Southern Shifters: Inked By The Bear (Kindle Worlds Novella) (Black & White Series Book 2)

by Lissa Matthews

  She smiled against his mouth. “I can’t wait. I know I keep asking and I know that no one has an answer, but why haven’t I ever shifted? Why does being around Luke affect me? I was around him outside the donut shop in Deal’s Gap and didn’t feel anything other than a strong dislike, but here? On the porch? Well, you know how I reacted.”

  “That might have been the beginning of the transformation for you. You’re right, I don’t know. I wish I did. I don’t know if there’s dormant blood traces versus dominant blood traces. I just don’t know the science well enough. But if it’s that important to you, we’ll try to find out. Luke seems much more educated about it, much more knowledgeable.”

  “Are we mates? Hell, I don’t even know if full-blood bears mate for life.”

  “They don’t. Most species of half-bloods do though. We have to in order keep our families safe. There’s strength in numbers.”

  “You mean like go forth and multiply type strength in numbers?”

  “Yes. That’s what I mean.”

  “We should work on that,” she said softly, sliding on top of him. He gripped her hair and lifted his head to meet her lips.

  “Seems we have been working on it. A lot.”

  She fought against his hold, tried to get free. He didn’t let up. It turned her on and she wiggled, holding him around the hips with her knees. And that move turned them both on. “Are you complaining?”

  “You know better than that, pretty girl.” He flipped them and wedged his way between her thighs. “You know much better than to think I’m complaining about being the one you rut with, the one you get dirty with, the one you spread your sexy legs open for, the one you reveal all your curves for…”

  Sliding down her body, his lips trailing between her breasts, his hands trailing along her sides… She spread her legs wider the lower he went and when he settled in, cradled in her soft thighs, he latched onto her clit, making her gasp and moan.

  He sucked and she writhed.

  He pulled with his teeth and she bucked into his face.

  He let go when she began a steady thrust upward and chuckled when she cussed him to Hell and back.

  Long and slow, he placated her with licks of his tongue, with his fingers teasing her nipples. The more he played, the more she shifted and twisted in the sheets, grabbing his shoulders, his hair, his wrists.

  The taste of her filled him, imprinted on him. He’d never forget the silk of her pussy, the wetness that coated her. He’d never tire of her pleas and begging and promises if he’d just let her cum.

  He’d never tire of her.

  When she was on the edge again, the verge of orgasm, he worked his way back up her body, covered her mouth with his, and pushed himself inside her. “That’s my girl,” he whispered between her lips as she wrapped her arms and legs around him.

  He loved this with her. He’d always liked sex, but with Bex? God, he loved it. He wanted it, more and more… He wanted her, more and more…

  In and out, hard and quick, he fucked her, loved her. Slick wetness coated his cock. He couldn’t stop, didn’t want to stop, but his own orgasm was upon him and the wave took him before he could catch his breath.

  “Damn, Bex.”

  “Don’t you leave me like this, Gus… Don’t, please…”

  “Wouldn’t…dream of it. Ah, fuck…” His body tensed as he poured himself into her. He lifted up on his arms, his cock still buried inside her, driving deep and gritting his teeth through the sensitivity gripping the head of his cock.

  Bex reached between them, rubbed her clit, fucked herself up on him, undulated beneath him. He wanted to see her face, wanted to see her as she brought herself off while he was buried inside her, but he didn’t dare move.

  She began to tremble, her breath coming in short gasps, moans escaping from her throat. She cried out through her orgasm and the sound bounced around the bare walls of the room.

  Gus grinned in the darkness and lowered himself enough to kiss the tip of Bex’s nose. He rolled to the side and gathered her close. “You know, when this becomes a full fledged, respectable inn, you’re going to have to tone those sounds down or your guests will wonder what on Earth is going on. Unless they’re shifters, like Michael. I’m sure he knew what we were doing, what we were going to do before we ever started.”

  Bex thumped his arm. “You make it sound as though I can’t control myself.”

  “Well… Can you?”

  “Yes,” she lied.

  *

  “She’s a little feisty.”

  Gus couldn’t hold back the smile. “She is. Did we disturb you?”

  He’d left Bex inside and joined Michael on the front porch.

  It was a clear, cool night. Peaceful. Calm. After the past three days, the quiet and the lack of emotional chaos was welcome. He settled on the railing, across from where his brother sat in a rocking chair.

  “You didn’t disturb me. I went for a walk around town when y’all started getting… ah, busy. She sleeping now?” Michael asked.

  Gus laughed at his brother’s hedging and discomfort. “No. She’s in the kitchen. She’s been stripping and repainting the cabinets. She’s the hardest working woman I know.”

  “When does she plan to have this place ready for guests?”

  “She hasn’t said.”

  “You didn’t plan on meeting a woman, did you?”

  “No. Not someone like her.”

  “What’s someone like her?”

  “A forever someone. She’s not the kind of woman you leave.”

  “What about your traveling business? Is she the kind of woman you’d give that up for?”

  “Give up the traveling? Yeah. But not the business as a whole. I might consider setting up a shop here in Dandridge, might even set up a bike repair shop. I saw a couple of storefronts that would work.

  “So, what I’m hearing, is that you plan on putting down roots.”

  “Yeah, I guess I am.”

  “I’m happy for you, G. I know it’s not been easy for you. I know you’ve not known where you wanted to be or where you belong. I’m glad you’ve found it. It’s a nice place.”

  “It is.”

  “I’m thinking I might stay on a while longer, you know, until the house is done, if you think she’d be all right with it. I know I’ve done a few things around here for her already tonight, but I’d like to help out a little more. See the job through to the end.”

  “Only one way to find out. What about Dad?” He’d called Martin dad for as long as he could remember. It was a request from Martin when Gus was in elementary school. It had been difficult, at first, but he’d finally come around to it.

  “He’ll be fine with it. You know him. He’ll want to know she’s being taken care of, watched out for.”

  “She is and she will be. I wouldn’t let anything happen to her.”

  “And you know that’s not what I’m saying. She’s going to need some time to adjust and since we’re not done with the wolf and his pack sniffing around, you know he’d feel better if there were more than just one of us here. Besides, no reason I can’t strike out on my own. I’d like to spend more time with you anyway.”

  “You would?”

  “We’re brothers, Gus. We have been since Mom brought you home. You’ve traveled so much over the last ten years that you hardly come back. You’re my family as much as Mitch and Malik are. So, yeah. I’d like to spend more time with you. I know how to work on bikes. I can’t tattoo anyone, but I can be tattooed.”

  “I’d like that, man. I’d like that a lot.” He’d said the words before he thought about them, but they were true. He’d pushed himself away from a family who’d loved him because he wasn’t sure he really fit. Maybe he hadn’t wanted to fit. Maybe he’d wanted more than anything to be told he belonged because sometimes the words were needed.

  Then again, maybe he’d just been a horse’s ass for too long.

  “Good. I’ll go clear it with Bex about me staying around
and helping get the inn ready. I’d like to see about ripping out that wall in the room I decided to stay in.” Michael stood and headed for the door with Gus on his heels. Lights from inside the house glowed warm and welcoming and in his mind’s eye, Gus could see it full of people and Bex happy.

  “I’ve sanded, but the stair railing needs some shoring up, too,” Gus added when they passed it. “And a few of the risers could use new boards.”

  “I can look into that.”

  “Oh, and the upstairs landing. I heard Bex say something about refinishing the wood.”

  “All right.”

  “Let’s see… You already know about the walls and the —”

  Michael stopped and Gus bumped into him. “Wait just a second,” he said after he pushed Gus back. “Are you planning on helping out at all or are you just making me a Honey Do List?”

  “Do you need one? I can make one up for you.”

  “I’m not your honey and you’re not the reason I would do any of it.” Michael turned on his heel and continued into the kitchen.

  “But I’m your brother. You said so, out on the porch.”

  “I can take it back.”

  “Nope. No you can’t.” The last was said with a cough and a wheeze. The fumes from the paint stripper hit them both hard. When she heard the sounds, Bex looked up. A surgical mask was affixed to her face. She pointed to her stash on the counter to Gus’s left.

  “After putting one on, Gus told her what Michael planned to do. “He even said he’d take care of it all.”

  “I did not say that, but I will take care of whatever you’d like me to take care of.”

  “I can’t ask you to do that.”

  “You’re not,” he said, picking up a paint scraper and setting it to a cabinet door that was ready to have the old paint removed. “I’m offering.”

  “But… Why? You don’t know me and, it’s a lot of work.”

  “I know it’s a lot of work and I’m offering because we’re family. That’s the only reason that matters.” Her eyes widened and Michael grinned beneath his mask.

  “You’ll get used to it, pretty girl,” Gus said. “We’ll both get used to it.”

  Chapter Seven

  Bex glanced over her shoulder. “What are you going to do?”

  “Turn back around.”

  “But, Gus…,” she whined.

  “I said no peeking. Turn your head around.”

  “You’re no fun.” She crossed her arms, stuck her tongue out at him, and turned around, pouting.

  “I’m a lot of fun. Last night should’ve shown you that.”

  He had a point. “Okay, but right now, you’re not being fun.”

  “You agreed to let me do this and make it a surprise. If you don’t like surprises, you shouldn’t have agreed.”

  “I just want to know what you’re planning to do.”

  “I’m planning to tattoo you.”

  “I know that. What are you planning to tattoo on me?”

  “Something you’ll like.”

  “Which is?”

  “Do you want me to do this or not?”

  “Yes,” she said softly.

  “Then let me work. I need you to sit still so I can transfer it to your skin.”

  “Will I like it?”

  Gus trailed kisses up her spine and she shivered. “You’ll love it.”

  “Was it really necessary for me to sit here naked with only a sheet covering my front?”

  “Do you want to remove the sheet? The people of Dandridge might like to see you. I know I do.” Bex colored and looked toward the window. Gus was right. If she lowered the sheet, she’d be on complete display from the waist up. “I asked you to strip so I could see where the best place was to put my ink.”

  “And where are you going to put it?”

  “Here.” His hand settled on her outer thigh and slid up to her hip. “I’m going to ink you, right here, and this is what I’m going to do.”

  He handed her a thin piece of paper. “Paws?”

  “Yes.”

  “Why? And why do you want to put them on my hip?”

  “Traveling to your heart. You’re mine. You’re my mate. You’re a bear.”

  Bex smiled and stared at the drawing. “Can you add claws?”

  Gus laughed. “You want claws?”

  “I don’t want little baby paws that are cute. If I’m going to embrace this bear thing, I want the claws.”

  “I…” An SUV turning the corner in front of the house drew his attention. “I think you’re going to need them, pretty girl. It’s time to get dressed. The wolf is back.”

  *

  “Damn.” Gus peaked inside the back of the older model SUV. “You weren’t joking about the cabinet full of files.”

  “And this isn’t even half of it.”

  “What about donuts?”

  “What?”

  Gus crossed his arms over his chest. “What about donuts? Did you bring any from that little shop?”

  “Have you lost your mind, Bear? None of this is about donuts.”

  “It could’ve been if you’d brought some.” Luke continued to look at him as though Gus had lost his mind and Gus didn’t understand what the problem was. Donuts made everything better, even all the shit they were about get into.

  “Maybe he doesn’t like donuts,” Bex added.

  “Ah, shit.” The wolf shifter rolled his eyes and unlocked the back of his vehicle. “Not you too.”

  Bex simply gave him her sweetest, fake smile, that had Gus biting back a smirk. “I might have liked you better if you’d brought some.”

  “Are you alone?” Gus asked as they began to unload the back.

  Luke snorted. “I’m not stupid.”

  “You sure? You went all the way back to Deal’s Gap and came all the way back without those maple bacon donuts. I’d say stupid ranks right up there.”

  “Will you get off the damn donuts?”

  Gus shrugged and backed away when his parents drove up and parked next to Luke. They, too, had files with them.

  “Aren’t you going to ask them?”

  Gus’s mom got out on the passenger side. “Ask us what?”

  “Food.”

  “Not food,” Gus corrected. “Donuts.”

  “No, we didn’t bring any.”

  “Are you going to give them grief, too?” Luke asked.

  “Why would I? They weren’t coming from Deal’s Gap. You were.”

  Martin stepped up to Luke, holding two broken arrows in his hand. “These like the one’s you found?”

  “Identical.” Luke took out the ones he’d brought with him as well and the two shifters compared them side by side. “Thank you for bringing them.”

  Bex slid her hand into Gus’s and gripped his fingers. “This ought to be interesting.”

  “It should.”

  “My other sons and Mary’s son will be arriving tomorrow,” Martin informed Luke.

  “You didn’t have to invite everyone,” Luke said dryly. “I only brought myself and three of my lieutenants.”

  “It’s still your party,” Gus reminded him. “And see, this is why you should’ve brought —”

  “Don’t you goddamn say it again.” Luke got in Gus’s face and Gus struggled not to laugh at the anger in the wolf’s eyes. “Not another fucking word about those damn donuts.”

  “Oh, are we fighting? Bears against wolf?”

  Luke backed away from Gus and snarled at Michael, who’d joined them on the driveway. “Aww. You came to greet me. Did you miss me?” Luke taunted.

  “Like the plague.”

  “Such a tired phrase.”

  Michael flipped the wolf off and grabbed a box from the back of Luke’s SUV. “Let’s get all this inside and see what we’ve got.” The two shifters bickered as they walked around to the front of the house, each carrying boxes of papers and maps.

  “You’d think they were married,” Bex muttered.

  “Don’t say that to
either one of them or you’ll need to bring those claws out.”

  Bex turned a brilliant smile up to him. “Promise?”

  “Bad girl.”

  “I wonder what the neighbors think about all this activity lately?”

  “I don’t know, pretty girl, but as long as we all don’t shift at the same time, we should be safe from any of them calling animal control.”

  “Gus?”

  He looked up and smiled. “Hi, Mom.” He pulled her into his chest for a hug. He was happy to see her, happy to have Bex standing next to him, happy to have his family around him. He missed them. He’d talked himself into believing he was happy on his own, happy being on the back of his bike, traveling away from the only family he’d ever known.

  He’d been right, he was happy.

  He’d been wrong, too. He’d missed the hell out of his brothers, his father, his mother.

  “It is so good to see you. It’s been too long, son.”

  “I know. I’m sorry.” He kissed the top of her head. “Mom, this is Rebecca. We all call her Bex.”

  “Oh, it is so lovely to meet you, Bex. My name is Meryl. Mary and Martin couldn’t stop talking about you when they got home the other night and with the smile on Gus’s face, I can tell you’re a bright spot in his life.”

  Bex looked up at Gus. Her eyes were wide and beautiful and happy. She turned her gaze back to his mom. “I… Thank you. It’s nice to meet you, too.”

  She wrapped an arm around Bex’s shoulders and walked her in the direction the rest of the family had gone in. Gus had no choice but to fall in behind them after grabbing a couple of boxes from the back of Luke’s SUV.

  *

  “This has all been so much for you to take in,” Meryl said. “If there’s anything I can do or any of the family can do to make it easier, we’re here for you.”

  Bex nodded and smiled at Gus’s mother. “I appreciate that. It has been a bit overwhelming and I’ll probably take you and Mary and everyone else up on it.”

  “I’m also going to be very forward and ask for a jar of apple butter. Mary wouldn’t share except one small, one very, very small spoonful with me. It wasn’t enough and until that night, I never realized just how selfish she could be.”