“Because a part of this gift is that once we find our true mates, then we stay with them forever.” He lifted her hand and kissed it reverently. “And you are my true mate, Beth.”
“That sounds almost as fanciful as you turning into a bear.”
“It’s all true. I have waited a long time for you. And I will never betray you. You are the most important person in my life.”
“So what happens now?” she asked.
“One of two things? Or both, I hope.”
“Go on.” She swallowed her desire; she sure hoped one of them was him making love to her right there and then.
“I propose and then I claim you.”
“Claim me?”
“Yes. I want to come inside you, Beth. I want to feel you around me. You know what I mean.”
“Yes,” she said, her voice hoarse.
He leaned down and kissed her, his mouth firm on hers. Ben was showing her exactly who he was, the master of her body. And when his hands touched her breasts, massaging them together, her nipples hardened and she knew that she would do whatever he wanted as long as it always felt this good.
Picking her up once more, he carried her upstairs to his bedroom, placing her on his large bed. Then she watched as he stripped his clothes off, his thick cock proud and erect as his pants dropped to the floor. This was it. He was going to make love to her. First, he was going to remove her clothes. Slowly.
He knelt on the bed next to her; she couldn’t keep her hands off his wonderfully smooth skin. She traced the contours of his body while he undid the buttons on her shirt. One at a time, kissing her soft skin as it was revealed to him. Her flesh seemed to glow under his touch, a heat threading through her nerve endings, until she felt as if she had been plunged into fire.
Once her shirt was discarded, he unclasped her bra, her breasts free to be tortured by his hands and his mouth. Sucking one nipple into his mouth, he rolled his tongue over it. She gasped, shockwaves hitting her. Ben moved to the other one, licking it with the flat of his tongue before circling it, making the taut bud overly sensitive, while between her thighs an inferno raged, and only he could tame it and control it.
His cock butted against her thigh, and she figured it was time she became acquainted with the many parts of Ben that were a mystery to her. Enclosing it with her hand, she moved up and down. He stiffened, his cock becoming harder in her hand. In response, his mouth became rougher on her breasts, while his hand slipped down her body to lift her skirt, his fingers pushing into her hungry sex.
Sliding up and down along his length, she experimented with how rough he liked to be handled. His reactions fascinated her. She squeezed and released him, then moved her hand to the head of his cock, making him groan in need. The first drop of his precome appeared and she wanted to taste him, just as he had tasted her yesterday. But she wasn’t brave enough.
Then he broke away from her. She looked up, searching his face to understand why. But when he turned her over and unzipped her skirt, she knew it was because he wanted her naked against him, and she couldn’t wait.
Skin on skin, he moved over her body, kissing her neck and then along her collarbone, finally kissing the tips of her nipples. He drew his hand along the inside of her thigh and slowly found his way to her heated sex. One finger, followed by another, slipped inside her and drew her arousal from her, making her need for him increase until she was writhing under his touch.
Then he withdrew. “Are you sure?” he asked.
“Yes. Very.”
Eager now, he guided himself into her, the head of his cock pressing against the entrance to her sex. She tensed, hoping it wouldn’t hurt. Ben kissed her, soothing her, and she remembered she was in the capable hands of a doctor. A doctor who was desperate to claim his mate. To claim her.
After everything that had happened, Beth would never have expected to find a man like this attracted to her. Francis had left her believing that she was no good, that her body was too curvy and her face not attractive enough. Dr. Ben made her feel sexy, beautiful, and incredibly aroused. Especially when his cock was slowly penetrating her tight sex. He was gentle but firm, pushing deep into her until he claimed her virginity. She gasped, her fingernails digging into his back. This spurred him on. Slowly, the gentle doctor disappeared, to be replaced by his animal instinct, his primal need to take her hard and strong.
Long lunges, in and out of her tight, hot sex. She was left breathless by his kisses, and as her climax grew, her other senses were overwhelmed. This wonderful doctor, so restrained around other women, wanted her. Wanted to come inside her and make her his wife. That was what he had said. And she believed him.
When her orgasm finally swept over her, she cried out, waves after wave of pleasure sweeping over her and taking her higher than she had ever been. He worshipped her body with his own, making her feel special. His words from earlier rang in her ears: she was his, he was hers, forever.
Chapter Seventeen – Ben
Morning came so fast and then slipped away as he made love to her again. “You’re insatiable,” he told her.
“Only for you.”
“Only for me,” he growled, kissing her again. “You should sleep. I have some calls to make.”
“OK. Then come back to bed, right?”
“Promise,” he said, leaning down and kissing her soft lips. He couldn’t resist stroking her body, touching her nipples, feeling them harden under his fingertips.
“Go, now,” she said. “Or you will never leave this bedroom.”
A guttural sound in his throat told her he would rather stay, but he dragged himself away, although his gaze lingered on her until he physically left the room. Damn, she was beautiful lying there in his bed. His mate. He grinned to himself; it had finally happened. At that moment, Ben felt like a kid on Christmas morning. Full of excitement and anticipation for his new life, which was starting right now.
The kitchen was his first stop; he put some coffee on and then went through his messages. Systematically, he returned calls, trying to keep his professional head on and his voice level. Hard, when excitement kept bubbling up inside him. His mind kept wandering back to the woman who was sleeping in his bed. And how much he wanted to wake her and make love to her again.
Calls finished, he flicked through his reminders in his smart phone. “Damn,” he said quietly. He had forgotten he had promised to take Rita Hargreaves to lunch. She was one of his patients, in for long-term care, and she had no family nearby. It was her 60th birthday, and he had made up his mind to make it a special day for her, despite her being alone.
Going back to the bedroom, he found Beth asleep. She looked so peaceful, and he knew he must have tired her out with their lovemaking; she didn’t have the stamina of his bear, unfortunately. He didn’t have the heart to wake her, so he went to shower, got dressed, and left her a note saying he had to go to the hospital and would be back later. Then he fetched the gift he had bought for Rita and wrapped it up. Once more he went back to check on Beth and then left, although his bear objected. “Later,” he said to himself. “We have the rest of our lives together.”
Chapter Eighteen – Beth
He wasn’t there. She could tell as soon as she opened her eyes. The bed was cold where his body should be, his weight on the bed not pulling her into his gravity. Lifting up her weary head, she looked out at the bright daylight and knew it was late. He must be up already, leaving her to lie in. She smiled. What a night!
Turning over, she saw his note. Trying to focus her sleep-heavy eyes, she read it and her heart sank. It was his day off, and she had hoped they would spend it together. Instead, she was left feeling deflated. But he would be back, she reassured herself.
Slipping out of bed, she padded to the bathroom, but decided that she would do better to go home, shower, and change, and then meet him later. Dressing quickly, her head filled with the images of their night together, she couldn’t help feel elated. What a man! What a bear! She giggled to herself; was t
hat actually real? He would have to show her again, because she was beginning to doubt her sanity. Normal men didn’t turn into bears, but there was nothing normal about Ben. Nothing at all. She was a lucky girl.
Not wanting to make him worry about not being here, she decided to call him to tell him where she was going and to find out how long he would be. Dialling carefully, she waited for someone to pick up. Greta. Great.
“Hi Greta, is Ben there?”
“No.” Was her voice this sharp to everyone who called the hospital?
“Oh, I thought he had come into work. I wanted to get a message to him.”
“I’ll take the message,” she said, sounding a little more polite.
“Great, thanks. Can you tell him that I’m going to go home and I’ll meet him later?”
Silence. Then, “Where are you, Beth?”
“Oh, well, we’d arranged to meet … at the bar.” She should have thought this through. “But he’s not here so I’m going to go home.”
“Oh,” Greta sounded different now; a hard tone had come into her voice. “Listen, Beth, a friendly bit of advice, because I know you’ve been hurt before.”
Beth’s heart thumped hard in her chest. “I’m sorry, Greta, I don’t know what you mean.”
“Don’t worry. Your secret is safe with me. When Ben told me, I felt so bad for you. So, I am going to tell you where Ben is. He has gone to lunch.”
“Lunch, oh, OK.” No big mystery, but it hurt he had left her to go to lunch.
“With another woman.” Greta sounded filled with sympathy when she finished, “He just can’t help himself, so many women fall over him. You obviously know what I mean. He tries to keep us all happy. But sometimes it just doesn’t work. Does it?”
“No.” Beth felt her heart freeze, her breath coming in short, sharp gasps. Before she had a full-blown panic attack, she said, “Thanks, Greta. Don’t worry about the message.”
“I won’t, Beth. Take care now.” Then Greta ended the call.
Beth stood with the phone still in her hand, all her earlier excitement gone, to be replaced by misery. How could he have slept with her and then gone off to have lunch with another woman? He wouldn’t. There was no way he could share his secret with her and then just run off. No way.
She would try his cell. But when she dialled the number, it rang inside his house. He must have left it behind, convenient. Following the sound, she found it in the kitchen on the counter top, next to a receipt for a very expensive pair of earrings. She pressed the button to end the call, and his reminder flashed up. It must have been what he was looking at before he left. There, very clearly logged under today’s date, was the message, “Hot date with Rita.”
Beth left. She wanted to go home, pack her stuff, and run far away. If her betrayal by Francis had been bad enough, it was nothing compared to what she felt now. She had slept with Ben. He had knowingly taken advantage of her, telling her he was her mate. And she had believed him. The whole bear thing must have been a lie too. How could a man turn into a bear! She had fallen for his charm and every line he had fed her. What a fool!
Practically running, she made her way back to her apartment. Holding the tears in check by pure willpower. She was sick of men and the way they treated her. She would have to move on; there was no way she could look at the handsome doctor every day. Even if he didn’t tell anyone, and this was surely too good a joke to keep to yourself, then she would still know that he knew.
Reaching her door, she put her key in and was about to go inside when a voice said, “Hi, Beth.”
She swung around to see Francis standing by his car. “Francis. What are you doing here?”
“I came for you, Beth. And by the look of it, I’ve arrived just in time.”
Beth knew she must look a right state; she hadn’t combed her hair or taken off her makeup from yesterday, in her bid to get out of Ben’s house as quickly as possible. “I’m fine, thank you, Francis.”
He came towards her, his voice smooth and seductive, reminding her of why she had fallen for him in the first place. Feeling numb, she allowed him to open the door and walk inside with her. Then he pulled her into his arms, “Why don’t you go and get yourself cleaned up, while I make us a nice cup of tea?”
“Thank you, Francis.” Beth went upstairs, wanting nothing more than to get away from him and collect her thoughts. The shock of seeing him here was mixed up with the feelings of betrayal she felt towards Ben. She knew she would send Francis away, but first she wanted to wash the scent of Ben from her poor, deceived body.
Stripping off, she walked into the shower, letting the hot water cleanse her body and clear her mind. The sharp scent of citrus shower soap filled her nostrils and invigorated her. She was done with men. She was better off alone than with any man. Her heart broke into tiny pieces, which she quickly taped back together. She could not fall apart until she had sent Francis on his way.
Knowing she couldn’t put it off any longer, she switched off the shower and dried herself. Then she dragged a comb through her hair, put on a robe and went out to deal with Francis.
Who was lying naked in her bed!
Chapter Nineteen – Ben
“Thank you, Ben.” Rita said, kissing him on the cheek. “That was the best birthday present I’ve had for years.”
“Thank you for the company,” Ben said, giving Rita a hug. “I’ll walk you back to your room.”
“No, you won’t. You go on and tell that woman of yours that I think she’s a lucky woman to have you.” Rita leaned towards him and said quietly, “Let me know what she says.” Then she winked and, leaning very heavily on her walking stick, made her way towards the elevator.
Ben turned to walk out of the hospital, the small packet nestled against his hip. He was so full of thoughts about Beth that he nearly walked straight past Greta.
“Hi, Ben. You look happy.”
“I am, thank you, Greta.”
“That makes two of you.”
“Two of us?”
“Yes. Beth looked happy too.”
“Oh, she did?” He didn’t know she wanted the news about them spread, not yet. But at least it meant she was willing to take their relationship as seriously as he did.
“Yes, never seen such a big smile on her face, after she was so sad. I guess she’s just pleased that ex-boyfriend of hers finally came to his senses and tracked her down. Romantic, don’t you think?”
“Ex-boyfriend?” His brain had a red mist intermingling with all his thoughts. Another man—with his mate!
“Yes. Swept her off her feet.”
Ben was out of the hospital and straight to his car, hurriedly pursued by Greta.
“Ben. Don’t go over there. Let her be happy.” Greta put her hand on Ben’s door, trying to stop him getting in.
“Greta, move.” He was no longer the nice doctor; he was a bear spoiling for a fight.
“Ben. You don’t need her. You can have me. Look at me, compared to that frumpy woman.”
“That frumpy woman is going to be my wife.” Even if he had to kidnap her and keep her hostage until she saw sense. He was tired of being nice; if it meant winning his mate, he would fight as dirty as he had to.
“Wife,” Greta spat. “You’re making the biggest mistake of your life. She can never make a man like you happy.”
“On the contrary, Greta. She is the only woman who can make me happy.”
Chapter Twenty – Beth
“What the hell are you doing, Francis?”
“What I should have done months ago, Beth. Get into bed.”
“No.”
He pulled the sheet up, exposing himself to her. She shielded her eyes in horror. “Francis, put some clothes on. I am not going to bed with you.”
“Beth. I came here to make you mine. I heard you had been running after another doctor, and I realised you were just pining after me. I understand. Now come here. I want to fuck all thoughts of this other doctor out of your head.”
&nb
sp; She stifled a giggle. This was too ridiculous. “Francis. There is no way you can match how my new doctor makes me feel. I had a crush on you. A childish, immature crush. And now I see that, because I know what real love is.”
Another voice intervened. “I am so glad to hear you say that, Beth. Now can I drag this piece of garbage downstairs and throw him out?”
“Ben!”
Francis quickly covered himself up. “I think you are mistaken. Beth is in love with me.”
“No, she is not,” Ben said savagely. “She is mine.”
“Listen. Both of you,” Beth said, walking to the middle of the room. The last thing she wanted was for them to actually come to blows in her bedroom. “I don’t belong to either of you.”
A low growl from Ben made it quite clear he thought otherwise. “Beth, you know you are mine.”
“Why don’t we go downstairs, Ben, and leave Francis to gather up his dignity?”
She took Ben’s arm, trying to ignore the way her skin burned for his touch. Wrapping her robe tightly around her, she pushed away the thoughts of him putting his hand inside it. She longed for him to fondle her breasts, but it wasn’t going to happen.
They went down into the kitchen; he immediately pulled her into his arms, kissing her possessively. Beth pushed him away, but he tried again, not realising she meant it. “Stop.”
“One kiss before he comes down,” Ben said, looking dishevelled.
“No kisses, Ben. Francis isn’t the only one I’m kicking out of my life.”
“What!” The colour drained from his beautiful face.
“I want you to leave too.”
“Why?”
“Oh, I don’t know. Perhaps the fact that you slept with me and then got out of the bed to go on a “hot date” with another woman, a woman you bought very expensive earrings for.”
“You mean Rita?”
“I don’t know her name. But Greta made it quite clear you like to spread your charm around. I just can’t believe you would do this to me after I had told you about Francis and having to leave my last job.”
Complete Bear Creek and Bear Bluff Box Sets: Including brand new exclusive book Best Man Bear Page 47