Just Like A Bear: A Steamy Shifter Romance (A Ravenswood Romance Book 3)

by Jada Turner

  “So that’s why you didn’t want me to know or for anyone else to know?”

  “Yes, the less people that know, the better, Violet. I can’t always be there with you to protect you, not just from animals but from people too.”

  “I needed to know, I want to know every inch of you every part of you, I’m falling in love with you, all of you.” she looked into his eyes almost pleading with him to hear her words properly.

  He put her gently on the ground in front of him and held her close.

  “Violet are you sure, truly sure. I need to know that you feel safe with me I won’t ever hurt you my little Violet.”

  She pulled out of his embrace and looked up at his pale blue eyes, “I know you would never hurt me and I will stand by your side always no matter what.”

  She meant every single word with her whole heart, her whole being. She’d never felt like this and now that she knew what Kellen truly was, she loved him even more.

  “Could I have been attracted to you because you’re an animal?”

  He detected the smirk in her voice as she asked and held her close kissing her gently on her forehead, “Maybe, am I an animal when we make love?”Violet laughed, “Well now you ask.”

  “Cheeky little miss,” he smirked at her as they continued walking to his car arm in arm through the forest.

  CHAPTER SIX

  He dropped her off at home and she handed him back his jacket. He’d wrapped it around her once again when she was cold. He ran around and opened her door helping her out of the car.

  “Violet, where on earth have you been?” her father shouted from the porch.

  “My fault sir, hello I’m Kellen. I stole your beautiful daughter this afternoon please don’t blame her,” he said as he extended his hand out to her father.

  “I’m not happy! One of your professors called to see where you were Violet! I appreciate your honesty young man,” her father said shaking Kellen’s hand. “You’ve a firm handshake I like that; come on Violet inside now it’s getting late.”

  “In a minute dad I’ll just say goodbye to Kellen,”

  Her father went indoors and Violet turned to Kellen on the porch.

  “Okay then, I guess we should say goodnight,” she suddenly felt shy and coy.

  He tilted her chin upwards, leaned down and kissed her tenderly on her soft lips. She kissed him back gently probing his lips open with her tongue.

  “You better go Violet or I’ll whisk you away again, go!” Kellen laughed.

  “When will I see you again?”

  “Oh you’ll see me real soon. I promise, go on, I don’t want to upset your folks.”

  Violet kissed him once more and squeezed his hand then vanished indoors. She heard him pull away and ran upstairs to change out of her flimsy dress and sandals.

  Her folks and brother were full of questions, which Violet refused to answer so instead she went to her room. Derek was getting that look is his eye and he was glad she had finally found a man he couldn’t scare off.

  She had the distinct feeling that from this night forward her life would never be the same again!

  A Princess’ Tale

  An Erotic Regency Romance

  CHAPTER ONE

  I was doing the fashionable summer event that all the rich ladies of London did; I was touring Europe with my chaperones, my aunt and uncle. They were Lord and Lady Davisham. We toured France, Spain, and down into Italy. It had been very pleasant but somewhat uneventful. I went to parties and fancy beautiful dinners with my aunt and uncle. However, it wasn’t the excitement and romance that I had longed for. Not much could happen when you were constantly being escorted. That was the way of things in the late 1800s. So I decided that when we landed in the small town of Assisi I would try my best to interact with the locals. The small town of Assisi was small and walled in making it a bit safer than your average big city like London. Assisi had not changed since medieval times. It was beautiful in all its stone glory and all its special nooks and crannies that laid out over the city like a labyrinth. It was easy for one to get lost in. Like I accidently did today. I was at a shop with my aunt and uncle. My uncle was being fitted for a new Italian suit. I stepped just outside the door for a breath of fresh air. Then something caught my attention, a small group of ladies and gentlemen were gathered a street performer. It was exciting so I took a few steps over and watched. After the performance I looked up and saw a sign for a candy shoppe. I couldn’t resist. I strolled right in started buying various pieces. There were two doors on the shop and I didn’t realized that I walked out of a different door than the one I came in because my head was buried in a bag of candy.

  “Well, Emerald you’re lost again,” I muttered to myself.

  I should have been scared, being a lady on my own but I really assumed I was only a block over from my aunt and uncle. So I kept walking. Then I was really lost. Still, getting lost gave the place a sense of enchantment. It seemed otherworldly. I had come to love and appreciate it. I found a public square and decided to just sit on the bench for a minute because I was tired.

  “Buena sera,” a thick and low voice said in an Italian accent. “You should not be alone. Do you need help bella?”

  I was startled and turned my head to the left where a gorgeous man stood before me. I gasped in response to him. His dark locks of hair were thick and tousled and his eyes were a piercing blue. He did not looked like the usual Italian men around her who were tanned and looked like descendants of the Romans, but he had distinct eyes.

  “Buena sera,” I said back.

  “You are not from around here bella?” he asked.

  “No, I’m from London.”

  “Ah, London,” he said.

  “You’ve been?” I asked.

  “Yes, but many, many years ago.”

  “Do you like it here?” he asked.

  “Yes, I love it.”

  “Bellisima, you must let me paint you,” he said.

  “Oh, I don’t know about that,” I stuttered. I was feeling very vulnerable.

  “Yes, you will,” he said.

  “Okay,” I said. I didn’t realize I was agreeing with him. It was as if I couldn’t control my own words. Then he handed me a card with an address on it.

  “Tomorrow night at seven,” he said.

  I looked at the card. It was elegant and old.

  “But what do I…” I looked up from the card. He was gone. Without a sound he had just vanished. I was confused. Then my aunt and uncle appeared in the square.

  “Oh Emerald there you are, we were so worried.”

  “Oh I’m fine.” I quickly thought of a lie. “I ran into Ms. Harris and her niece, they invited me to dinner tomorrow night. May I have the carriage uncle tomorrow so that I may go.”

  “Oh, yes Ms. Harris I heard she would be in Italy. Of course you may visit with your friends,” my aunt said.

  “Excellent,” I said.

  I couldn’t believe what I was doing, but I needed some adventure and I was feeling very excited to see that man again. He was gorgeous and he was an artist, and I liked art.

  The next night at six o’clock I paced the townhouse. Was I really going to do this? I wanted to go, but fear held me back. It was every girl’s dream to go to Italy and meet a handsome artist, but something seemed dark about him. He scared me but also thrilled me. I liked the fear he put in me, and he was commanding and gorgeous. I knew that if I didn’t go I would regret it. I took a deep breath and got dressed. I brushed my long blonde hair and curled it into big curls and put on a modest dress. I looked at the card he gave me. This was it. I was going. I walked outside to my waiting carriage and handed the driver the card with the address. Then he helped me climb in. I was nervous and fidgety the whole way. We roamed the cobblestone streets and I thought about turning back, but I held to it. I didn’t want to face the boredom waiting for me at home. Then the carriage stopped. The driver opened the door. We were stopped in front a twisted and long staircase.

>   “Straight up those stairs Ms.”

  I looked up at the winding stairs and a large door that was at the end of it. I took a deep breath.

  “Thank you, will you call back for me in three hours.”

  The driver nodded. I made my way up the large stone staircase that led up to the door. I climbed to the top.

  I started shaking with fear. It was too late though; there was no going back. It twisted and turned up to the top of another staircase. I looked at it and the very top of the stairs was a large wooden door and stone tower that stuck up from the rest of the buildings. It looked eerie to me, but it could be because it was night and it was quiet in this part of town. There were no cafes or tourists. It was only locals and they all seemed to be asleep at this time.

  “Well Emerald, you’ve come this far. Might as well,” I talked myself through not being a chicken and turning around. I wanted to see the gorgeous man again. The mystery and intrigue of him drew me closer and closer to him. As I got closer to his place I felt like my legs had a mind of their own and were moving me forward. I felt like I was gliding over the stone alleyway to the front door, but that was absurd.

  I climbed the steps to the front door. There were no lights on inside or any sign of activity. I knocked on the door. I waited in the still of the night for him to answer. No one responded and I didn’t hear any signs of movement inside. I turned the doorknob. It was unlocked. The heavy wood door creaked loudly as I pushed it open. If someone were home, they would have heard that for sure.

  “Hello!” I tried to shout it casually but it came out high-pitched and full of fear.

  “Damiano? Are you here? It’s me, Emerald.” I called out again as I went further in. Again there was no response. I went further into the house. It felt cavernous and empty. I could barely see the outline of shapes in the dark. The shapes did not look like furniture. I could see a glowing red in the distance. I followed it. Floorboards creaked under each step I took. I was sweating with fear even though it was freezing and I could see my breath on the air. The glowing seemed to be coming from another room so I continued following it. I went down a long dark hallway and to a door that was only open an inch or two. That’s where the glowing was coming from. I could hear the crackling and popping of fire and knew immediately that the light was firelight. I gasped. If there was a fire than someone must be here. I held my breath as I pushed open the door.

  “Damiano? Are you in here?” My voice quivered. I pushed open the door completely. A very large loft like room stood before me. It was very dark in the corners of the room, but brightly lit near the fire. I went to the fire immediately as a source of warmth but also security. Being in the light made me feel secure. I warmed the backside of my body as I looked around. There were heavy tapestries on almost every wall. Heavy wooden shutters covered the windows and large stuffed beasts hung from the walls. It was a very scary environment and I swallowed hard as I looked around. It was the perfect environment for such a mysterious man like Damiano. I peered at one of the paintings on the wall and it looked like Damiano, only the man was dressed in 16th century clothing so it could not be him. It must be one of his ancestors. I turned around and looked again at the room.

  The room was full of tall objects covered in white sheets. A chill ran up my spine as I wondered what was under them. Curiosity was getting the best of me the longer I stayed in the room. A few of the sheets took on the shape of chairs and sofas but the others were very tall and square. It was baffling to me what could be under those sheets. I took slow and steady steps to one near me. The floor creaked loudly under me. I grabbed the corner of a sheet and slowly pulled the sheet down. My breath caught in my throat. It was a large painting, very large almost twice my size. The painting was of me. I looked at myself peering back at me from the canvas. The painting was so life like it took my breath away. Further more, the painting was of me sleeping.

  “What are you doing here?” A voice growled and boomed in the cavernous room.

  I turned to see Damiano in the doorway. He looked angry and dark. I stepped backward in fear of his presence.

  “I…I was looking for you…I,” I couldn’t get a full sentence out. He started walking toward me slowly as though I was prey and he was a predator stalking me. I forced myself to pull myself together.

  “You invited me here last night. You were going to paint me,” I managed to get out.

  The look of anger left his face and one of sorrow replaced it. I moved closer to him. As I got closer my body began to respond to him once more. He had that affect on me, and it was both intoxicating and unnerving. I placed my hands on his chest. It was strong and rock hard. He looked down at me. His blue eyes reflected the firelight like glass. His mouth opened slightly and his pink full lips called out to me begging for me to kiss them. I looked up at him under my lashes trying to hold back my fear and let the lust take over me.

  Damiano grabbed my wrists and pulled my hands from his chest. He stepped away from me and picked up the sheet on the floor.

  Damiano pulled me close to him. He pulled me harder against him and kissed my mouth. I melted against him. With one kiss I was in complete surrender. I stopped thinking of questions and was completely consumed by lust. I felt wet instantly, and I moaned as he explored my mouth with his tongue. He cupped my breasts with his hands and kissed me more aggressively. His entire body pushed against mine and he had backed me onto the wall. I was his now. I was his prisoner. I could feel his hard cock against me as he rubbed it up and down along my body. Then one hand moved from my breast and slid down my belly softly touching me. I nearly fell to the floor but he wrapped his other hand so tightly around my waist that he held me up. His mouth traced kisses down my chin to my neck and he groaned as he licked it. A part of me wanted to stiffen in fear. Now that I thought those thoughts having his mouth on my neck filled me with a seductive type of fear that could only be described as a mix of adrenaline and lust. I should be running away but I did not fear him. In fact I felt safe with him.

  CHAPTER TWO

  He picked me up in his arms, cradling me like a baby. We went out of the room into the darkness. I could not see a thing. I placed my lips on his neck and kissed and licked. I couldn’t stop myself if I wanted to. I needed contact with him at all times. He went down a dark stairwell that went lower and lower spiraling down to some unseen cavernous drop in the floor. Finally he stopped and pushed open a large wooden door. Inside there was a fire burning bright and a large canopy bed with heavy curtains. The curtains were dark in the faint light of the fire. Maybe they were black, but I couldn’t tell. They were very heavy unlike any material I had ever seen. I looked around the round room and noticed that we must be in the basement as there were no windows at all. He had climbed down the spiral of stairs for a long time so we must be very deep under the house. He laid me gently on the bed and hovered over me staring into my face. My eyes grew wide with disbelief and then it faded. I smiled at him. He smiled back at me and then leaned in and kissed me. He trailed kisses slowly on my lips, down my neck, over my chest, running softly over my belly, down my thighs all the way to my feet. He pulled off my boots one by one. He unbuttoned my dress and grabbed it and pulled it off of me.

  “Open just a little,” he pulled my thighs open just a little. He lowered his head onto my clit and sucked softly on it while looking up at me with those unusually blue eyes. The top of his pink lip was flush against my skin and moved with every suckling move. I reached down and grabbed onto his thick locks of black hair and arched my back. I moved with him and pushed harder against his face. The shivers that went through my body were strong and I felt like they were shaking the bed. I sat up trying to handle what I was feeling but it was too sensitive. I laid back down again thinking that would make the extreme pleasure bearable but I couldn’t get the right position to hold on to myself. It was useless, I was going to cum and I was going to explode. With that I yelled out. I didn’t yell, “I’m cumming, or Oh! Yes!” I simply yelled. It was a mix b
etween a scream of terror and a yell of pleasure. I had no control over my body or my voice. Damiano did not stop so I pleaded with him, “Please stop. It’s too much. I can’t handle it.” This didn’t discourage him. If anything I think he grinned a little and continued sucking my clit. Then within seconds I was exploding again, and then again, and then again. This happened within a matter of minutes. I didn’t know my body could do this. I was thrilled and scared. I felt like I was drunk or on some sort of drug. Finally he stopped. I was glad he stopped. He stood up on the edge of the bed while I lay below him writhing on the sheets with ecstasy. I felt like a wild banshee under a spell of lust, but I didn’t care. I looked at him as he took of his shirt. His taught skin glimmered in the firelight. He unbuttoned his trousers and pulled them off. His cock was rock hard and stood straight at attention past his belly button. It was perfect and I immediately had the urge to put it in my mouth. Damiano reached down and pulled my sweater and off of my body. Now I too was completely naked, and I was hungry for him.

  He climbed into bed with me and kissed the tops of my nipples. He licked them in circular motion and then massaged them with his hands.

  It was unbelievable. This was not like me. I was giving myself to this stranger, no I was pleading with him to take me. I didn’t know who I was anymore.

  The look in his eyes changed. He went somewhere and left the present. He went primal and animal like. He positioned his body between my thighs and placed the tip of his cock inside me gently. He looked up at me and his eyes locked with mine as I spread my legs open wider to let him in. Damiano pushed himself inside me sliding effortlessly and slowly inside my drenching wet pussy. I grabbed a hold of the sheets tightly in my fist. He felt so good inside of me it was more than the basic feeling of sex. It was as if his entire aura and energy were entering me. It filled me with vibrations like a low humming was going through my body. My breathing got heavier as Damiano moved in and out of me. I looked at him and examined his face. It was hard and stern as though he was forcing himself to control his movements.