by Liv Brywood
In an attempt to appear nonchalant, she pranced over to him. He closed the distance between them and rubbed his furry cheek against hers. She purred and returned his affection. No matter how much she touched him, she craved more. She couldn’t get enough. Which was a huge problem considering he was leaving in two days.
She backed away and sat. He jerked his head to one side, as if to ask her to go with him. She dropped to all fours and followed him through the woods. As he picked up the pace, she matched it. They’d never been in bear form together, so she didn’t know what to expect from him.
Apparently his bear was just as playful as hers. He raced over logs and through a grove of Douglas firs. She chuffed and hurried after him. After crashing through a small huckleberry bush, she pulled up short and turned to nibble on the sweet fruit. Jack strolled up beside her and nudged her nose out of the way. She retaliated by pushing him to the side with her shoulder. When he chuffed and grinned, her heart melted.
After stripping the bush of most of its berries, she turned to find him on his hind legs. She matched his pose and walked forward until her front paws rested on his shoulders. She playfully opened her mouth as if to bite him. He chuffed and swatted her butt with one frisky paw.
As she pushed him over and pinned him to the ground, his back paws flailed. He could have gotten up had he wanted to, but he seemed to enjoy roughhousing. She grunted and rubbed her nose against his. In response, he bit her softly. She pulled back and opened her jaw. The more they mock fought, the more she fell in love with his bear. The creature had a playful side that made her realize how much she missed having fun.
The last few months had been filled with worry and fear, but in the last few days, he’d helped to replace the perpetual sense of foreboding with sheer joy. For that alone she’d never forget him.
After several more minutes of play, her stomach grumbled audibly. She froze mid-bite and sat back. Jack took the opportunity to pin her, after which he flashed a self-satisfied grin. She huffed and pushed him off before scrambling to her feet. She inclined her head toward the B&B. Dinner had probably been served an hour or more ago, but Madison kept insisting they could eat at any time.
Jack nodded. Shoulder to shoulder, they walked back toward the B&B. When they reached the back steps, she shifted. As he transformed back into his human shape, she raked her gaze across his body. A potent, feral quality accentuated his shift. If only she could somehow capture that in her art, she’d be satisfied with the piece. But so far, she hadn’t found a way to imbue the statue with the untamed quality she’d struggled to achieve.
Although she wasn’t sculpting an exact replica of him, he served as her inspiration. Maybe seeing him next to the statue would spark a fresh idea.
“Before we go to dinner,” she said. “I was wondering if I could show you what I’ve created so far.”
“Sure. Is it up in your room?” he asked.
“No. I moved the statue to the work area behind the barn this afternoon.”
“Oh.” He grinned. “I see what you’re doing.”
“What?”
“You just want me back in that hay loft.” He slid his hands around her waist. “Sweetie, I’m still picking hay out of my ass from last time. Why don’t we wait until after dinner and then we can roll around in a nice, soft bed.”
“No, silly,” she said. “My sculpture really is in the barn. I want you to see it.”
“Okay.” He reached for her hand and gently clasped it.
As they strolled toward the barn, her belly fluttered. A sudden rush of nervous energy swirled in her gut. Maybe he wouldn’t like it. Or worse, what if he hated it? She frowned as they turned the corner. Oh well, at least he’d be able to give her an unbiased opinion.
***
Jack’s jaw dropped as he spotted a four-foot-tall clay statue sitting on a cart near the barn door. The sculpture depicted a half-man, half-bear standing in a rushing river with a fish in its mouth. The illusion of movement took his breath away.
“It’s so realistic,” he said.
“I wanted it to feel wild, untamed.”
“You definitely achieve it.”
As he circled the piece, he moved closer to study the intricate details. Light and shadow gave the illusion of animation. On the bear half, each strand of fur melded into the next until they lay naturally, as if it really was a bear’s soft coat. In contrast, the man’s smooth muscles tensed with innate power as if he were ready to spring from the pedestal. Only a truly gifted artist could take a solid lump of clay and turn it into a masterpiece.
“It’s stunning,” he said. “The woman who’s paying you for this is getting her money’s worth. That’s for sure.”
“I didn’t like the transition between from man to bear. I think it’s too abrupt. It should be a seamless progression,” she said.
“I disagree,” he said. “The way you’ve captured the jagged break between domestication and wildness is compelling. It speaks to the feral, animalistic side of humans which lies just beneath the surface of civilized society. We like to think we’re not animals, but we are. You can see glimpses of it in the news when people snap and do horrific things to each other.”
“When I see things like mass murders, I think it comes from the evil in the human heart. Animals aren’t capable of that,” she said.
“You may want to read about warfare amongst chimpanzees,” he said. “When I was in Tanzania, I volunteered for a research organization that tracks the social interaction of chimps. They discovered that animals do separate themselves into factions and they’ll wage war against those who are not part of their group.”
“Really?” she asked.
“Yeah. I talked to one of the researchers who’d been studying them since the 1970s. She told me that she was initially horrified by the discovery, but over the years, she gradually accepted her observation. I think she was heartbroken by it.”
“I would be too,” she said.
“Anyway, I think you’ve really nailed the essence of what you’re trying to achieve. You should be proud of yourself.” He leaned in to brush his lips across hers. She returned the kiss briefly before breaking away.
“I was afraid I’d never get my creativity back,” she said.
“You did.”
“Thanks to you,” she whispered.
“What?”
“You inspired me.”
“As much as I want to take credit for being your muse,” he said, “it wasn’t me. I think you just needed time away from your life to de-stress. Once you calmed down, you were able to get to work.”
“It was more than that,” she said. “Being with you the last few days has… it’s changed me. It’s changed who I am. When I’m with you, I’m not afraid of anything.”
“I’d hope not,” he joked in an attempt to lighten the mood.
“You know what I mean,” she said.
“What you made came from a well of creativity you can tap into whenever you want,” he said. “You just have to take a breath and let your mind wander. I bet you have a ton of great ideas up there.”
He stroked the top of her head before trailing his fingers down her neck. The need to touch her consumed him. He cradled her face in his hands and kissed her until she leaned into him. Much better. She spent way too much time in her head. He loved being able to kiss her tension away.
As he slid his tongue between her lips, a deep longing stirred inside him. It was more than just simple lust. He wanted to be around to kiss her fears away, to hold her when she doubted herself, to help her get past her tendency to overanalyze everything. But to stay with her, he’d have to sacrifice his freedom.
His bear scoffed at the need to be free. The creature just wanted a mate and he was completely convinced she was the one. He couldn’t argue with the beast. After spending time with other women, he knew Sasha was different. Special.
He leaned his forehead against her and murmured, “What am I going to do with you?”
�
��I think we should celebrate,” she whispered.
“With dinner?” he asked.
“No, with dessert,” she said coyly.
“Your room or mine?”
“You decide.”
As she sauntered off toward the B&B, he couldn’t tear his gaze away from her swaying hips. If he did decide to stay and try to build a life with her, he’d be able to watch her sexy walk every day. He’d wake up to her gorgeous face and be able to spend every day with her for the rest of his life. Maybe giving up his freedom was a fair trade after all.
Chapter 7
Sasha lifted her shirt overhead as Jack kicked her bedroom door closed. He wasn’t wasting a second either. By the time she’d shimmied out of her panties, he’d already stripped. He pulled her into his arms and captured her mouth with his. The slow, sensual exploration of his lips weakened her knees. She backed toward the bed.
When the backs of her thighs touched the sheets, she fell back onto the bed. He didn’t miss a beat as he crashed onto the mattress with her. But instead of ravishing her with his lips and tongue, he began a slow, deliberate assault with his magical hands.
After half-covering her with his chest, he cupped one full breast in his hand before moving to the other. Her breath hitched. Her nipples tightened in response. And she looked up to find him gazing at her with sensual eyes the color of dark chocolate. She was drowning, being pulled under by a current completely out of her control. She surrendered to it. To him.
As he swirled his fingertips across her nipples, she arched into him, craving the pressure, the intensity of his touch. He slid lower. When his palm grazed her belly, she shivered in anticipation. A spark of arousal raced down to spiral around her clit. She raised her hips slightly, encouraging him to go even lower.
The teasing graze of his hand over her pussy incited a hunger that couldn’t be suppressed by anything less than his fingers. As he curved one finger across the top of her sex, she groaned. He slipped one skillful finger in to spread slick heat across her lips. Her thighs dropped as she opened for him. The slow advance and retreat had her trembling with unchecked desire.
When a second finger joined the first, she bit the inside of her cheek. She whimpered and squirmed against his chest.
“More,” she begged.
“Shh,” he whispered. “We have all the time in the world.”
She writhed in protest, pushing against him, drawing him deeper, urging him to move faster. He responded by cupping her pussy. With his fingers still buried inside, he leaned over to kiss her with gentle, feathery kisses that left her tingling. His mouth moved to the edge of her chin, the side of her neck, and down to her throat. The path continued lower until his teeth grazed one taut nipple. He closed over it, sucking it between his lips, nibbling the sensitive flesh around it.
She ached to explore every inch of his body, but she had to settle for what she could reach. His firm chest heaved as she brushed a palm over it. She scraped her nails across one nipple before flattening her palm over his heart. The thud of his pulse raced in time with hers.
When he reclaimed her with his fingers, she leaned up to bite his shoulder. He growled and covered her completely with his body. As he pushed her legs apart with his thighs, his rigid cock pressed against her. She undulated her hips against his, offering herself to him while silently pleading with him to take her.
But he didn’t.
Instead, he knelt between her legs and slid his hands under her thighs. Then he lay down and brushed his cheek against the inside of her thigh. She took the opportunity to memorize the way his choppy blond hair fell over his eyes when he leaned forward, the way his shoulder muscles rippled with strength as he propped up on his forearms. Each time they’d made love, she’d wondered if it would be the last time, so she’d done everything she could to burn the memories in her heart.
During the last week, she’d gradually fallen into his world. His carefree attitude translated into everything he did. Even now with his mouth drifting up her thigh, he took his time. He never rushed anything. She’d never met a man who could be so singularly focused on one thing at a time. He was so unlike her. Where she was scattered and frenzied, he was calm and collected. They were opposites in so many ways, but they complemented each other.
When the wet heat from his tongue met her molten core, her thoughts dissolved into sheer sensation. He licked her with probing strokes before lingering just outside her entrance. As he alternated between tasting her and swirling his tongue around her clit, she laced her fingers in his hair. She clung to him, as if she’d ever be able to keep him. She couldn’t tame him. She had no hope of ever knowing what it would be like to build a life with him, but she refused to accept the loss. He wasn’t gone yet.
In the depths of her soul, a cataclysmic event put a stranglehold on her heart. She was falling for him—hard. And she couldn’t do a damn thing to stop it.
“Jack,” she whispered.
“I’m busy,” he mumbled before flashing a rakish smile.
“I just…”
“Mm,” he hummed against her.
“Oh God.”
She dropped her head back against the bed as a surge of pressure coiled in her pussy. Every lap of his tantalizing tongue pushed her one step closer to the edge. She struggled to breathe as he coaxed her to the absolute brink.
And then he stopped.
“What…why did you stop?” She propped herself up on her forearms and blinked.
“I just wanted to see you when it happened.”
As he lowered his mouth to her, his gaze locked with hers. She’d never been so exposed, so vulnerable. She was spread wide and teetering on the precipice of ecstasy—and then she plummeted over the brink.
Long, undulating waves of pleasure rolled through her like thunder. She gasped, unable to squeak out even the faintest sound. The room faded. All she could see was him. His dreamy eyes, his self-satisfied smile. For as long as she lived, she’d never forget the expression of blissful satisfaction on his face. And she’d barely even touched him.
As she crashed back to earth, he crawled up to kiss her. The tangy sweetness of her juices mingled with his delectable masculine taste as their tongues melded against each other.
He nestled himself between her thighs, but she wanted something first. She pushed him onto his back and pinned his arms overhead.
“Now it’s my turn,” she murmured.
While she spread damp kisses across his mouth, her fingers walked across his chest, stroked the rippling muscles along his abs, then sifted through the coarse thatch of hair over his cock. When she wrapped her fingers around him, he sucked in a breath.
“God, woman. You’re going to kill me,” he whispered through clenched teeth.
“Maybe,” she murmured. “But you’ll enjoy it.”
He moaned and reached for her, but she pressed his hands back against the bed.
“Don’t move,” she whispered.
“Yes, ma’am.”
Her lips followed the trail set by her hands. When she reached his cock, she bypassed it to kiss the insides of his thighs.
“Oh now you’re just being a tease,” he groaned.
“You’re so impatient.”
“Only when it comes to you.”
She inhaled his earthy scent. The salty taste of his skin was intoxicating. She lingered over him. With the edges of her nails, she traced lines from the tops of his thighs to his knees. When he shivered, she dipped to kiss the tip of his cock.
His fingers tangled in her hair as she slid her tongue down the length of him. And when she nipped at the tip, he gasped. She swirled her tongue across the head before moving to slide him deep into her mouth. As she enslaved him with her lips, she sighed. She wanted to wring every last drop of pleasure from him so he’d never forget her.
After sucking and licking every inch of him, she found him staring at her with a look of wonder. She smiled and drew him into her mouth again, knowing she’d accomplished her mission. Good
luck trying to forget me now.
“I need you,” he whispered.
She crawled up to straddle him. More than ready, she eased onto him. He surged into her while capturing her hips with his hands. As she rode him slowly, he glided his hands up her ribs.
“You’re stunning,” he murmured. “Perfect.”
“You’re not so bad yourself.”
“You’re making this so hard for me,” he said.
“I know.”
“No.” He shook his head. “You don’t.”
She leaned forward and kissed him. She didn’t want to talk, not now. She didn’t want him making any promises that he had no intention of keeping. He wouldn’t know what he was saying and she couldn’t take the disappointment later. Her breath caught as a heavy weight bore down on her chest. She had to stop thinking about the future.
“Where are you?” he asked.
“Right here.”
“You’re doing it again,” he said.
“What?”
“Overthinking things.”
“I can’t help it,” she said.
“Just be in the moment with me. Just feel.”
He swirled his hips, blasting away her dark thoughts. She surrendered to him. Even if she was destined for heartbreak, she couldn’t stop the connection between them—it was too intense.
Pleasure rushed through her body. The intensity was too much. It overwhelmed her, sucked her into his world, a world of freedom and possibility and sheer ecstasy. She wrapped her arms and legs around him and held on as she plummeted into a state of total rapture. Something inside her broke. The rush of orgasm hit her harder than a bolt of lightning. She screamed as she shattered around him.
After one last rapid thrust, he exploded with her. His hips jerked as he filled her with his essence. His own strangled cries mingled with hers until she fell forward to smother him with her breasts. She tried to sit back, but her trembling arms failed her.
He gently guided her off of him and cradled her against him. As they lay panting, a sharp pain scarred her heart. She would lose this. She would lose him.