“Geez, Ruby. I didn't know that you thought so badly of me.” He said it playfully, but his expression was serious.
“Not you, Nate” She punched his arm lightly. “Just big companies in general. All they care about is the bottom line. As a business owner, I can understand that. I have to be very careful about my bottom line as well.”
She winced and curled in on herself when her stomach let out a loud rumble.
Nate jumped up. How could he forget to feed her? She needed to replenish her strength and energy. She looked much too pale.
He gestured towards the bedroom. “Your clothes are in there. You go on and get dressed. I'll get cookin'.”
“Cook? You're going to...cook for me?” she stammered.
“Of course. My pancakes are to die for.” He winked at her. “And I'm breaking out my secret stash of premium honey.”
She opened her mouth to protest, but he had already jumped off the couch and was heading towards the kitchen. His cabin in the mountains was well-equipped and well-stocked. He had installed state of the art security and alarm systems as well. This was his safe haven, his cozy little hideaway. He would come up to his cabin whenever he needed to be alone for a bit. His brothers had been here only once. He shared the house with his brothers, but his cabin was his own. His personal, private space. A space just for him, and his mate.
Nate watched Ruby disappear into the bedroom and had to force himself not to go in after her. He had to satisfy her hunger and fill her. He meant fill her stomach!
Nate groaned as he began pulling out the milk and eggs from the refrigerator. He was a bear through and through. And he really had a one-track mind.
CHAPTER FIVE
Ruby stepped into the bedroom and saw her clothes laid out neatly on the king-sized bed. Her jeans, sweater, bra and panties had all been washed and dried. Blushing, she snatched her clothes off the bed and began to dress.
Nate was awfully, amazingly sweet. He was the Alpha of the Silvertip bears and the Chairman of the Silver Group. Not only was he a powerful alpha bear shifter, he was a billionaire, a mover and shaker in the business world. And here he was in a cabin deep in Ursa Mountain washing and cooking for her.
She sighed and ran her fingers through her messy hair. Here was a good man, a decent, wonderful, amazing man.
She thought that she'd finally steered clear of Colton Smith when she settled in Ursa Springs. She had even gotten her own business and made a semblance of a life for herself here.
But Colton had to show up and ruin everything.
He'd even threatened to hurt Rachel and Mikey again. Ruby swallowed hard, cursing herself. She had called Rachel from a payphone two weeks ago, and Rachel had cried when she heard her voice. Ruby had assured her sister that she was well and safe, and promised to call again. Ruby squeezed her eyes shut and swore under her breath. Was that how Colton had tracked her? Did that phone call put Rachel and Mikey in danger? She shouldn't have made that call.
Taking a shuddering breath, Ruby smoothed her clammy palms down her jeans and walked towards the neat little kitchen. The smell of fresh pancakes was making her mouth water. Nate was wearing just a pair of sweatpants and was flipping pancakes expertly. Her own stomach gave a flip when he glanced over his shoulder to grin at her.
“Breakfast is ready!” he announced, balancing a towering stack of pancakes in one hand, and grabbing a huge jar of honey with the other.
“Let me help,” she said quickly, but he shooed her away.
“Go sit at the table. Now I want to see you eat at least ten of these.” He plonked the plate down on the dining table, and pulled out a chair.
“Ten?”
“At the very least,” he said solemnly. “Now, tuck in!”
Ruby let him drizzle the thick, golden honey all over her pancakes. “Please, tell me what you think.” Nate leaned his elbows on the table and watched her eagerly.
She had to hide a smile. He looked so anxious, and so cute. She could certainly wake up to this every morning.
She closed her eyes and chewed slowly. The pancakes were perfect. Soft, fluffy and buttery. And the honey was divine! She swallowed and opened her eyes with a sigh. “That was...orgasmic,” she declared.
The corner of Nate's lips twitched. “I know.”
“You're pretty arrogant,” she teased, taking another bite.
“Confident,” he corrected, helping himself to three pancakes. “I know what I can do, but I don't do things just because I can. I'm not an elephant.”
“No, you're not,” Ruby agreed. “Though elephants are really gentle creatures. I was just using it to illustrate a point.”
“Yeah. I got your point.” Nate helped himself to more honey and pancakes. The man had a really good appetite. And he seemed to enjoy watching her eat as well. He heaped more pancakes onto her plate.
“So...tell me, Nate. What brings you back to Ursa Springs? I know that you're based in some big, swanky city, and you're always flying all over the place, opening new restaurants and food outlets.” She smiled and added, “I do read the papers and food magazines, you know.”
“I had to come home,” he answered simply.
“Why?”
“My dad died.”
Ruby put down her fork. “I'm so sorry.”
“He was a good man, and he lived a good life. Long, happy, filled with love and laughter, though the laughter considerably lessened after my mom passed on. But still, he kept himself busy and cheerful.” Nate smiled at her, and she was glad to see that there was no lingering pain or sadness in his eyes. “I came back to see him before he died. He was still sharp as a tack. He told me how to be a good Alpha, how to lead the clan and expand the business. And he told me to take care of my brothers. I stayed for the funeral, then I had to leave town again. I was negotiating a merger with another restaurant group, and the merger and acquisition was more complicated than any of us expected. That took another three months. I've wrapped that up, so now I'm back. My brother, Wyatt, stood in for me as Alpha all these months. I owe him, big time.” He grinned affectionately.
“You have two brothers, right?”
“Yeah. I'm the eldest. Jack is the youngest and Wyatt is stuck in the middle.”
His easy smile faded as he put down his fork. “Tell me about that red wolf, Ruby.”
“Colton?” she choked.
“Yes. Tell me everything you know about him. I want to know who and what I'm dealing with.”
“You...you don't have to deal with him. He's not your problem...”
“Oh, he is. The hunt isn't over,” Nate answered grimly. “In fact, it's just started.”
Ruby swallowed and pushed her plate away. She suddenly didn't feel hungry any more.
Nate watched her intently, quietly, letting her compose herself. He didn't push her. Nor did he interrogate her. He just waited for her to tell him what she wanted to tell him.
She took a deep breath and plunged in. She would tell him everything. “I was just getting over a bad breakup when I met Colton Smith. I was on the rebound and I was stupid. I got involved with him too quickly. But soon, I saw that he wasn't the man I thought I'd fallen in love with. And no, I didn't fall in love with him. It was just the illusion of love. I allowed myself to be charmed and flattered, and floated around in a haze of lies and flattery.” She looked down, and bit her lip to stop it from trembling.
After a beat, she carried on, “I finally decided to break things off with him. He...he didn't take it well. He threatened to hurt my sister and nephew. And he did. Mikey broke his arm, and Rachel's face got scratched, scarred. It was just a warning.” She heard the hysteria in her own voice and gulped in a lungful of air.
“I packed up and left after that. I just told Rachel that I had another job in another town, and I'll contact her as soon as I settled down. I couldn't let her know my whereabouts. That would only put her and Mikey in danger. So I ran. And in just a few weeks, he would find me
. And I would run again. This has been the longest so far. Five months I've been in Ursa Springs. I'd thought I was safe at last. But now...he's found me again.” She clenched her fists, pressing them against her stomach. “I don't want to run any more. But...I don't want Rachel and Mikey hurt,” she said in a pained whisper.
Nate took her trembling hand and held it firmly. “Your sister....doesn't have a mate?”
“No. She's a single mom. Mikey is her life. Nothing must happen to him!”
“Nothing will happen to them,” Nate promised. He ran his thumb in circles on the back of her hand, calming her with his touch. He stared into her eyes for a long moment, his throat moving as he debated whether to tell her something.
“What is it, Nate?” she prompted. “You can tell me. You can tell me anything.”
Blowing out a sigh, he said, “Do you know that you are a shifter's mate?”
“A what?” she spluttered.
“A shifter's mate.”
She gulped. “What's that?”
“If you mated with a shifter—” Nate began slowly, “—your offspring would be alpha shifters. Your children would be formidable, powerful shifters and born leaders. Not many human women can breed alpha shifters.”
Her mouth rounded in shock and comprehension. “So this is why Colton refuses to let me go,” she whispered at last. “I remember now. He mentioned that he was going to take me back to Misty Valley with him, and he wanted alpha pups to help him take over his pack. It didn't make much sense to me at that time. It still doesn't.”
“His pack?” Nate leaned forward, his eyes hard and cold.
“Yeah. His Alpha should have killed him, not just kicked him out of the pack,” Ruby muttered, wrinkling her nose.
“Did Colton tell you which pack he's from?” Nate persisted.
Ruby gave a small nod. “I remember he said he was from the Red Fangs pack.”
“The Red Fangs.” Nate narrowed his eyes. “I know their new Alpha.”
“Is he a jerk like Colton Smith?” Ruby spat.
“No. I can't say the same for their old Alpha, but Logan Reed is different. Logan is a good guy. I'll see if I can contact Logan and find out more.”
Ruby bit her lip and looked down. “Y-you don't have to do all this for me. I don't...”
“I'm not doing this for you,” Nate growled. “I'm doing this for us.”
“Us?” Her head jerked up.
Nate leaned across the table and cupped her face in his palm. “Us. You are mine, Ruby.” He slanted his lips over hers and took her mouth in a deep, consuming kiss.
Ruby was breathless by the time Nate released her. He held her face in both hands and looked her straight in the eye. “I want you to know that I love you, for you. You are my mate, pure and simple. I don't care what you are. It doesn't matter to me whether you are a shifter's mate or not. I don't need to have alpha cubs. I just want my family to be well, safe and happy. Do you understand, Ruby?”
“Y-your family?”
“Yes. You are my family, Ruby. My mate. And we will build a happy, beautiful family together. When you are ready.”
Ruby stared at him, utterly speechless. Nate Lawson wanted her, wanted a family with her! Could this really be happening?
Nate leaned in to kiss her, and Ruby gasped into his mouth, tasting the sweet, sticky honey on his lips and tongue. When she nibbled at his lower lip, he moaned and tightened his grip on her. “Ruby, baby...”
She felt his hand slide down her collar and grab her breast. She leaned into his touch, feeling her nipple harden instantly.
“I'm hungry for you, Ruby,” he growled.
“You sure have a big appetite, Nate,” she whispered teasingly.
“For you, Ruby,” he said huskily. “Only for you.”
She smiled against his neck. He smelled so good, so warm and strong and masculine.
Before she could react, he had kicked the chair away and grabbed her into his arms. She let out a cry as he swung her into his arms and marched towards the bedroom.
Throwing her onto the large bed, Nate wasted no time pulling her sweater and bra over her head. He did away with her jeans and panties in a flash and pinned her naked body down beneath him.
“That's how I want you, Ruby,” he growled. “Naked and wet for me. All the time.”
He slipped a finger into her and inhaled sharply when he felt how hot and wet she was. He could reduce her to a puddle with just one kiss.
Nate kissed down her body and pushed her legs apart with his hands. His mouth latched onto her clit and he began to suck and lick her furiously as he spread her legs wider. Ruby cried out as she came suddenly and forcefully under his skilful, hungry mouth.
But Nate was relentless. He wouldn't let her go. Clearly he hadn't had enough of her.
Kissing his way up to her breasts, he suckled her hard as he fucked her with his long fingers. He tormented her engorged clit with his thumb as he thrust his fingers in and out of her pussy. Ruby screamed as a powerful orgasm slammed into her. The man could do amazing things to her body with his mouth and hands.
But she wanted all of him. She wanted to feel him deep and hard inside her. She wanted to give him as much pleasure as he was giving her, and feel the burning connection between them. It seemed that she was as greedy for him as he was for her.
“Nate,” she cried hoarsely, tugging at his pants. She yanked his sweatpants down and freed his cock. His cock was splendid, thick, hard and proud. She saw the bead of moisture at the head and she knelt on the mattress to lick it. She wanted to taste him, pleasure him, hear his moans as he went wild with lust.
She would make Nate Lawson, the powerful Alpha and cool, suave billionaire, lose all control and restraint.
Cupping his heavy balls in her palms, Ruby licked down the length of his impressive cock and slipped the throbbing head of his cock past her lips. Nate jerked and gripped a fistful of her hair. She smiled and continued sliding his cock into her mouth, sucking hard and stroking her hands down his corded thighs.
She could hear him breathing heavily, his muscles tensed and pulsating with coiled power.
Taking him deeper into her mouth, Ruby moved her head, sliding her lips tightly up and down his entire length. She ran her hands up his hips, admiring the huge, defined muscles on his body.
The man was beautiful all over. Beautiful body, beautiful package, beautiful heart.
Don't fall in love, Ruby Kyle. Don't you dare fall in love with him!
She closed her eyes as she gripped him even harder. They were from different worlds. He was rich, powerful, and he came from a wealthy, influential clan and family, while she was on the run from a maniacal werewolf.
She could love him, sure, but she could never be with him.
Nate eased his cock out of her mouth and pressed her back onto the bed. His blue eyes were locked on her face as he prowled towards her.
“Ruby, when you're with me, I want you to be with me,” he said, tilting her face up to him. “Wholly, completely.”
“I...I want...” She faltered.
“What do you want, Ruby?”
“I...I want you, to be mine,” she whispered and turned away. That's just not possible.
“I am yours, Ruby,” he breathed. “All of this, all of me, is yours.”
He crushed his mouth to hers, and his hands moved possessively all over her body. He kneaded both her breasts in his large hands as he kissed her hungrily. Spreading her legs wider, he inched the head of his cock into her and broke off the kiss for a moment to stare into her eyes. He kept looking into her eyes as he surged into her body.
Ruby cried out at the intense pleasure. She raised her hand and traced her fingers down his jaw and neck as he started to thrust. He filled her and pleasured her so completely, so perfectly. She gazed into his deep, blue eyes, and raised her lips to his.
“I love you,” they whispered at the same time.
Ruby's heart
swelled and her entire body shook. Nate thumbed away her tears as he made love to her gently, carefully. He held her like she was the most precious, amazing thing in the whole world. How could this be happening to her?
“You...are mine, and you...are real,” she rasped, shaking her head in wonder. “This...can't be real.”
“This is real, Ruby. You are my mate. What we have is real. Feel it, and know it, Ruby.”
She smiled through her tears. She felt it. And it felt amazing.
Nate rocked deeply into her, assuredly, steadfastly. They crested to the edge and fell at the same time, hard and fast. Nate continued making love to her, their bodies and hearts joined as they gave each other the most intense, intimate pleasure.
Finally, he took his own release deep inside her body and collapsed on the bed beside her.
Pushing himself up on one elbow, he gazed down at her and growled, “I didn't mark you to help you, Ruby.” His blue eyes blazed as he touched the base of her neck tenderly. “I marked you, because you are my mate. A shifter's mark isn't a fashion accessory or a talisman. It is a claim. You are mine, Ruby. And anyone who hurts you and yours will have to account to me.”
“I...”
Nate silenced her with a fierce kiss. “You are my family, my mate, my life. My bear recognized you as my mate, and I want you so much I'm almost out of my mind. I've never felt like this for anyone, Ruby. Maybe you don't believe in love at first sight, but it's real.” He smiled and said softly, “It's happened to me.”
Ruby cupped his face with both hands and stared into his eyes, seeing clearly the truth of his words and the powerful love in his heart.
“I know it's real,” she whispered at last. “It's happened to me too.”
CHAPTER SIX
Ruby brought out two mugs of aromatic coffee and two gigantic cupcakes. She set the tray down on the table and went to wrestle the broom out of Isabelle's hands. “Stop sweeping, there's not a single crumb left on the floor. And Tania, you've been wiping and polishing the tables nonstop since the customers left. The whole cafe looks amazing! You girls need to sit down and eat now. Come on.”
Taken By The Bear: BBW Billionaire Bear Shifter Romance Standalone Page 4