Dammit, what was wrong with her? She’d seen how that went last time, and all it took was seeing him on a horse to decide she had to have him again? She needed to calm the fuck down.
When they got back, Maverick helped the others dismount, sending them back to the lodge before coming to help her down.
When he put his hands on her waist, she felt blood rush into her cheeks—and other places.
“I wanted to say I’m sorry for this morning,” he said in a deep voice as he lifted her down. “I’m not going to be so overbearing.”
She looked up at him, perplexed at how he was going to accomplish that.
“I still want you, but I can wait,” he said, taking the reins of her horse to lead it back in the barn.
“I guess I’ll see you later, then?” she asked, folding her arms and looking over at him. She hated herself for not being able to hold a grudge.
He studied her silently. It looked like he wanted to say yes, but then he shook his head.
“No, I have stuff I have to do tonight. You hang out with Bonnie and Ruby. We’ll see each other tomorrow.”
She couldn’t help feeling a bit of disappointment. “Okay.”
“See ya,” he said. Then he tipped his hat to her and led the horse into the barn.
Dammit, why did him suddenly pulling back just make him that much more attractive?
* * *
Maverick made good on his promise to stay away from Harmony for the rest of the day and evening.
Even if it felt like he was bursting out of his skin.
He’d given Shane a heads-up about their guests being jerks and told him to keep an eye out. Shane had promised he and Ruby would stay with Harmony the entire night.
So Maverick had let the bear that was bursting to get out of him tear out of his skin and take him up into the mountains, where they felt most at home.
As he rested on his stomach in the cool night air, he wondered if he really wanted a mate who only wanted him when he acted like another man.
Maybe that was the man he’d have been if he hadn’t been born to a female who was more bear than human, if he hadn’t been dumped in the woods. If he hadn’t been lost there for years before anyone found him.
But he wasn’t going to get lost in coulda, woulda, shouldas.
Now that the moon was out, he was aching for his mate. It was nighttime; he should be taking her. She should be home in his cabin. Instead, she was down in the main lodge, laughing and playing games with his brothers and their mates and probably those two assholes from New York.
Maverick had about had it with acting civilized. He’d have given it up right after the ride if she hadn’t seemed more eager to see him due to him being standoffish.
But what if she always wanted him standoffish? When was he going to pounce her again, then?
She’d looked so beautiful on the ride. Dark skin alight in the sunshine, curls bouncing with each step, a wide smile.
And the most stunning thing of all, something that had made the bear in him literally sit up and sway in an almost hypnotic trance, was her voice.
She had real talent. Not that Maverick knew much about such things, but she could really go somewhere. Be something. She sounded amazing. Her voice was rich, husky, soulful, and when it rose up into higher notes, beautiful.
He’d give anything to hear her sing again. It made the bear in him react in a way nothing else ever had. Made him feel soothed, calm in a way he felt most people must know for a lot of their lives.
But not him. He mostly felt wild, chaotic, and confused, living in a world where he didn’t belong.
The only time he wanted to belong there was when Harmony was around.
The bear side of him grumbled that they should go down and see her. But Maverick tried to hold back.
She was probably having fun on her own. And she’d be disappointed if she saw how little control he had.
And they’d just had sex that morning. She’d probably still be sore. Plus, the horseback riding she’d done, though it was gentle.
But the longer he fought it off, the more the tension built up inside him.
Maybe he would just go down and see what was happening. Casual like. He could use food as an excuse, go see Fanny.
The last thing he wanted to do was something that would make her call him a caveman again and say she wanted lots of things that had nothing to do with him.
Then again, he’d been stupid. Of course, with that kind of talent, her career and her singing meant something. He was a stupid bear, so he hadn’t realized it. But she had a life outside all of this.
He didn’t know how that was going to work out. He couldn’t survive outside of this mountain. His bear would go insane surrounded by buildings.
And he wasn’t sure if she could survive out here, where no one could hear her beautiful voice.
He was going to have to figure out a way around that.
But first, he would just go down the mountain and get a little glimpse of his mate. Just make sure she was all right and no one was bothering her.
Maybe give the city boys a glare for good measure, when she wasn’t looking of course. Remind them to keep their hands to themselves.
The more he allowed his possessive side to take over, the more comfortable he felt. By the time he was back at his cabin, changing into his human form, excited to see his mate, he’d basically left Wyatt’s advice in the dust, totally forgotten.
8
Harmony couldn’t believe it, but she actually missed Maverick. Missed that feeling of not knowing what he was going to do next. Missed that intense glare when he was cooking up something in that brain of his.
Missed the way the whole group seemed more entertained, more alive when he was there.
They were playing poker now, using chips but no money, and Ruby and Shane were playing on one team, Bonnie and Jesse on another, leaving Arnie, Harmony, and Richard all as individuals.
And, dare she say it, it was boring.
Shane was trying to keep banter going with the city men, but they seemed hell bent on only casual putdowns and snarks about the lodge, the men, even the horseback ride they’d had earlier that day.
Bonnie and Ruby were cuddled in against their men, and Ruby kind of wished she had someone to cuddle in against at this moment. A shield against their douchery.
“Full house,” Richard said, spreading them on the table.
Everyone groaned as he pulled in all the chips. He gave Harmony what he probably thought was a charming gaze. “Maybe we should play for something more interesting.”
“Oh?” Harmony asked, sighing and leaning her chin on her palm. “Like what?”
“Strip poker?” Richard suggested, and Arnie let out a snicker.
Harmony had initially thought Arnie was a nice guy, but now she was thinking he just seemed nicer than Richard but was equally willing to sink to his level.
She already couldn’t wait for their trip to be over so they could go back to New York and leave the rest of them alone to their land.
She sat up a little straighter as she realized she’d included herself when thinking about those who owned the land.
This wasn’t her place. Sure, Mav would probably like her to stay there, in some form or another.
She should probably talk to him about what that meant. He hadn’t said marriage. He hadn’t really said anything, except that she was somehow his because he’d managed to have sex with her.
“So who’s in?” Richard asked, looking around the table.
Shane and Jesse looked ready to commit murder, but Harmony put a hand out. “My friends don’t play like that,” she said. “But I’ll play with you.”
“Harmony,” Bonnie warned.
“Relax,” Harmony said back. Her friends didn’t know, but she knew how to cheat at poker. She’d enjoy taking these men down. “I’ll play for strip if you play for money.”
Arnie raised an eyebrow, but Richard just grinned. “Deal.”
He was about to deal cards as a hand landed on his shoulder. It was there only for a split second before he was sent flying back, crashing into the ground while still on his chair.
“Mav!” Harmony barked, standing up to see the huge man had somehow come in and gotten behind Richard without them noticing. He really had a way of surprising people sometimes.
“No one plays strip with her,” Mav said in a growly voice, staring down at the offended Richard, who looked ready to kill, but not brave enough to stand. “You treat our guests with respect.”
“If she wants to play, you should let her,” Richard said.
Mav reached down to grab him by the collar, but he was stopped by Jesse, who put a hand on Mav’s chest to hold him back.
Jesse reached down to grasp Richard. “I’m afraid we don’t allow anything like that here.” He pulled Richard to his feet. “I’m sorry, but it’s probably best if we all turned in.”
Richard shot a look at Harmony, and Maverick let out a snarl.
Not this again. He didn’t own her. Richard hadn’t been attacking her. And what’s more, Maverick was supposed to be giving her space, like he said he would.
Richard just sent Maverick a death glare, grabbed Arnie, and headed up the stairs to their rooms.
Maverick was scowling at Harmony, dark eyes burning in anger.
“Well, um, I think we better go,” Shane said, standing with Ruby.
“Don’t you dare,” Harmony said.
“Yeah, I think it’s time to head out,” Bonnie said, stretching and trying to look innocent.
“Don’t leave me alone with him,” Harmony grated out. If they did, he would probably just pull something Neanderthal again.
This wasn’t the calm, cool Maverick from the ride. That had run out, apparently, when she’d agreed to play strip poker with another man.
This man looked ready to throw her up against a wall again just to prove she liked it.
And heaven help her, she would.
“Maverick,” she said, taking a step back as he advanced on her, looking tall and very intimidating. The neat clothing he wore did nothing to make him look less feral and primal.
He rolled up his shirtsleeves as he went, eyes glinting dangerously. “I give you space. I try to back off. And you’re going to take your clothes off for other men?” he grated out.
“I wasn’t going to,” she said. “Come on. I was just going to take their money.”
“Take my money,” he snarled. “Not theirs. Don’t take anything from them. Don’t give them anything. They’re assholes. Didn’t you hear them on the ride?”
“I did. Did you?” she asked.
“Not all of it. Just enough to want to punch them.”
“You had no trouble staying away tonight,” she muttered. “So you couldn’t have been that concerned.”
“I made Shane promise he’d stay with you,” he retorted, folding his arms. “But I guess that wasn’t enough.”
“For Pete’s sake, I wasn’t going to take off my clothes,” she said. “It was a joke. A trick.”
“It’s not a joke or a trick to me,” he said, backing her up until she hit the wall, then pinning her there with his hands on either side of her head. “You’re mine, you belong to me.”
“You don’t just get to keep saying that,” she said. “I’m my own person. You aren’t married to me. You aren’t my family. You’re just a guy I slept with.”
He raised a dark eyebrow. “Just a guy you slept with.”
She nodded.
“So that’s what you want from me? You want me to sleep with you, please you, and let you go?”
She didn’t really know. She didn’t like the idea of ever leaving Maverick, but they belonged in different worlds. And why shouldn’t she feel only lust for him? That was all he seemed to feel for her. It was fair.
“Yes,” she said, knowing she might regret the words as soon as she said them.
“So you could be with me again and just walk away?” he asked.
“Hell yeah,” she said, tilting up her chin in challenge. He was hot. He was strong. But he was a caveman and she wasn’t made to live in a cave.
And it was clear he couldn’t change himself to be more of what she’d need. At least not for more than a few hours at a time.
“So what now?” he asked, folding his arms. “I take you, it’s amazing, and then in the morning, we pretend it didn’t happen until I see you again?”
“Yeah,” she said defiantly. “Why not? It’s not like you love me.”
The words were out before she could stop them. Was that what she wanted? Was that what was bothering her? That Maverick wasn’t the type to romance? That he’d only ever talked about wanting her and owning her, but never about caring for her?
She half expected him to claim he loved her. He had a habit of trying anything to get his way. But instead, he just tilted his head to the side, looking slightly confused.
She knew it.
“I’m not… I don’t really… That doesn’t apply to me,” he said, narrowing his eyes as he thought it through.
“So you’d expect me to just stay here, just wait around in a cabin for a man who doesn’t love me?”
“I would be your mate,” he said. “I would protect you. We would have young.”
She threw up her hands. “Oh my gosh, I can’t believe how you talk sometimes. It’s so ridic—”
She was cut off when he caught her lips with hers, stifling her words with a harsh kiss that seemed to echo into eternity. His whole body pressed up against her.
“My feelings aren’t ridiculous,” he said. “Even if you can’t accept them.”
“Your feelings don’t exist,” she said. “You said so yourself.”
“So because I don’t love you, as people would say, because I’m not made that way, you don’t want me.”
She blinked back the pain. “I want someone to love me, yes,” she said.
He pushed away from her with a growl, showing her his wide back as he thought it over.
“Possession, lust, isn’t enough for a relationship,” she said.
“I wasn’t asking for a relationship,” he said. “I was asking you to mate me.”
“And I don’t even know what that means!” she spat.
“Fine,” he said. “Then just have sex with me. You’re fine with that as long as I don’t ask for more, right? That’s all you want from me?”
She lifted her chin. It wasn’t all she wanted, but it was all she was going to get. And she doubted she could resist his body anyway. “Yes.”
His expression darkened. “Then that’s what you’ll get.” The next moment, she was over his shoulder and he was carrying her out the front door of the lodge toward his cabin.
“No more grunting about me being yours after sex,” she said. “And you will use protection.”
“Yeah, I’ll use protection,” he said. “And I’ll keep taking you until you beg to be mine forever.”
She sighed as he took long, harsh steps toward the cabin. Even as her brain was saying this was ridiculous, her body was shouting, Yes, please!
She’d just have to hope that at the end of this, she could somehow rectify the two.
9
Maverick plunged deep into Harmony, savoring each of her little groans as he stroked in and out.
Several days had passed since their fight, and things were almost easier now that they were both on the same page.
During the day, she spent time with Bonnie or Ruby, and at night, he gave it to her as hard and as hot as she wanted. Any way she wanted.
But she loved him inside her the best, and that suited him fine. It was the only thing that made the bear in him stop screaming that he hadn’t fully claimed his mate yet.
In order for it to be final with a human, he had to show her his bear form and have her accept it. And since all she wanted was flings with him, he didn’t know when he’d have the chance to do that.
But these moments were precious, a
nd at least in bed, her body was honest. She wanted him. She liked him. And she saw his eyes searching for him whenever he entered the lodge during the day.
He’d kept up shaving because she liked it. Kept up with dressing well.
He didn’t know what she wanted from him. He didn’t have feelings like regular humans. He was ready to give the world for her, stay with her forever, protect her young and give her a home.
But love? That wasn’t something he even understood the meaning of. That was about as human a concept as one could get, and even for Harmony, he couldn’t ever see himself being the type to recite mushy poems or do things men in love did.
No. She was his fated mate, but he didn’t have those kinds of feelings for her. He was a bear. She was his. It was that simple. Anything else was out of bounds.
He pulled all the way out, teasing his tip at her wet entrance. Her mouth opened, gasping, and then he drove in again, filling her to the hilt.
She felt so good around him, her wet heat clenching him on all sides. Nothing would ever feel like this again.
A part of him was afraid that at the end of the week, she would leave him.
But his plan with the sex had been to show her just what she’d be missing. To get her addicted to the wild, sticky things that were so good between them.
She’d already orgasmed at least a dozen times tonight. In his mouth, in his hands, on his dick. Each time they came together was better than the last.
He felt her getting close and increased his speed, driving into her as she cried out and convulsed around him.
He looked down at her, so beautiful, her dark curls framing her face like a halo, her voice like a song as she called his name. Her breasts rising and falling with her breaths, her soft stomach under his wide hands as he stroked her.
She was perfect in every way, and he felt his soul call out to her.
Mate. Mate. Mate.
But he kept his mouth shut. He didn’t say mine. He just kept driving, mindlessly, wanting her to orgasm again and again. But she was tiring.
Her breaths were rapid, shallow, and her nails dug into him less viciously. “Maverick, you’re driving me crazy,” she said.
Wild Bear Page 6