“But...”
“No buts. I baked these honey lava cupcakes just for you. Go on, eat them while they're moist and warm. Go on, go on!” Ruby steered Tania and Isabelle towards the table and stuffed them forcibly into the chairs. That was quite a feat, considering that the two female werebears were a full head taller than her. They were both tall, curvy and very pretty. And they were jovial and hardworking. Ruby had liked them both immediately upon meeting them.
Tania and Isabelle were already waiting outside her cafe when Nate drove her to the cafe in the early morning. Ruby had been extremely nervous, but the two female werebears had grinned and greeted her with big bear hugs. “We love, love, love your cupcakes!” they'd gushed. “This is going to be so fun! We've always wanted to work in a cafe, but Nate assigned us to the head office to help with admin work. We hope this will be a permanent posting.”
Tania and Isabelle were members of the Silvertip clan, and Nate was their Alpha. Ruby knew that Nate had put them on babysitting and bodyguard duty. They were here to help her and protect her, and as far as Ruby was concerned, they'd done a damn fine job.
Tania and Isabelle looked to be in their early twenties. They learned fast, and they were great with the customers. They joked and flirted with the regulars, and they zipped around the cafe nimbly and tirelessly all day. Ruby was extremely impressed with them, and immensely grateful for their help. They served the customers and kept order in the cafe, while she baked like a maniac in the kitchen. Tania would hurry to the back to bring out the enormous trays of fresh cupcakes, which were sold out almost as soon as they were put on display. It had been a busy, hectic day. She had been so busy she hadn't even had time to worry about Colton and his threats. Tania and Isabelle were good-natured and efficient, but she had no doubt that they were formidable and lethal in their bear form. She could see the intelligence and strength in their blue eyes.
Ruby put the broom away and went to sit with them at the table. Tania was biting into her cupcake and lapping happily at the sticky honey oozing from the center of that large, fluffy cupcake.
“Heaven...” Tania closed her eyes and chewed. “Mmmm.”
Isabelle had already finished her cupcake and was sipping her coffee. “Yum!” she beamed. “Can I...have another one?”
“Of course!” Ruby jumped up and produced two carrier boxes from behind the counter. “These are for you!”
“Really?” Isabelle opened the pretty, pink carrier box eagerly. “You've packed like a dozen cupcakes in here! Wow!”
Tania licked the honey from the corner of her lips. “Cool! Thanks, Ruby.”
“Thank you,” Ruby replied. “You've been such a great help today. You two have been so awesome!”
“Tell that to Nate,” Isabelle urged. “I don't want to go back to the head office and sit behind a desk. This is where I should be, surrounded by coffee and cupcakes!”
Ruby laughed. “Okay. I'll tell Nate. But...” She swallowed and frowned. “I'm afraid I won't be able to pay you guys a lot. This is just a small business, and profits just aren't that...”
“Oh, you don't have to pay us. We already have a salary,” Tania interjected. “We work for the Silver Group.”
Ruby's frowned deepened. “But...you've been sent here to help me.”
“That's right. We're still on the job. We're here to help and protect our Alpha's mate!”
“Alpha's mate?” Ruby's eyes became as wide as saucers.
“Yeah. You're Nate Lawson's mate. Every shifter in Ursa Springs will recognize his mark on you.” Isabelle stuffed another cupcake into her mouth. “And anyone who messes with you, messes with us,” she said, jerking a thumb at herself. “Only a fool or a lunatic will mess with the Silvertip clan.”
Ruby touched her neck self-consciously and muttered, “Maybe...it'd wear off...”
Tania and Isabelle exchanged a look. Finally, Tania said, “Ruby, no shifter will mark another for sport. A mate mark is forever. When a bear marks his mate, he has claimed her for real, forever. Nate would never mark you if his bear didn't recognize you as his mate. Even if you begged him to, he wouldn't do it. His bear wouldn't let him do it. It is the dream of many females to wear Nate Lawson's mark. Nate has never marked any of the females. He bedded them, sure, but he never marked them. A bear only marks his mate. You are his mate, Ruby. There will be no one else for him from now on.” Tania shrugged. “That's just how it is.”
Ruby stared at the two girls. “That's...pretty intense,” she breathed.
“Mating is intense.” Isabelle peered at her and added with a cheeky smile, “You should know.” The two young werebears giggled.
Ruby blushed. “I...” she sputtered and tried to change the subject. “Are you gals...mated? Do you have someone special?”
Isabelle sighed. “No. I haven't met anyone who can tame my bear.” She straightened up and winked, “So, until I do, I'll just keep on trying them on for size.”
The girls high-fived each other and hooted.
Ruby smiled and stood up to clear away the coffee mugs. “I'll wash up and lock the place up. Then I'll go home. You girls can head on...”
“We're not leaving you.” Tania and Isabelle leaped to their feet. “And you're not heading home. Not that home anyway.”
“Why not?”
“Nate has ordered us to escort you to his home.”
“What?” Ruby blinked. “That's not...”
“Yup, Nate told us to do three things.” Tania stuck out three fingers and ticked them off. “One, keep you safe in the cafe. Two, have fun but don't eat up all your cupcakes. Three, escort you straight from the cafe to his house after work.”
Ruby rinsed the mugs in the sink and dried her hands. “Okay. I'd better let you do your jobs then. I know he's trying to protect me from Colton, and I don't want to make things difficult for anyone. But I don't want to trouble you guys...”
“No trouble at all. We have to report back to the house anyway. The Lawson house is the residence of the Lawson family, as well as the meeting place for the Silvertip clan.”
Ruby glimpsed a silver Bentley pulling up just outside her cafe. She gasped when she saw Nate getting out of the car and striding towards the door.
Nate pushed into the cafe and strode straight towards Ruby. He held her waist and pulled her to him possessively. “Hey,” he rumbled in her ear. “I missed you.”
Before she could reply, he leaned in and kissed her full on the mouth. He tasted sweet, warm and strong, and her eyes fluttered shut as he growled into her mouth. She could feel her arousal spiking, and she let out a moan just before she heard soft chuckles.
She jerked away from Nate to see Tania and Isabelle chortling and elbowing each other.
“Don't mind us. We're just leaving,” Tania said, grabbing her bag and making loud kissy noises.
Isabelle suppressed a giggle and cleared her throat. “Are we off duty now?” she asked her Alpha. “Do you still need us to escort...”
“No, you're officially off duty now,” Nate answered, smiling. “You did a good job today.”
“We did. Ruby can attest to that,” Tania said. As the girls grinned and backed out the door, they mouthed to Ruby, Tell him!
Ruby nodded and flashed them the thumbs-up.
Nate turned back to her and sniffed. “You smell amazing.”
“I smell like cupcakes.” She made a face.
“You smell like cupcakes, and coffee, and...you.” He inhaled deeply. “I can't wait...” He turned and scowled at the glass door.
Ruby flushed and gulped. She had no doubt that if the door wasn't see-through, Nate would have grabbed her and pinned her against the wall of the cafe. She clenched her thighs at the thought and took a shuddering breath. What was it about this man? Her body ached for his all the time, and she wanted him to take her, in his bed, on the couch, against the wall, even in her cafe!
She coughed and snatched up her bag from the counter. “
I'll close up now.”
Nate's blue eyes were staring at her with undisguised desire and hunger. “You hungry?” he growled.
Ruby almost dropped her keys. “I...” Hell, yeah. I'm so hungry for you!
“I'll take you to dinner,” he said, running his thumb in slow circles down her arm.
Ruby bit her lip. Of course he was talking about dinner. He wasn't talking about...whatever she imagined he was talking about.
“Dinner would be nice,” she smiled demurely and switched off the lights. “I know a great fish and chips place just down the road.”
“Neptune's Corner,” they said together.
She laughed as she locked up the cafe. “You know the place?”
“Know it? I love it! They serve the best fish and chips in town. And you have to try...”
“...their calamari rings!” Ruby finished for him.
Nate grinned as he opened the car door for her. He jogged round the front of the silver Bentley and snapped his seat belt on. He nodded with approval when he saw that she had already buckled herself in.
“You're a careful driver,” she teased as he started the engine.
“I have someone very precious in the car with me,” he said seriously. “I won't take any risks.”
Nate drove very carefully, but Ruby caught him stealing glances at her as he drove. When he pulled into the parking lot of the restaurant, he leaned over to kiss Ruby as he undid her seat belt. He gave her one last peck on the cheek before opening the car door.
“Let's eat!” he grinned.
Lacing his long fingers through hers, they walked hand in hand to the restaurant. It felt really nice and natural to be holding his hand and just strolling by his side. She hadn't had time to even check her hair in the mirror, and she was sure that she had flour in her hair and icing on her face but she wasn't bothered. She didn't try to suck in her stomach and make herself look slimmer, which was what she usually did on a first date.
She didn't even grimace when her stomach rumbled noisily. She simply laughed as Nate quickened his steps to hurry them towards the restaurant. She had never been so comfortable around a man before. She could simply be herself when she was with him, and not worry about how she looked or what he might think of her.
She felt secure and confident in his love, and for the first time in a long while, she felt relaxed, happy and beautiful.
Perhaps the worst was really over. She didn't have to worry about Colton Smith anymore. Perhaps he would finally give up and leave her alone. She was Nate Lawson's mate now. Surely he wouldn't want her now. Why would a werewolf want another shifter's mate?
Ruby's smile vanished as a thought nudged its way to the front of her mind.
She remembered what Nate had told her and shivered involuntarily. If Colton wanted her to breed alpha wolf pups for him to help him take over the Red Fangs pack, then he wouldn't give her up so easily. She knew without a doubt that Nate loved her for her. He didn't mate with her so he'd have a whole litter of alpha bear cubs. She trusted him, and she trusted him to protect her from Colton.
Her stomach growled again, and this time, Nate ushered her straight towards a corner table and pulled out the chair for her. “I have to feed you. Now,” he snapped, looking deeply unhappy with himself. “My mate is starving!”
CHAPTER SEVEN
Nate listened as Ruby told him about her day and how helpful Tania and Isabelle had been. He loved eating with her and watching her eat. She had a healthy appetite, like him. She wasn't one of those women who ordered just salad and plain water and only nibbled at their food throughout the entire dinner. She was clearly hungry and she ate with gusto, licking her fingers as she picked up those chunky fries.
After polishing off her fish and chips, they'd shared a basket of calamari rings and garlic rolls. And for dessert, she had a banana sundae with extra toppings. Nate had ordered an extra plate of salmon steaks and pepper prawns, plus a side order of mashed potatoes and fries. He managed to feed Ruby a few prawns before she gave a loud burp and shook her head, insisting that she couldn't for the life of her take another bite.
Nate grinned, and finished the rest of the food himself. Here was a woman he could actually have a meal with. He hated having to listen to women whining about their weight and counting all the calories in each meal when they dined together. Food, like sex, was meant to be enjoyed. He loved that Ruby wasn't self-conscious around him. She had been gesturing and talking so excitedly throughout dinner as she sang Isabelle and Tania's praises that she hadn't noticed the dollop of tartar sauce on her upper lip. So Nate had done the gentlemanly thing and leaned forward to lick the sauce off her beautiful lips.
He liked making her blush.
She was just so adorable, and simply irresistible.
He couldn't wait to get her back to his place. But he wouldn't rush her. She looked so relaxed and happy. He wanted to see her like this all the time, not stressed and scared.
After dinner, they took a slow, quiet stroll down to the park and just watched the stars for a bit before heading back to his car. It was a wonderful evening, and the night was still young.
Nate drove carefully, pointing out the various places in Ursa Springs where he and his brothers used to play when they were cubs. When he finally turned into the long driveway and pulled up at the mansion, Ruby gaped and stuttered, “This...is your house?”
“Yes. It's...”
“It's a mansion!” she breathed.
“My brothers live here too,” he said. “We each have our own separate wing.”
She continued blinking at the sprawling, white mansion. Nate killed the engine and stepped out of the Bentley.
“You'll stay with me,” Nate told her. “You'll be safe here.”
She stumbled out of the car and stood uncertainly in front of the towering front doors. “Come on.” Nate took her hand. “I'll show you around.”
Nate led her through the living room and showed her the dining room and the kitchen. “You have a very, very nice place,” she smiled.
“It's your place too.”
Before she could say anything, he pulled two bottles of juice from the fridge and set down two glasses.
“Orange or apple?” he asked.
“Orange juice please, thank you.”
He poured her a glass. “You can cook here, if you like.” He gestured around the humongous kitchen. “You can bake, cook, or just nuke food in the microwave. There're lots of frozen pizzas in the freezer.”
She smiled as she sipped her juice. “It's a dream kitchen,” she sighed, looking around. “I love your kitchen.”
“It's your kitchen too,” he corrected.
Her mouth opened but no words came out. Smiling shyly, she walked over to the sink and rinsed out her empty glass.
Nate stared down her curvy body, and growled as his eyes lingered on her fleshy, ample butt. When she bent forward to turn the tap off, he couldn't take it anymore. He lunged for her and spun her towards the island in the middle of the kitchen.
Pressing her back on the marble top, he wrenched her jeans down her hips. He bit the elastic of her panties and ripped them off with a growl. She gasped and he scented the rush of moisture between her legs.
With his claws, he shredded her blouse and bra and laid her naked on the marble top of the island.
“Ruby,” he snarled, lowering his face to her crotch. “I can scent your want, your need. I can't wait, I need to have you now!”
He plunged his tongue into her slick heat and she gasped at the sudden penetration. Thrusting his tongue in and out of her, he circled her clit with his thumb and smeared her juices over that engorged pink nub. She cried out and raised her knees, opening herself wider for him.
Nate devoured her pussy, slurping and swallowing all her honey. When he flicked her clit hard with his tongue, she came suddenly and violently, shaking and thrashing in his arms.
Before her shudders subsided, Nate yanked
his zipper down and released his straining cock. He buried himself to the hilt in her lush, quivering body and froze for an instant. The pleasure was so intense, so raw he was afraid he would lose his control. Taking harsh, ragged breaths, Nate slid very slowly out of her, and began to move again. As he increased his rhythm, he grabbed her bouncing breasts and stroked her nipples in time to his thrusts.
She whimpered and pleaded for him to go faster, harder. His little human mate was as hungry for him as he was for her. Nate drove himself again and again into his beautiful mate, piercing her with his rigid, aching cock. Ruby gripped the sides of the island, as he slammed into her, pushing himself deep and hard into her sweet heat.
Nate pulled out until only the tip of his cock was lodged in her tight hole. He glanced down to see his cock gleaming with her juices, and saw her pink pussy creaming and quivering for him. It was the most erotic, intimate sight, and Nate could smell their scents and fluids intermingling, mixing and joining to become one.
Nate held Ruby's hands and laced his fingers through hers. Pushing her arms above her head, he thrust deeply into her body and began to piston in and out of her. Her arms were stretched taut above her head, her fingers laced through his as she lay beneath him for his taking, his pleasure. He gazed into her eyes as he took her, harder, faster, deeper. Her breasts bounced and heaved, and her sharp, erect nipples scraped against his chest, heightening his pleasure, and driving him wild.
He saw her pupils dilate as her walls began to clench around him. She gasped and blinked up at him, her mouth rounding as her orgasm began to burn through her.
Nate's claws inched out and gouged into the marble as he held her down through her screaming climax. Her pussy squirted and pulsed violently as she came again and again beneath him. As her tight channel squeezed him, he roared out his pleasure as she milked his cock greedily, pulling out ropes and ropes of his semen from his body.
Their pleasure and their cries seemed to go on forever, pulling them deeper into each other and cementing their thudding hearts together.
Taken By The Bear: BBW Billionaire Bear Shifter Romance Standalone Page 5