by Moxie North
Cash’s brain was misfiring at the switch in conversation. He schooled his expression so she wouldn’t realize he’d been affected by that question.
“Shifters are born normal size, just like humans. My mom said I was her easiest pregnancy and birth, thank you very much,” Cash said.
“It’s a wonder,” she said. She’d let her head fall to his shoulder what with the rubbing and all. She wasn’t in pain. She was supremely relaxed, not that she’d let him know that.
“I bet you spend your summers with your big bear butt sitting in a stream eating raw fish,” she tried, throwing in a little disgust in her voice.
“I saw that nature show too, Sprite. And no, I don’t spend my summers like that. I work all summer like most people. When I let my bear out, he often likes to hunt and fish. He’s his own animal. I don’t usually try to influence him when we are shifted. He needs his own time in his fur.”
It was hard to explain to humans how the sharing of one body and two souls worked. Two souls, two bodies, but Cash was always the dominate one in the relationship. His bear knew that they lived in a human world. He rarely pushed Cash on anything, but then Cash kept his bear happy with lots of time in the woods.
Cassie wanted to ask to see his bear. But then that would look like she cared.
“So, you probably should be heading home for dinner now, huh?” she tried.
“No, I’m not leaving you. I’ve spent decades looking for you. I’ve had you for less than two hours. I’m not wasting a second away from you.”
Shit, well that didn’t work. Cassie was wracking her brain. She needed to think like a big bossy bear to get him to agree to take a hike.
“Uh, I need to call Effie. You know girl bonding. She can give me some insight about all of this.” She figured there was no way he’d deny her that.
Chapter 19
“No.”
Cassie pulled her head from his chest. “What the hell do you mean no? I can call whoever I want. You’re not the boss of me!” Cassie gave the broad chest a thump.
“Ow,” he said looking at her with way too much humor in his eyes.
“Where is my phone?” Cassie asked, pushing away from him.
“You aren’t calling Effie because Dax has already been called. He is letting Effie rest tonight and bringing her to you tomorrow,” Cash explained calmly.
Damn, Cassie thought. Her friend would be here tomorrow, just like she needed her to be. And if Dax didn’t want her to call her tonight, it was because he didn’t want Effie worrying about her. She always came first for Dax. Cassie thought that was amazing. But now this man under her was doing the same for her. How did you shit on something like that?
“She’s coming?” Cassie asked quietly.
“Yeah, baby, she’s coming. I know this is not what you expected. But things change, life gives you what you need, and you need me. I’m here, and I’m not leaving you. You can push all you want; it won’t change what I have to do,” he told her, bringing his hand up to the back of her neck.
Normally Cassie would bring out her karate chop moves on any guy that had the balls to grab her neck in that way. But for some reason that confused her; it felt good. It felt safe, almost, dare she say it? Loving?
“This isn’t how I was supposed to recuperate. I was gonna stay here for a few weeks then go home. Not have some furry beast decide to make me his chew toy.” She was trying for annoyed, but it came out sad.
Cash hated hearing that sadness in her voice. “What were your plans for tonight, if I hadn’t come in here and claimed you?”
That ruffled her feathers a bit. “You didn’t claim me. You are just like a naughty dog with a new chew toy. I’m sure tomorrow you will see the light shining bright and realize you had a momentary lapse of judgment. Then you will send a hell no voicemail or hell, I’ll even accept a text, to tell me you’ve come to your senses and wish me a happy life.”
“No.”
“Fucking hell! Will you stop saying no; it’s annoying!” She slapped at his chest again. She resisted the urge to feel him up even though she wanted to.
“Stop swearing, and it would be impossible for me to change my mind. Even if I tried to lie and say you weren’t my mate, my bear knows better. You’re stuck with me. You could run away to Brazil, and I’d just follow,” he told her confidently.
Cassie didn’t respond to that. She tried for a look of mocking. By his expression, she failed miserably.
“So tell me. What grand plans did you have for your evening?” he pushed.
“Let’s see. I was going to enjoy my burritos, which, by the way, are now probably soggy and gross. Then I was going to watch a little of my favorite show, then probably masturbate and fall asleep. Pretty much what I’ve been doing every night since my accident. Well minus the burritos, the food changes but not the TV and diddling.” Cassie figured that would shut him up. Tacky little thing she was would probably have him running.
Instead, she heard a low rumble that tickled her ears and her body as she felt the vibration. It wasn’t laughter. It was something else.
“Well, I brought you the food. I’d prefer not to watch TV, but I know I can help you with your other plans. If you’ll let me,” he growled into her ear.
The low sound made her panties wet, and she didn’t even care. She knew he knew. Effie said it was impossible to keep it from Dax when she was in the mood. So this big bear dude totally knew his words got her motor revving.
“No thank you,” she tried. She was so screwed. Or she would be if she gave him the high sign.
“Are you sure about that, Sprite? I’m good at it. Clothes on, maybe a little under the pants action. I’ll stay fully dressed. I’ll just make you feel good.”
Cassie was working up a refusal. Something harsh and firm. But then she thought about the firmness under her. No, bad idea. That ridged line under her had trouble written all over it. Shit that would be an awesome and painful tattoo. She giggled.
“My offer is funny?” Cash asked, not mad, just curious.
“No, I thought about your dick pressing into my ass, and I thought that it had trouble written all over it. Then I thought what a great idea for a tattoo. Painful but awesome. Then I thought ‘Oh shit, a guy could tell a girl, “Here comes trouble!”’ and that would be classic!” she said laughing. Then her laughter turned a bit hysterical when she tried to picture this big man with that tattoo.
Cash held her while she laughed. It was a great look on her. Her eyes were bright, and her grin huge. He needed to keep her laughing the whole time. Laughter healed.
Cassie let her laughter die down. She became aware that the hand that had been rubbing her back had slid down and was now cupping her ass. His other hand was on her hip, this thumb rubbing along the crease between her leg and hip. It normally was a ticklish spot on her. This time, that spot was directly linked to her clit. Damn.
“If I say yes, do you think I’m saying yes to everything? Because I’m not. I can’t be your mate. I can’t be whatever you think I’m supposed to be for you. I can barely take care of myself. You need some bear lady that wants to stay home bake cookies and be your fluffy cub breeder.”
“Fluffy cub breeder?” Cash said with a laugh.
“You know what I mean. I’m not for you. I’m not for anyone I’ve come to understand. I’m the party girl that you would never take home to your family.” Cassie hated admitting it. It never bothered her before who she was. But then she never really thought about, and it sounded bad as she said it. She hadn’t planned on being that girl. But survival had molded her into it. She was tough and didn’t care. You couldn’t be let down if you didn’t expect much.
“Oh… how do I get you to understand,” Cash said. He was talking more to himself than her. She could hear it. The woman in his arms was a hundred pounds of stubborn.
“I do understand. I’m not what you need,” she whispered.
“Fine, I believe you. But I know that I’m exactly what you need,” he s
aid. Cash let his hand that was on her hip slide over so his thumb slid over the front of her pants, right over her clit.
Cassie sucked in a breath. That was the sweet spot.
She should tell him to stop, but she was greedy. She liked to come, like a lot.
“You gonna let me?” he asked into her ear.
“Hmm?” Cassie was trying to work up an eloquent argument to make him stop brushing his thumb over the achy nub. She had nothing.
Cash stopped this thumb, and Cassie let out an embarrassing mewl. Shit, she was easy.
He picked her up like she weighed nothing and turned her gently so her back was against his chest. Grabbing a pillow, he tucked it under her knee and made sure her foot was comfortably on the outside of his leg.
Cash slid her legs out a little and ran his hand across her stomach. “You comfy?”
“Comfy, sure,” Cassie said, wondering how often he was just going to move her around for his own needs. Pretty often she guessed
Cash didn’t give her time to think up a reason for him not to keep touching her. His bear needed to be closer to her scent, and there was one sure way to appease his beast. Taking his hand from her belly, he slid it down between her legs. He gave a slow dragging rub over the heat. Pulling up towards the waistband of her leggings. His middle finger making direct contact over her clit.
As he made it to the top of her pants, he pushed his hand under and discovered his mate was going commando. He let a low growl roll out of him. “No panties.”
Chapter 20
“Hard enough getting pants on, let alone lingerie,” she gasped. His hand was warm and his fingertips rough over her delicate flesh.
“Hard is right. You’re wet for me. I like that,” he breathed into her ear. Running his tongue along the shell of her ear, his bear chuffed loudly in his head when she shivered.
“How could I not be? You’re big, handsome, built, and you say you like me. Normally it would take a lot less to get me in the sack,” she said.
Cash growled. “I don’t want to hear about anyone from before. You belong to me now, and I don’t share.”
Cassie should protest, tell him she belonged only to herself. But his wicked finger was rubbing circles over her clit. She couldn’t help matching her hips to the twirl of pleasure he was creating.
“You got it, big guy,” she agreed. She didn’t want him to stop touching her; it was too good.
Cash slid his fingers down lower, parting her pussy and teasing her entrance with just the tip of his finger. Using the heel of his hand, he kept pressure on her clit as his finger dipped just inside her.
“Oh shit,” Cassie moaned.
“Don’t swear,” he said giving her another swirl. He didn’t care so much about her swearing. He just liked teasing her.
Her delicious arousal was teasing all of his senses. He wanted to slide down and taste her, soak up all of her luscious honey. This time was for her, though, he had all the time in the world to taste her, feel her clenching around his cock. All in good time.
“Don’t hold back from me,” he said low into her ear. He pushed his finger deeper into her tightness. He felt her muscles flex against him, seeking more. Curving his finger, he searched out that spot inside her that would make her come apart for him.
He found it when her body bucked against him, her back arching. One hand clutched at the one between her legs, and the other dug into his thigh.
“Cash,” she moaned. Her breath was coming fast. She was panting as her body searched for her release. Coming was easy for her, but oh so better when someone else was guiding your body toward it. You weren’t just on the fast track to orgasm. You had to wait, be patient, work with what they gave you. It was always better that way.
“I’ve got you, Cassie. You can trust me with this,” he assured her. He wanted to hear her, smell her body drenching his fingers.
Cassie was so close, her body primed with the heat of the man under her. The flutter started radiating from her clit, down through her pussy until it cascaded over her. She gasped his name, and her body locked as she came hard, her body holding his finger tight inside her, and he continued to torment the nerves deep inside her.
“So pretty, baby. So very pretty. I want to do that to you multiple times a day. How does that sound to you?” he asked, gentling her down. He slid his fingers from inside her but left his hand cupped over her soft heat.
“I’ll pencil you in,” she said, trying to catch her breath. She was panting, and her body was tingling. It was a really good orgasm. The kind you wanted to randomly post on social media because everyone you knew should be jelly of you.
“Glad you can fit me in,” he said placing a gentle bite against her neck. His bear needed the contact. It wasn’t the bite he wanted to give her, but it would have to do.
“Oh, I so shouldn’t have let you do that. It’s bad, bad, so very bad,” Cassie whined.
“Of course you should have. I’m here to take care of you, however you need. I’m going to keep telling you that until you understand. I’ve got time,” he promised her.
Shit, Cassie’s shifter knowledge was reminding her that he lived longer. Had already been around a while.
“Eww, you’re old enough to be my dad!” she said, giving a wiggle his lap.
“Settle down, Sprite. Unless you want to help me out with my little problem,” he growled.
Cassie gave a laugh. “Little? Feels like one of those summer sausages under me. You are not getting that anywhere near me mister. Simple physics; it won’t fit.”
“First, you’ll fit me like a glove, of that I’m sure. Second, I may be old enough to be your dad, but I am very young at heart and body,” he said, his voice lowering to a seductive purr.
“Do bears purr?” she couldn’t help but ask.
“Because you’re mine and injured, I won’t spank you for that comment. No, bears do not purr. We rumble,” he said demonstrating along her neck. “We growl, we can even make a chuffing noise, but we do not purr. You’ve been living with a cat for too long.”
This was true, not about the too long part, but that Dax was a big purrer around his mate. Cassie’s brain was about done at this point. She’d had a lovely orgasm, she was warm, which was a big selling point for her since she was usually cold. And she wasn’t in any pain. The thought of fighting with him any longer was an exhausting thought.
“I’m tired, Cash.” She knew it was a little abrupt, but the hell with it.
“Do you need anything before bed? Bathroom, food?” he asked.
“No, just sleep. Maybe things will be clearer tomorrow. I need Effie,” she admitted.
“I know. She’ll be here soon. I’m going to go talk to Edward and Connie. You rest,” he said. Cash picked her up and while still holding her, pulled back the covers on the bed and settled her in.
“I’ll see you tomorrow or are you working?” Cassie mumbled sleepily.
“You’ll see me when I come to bed,” he corrected.
That woke her right up. “Cash you can’t sleep here! We aren’t dating. I’m a guest here. What will they think?” Great, the Rochons already thought she was crazy, now they’d think she was a slut.
“Connie and Edward would expect me to do no less. They know you can’t be apart from your mate when you find them. Cage has already given me his blessing, so he expects me to be with you,” Cash explained like it was obvious.
“Cage was here?” Great, why not invite the whole family. It was like her mom throwing a kegger when she got her first period. True story.
“Of course, he was called. He’s my Alpha. Now close your eyes, I’ll be back in a little while,” he said, placing a soft kiss on her lips. This had Cassie melting in an impossibly easy puddle. Tramp.
Cassie looked up with eyes full of confusion, indecision, and just a little lust thrown in. Cash had his work cut out getting his mate to accept her future.
“Sleep,” he ordered.
Cassie wanted to fight, but she was sti
ck-a-fork-in-her-done. She closed her eyes, figuring sleep was better than making this mountain of a man understand reality.
She heard him step away, the door opened and closed.
Cash closed the door behind him. He took a deep breath, and then went to the bathroom to clean up. His mate probably knew that every other shifter would have some idea of what they just did. But he wanted to limit the offered information to others to protect her.
Finishing up, he went out to the great room to find Connie and Edward sitting up waiting for him. He knew they would be. Cash took a seat on the couch and tipped his head back on the cushion covering his face with his hands.
“Big night, huh?” Edward said from his recliner.
Connie, who was on the couch too, scooted closer to Cash and patted him on the knee. “We understand, dear. Believe me,” she said, giving Edward a pointed look.
“Seems like it was yesterday, beautiful,” Edward said to her smiling. “I’d say the mate call hit me like a truck. I’m guessing it hit you like a freight train,” he said to Cash.
“She’s tiny,” he said, dropping his hands and looking at the couple. He respected his aunt and uncle, their marriage and bond was so strong just like his parents.
“She’s strong,” Connie added.
“I know. I just have to convince her. I get the feeling her self-esteem is pretty much nonexistent. For all her bravado, she’s just a young woman that never had the kindness growing up that she should have. How do I show her that there isn’t one more thing she needs to be for me?” Cash was looking for guidance.
“Son, from the looks of things, the only person to have ever loved her was Effie. She’s probably never seen a stable relationship outside of Dax and Effie. She probably thinks it’s a one-off. Show her every second that you aren’t going anywhere. That her needs matter to you. It will start to wiggle into her brain. She just has to get used to being loved. If anyone can take care of her, it’s you,” Edward said to him. His nephew was good to the core. Cassie was never going to want for attention or affection.