by Ruby Shae
He shackled both wrists in one hand and slid the other over her curves as he kissed a trail down her chin to her neck. He could feel his canines pulse beneath the skin, and he pulled away.
This was just sex, he couldn’t mark her.
Their heavy breathing filled the hallway, and she tried to pull her hands free.
“I want to touch you, too,” she breathed.
“Let’s go to the bedroom.”
He grabbed her hand and eagerly pulled her behind him down the hall. Her giggles made him smile and when they stood face to face again, he carefully removed each piece of her clothing as if unwrapping a present. He kissed every piece of exposed skin as she ran her hands up and down his arms and chest.
Everywhere she touched him, he felt marked, branded, as if she had him under a spell. He’d even been tempted to remove his shirt until one of her hands came too close to revealing more than he wanted.
“You’re wearing too many clothes,” she said when he’d removed all of her clothes and he stood before her fully dressed.
“You are so beautiful,” he said. “I can’t wait to taste you. Get on the bed.”
She obeyed his command, and he watched her ass wiggle as she moved to the middle of the bed and lay with her knees open wide. His hard cock pressed against his zipper and he could feel the metal teeth trying to take a bite out of him through his boxers. He had to get inside of her fast before he embarrassed himself. It had been a long time since he’d been with a woman he wanted as much as he wanted Caroline.
He crawled in between her legs and swiped his tongue around her wet hole and then licked her clit. She moaned, arched her back, and threaded her fingers through his hair. He repeated the action several times, loving every sound he coaxed from her. When she tried to pull him closer, he jabbed his tongue inside her pussy.
The sound of his name on her lips caused an electric current to race down his spine and his cock throbbed, begging for release.
He concentrated on pleasuring her first, and licked and sucked her sensitive flesh until she exploded beneath him. Her essence tasted divine and he continued to lick and suck up every drop as Caroline mewled, chanted his name, and ground her cunt into his face.
When she caught her breath, he kissed her inner thigh and pulled back.
“I love all the sexy noises you make,” he said, rolling her over. “On your hands and knees, honey.”
Caroline turned over and positioned herself on her forearms and knees. Behind her, he unfastened his shorts and pushed them and his boxers down. His cock sprang free, searching for its target and he pushed the head into her channel, and then surged forward and buried himself balls deep.
They both moaned in satisfaction.
“Shit, honey, you are so god damned tight. Your pussy feels like it was made for my cock.”
She flexed around him and he felt the familiar tingling at the base of his spine. He pulled back and slammed into her again. She was perfection and he was even more convinced they belonged together.
Over and over he slammed into her, his fingers gripping her hips, until he couldn’t take it anymore. She came a moment before him and when she screamed his name he pounded faster and harder until he roared his release.
Holy hell!
He’d never experienced anything so incredible and it took him a minute to catch his breath. She collapsed in front of him and he wanted to follow suit, but he didn’t want to squish her. He slowly pulled out of her warmth and tucked himself back into his pants.
He lay on his back beside her and pulled her limp body into the crook of his arm.
“You’re still dressed,” she said, sleepily.
“Yeah,” he laughed nervously. “You drive me crazy and I didn’t have enough time to get out of my clothes.”
“Not fair,” she frowned with her eyes closed. “Next time I get to kiss all of you.”
Her words scared the shit out of him, but he forced his body to relax. Minutes later, her deep breaths let him know she’d fallen asleep, but fear kept him awake.
As much as he wanted to, he couldn’t let her see all of him.
They couldn’t have sex again.
Chapter Four
Caroline sipped her coffee and looked out the window of the small café attached to the lobby of the hotel. A half-eaten muffin sat on a small plate in front of her, but she really wasn’t hungry.
When she’d woken up in Luke’s arms, she couldn’t think of any place she’d rather be. Her body ached from their love making the night before, but she savored the feeling. Sex with Luke had been off the charts compared to the other men she’d dated, and she relished in the fact that he might be the one.
She’d gotten dressed while he showered because he was already late for work, but she didn’t mind. All of her belongings were at the hotel, so it made sense for her to shower there anyway.
He’d walked her to her car, kissed her goodbye next to the driver’s side door, and stood in the street and waved as she drove away. It was only after she turned the corner, and he disappeared from her view, that she started to question the night before.
From the moment their lips touched for the first time, Luke had avoided her touch like the plague. He’d skillfully kept her hands manacled or stood far enough away that she’d had very little contact with his skin. When she would have forced the issue, he’d pleasured her until she’d been so blind with lust, she would have done anything he asked.
He’d even entered her from behind so he wouldn’t have to look at her while he took what he wanted. The final straw had been his clothes. He’d remained fully dressed while she stood there exposed to him, begging him to fuck her.
Shame swamped her.
Was she so desperate for a man’s touch that she would allow herself to be manipulated and used? How stupid could she be?
He knew she’d be leaving soon, and he’d created the perfect plan. Cozy up to the lonely, fat friend and have some fun with her before she had to go back to her normal, boring life.
He’s a fucking genius.
No, that’s not true.
Even though all the signs seemed to point in the same direction, she couldn’t believe them. From the moment she first laid eyes on Luke, they’d shared a connection she didn’t understand and couldn’t explain. While his behavior the night before had been odd when they were alone, she knew it hadn’t been a pity fuck.
He’d wanted her.
Despite his peculiar behavior, she felt certain their night together had been more than a fling. He hadn’t asked her out again, but the morning had been rushed. She decided to save herself the agony of waiting for his call and call him.
She looked up the number for the sandwich shop on her cell-phone and pressed the call button.
***
“He said no?” Bree asked. “Did he give a reason?”
“Basically, he’s just not interested.”
“You can’t be serious?” Dawn chimed in.
“I wish I wasn’t.”
Several hours later, Caroline, Bree and Dawn sat on the couch in her hotel room, each with a pint of ice cream in their grasp.
Both girls had had to work in the morning, and later, after lunch, she’d refused to answer her phone, hoping she could delay her embarrassment for another day.
Her best friends wouldn’t let her get away with it.
After she’d hung up with Luke, she’d gone back to her hotel and sulked until Bree and Dawn showed up with ice cream and lunch. They’d left the burgers on the counter and dug into the ice cream first as she shared, with very little detail, her night with Luke after the pool party, and then what happened later when she’d called him at work.
Though she was angry and hurt, she didn’t feel comfortable sharing the intimate details of their night together. She knew her friends would offer comfort and agree his behavior had been strange, but telling them seemed like a betrayal.
It wasn’t embarrassment that kept her mouth shut; it was her respect for Luke.
She didn’t want them to think any less of him than they already did.
“I’m so sorry,” Bree said. “God, the way he looked at you…I was so sure he was going to try and convince you to stay.”
“Yeah, I thought he was going to confess his undying love and ask you to be his mate,” Dawn added.
“Well, again, I think that would be a little too perfect,” Caroline laughed, “but, I agree about there being something different about him. If nothing else, I thought for sure I’d get a second date out of it.”
“He’s an idiot,” Bree said.
“Definitely,” said Dawn.
“You want us to boycott his shop?” Bree asked. “I’m not sure the guys will go for it, but there’s always take-out. Dawn and I will be happy to make them bring the food home to us.”
They all laughed at Bree’s half-hearted suggestion, and Caroline rolled her eyes.
“No, it’s too much of a sacrifice,” Caroline said in her best distraught voice. “I couldn’t ask you guys to give up sandwiches for me. The thought is too much to bear.”
She placed the back of her palm against her forehead and pretended to faint.
The three women continued their silliness until the ice cream was gone, and Luke’s rejection had lost most of its sting. Talking with her friends always put everything in perspective.
As much as she would have liked to have found a forever love, she knew her life held a different path. The great thing about being single was she could do what she wanted, when she wanted.
“I’m considering moving closer to Bear Canyon. What do you guys think?”
“What?”
“Really?”
Both girls sat up straight and shrieked in unison.
“I’d have to find a job first, and I know I still won’t get to see you guys that often, but…yeah. Nothing is holding me back home except for work, and I can do that almost anywhere.”
“That would be awesome,” Bree said.
“How soon?” Dawn asked.
“I’m not sure, but sometime within the next year.”
“That will give us plenty of time to find someone else to fix you up with,” Bree said.
“No,” Caroline held out a hand in front of each of them. “No fix-ups. You both have to promise. I’m just your crazy, fun single friend. When you have kids, I’m their favorite aunt. I’ll visit you guys as often as you want me, and share in your wonderful moments, but under no circumstances am I to be fixed-up.”
“But—”
“What about—”
“No circumstances!” Caroline barked. “Promise me.”
“I promise,” Dawn said.
She could see Bree’s mind working to find a loop-hole, but she ultimately agreed.
“Fine…I promise.”
“Good. Now I’m starving. Let’s get out of here and get some real food.”
Bree and Dawn called their husbands and Trent and Olive, and soon the seven of them were eating and laughing until the Italian restaurant closed the doors behind them.
Her old friends, and her new ones, made her laugh more than she had in a long time.
Moving closer to them was the right thing to do.
***
Luke placed the phone back in its cradle and sighed. With his hands on his hips, he closed his eyes, hung his head and took several deep breaths.
Caroline had reached out to him, called him at work, and he’d rejected her. She was independent, bold and brave and he was a coward that hid behind the past. As much as he wanted to share himself with her, he couldn’t bear to see her desire turn into something ugly.
It didn’t matter that her voice soothed him in a way he couldn’t explain, or that her soft body molded against his hard one in all the right places. She needed someone without the kind of baggage he carried around.
“So?” Lily asked from behind him.
The shop had been busy since their doors opened, and because he’d arrived late, they were backed up longer than usual. Lily should be out front helping, not following him around for gossip.
“So what?” he snarled.
“Hey! What’s wrong with you?” Lily asked. “Wasn’t that Caroline on the phone?”
“Yeah, it was,” he sighed.
His irritation kept him from turning around to see her. Even in their most desperate hour, when they were cold, and hungry and afraid, Lily had always been able to make him smile. Her friendly, easy going nature had been the one bright spot when they were kids, and he’d done his best to make sure she didn’t lose it when the world had stopped making sense.
“Well, didn’t she call to ask you out?”
“Yes, she did,” he said, turning around. “Look, I’d rather not talk about it. You need to get back out there.”
“Lucas Wellington, you lied to me!” she shrieked.
“Shh… Lower your voice. What are you talking about?”
He played dumb, but his sister was no fool, and he knew better.
“You know exactly what I’m talking about,” she snapped, just above a whisper. “You promised you’d try to find someone, and if you did you’d pursue her. Caroline is here, she’s wonderful and she’s really into you, yet you pushed her away and turned her down. Oh my gosh, that poor girl. Can you imagine what it felt like to get up her nerve to ask you out and then be rejected? You suck, brother.”
“You don’t know what you’re talking about,” he seethed.
She had a point, but he refused to be the bad guy. If anything, he was saving Caroline from a life of shame and embarrassment. When she found out about his past, she’d never look at him the same again.
“Yes, I do. I saw the way you looked at her. Hell, the whole shop saw it. You connected with her in a way most bears can only dream about, yet you refuse to claim her. What are you so afraid of?”
“I’m not afraid, I’m realistic,” he insisted.
“No, you’re not. Reality is admitting you’ve found someone awesome, who thinks you’re awesome in return. Fear is letting her go without giving her a chance to see all of you.”
“That’s easy for you to say,” he said, tracing the scar that ran from her eyebrow into her hairline, “but no man is going to turn you away because of this little mark. It’s hardly noticeable. Unfortunately, I don’t have that luxury.”
As soon as the words escaped, he regretted them.
Fucking asshole! What the hell!
Since when did he place his burdens on his sister? Or lash out at her because of their past? He’d done exactly what he’d never intended—made her feel guilty for his sacrifices.
Tears filled her eyes and she took a step back from him.
“Lily, I—”
“Don’t,” she said, putting her hand out to stop him. Her lower lip quivered, and a single tear escaped and rolled down her face. “You’re right to turn her away. You don’t deserve her. You’re letting our past shape your future, and it’s doing a horrible job. The brother I know would never hurt me on purpose.”
She ran into the bathroom and slammed the door. His hands tightened into fists and the urge to hit something made his muscles flex. As much as he knew he needed to get out front and help, he had to get out of there. He’d compensate his employees later.
Now he had to run.
He stomped out the backdoor and sprinted down the alley behind the line of shops on the main drag. He shifted into his bear form as he ran, grateful he didn’t have to undress to complete the change. He roared during the thirty second shift, his bear desperate to take over.
While his physical form would change, he’d still be himself on the inside. He was always aware of his surroundings, and his mind remained his own.
At the end of the alley, he crossed Main Street and ran toward the back wall of the canyon. Several acres of land had been sanctioned as off-limits for contractors and new residents, and there were plenty of rocks, trees and bushes for bears to…well, be bears.
A tiny stream trickled over a smooth bed of
rocks through the land, and he lowered his head for a gulp of water, and then rolled around on the rocks. The nature provided massage eased some of the tension in his shoulders, but he couldn’t let it all go. He’d acted inadequate toward Caroline, but he’d been horrible toward his sister.
Long buried feelings and fears resurfaced when he thought about what he’d done.
Is this the kind of man he was destined to become? Would he end up like his uncle? Violent, dependent on the bottle, and angry at the world? What about his children? Would he love them as his parents had loved him and Lily? Or would he terrorize them as his uncle had?
“You are not your uncle.”
Joe’s words from long ago replayed in his mind. There had been a time when he’d shared his fears with the man who had welcomed them into his home.
“You will never become him because your heart is too damn big. Lily would have never survived without you, and your mate and children will never fear you. A man filled with that much hate can’t hide it for long, and you have nothing to worry about. Mark my words, son. You are not your uncle, nor will you ever be him.”
The setting sun warmed his fur, and he huffed out a deep breath.
He knew the words were true. He didn’t want to live a life filled with fear and hate.
He wanted love, but would he be brave enough to claim it?
Chapter Five
One week later, Caroline, Bree and Dawn walked the short distance from her hotel to Well’s Sandwich Shop.
“Are you sure you want to eat there?” Dawn asked.
“I’m sure. It’s you guys’ favorite place and I’m not going to avoid it every time I come to visit. What if I move to the city? I can’t live that close to the best sandwiches around and not eat one from time to time.”
As she’d intended, they both laughed.
“Okay, if you’re sure,” Bree said, pulling the door to the shop open.
“I am, but you order for me,” Caroline said when she noticed Luke behind the counter. “Get me the special, I’ll find us a table.”