Anderson walked down the short hallway and stepped back into the main living area of the cabin, where Lexi was toying with her glass of wine. He noticed with amusement that she had already downed half of it. Looks like he wasn’t the only one feeling a little bit uncertain right now.
He didn’t say anything for a moment. Before he started talking, he wanted to take in her beautiful form. He wanted to always remember what she looked like right now, in the soft, warm light of his cabin—just in case this was the last time he ever had a chance to talk to her.
She was wearing what looked like a pair of thick, black ski pants, and a tight-fitting long-sleeved shirt that looked like it was made out of one of those new high-tech fabrics that supposedly kept you warm in subzero temperatures with an impossibly thin amount of fabric. She had kicked off her boots, and was drawing attention to her hot pink woolen socks by nervously tapping one foot and then the other. Her dark hair was falling in waves around her shoulder, and was slightly mussed up at the top thanks to the winter hat she’d been wearing just minutes before. Her dark eyes looked up at him from under her thick eyelashes, and he could feel his own eyes blazing with passion as he met her gaze. The air between them crackled with the electricity of desire. He kept expecting her to look away, or to say something about how she just couldn’t get past the fact that he was a bear. But she didn’t break eye contact with him, and she didn’t say anything about the bear within him. She was, however, the first one to break the silence.
“Where’s Silver?” she asked, looking around as though the little girl might suddenly pop out from behind the couch or recliner.
“At Auntie Grace’s. She’s spending the night there tonight,” Anderson replied, surprising even himself with the deep huskiness of his voice. “Look, Lexi. About today…I’m really sorry that I scared you with my bear. I know it must have been terrifying. But I promise I have complete control of my bear. I would never hurt you. I just got so excited when I saw you in the forest that I took off running toward you without thinking.”
“No, I’m sorry,” Lexi said. “I reacted too strongly last night. I just had no idea until last night that bear shifters were a real thing. It caught me off guard. I didn’t know how to process it all.”
Anderson felt a sliver of hope rising within him. “So, does that mean you’re not completely cutting me out of your life?”
Lexi didn’t answer his question directly. Instead, she looked at him with hungry eyes and said, “Well, I’d like to still stay in Frost Peak for Christmas, if that’s okay with you.”
Her words, and the sound of her voice, sent a thrill through Anderson’s body. A thrill that reached his groin and started triggering a tingling stiffness between his legs. He told himself to take deep, calming breaths, but that was difficult to do with a woman as beautiful as Lexi standing right in front of him. “I’m pretty sure nothing would make me happier than to have you here for Christmas. Honestly, I thought I lost you for good last night. When I went by your cabin this morning and you weren’t there, I didn’t know what to think. I thought maybe you had already convinced Sawyer to take you back to Kodiak and that I would never see you again.”
“You came by my cabin?” Lexi asked. “What time?”
“I’m not sure, exactly. It was late morning sometime.”
“I must have just missed you,” Lexi said. “I waited for you. I kept hoping you would come. I honestly feel ashamed about the way I acted last night. I was in shock, but, still. I should have been more understanding. I was ready to take a big leap into a relationship with you, and the fact that you can shift doesn’t change who you really are at your core. I just—”
Anderson didn’t wait to hear what else she had to say. He had heard enough. He crossed the space between them in two big strides, taking her wine glass from her hand and setting it down on the coffee table before pushing Lexi up against the wall of the cabin and covering her lips with his. She gasped, then melted into his kiss, letting him slip his tongue deep into her mouth. His dick was hot and throbbing, a rock solid rod that was now pushing against the fabric of his jeans and thrusting against Lexi’s stomach.
Lexi wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling him closer, deeper. She swept her tongue across the roof of his mouth, and then sucked his tongue into her mouth, pulling hard as though she could keep him connected to her that way forever. She wanted him, too, and this realization sent a thrill of excitement through Anderson’s body.
He hadn’t so much as kissed a woman since Silver’s mother died. It had never felt right, even though he’d had some very beautiful women trying to woo him. He’d always held back, letting the pain that surrounded his heart serve as a wall that kept anyone else from getting in. Guilt had chained him to that wall of pain. He had always felt responsible somehow for his wife’s death. Even though there was nothing he could have done, it seemed unfair that she had died before she ever got to meet her daughter. It felt wrong to Anderson that his wife’s body lay below the cold ground, fading away, while he got to live on and enjoy life with Silver. Silver was the most precious gift he had ever been given, and his wife had died to give that gift to him.
But now, as he felt Lexi’s lips on his and her arms around his body, he could feel the chains of guilt loosening for the first time. He could feel the wall of pain crumbling, and he could feel his heart breaking free. It was as though somehow, Silver’s mother was giving him her blessing from somewhere beyond the grave. Anderson closed his eyes and let the warmth of peace and passion flow over him. He knew that it was time to love again. He had finally found someone who could make him come alive again, and he was never going to let her go.
He lifted Lexi into his arms with a low growl, and carried her toward his bedroom. He moved boldly and with purpose, making his intentions clear by the blazing fire in his eyes. He didn’t want to scare or disrespect Lexi, so he watched her carefully for any sign of resistance or protest. But there was none. She was all in on this, just like him.
Anderson knew their blossoming love was new and messy. He still had things to explain to her and she still had questions she wanted answered. He didn’t know how a relationship would work out with her living in Kodiak while he stayed here in Frost Peak. But they could figure all of that out later. Right now, all he cared about was tearing her clothes off of her and slipping his thick shaft into her body. He hadn’t allowed himself to think thoughts like this about a woman in years, and he felt a deep sense of urgency as a part of him that had been lying dormant awoke with a frenzy.
Lexi clearly felt the same sense of urgency. As soon as he dropped her on his mattress, letting her bounce slightly as she fell, she was reaching for his shirt. She tugged at the hem and pulled it up and over his head, whistling in appreciation when she saw his broad chest and chiseled abs. Anderson felt his chest puff up a bit with pride. Seeing the way Lexi looked at him with appreciation only fueled the fire of desire burning in his very core. He had to have her.
He reached for her shirt, pulling it off in one quick movement and exposing a simple black bra. He loved the way the smooth fabric matched Lexi’s smooth skin, and he paused for just a moment to admire her beauty. But he couldn’t hold back more than a few seconds, and he quickly moved to reach behind her back and unclasp the bra, sliding the straps down off her shoulders and throwing the garment aside. He let out a long, deep growl as her perfect breasts came into view. They were full and round, and her nipples stood tall and alert, ready and waiting for his touch. He bent down and put his mouth over one of them, flicking his tongue hungrily across the hard nub, relishing the slightly salty taste of Lexi’s skin. She moaned and writhed underneath him, but he didn’t slow down. He let his teeth come out to play, nibbling her nipple gently at first and then with slowly increasing pressure until Lexi’s moans became all out screams of delight. He switched to the other breast, giving equal attention to her other nipple and drawing another satisfied scream from Lexi’s lips.
He could have stayed there all nig
ht, teasing her nipples and watching her respond to his touch. But the pressure in his dick was growing stronger, and he knew he wouldn’t be able to hold off much longer. He slid down to remove Lexi’s pants, fumbling with the snap and zippers of the ski pants in his excitement. He managed to unfasten everything and pull the pants off of her legs, quickly removing her socks in the next instant as well. She moaned and tried to sit up to reach for his pants, but he pushed her gently back down.
“First, I want to see you,” he said, his voice low and husky. “All of you.”
He grabbed her black panties with his teeth and dragged them down and off her legs, throwing them aside with a purposeful toss of his head. He took in Lexi’s fully naked body, and felt like he was living out a dream. Who was this beautiful creature lying on his bed, and how had he been lucky enough to get this chance to make love to her? Her long dancers’ legs were bent slightly at the knees, and her chest rose and fell quickly with her rapid, excited breaths. Her skin was smooth, like porcelain, and her curves were sensuous, calling to him to run his hands over them with abandon.
He felt his dick throbbing hard against the fabric of his jeans, and he reached to unbutton them. If he didn’t get these pants off quickly, he felt like his dick might literally burst through the fabric. His erection was strong and insistent. He needed Lexi. Wanted her. Craved her. He couldn’t wait to be inside of her. He slipped out of his jeans, pulling his briefs down at the same time to let his shaft spring free. He felt a moment of sweet relief when the confinement of his clothing was removed, but the relief was short-lived. The only thing that could truly ease the mounting pressure in his groin was the chance to be inside of Lexi.
With a determined roar, he climbed onto the bed, and flipped her quickly onto her stomach. He didn’t even bother to pause to take his socks off. He had to have her, now. He ran his hands over her smooth back, all the way down to her bare ass, with its perfectly rounded curve. He slid his hand over that curve and toward the front of her pelvis, where his fingers were quickly covered with the warm juices of her desire. Another intense wave of passion shot through him at the feeling.
“You’re ready for me,” he said, his tone approving.
“I want you,” she panted out, her breath rapid and her voice slightly muffled by her hair, which had become a mess of dark waves that hung down and blocked his view of her face.
Anderson grinned, and shoved two of his fingers into her slick entrance, as deep as he could force them to go. His smile widened as he heard her gasp, and felt her writhing underneath the pressure of his hand. He wanted nothing more than to shove his dick deep inside of her, but he forced himself to hold back just a few more moments. He wanted to tease Lexi and make her pant for him as long as he could. He loved the way she squirmed beneath his touch.
“Please,” she gasped. “Please, I need you.”
At the pleading sound of her voice, Anderson lost control. The combination of her desperate tone and the feeling of her dripping wet entrance all over his fingers was too much for him to take. He needed her now.
“Get up on your hands and knees,” he ordered, his voice a deep and demanding growl. Lexi did as she was told, sliding up so that she was on all fours in front of him. Anderson couldn’t hold back a primal groan at the sight of this beautiful woman, positioned right in front of him and ready for him to make love to her.
He slid up right behind her, reaching out his hands so that they were holding on to her body by her breasts. His big palms covered her ample breasts, and he squeezed tightly. Lexi moaned at his grip, arching her back as he held on to her. Anderson closed his eyes and paused for just a moment to relish the experience. Then, with one swift, powerful movement, he slid his dick into Lexi’s body from behind. She screamed out his name as he entered her, his powerful shaft probing deep into her kneeling body. She trembled as he used her breasts to brace himself and thrust against her. He slid, out and in, growling fiercely and showing no mercy. She was his now, and he was going to show his woman what it felt like to have him take her. His dick continued to throb, and his movements were smooth as her juices covered him in slick heat. She threw back her head and arched her back again, which only served to give him further leverage to push himself inside of her. He stopped thrusting and just held himself there, deep inside of her, as she arched and moaned, unable to hold back the pressure of his dick filling her. In the next instant, she exploded around him. He felt her inner muscles grabbing him, squeezing tight over and over as she cried out in a long, ecstatic scream. Her whole body trembled as she gave in to him.
He held her there for a long moment, letting her body spasm around his, and then, he allowed himself one last, giant thrust, out and in. He came into her, stiffening and letting out a roar as he filled her completely and fully with himself. He felt an intense heat spreading through his body, reaching all the way to the tips of his fingers and toes. He felt the flames of his passion reaching his heart and burning down the wall he had built up around it, melting away the chains of guilt.
He was overcome with a feeling of deep love and gratitude as he slid out of Lexi and collapsed on the bed next to her. Was it possible that, after all this time, he was truly, finally free? Would he finally be able to live life again without a constant shadow of pain hanging over him?
He pulled Lexi into his arms, kissing her forehead and stroking her hair gently as she trembled beneath his touch. For several minutes, neither one of them spoke. They just lay there together, enjoying the feeling of bare skin against bare skin.
“I feel so warm,” she finally said, still shaking slightly. “Like I’m on fire from the inside. It’s the weirdest feeling.”
Anderson nuzzled her nose with his. “It’s the lifemate bond,” he said. “It’s the same idea as a soulmate. What you’re feeling is destiny, telling us we were fated to be together.”
Lexi smiled up at him, seeming to accept this explanation at face value. “Lifemate bond,” she said. “I like the sound of that.”
Then she closed her eyes and snuggled up against him. A few moments later, Anderson felt her breathing take on the rhythm of sleep. He closed his eyes and breathed in and out deeply, trying to simply wrap his mind around how much his life had just changed for the better.
Chapter Sixteen
Lexi blinked a few times, trying to let her eyes adjust to the darkness of the room. Her stomach twitched with pangs of hunger, which was likely what had woken her up. She turned her head slightly and glanced over at the bright red numbers of the alarm clock on Anderson’s nightstand. The time read 20:27. No wonder she was so hungry. She hadn’t eaten lunch, and now it was after 8 p.m.
Lexi sat up slowly, shivering a bit as the blanket covering her naked body fell away. Next to her, Anderson’s chest rose and fell in a perfectly timed cadence. Lexi admired the profile of his chiseled jawbone for a minute. His eyes fluttered under his eyelids, and she wondered what he was dreaming about. Her, maybe?
She smiled and slipped quietly out of the bed, searching around in the darkness for her clothes. This whole situation was pretty crazy, but, after all, she had never liked for things in her life to be ordinary. She found her clothes and slipped on her underwear and pants, then quickly fastened her bra on. She had just reached for her shirt when she was startled by Anderson’s deep voice.
“Hey, there, sexy,” he said.
She looked up at him to see him half-sitting up in bed, his hair mussed up adorably. He winked at her when she met his eyes.
“Sorry, did I wake you up?” she asked. “I was trying to be quiet.”
“Naw, I think I woke up because I’m hungry,” Anderson said, glancing at the clock. “And no wonder! Look how late it is.”
“Yeah, I know. My stomach is letting me know it’s not too happy with how little food I’ve given it today,” Lexi said.
“How do you feel about frozen pizza?” Anderson asked, throwing off his blanket and climbing out of the bed. “I know it’s not a very romantic meal, but it’s qui
ck. And it’s one of the stuffed crust ones. Not very healthy, but so good. Silver will be mad if she finds out we ate it without her.”
Lexi laughed. “Frozen pizza sounds perfect. I’m so hungry right now that anything sounds good.”
Anderson slipped into a pair of sweatpants and a long-sleeved t-shirt, then grinned over at Lexi. “Frozen pizza it is, then. Don’t worry. We’ll fancy it up with a glass of wine or something.”
Lexi laughed and followed Anderson out to the kitchen, where he started preheating the oven and then found a bottle of wine to open.
“I know I should be manlier and drink more beer instead of wine. But I can’t help it. I have a weakness for Pinot Noir.”
“No shame in that,” Lexi said with a smile as she took the glass of red wine that Anderson passed to her. “Maybe you’re just more sophisticated than the average guy.”
Anderson snorted. “You’re in for a pretty big disappointment if you think I’m sophisticated,” he said. “I’m not a total wild animal, but I am part bear, after all.”
Lexi laughed, then looked guiltily over at Anderson. “I’m really sorry I reacted the way I did when you told me you were a bear shifter,” she said. “I’m so embarrassed that I ran off like that. Here I was, ready to jump into a relationship with you, and then I acted like the fact that you had a bear within you was some sort of dealbreaker. It was pretty childish of me.”
Anderson stepped over to where Lexi stood, and put his finger under her chin, tilting her face up toward his. Lexi felt a tingling heat rush through her body from his touch. How was it possible for him to affect her so strongly by barely brushing against her with one finger?
Grizzly Flying Free (Air Bear Shifters Book 2) Page 11