Wed to the Bear (Denali Den Book 2)

by Rebecca Thomas

  He clicked off his phone. “Okay, where were we? Alaska is a great place for bears to live. You must have talked about that with Silas.”

  “Yes, we did.”

  “I mean, you were willing to move up here sight unseen.” He took one hand off the steering wheel and rubbed his chin. “I like a woman who can make decisions and knows her own mind. You don’t want to kiss right away. That’s okay. We can ease into it. We’re going to get along just fine. I know we are.”

  She had told Stryker she hadn’t intended on staying married to Silas, but she wondered if he’d been listening. Yes, she’d made that decision when she met Silas on the Internet, but she was already second guessing herself. It had sounded so simple a month ago. Marry a guy in Alaska so her family would accept her decision and Brett would leave her alone. They’d all give her space, then she’d quietly get divorced. In her mind, it had been the perfect solution, but now that she was in Alaska—in a truck driving to her quasi future home—and actually married, it all seemed so wrong.

  “Don’t you think so?” Stryker asked.

  “What? I’m sorry. I was distracted. What did you say?”

  “Don’t you agree that we will get along fine?”

  “Um, yeah, sure.” She continued to stare out her passenger window because looking at him did funny things to her stomach.

  “I think you’re the hottest she-bear I’ve ever seen. When you walked off that escalator, I just knew. Then I smelled you and it sealed the deal. We were meant to be together.”

  She wanted to squash his ardor with a cutting word or two. She didn’t believe in love at first sight and happily ever afters, but she bit her tongue. Stryker had kindness in his soul—she did believe that—and technically he was her husband, so why start the marriage off with harsh words and regrets?

  “You sound pretty sure of yourself,” was all she could think to say.

  “If I can’t convince you, then I’m sure Alaska can. There’s no better place in the world!”

  Instead of letting herself stew and think too much, she figured it might be better to engage in conversation with the overly-eager werebear. “And why is this the best place in the world?”

  “There are acres upon acres of pristine wilderness with no people. There are lots of rivers and lakes full of fish to eat. Denali Crossings is right on the border of a National Park, so we can roam on all that acreage without the worry of getting shot.”

  “Wyoming has wilderness too.”

  “Not as much as Alaska has.”

  “I suppose you’re right. There must be a downside?” Why did she continue to rain on his parade?

  “Only downside is the mosquitoes. But you know, if they get too bad we can shift into our bear forms and then they won’t bother us as much. A thick hide and fur always helps.”

  “Are you always this positive thinking and enthusiastic?” Her cynicism wasn’t easy to keep at bay.

  “Nope. Only when I’m about to get laid by my wife. And she happens to be the hottest she-bear I’ve ever seen.”

  Ava rolled her eyes. She wanted to be nice to the guy, she really did, but all his gushing about her hotness was a little over the top. “Need I remind you that you’ve known me all of a couple hours? And getting laid might be a huge disappointment for you.”

  “Baby, you would never be a disappointing lay.” He placed his right arm on the back of the truck’s bench seat. “Don’t let your Eeyore out.”

  “Eeyore?” She practically choked. “Don’t let my Eeyore out?” She shook her head. “You did not just say that.”

  Stryker chuckled. “Baby, I can’t wait to get you in that tent, strip off your clothes and lick every inch of you. The smell of you is making me so horny my crotch aches.”

  Despite her efforts to ignore him, she couldn’t. His words did have an effect on her. And his words were making her want to have sex with him. Soon. “Please, stop with the sexy foreplay talk. At this rate, we won’t make it to the tent.”

  “I’m happy to pull over right now. We don’t have to wait. We can go at it like randy teenagers and have our first time be in this truck.” His grin spread wide across his face. He pressed the brakes. “This truck has always been special to me, but now it will be even more special.”

  “I was being sarcastic!” she cried, and placed her hands on the dash. “Keep going.”

  “I can’t wait to suck your nipples and taste your clit. I can’t wait to—”

  “Would you stop already?” A tortuous ache settled low in her abdomen.

  His eyes wide, he said, “You just said to keep going.”

  “The keep going part was about driving your truck.” She glared at him. “You know that’s what I meant.”

  His grin spread wider. “Maybe I did, but I’m telling you I just can’t wait to bury myself inside of you.”

  Ava watched Stryker pound the last of the tent stakes into the ground just as thunder boomed in the distance. Her stomach rumbled, not because of the impending rainstorm, but because of her anxiety. She thought it would be no big deal to go to Alaska—get married for a while, then go back home. Had she completely lost her mind?

  She’d been watching the muscles in his arms as he’d set up the tent. She eyed the hardness of his thighs beneath his jeans. She couldn’t quit staring at him.

  Stryker swung around to face her. “It’s going to rain.”

  “Yeah.” She looked upward. “Storm clouds are rolling in.”

  “It’s nothing like the storm that’s going to happen in that tent.” He swiped his index finger alongside one of her cheeks, then the other. “I want to kiss you.”

  She shook her head. “No, that wasn’t part of the deal.”

  Rain started to fall, but neither of them moved. Their eyes locked on each other and Ava noticed the golden tinge enveloping his eyes. She was quite certain her eyes were golden as well. It was a standoff, of sorts, between them. She wanted to keep kissing out of their relationship because kissing felt too intimate.

  Rain dripped off the ends of his chocolate brown hair. She stepped closer, feeling the heat between them.

  He lifted a strand of her hair and tucked it behind her ear. “We’ll play it your way for now.”

  She gave him a nervous smile. Doubts crept into her brain. What if she disappointed him? “Thank you.”

  His brows furrowed. “I’ll go along willingly with the no kissing clause. For now.”

  Her pulse beat harder. She licked the rain off her lips. “So you’ve said.” She needed to slow things down. Anxiety took hold of her and, as decisive as she usually acted, even this was over the top for her. “It’s pretty crazy what we’ve done. You know…getting married. It’s pretty wild, don’t you think?”

  “It’s a little bit wild, but I don’t have any doubts. You are the woman and she-bear for me Ava. You, and no other.”

  “Yeah, I guess so.” She didn’t know what to say. The guy completely flummoxed her. Her thoughts were fuzzy as desire pulsed through every nerve ending in her body.

  “You are a little bit wild, Ava. And I like it. I like it a lot.” Rain continued to fall in damp sheets, but neither of them moved.

  “Mmm…” She slid her tongue over her wet lips.

  He leaned in. His lips tickled her ear. “Are we going to stand out here in the rain, or are we going in the tent?” The heat of his breath warmed the side of her jaw and neck. “I’m happy to take you here on the ground. It’s your call.”

  He cupped her face in his hands.

  A chill that had nothing to do with the rain swept through her body.

  “I just know I can’t wait much longer. I’m so hard for you.” His tone lowered an octave.

  Her breath knotted up in her throat. She didn’t dare speak because she hardly knew what might come out of her mouth.

  “I’m not sure I know the real reason why you want to stand out here in the rain. If you’re a little bit nervous, it’s okay. Talk to me.” He pressed his forehead against hers, his
tone grew serious. “I’m your husband.”

  She swallowed and lifted her eyes to meet his. “Yeah, I think I am a little bit nervous.”

  “I’d never force you to do anything. You know that, right?” He pulled her body to his and held her in a warm embrace. “If you don’t want to make love right now, we don’t have to.”

  Yearning unfolded in her belly. His body felt so warm against hers. Gusts of desire hit her like the pelting rain. “No—no.”

  He leaned back and gazed into her eyes. “It’s fine, we don’t have to. I can wait.”

  She blinked. Raindrops clung to her eyelashes, and she laughed. “No. I meant no, I don’t want to wait. I want to have sex with you.”

  5

  Stryker still couldn’t believe this woman was his wife. She intrigued him on a level beyond her beautiful green eyes and gorgeous curves. She was playful and unassuming; she tried to act disinterested and aloof, yet he knew otherwise. Sensual energy pulsed around them and she couldn’t deny it any more than he could.

  The past year, he’d been so focused on building and expanding Denali Crossings, he hadn’t given a woman any of his attention or thoughts in months.

  He unzipped the tent’s opening and ushered Ava inside. The dome-shaped tent didn’t allow for anyone to stand up, but it was a decent size and could sleep up to six people. Stryker unfurled the sleeping bags, laying them out in the center of the tent, so they’d have some kind of padding besides the ground.

  The flushed look on Ava’s face was the only invitation he needed to move forward. Her eyes were golden. Her spicy woman’s scent filled the air inside the tent. He pulled off his shirt in one swift jerk, then he reached for the top button of her jeans. They laid down.

  Her hands devoured his chest, pushing and pawing, searching and exploring. She kissed his neck and nipped his shoulder. Damn, she was aggressive, and it turned him inside out.

  After managing to maneuver the zipper of her jeans downward he saw yellow lace. He would never see the color yellow the same way again. “You’re so damn hot.”

  She lifted her hips. He took the invitation to strip off her jeans. His hands smoothed along her thighs, then swiped at the crotch of her panties. He felt wetness through the silk fabric that had nothing to do with the rain. “Oh baby, you’re already wet.”

  His fingers fondled her moist panties. She arched her back and groaned, then stripped off her blouse. She wore a matching yellow bra, her nipples taut and pointed against the fabric.

  He had to make sure she was all in for this. He rubbed the palm of his hand over the curves of a breast, tweaking one nipple between his thumb and finger. He whispered in her ear. “Tell me what you want?”

  She took his hand in hers, spread her legs, and put his hand on her velvety soft mound.

  He pushed the fabric aside and slid a finger within her curls and folds. He stroked her there in a gentle rhythm. “Tell me.”

  Her eyes opened wide. “You’re going to make me talk, when I can barely breathe?”

  “Uh-huh,” he murmured. Slick wetness covered his fingers and his cock hardened more.

  “Just…just keep doing what you’re doing.” Her hips moved in time with his strokes.

  “I can make adjustments if you want.” His breathing accelerated, along with hers.

  She gasped. “You’re doing just fine.”

  Her hips moved in time with the movement of his fingers. If he didn’t get relief soon, his balls would ache for weeks.

  “Baby, you’re so wet.” He pushed a finger inside her.

  The tent, the pummeling rain, the smell of the spruce trees, and the gorgeous woman in yellow lace was too much. It was a fantasy beyond his wildest dreams and she wasn’t even completely naked yet. He sucked and bit at the thin fabric covering her puckered nipple. He wanted to kiss her mouth, but he wouldn’t go against her wishes.

  Latching onto her nipple harder, he sucked. Her hips boosted up. Pleading chants crooned out of her mouth, but he couldn’t understand her.

  He lifted his head. “Babe, what did you say?”

  She mewled and beat her fisted hand into the fluffy down of the sleeping bags.

  He repositioned himself to get better access.

  “Oh, oh…don’t stop.” She panted the words. “I’m almost there,” she gasped and spread her legs wide.

  “I’m not stopping, baby.” His erection hardened to stone.

  Holding the lacy edge of her panties aside with his fingers, he used his thumb to rub her clit in quick succession. Two fingers from his other hand dipped deep inside her. He waited for a reaction to make sure this was something she enjoyed.

  Her body twisted. She whimpered unintelligible words.

  “Is this okay?” he asked. It wasn’t as if he knew her well enough to know what she liked. He was taking a risk.

  “Don’t stop,” she yelled out. The risk paid dividends. He kept rubbing and circling and coaxing with his fingers. Gentle but urgent, he craved the need to give her pleasure.

  Her hips bucked. “I’m…I’m…”

  In his entire life, he wasn’t sure if he’d ever felt such desire watching a woman have an orgasm. Her hips ground against his hand and she moaned. He watched her face flush as she came.

  All was quiet, except for the beating of the rain against the nylon tent. His fantasy of sex while camping didn’t disappoint.

  They sat quietly for a minute, maybe two.

  Suddenly, Ava sat up and ripped off her bra. “I need you inside me right now.”

  His fantasy was about to get even better. “I can do that.”

  He focused on unbuttoning the fly of his jeans. His erection sprang free. The jeans came off in record speed, followed by his boxers.

  “Oh my god.” She slumped back into the sleeping bags.

  “What?” He paused only a second before he reached for her legs, then her panties.

  “You’re so…no wonder.” She gasped.

  “No wonder what, Sunshine?” He pulled the sodden panties free from her legs. He took a moment to soak in the sight of her body. Her curves were exquisite; from her convex belly, to her dark curls, to her heavy sized breasts, and damn—if her nipples weren’t oversized. They were twice the size of quarters—they were sexy as hell.

  “You’re very good with your hands…that’s all.” Pink flushed her cheeks before she parted her legs.

  “I’d like to show you what else I’m good with.”

  She opened her mouth, slid her pointer finger inside and sucked on it. “I’m all yours.”

  Holy hell. How could a woman sucking on her own finger look so damn indecent?

  “I’m not going to last long.” He searched for his wallet. “You’re too sexy for your own good, you know that?”

  “Quit talking.” She moved her finger down between her legs.

  It felt like an eternity before he found a condom and rolled it on.

  She gazed at him from beneath dark lashes.

  Positioning himself between her legs, he placed his arms on either side of her. He circled her wet entrance and ached with need. He paid homage to her breasts and her large nipples, stroking and sucking.

  She arched her back and clenched her hand around his neck. “What are you waiting for?” She hooked her legs around his torso. “I’m dying here. Let’s make this marriage legal.”

  His pulse thumped hard and fast. He plunged into her. Her sweet tightness nearly undid him.

  She tightened her legs and lifted her hips as though urging him on. “Don’t stop.”

  He took no further counsel and crashed into her again and again.

  Her hips rose to meet him thrust for thrust, guiding him and setting the pace. He wasn’t sure he’d ever been with anyone so sensual and aggressive, so sure of what she wanted. Her breasts swayed with each plunge and he couldn’t hold back any longer.

  He braced his arms for the spiral of sensation bursting through his core.

  Both their bodies were slick with sweat and the
smell of sex. Stryker breathed in deep through his nose savoring everything about this moment. Getting married to this woman was the smartest thing he’d ever done.

  6

  Still breathing fast and hard, Ava lay on her back and stared up at the ceiling of the tent. All she could think about was how embarrassed she was. Mortified. She had acted like a lust-crazed she-bear. What had come over her? Her bear had never wanted to break out so badly before. She didn’t shift into her bear form very often, but now she wanted to very badly. No matter what her logic told her, she couldn’t seem to get enough of Stryker Vane.

  Her husband.

  The idea of it still seemed foreign.

  Her face felt hot. She thought about the things she’d said. Good Lord…the words don’t stop would never have the same meaning to her again. What was it about being here in the wilderness, in a tent, with Stryker that had unleashed this wanton side of her? A side she never knew existed.

  Blood still surged in her body, the sensations of arousal dimmer, but not gone. Her heart still raced, her legs throbbed. Her inner core hummed with excitement.

  Stryker rolled on his side and slipped his warm hand on her belly. “Ava, that was amazing.”

  She gazed into his golden eyes. She’d been so caught up in her own embarrassment, she had failed to wonder what the experience meant to him. He probably did this kind of thing all the time.

  “You’re so beautiful.” He traced the outline of her nipples and her traitorous body responded. “I have the hottest wife in the entire state of Alaska—no, in the world.”

  This comment coaxed a smile from her lips. “You’re crazy.”

  “Crazy about you.”

  “You think so?” He didn’t know anything about her. Nothing.

  “Yup. I know so.” He sat up. The look in his eyes heated and turned predatory. “You’re sexy as hell, and hot. Scorching hot. You know what you want and you went for it.”

  Tears threatened to burn her eyes. She was none of those things. He didn’t know her at all. She ran away from an arranged marriage. How brave was a person who ran away from their problems and shielded themselves by marrying a stranger?