His to Defend (A BBW Paranormal Shifter Romance)

by Elena Aitken

  “Let me,” he commanded.

  But Nina wasn’t listening. She’d already waited long enough to see the rest of him and she was not a patient woman.

  “No.” She swatted his hand away, and in a quick jerk of her wrist, pulled his belt from the buckle and popped the button on his jeans. “Hands off.” It was her turn to issue the commands, and to her delight and surprise, he obeyed. Ryker put his hands behind his head and left her to her explorations.

  Ryker’s body vibrated beneath her hands as she slid the zipper down and reached into the front of his jeans to release his hard, throbbing cock. The moment her hand wrapped around him, her breath sucked from her lungs and she instinctively took a half step back. The hold she had on him brought her right back in, though.

  He was huge. Bigger than huge. And harder than she thought possible. Nina looked up into his eyes.

  He watched her with hooded, desire-soaked eyes. “Your touch…you…”

  Heat raced through her with the power she held in her hands. She ran her tongue down the length of him, tasting every hard inch of him.

  “Fuck, Nina.” Ryker, who’d kept his hands largely to himself while he let her explore, dropped them to her head just as she was getting started. “Come here.” He pulled her up and to him and kissed her thoroughly.

  She’d been kissed before. Many times. But none of the kisses she’d ever experienced had come close to what it felt like to be kissed by Ryker. He possessed every part of her with his mouth and it consumed her, leaving her dizzy and breathless.

  And wanting more.

  A lot more.

  “Ryker, I…” It took her a moment to catch her breath. “I need you.” And she did. More than she’d ever needed anything in her life. But first, there was one other thing she wanted to do.

  Without waiting for a response, Nina gripped the waistband of his jeans and tugged them down to his ankles, releasing his beautiful cock completely. He wasn’t wearing underwear, as if he’d been waiting and ready for her in the woods. The thought fueled her as she sank to her knees, wrapped both hands around his girth and took him into her mouth.

  He groaned, his body vibrating under her touch as she focused all of her attention on his length.

  “Nina…fuck…babe…I need…” His body shuddered and before she knew it, he’d lifted her from the forest floor as if she weighed nothing. “I need you. I can’t wait.”

  She wrapped her legs around him as he kissed her. Somehow he kicked out of his jeans and walked her to a soft, mossy clearing where he lowered her and stripped her of her clothes. This time, he managed to control himself enough not to shred them—which was a good thing, or she was going to start running out of things to wear.

  Having Ryker and his solid wall of muscle and heat hovering above her was almost too much for her to bear. Especially when all Nina wanted was to feel the heat of him inside her. She remembered almost belatedly that she’d left the Den for a hike with nothing more than a small pack containing her notebook so she could write a few words, and some water. No condom. Disappointment washed through her. She could not handle having to wait. Not again. She needed him and even though she was on the Pill, she assumed that’s why he’d stopped himself the day before. She couldn’t control the shaking of her voice when she spoke, and worse, she didn’t know whether it was from frustration or desire. “Ryker, I don’t have a condom, but I’m on the Pill.”

  “Baby, nothing will keep me from you this time.”

  Desire surged through her. “Less talking.”

  She didn’t have to ask twice.

  Ryker plunged inside her heat and she cried out with the force of him. Dammit. Instantly, he moved to pull back. He should have eased her in; he should have taken it slower but Nina’s arms wrapped around him.

  “No.” Her voice was barely a whisper. “Don’t move.”

  He didn’t know how long he could hold out that way. Filling her so completely was everything he’d imagined it to be, but he needed more. He needed to see the passion in her eyes. He needed to see the fire in her eyes. To see her move beneath him. To have her lose control while he was inside her.

  He needed it all.

  But he’d give her time.

  Ryker lowered his mouth to her glorious full breasts and suckled first one nipple and then another until he felt Nina relax beneath him. She moaned and wiggled her hips just enough to send a shock wave through him.

  “I’m going to fuck you now,” he whispered roughly in her ear.

  The tip of her perfect pink tongue slipped between her lips, wetting her mouth. Her voice was husky and needy as she looked straight in his eyes. “Hard and fast.”

  Hell yes.

  His bear roared in response and he did as she commanded. Her hips rose up to meet each thrust as he pounded into her. He hadn’t meant to go so hard, but once he had a taste of her, he’d needed all of her and there was no waiting. Beneath him, Nina cried out in pleasure with every pump of his hips. Ryker braced himself on one hand and tweaked her nipple with his free hand, eliciting another scream of pleasure. She dug her nails into his ass, both holding him to her and holding on as he pumped into her.

  Ryker couldn’t get enough. She felt so good. So perfect. He needed to be inside her forever.

  She was so sexy and responsive and…mine.

  His bear roared within him, and he didn’t bother shutting it down. He was too far gone with her.

  “Ryker, I…oh my God…you…”

  “Come for me, baby.”

  She quivered around him, her entire body shuddering, and then she completely shattered as the orgasm ripped through her. She tipped her head back and exposed her white creamy neck to him as she screamed out her pleasure.

  Without thinking, he lowered his mouth to her sweet neck, needing to taste her sweetness. He couldn’t think straight. Every feeling was muddled, confused. She was his. His mate. But she couldn’t be. She was human. It didn’t make sense.

  Nothing made sense.

  Especially his need to mate with her.

  To hell with the consequences. She has to be mine.

  He bared his teeth, ready to take her but her voice broke through his trance.

  “Kiss me.”

  Ryker pulled back and looked into Nina’s eyes before he did as she asked. He wasn’t sure he’d ever get enough of the taste of her. And it was exactly what he needed to push him over the edge as well.

  His own release came fast and intense and he roared out into the woods as his climax overtook him.

  It wasn’t until after he’d come back down and was lying next to Nina in the mossy bed they’d created, with her head resting on his chest, that he realized how close he’d come to making a critical mistake.

  Chapter Nine

  For the rest of the day, Nina walked around in a cloud of satisfaction she’d never felt before. It wasn’t as if she’d lived a life of celibacy. In fact, she’d had some amazing sexual encounters in her travels, but nothing came close to the sex she’d experienced with Ryker in the woods.

  Not. Even. Close.

  It was almost dinner time and she was still reveling in the aftershocks of her orgasm hours later when Harper walked into the Den, baby Lily in her arms. Only a few months old, she was starting to smile and giggle.

  “There you are.” Harper sat on the couch next to her and when she held her arms out, handed the baby to Nina. “Where’ve you been?”

  “I’ve been here.” She focused her attentions on the baby so Harper wouldn’t see the lie on her face.

  It didn’t work. “Bullshit. Where’ve you been? You took off pretty quickly after we got back from the dress fitting. Is everything okay?”

  “I just went out to the woods to do some writing. I really wanted to get some words.” It wasn’t a lie. Nina had been wanting to get outside and away from distractions so she could work on her book ever since she’d arrived at the ridge. Of course, she hadn’t been all that successful in avoiding distractions, at least not one big
distraction. Not that she minded.

  A shiver ran through her body just remembering what an amazing distraction it had been.

  No. She wouldn’t mind being distracted like that again. And again.

  “And did you get any?”

  Nina looked up sharply. Did Harper know? “No! Why would you say that?”

  Harper sat back and shook her head. “Because you just finished telling me that you wanted to go get some words.” She tilted her head and looked at her friend. “So, did you get any?” she asked again.

  “Words?”

  “That’s what I’m asking.” Harper laughed. “You’re acting super strange and if I didn’t know better, I’d think you were hiding something from me, Nina. What’s going on?”

  She didn’t want to lie to her best friend but how could she tell Harper the truth? That she’d just had wild and intense sex in the forest with her fiancée’s cousin who she’d only just met? She couldn’t tell her that.

  “I just had sex with Ryker.”

  Apparently she could tell her.

  Nina shook her head at her own lack of self-control.

  “You just did what?”

  Nina shifted baby Lily, who had fallen asleep in her arms. “I just had the most…I don’t even know how to describe it…” She closed her eyes for a moment. “The sex, it was…intense.”

  “Intense?”

  “Very.” Nina nodded. “Like he needed me with almost an animalistic intensity.”

  “Is that right?”

  She nodded again. “It’s the craziest thing,” Nina continued. “But for a moment, I actually thought he might even bite me.” She laughed at herself. “Isn’t that the craziest thing you’ve ever heard?”

  Harper sat back hard in her seat, her eyes wide.

  “Harper?”

  “Did you just say that you thought he might bite you?”

  Nina chuckled and waved her free hand. “It’s not like he was actually going to,” she said. “It was just that kind of intense connection. I know it doesn’t even make sense, but…oh my God. It was so good. I can’t remember ever having an orgasm like that. Not ever. I mean, I screamed so loud I think I scared all the birds out of the trees.”

  Harper threw her head back and laughed. “Do you remember me telling you the same thing when I met Axel?”

  Nina did remember. Poor Harper had been so sexually repressed for so long that she’d been thrilled when Axel came along and showed her what sex was supposed to be like. But even Nina had no idea that the sex could be so good. She shook her head a little. “I remember. But I had no idea. Really. It’s…”

  “So what’s going on with you two then? Are you like a thing?”

  Nina shook her head and handed the baby back to Harper. “I’m not looking for anything. Not right now. There is way too much going on to add a man to the mix.” Even a super sexy, amazing lover like Ryker.

  Harper’s face twisted into a look of concern. “What’s going on? You didn’t say anything.”

  Dammit. Nina hadn’t wanted to say anything. She didn’t want to worry Harper, who, of course, being her best friend, would worry. “It’s nothing,” Nina lied. “And it’s really nothing you need to be worrying about right now. Not with your wedding only a few days away.”

  But Harper was not to be so easily deterred. She put her hand on Nina’s arm, preventing her from getting up. “Talk to me, Nina. You know that there’s nothing you can’t tell me. Wedding or not.”

  Nina hesitated again, but when she looked at her best friend’s face so full of concern, she couldn’t not tell her. “I was fired,” she said. “From Lifestyle. I stood up for myself and the other writers. It was time. It’s not a huge deal. I mean, I have some savings so it’s not like I’m broke or anything, but—”

  “You loved that job.”

  That was it. And Harper knew it. Nina nodded slowly. “I did.”

  “I’m so sorry, Nina.” With one arm, Harper reached over and squeezed her in a hug, the baby between them. “But I’m proud of you for standing up for yourself. That’s important.”

  Nina nodded.

  “But…have you thought about what you’re going to do?”

  Nina forced a smile. “I’m going to enjoy the hell out of my best friend’s wedding,” she said. “That’s what I’m going to do.” She didn’t bother to add that she also planned to enjoy more of Ryker Jackson while she was there, too. But judging by Harper’s smirk, that was a given.

  “Well, I think that’s a great idea.”

  “What’s a great idea?” Axel’s voice boomed from the front door.

  How had he heard them from so far away?

  Nina shook her head. Sometimes it felt as if the men around Grizzly Ridge had some type of super powers.

  Like the super powers of seduction.

  Nina almost laughed at her thought, until a second later, when the subject of her thoughts walked in behind Axel.

  On some level, Ryker had known he was playing with fire when it came to Nina. How could he not be? Every time she was around, he couldn’t formulate a clear thought. His bear was continually clawing at him to get out. His senses were full of her.

  But he had never expected his bear to take over while he was having sex.

  Never.

  It had never happened before. Hell, it had never even come close.

  And it had been way too close earlier while he was buried inside the sweet heat of Nina.

  Hell, he’d almost bitten her. He’d almost mated her.

  The thought of it had been making him crazy ever since. Not because he hated the idea, but quite the opposite really.

  He’d liked the idea. Or at least, he hadn’t immediately rejected it.

  Not the way he would have even twenty-four hours earlier.

  What he needed was distance from her, which was why just as soon as they got back to the ridge, Ryker had made up some bullshit story about helping Axel get the rooms ready for the guests.

  He hadn’t planned on walking into the Den and seeing her there.

  But it wasn’t the sight of her that hit him first.

  It was that damn intoxicating combination of honey and crisp green apples that filled him. Only this time it was different, because she also smelled of sex. Their coupling. Her arousal laced through the already sweet scent of her and damn near drove him to distraction.

  “Ryker?”

  He blinked and Axel’s face came clear in his vision.

  “What the hell, man? Are you okay?”

  He nodded, but heard the word “No” fall from his lips.

  His cousin eyed him suspiciously but simply shook his head. “Go sit down. We’re going to eat soon.”

  Ryker watched as Axel strode through the room. He went directly to his mate and kissed her on the lips. He always went straight to his mate. They all did. It was a homing beacon. Like a gravitational pull they couldn’t deny. Instinct.

  Would he go to Nina? What if he tried not to?

  It was a stupid thought because obviously they weren’t mated, nor was she his mate. She couldn’t be. He ignored the voice in his head that tried to remind him of the way his bear had responded to her earlier.

  Mine.

  Ryker shook it off and stepped into the room. Aware that Nina’s eyes were on him, he walked directly toward the large wooden doors that would lead him to the long dining room table where everyone took their meals together.

  He focused on putting one foot in front of the other. Step by step.

  No problem.

  He didn’t have to go directly to her because she was not his mate.

  “I think I’ll go freshen up before dinner.”

  Her voice.

  Before he even realized what he was doing, Ryker spun, changed direction and in an instant was by her side. Nina looked up from the couch in surprise.

  Dammit.

  He didn’t even have to look to know that Harper and Axel were exchanging glances.

  “Let me help you up.”
He extended his hand, completely aware that his gesture might be seen as chivalrous by some, but in truth was a ridiculous attempt to cover up the pull he felt to this woman.

  Fortunately, Nina didn’t question him, but put her hand in his so he could help her to her feet. He held on a beat longer than he needed to, and then, with great difficulty, he released her so she could go upstairs to change for dinner.

  It wasn’t until later when they were all seated at the large wooden table that Axel leaned over and whispered, “What was it you said the other day about mating, cousin?”

  Ryker growled and his fists balled instinctively into fists under the table.

  “So I think we have a problem.” It was Luke who made the announcement, drawing Ryker’s attention from Axel and his intense desire to punch him in the face.

  “What’s that?”

  “I’m glad you asked, Ryker.” Luke grinned. “Because I think you might be the one who can help me out with it.”

  He was only partly paying attention, his focus still confused by Nina. He’d hoped the fog would clear after he had her, but it had only grown worse, more intense. “Anything. What’s up?”

  “I think we overbooked the Den, and I need you to take a tent. Cool?”

  “Sure.” Ryker answered automatically before what Luke said caught up with him. “Wait.” He turned and stared at his cousin. “You want me to move out?”

  “Just temporarily.” Luke shrugged. “I just heard from Natalia that she’s going to make it for a few days and we just don’t have enough—”

  “Nat’s coming?” Ryker hadn’t seen his baby sister in almost three years. She’d left before everything went down with the Jackson brothers and they’d been exiled. Of course, her departure hadn’t been shrouded in as much drama. As the baby of the family, Natalia never could do anything wrong as far as their mother was concerned and when she’d announced that she didn’t want to go to school, or settle down and take a mate, but travel the world instead, she’d all but bought her the ticket. Last Ryker heard, she was somewhere in Europe working as a server in a pub. Not exactly the glamorous lifestyle his little sister had envisioned, no doubt, but as long as she was happy, Ryker was happy. As it turned out, she could do no wrong as far as her older brothers were concerned either.