Brave Bear Mated (Ouachita Mountain Shifters #7)

by P. Jameson

  Dragging his hand up her ribs, he palmed her breast through the cotton of her shirt, getting her used to feeling him. She gasped in his mouth and he pulled back to meet her wide gaze as he kneaded the soft mound. She felt perfect, her nipple hardening against his palm.

  He watched as her pupils contracted and her scent became altered from the pleasure. The air was tinged with her arousal and he hadn’t even gotten her naked yet.

  Responsive little mate.

  The feel of her hand on his back surprised him. The same as it had at the lake when she’d touched his chest. As a bear, Theo needed touch. Affection. But he’d spent so much of his life deprived of it that he was always surprised when it was given freely.

  His eyes fluttered closed as her hands swept up his spine and back down, exploring the feel of his flexed muscles. So soft. Her touch was gentle. Curious. Careful. Like she was touching something precious.

  The mere thought would have brought him to his knees if he hadn’t already been there.

  Her hands traveled over his ribs, fingering each dimple of his abdomen, circling his navel, brushing upward over his pecs and sensitive nipples. She hesitated over the hollow of his throat as it dipped with his panting swallow, before continuing up his jaw, dragging her nails softly through his several-day’s growth. The pads of her fingers traced his lips while he remained perfectly still, eyes closed to absorb every motion.

  Years of emotional neglect were being undone just with her simple touch. All the times he should have been loved, and wasn’t, Mirena was making up for it now.

  Brushing the skin under his eyes, she continued her perusal. Her fingers tunneled into his hair, massaging his scalp until he was so relaxed he was hardly able to hold himself up.

  “Bear,” she whispered.

  “Mm hm?”

  “I can hear your bear, Theo.”

  Yes, the animal was rumbling his approval. The sound vibrated his chest and filled the room.

  “He likes this,” she murmured.

  Theo forced his eyes open. “I like this. Me. We aren’t two separate things, mate.”

  She blinked as if his words made something click into place.

  But enough of her exploring. It was his turn.

  Nudging her legs apart, he settled between her knees and sat back to stare. She was still in her shirt and his bulky sweatpants, but she looked like a dream come true. She was in his bed. Dark hair draped all over his pillows. Pouty swollen lips parted in anticipation. Eyes roaming his body like they were hungry.

  Damn. What that did to his cock.

  “First,” she panted. “You unwrap me like a present.”

  Theo smirked at her reminder of his words. “I remember, Rena. I’m just trying to decide whether to do it like Christmas morning or like I’m ninety and want to save the paper.”

  Her teeth came down on that plump lower lip and pretty much made the decision for him.

  Christmas morning it was.

  He pushed the shirt up her stomach, forgetting the slow reveal, until her perfect tits were finally exposed, tight rosebud nipples standing at attention. Her flat stomach caved and expanded with her rapid breaths but the wide circular scar that disappeared under her waistband tripped him up hard. All his determination to get her undressed stuttered to a halt as he realized what the wound was.

  Her skin was mangled because of him. Because of what she’d done for him. Choosing him did this to her.

  Gingerly he brushed his fingers over the pink web of scar. “This why you didn’t want my hand under your shirt when we were in the kitchen?”

  “Yes.”

  “But you don’t mind now?”

  Mirena shook her head.

  “Why?”

  “Because I’ve decided to trust you. Let you have me, like you said. And this is part of me.” Her words were brave but her voice shook a little.

  Aw, damn. Her trust meant everything to him.

  He moved along the soft ridges, familiarizing himself with the scar like he would any other part of her body. This might be the most precious thing she carried. As much as he wished it wasn’t there, wished she hadn’t endured what she had that night, it marked a moment in his life he’d never forget. The moment someone took a chance on him, and meant it. The moment he had something of his own to fight for.

  “Does it hurt?”

  “No.”

  “Do you…” He swallowed hard, forcing the words past his throat. “…regret it?”

  “No.” Her voice was strong that time, and it was enough. For now.

  Her eyes stayed on him as he kept exploring. “Mine,” he declared, bending to press his lips reverently to spot.

  More slowly now, he pulled her shirt over her shoulders, making her sit so he could get it free of her head.

  There. Now for the pants.

  Theron shimmied down her legs, hooking his fingers in the waistband and dragging them over her hips. His brain scrambled when her sex was revealed and he froze. Her narrow waist flared into curvy hips that cradled the soft V he was going to make his. A tiny triangle of short hair marked the spot.

  “Theo?”

  “Shh. Just a minute, Rena. I’m… memorizing this for later.”

  He wanted to catalogue this moment right here so he could recall it whenever he needed it most. The moment he first undressed his mate and her secrets were revealed. Goddamn, she was perfect.

  He dragged his gaze up to her face and took the long way down, over her neck and collarbone, across the valley of her cleavage, her heaving belly, the scar, lower…

  Touch mate. Touch.

  Reaching forward, he sent his fingertips along the same path his eyes had taken. Her breath hitched in reaction, and when he got to her pussy, stroking one finger between her folds, she drew in a long gasp. Her sounds were sweet music to his ears. Sweeter than any song he could play. And her body was his new favorite instrument. He’d spend their whole life learning it.

  “You like how I touch you too. Don’t you, mate? Tell me.”

  She gasped again as he tunneled through her slick wetness. He’d caused that. It was a good reminder that he was doing this right.

  “Tell me or I’m going to lick you,” he warned. He was going to do that anyway, but at least he’d give her notice.

  “Yes,” she rushed out, eyes wide as he continued touching. Her legs had nowhere to go, still confined by the waist of her pants, but she sawed them for relief.

  He liked playing with her. Wringing her into a frenzy. It was only a taste of what he’d endured just being near her these past few weeks. She’d driven him crazy with longing, and somehow, she didn’t even know it.

  He stared down at her, mesmerized by the sexy way her hips moved to meet him. She made his bear ravenous.

  Enough. He needed between her legs. Needed skin on skin. Her softness to his hard.

  He jerked back, yanking the pants the rest of the way down her legs until they were free, and tossing them aside. She automatically spread for him. Like she couldn’t help it. Like she was meant to, and she was.

  Viciously, he tugged at the button of his jeans, his eager erection pulsing against the zipper. Mirena’s eyes locked on the motion. Her tongue slid along her lips in anticipation, and if she didn’t stop, he wasn’t going to make it out of his pants.

  Damn, she was beautiful.

  He managed to undo the button, hissing as he eased the zipper over the hard ridge of his cock. He sprung free, and shimmied out of his pants, kneeling between his mate’s legs.

  He found her face, jerking his head in surprise when he read her expression. There were tears in her eyes. They hit him in the chest like a hammer, yet did nothing to wilt his erection. His bastard cock wasn’t dissuaded. She had him too revved up.

  “What’s wrong?” he ground out. “Mate, what is it?”

  She smiled and he was even more perplexed. “Nothing is wrong. You’re just…”

  “What?”

  She shook her head, blinking the wetness away
. “Beautiful,” she blurted. “You’re beautiful.”

  He leaned up to kiss her mouth briefly. Honest little mate was going to hurt his ego before he even had a chance to show her what this thing could do.

  “My cock is not beautiful, Rena. Damn it. It’s… furious is what it is. Regal even. Or powerful. Try one of those adjectives next time.”

  “Whatever.” She grinned, teeth biting that lip again. That was so damn sexy. “I like it.”

  “It’s yours,” he groaned, pressing it into her thigh. “No one else ever gets me like this. From now on. Just you. Even if…”

  She frowned. “Even if what?”

  Theo swallowed hard. He didn’t mean to bring his doubts into this. “Even if you decide you don’t want to stay with me. Now forget about that. Because I’m going to. There isn’t room for fears right now.”

  She nodded, cradling his cheek in her palm. “We’re being brave right now.”

  Brave. Yes. He was pushing aside his past in the hopes he’d have a future with her. Crushing his insecurities. And she was opening herself to him. Trusting him to care, trusting him to put his young in her.

  They were taking mutual steps toward each other. What more could he ask for.

  A claiming, the bear insisted.

  And he would. But after he’d saved her from her curse.

  Lowering his head, he licked along her jaw, down the column of her neck, nipping at the curve of her breast. Her back jacked up off the bed when he took one hardened nipple between his teeth, tugging ever so gently before tonguing and sucking, and he slid his arm underneath to hold her closer for his attention. He sucked, letting her hard tip pop from his wet mouth before taking it back in. Over and over, using it to fuck his mouth, until there was no break in between her gasps and all that could be heard was a solid pleasured moan.

  Yesssss. His bear was satisfied hearing her pleasure, seeing her become lost in it. It was better than anything he’d felt before. If they stopped now and he never came, this would be enough. This sound. This sight.

  No. A baby. Need an Anchor. A young to love. And raise. Need part of you and part of her to come together in a way that can never be separated.

  Theron moved to his mate’s other breast, laving at it like it was medicine that could cure him. She tasted so damn good. Her skin was clean from her shower and smelled sweet from the soap he’d bought her. She’d used the pink one. It was his favorite of the scents he’d chosen. His favorite because it complimented her own scent so perfectly.

  Working his way lower, he dragged his tongue between the valley of her tits, nipping gently under each one before pillowing kisses across her belly, paying special attention to the scar that marked her dedication. Lower and lower until he could lick along the crease of her thigh. He got one long swipe in before she slammed her legs closed instinctually. But wedged between them as he was, she was left exposed, her scent like rapture taking him to heaven.

  She was a drug.

  She was more than he had expected. This wasn’t something he could do half-hearted, with his guard up, under the guise of saving her. This was real and heavy and full of feels he couldn’t escape.

  And didn’t want to.

  “Open,” he growled softly, his hands cradling her thighs, ready to hold her still.

  “Y-You sure?”

  “About this? Yes, mate. Very sure. Open for me. Now.”

  Slowly, she relaxed, opening up to him again. When she did, he dove for her flesh, his tongue leading the way, licking straight up her center, gathering her flavor on his taste buds and twirling around the cleft that cradled the pearl at the top.

  Fuuuuuuuck.

  She tasted like wine and fucking fate. She tasted like only his forever and ever until he died and went to the heaven his brother believed in. She tasted like sweet relief and cool waters and peace. And goddamn it, he knew he was coming unraveled, but how could this, being here, so close to her, so intimate, both calm him and undo him all at the same time?

  It was a miracle. A fucking mid-summer miracle. End of story.

  Her thighs quivered where they pressed into his cheeks, warning him how close she was. His female was about to come all over his tongue and he couldn’t think of a better way to show her just how much he was in this.

  He licked and sucked and twirled, aware of the animalistic grunts coming from him to mix with her helpless moans. It was the most seductive song he’d ever heard.

  Mirena’s fingers tangled in his hair, pulling hard, but he didn’t let up.

  “Theo!”

  Lick, lick, suck. Play her body. Make her feel this.

  She went stiff and he sucked her cleft between his lips, rolling and tonguing while her body jerked and twitched with her release.

  He didn’t wait for her to come down from that high. Theo surged up to see her face, eyes squeezed tight in pleasure. He positioned himself at her entrance, sliding the head of his cock between her slick folds. He dropped a swift kiss to her groaning lips and when her eyes shot open, his gaze latched on and he pressed inside.

  Slow but firm. She was tight. And so wet.

  One hand on her jaw, his lips touching hers but not kissing, he eased in until he was buried to the balls.

  Easy, easy.

  He kept still as possible, staring into her wide eyes and giving her time to adjust to the invasion while her body held him like a vice. He couldn’t catch a breath and he was trembling all to hell. They fit together so perfectly it was like she was the cross to his T.

  Time seemed to stand still. And whether it was hope fucking with him again, or truth, he wasn’t sure. But he could see beautiful things in his mate’s gaze. Wonderful things. Things that looked so much like how he felt. Things that looked like love and adoration and happiness and completeness.

  Mirena moved her hips beneath him, urging him to do the same.

  Mate is ready.

  Theo retreated out of her and plunged back in, going slow at first to soak in the luxurious drag of her body on his. He never took his eyes from hers. He didn’t want to blink in case he lost sight of all those beautiful things they conveyed only to have them disappear when he opened again.

  With a slow roll of his hips, he pulled back and pushed in. Her mouth came open on a silent gasp, and he picked up speed.

  “Theo,” she mouthed, her voice locked somewhere inside.

  He dropped to one elbow and cupped her cheek, his fingers pressing into the scalp at her hairline while his hips gathered speed and hers rose up to meet his thrusts until their bodies slammed together with delicious force.

  “Do you see?” he whispered, feeling like he could be liberated right now. Like he could be free of any shame or trepidation. “Do you understand what I feel for you?”

  Her eyes welled with new tears, but he could still see all those wonderful things shining through. “Yes,” she breathed. “Yes, bear.”

  She locked her legs around his waist as he thrust away, never breaking her gaze. He could stare at her forever when she looked at him like that. She was food for his abandoned soul. Damn.

  Her breathing hitched, coming more rapidly as they both drew closer to the edge of blowing. His back tingled with the nearness of his release and her nails were sharp points in his skin. He loved everything right now. The slap of their skin. The dig of her heel in his hip.

  Beautiful mate. Precious mate. Keep her forever.

  Mirena tensed for the second time, her body drawing tight and stealing his breath completely before it fluttered apart all around him. She twitched and squeezed at him as pleasure overtook her and she let out a deep guttural groan that rocketed around the room like a trumpet blasting a triumph.

  “Fuck,” Theo hissed.

  But he couldn’t hold off another second with her body flexing around him. It was too much, and too perfect, and her eyes had never left his.

  With a groan, he thrusted through his release, pouring himself into her, both figuratively and literally. Her mouth was open in surpris
e as warm jets filled her.

  Mine, his bear roared.

  “Mine,” he said out loud. “Always mine.”

  He hadn’t marked her yet, but no one was taking her from him after this. Let them try. He’d tear them to bits. Mirena was his to love. He’d keep her until she said no more.

  And there would be no regrets like the reading implied. Because he could feel her. He could feel her heart through their bond. She was his in more than just body. Somehow, by some miracle, he’d won her heart. She was truly his and the relief was so great he could hardly breathe from it.

  As he slowed to a stop, he pressed deep into her, already softening but he didn’t care. He planned to stay as long as possible. He’d just stay there, staring at her beautiful eyes and all the beautiful things they were telling him until he could breathe again.

  Mine.

  Chapter Eight

  Mirena watched her bear, her heart so full she wondered if it would burst. He stared down at her, not moving, his gaze satisfied. Happy even. She’d made him happy. Fixed the harm she’d done at the lake.

  The mating bond was strong magic between them, allowing her to feel what he felt. Just like he’d predicted.

  And what he felt stole her breath.

  Devotion like she’d never known, even with her coven sisters. Affection like she hadn’t thought possible. Desire. For this, the passion they’d shared, but also for more. For a future.

  Theo wanted a family as much as she always had.

  But the most amazing thing passing through their bond was… love. He loved her.

  Maybe he wasn’t ready to speak it out loud yet, and neither was she for that matter. It was new. And precious. Delicate as an emerging butterfly. Exposing it to the elements needed to wait until it had grown stronger.

  He’d done so good at hiding it, she’d thought her affection was one-sided. But it was there. It existed. And it was powerful. The bear and the man were one. Like he said. What the bear felt mirrored what Theo felt.

  “How long?” she breathed.

  She didn’t need to explain the question farther. He knew what she meant.