“Oh, I...”
“I didn't touch you. Not in that way,” he growled.
“I didn't mean...”
“I swear.”
She started at the fierce conviction and authority in his voice. His eyes were locked on her, and they were clear and steady. He wasn't trying to deceive her or beguile her. He was simply stating a fact, the truth.
“I...I believe you,” she said softly. And I trust you.
He nodded, but didn't shift his position. He didn't attempt to come closer to her.
“Nate Lawson,” she repeated to herself. The name sounded familiar. “I...I'm Ruby Kyle.” She smiled shyly up at him.
Her smile faded as she stared up at his face. The jumbled images in her mind fell into place and she recalled everything that had just happened.
With a strangled gasp, she remembered seeing Colton Smith again. He had threatened her, attacked her, and a big, golden bear had come to her rescue and fought the red wolf off. She recalled with blinding clarity that the bear had caught up with her and shifted back to human form. He had tried to hold her, but in her pain and panic, she had stabbed him in the shoulder with her knife...
“It wasn't a nightmare,” she whispered, looking up into his eyes. “It did happen. You saved me. And...I stabbed you.”
He gave her a lopsided smile. “You just nicked me with your knife.”
“No, no, it was a silver blade. I...hurt you really bad.” She jumped up, horrified at what she'd done. “Please, let me see...”
She reached for him and the blankets tumbled away from her. She saw his eyes burn with raw hunger and desire as he glanced down her naked body. His throat moved and his entire body jerked like he had just been hit by a searing jolt of electricity.
Ruby grabbed the blanket and pulled it up to her chest. “I...I'm sorry.”
“Sorry?” He quirked a brow, but his voice was husky. “For what?”
“For...” She bit her lip, and her eyes landed on the growing bulge in the front of his jeans.
She swallowed and blinked repeatedly. The man wanted her. He was a big, powerful bear shifter, but he hadn't tried to force himself on her and take her against her will. He didn't touch her.
She gazed slowly up his long legs to his broad, solid chest. He had on a blue sweater which seemed to bring out the brilliant color of his eyes. He was taller than many of the bear shifters around town, well over six and a half feet, and his features were strong, rugged and unbelievably handsome. She would never have believed that such a perfect male specimen existed if he wasn't standing right in front of her.
And this handsome, powerful man had saved her, and taken care of her. Without taking advantage of her.
He was good-looking, and he was good. He was too perfect.
Nah. She knew better.
He couldn't be real.
He was a figment of her imagination, and he would just ripple and disappear the moment she touched him. Like an image on a water surface.
Ruby stretched out her hand, expecting his image to shimmer and disintegrate when she neared him. He was a mirage, a hologram, a hallucination.
How could someone like him be real?
Ruby's hand landed on a hard, hot chest, and she gasped when she felt his pounding heartbeat through his sweater.
“You're real...” she whispered. “You really are here.”
“Yes. I'm real.” Firmly but very tenderly, he covered her hand with his own, holding her hand securely over his heart. “Feel this. Feel my heart, Ruby.” It's yours.
Her breath caught as she heard his unspoken words in her mind, in her heart. She found herself moving closer to him, unable to tear her eyes and her hands away from him.
Quietly, she slid her trembling hands down his chest and pulled his sweater up. She wanted to see the wound that she'd inflicted on him. How bad was it? She wouldn't shy away from what she had done. It was her fault, and she would make it up to him.
Nate helped her by raising his arms and tugging the sweater over his head in one fluid motion.
Ruby stared at the small, smooth scar on his shoulder.
“How?” she murmured, running her fingers over his shoulder. He seemed to shiver at her touch, but he held himself absolutely still for her.
“I'm an alpha bear of the Silvertip clan. Silvertip bears are very resilient. I heal very quickly,” he said with a shrug. He wasn't boasting or bragging about his prowess. He was merely stating a fact.
“Amazing,” she breathed. And she wasn't just referring to his healing abilities.
She could feel his intense gaze on her as she trailed her fingers down his chest to his ripped abdomen. He hardly moved a muscle, and she couldn't even hear him breathe as she explored his body, touching him tentatively, shyly, admiringly.
Her hand fluttered down his waist and landed on his belt. When she dragged her hand back up his chest, he caught her wrist and pulled her to him.
“Ruby,” he growled. “Don't.”
Her eyes widened at the scorching heat and desire in his eyes. A muscle was working violently in his jaw and his breathing was harsh and ragged. She realized with a start that he was barely holding on to his control, reigning in his hunger for her.
“Don't what,” she whispered, stepping closer to him.
His grip tightened over her wrist. “Don't tempt me, Ruby. You are torturing me,” he growled.
Ruby stared into his feverish blue eyes, and felt the heat from his body slam into her. She let out a tiny whimper as her body responded to his wild desire. A fierce, clenching ache pulsed between her thighs, and she gasped as her own pent-up desire exploded and raged through her body. She hadn't had a man in so long. A real man. A good man.
Nate Lawson was real and good.
Life was too short, and too precarious.
Why shouldn't she take her pleasure where she found it? She might have to leave Ursa Springs, and leave this beautiful, perfect man behind. She might never see him again.
If she could just have him for one night...
“I want you, Nate,” she whispered, letting the blanket fall to the floor.
As he struggled to restrain his bear and his lust, she saw golden fur race up his arms and shoulders for an instant. The fur disappeared as he closed his eyes and held on to his control by sheer, superhuman willpower.
“What are you saying, Ruby? Do you really want me to...” His claws dug into his palms, drawing blood.
Placing her palms flat against his bare chest, she said, “Yes. I want you. I want you to take me, Nate. I just want to forget everything. Just for tonight, I want to feel. I don't want to think, I don't want to remember. I just want to feel...everything...with you. Take me, Nate. Take me now.”
CHAPTER FOUR
Nate could feel his bear push to the surface. He could hardly hear her above the feral roar in his ears.
Take her!
Did she just ask him to take her?
Oh yes, she did, and he wasn't going to make her ask twice.
Nate lunged for her, enveloping her shivering body in his arms. She gasped as his mouth crushed down on hers. He was so hungry for her, he needed to taste her right now. His tongue swept across her lower lip, probing, teasing, demanding. She didn't need much coaxing. Her lips parted sweetly for him and he pushed his tongue into her hot little mouth. He growled when her tongue tangled with his. She dug her nails into his shoulders when he deepened the kiss and cupped her generous buttocks in his huge palm.
Walking her backwards to the couch, he laid her on her back and spread her legs. She instinctively wrapped her legs around his hips to cradle him between her soft, warm thighs. Nate gazed down at her in wonder and hunger. She was so beautiful. Her dark brown hair fanned out around her face, and there was a faint blush creeping up her neck and cheeks. Her breasts were topped with dusky, erect nipples, and her entire body was quivering with need. He wanted to sink himself into this beautiful female, bury himself
deep inside her and make her his.
“Ruby,” he breathed.
She responded by arching her back, presenting those amazing, luscious breasts to him. She was already panting and whimpering, begging him wordlessly to take her.
Nate inhaled a ragged breath. Her body was screaming for him, hungry and aching for him. He could feel and scent her ravenous need. It was the need and hunger of a mate. Nate took a deep, careful whiff of her alluring scent, and his eyes snapped wide open.
No wonder Colton Smith wanted to lay claim to her. This human woman was a shifter's mate. If she mated with a shifter, her offspring would be alpha shifters. They would be formidable, powerful shifters and born leaders. Ambitious shifters who wanted to breed alpha cubs and pups would kill to sink their fangs and dicks into her.
Nate roared at the thought of Ruby being taken by another male. This female was his mate. His bear had known it the instant it caught her scent in the air. It didn't matter to him that she was a shifter's mate. It was amazing that she was, but even if she wasn't, it made no difference to him. She was simply his mate.
The only thing that mattered to him was her safety.
Nate stared down at her writhing body. Her head tossed from side to side as she struggled with her tormenting lust. Nate covered one quivering breast with his hand and lightly thumbed her nipple. At his touch, she cried out and almost bucked off the couch.
He could feel the moisture trickling down the inside of her thighs. She gripped her legs tighter around his hips and clawed at his arms. Her lust was spiraling out of control at his touch. She tilted her head to the side, baring her neck for him. His bear reared up again at the sight, and Nate had to force his claws to retract. She was undoubtedly and irrefutably his mate.
She was instinctively presenting her body to him to be marked and claimed.
Nate grabbed her legs and pushed them up to her chest. He would taste her and mark her, every inch of her.
Nate latched on to her wet, pink pussy with his mouth and sucked furiously. She moaned and squirted more of her sweet juices into his mouth. Nate lapped up every drop of her honey, and licked down her hot, wet folds. He took her clit between his lips and sucked hard. Ruby writhed and groaned, throwing her head back in ecstasy.
Swirling his tongue round her swollen clit, he slid a finger into her and groaned as her walls pulsed and tightened around him. He wanted more of her, all of her.
Dipping his tongue into her slit, Nate savored his mate, licking and nipping down her shaking legs. He moved his mouth up to her waist, still nibbling at her.
When his lips reached her breast, Nate let out a growl as he pulled those hard, long nipples into his mouth. He let his teeth graze the swell of her breast, leaving distinct red marks on those soft, fleshy mounds.
“Nate...” she breathed, spearing her fingers through his hair. “Take me! Fuck me now!”
Nate's nostrils flared. She was so wet, so ready for him.
He kicked off his jeans and threw her legs over his shoulders. She squirmed as he pushed the head of his cock into her.
“God, Ruby, you are too tight,” he gritted out. “Too damn tight.”
“Oh Nate...” she whimpered. “Please...I need you inside me...now...”
Nate closed his eyes and pushed very slowly into her body. She made a soft, keening sound as he entered her, her channel clamping down along his length.
“Ruby...” He bent down and rolled her nipples between his fingers. As he tugged and rubbed them, he saw them darken and harden as she began to shudder.
“Don't stop...” she begged. “Please...”
Nate thrust fully into her and began to move his hips, keeping his hands on her breasts. He continued caressing her sensitive, pebbled peaks as he stroked in and out of her body. Her walls relaxed around his shaft as her juices began to flow. Nate pleasured her breast with one hand and circled her clit with the other. Her body began to tremble, and she gasped, “More, please, more...”
With his hands under her knees, Nate spread her legs even wider and began to pound into her. He took her harder, deeper, faster, pushing their pleasure to unbearable, uncontrollable heights.
Nate could feel his mate's cresting pleasure, and he bent down to suckle her hard. With a scream, Ruby shattered beneath him. Her orgasm was intense and beautiful, and she threw her head back in surrender. Nate stared at the column of her pale throat, and as his fangs lengthened, he pulled her up to him and roared, “Mine!”
He bit down at the side of her neck and the pleasure exploded through his body like a firework.
He continued thrusting into her as he released his seed deep into her body, marking her, taking her, claiming her as his.
He didn't want to pull out of her. He wanted to be inside his mate forever. She felt so good, so perfect, so right.
Ruby clung to him, wrapping her arms and legs around his body as he gazed down at her. She looked so sweet and beautiful, so fragile and precious.
“Ruby,” he said hoarsely.
“Hmmm,” she smiled, her eyes half closed. He kissed her lips tenderly and she blinked up at him.
“Ruby, I need to keep you safe,” he said, touching her cheek and tracing his finger down her neck where he'd just marked her.
“Safe?” she mumbled. She laughed sadly and looked away.
“Ruby, look at me.” Nate curled a finger under her chin and tilted her face to him. “I will keep you safe.”
She sighed and said at last, “I haven't felt safe in a long, long while. In fact, this is the safest I've felt in a long time. I feel safe here, with you. But...”
“No buts. You are safe with me.”
Her smile didn't reach her eyes. “Thank you, Nate, for tonight. You made me feel really good, really special...”
“You are special, Ruby. You are amazing. You are...” He swallowed before blurting out, “Mine!”
Ruby's eyes rounded. “But...that's what Colton said too. He said that I was his, his woman.” Her face twisted in disgust and disbelief. “I'm not! I don't belong to him.”
“You are not his!” Nate spat. “You are not his mate. And he never marked you as his.”
Ruby's hand flew to her neck. “But you did,” she whispered. “You marked me.”
Nate couldn't and wouldn't deny it. “Yes.”
She sat up and pulled the blankets to her. “Good,” she muttered to herself. “Good.”
“Good?”
She gave a shaky nod. “Yes. If Colton sees your mark on me, maybe he'd finally leave me alone. He wouldn't dare fight you.” She gulped and gave him a small smile. “Thank you. Thank you for doing this for me. You've helped me, a lot. You're real sweet.”
She glanced away for a moment, and sighed quietly. Turning back to him, she said politely, “You are a good man, Nate. Thank you for...being so nice to me. And thank you for all your help. You are so wonderful and amazing, and I wish...” She shook her head hard and stood up, “I...I'll just get my clothes and leave now. I should be getting home. I need to work tomorrow.”
When he frowned at her, she went on, “I have to open the cafe tomorrow morning and get everything ready. Coffee and Cupcakes,” she announced with pride. “That's my cafe.”
Nate nodded to indicate that he'd heard her, but his eyes were narrowed. He wanted to keep her safe, not keep her incarcerated. Of course she had a job. He was surprised at the pride he felt when she declared that she was the owner of Coffee and Cupcakes. He had heard that Queenie had sold her cafe to a human woman, and the cafe was doing pretty well under the new management. He didn't expect the new management to be his mate.
He would protect her, but he had to let her live her life. He wasn't one of those obsessive, possessive, insecure dudes who asserted their masculinity by keeping their mates in chains.
“All right. I'll send Isabelle and Tania to your cafe in the morning. They're both sharp, fast and lethal. No one will touch a hair on your head with them around
.”
“Isabelle and Tania?” Ruby frowned. “Are they...werebears like you?”
“Yes. They belong to the Silvertip clan as well.”
“You don't have to...” she began.
“Fine. I'll go down to the cafe with you...”
“No, no,” she protested vehemently. “You don't have to follow me around. I'm sure you're very busy. Um, what do you do, if you don't mind me asking?”
“I'm the Alpha of the Silvertip clan of bear shifters. The Silvertip clan owns the Silver Group, which...”
“...which owns a vast chain of restaurants all across the cities and states,” she finished for him. She slapped her forehead. “Nate Lawson! I knew I'd heard that name before. You...you are the new Chairman of the Silver Group, and you're very aggressive in your expansion plans. The Silver Group has opened like a dozen new restaurants in the various states and cities in the past three months alone!”
Nate cocked his head at her. “Well, not a dozen. But you certainly seem to know a lot about my company.”
“I've always been interested in the food and beverage business. And now that I have my own business, I always check out the competition,” she replied with a lopsided smile.
“Am I the competition?”
She laughed. “Okay. Answer this. What does an elephant and a rabbit have in common?”
“They both have big ears?”
She chuckled. “No! Well, yeah they do, but that wasn't the answer I was looking for.” She sat up straighter and cleared her throat. “Rabbits and elephants eat plants, they kind of share the same diet. But an elephants eats loads more. And if push comes to shove, the rabbit is no match for the elephant. No need for any pushing or shoving really. The elephant just lifts its foot and crushes the rabbit to a pulp. End of competition.”
Nate looked at her, appalled. “You think I'm going to trample all over you and crush you to a pulp?”
Ruby shrugged. “The point is, you can. You can wipe me out, just like that.” She snapped her fingers. “End of competition.”
Taken By The Bear: BBW Billionaire Bear Shifter Romance Standalone Page 3