BEARing The Frozen Night (Ice Bear Shifters Book 1) (6 page)

As soon as they had shut the door behind them and removed their parkas and boots, Ryker let out a low growl and pushed Kenzie up against the wall, pressing his strong body and huge erection against her slender frame. His lips found hers, and Kenzie succumbed to the magnificent feeling of his tongue pushing into her mouth and dancing with her tongue. She swayed her hips back and forth against his groin, feeling his massive dick standing at attention, waiting for its chance to thrust into her. Ryker ripped his button-down flannel shirt off in one big movement, popping all the buttons and sending them scattering over the wooden floor of the tiny apartment. He pulled his arms out of the sleeves and then threw the shirt across the room. He wasted no time in reaching for Kenzie’s long sleeved navy sweater and pulling it over her arms and head. Kenzie thanked her lucky stars that she had worn a decent bra this morning. It was a black, lacy number that pushed her breasts together and showed off their round, supple shape. Ryker pulled her off the wall and started walking towards the couch, never letting his tongue leave her mouth. Kenzie moaned as he gently pushed her down on the couch and then unbuttoned the top button of her jeans. She reached up and returned the favor, unbuttoning his jeans and unzipping the fly as he straddled her. She grabbed the waistband and pushed the jeans down around his hips until they were past his thighs. His erection sprang free from underneath his boxers, and she reached to pull down the boxers as well. She wanted to see him.

Ryker slid off the couch for a moment and stepped completely free from his boxers and jeans. Then he slid Kenzie’s jeans and lacy black panties over her ankles and off her legs. Kenzie’s breath caught in her throat as Ryker stood before her, his entire muscular body in full view. His muscles were well-defined, and she loved the way his stomach muscles rippled with each breath he took. The lower down on his stomach that her eyes travelled, the more his muscles started curving down in a v-shape, until they finally pointed to a trail of fuzzy dark hair that led to his strong shaft, which stood at attention for her. She could feel moisture dripping between her legs as her body responded to the view of his massive manhood.

Ryker slowly slid back onto the couch, and kneeled over her with one knee straddling each side of her body. He reached down and slipped his hands behind her back, unclasping the bra and pulling it around. He pulled both straps over her arms and tossed the garment onto the growing pile of discarded clothes on the floor. Kenzie’s breasts felt full and alert, her nipples hardening and eagerly awaiting Ryker’s touch. Slowly, he bent over and used his tongue to circle first her left nipple, and then her right. Kenzie moaned as he began nibbling each nipple with his teeth, gently at first, and then with more and more pressure until Kenzie was arching her back and crying out in pleasure with each pinch of his teeth against the sensitive skin of her breasts. The space between her legs was slick with moisture, ready and waiting for Ryker to come inside and fill her. She wanted him to fill her, and she tried to push her pelvis up toward his groin. She wanted to feel that massive dick inside of her.

But Ryker smirked and pulled the tip of his dick just out of reach.

“Impatient, are we?” he breathed out as he leaned over and put his lips right next to her ear. “I think someone wants me,” he whispered, and his hot breath filled her ear, sending delightful tremors of anticipation through her body. He nibbled her earlobe, then moved around to her lips and began kissing her again. Kenzie could not have resisted his kisses even if she wanted to. His taste was intoxicating, and she closed her eyes with ecstasy as his tongue found its way into her mouth again. He moved his tongue back and forth with little thrusts, simulating the movement she was craving from another part of his body.

He didn’t make her wait much longer. With a measured, delicious movement, he pushed the tip of his penis against her entrance, then slowly, tantalizingly, slipped it down into her. The feeling was unlike anything Kenzie had ever experienced before. His massive shaft touched every centimeter of her insides, pushing against her internal walls with a delicious tension. The heat of desire coursed through her body. Kenzie was burning up with the need for him to give her relief from the pressure his dick was causing in her body.

“Take me,” she cried out, thrusting her hips against him. “Take all of me!”

Ryker let out a low growl and then started thrusting. He jammed his hips against her, up and down, up and down. The motion caused him to continuously hit every nerve receptor inside of her, and she moaned and thrashed about under the intensity of it. And then, with an explosion of heat and tingling electricity, she found her release. She cried out in long, wild roars as her muscles pulsed in wave after wave of relief. The storm of desire that she had been feeling for Ryker for weeks finally detonated inside of her. She heard him bellow out with a howl of primal pleasure as he found his own relief, his body pouring itself into her in warm spasms. They both lay there panting for several moments, basking in the afterglow. Ryker rolled onto his side and let his back face the back of the couch so that his chest faced Kenzie. Even though Kenzie’s couch was wide, Ryker’s massive frame took almost the entire space. Ryker pulled Kenzie onto her side so that she faced him, and he kissed her lips softly.

“You’re amazing,” he whispered, and Kenzie noted to her surprise that his eyes were moist. It made her heart swell with love to see that a big, brawny man like Ryker had a sensitive side, too. A sensitive side that had feelings for her, no less. She sighed happily and snuggled into him, reveling in the feeling of his warm arms wrapped around her.

“You’re pretty incredible yourself,” she whispered back. For the first time since she had arrived in the untamed wilds of Alaska, she felt like she belonged. She pressed her face against his chest and breathed deeply, memorizing the way he felt and smelled. She wanted nothing more in that moment than to spend every night for the rest of her life lying like this in his arms.

She knew it was crazy to think that way after knowing him for such a short time. But she felt connected to him. She had been drawn to him since the first time she saw him, and now, after they had made their bodies one in a beautiful dance of passion, she couldn’t imagine ever wanting to be in anyone’s arms but his. She was his, and he was hers. She had never been one of those people who believed in soulmates, but something told her that the universe had somehow known that she and Ryker would find each other in this crazy, chaotic world. They were meant for each other.

Kenzie savored the feeling of her bearman’s strong arms around her as she drifted off to sleep.

* * *

Ryker sipped from his mug of tea as he watched Kenzie beginning to stir under the blanket from across the room. She had been sleeping for about an hour, and he had lain with her for a while. But, eventually, his thoughts had grown restless and he couldn’t stay still. Not wanting to wake her, he had slowly, carefully untangled himself from her and climbed off the couch. He found the makings for peppermint tea in her kitchen, and he had brewed a strong batch of it. Now, he sat with the steaming mug between his hands, contemplating what his next step should be.

It had been a little irresponsible for him to mate with Kenzie so quickly. Not because he didn’t care for her strongly enough, but because he cared
too
strongly. He had wanted her since the day he met her. Mating wasn’t a thing to be taken lightly by a bear. He knew humans often slept around for the fun of it. He almost envied their ability to do that. For him, sex meant something. It meant something deep. And sex with Kenzie had left him with a wave of feelings stronger than he had ever felt before. He had heard the legends that when you found the one you were truly supposed to be with, you would know. That the bond would be final, and unbreakable. Ryker knew that’s what he had felt in the moments when he and Kenzie were consummating their relationship.

He had never expected his eternal bond to be forged with a mate who was fully human, but, for him, this was it. Either Kenzie felt as strongly about him as he did about her, and would stay with him forever, or Ryker would spend the rest of his life alone. After Kenzie, there could never be another. She was, and always would be, his everything.

Kenzie woke fully and sat up on the couch, looking over at Ryker.

“Hey,” she said softly.

“Hey,” he replied, taking in her raw beauty. She didn’t have makeup on, as far as he could tell. He didn’t think he’d ever seen her wearing any. But her skin was naturally smooth and beautiful, glowing with youth and life. Her hair was mussed up from her nap, and their romp, but the disarray only made her sexier in his eyes.

“I guess I fell asleep,” she said. “Sorry. It’s been a long day.”

Ryker smiled. “Don’t apologize. You needed the rest.”

“I don’t usually do this,” Kenzie said, sounding slightly embarrassed.

“Do what? Fall asleep after sex? Mate with a bear man? All of the above?” Ryker asked, his voice teasing.

“No, I meant I don’t normally sleep with a guy before I’ve even had a proper date with him. You’re pretty hard to resist.”

“So are you,” Ryker said.

“I guess I kind of threw caution to the wind there,” she said.

“Are you feeling guilty?” Ryker asked. “Because you shouldn’t. You should never feel guilty for giving in to feelings of love and passion. This world can be such a dark, lonely place. When you have the chance to snatch up a little light and beauty, you just have to grab onto it. You can’t stop to over think it, or to worry about whether anyone else will approve of your actions.”

Kenzie looked at him with wide eyes. “Wow. I’ve never heard anyone put it quite like that before. You’re so different from any guy I’ve ever been with. And not just because you randomly have this ability to change into a bear. Which I’m still trying to process, by the way. I still can’t believe that’s actually possible.”

Ryker shrugged. “I guess it’s strange to me that people always seem so surprised. It’s just normal for me.”

Ryker stood and poured a second mug of tea, then crossed the living room to hand it to Kenzie. He sat on the couch next to her holding his own mug, which was finally starting to cool down.

“So, I don’t mean to diminish the magic or spontaneity of the moment, but… where do we go from here?” Kenzie asked. “I mean, do you date?”

“Why wouldn’t I?”

“I don’t know. Because you’re a bear.”

Ryker threw his head back and laughed. “Yes, I date. I’ve never dated anyone fully human before, but I don’t think going out to grab a burger together is going to be that different just because you can’t morph into a bear.”

Kenzie shrugged and looked at Ryker sheepishly. Ryker took a deep breath and looked deep into her eyes. This was his chance. He needed to tell her how he felt. He was terrified that she was going to reject him, but he had no choice but to lay it all out there.

“Kenzie, listen, I need to tell you something. The last thing I want to do is scare you off, but I have to just lay this all out there or it’s going to eat me up inside.”

Kenzie laughed. “You already told me you’re a bear shifter. I’m not sure things could get any crazier than that.”

“I guess it depends on how you define crazy,” Ryker said, “Because I’m crazy in love with you. I know this is all happening really quickly, but I’m already convinced that you’re my soulmate.”

Ryker paused, but Kenzie merely widened her eyes and didn’t say anything, so Ryker continued.

“Bear shifters believe in the existence of soul mates. We believe that there is one perfect bear, or person, for everyone. Legend has it that once you mate with that person, a powerful bond is formed. That bond exists for the rest of your life. You are sealed together forever. You can never be with another.” Ryker took a deep breath and looked deep into Kenzie’s eyes. “Kenzie, when we made love, I felt that bond with you. You are, quite literally, my soulmate. I’m in love with you, and I want to spend the rest of my life with you. I know it might not make sense. I know it might take time for you to reach the same level of feeling as I have. But I hope that you will stay with me, and let me show you, every day, how much you mean to me and how special you are.”

Kenzie’s eyes started welling up with tears, and, though it was obvious she was trying to fight them, they spilled over her eyelids and down her cheeks. “Ryker. Oh, Ryker,” she said. Ryker didn’t know quite how to interpret her display of emotion, so he patiently waited for her to say more.

“I felt that bond, too.”

“You did?” Ryker asked, his heart leaping in his chest with joy. Was it really possible? Was he really lucky enough that Kenzie felt the same way that he did?

Kenzie nodded. “After we made love, I lay there looking at you, and I was overcome with the most intense feelings of devotion and love I’ve ever experienced. I didn’t even know this ‘bond’ phenomenon existed, but I felt it. I felt bonded to you. I knew you were my soulmate. I didn’t want to say anything, because I was afraid you would think I was crazy. But I knew we were connected on a deeper level. I knew we were meant to be together.”

Ryker set down his mug, and tears filled his eyes, too. “My beautiful Kenzie,” he said, and reached out to caress her cheek. He leaned in to kiss her, taking in the soft skin of her lips and the sweet taste of her mouth. He wanted to make love to her again, right then and there.