Another bite and her body began to buzz. His teeth, tongue, and thrusts all but shoved her into her climax, but she fought to hold on. I don't want it to end! Not yet!
When he moved his mouth to her neck, and pulled on her sore nipple with his finger, she tried to distract herself by counting how many times his heavy balls slapped against her ass between his pinches.
He licked a trail to her ear and ran his teeth along the outer shell. I can do this, I can hold it. When he bit down onto her lobe, he groaned in her ear and tweaked her nipple at the same time.
Her orgasm broke free like the waters of a thawing river. Her back arched before her body curled forward, and she gripped and clawed the skin of his back like a feral cat. She moaned and growled, and her toes curled as her body shook.
Joseph hadn't let up, and neither had her pleasure. He rocked her body, pummeling her tight passage with ruthless strokes. He released her ear and moved a hand to grip her right butt cheek. He snaked his right arm beneath her, gripped her shoulder, and pinned her in place. There was no escape as he drilled into her like he was searching for precious stones. But who'd want to escape his pleasure prison?
After many long minutes, his pace changed from rhythmic to scattered, and he grunted with each stroke. Time lost all meaning as he kept her at her peak, and she was on the edge of consciousness for a second time. Involuntary spasms took over every muscle, and each touch and sensation rebounded to her core. She babbled as she lost control of her body, and tiny flashes danced in her field of vision.
"I'm coming!"
She heard his declaration, but she didn't process what it meant. She was vaguely aware that he'd pulled out and emptied his load onto her belly. She didn't care—a different darkness was creeping in. Her eyes closed and she felt his breath next to her head.
His voice seemed far away when he spoke, but she managed to make out his words. "I'll never let you choose another." It was the last thing she heard before her senses turned off.
Chapter 2
The Heat
Joseph awoke to a strong gust of wind as it blew by the entrance of the cave. Dara was curled up next to him, her breathing deep and even. He smiled, his keen eyes able to appreciate her form in the darkened cave.
Her thick, dark hair was soft against his chest, and it clung to the patch of hair he had there. Her full, luscious lips were parted, and he could hear the air pass in and out of her mouth. With her on one side, he had a good view of her profile—the apple of her cheek was round and full, and the curve of her neck beckoned. He had to fight the urge to bite her there again, so he turned his attention to the rest of her.
He couldn't resist running a hand down her side and onto her belly. Her softness brought a smile to his lips before he rested his hand on her full hip. When she stirred, he pulled his hand back and watched as she returned to a deep sleep.
Don't want to wake her. It took several minutes for him to move away. Like him, her senses were keen and if he moved too much or too fast, he'd wake her, so he was slow and silent.
When he was far enough away, he folded his half of the fur over her still, naked figure. A nice stretch and a yawn prefaced his emergence from the cave, and he sniffed the air and searched the forest with his eyes. His change was almost immediate, and he moved his big bear body through the woods, scratching and marking trees as he went.
The air was warmer, and his claws were soon sticky with sap as he continued to rake strategic trunks in his path. As he continued on, a familiar scent tickled his nose, and he pulled his ears back in response. Well hello. He smelled prey.
He tracked the scent of a boar and followed it at a distance. He had to be stealthy and stay downwind at all times. Boars were fast, so he'd have to use the element of surprise to land this succulent meal.
He followed the animal on its serpentine path for more than a mile. Dara should be awake, but he wouldn't turn back, not now, not when he was less than one hundred feet away.
The boar meandered, oblivious to his presence, and rooted in the ground. When the beast moved into an area with felled trees, Joseph saw his opportunity and closed the gap, boxing the creature in. It took no time to claim his prize, and he dragged his kill toward the cave. Another gift, another chance to impress her with his abilities.
The wind changed direction and a new scent filled his nostrils. What the hell? He was on alert in the space of a breath, and he galloped through the trees. When the smell intensified, he dropped the boar and ran as fast as he could to the source.
He growled when he spotted Dara in her bear form. He reared up on his hind legs when his gaze fell on another male in the process of inching closer to her. He, too, had made a kill, and nudged it toward Dara. He's making an offering? Oh hell no! His growl was deep, and he opened his jaws wide to show his teeth.
When the other male spotted him, he offered his own growl and turned to face him. Joseph didn't waste any time, and ran hard to meet the intruder head on.
Both bears reared up, each trying to unbalance the other. He's young. He could tell by the other male's movements he was inexperienced, and Joseph used that to his advantage. He swatted the newcomer's muzzle with one paw and angled his own head toward his neck. His jaws clamped onto the skin below the younger male's ear, and he bit down hard. He shook his head, and pushed his claws into his shoulders. It didn't take long for the fight to leave the young bear, and when he stopped struggling, Joseph released him and chased him off.
He made his way back and found Dara still in place. When he shifted, she did too. There was a smirk on her face, and the instant he saw it, he walked toward her with slow steps. "You enjoyed that, didn't you?" She took a step back. There was no fear in her eyes, but there wasn't an answer from her lips either.
Adrenaline continued to course through his veins, and he narrowed his eyes and sniffed the air. Good, I made it in time. She didn't mate with him. But she looks… She chewed the corner of her bottom lip and looked at the kill the young male brought to her. "You wanted him, didn't you?"
"Maybe. What difference does it make now?"
With three quick strides, he backed her up against a tree. He was in his bear form in a heartbeat, and he clawed the bark above her head and shoulders. The action helped to calm him, but she stared at him with challenge in her eyes.
"What are you going to do about it, Joseph?"
Sap ran down from the deep gashes he left with his claws, and he tracked the liquid's progress as it slipped onto and over her shoulder. He changed back and pressed a hand to her chest to keep her still. He leaned closer to her, and kept his eyes on her until the last possible moment. A quick bite to her shoulder was his goal, but it wasn't going to happen. The minute they broke eye contact, she shifted and growled.
"All right, Dara, if that's how you want it." He took his bear form and advanced slowly. She eyed him as if she was sizing him up, and she took a tentative step back before she moved forward.
She's not weak anymore. Her meal and a good night's rest would ensure she'd be a challenge, and he watched for her first move. When she reared up, he matched her and managed to avoid her jaws. He didn't attack outright—instead, he focused on counters to her movements. Come on, give me an opening. I need to save my energy.
He let her push forward, compensating for the force she exerted when she shoved herself into his body. She was able to get in a few good swipes, but Joseph kept his head and prayed his patience would be rewarded.
Long minutes passed, and the two of them continued to push against each other. When he noticed a change in her attack, he made his move. He allowed her in close, and when she tried to close her jaws into his neck, he nudged her at the last minute, forcing her to all fours. His jaws were at her neck a moment later, and he could hear the frustration in her short breaths. It didn't take long for her to stop struggling. When she did, they shifted together.
He watched her chest rise and fall as she panted. He wouldn't have time to catch his own breath. He backed her against th
e wide trunk of the tree he'd scarred, and pressed his hand into her chest once again.
He shifted the opposite hand into a paw, and scratched deeper into the tree. Sticky sap snaked down over her shoulder, leaving a glistening, tantalizing trail. He changed his hand back and chased the liquid with his fingers, smearing it over her chest and breasts. His mouth watered at the sight. He didn't need any words in that moment, and lowered his head to trace the path of the sap on her skin with licks and suction. The sweetness cloyed with the saltiness of her skin, a decadent mixture that made his nostrils flare.
She wriggled against his hand, and he growled until she held still. "You wanted to know what I was going to do about it." The smell of her drove him to distraction, but his scent still clung to her, and that detail made his body respond, leaving him hard enough to break rocks.
He pressed himself against her and nipped the underside of her breast. In mere moments he could smell her arousal, and his eyes rolled in his head. It happens every time. Whenever her scent tickled his nose, his body filled with need. Her wetness was the ultimate aphrodisiac. He had to have her right then and there.
He lifted her left leg and rested it in the crook of his elbow. She was shorter than he was, and he bent at the knees so he could rub his swollen head at her saturated entrance. When she moaned, his muscles tensed, and he shoved himself into her. The action lifted her body a few inches, and the toes of her right foot barely touched the ground.
The feel of her around him sent heat over his skin in waves. He bucked into her, determined to show her all that he was. His animal nature compelled him to take her, while his human half craved the contact and closeness.
Each time they joined, more of his body awakened. He was stronger each time, as if he gained something new with each encounter.
Again he was inside her, and the need to possess her was so strong it overpowered all other thoughts. He watched her breasts shake with his every thrust, and when he looked into her eyes, they were glazed over. He wouldn't be able deny her anything while she looked like that. He tilted his head and captured her lips, her tongue frantic against his. She took her breaths in time with his, and moaned her pleasure into his mouth.
He teased her tongue for long minutes while he pressed her body into the tree. He could feel the muscles in her arms and thighs contract in erratic movements, and he pushed deeper with each stroke in response.
"Damn you, Joseph!"
Her body shuddered with his new assault, making him smile against her lips. When she squeezed around him, he knew her release was imminent, and he prepared himself. "I'll make this official this time." It was hard to speak with so much delicious friction, but he managed to get the words out while he increased his pace and force.
He'd need to find his voice soon. There were important things that needed to be said, and he wouldn't waste another minute. There was no way to control his breathing, so he spoke between panted breaths. "I have … provided food… eli-m-mi-nated a rival…"
"Fuck, gonna come!" He needed to hold it, and there was only one way to do it. He let go of her leg and stepped back, slipping out of her scalding heat. His body protested, and Dara growled. He responded by turning her to face the tree trunk. When she looked over her shoulder, he entered her from behind and focused on three words. "Am I worthy?"
He watched her fingers dig into the tree while he reamed her. He gripped her hips and pulled her onto him. The softness of her round ass enticed him, and he reveled in the sensation of her cheeks as she crashed into him. The sight of her ass as it bounced stoked the flames of the inferno raging inside him, and he wanted more. "Am I worthy, Dara?"
"Jo-Jo-seph!" A red flush swam over the skin of her back, and her inner muscles spasmed around him. He could see the tree bark's imprint in her skin, those areas redder than the blush that took over her body.
Her orgasm wouldn't give him pause. He pushed harder and allowed her yelps to fuel his movements. "Answer me or I will fuck you until next hibernation!"
She screamed into the bark of the tree while her body creamed around him. She was wetter than ever. His thrusts produced a squishing sound with every advance, and he almost lost his concentration. "Am I?" Almost.
"Yes! Oh God, yes!" She continued to squeeze around him, and when her legs wobbled, he held her hips tighter.
"Do you choose me?" Five hard thrusts punctuated his sentence, and he closed his eyes. Come on, Dara. This is fucking killing me!
"Y-yes!"
"Only me?"
"Only y-you, Joseph."
At those words he released her hips and pulled out. He turned her to face him and lifted her under her arms. He heard his pulse in his ears as he placed her back against the tree and slammed into her. She yelped again, and he pulled her legs around his waist and stepped back. He supported her weight and wrapped both arms around her before he tilted forward. "Say it." He held himself still inside her, the urge to plunder her depths nearly blinding him.
"I choose you, Joseph."
"Say it again." His arms and legs trembled as his body cried out for its release, but he'd wait just a little longer. She's shaking too.
"I choose you, Jo…"
It was all he'd allow her to say before he rocked into her with thrusts that stole her breath and his sanity. His bear influenced him in that moment and he gave her everything bears were known for, power, strength, tenacity, and ferocity.
In no time, his balls tightened against his body, and his breath hitched. His growl was loud in his own ears, and he held her tight as he shot jets of his seed into her. Her muscles sucked and pulled at him, another sensation his body craved, and he released a soft moan in response.
Now that she'd agreed to be with him, he wouldn't have to mark her body with his seed to keep other males away. With her acceptance of him, she'd fight any other bear that got too close. The thought of this fact filled him with pride. The act of releasing into her body was a reminder of his new station.
When Dara began to go limp in his arms, he pulled himself free and cradled her to his body. Her eyelids fluttered as he carried her back to the cave, and she shivered in his grasp.
He lifted the top half of her body to his face, and inhaled near her neck before he placed her on the fur. She still smelled amazing, and just like before, he loved having her clothed in his scent.
She fell asleep after several moments, and he left the cave to retrieve the boar. He'd done his part to secure her. Now it was her turn.
Chapter 3
The Reality
Two days of bliss, interrupted by forced periods of unconsciousness had passed. Dara was sore in every muscle in her body. Even her eyelids ached, making her aware of how many times she blinked in a day. A smile spread her lips at the thought, and she nuzzled into Joseph's chest as he slept next to her. I wouldn't have it any other way.
He'd shown his strength and his fitness to be her mate for the year, and boy, did he show his prowess as a lover. Her passage ached with the memory of their joining. A tiny shudder moved through her legs when she recalled how she squeezed them around his waist.
Another morning after, another day of getting closer to him, and she still couldn't get enough. He was her drug of choice, and with the advent of the season upon them, it seemed nature conspired to bring them together, offering perfect weather and plenty of prey.
She placed a light kiss on the center of his chest and attempted to wriggle free of his arms. He reacted as she expected; he tightened his grip and groaned.
"I need to use the bathroom."
He didn't open his eyes, but he did release her. She got to her feet and stepped over him. She wasn't a foot away before she felt and heard a slap on her ass. "Damn it, you scared the shit out of me!" She jumped a full foot off the ground and held her sore cheek with her hands. When he chuckled, she rolled her eyes before she shifted and left the cave.
"Don't be too long. I've got plans for you."
Her blood raced through her veins at those words, and sh
e hurried to do her business.
The sun shone bright in the clear blue sky and she shifted to revel in the rays on her bare skin. She wanted to get back to the cave, but this was a rare, quiet moment, and she decided to make the most of it.
When she spotted a felled tree, she sat on its soft, moss-covered surface. The world was coming to life all around her, and when she thought about it, so was she. Her senses were more acute, her body more pliable, and her endurance increased as well.
She looked around at the trees, and she smiled with pride at the markings on some of the trunks. Joseph's scratches were clear, but she'd added her own next to his. This was their territory, at least for now, and the dual marks sent the message for all to see.
She was ready to head back when she caught a scent on the breeze. Her bear came forward in no time, and she bounded toward the smell. An intruder, and she wasn't about to allow a stranger into her area.
The forest and underbrush blurred around her as she reached her top speed, and when she spotted the male, she ran toward him. Get the hell out! She curled her lips and showed her teeth, the only warning she'd give.
The male ran at her, but she held her ground and watched him stop short of her snout. She thrust her paws into the ground before she moved forward, and looking on as he back tracked. That's right, be smart. Male bears may be larger, but the females are known for killing them.
He stretched his neck and flared his nostrils, and she lunged at him in response. Not interested, buddy. Just move along. When he lingered, she reared up on her hind legs. When he did the same, she landed several blows to his muzzle.
The male turned and moved off, but she chased him just to make sure he left the area. You made the right choice. Now stay the hell out! She watched after him until he disappeared over the horizon. When she was satisfied he was well and truly gone, she headed back to the cave.
Beneath a Spring Moon (Those Sexy Shifters, Book 1) Page 9