by Ruby Shae
He broke the kiss and a low growl vibrated through him. She looked up to see his smoky grey eyes watching her every move.
“Damn, that feels so good, love.”
His gaze empowered her and she sat on the foot of the bed and pulled on his belt loops so he stood between her legs, facing her. She slid his polo shirt up his chest and he ripped it off, and threw it on the floor. She touched him freely, smoothing her hands over his taut skin. He was perfectly sculpted with lines and dips she’d never seen on another man, and he was magnificent. She kissed his eight-pack and then carefully pushed his pants and boxers down, exposing his rigid dick.
Warm honey soaked her panties and her pussy throbbed with need. She’d never been with a man so large, but she’d longed to know what it felt like to be filled by someone his size. She wrapped one hand around the base of his dick and smoothed her free thumb across his slit. She sucked the liquid into her mouth, desperate to taste him. His unique flavor was wonderful, and she closed her lips around him and sucked hard.
Finn wrapped his hand in her hair and moaned as she moved her mouth up and down his cock. She alternated between sucking him deep and slowly releasing him while her tongue swirled around his hard length. Every time she reached the tip, she slid her tongue against his slit and eagerly swallowed the errant drops gathered there. When his cock started to throb wildly, she stopped teasing and moved faster, sucking him harder.
He tried to step away, but she kept her mouth around him and pulled him closer with her free arm around his ass. The movement shoved him deeper into her mouth and she moaned as he hit the back of her throat.
“Belle,” he whispered, his breath erratic, “love…you have to stop. I’m going to—”
She released his ass and closed her free hand around his balls.
He threaded his other hand through her hair and held her head as he shouted her name. Jets of molten heat released into her mouth and she worked her throat to swallow every drop. Minutes later, his body relaxed and he stepped away from her. His cock made a soft pop when it slipped from her mouth and she couldn’t help but notice he was still hard.
He removed his shoes, pants and boxers and leaned down to kiss her. He forced her to move back on the bed as he crawled over her, and she kicked off her shoes and allowed him to guide her until her head rested on the pillow.
He kneeled between her legs and unfastened her capris.
“Now it’s your turn,” he said.
She tensed but allowed him to pull down her pants and ease her legs out of the cumbersome material. He threw the garment against the wall, and it landed on top of his earlier discarded shirt. She tried to close her knees and hide her emerald green, lacy panties, but his big body was in the way.
“I like these,” he said, tracing the material covering her mound with his finger. His digit dipped between her legs, and he dragged it over the fabric covering her clit and her wet hole before he abandoned her pussy and started pushing her top up. “Does your bra match?”
She wanted to scream for him to rip off her panties and finger fuck her until she came, but instead she nodded and sat up so he could remove her shirt.
His smile disappeared and his eyes darkened to the color of steel.
“God damn, you are so sexy.”
He leaned forward and gathered the center of her bra in both hands and ripped the fabric apart. Her breasts spilled out, the soft flesh bouncing as if happy to be free of its confinement. He leaned forward and sucked one of her hard nipples into his mouth and she felt his cock bob against her stomach. He licked the hard pebble with his tongue and grazed it with his teeth before switching sides.
She squirmed against him, desperate for his cock.
“Finn…please,” she begged.
“What do you want, love?” he asked.
“I want you to fuck me.”
He ripped her panties away with one hand and gazed at her shaved pussy.
“You’re soaking wet,” he said, circling her cunt with his finger.
“I need you inside me,” she begged.
He slid his finger inside her pussy and more liquid pooled on her outer lips. He pushed a second finger into her, and then a third, moving his hand slowly, coaxing more and more honey from her well. When she thought she couldn’t take anymore, he removed his hand and positioned his cock at her entrance.
“I love you, Belle,” he said, and then slowly sank into her wet cunt.
The words terrified her, but she ignored her fear as her body stretched to accommodate him. He filled her completely and she molded against him like a perfectly tailored glove.
“Fuck,” he ground out. “You’re fucking perfect.”
He leaned down to kiss her, and then slowly moved in and out of her channel. Every stroke pushed her higher and higher until she screamed his name and exploded beneath him.
Her skin tingled with every touch, and he continued to drive into her with the same maddening slow pace. Her nipples ached from rubbing against his fiery skin and she grabbed the soft mounds of flesh and pushed them together. He swiped his tongue over the hard pebbles and her cunt flexed around his dick. He repeated the action and she felt her second orgasm fast approaching.
Finn sat back on his heels and looped his arms under her knees. The action tilted her hips slightly and when he entered her again, he sank deeper, stroked new nerve endings and pushed her off the edge. She moaned long and loud as he moved faster, pounding into her at a brutal pace. She was fully exposed to him and every inch of skin jiggled as he powered into her, shaking the bed and banging the headboard repeatedly against the wall.
She briefly hoped her cousin hadn’t decided to work early, but the thought disappeared when Finn pushed into her a final time and roared her name.
The sound was more animal than human, and she noticed the tips of his canines peeking out from under his upper lip. Sweat dotted his brow and his body heaved as he took deep breaths to calm his lungs.
Her pussy throbbed at the sight of him, and more liquid coated his dick. He was a perfect combination of both man and bear and she wanted him to mark her and claim her as his own.
He didn’t.
He carefully pulled out of her channel, and she immediately felt bereft. He laid down beside her and she instinctually turned toward him, still desperate for his touch. He gathered her in his arms and pulled her close to his body. She noticed his cock had reduced only a fraction in size and she briefly wondered how soon he’d be ready to go again.
He kissed the top of her head and she returned the sentiment on his shoulder, smiling to herself. His strong embrace felt like heaven and she committed the feeling to memory before she closed her eyes and allowed sleep to claim her.
Chapter Four
Isabelle cracked open one eye and cursed. The sun filtered through the small, narrow window above the kitchen cabinets, and light filled the entire room. She closed her eyes and rolled over, turning away from the offensive glow.
She smiled slid toward Finn, but she didn’t feel his warmth. She reached out her arm, searching, hoping, longing, but seconds later, she forced her eyes open so she could face the dreaded truth.
He was gone.
She sat up and looked around the room.
Take-out containers from the food they’d devoured in the middle of the night were piled high in the tiny trash can, and her clothing was scattered all over the floor. Aside from those two details, and the unmade bed she laid in, there was no sign anyone had rented the room recently.
She pushed the sheet back, and her heart ached as she saw the shadows of the bears move within the trees on the fabric. When he’d asked her to choose a sheet set the day before, she’d taken a chance and picked something close to her heart. She’d been impressed when he’d smiled and indulged her, but now she knew the whole thing had been an act.
She found the scraps of lace that had once been her panties and bra, and her eyes filled with tears. Not at the loss of money she’d paid for the ruined set, but for t
he way he’d made her feel gorgeous and unflawed when he’d torn the material and ripped it off her body.
She stuffed the ragged lace into her purse and pulled on her capris and shirt. When she looked in the mirror, she swore, thankful for her ability to shift into a bear. She had no brush, no toothbrush and without a bra, her breasts filled the shirt awkwardly, making her look like last night’s leftovers. If anyone saw her, they’d know she’d spent the night being thoroughly fucked. Literally.
A tear escaped the watery pools in her eyes, and rolled down her cheek. She wiped the water away with the back of her hand and her cheeks heated. After their first time together, Finn had woken her several times during the night and she’d adored the attention. She’d been uninhibited, and allowed him to take her in positions she’d never dared tried before.
At least now you can say you’ve done them.
That part was true. She wouldn’t die a wild sex virgin.
She turned on the cold water, splashed her face and rinsed out her mouth. She needed to get home, take a shower move on with her life.
She’d known from the beginning that no one ever stayed in Liberty.
The door to the apartment opened at the same time she stepped out of the bathroom, and Finn walked in and sucked all of the air out of the tiny living space. He held the folded top of a paper bag from her favorite donut place in one hand, and a tray with two coffees in the other.
“Going somewhere?” he asked, his voice firm.
“I…,” she trailed off as she stared at him.
Had she really judged him too harshly, or had he made a mistake and forgot something, forcing him to come back. He didn’t wait for her response.
“You thought I left.”
It wasn’t a question and she didn’t answer him, confirming his assessment. He sighed, obviously disappointed in her reaction, but he didn’t say more.
“I went out for coffee and donuts,” he said, walking to the small kitchenette. “I’m sorry I didn’t leave a note.”
“I… That’s okay,” she said carefully, joining him next to the sink. “Coffee sounds wonderful.”
They stood in silence as she added cream and sugar to her cup while he ate three donuts and gulped down his black brew. She grabbed a donut, took a bite and then sipped her coffee. The flavors swirled in her mouth, and she smiled at the familiar taste.
“If I take a shower, will you still be here when I get out?” he asked. “I’d like to talk and feed you more than donuts, if that’s okay?”
She nodded and he disappeared into the bathroom. The fact that she’d disappointed him ate away at her, and she looked for any excuse not to be the only one at fault. He’d been right about a leaving a note. If he’d left one, she would have known he would return.
It was a weak and shallow excuse for her behavior, but her pride was on the line and she built on it anyway. She might have not trusted him, but how could she? He’d sworn she was his mate several times, and even professed his love the night before, yet he hadn’t marked her.
She might be his mate, but he wasn’t thoroughly happy with his bear’s choice or she would be claimed. Instead, they had a ton of great sex and now he wanted to talk. Even if he didn’t want to leave town right away, he was done with her.
He didn’t have to take her to lunch to dump her. In fact, she’d rather he told her now, that way she could do the walk of shame into her apartment, shower and never think about him again.
Until she went to work.
Shit!
If he didn’t leave town soon, she might have to. Seeing him prove just how lucky he was with a different woman every night would kill her.
No, it was best to end things now.
Finn emerged fifteen minutes later and they rode to her house in silence. He parked the truck, but before he could get out, she stopped him.
“I’m not really that hungry,” she said. “Do you mind if we skip lunch?”
“You need to eat more than a donut,” he said, “and we still need to talk.”
“We can talk now, and I can eat later.”
He narrowed his eyes and stared at her, and once again she felt as if he could see into her soul. It wasn’t the first time she’d felt so transparent to him, and she desperately wanted to run into her apartment and hide.
“Okay,” he said slowly. “I met with a realtor yesterday and she showed me some beautiful photos. I’d like to take you there today and see if you like anything enough to do a walk through. There’s also a house for sale on the border of the nature preserve I’d like to view. It’s not on the market yet, so there are no photos, but I think we should take a look. That one is time sensitive, but if we want it, it’s ours.”
She knew he was too good to be true, and a band tightened around her heart. Every word, every touch, every promise had been a charade. He only wanted money. Anger and pain bubbled up and swirled together. For a moment she didn’t know if she would scream or burst into tears. She might not beautiful, or mate material, but she wasn’t stupid either.
Anger forced her next words.
“Let me guess,” she spat the words, “you need the money for a down payment and you’ll pay me back later.” She made air quotes with her fingers to emphasize the words.
“No,” he said sternly, “I have plenty of money, Belle, I don’t need yours.”
“Right,” she said sarcastically, “and you’re going to use all this money to buy a house in Liberty?”
“Yes.”
“No one stays in Liberty,” she said as the anger started to wean into sadness.
She’d been duped again.
“I’m staying in Liberty,” he said. “I’m not your ex, Belle, but the fact that you don’t know that yet tells me we’re moving too fast. I think we should take a little break and slow down a bit.”
There it was…the kiss-off.
“Okay,” she agreed.
“I’ll see you tonight,” he said, effectively ending the conversation.
“Bye.”
She opened the car door and slid out into the bright sun, ignoring the stares of two of her neighbors. They were bear shifters and they glanced from her to Finn and smiled knowingly. He’d already started working his charms, and she crossed her arms over her chest and ran to her apartment.
Once she was safe inside the dwelling, she raced to the bathroom, stripped off all of her clothes and stepped into the shower. There, under the warm spray, she let the tears fall and allowed her bear to roar in anguish.
She cried until no more tears remained. An hour later, the exited the tub and dried off with prune looking fingers. She mentally rebuilt the wall around her heart, and steeled herself for seeing Finn again. The first step was realizing he wasn’t Finn, he was Lucky, and she had no place in her life for a man with a reputation like his.
She set her clock and slid into bed. She had to be at work in six hours, and she needed the rest. With any luck, by the time she woke up, she’d believe the lies she told herself.
***
Finn watched Belle disappear into her apartment and slammed his fist on the steering wheel. Two women had been watching their exchange with interest, and he growled when they smiled in his direction. They took the hint and turned away, pretending to ignore him.
Good. He had no use for anyone other than Belle.
The fact that she’d compared him to her ex had been a serious blow to his ego. His bear had roared at the insult, and anger had swamped him, followed swiftly by heartache. Even though they’d only been together a short time, he’d known she was his from the beginning, and he’d hoped she would accept it sooner than later.
Instead, she’d held onto her fears and accused him of using her.
He pulled into the parking lot of the bar and used his cell-phone to call the realtor. Though he hated to lose first dibs on the property near the preserve, he wouldn’t make a decision on their home until Belle trusted him and agreed to be his mate.
Her old wounds ran deep, and it w
ould take time for her to fully recover and accept his love. Today’s events proved it would take more than a few days or weeks to gain her trust. It might even take months. Or years. He inwardly groaned.
When the call ended, he entered the small apartment he now called home and sighed. The room smelled like Belle, with a hint of sex in the air. Gabe had offered him the use of the room unconditionally, but he’d wanted to leave the space since the day he’d arrived.
He’d searched a long time for a woman he wanted to claim, and he longed for his mate, cubs, and a home to call his own. Once he’d found Belle, he’d been eager to move to the next step.
Unfortunately, she was on an entirely different schedule.
He laid down on the bed and closed his eyes.
If he had bitten Belle when he’d had her up against the wall on the night they’d met, she would know his feelings were true, and he’d be in her bed right now. His bear sat up tall and grunted, showing his approval. If the animal had its way, he’d drive back to her house, sink his teeth into her flesh and fuck her until she begged him to stop.
When a shifter found his mate, the mate mark allowed the receiver to feel the emotions of the giver. Even if Belle never marked him, she would always know how he felt about her. The process worked with shifter and human pairings, too, except few humans could follow through with the animalistic process. For a successful mating, a human must bite and break the skin of their mate during sex.
His dick hardened when he thought about how her soft curves had molded against his hard skin. The way her pussy molded around his cock had felt like heaven, and he hadn’t needed to hold back when he’d plowed into her. Belle had been made for him, and while they were not equals in height or strength, they were paired as they should be in both their bear and human forms.
As much as he wanted to force her to accept his mark, he knew he needed to woo her into submission. It might kill him to refrain from touching her perfect, soft skin, but he’d do what was necessary to convince her to open her heart.
With a plan in place, he drifted off to sleep.