Bearly Healed: Pacific Northwest Bears: (Shifter Romance)

by Moxie North

  Cassie rolled to her side and showed him the tangled rose and thorns that was adorning her spine from the top of her shoulders to the bottom of her back. Tendrils of leaves and rose buds crept near the curves of her hips. It was a large design, the roses bright red and black, their edges shadowed showing their delicate bloom but looking harsh at the same time.

  “Sometimes there is beauty when something seems ugly and painful,” she said. This time, her words catching in her throat.

  “You are the beauty that came out of your ugly start, Sprite. Never forget how strong you are,” he said, placing a kiss along her spine. Tracing the roses with his tongue, Cash felt her body shiver.

  “Last one,” he murmured, rolling her to her back again. The stunning perfectly inked pin-up girl on her other arm. It looked like an original painting the light and shadows bright and powerful.

  “When Effie came into her own, she seemed so strong and powerful to me. I got the pin-up because it reminded me of her, and she was the only person I had ever looked up to. Someday I wanted to be like her,” Cassie admitted.

  Cash kept his eyes on his mate, taking in not only her strength at being so honest with him, but her strength to survive. She offered up her heart with every description, never hesitating to tell him why she’d chosen her art. He was laid low by what she offered him.

  “Baby, you amaze me,” he said. Cash leaned down to kiss her, stealing her mouth. His animal was telling him that this was the time to bring them together. His mate to open for him, heart and soul. It was time.

  Chapter 37

  Moving his mouth down her body, Cash nipped, kissed, and sucked, touching every inch he could reach. When he made it to her core, he breathed in her luscious scent. His bear roared in his head, demanding they claim their mate.

  Bringing his mouth down to her wet opening, he licked up her length. He pulled her lips into his mouth, using his beard to tease and torment her soft flesh.

  Cash ate her like he was starving, sucking up all of her as he had her twisting on the bed as she pulled on his head. The pleasure was so intense that she was pulling him closer at the same time pushing him away.

  He wasn’t going to let her run the show. He needed her to come hard and fast so he could keep her in a drugged pleasure coma. Sex was their first hurdle; the bonding bite was the second.

  Cassie had never felt so much emotion tied to having sex. Then she realized it was because she’d always had sex before, never made love. This was what making love was. Being with someone that cared about every inch of what made you, you. It was way better than sex.

  Cash reached between her legs, spreading her soaked lips wide as he zeroed in on her clit. His tongue vibrated over it, and he had to pin her hips down as she tried to get away from the painful pleasure.

  “Come for me, Sprite,” he growled, sucking her clit sharply.

  Cassie felt her body bow and knew she was screaming even before her brain caught up to the sound. She had handfuls of Cash’s hair in her hands as she curled onto herself, her core exploding with wave after wave of blinding sensations.

  Cash didn’t stop moving over her swollen lips, kissing and sucking as she lay panting from the harshness of the orgasm. He didn’t wait for her to calm down before he slid first one, and then another finger into her swollen channel. Her tissues, hot and pulsating from coming. He gently pressed deeper knowing she’d be sensitive.

  Cassie lay there for a moment, trying to let her body and mind catch up to the same page. Cash’s hands between her legs was good, but she felt flushed and numb from coming so hard.

  Then he started spreading his fingers inside her. Pressing out at the walls that only wanted to clamp down. He worked his hand so gently that she only let out a small gasp as he started with a third finger. Cash licked over her clit, using his soft lips and beard to tease and torment the rigid nub.

  “Cash, it’s too much,” she moaned. She said the words, because his three fingers felt huge, the sharp bite of her flesh being stretched. At the same time, she knew his cock was bigger than that, and she wanted him inside her now more than anything.

  “You are doing so good, baby. You’re perfect, exactly perfect for me. I love how tight your sweet pussy is. It’s going to feel like a velvet glove covering my cock. You want me inside you, don’t you? Want to feel my dick tunneling into you? Marking you, making you mine? Say it, Sprite, tell me you want my mark inside and outside,” he ordered.

  “Yes, yes, Cash, I want you,” she moaned. Cassie no longer felt the three fingers were too much. Now they weren’t enough. She could feel another orgasm building, and her pussy wanted to feel the strength of him claiming her.

  Cash withdrew his fingers from her, and she whimpered. She watched with hooded eyes as he brought those fingers to his mouth and sucked her sweet nectar off of them.

  Cassie had no words at how fucking hot that was. She also didn’t know what to say when he leaned over and shared the sweet taste with her. Damn, he was totally going to corrupt her, she thought. She watched as he slid down the end of the bed and walked to the wall by the closet. There was a padded chair against the wall that had no arms. He brought it back to the side of the bed and placed it with the back to the bed.

  He stripped out of his jeans and briefs kicking them to the side. Cassie ogled him head to toe and didn’t even care. His eyes were glowing bright yellow now, his panting breath causing his chest to rise and fall, expanding his massive muscles each time.

  Striding to the bed, he pulled her into his arms. She managed to wrap her bum ankle around his waist, and he grabbed her thigh just above her knee brace to support her. Turning to the chair, he sat down and straddled her over his lap.

  Cassie’s pussy rubbed over the hot length of him as they sat. She adjusted herself which only caused more friction. With her over him, both of her injuries were no longer an issue.

  “Hmm, I don’t think I can ride you. I don’t think I have the flexibility for that,” she warned him. Sitting was fine, but there was no putting her feet down to leverage herself.

  Cash smiled a devilish grin that almost had her worried. “I’ve told you time and again, I’ve got you,” he said. Then he wrapped his strong hands on either side of her hips and lifted her up so high he brought her breasts to mouth level with him. He sucked and bit at both of her breasts, the whole time holding her aloft in his powerful grip.

  “Damn, you are strong. We should put you in one of those traveling freak shows,” she said on a gasp. Her hands had been on his shoulders but were back in his hair, tugging and squeezing.

  “Maybe later,” he said, intent on his prize.

  Settling her back down on his lap, he looked at her his eyes scanning her face. “Fuck, you are beautiful.”

  Cassie saw that was all he had to say. Just that. Amazing. She smiled at him, her heart opening so damn wide, even this giant man could fit in it.

  Cash brought a hand down to her clit and started brushing his thumb over it. “We are going to take this slow, Cassie. I don’t want to hurt you.”

  “Good, cause I don’t want to get hurt,” she said back. His thumb was making her rotate her hips to get closer to him.

  “I mean it, Sprite. Let me do this, okay?” Cash didn’t need her rushing them and making this bad. It had to be good.

  “Sure, sure. I get you Mr. Bossy,” she said blowing out a breath.

  Cash leaned her back a bit, supporting her back as he looped an arm around her waist and lifted her above his legs. She knew he was strong from before, but this one-handed shit was beyond impressive.

  Cassie lost her train of thought as she felt him guide the tip of his cock to her entrance. He was so big she started to have some doubts. His thumb was still circling so she was soft and wet. He used that to rub the head up and down between her lips. Teasing over her opening, just barely slipping into the entrance before sliding away.

  “Tease,” she moaned.

  “Patience,” he responded.

  Cassie tho
ught patience was seriously overrated. She needed him in her, and she flexed her hips trying to get what she wanted.

  Instead, she got a sharp squeeze on her clit that had her yelping until the sharp pain turned into a slow burn.

  “Slow, Sprite,” he rumbled, the sound coming low from his chest. Clearly his bear was close to the surface because that wasn’t just his voice alone.

  Cassie wanted to argue, but his cock was resting against her opening, and she didn’t want any more delays. She gave him a nod, and Cash pushed forward.

  Just the head of him stretched her, and the burn caused her to hiss. Cash froze, and she shook her head. “No, keep going, please.”

  Cash eased a bit further, pausing each time to let her adjust. He kept his thumb circling and could feel the sweet rush of wetness as her orgasm built. She was whimpering now but not in pain.

  “You’ve got me, baby. Just a little bit more. You feel so good. Fuck me you’re squeezing my cock like a vise. I’m gonna come just sitting here,” he said through gritted teeth.

  Cassie had started to swivel her hips, enjoying the fullness inside her that was a totally new experience. She could feel his hand touching the outside of her pussy as he fed her the final inches. When he was fully inside her, they both gasped and froze.

  Never in her life had Cassie felt taken. Her body was circling this huge man and all the strength behind him. He was pressing against pleasure points she didn’t even know she had. She flexed her muscles around them, and they both let out a moan.

  “Sprite, don’t do that. I won’t last,” he ordered. He was so close; his cock was totally in charge. Drenched in tight wet heat, he was almost afraid to move. But he did. Sliding her up his length, he listened to every gasp and breathy moan. He brought his dick to the edge of her before sinking back into her. He let his head drop back to the chair. His focus solely on holding back until his mate was totally satisfied.

  “Cash,” she whispered, her fingers now digging into his shoulders.

  “Ride me, baby,” he said, even though he was the one in control of her movements. Cash brought her up and down over him. Cassie flexing her hips up to meet him every time he sunk his thick length into her. He was picking up speed but very aware to control the movement to not jostle her injuries.

  If you had asked Cassie at that moment, she wouldn’t have been able to tell you what her injuries were. Her whole body was on fire with hot flaming sensations. Cash had moved both of his hands to her hips so he could keep raising and lowering her over him.

  “Baby, work yourself. I need you to come,” he said, his voice tinged in painful restraint.

  Cassie was a master at this. She dropped her hand to her clit and started rubbing at herself fast. She was bucking against him in moments, grinding down on him trying to get him even closer. When her body started to arch away from him, Cash called out her name.

  “Cassie.” He got her gaze and showed her his bear. She nodded, and Cash thrust hard into her, seating himself as far inside her as he could go as the first clench of her pussy told him she was coming. Cash leaned down and sealed his mouth over the delicate slope of her shoulder and let his canines breach through her skin.

  Her blood rushed into his mouth, and the first jet of cum shot out of him as her scream of pleasure and pain filled the room.

  Cassie was coming harder than she ever had in her life. Her vision was full of a rainbow of colors. Cash’s cock had managed to swell even larger the second he bit into her skin. That hurt but not in a bad way. She could feel the hard hot jets of cum coating her inside as her pussy clenched and milked him.

  They rocked and moaned against each other. Cash, still sucking on her shoulder, melding the two of them together for eternity. His bear was roaring in his head, sealing the bond with their mate. Knowing that she carried a little of him inside her now. His mark she would wear to let everyone know she was his.

  As Cash bucked his final stream of hopefully baby making cum into her. He settled her down on his lap, sealing them tightly together. He wanted his sperm to have every chance of impregnating his mate. Cash brought his arms tight around his mate as he licked over her wound.

  “That was fucking hot, but next time no biting,” she said, her head dropping to his shoulder.

  “Next time I’ll only nibble,” he said huskily.

  “Good,” she said, rubbing her face against his sweat soaked chest. His sweat even smelled good. She didn’t resist when she wanted to taste him, flicking out her tongue to lick him.

  She heard a growl and smiled. Leaning back, she saw him looking content as fuck. She smiled, and he didn’t return it. He was looking at her so hard, like he was looking inside her. Cassie knew what he wanted, and damn her if she didn’t want to give it to him.

  “I love you, Cash,” she said and watched his eyes close for a minute like he was savoring her words.

  When they opened again, there was his bear shining back at her. “I love you too, Cassie. I’ll be yours, faithfully and truly, until the day I die.”

  Cassie had never made any kind of declarations of love. She didn’t know how. She didn’t even know how to put into words the feelings that were coursing through her for the first time.

  “Ditto?” she offered lamely. She didn’t mean it to be casual, because to her it wasn’t.

  “Say you love me again. Anytime you don’t know what to say to me, just say that. It’s all I really need,” he told her, saving her from her own awkwardness.

  “I love you, Cash. So much it scares me,” she said truthfully.

  “Good thing I’m a big strong guy that can protect you from anything that comes your way,” he said, making her another promise she didn’t know how to reply to.

  “Okay,” she said, dropping back to his chest.

  “Okay, Sprite,” he said, kissing her on the forehead.

  Cassie slept like a baby that night until the phone rang.

  The ringing of the house phone woke Cash before Cassie could even pry an eye open.

  “Hello?”

  Cassie waited for Cash to keep talking. There was a very long pause.

  “We’ll be right over.” Then he hung up.

  “Baby, wake up,” he said giving her a small shake.

  “Somebody better be in jail or on fire,” she mumbled into the pillow.

  “Effie is in labor,” he said quietly, getting up from the bed.

  Cassie shot up clutching the sheet to her chest. “Shit! I don’t know nothing ‘bout birthin’ no babies!” she spouted. She’d watched Gone with the Wind one too many times.

  “I think your friend would just like you there as support, Sprite. Connie and Kenzi are there for the tough stuff. All shifters have had midwife training. They are totally prepared for emergencies,” he explained, pulling on his jeans.

  Cash had to help Cassie get dressed, and they were in his truck and on their way back to Connie and Edward’s in a flash.

  Pulling up to the house, every light looked to be on. Cash ran around the side of the truck and pulled Cassie out remembering to grab her cane too. He strode onto the porch, and the front door swung open showing Edward pointing to the back bedroom.

  Cash nodded and walked back to the closed door. Cassie raised her hand and knocked and heard a soft, “Come in.”

  Cash put her on her feet and placed a quick kiss on her lips. Clearly she was on her own from this point.

  Cassie took a breath and pushed open the door. She didn’t know what she expected, but it wasn’t what greeted her. She had visions of people running around, boiling water and Effie lying on a bed covered in sweat biting down on a leather strap.

  Instead, she came in to the room to find Connie sitting on the end of the bed. Effie rocking herself in a rocking chair by the window and Kenzi on a tufted footstool at her feet, while Dax leaned against a dresser holding her other hand. Her best friend was smiling, rubbing her belly.

  “Okay, uh shouldn’t there be screaming and death threats against your mate?” Cas
sie said, hobbling into the room.

  “Hey!” Dax said with a smile that belied his nervousness.

  “Oh, that comes later,” Effie said. She looked good all things considered. Cassie could see her eyes were tired, there was some strain around the edges of her mouth. Clearly she had already been experiencing a fair amount of pain.

  Cassie deduced her friend had been at this a while. “So how long have you been in labor?”

  “This morning-ish,” she said with a wink.

  “Dumb ass,” Cassie said, taking up a seat on the other side of the bed from Connie.

  “Yeah, well your little drama needed to be handled first. This little dudette I knew was going to be stubborn like her father and take forever at scooting her butt out,” Effie said, sucking in a breath as she stopped rocking and dropped her head to her chest. She was breathing deeply, as Cassie watched her rounded belly develop a terrifying point at the top.

  Kenzi was talking calmly to her, stroking her leg in slow movements. She was telling her how good she was doing and to remember to breathe. After what seemed like an eternity Effie raised her head and took a sip of water then went back to their conversation.

  This was how the rest of the evening went until the early morning hours when Effie wanted to walk around which lasted all of about two minutes before she made it to the bed. Cassie had tried to get up, but Effie wouldn’t let her. She lay next to her best friend, holding her hand and mimicking the comforting words Kenzi had been using as Effie brought her baby girl into the world. Her husband at her back supporting her body through the painful but miraculous experience.

  Cassie had never been through anything like seeing another soul come into the world. Even more surreal, knowing it was two souls. That the beautiful baby in her first love’s arms had a cougar inside her.

  “Shit, you make pretty babies, you bitch,” Cassie said, watching her goddaughter in awe. Effie had asked her the day she told her she was expecting. Now Cassie felt an amazing love for the squalling infant. Effie had put the baby to her breast, and she immediately quieted.