by Anya Nowlan
As much as she had thought about the possibility of things turning truly sour between the two clans, she hadn’t thought about the possibility of losing anyone. Scuffles and fights, sure, but death? It made her insides turn to ice and a lump grow in her throat. Her nails dug into Jonah’s sides as she hugged him tightly, not wanting to let go. Callie felt almost seasick, her head spinning with the implications of a true clan war. Werebears were not known for their leniency. If the clans went head to head, she could be sure that not everyone would return. In the heat of battle, bloodlust could easily take over even the most sensible bear, and any foe would be wise to run from a werebear’s scorn. As such, the Arder clan was lucky to have a man as levelheaded and calculating as Jackson at their front, though even he was prone to bursts of anger. Not to mention Ryder.
She swallowed the hard clump down, and Jonah smiled at her, picking her up gently and carrying her to the couch. He sat down and settled Callie in his lap again, just as he would every night when they were home together in Texas, and dipped his head against hers.
“We’ll be fine, Callie. But things could get ugly, and you need to be ready for that. No matter what happens, I love you,” Jonah said.
“No matter what happens. At least we have something to fight for. I love you,” she murmured, and Jonah kissed her softly. His fingers grazed across her cheek as he slid his hand behind her head and pulled her to him, his lips tasting hers with the gentle touch of a lover. Callie moaned and sunk into the kiss, her hand trailing up his arm. She could feel him throb with anticipation, and it brushed away her worries for a moment. The tender way he touched her made the weight of her decision float away from her, pushed into the recesses of her mind to be dealt with later.
You don’t know when you can see him again. But this is worth fighting for. He is worth fighting for, she thought to herself as her mouth opened and her tongue pressed into his, bringing heat to their stolen moment. A growl gurgled in his throat as she kissed him with hunger and passion, banishing her fear and uncertainty in exchange for something a lot more pleasant.
“Are you sure?” Jonah asked, his voice breathy. Callie nodded quickly, wrapping her arms around his neck and pressing herself against him.
“Yes, I’m sure. I need you,” she said, and Jonah grinned widely. Callie didn’t want to miss her chance to be with the man she loved for one more time before things truly started going down the drain. Happiness, as fleeting as it was, needed to be grabbed when there was an opportunity for it. And right then and there, Callie knew exactly what would make her happy.
CHAPTER SEVEN
Jonah picked Callie up, his hands slipping under her firm, delicious buttocks. Her legs curled around his waist and hips, locking her in place. Her body buzzed with need. When she had first stormed in through the door, she could barely keep her hands off of him. It was like seeing her all pouty and distressed just brought out the protector in Jonah, and Callie knew he wanted to hide her away in his cave where no one could reach her and have his way with her. And, what better place to enjoy one’s tasty, curvy mate than tucked away in secrecy, right?
Her lips were silken against his, and his tongue snaked into her mouth as he walked them over to the wide leather couch. He couldn’t have broken the kiss even if he wanted to, lowering them both down on the cushions. Callie’s hair flowed around her head like a dark halo, and a blush lit up her cheeks. He groaned softly and her stomach went into knots. He was so incredibly sexy with his soulful eyes and tight, rippling muscles that he made all her worries float away. She knew it was just for a moment, but she was glad to take the much-needed interlude with her beloved. Her fingers trailed up his arms and then down his chest, tracking a path along his strong body. Callie bit her lip, and her back arched to meet his touch as he slid his hand up her side and to her breasts, cupping one in his large palm. She groaned.
“You’re beautiful, Callie,” Jonah whispered, leaning close to her ear. He kissed her neck and down her chest, pulling her soft cardigan down to reveal flesh. Her heat was waiting to be touched, hungry for every piece of him. Jonah slid her sweater and her undershirt off of her with careful motions, sure to not rush them along. It had been a long time since they had shared such a moment of intimacy, and neither one of them wanted it to go by unappreciated. Callie kissed him savagely, his tongue mashing against hers as they invaded each other’s mouths. It was a battle between gentleness and a burning lust that had been quieted for much too long. Her thighs squeezed his sides, urging him forward as he hovered above her. He squeezed her breasts and Callie threw back her head. His touch was divine, making her feel like the primal goddess of a woman that she was inside. Her bear prowled close to the surface and a growl tumbled over her lips as he slid his palms across her soft stomach and down over her hips.
Jonah undid the button on her jeans, and she raised her hips higher so he could slide the pants off easily. There was no shyness between them. He loved each and every one of her lush curves, and she knew how much he appreciated and loved her body. As much as she adored his hardness and his rough edges, he needed her softness with mirrored fervor. Jonah kissed down her chest and over her stomach, pausing above her sex for a second. Callie groaned heavily as he let his tongue leave a wet path at the line above her panties, teasing her mercilessly. Her muscles clenched, and she yearned to have him inside of her, but he was going to do things the way he wanted. And Callie wouldn’t have it any other way.
His calloused palms rubbed against her pussy, scratching against the silky fabric of her delicate underwear. She was wet with desire, and every touch made her burn hotter, twisting in agony as he tormented her. Jonah sucked at one of her nipples through her lavender lace bra, making the peaks pucker into tight nubs. Her nails raked at his back, tearing his shirt off of him. The air filled with their heated noises, the couple driving each other towards the familiar height of lust before succumbing to the delicious aftermath. Her breathing was heavy, and the crackling of the fire was barely a backdrop to the wild noises they made. She loved the way he looked without his shirt. A few cuts and scars marked his painful past, like physical representations of the anguish he had gone through. But he had come through them as a better man and a better bear. And now he was all hers.
Callie pulled him upwards, wanting his mouth on hers. Jonah resisted, instead tearing her bra off her shoulders and then off of her chest completely. It was thrown over his shoulder, discarded in a heap with her sweater. She pawed at his belt buckle, the silver bear shape that adorned it glinting in the red light of the fire. The thick leather was like butter under her touch, and she gripped the buckle and the other end, pulling them loose. Jonah grinned wickedly and took the buckled end from her, tearing it off his pants. With quick movements, he had grabbed her wrists and pulled them together over her head. Jonah bound the belt around them, hooking one end through the loop of the buckle and pulling hard. Callie yelped, her brown eyes full of surprise.
“Jonah,” she whispered.
“Shh. We’re playing things my way.”
He slid lower on the couch after pinning her hands behind her neck. Her full, gorgeous breasts were pushed out, and he made sure to graze his teeth across one of the nipples as he slipped down. Jonah was hard and rearing to go, ready to sink into her and fill her with his big cock, but he was drawing it out for her. Callie shuddered in anticipation, tracking every movement he made. Every time he touched her, she felt another fire start inside her, wrapping tightly around her core and making it pulse with desire like never before. Being away from him for so long had left its mark, and she couldn’t wait to make up for lost time. Jonah spread her strong thighs with his hands and breathed in her heady scent, rich with her excitement. He smiled up to her, and she thought she would scream with frustration. All of the darkness of the last few weeks was put aside and forgotten in favor of focusing all of her attention on him.
Jonah slid his fingers between her panties and her skin, letting them dive between her wet folds. Lightning struc
k through her, and Callie’s muscles clenched. His tight digits spread her, exploring her most secret places with the confidence of an owner, a lover, and an equal. An incoherent moan bubbled in her throat, and his eyes blazed gold and then dark brown, his bear not far from breaking forth. It was always a battle of wills – whether to let the beast roam free or keep it under wraps. Between two werebears, it was even wilder. A werebear would have to be careful with a human to not harm them too much, but between two bears, all bets were off. Callie’s fingers entwined, nails digging into her flesh. She wanted to rake them down his back and chest, but he wanted her to stew in her need a little. Jonah sat up, and she could feel his eyes on her as she writhed underneath his touch. Her need was brought to a boil, and she thought she would explode any moment. When his fingers forced into her, Callie screamed out. It was a sound straight from the core – primal and deep.
He slid his fingers in and out of her pussy with long, drawn-out movements, causing her to buck her hips up. The air was already turning sweet with the smell of sex and constant shudders ran through Callie, threatening to dip her over the edge any moment.
“Oh my god,” she murmured as Jonah pushed in a third finger. A slight smile hung on his lips as his eyes remained on her, and Callie drank from the attention he was showering upon her. Never did she feel as appreciated and wanted as she did with Jonah, and the delicious evening was just another thing to show her how much she needed him. As much as she wanted to pretend otherwise, her life could not be complete without him. Even with her clan by her side, she was never as good as she was with Jonah – her other half. And a damn sexy one at that. “I want to touch you,” she whispered, another moan piercing through her words.
Jonah lowered himself down on her again, kissing her long and hard while plunging his fingers even deeper in her. Her muscles felt almost rigid as she clamped down around his tormenting fingers, milking them. His other hand went up to her bound wrists and undid them with nimble movements. As soon as they were free, her fingers grabbed at his hair and his flesh, pulling him tighter against her and demanding more from the kiss. He growled loudly, a tremble of respect going through Callie. His bear was powerful, and even as his mate, she felt awe in the face of his strength and spirit.
She felt empty without him inside her, and the jagged edges of her release were calling for her. Callie’s hands went down to the front of his jeans, pushing them down his hips. Jonah complied easily, pulling back to step out of his pants and leave his body naked in front of her. Callie’s breath caught in her chest, seeing her man in his full glory. His muscles were hard and almost glistened in the light of the fireplace. His broad shoulders and wide chest tapered into a perfect six-pack and then into narrow hips. And his cock… she couldn’t wait for it to be in her. It was thick and veiny and sure to bring her to a magnificent finish.
Jonah pulled Callie up by her sides, and she yelped as he spun her around. Her hands landed on the backrest of the couch and Jonah ripped down her panties without a second thought. She gasped as her breasts were mushed against the soft leather, Jonah’s wide palm resting on the back of her neck. Her legs were spread and Callie let out a guttural purr as the hard head of his cock ran the length of her wet slit.
“Is this what you want?” Jonah asked, strain and barely contained need rumbling in his voice. Callie nodded quickly, her curls bouncing wildly and her ass shoved up and towards him. She wanted him. All of him. Like a bitch in heat, she needed him inside of her, and she could barely find the words to explain it. Not that he needed her to confirm her lust and desire for him.
“Yes, please! Fuck me,” she begged, the honest craving that had grown into a frenzy over weeks of being apart now loud and clear in her words.
With a grunt, Jonah split her open around his big cock. She screamed in ecstasy, bucking against him as Jonah put one hand on her hip and rutted into her with long, slow motions. When she wanted to go fast, he knew exactly how to tease her and draw out the pleasure until she couldn’t take any more of it. His throbbing rod filled her to the brim and Callie’s consciousness frazzled at the ends as he entered her completely. The human and the bear both yearned for control, and the result was a wild, spectacular thunderstorm of emotions inside of her. Callie’s back arched and sweat broke out on her skin as Jonah plunged into her time after time, going deeper and faster with each thrust. She mewled under his touch and his hand moved from her neck to her breasts. He squeezed them, and bright lights flashed behind her closed eyelids. Brilliant colors sparked as he pushed her over the edge and made her tumble into the sweet embrace of release.
This is so good…
Callie shook and bucked against him, her screams shrill as they echoed through the room. Jonah’s face was against hers as he filled her with tight, controlled thrusts. They were fast and merciless, her pussy contracting and releasing around him with the pulse of her orgasm. Through her haze, she could feel his cock throb inside of her and his muscles go rigid. She was barely over her own peak when Jonah fell into his, Callie pushing herself against him and reveling in the sensation of the powerful man’s finish. He was so much taller and bigger than she was, but she loved the feeling of being his anchor in the storm of his release. She didn’t even notice that she was biting hard into her lower lip through her peak – enough to draw blood – before she tasted the copper in her mouth.
A small trickle tinted her lips and Jonah sucked her lower lip between his, a dark growl echoing from his throat. It made goose bumps prick up on her skin, and her nails dug into his muscled side. Jonah pulled back and laid a gentle peck on her lips, replacing the taste of blood with that of his mouth. He smiled and Callie mimicked it, her nails gliding gently up his back now. It had been too long. The beast and the need in her were hard to control when she hadn’t tasted him in so long. Her hair was matted at her forehead with sweat and a slight gleam covered her skin. She didn’t want him to pull out of her just yet – she didn’t want it to end.
“It’s been too long,” he said simply. Callie didn’t have an option to protest as Jonah slipped his arms beneath her and flipped both of them up, curling her up in his lap. She rested her head on his shoulder, comfortable in the familiar position. The way he cradled her always made her feel incredibly safe. Like nothing in the world could harm her.
“It has,” she agreed meekly.
Jonah grinned and his rough fingertips brushed up and down the length of her arm. Callie touched her lip with her tongue, feeling the small cut. The taste of blood was a cruel reminder of what could happen in their near future. Just how suddenly their happy little bubble could be burst. But, for the moment, they were safe in the comfort of their glow and being with one another.
CHAPTER EIGHT
“What do you think is going to happen next?” Callie asked, lying on her stomach in Jonah’s bed. Her dark curls bounced in front of her face as she studied Jonah. The big man stared up at the ceiling, his arms behind his head. She was breathless and awash with satisfaction, but after the third time, she couldn’t distract herself from the outside world anymore. Not even with the mind-blowing sex they were having. It was the middle of the night and she knew she would have to start moving soon if she wanted to slip unnoticed into her cabin before dawn. But it was so difficult to make herself leave his side.
“With Jackie or the war or us?” Jonah asked, looking at her with a raised brow.
“All of it,” she said after a moment of pause. It was hard to tell what was more important at that point. Though their relationship took clear precedence at that particular moment in time, she knew she had to face the rest of it the moment she stepped out of the house again.
“Well,” Jonah started, dipping his head back to stare up at the ceiling. “I don’t know if anything’s going to happen about Jackie, really. I know her well enough to know that I can never predict what she is going to think or do. If she were smart, she’d keep as much distance as she could between Montana and herself. But we know the Arders aren’t that smart wh
en it comes to family matters.” Callie smiled to herself, letting her fingers sleepily traipse over his hard stomach. The Arders were loyal, and she was sure Jackie would do something, she just wouldn’t dare guess what. “And I know you don’t want to hear this, but I think a battle is coming. It’s unavoidable at this point. I can’t imagine what would make that possibility less likely.”
Callie tossed him a glance, and Jonah raised one hand to quiet her before she could object.
“Ryder’s out for blood. And we can’t let him pick us off one by one like he tried to do with Jackson. And that attack today? No way that’ll fly. I just hope he’s man enough to face us on equal footing. And that we can stop it before too many bears get hurt. It’ll be painful, but we’ve been preparing. The clan is all back, as many as we could have expected and more. We’re ready.”
The note that entered his voice was dark. Callie’s stomach churned. He didn’t want to say it, but she caught his meaning. The only way to make it stop fast and hard was for Ryder to die or surrender his claims. And Ryder wasn’t going to do either without a fight, at least not in his current state of mind. The Arders were too honest to try and get at Ryder alone, so it meant that the two clans needed to meet.