanted her. She’d seen it in his eyes, in the way he made love to her. For all she knew, when it was over, he’d propose some arrangement where they still got hot and heavy at times but never settled into anything “normal” like a coupl
e would.
After all, men like him didn’t, apparently.
She folded her arms and let the tears stream down her cheeks, trying to gather strength inside her to make her next move. Despite what Zeus thought, she wasn’t an idiot. She wasn’t going to just run out and get captured just because she was angry that things with Zeus weren’t what she thought.
For all she knew, that was all he was capable of. Maybe he cared but just couldn’t do normal relationships.
Maybe that’s why it felt like he was holding out last night. He hadn’t wanted to have sex, had been content to just pleasure her. And it had been hot, if incomplete somehow.
But perhaps that’s why he was holding back. He was probably realizing just how much she was falling in love with him and was trying to let her down easy while still giving her what he thought she wanted.
But she didn’t want Zeus living a lie for her. Didn’t want him spending even another moment lying to her to spare her feelings.
If he knew he didn’t want anything when this was over, then she didn’t either. She’d live. She’d go back to the bar, work off her debt, and try not to think of the sexy man in the mountains who’d blown her world apart in all the right ways. And all the wrong ones.
She swiped tears off her cheeks as she heard footsteps in the hall. Panic swept through her. She wasn’t ready to face him. She walked away from the door and stood with her back to the window, as far from him as possible. When the door slowly opened, she brushed her hair back behind her ears and tried to look calm, as if nothing were bothering her.
She didn’t need to make things more awkward for him.
When Zeus walked in, looking painfully handsome in a loose tee and fitted jeans, his hair freshly combed through with his fingers, his blue eyes looking bright and aware, she almost felt herself falling for him again. She’d never stop wanting him, no matter who he thought he was or how unsuitable he was for commitment.
He saw her face and his expression dropped. She should have known she couldn’t hide her feelings for him. For better or worse, she just wasn’t someone who could play games.
Big Bad Bear Page 8