Bewitching The Bear

by Vanessa Devereaux

  He rolled off of her and she turned to face him, ready for them to snuggle.

  “I’m going to ride my bike,” he said.

  Did he see the disappointment on her face? She wanted to cry. Not that she thought he didn’t want to cuddle with her but she knew what was bothering him. She’d been warned.

  “Oh Cade, this is torture for you.”

  “The bike ride will take the edge off. Everything is going to be okay.”

  She watched him walk away.

  Gillian turned on her back and looked up at the ceiling.

  This wasn’t going to work. She had to do something, but what?

  *****

  Cade drive into the night, the bike’s headlights catching the eyes of a wolf. Not a shifter but a real one. He took off, Cade envying his freedom as he did so.

  He brought the bike to a halt.

  The heavily wooded area was to the left. The moon shone through the limbs of the trees. There was a crisp feel to the night. It was almost like nature had gotten together to taunt him. It was a perfect night to shift and run. The wind blew just as that thought passed through his mind.

  Yeah, taunt me some more, why don’t you.

  He lifted his nose in the air. More wolves were in the area and one howled. Others quickly joined in.

  Two appeared in an opening in the woods and stood on the hill above him, watching him. He glared back, for one crazy minute, wondering if Matilda had sent them to watch him, make sure he didn’t break the deal and shift.

  He tried to stare them down but neither of them yielded.

  Perhaps one was Matilda. Witches could probably shape shift. Strange if she’d chosen a wolf, he would think cougar with its sharp claws would be more appropriate for her.

  The wolves howled in the distance again, two on the hill answering the call before taking off.

  His mind was going in strange directions and he guessed that was one of the side effects of not shifting.

  He sat down on the ground. He’d soon be an overweight headcase with the inability to please his wife.

  This wasn’t working but he couldn’t tell Gillian. He loved her and she was his mate but he had to keep this from her at all costs.

  He had no alternative but to try the pregnant shifters’ group.

  Back to Top

  Chapter 26

  Six pregnant shifters all in one room.

  He recognized Maisie who was sitting knitting what looked like a pair of baby booties.

  “Come sit yourself down,” she told him. “I have some extra wool and knitting needles.”

  “I think I’ll pass.”

  “Oh, come on, just think of all our babies wearing clothing made by Uncle Cade,” said Linnie.

  Cade sat. “I brought you some huckleberry scones made by Gillian.”

  “Oh, I love those, we love Gillian too. Great choice of mate by the way,” said Maisie.

  “I think so too,” said Cade, opening the container with the goodies tucked inside.

  “So, how can we help you?” asked Linnie.

  “I want to know how you’ve managed not to shift for what, close to six months,” said Cade, pointing to Linnie’s belly.

  “Almost six and a half, this baby girl is due to arrive next week. I guess I’ve focused on the baby, getting the nursery ready, going out on the town with Mickey while we still can without having to find babysitters.”

  “That’s what you could do,” said Maisie. “Get Gillian pregnant and then you’d have something to focus on. Plus, she probably wouldn’t be in the mood for sex during the first three months….”

  “But then she’ll be as horny as hell and he’ll be in worse shape,” said Linnie.

  The other shifters all agreed.

  “I tired Mickey out. He’s more than happy that my hormones have finally leveled out.”

  “How about you rubbing our feet while we eat the scones,” suggested Maisie.

  “There’s only one woman’s feet who I’m going to rub and that’s Gillian.”

  “Have you decided how many children you’re going to have?” asked Linnie.

  “Three. Two boys and a girl.”

  “I’m glad we could choose. I mean Cole asked us what we wanted and I’ve always wanted a girl,” said Mabel.

  “We decided not to pick and leave it up to Cole,” said Maisie. “I know Luke wants a girl,” said Maisie.

  “Mickey wants a girl too.”

  “Cougar girl babies are so cute,” said Maisie. “Oh, baby’s moving again, here Cade, feel.”

  Before he could decline, she’d grabbed his hand and placed it her belly. Sure-enough the baby was moving around like it was getting more comfortable.

  “Oh, you’re never going to believe this,” said Linnie. “My water just broke. One of you will need to drive me to the clinic because I’ve just had a huge contraction.”

  Cade sighed. This was turning into quite the event. And on the plus side, he hadn’t thought about shifting.

  *****

  “How was the pregnant shifter group meeting?” Gillian asked Cade.

  “There will be one less member next meeting.”

  “So you didn’t like it?” asked Gillian.

  “Not me, Linnie, she went into labor and they took her to the shifter clinic.”

  “How exciting…I mean she’s about to have a baby. So apart from that, how did things go?”

  “Okay, I guess. Maisie wanted to know if you’d like to take over the actual co-running of Downward Facing Wolf while she’s on maternity leave. She’ll be leaving next week because Cole wants her to go on bedrest before the birth.”

  “That sounds great. I mean it’s extra money for the wedding and our dream house.”

  “Which reminds me, we’re having dinner with my brother and Eve tomorrow night.”

  “I’ll call Eve to see if she needs me to bring anything. I can’t wait to see their new home.”

  *****

  “I already like the look of this place,” said Gillian, as she and Cade stood on the doorstep of Ian and Eve’s new house in Whitefish.

  Eve answered the door and the smell of steaks grilling drifted toward them.

  “Come in, and let me take your jackets,” said Eve.

  Cade handed her the bottle of wine he and Gillian had brought along.

  “Your brother is out on the deck if you want to head out there, and my future sister-in-law and I can chat while we get the rest of the meal put together,” Eve told them.

  Cade left the women in the kitchen while he opened the sliding glass door and headed out to the grill where his brother was turning four big juicy steaks that made his mouth water just by looking at them.

  “Hey you,” said Ian, turning around. “You want to grab yourself a beer over there.”

  “You read my mind.”

  Cade took the can and opened it and took a long sip. He’d always relied on his big brother for advice, well him and Charlie. He glanced in the kitchen to make sure Eve and Gillian weren’t going to head out anytime soon. They looked like they were deep in conversation as they chopped tomatoes and cucumbers.

  Cade sat on the chair beside the grill and looked up at his brother. “Can we talk? In fact, I don’t know who else to talk to about my predicament.”

  “Predicament?” asked Ian, putting the lid down on the grill.

  “Not being able to shift.”

  Ian sat down beside him and slapped him on the knee.

  “I bet it’s as tough as hell. To be honest, I couldn’t do it.”

  “I don’t think I can either. I don’t want Gillian to know. I need a way to deal with it.”

  “Is it a head or a body thing?”

  “Both,” said Cade looking in the window at Gillian and Eve laughing about something.

  “Post sex is a nightmare. Last night I couldn’t enjoy making love with Gillian because all I could think about was when I came, I’d need to shift and run. It kills the whole having sex with your mate thing.”
<
br />   “I’m so sorry, Cade. You’re sacrificing a lot for Gillian and for the group and I’m proud of you. You need to talk to Gillian and tell her what’s going on. Every good relationship needs honesty between its partners.”

  Ian stood and put the steaks on a large platter. “Let’s go in and see what the ladies are up to.”

  He followed his brother into the kitchen where Gillian and Eve were placing baked potatoes in a bowl.

  “Let’s go and eat and then I’ll show you guys around the house,” said Ian.

  *****

  “This is the room I have planned for the nursery,” said Eve.

  “Eve, are you pregnant?” asked Gillian, thinking she’d be an instant aunt. Nothing like training for being a mom herself.

  “We’re hoping we are,” said Eve, crossing her fingers.

  “It’s been tough work for me every night,” said Ian.

  Eve slapped his arm.

  “I really like the layout of this place,” said Gillian. “Cade, what you think?”

  She looked at him, he was miles away, he’d been quiet all through their meal.

  “What?” he finally asked.

  “The house. I like the layout, it’s a beautiful setting out here in the woods.”

  “We bought it through Brady Walsh’s company. It’s his construction company, well, him and his new partner,” said Ian.

  “He gave us a great deal and I know he’ll give you the same one,” said Eve.

  “I think I’ll give him a call,” said Gillian. “It would be great if we could get all moved in to someplace before the wedding. Oh, which by the way, is going to be Dec 21st.”

  “Winter Solstice,” said Eve. “I read in one of my wedding magazines that’s supposed to be good luck especially if it’s an evening wedding. In fact, let me try and find that magazine because it had ideas for décor for winter weddings too.”

  “Looks like this is going to cost you a fortune,” said Ian, slapping Cade on the back.

  “What, what is?” asked Cade.

  Gillian looked at Cade. He hadn’t listened to a word. She was pretty sure he hadn’t realized they’d even set a wedding date.

  They’d need a long talk as soon as they got home.

  *****

  She’d done her best to try and talk to Cade but now he was taking off her clothes, kissing the side of her neck and caressing her nipples.

  On the drive home, it was almost like he’d snapped out of the funk he’d be in during their dinner with Ian and Eve.

  She turned around and put her arms around him.

  “Have I told you how much I love you and can’t wait until December 21st.”

  “So, you were paying attention earlier tonight,” she told him.

  He kissed her. “Heard every word.”

  Maybe she’d been worrying about nothing. Gillian ran her hands down the front of Cade’s jeans and slowly unzipped them.

  “Did I tell you I’m now in charge of birth control so you don’t need to wear a condom.”

  “This is getting even better,” said Cade, pushing her down on the bed.

  He lifted her legs and then parted them.

  “Like what you see?” she asked him.

  “I love what I see.”

  He took off his jeans, boxers, threw them to the side of the room and then got on the bed between her legs. He ran his hands up and down her thighs before cupping her mound. Then slowly, ever so slowly, he ran his finger around her opening before spreading her labia.

  She closed her eyes, enjoying the way he used the end of his shaft to tickle the very opening of her pussy.

  “Oh yeah,” were the words that slipped from her lips as he entered her.

  He kissed the very tip of her nose as he began to thrust inside her. Gillian pulled her legs up, wrapping them tightly around his butt, feeling him slip deeper inside.

  Having sex with Cade had always been magical but tonight she felt something special happening between them. He stopped thrusting and did his special cock pulsing rhythm that as usual began to drive her over the edge. She dug her nails into his skin and cried out as the first orgasm hit.

  “That’s it, baby, enjoy it because I’ve got lots more for you tonight.”

  He began thrusting again, quickly bringing about another orgasm. They kissed and she bit his lip as his cock pulsed inside her again.

  It was almost too much, almost driving her crazy, one orgasm after another.

  He thrust hard, having to hold on to her because they were actually moving the bed.

  She cried out again, pretty sure she’d woken up the whole neighborhood. Something had certainly gotten into him tonight. Maybe he was celebrating not having to wear a condom. Maybe there was a full moon.

  Cade’s groan was deep and throaty as he shouted Gillian’s name and then found his release.

  Yeah, something was happening. She felt it and sensed it. He stayed inside her as they kissed, feeling the warmth of his release travel inside her. They kissed again. She closed her eyes and felt him find his own release once more.

  “Wow, I guess you really enjoyed that,” she told him.

  “Like never before.”

  He pulled out of her and stayed beside her this time. Gillian snuggled into him, thinking and hoping he was finally dealing with the whole not shifting thing.

  “Do you have any problem with me going riding on my bike after we make love…I mean instead of shifting? I thought it might be a great stand in for me.”

  “Cade, I think that’s a brilliant idea. Only someone as smart as you would have thought of that.”

  “I will see you shortly, keep the bed warm for me.”

  She watched his cute bear ass as he walked out of the room.

  Well, that was a relief, he seemed back to his usual cheery Cade self.

  Problem averted.

  Back to Top

  Chapter 27

  He’d told her he was going for a bike ride and that had been his intent. He thought he’d found the perfect solution to his problem but now he was out in the wild, feeling the aftermath of having sex with his mate, the urge was unbearable.

  He got off his bike and headed to the woods. This had always been one of his favorite spots to shift.

  As he walked, he took off his jacket. There was no way that Matilda would know that he’d shifted in this remote spot. Even a witch couldn’t know about everything going on in the world every second of the day.

  He entered the woods, took off his jeans and then his boxers.

  It was damn cold and he’d shift as soon as he could. Been such a long time, that he guessed his bones and muscles would hurt for a few days just like the first time he’d shifted in his coming of age ceremony.

  He grimaced as his hands and feet turned to paws, the bear fur beginning to appear and warm him.

  Cade took off at full speed, wishing his brothers and buddies were with him but that was something that could never happen again. Shifting solo was about it and he was lucky to be doing even that.

  It felt so good to be a bear running at full speed.

  Each time they made love, he’d simply tell his wife that he was going out on his bike but he’d come here away from the world. He hated lying to Gillian, but he knew she’d understand.

  He arrived back where he started, hearing and seeing an owl sitting on the branch above his clothes. As he shifted back, it gave a loud hoot and flew away.

  “Goodnight to you too,” said Cade.

  He was looking forward to that warm bed and snuggling next to Gillian all night.

  Yeah, life was near damn perfect right now.

  *****

  Cade had continued to tell Gillian about the monthly event where all the shifters gathered outside to star gaze and look at the spot where they believed their former planet used to exist. Up till now, she’d felt reluctant to tag along, fearing she’d seem out of place. Now that they were engaged, and she’d gotten to know many in the shifter community, she decided, this month,
she was going to attend and make it a tradition. When they arrived, she couldn’t believe how big the shifter community actually was. She was guessing there were close to 250 of them gathered tonight, and she knew lots of them couldn’t make the event this time, including Maisie who just that afternoon had given birth to a boy.

  She heard music playing and food sizzling on the grill. Kids playing, people laughing and talking.

  It made her feel confident that she’d made the decision to give up being leader. These shifters loved their home and community and that’s all that mattered. Even Aunt Louise was attending with Eddie. Those two were getting very close and she sensed marriage in their future.

  “We’re getting ready to do our star gazing,” Cade told her as he put his hand on the small of her back. She walked with him where the telescopes had been set up.

  “Look through here and see the gap between those two stars, that’s where our planet used to be.”

  Cade sounded excited but yet sad.

  She couldn’t believe that she was going to the wife of someone who came from another planet. He’d probably never thought he’d marry a witch. He wrapped his arms around her and kissed the side of her face, squeezing her and pulling her body into his. She’d never felt so happy in all her life.

  “Well, well, well, would you look at this gathering of freaks.”

  Gillian’s blood ran cold, her heart almost stopped beating. She recognized the woman’s voice. There was no mistaking that it was her sister. What was she doing here? How dare she come here and disturb this peaceful gathering.

  Gillian turned around as the laughing and talking abruptly stopped.

  “What are you doing here?” Gillian asked, taking two large strides over to Matilda.

  “That’s no way to greet your sibling. You need to take a note from these shifters. They love family, love community. Such a shame they have to break up and disperse into all areas of the country.”

  “We had a deal,” Gillian said, wondering if she’d been foolish to believe that her sister would keep her end of the bargain.