One True Mate 6: Bear's Redemption

by Lisa Ladew

  Bruin snarled, the noise ripping from his throat in a way that would never be confused with a purr. He grabbed Mac by the throat. “Don’t you talk about her like that. Don’t you even think about her like that!”

  They all stopped in the road, Crew and Beckett turning around to watch, their faces wary.

  Mac wrapped his hands around Bruin’s fingers and peeled them off his throat, peering into Bruin’s face. “Did you just… growl?”

  Bruin grinned, pleased with himself, his moment of ire forgotten. “Yeah I did. Just call me a wolf.” He laughed and socked Mac on the shoulder.

  Mac backpedaled, arms flying, as he pretended to try to keep his footing. He fell to one knee in the grass then popped to his feet, scowling at Bruin and rubbing his shoulder. “Take it easy,” he told Bruin.

  “Sure,” Bruin said, loving the joke. Mac was so funny, pretending to be hurt.

  They kept walking. Mac spoke, his voice low. “I’m just saying, Bru, you might want to go easy on her the first few times. You don’t, ah, need any instruction, do you?” His voice was controlled, like he really didn’t want to give instruction, but he would if it was needed.

  Bruin shook his head, remembering his thoughts from earlier. They’d been very specific. “I think I can figure it out.”

  Beckett turned around, walking backwards. “Mac’s got a point. If you figure out she likes to be roughed up a little, you’re really gonna have to be careful with her. You don’t seem to know your own strength sometimes.”

  Bruin frowned. “Roughed up?”

  Beckett nodded. “You know, little shit. Grabbing her by the throat. Pulling her hair. Nothing to hurt her, nothing even to say you’re in charge, unless she likes that. Maybe you’re just reminding her of your muscles, I don’t know, but I’ve only been with a few females who didn’t like it.”

  Bruin couldn’t believe what he was hearing. “How do you know if they like it or not?”

  Mac and Beckett exchanged a glance. Beckett kept talking. “Oh they let you know. If she stares at you with big eyes, she isn’t sure and you should not go farther or do it again for a while. If she grabs your hand or flares angry, stop and don’t ever do it again. But if she gasps and then grinds herself against you like she found her inner whore, you better do that shit again and again. The louder she screams or the more she squirms against you or the wetter she gets, that’s your road to everything you ever wanted.”

  Bruin stopped mid-stride. Whore? Screams? Wet? Shit, he really didn’t know what in the hell he was doing. Nerves flared all over his body, making him sweat.

  Mac dropped back and grabbed him by the elbow, pulling him along. “Don’t even worry about it, Bru, you just take it slow. This kind of stuff doesn’t have to come into play for a while. Maybe ever. You might be a love-making kind of guy, rather than a fuck-her-until-she-screams kind of guy. You know, candles, deliberate movements, everything all slip-slidey and slow. Women like that shit, too.”

  Bruin began to walk again. “Everything I ever wanted?” he said to Beckett, who was still walking backwards and looking at him.

  Beckett nodded. “You know. Endless sex. A soft woman with hair everywhere and a sweet scent to hold against your chest while you relax at night. A female who looks at you like you are the best thing in the world.”

  Bruin swallowed hard. He did want that.

  Mac shook his head. “That fucking hair, it gets everywhere. Sometimes I find it in my goddamn pockets.”

  Crew turned around, his expression as mysterious as ever. “But would you get rid of it if you could?”

  Mac shook his head. “Hell no. I love that shit.”

  Bruin had an urge. He held up a finger to the wolves. “Be right back.” He jogged ahead, the purr starting in his chest as he contemplated his plan. Willow was between Rogue and Cerise, and they were all looking at an old wooden sign, trying to read the words there.

  Willow had heard his purring. She turned, smiling when she saw him coming in fast. He grabbed her arm and pulled her behind another sign, no words of warning this time, just a hand around her hips and an elbow around the back of her head, then his mouth on hers. Sweet, sweet heaven. She flowed like molten honey in his arms, relaxing, opening her lips to him, inviting his tongue into her mouth. He would do anything she wanted, but especially that. He dipped his tongue in, lapping at her honey taste, thrilling in the sweet slide of tongue on lips and teeth and smoothness. Willow sighed, leaning back as he bent forward, holding her around her body, as she gave herself completely over to him. He wanted her alone, wanted to do this for hours, wanted to taste her-His cock jumped in his pants trying to get his attention, making him pant. Willow moaned and pressed her core against him and he moaned and purred, purred and moaned. Such sweet torture. He wanted so much more, and yet he wanted nothing but this, forever.

  Mac’s voice floated over to them. “Where the fuck is that big bear?”

  Bruin broke the kiss and let Willow stand upright again, watching her to see how she would respond to what Mac had said. She didn’t know anything about shiften yet. He half hoped she would ask so he could spill all of it. She was part of all of this, he could tell by watching her with those women. Her sisters, all of them. But he also was nervous about telling her, still unable to fully believe that she could possibly be for him. The first rumblings of dissention stirred in his mind. If she was meant for another, Bruin might not stand aside and let that happen. Even if she “belonged to” the Bear of Great Insight. So far, she seemed to want him, Bruin. And she should always get what she wanted, not be bound by something as wispy as fate, or destiny.

  She didn’t respond at all, only watched him with heavy-lidded eyes, her core still pressed against him, bucking ever so slightly. She bit her bottom lip and spoke huskily. “I should get back to them. But you do that again, whenever you want.”

  She pulled apart from him, staring in his eyes, then ducked around the sign and jogged ahead to catch up with the group of women. Cerise and Dahlia held out their arms to her, grabbing her around the elbows, and all of them put their heads together and giggled.

  Bruin tore his eyes away from them and rounded the sign, walking faster to catch up with the males. Mac gave him a look that said he knew exactly what Bruin had been doing and he fully approved. Bruin winked at him.

  Ahead of them, the females walked a dozen more steps, then stopped at what looked to be an old kiddy roller coaster, with several six-foot ducks, each with a different, scary clown face, on the tracks. Lillian screamed and ran on ahead, her hands in the air, and the others laughed and followed her on a split in the path, disappearing from sight. Except Dahlia, she hung back slightly and looked at Crew.

  Bruin’s attention was pulled to the ducks. “How did that one duck near the entrance get so far away, if this is the ride it came from?”

  Mac rubbed his arms. “Ghosts. I told you this place is full of them. They move shit around at night just to fuck with people.”

  Crew shuddered from ahead of them. “Those ducks are the creepiest thing here. See their paint? It should be peeling like everything else in the place, but it’s not.”

  As they all stared, the duck that was closest to them grew fifty feet tall and opened its mouth and its clown eyes, then bent its head and pecked the ground, less than three feet to their left, like it was pecking a piece of bread off the concrete… a man-sized piece of bread.

  They scattered, Mac shouting hoarsely and falling to the ground again, his hands up in horror. With a yell, Bruin went for him, grabbing him by the elbow to pull him to safety.

  Beckett and Crew collapsed on the ground, their mouths open as peals of laughter bubbled up from them. Crew held his sides and Beckett wiped tears from his face.

  Mac shot to his feet, confirmed the killer duck was gone, and booted Crew a good one in the ribs. “You fucker, did you do that?”

  Crew howled in laughter, shaking his head, forcing out words between rare man-giggles. “Not me. Can’t… do… that.”
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br />   Beckett tried to get himself under control, then motioned up the path to where Dahlia was standing back a little ways from the other women, her arms folded, looking at them. “We came here last week. Dahlia can do it with anything.”

  Mac stared at the ducks. “Shit, that was scary as fuck. Was it solid?”

  Crew got himself together, wiping his own tears of laughter, and sitting up. “No, just an illusion. I wanted her to try to make it solid but Cerise was too freaked by the place to try it here.”

  He pushed to his feet and pulled Beckett up. “I bet she could do it, though. She’s powerful.” The admiration in his voice was clear.

  Mac wiped himself off. “Remind me not to invite her to my kid’s birthday party.”

  Chapter 21

  Willow hung back from the group slightly, falling one step behind, studying them all. She didn’t want to pry, she really didn’t. They were such great women (and one girl) and none of them knew about her, so it wasn’t fair to them, but something was niggling at her. Something huge. Their dominant thought-forms were all almost identical, except for minor differences Willow attributed to their differences in personality. But it was clear to Willow that they were all keeping a secret from her. The exact same secret. Something big that involved her in a major way. They all were thrilled every time Bruin grabbed her by the hand and stole her away to turn her into jelly with his big hands and his soft lips, but it was more than that.

  She contemplated peeking into one of the thought-forms, just for a second. Secrets were hard on her, especially since she was so unused to them. She didn’t understand them. She had her own, but people rarely were able to keep any from her, even if she did her best not to peek into their thoughts and feelings. Just one quick peek couldn’t be too wrong…?

  But then she heard the purring. Bruin was coming up behind her. Her lower lips swelled immediately, throbbing hard in time with her heart. She groaned before he even got to her, knowing it was going to only get worse, deliciously worse, before he was done with her. He fell into step next to her, and his arm snaked around her, his hand palming the outside of her right hip.

  “Kiss toll,” he purred into her ear and her muscles went immediately limp. He ushered her to the side of the path, ducking her around a tree, then pushing her up against the rough trunk. She was helpless with him. Completely submissive to what he wanted from her. She wanted it, too. Wanted everything he had to give to her, to take from her. His body covered hers and he dropped his face lower, until she felt his warm, minty breath on her face. His eyes were open, and she tried to keep her eyes open this time too, bending her neck to him, yielding completely.

  His lips touched hers and his tongue probed her mouth, sending sweet convulsions through her body. Her hips jerked. It was the purring. And his absolute wideness and sureness and his manners that did her in. He was so big, but so gentle. So handsome, but so humble. A true gentle giant.

  His left arm was around her neck, protecting her head from the tree, his right palm was against the tree above her head, holding him up. She grasped his hips in her hands. She hadn’t done this yet, had been saving herself for the angel, but she couldn’t do that anymore, although at that moment she wasn’t convinced that Bruin wasn’t her angel. He was perfect enough to be one. But even though she was inexperienced, she knew what was supposed to happen. What all these kisses were careening them toward. And oh God did she want it to happen. If he tried to take her up against this tree, she might just lose her panties, wrap her legs around him, and beg him for more.

  She pulled at his hips, feeling the delicious crush of his weight against her as he kissed her like it was the only thing in the world worth doing. Slow. Thorough. Taking his time. Leaving her completely breathless.

  She spread her legs, letting his thick thigh between them. She gasped as suddenly the fabric of her skirt and his pants was the only thing between him and that secret part of her that throbbed so much it screamed. Bliss. Clenching. If only she could… she rubbed shamelessly against him, bucking her hips once, twice, three times, then digging her nails into him as an explosion rocked her. A heavy, thick wave that started low and spread through her body in a way she’d never experienced.

  She put back her head and cried out, unable to keep from screaming her pleasure to the pink and blue sky through the branches of the tree above her. Bruin’s purr accelerated, his big body still pressed against hers.

  It faded, little spurts of pleasure still rocking her. Too soon, she was able to think again, to realize what she had done. A hot flush shot in to her cheeks and she forced herself to meet Bruin’s eyes.

  “You’re the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen,” he said softly, his face serene. “And if you let me, I’m going to kiss you just like that for the rest of my life.”

  Willow nibbled on her bottom lip, her body lax, her muscles relaxed, her core swelling for him again already, reading the undertone to his words easily. He’d meant it before, when he’d told her he loved her, and that love was growing. She could see it in his face. His conviction was simple and sure, but intense, and she was about to be lost to him.

  She was ready for it.

  ***

  Willow ran to catch up with Rogue. They had looped around the park and were heading back again, trying to get out before dark. She’d peeked, she couldn’t help it, and she knew bits and pieces of their secret, and it was making her tremble with excitement, even as she couldn’t quite see how it could be true. Unless… A whole new life stretched out before her. This night was her introduction to that life, a way of easing her in, preparing her, getting her ready for what she’d been waiting for.

  Rogue slowed and they walked together quietly for a few minutes, soaking up the laughter and small talk of the others. Finally, Willow broached the subject she’d been thinking about for an hour. “Rogue, is Bruin… experienced with women?” She didn’t know which answer she was hoping for. He didn’t seem like a playboy but he was a man, and it would probably be best if one of them knew what they were doing. And if he’d had long term girlfriends before she wanted to hear it from Rogue and not from Bruin the first time. He was so open with his feelings that she thought it might crush her if he spoke of another woman with love still in his eyes.

  But Rogue took the conversation in a different direction. She eyed Willow for a moment, then nodded. “You’re a virgin, huh?”

  Willow could only nod. “I’m so sick of being one.”

  Rogue looked at Bruin, who was laughing at something Mac had said. “You might want to take it slow, babe, my guess is your first time is gonna be a doozy.”

  Willow licked her lips. She hadn’t considered the difference in their sizes. “Will it hurt?”

  Rogue nodded, then shook her head. “Maybe. It will be worth it eventually. If not the first time, then the second or third. Bruin strikes me as a gentle lover.”

  Willow nodded, curious that Rogue’s thought-form twisted like gentle wasn’t a good thing. “I would have thought gentle would be good.”

  Rogue shrugged. “Sure. For a while. Not forever, though.”

  Willow was spellbound. How could gentle not be good forever?

  Rogue caught the expression on her face. She raised her hand, using it for emphasis. “Let me tell you, when you get more experienced, you’re gonna want him to spin you around, hold you down, pull your hair, force you to do shit sometimes.”

  Willow was aghast. “Force?! Why?”

  Rogue shot her a look. “Not real forcing. Pretend forcing. Play forcing. I don’t know why. It just feels good. Gets shit flowing. There ain’t nothing better than a man who is dominating in the sack.”

  Willow swallowed. “Girls don’t ever dominate?”

  Rogue nodded. “Sure we do. Some like it more than others, but I think most like the guy to be in charge a lot of the time. Even the ones who would never allow that outside of the bedroom.”

  Willow was glad she had Rogue to talk to. She didn’t completely regret never having ha
d sex, but in a way, she did, just a bit. Having someone open and experienced like Rogue to talk to made it just a bit easier. “You like to be dominated by Mac?” She shuddered. She couldn’t help it. She liked him, but he was a scary guy all the way around.

  Rogue caught her tongue between her teeth and nodded hard, staring at Mac. “Hell yeah I like it. I need a man who can match me, handle me.”

  Willow could understand that. “Bruin can handle me.”

  Rogue laughed. “Yep, he’s got your number alright. We heard you screaming.”

  Willow covered her face with her hands and stopped walking.

  Rogue laughed again and grabbed her by the elbow. “Don’t be embarrassed. Go get him, babe, you want orgasms, he wants to give you orgasms, you’re perfect for each other.”

  Willow got herself moving again, but she was worried, now. “Shit,” she whispered.

  Rogue studied her. “What’s wrong? You want to give him orgasms too?”

  Willow nodded. Right. Exactly that.

  Rogue leaned in close and dropped her voice. “You know what to do, right?”

  “I think so.”

  Rogue nodded surely. “You do. It’s instinctual. You just be eager and let him lead you. You can play it however you like, babe, sweet or aggressive. He’ll lead, I know he will.”

  “So far he only wants to kiss.”

  Rogue scoffed. “It sounded like he did more than just kiss you.”

  “No, he just kissed. I-I rubbed against him.”

  Rogue appraised her again. “Greedy. I like it.” She grabbed Willow’s arm and stopped her from walking, then whispered in her ear. “Ok. If he needs a push here’s what you do. Take his hand and put it on your boob. That’s it, it’s all over. That’s all you gotta do. In a few moments, virgin no more. But you make sure he knows you’re a virgin. That’s very important. If he hurts you because he didn’t know, he’ll never forgive himself. He’s a sensitive ah-sensitive guy.”

  Willow nodded. She could do that. All of it.

  Rogue’s phone went off in her pocket. Then the air filled with the sound of text messages and phone calls.