by Elena Aitken
His bear roared in his head, his senses too clouded to make sense of anything except her request. In a flash, he removed his fingers from her heat, gripped her hips with both his hands and thrust into her.
She responded with a moan as she pushed her hips back into him, meeting each thrust, their need for each other equally matched.
He couldn’t think of anything but having her. It was the most important thing. It was the only thing.
She pressed her hands against the tile in front of her, bracing herself against his pounding. “Yes, Ryker. Oh my God. More.”
Each word was part submission and part command. Either way, it was a call he gladly answered.
But he needed her closer, needed to feel more of her. Taste her.
He slipped one hand around her body to squeeze her breast with his full hand and tweaked her nipple until she screamed out in pleasure. He could feel her vibrating, tensing around his thickness. She was almost there.
She needed to be closer.
He used his grip on her breast to lift her, so her body was pressed against his. Nina moved so she could use the wall for support as he continued to take her from behind.
“I’m going to come.” She worked to control her voice, but the last thing he wanted from her was control.
“Let it go.” He leaned forward and whispered roughly in her ear. “Lose control.” Ryker dipped his head and sucked roughly on the back of her neck.
She was delectable. One taste was never going to be enough.
He lifted his head long enough to order, “Come for me, baby,” before once more taking her sweet skin into his mouth.
Only this time, as Nina lost control, her orgasm shattering around him, Ryker, too, lost control. As she cried out in pleasure and release, he bit down—his teeth bared—into the back of her neck and took her as his mate.
Chapter Thirteen
For the next twenty-four hours, Nina and Ryker attempted to stay holed up in Nina’s room. After their shower, neither of them could get enough of each other. It was as if she’d just discovered something for the first time.
And maybe she had.
Sex had never been so…gratifying before. Being with Ryker was intense and hot. But it was the release she got with every orgasm—and there were plenty—that left her wanting more. Needing more. She’d always had a healthy sexual appetite, but she’d never before been insatiable this way. As if every little taste of him just made her hungrier for more.
But they couldn’t hide forever. After all, she was there for a reason and Nina refused to let her best friend down on her special day. It was bad enough she’d ignored the bride for an entire day. Harper might forgive one day, but with the wedding now only twenty-four hours away, Nina really needed to pull herself together. Which was why after yet another sexy session that left her wiping the sweat from her brow and gasping for breath, she forced herself to roll away from Ryker and reach for her phone.
“Don’t tell me you have to make a call?” he teased and gripped her hip in an effort to pull her back to him.
She laughed and rolled onto her back, her phone still in her hand. “I need a break from you.” She grinned and stretched her arms over her head.
“Is that right?”
Nina took a moment to feel the ache in each of her muscles that came from more amazing sex than she could have imagined and used her free hand to attempt to work a kink out of her neck. “Ouch!” She pulled her hand away from her neck and sat up. “That’s more than sore.” The night before, she vaguely remembered Ryker biting her as they came together. At the time, the delicate line between pain and pleasure had only served to skyrocket her orgasm and she hadn’t given it another thought.
Until now.
Ryker shrugged and wouldn’t quite meet her eyes. He was focused on her neck, an intense look on his face. “I think I got a little carried away.” He moved to touch the spot, but she swatted his hand. “I’m really sorry, Nina. I didn’t mean to—”
“It’s fine.” And it was. After all, she was totally fine with sex getting a little rough if that was the extent of it. And the result was so completely world-shattering. “Just don’t let it happen again,” she teased, but still he wouldn’t smile.
“I won’t.” He looked so serious that she stuck out her tongue and laughed.
“I have to check my phone.” She rolled over and turned her attention to her cell, but a moment later, the now familiar heat of Ryker’s body pressed against her back distracted her.
“Is it work?” He started to kiss the small of her back and Nina almost gave in to his attentions. “I’ve never even asked you what you do.”
Nina left her phone for the moment and rolled back to face him. “I’m a writer.” It was the first time she’d told someone what she did for a living without adding the name of the magazine she worked for. It felt good, if not a little strange.
Ryker traced a finger along the curves of her hip, dipping down into her waist and up to the swell of her breast. “And what kind of things do you write?”
“It used to be mostly travel pieces.” She squeezed her eyes and let a moan of pleasure slip from her lips as he pinched her nipple before moving on with his explorations.
“And now?”
Nina opened her eyes again. “Now, I’m working on a book.” It felt good to say it out loud. “I’m taking a break from travel writing for a bit. It’s time to do some writing for me. Does that sound stupid?”
Ryker lifted his head from her stomach, where he’d just pressed a kiss. “Not at all. I take pictures for a living.”
“Really?” How had she never asked him what he did before? You’ve only known him a few days. The little voice of reason in the back of her head piped up but she quickly shut it down lest it start protesting over the feelings she was developing that she had no business having given that it was only a few days.
“Adventure photography mostly,” he continued. “Anything to do with rock climbing and back country skiing are my specialties. It’s actually a pretty kick-ass job. And I’m sure it’s not quite the same thing, but sometimes I can feel like I just want to take a simple picture. Something for me.”
“That’s just it.” She sat up on the bed. “I always meant to work on my book when I was done with my work stuff, but I found it so hard to switch gears and write about something fictional. And there just never seemed to be time.”
“But now you’re doing it.”
Nina nodded. “I am. I have a little money put aside and I can afford to take a bit of time off to focus on it.”
“I think that’s fantastic. Not enough people chase after their dreams.”
She blushed a little, but Ryker was right. Not enough people chased their dreams. It was as if somewhere along the lines of growing up, their dreams were pushed aside, put on a shelf, in favor of real life. Adult life. It was really unfortunate. But it didn’t have to be. At least not for her.
“You’re right.” She pulled her hair back and let it fall down around her shoulders.
“I know I’m right.” He grinned. “Just like I know you’re going to be successful. When you have something you believe in, something you can’t live without, something that confuses you…well, that’s the type of thing that just gets inside you and becomes a part of you. It’s something you’ll never be able to let go of. Ever.”
She had the distinct feeling that he wasn’t just talking about writing anymore. Nina waited a moment and asked, “What about you? What was your dream when you were young?”
“Honestly?”
“Of course.” Nina grinned a little, enjoying this playful side of Ryker. Up until now, she’d only seen a strong, tough side of him. Not that she didn’t like it, a lot. She did.
But this lighter version of Ryker was fun, too.
“Adventure photography was my dream,” he said. “Let me clarify, it is my dream. I mean, I get to play outside in the mountains I love while taking pictures. I don’t think it can get too much better th
an that.”
Nina thought about it for a minute. “Okay,” she said. “I agree. You’re living your dream but is there any other kind of photography you’ve ever wanted to try? Something that’s just for you?”
The smile that slipped over Ryker’s face was downright sinful. “There is one thing.” He hopped off the bed and went to his bag, where he pulled out a camera.
“Are you going to show me?” She reached for the camera, ready to flick through some of his photos, but Ryker pulled the camera back.
“No, I’m going to make you the subject.”
“What?” In reflex, Nina crossed her arms over her bare chest. “Like, take pictures of me?”
“Don’t cover them up.” Ryker pretend to pout. “Your breasts are way too beautiful to be hidden.”
“The world is not seeing them.” She shook her head. “No pictures.”
“Baby.” Ryker lifted the camera to his face. “You’re gorgeous. And if you think I’m willing to share you with anyone, even in a photograph, you’re crazy. These will be just for me.” He snapped another picture. “Please?”
He wanted her in a way she’d never before been wanted. He desired her in a way that made her feel powerful, sexy and… “Okay.” She dropped her arms away from her chest. “What do you want me to do?”
“Just be your regular sexy self.”
That made her laugh and at once, she heard the clicking of the camera.
For the next few minutes, Nina once again forgot she was meant to be reaching out to Harper, and lost herself in the impromptu photo session. She never thought she’d enjoy putting herself on display in such a way, but the time went by quickly, and she found that not only was she having fun, she was incredibly turned on.
“Turn for me,” he ordered. “Just a little more.” Click. “Yes, just like that.” Click.
Nina was sitting up, her legs pulled to her chest, her head turned just a little over her shoulder as if she were looking away.
“You’re perfect,” Ryker said, barely moving the camera away from his face. “Now give me something dangerous.”
“Dangerous?”
His cock twitched with anticipation.
“Spread your legs.”
He half expected his command to be met with resistance, but to his delight, she complied at once. With one hand on each leg, and her knees slightly bent, she pushed one leg out to the right, the other to the left, opening herself to him in the most erotic way. Her hair fell down over her shoulders, the length of it teasing the swell of each breast.
“Fuck, you are so damn sexy,” he whispered as his camera captured the moment.
He’d probably filled an entire memory card with images of her, but he didn’t care. It was without a doubt the best photo shoot he’d ever done. She was luscious, sensual, and completely intoxicating in the way that she had no idea of the power she held over him.
“You like what you see, camera man?”
Through the lens, Ryker saw her raise her eyebrow in question and gesture toward him. He didn’t even have to look to know it was his thick, hard erection she was referring to.
“Hell yes, I do.”
“Well then, why don’t you come over here?” Her voice was deep and raspy, her eyelids half closed. She oozed sex appeal.
They’d spent the entire day in bed, and still she couldn’t get enough of him. Which worked out well for him, because Ryker knew there was no way he’d ever get his fill of Nina and her delicious curves and the way she came completely undone around him. Every. Single. Time.
Mine.
Ryker ignored his bear, who continued to growl. He knew exactly what his bear’s problem was. He just didn’t want to deal with it. Not yet. There’d be plenty of time to deal with the consequences of what he’d done—later.
But at the moment, the most important thing was the sexy woman on the bed with her legs spread and her finger crooked, beckoning him to her. Who was he to disappoint?
He put his camera aside and crawled up on the bed until he rested between her legs, his throbbing erection poised at her entrance. He kissed her, hungry for the taste of her as her hands slipped around his backside and her fingers dug into his ass, urging him forward.
Without breaking the kiss, he plunged into her. The erotic little gasp she never failed to make every time he entered her slipped from her lips and urged him on.
Ryker set a steady rhythm and never once stopped kissing her as they both reached their peak together. She shuddered around him, her muscles clenching him as he took his own release at the same time.
Finally, he pulled his head back and looked into her eyes, heavy with satisfaction.
His mind had been clearer all day. His senses sharper than they’d ever been before. But there was something different now. A new feeling. Something he’d never experienced before. Something he couldn’t quite figure out.
“Damn, Ryker.” She tossed her head back and laughed a little. “I have never…well…I guess I didn’t know it was possible.”
“To lock yourself away and have crazy, amazing sex all day?”
“All day is right.” She shook her head in wonder. An action that only served to make him want her again.
He’d never get enough. Not ever.
“But we can’t stay in here forever.” She scooted back on the bed and rolled over on her stomach to reach for her phone. “I really do have to check in with Harper,” Nina said. “After all, it is her wedding tomorrow. I’m a terrible maid of honor. Oh my God. She’s texted me like ten times.”
She continued talking as she checked her phone, but Ryker was no longer listening because as Nina moved, her hair fell from her shoulder and exposed a raw, red mark that was starting to bruise.
Mine. Forever.
Guilt flooded him. He’d done a pretty good job ignoring what he’d done, choosing to enjoy every moment in bed with her instead. But faced with the physical proof of his mating in front of him, there was no denying it. He’d taken her as his mate.
A human.
And if that wasn’t bad enough—
She had no idea.
“You’re sure you’re not mad?” Nina asked for the third time since joining Harper in her cabin a few hours later. She’d managed to convince Ryker that as much as she’d like to stay in bed with his strong arms wrapped around her—and she did—she really did need to go fulfill at least some of her maid of honor duties.
“I’m not mad.” Harper laughed. “Really. I’m just happy you’re not too hungover and that…well…let’s just say you look pretty satisfied.”
Nina fell into an overstuffed chair by the fireplace. “You have no idea. I didn’t even know it was possible to have sex like that. And so many times.”
Her friend laughed again. “Oh, you’d be surprised what these Jackson men are capable of.”
“Well, I don’t know if it’s genetics or some sort of crazy connection between us or what, but it’s pretty friggin’ amazing.”
“I’d say it’s a bit of both.”
Harper spoke so sincerely, without a trace of humor in her voice, that Nina sat up and looked at her friend. “What did you say?”
“I just said that it’s both. You and Ryker. Both.”
“Genetics and a connection?”
“And maybe a bit of fate.”
Harper looked over her head, the expression on her face almost wistful. Nina wasn’t even going to try to understand what her friend meant by any of that. Besides, she didn’t want to. She was having fun. A lot of fun and the last thing she wanted to do was overanalyze it or make it something it wasn’t.
“Whatever it is, it’s fun.” She pushed up from her chair and wandered over to the window. She could hear the sounds of the other women making their way up the path to the cabin to help with Harper’s final preparations.
“Are you sure that’s all it is?”
Nina froze at the window at her best friend’s question.
“Nina?”
Slowly, she t
urned around to face Harper. She couldn’t lie to her best friend, not successfully anyway. After a moment, Nina shook her head. “No,” she said. “I’m not sure.”
Fortunately, because the last thing she wanted to do was overthink whatever it was that was going on with Ryker, as soon as Nina made her admission, the door flung open and Chloe, Kira, Ella, Bree, and Natalia all burst inside.
The cabin, for as small as it was, was remarkably spacious, and the addition of the other women only made it feel cozy and more like home. A feeling Nina was having more and more when it came to Grizzly Ridge. Maybe when the wedding was over, she’d even let herself entertain the idea of staying on. She couldn’t imagine a better and more inspirational place to write a book.
Nina took a few minutes of good-natured teasing about the night before, and even a few pointed questions about what had actually gone on after Ryker had carried her out of the bar, after which Nina managed to steer the conversation away from her and back to the bride. Natalia had brought a bottle of rosé, which they raised in a series of toasts to Harper and her wedding.
“Okay, I want to see the dress,” Harper announced after about an hour.
“The dress?” Nina turned. “Like, your wedding dress?”
“No, silly. Your dress.”
Nina’s surprise must have shown on her face, because all the girls laughed. Bree jumped up and went into the bedroom, returning with a garment bag.
“I hope you don’t mind.” Harper took the bag from Bree and stood in front of Nina. “I did a thing.”
“A thing?”
Harper held the garment bag out. “You are my maid of honor, after all.”
“But you told me to bring a sundress,” Nina protested. “Nothing fancy.”
Harper shrugged and wiggled the bag. “I changed my mind. Go try it on.”
“Harper…you didn’t have to—”
“I didn’t have to do anything.” She laughed. “But it’s my day and I did. And you’re going to love it. Go! I want to see how gorgeous you look in it.”
There was no point arguing and with all the other women watching and waiting, Nina took the bag and went into the back bedroom.