Built Fur Love Box Set

by Terry Bolryder

  Also clearly just as drunk.

  Grayson sent a look at Hunter and Garrett, and both of them stood and came to stand at Grayson’s side.

  Barnaby was the first to take a swing, clumsily, but Grayson just side-stepped him, grabbed him by the collar, and began to drag him outside as April stepped out of the way, covering her mouth with her hands.

  The other two stumbled forward, and Hunter and Garrett followed suit, grabbing and dragging the men out by their scruffs.

  After they’d deposited the men roughly in the dirt, Mina came over to lock the door and bolt it shut.

  “I’m sorry,” she said to the rest of the bar. “Don’t know why this always happens. I’ll unlock when they’ve headed off.”

  “Mina!” Barnaby’s voice carried through the doorway. “I’m sorry! Let me back in! I won’t gamble again!”

  “You’ll never learn if you don’t get consequences!” Mina shouted back, leading to grumbles from Barnaby and his friends behind the door.

  Grayson sat back at the card table with the three other people he’d been playing with, along with April, and calmly began to deal out the cards.

  Slowly, the bar returned to normal, with banter and drinking and music playing overhead.

  Hunter noticed Kelly swaying slightly and bobbing her head to a certain song, and he stood, reaching out a hand to her.

  “Can I have this dance?”

  She looked up at him, and her sparkling brown eyes were clearly a little buzzed. Probably just enough to give her that warm, relaxed feeling she needed so bad.

  She nodded and practically fell into his arms. He smiled, propping her up with one hand on her back and the other hand clasping hers to the side.

  Her body was warm, and her cheek against his shoulder felt extra flushed. She smelled amazing, like vanilla and wild violets, and he hummed as he held her close, enjoying the feel of her in his arms.

  Then a scream broke the quiet of the moment, and Hunter jerked up his head in alarm.

  There was pounding on the door, followed by more yelling.

  “Mina! Let us in! There’s a goddam bear out here! For the love of God!”

  Mina rushed to the door, trying to unlock it even as it rattled from the force. When she got it open, Barnaby and his friends piled in.

  Hunter led Kelly to a stool right by Dawn and Garrett and then walked over to where Mina kept the shotgun.

  He pulled it out from under the counter and slung it over his shoulder as he headed for the door, knowing he wouldn’t need it but it would make Kelly feel safer.

  Truth was the gun wasn’t good enough. When Hunter killed that bear, he wanted to use his claws and his teeth.

  As Hunter exited the bar and pushed the door shut behind him, hearing people still panicking inside, he looked out across the road, almost thinking the bear would have vanished.

  To his surprise, it was there, standing on the edge of the road, lit by moonlight, calm as could be.

  It had soulless black eyes and was truly gigantic, the size of a shifter bear.

  So that answered at least one question.

  It paced, staring at Hunter, then glared past him at the bar, raising its nose to sniff the air and looking agitated and eager to go over there.

  Over Hunter’s dead body. He felt the cougar rising inside, the shift just a second away.

  But he couldn’t right now because Kelly and the others might be watching.

  He took another step forward, shouldering the shotgun and aiming it at the bear, more for show than anything else.

  As much as he wanted to take on the bear, this wasn’t the right place to do it. No amount of human ammo would take this thing down or stop it from regenerating, and fighting it in cougar form in plain sight of humans was against every shifter law.

  So right now he just needed to scare it away.

  Hunter took a step forward, letting just a partial change take over. He felt his canines elongate as he bared his teeth in a frightening smile. He let his claws extend, knowing they would glisten, attracting the bear’s attention in the moonlight.

  The bear stared at Hunter, clearly confused and off-kilter, and then took a step back, scenting the air.

  That’s right, douchebag. You can’t smell what I am at all.

  A power unique to cats.

  The bear huffed and paced side to side, then made as if to charge Hunter.

  Hunter let a low growl emanate from the center of his chest, signaling that he was not going to run. His teeth extended even farther.

  The bear stared for a long moment, going eerily still. Hunter scented the air and felt the bone-deep sensation that whatever this animal was, there was something not right with it.

  If evil had an aura, this was it.

  Hunter took one more step of warning, ready to engage if the creature didn’t back off.

  But apparently, it also didn’t want to fight tonight, and it turned and rumbled off into the bush.

  Hunter waited, using his excellent hearing to make sure the bear was really heading off, not just going a little way to hide and ambush someone.

  Finally, when Hunter couldn’t hear or scent the bear any longer, he walked back to the bar, ready to face whatever people wanted to say to him there for going out to face a bear alone.

  When he opened the door, the bar went quiet, save for Kelly who was struggling against April and Dawn who were trying to hold her back.

  Tears were streaming down Kelly’s face, and when Dawn let her go, she went running to Hunter, throwing her arms around him and burying her face in his chest.

  “What were you thinking just going out there without any backup?” Mina asked, looking at him in disbelief. “You should have stayed here with us. You could have been hurt.”

  “I had my reasons,” Hunter said. But he regretted doing anything at all if it had caused Kelly pain. He stroked her hair back. “Shh, I’m okay.”

  “I was so worried. They wouldn’t let me go to you, and I didn’t know if you were all right. If anything happened because of me…”

  He tilted her face up, cupping her cheek. “Hey. It wouldn’t be because of you. I made my choice to face that bear. If anything, it’s his fault. But anyway, he’s gone for now.”

  Her eyes, now that they weren’t fearful, had a hint of disappointment. “But he’ll be back.”

  “Not tonight. I don’t think,” Hunter said. “I think he wants to catch you alone. I don’t think he wants to fight if he doesn’t have to. I don’t think he wants an audience as well.”

  She sighed. “Okay, then. How are we going to draw him out?”

  “Stupid bears are pretty patient, but eventually, he’ll see I’m not leaving and he’ll have to go through me to get to you. And then I’ll destroy him.”

  Her arms dug into the back of his shirt as if his words weren’t any real comfort to her. “I don’t want you to be in danger for my sake.”

  He pulled her in close against his chest again, glad that talking was resuming in the bar and people were letting him and Kelly just recover in their own little corner by the front.

  No one was listening in.

  “It’s my choice, Kelly. You can’t take it from me.” He loved the feel of her curls as they grasped at his fingertips like little springs. “Please say you won’t.”

  “If you got hurt, I wouldn’t be able to take it. Not for the rest of my life.” She shook her head against his chest desperately.

  “Hey, you think I’d lose to a big, dumb bear? When the woman I love is at stake.”

  She looked up at him slowly, brown eyes luminous from the recent tears. Little droplets hovered at the edges of her eyelashes, clinging on. “You love me?”

  “Of course,” Hunter said. “I know that’s fast, but I felt something the minute I saw you. I want to date you. I want this to go somewhere. And, Kelly, no matter what you say, I’m going to get rid of this bear. I want there to be no more fear in your eyes. I won’t stop until he is done.”

  She r
ested her cheek against his shoulder, her whole body melting in. “I… I’m grateful you want to take care of me, but I’m worried because I’m… I’m falling for you, too.”

  She’d said it. It was almost more than he could have hoped for. More than he’d pictured in a million years.

  He now understood how his friends felt when they found their mates, how urgent the pull was, how the length of time didn’t matter.

  You could know the wrong person forever and never fall for them or meet the person your soul was made for and know instantly they were everything you could want.

  That you were going to be together forever.

  “I think I was meant to find you,” Hunter said, wrapping his arms around her and swaying slightly. “I think I was meant to keep you safe.”

  She held tightly on to him, shivering lightly. “I think I want to go back to your hotel with you. I want the night to be just us.”

  Hunter looked over at Garrett, who was sitting with Dawn. “I think that should be okay for one night. Let me just tell them, and we’ll head out.”

  He could hardly wait to take her in his arms again and show her everything he felt.

  Chapter 14

  By the time they were at Hunter’s hotel room, Kelly’s nerves were thankfully starting to calm down.

  But the memory of Hunter running outside with his gun, disappearing into the darkness, leaving her to wonder if she’d ever see him again, still burned into the back of her brain like a waking nightmare.

  Then, miraculously, he’d come back. Like he always had. Not running from danger for his own sake, but running into danger for her sake.

  It was no wonder she’d fallen for him so quickly.

  As they came into the modest lodgings that smelled of old wood and reminded her more of a bunk from some aged summer camp than a modern hotel, Hunter cast off his hat, locking the door behind him and turning on the light. And even in spite of her still-waning adrenaline, Kelly felt warmth bubbling within her at the sheer proximity of the place.

  What they’d done the other night had been fun, mind-blowing, wonderful. But she wanted more.

  “Sorry the place isn’t very nice. Silver Lake’s finest lodgings, though that’s not saying much,” Hunter said in dismay. In reality, aside from a few tools propped up in a corner and a few takeout boxes that hadn’t been thrown away, Kelly had seen, had lived in, much worse.

  “It’s cozy,” she said, stretching, feeling Hunter’s gaze on her as she did.

  “That there is a stretch. But I’ll take it,” he said with that grin of hers that always made Kelly’s heart flutter.

  There was a pause as Hunter turned on the lights in his room and she heard rustling. Probably him fixing the bed.

  He reemerged from the room, running a hand through his thick, blond hair and making Kelly wish she could do likewise.

  “So ready to turn in? It’s been a long day.” He put his hands on those trim hips of his, the corner of his shirt rising just enough to tease her with a hint of Ken doll line down the side of his abdomen.

  “Do you think it’s safe here?”

  “Definitely. As long as I’m here with you, I won’t let anything happen.” He reassured her, coming forward and pulling her into his arms. Thick, muscular arms and chest enveloped her. And aside from making her feel safe again, her libido was starting to kick into full drive.

  What was wrong with her?

  Though, perhaps, something was in fact right with her for the first time in a very long time, being able to feel this way about someone. It didn’t hurt that the someone happened to be the sexiest, kindest man on the planet.

  “I know,” she murmured into his chest, feeling her cheeks flush. Her hands, wrapped around his lower back, crept mischievously lower over the thick curve of his perfect ass. And when Kelly squeezed it, enjoying the feel of the muscles twitching and going hard beneath her fingertips, Hunter smirked down at her.

  “Enjoying ourselves back there?”

  “So much,” she replied eagerly. Hunter had a body she wished she could put on display for only her to enjoy.

  But she supposed the things her tall, tanned cowboy adjacent hero did were even better than just the things she could observe with her eyes.

  Kelly’s knees wobbled, and Hunter’s hands were on her ass now, sweeping her up off the ground as she straddled him midair. He squeezed her in delightful retribution, and sensual heat shot up her thighs as he carried her toward the bedroom.

  “Well, if you’re going to be a troublemaker, what do you say we take care of you right now?” As he looked down at her, his blue eyes glinted in the dim yellow light of the hotel room.

  “I think that sounds… perfect.” She gasped as he set her down on the bed and crawled over her, a feral gleam in his gaze.

  “That’s my thought every time I see you, Kelly.” He kissed her for a moment, then broke away. “Every time I touch you.” Another kiss. “Every second I get to share with you.”

  The last kiss crashed over her in a wave of emotion and sensation, burning her lips as his tongue thrust inside her mouth with wet heat. She groaned in pleasure, feeling her entire body respond to the slightest movement as he swept over her tongue, making her need for him soar to unbearable heights.

  Kelly pressed her hands into his chest, feeling his strength as he didn’t stop, didn’t let up, didn’t give her time to overthink things as she gave herself over to the wonderful things no other person before Hunter had been able to make her feel.

  He moved from her lips to her ear, and Kelly took in a sharp breath just as he kissed the sensitive spot where ear met neck. Little shocks buzzed down her spine, and she could feel herself already getting wet for him.

  How did he have this effect on her?

  Hunter’s hands were at her chest now, undoing her shirt and bra and pulling them off, Kelly desperate to feel his touch everywhere, anywhere. And when his palms pressed her breasts, squeezing them, the brush of his rough skin over her hardened nipples was like ecstasy, drawing a long moan from her throat that she could tell made Hunter go even faster.

  Nothing was simple with this man. Nothing was lukewarm. Everything was a raging fire, quenchable by only him.

  And when his mouth closed over one nipple, then the other, suckling gently, she felt she could orgasm just from this.

  “Hunter?” She spoke in between his fevered kisses.

  “Yes?” He paused momentarily, blue eyes brighter than ever, watching her intently

  “I want to go all the way with you. Don’t hold back. Show me everything.” She was hungry for him, wanted to feel him deep inside her while they came together.

  “I will.” He nodded, a stray lock of golden blond hanging rakishly over his face. “But, Kelly?”

  “Uh-huh?” It was hard to focus through the haze of lust he cast over her.

  “From here, I’m only going to fall harder for you. So you better believe I’m going to be following you to the ends of the earth.”

  A lovesick part of her ached at the thought of the two of them together. If only a world could exist where a monster hadn’t ripped all normalcy, all safety from her grasp, then she could fully agree with his words.

  But for now, tonight was enough. This moment with Hunter was all she wanted, all she needed.

  Before she could respond, Hunter’s finger stroked up over her clit, his hand beneath her jeans, and Kelly came.

  Mate. Mate. Mate.

  Hunter’s cat couldn’t seem to shut up about Kelly lately. Especially in moments like this, watching her come on the creaky hotel bed, hands pressing into his thighs as she wriggled in release beneath him.

  And he didn’t want it to shut up, either.

  She was it for him. The person that destiny had brought him to Silver Lake for him to meet, to fall in love with. He was already so head over heels that it felt like his heart was going to burst. Every second was like heaven with her, every smile his treasure that he wanted to keep forever.

  H
e just needed to get that damn bear out of his way, and Kelly could finally be happy.

  Kelly slowly relaxed from her orgasm, curled hair splayed all over the bed in random patterns like a halo around her face. Her brown eyes were glossy, waiting eagerly for the next thing, and he loved that about her.

  Wasting no time, Hunter unzipped her pants and peeled them off her body, along with her panties. On her face, a slight flush crept up her cheeks, but she was as bold as she was adventurous, not shying away as he spread her legs and lowered himself to her center.

  He’d wanted to do this the other night, but time and circumstance hadn’t allowed. So he was going to take his fill before they finally came together.

  Her moist center was so delightfully warm as he stroked up her slit with his tongue, letting his tongue linger over her clit before flicking against it. She mewled in pleasure, legs trembling from arousal, and he held her thighs with his hands, reveling in the softness beneath his palms.

  Hunter took his time, though, lazily drawing circles around her sex, exploring and tasting her fully before he finally started to stroke her with an intentional rhythm. Each kiss, each quick motion with his mouth made Kelly tense more beneath him, drove her closer to the edge of ecstasy that he loved taking her to. Her vanilla and wildflower scent permeated the air, making the animal in him crazy to own her, to make her his forever, right here and now.

  Then, finally, with one last tiny flick, she orgasmed, entire body clenching as she screamed loudly to the wooden ceiling above her.

  He’d never tire of hearing his name on her lips. Especially in this context.

  Hunter held her close, letting Kelly ride out her release until she finally slumped in his arms.

  “You’re driving me crazy, here.” Her full lips were swollen from kisses, her body practically glowing beneath him.

  “I’ll assume it’s in the very best of ways.” He wiggled one eyebrow at her, making her smile.

  “Yes, but I think there’s one more way…”

  He did, too.

  Hunter quickly hopped off the bed, throwing off his clothes and pulling out a condom from his jeans before coming back. But as he went to tear the small packet, Kelly motioned for him to hand it to her, so he handed it over, hopeful she didn’t plan on throwing it away.