Beneath a Spring Moon (12 page)

He teased her tongue for long minutes while he pressed her body into the tree. He could feel the muscles in her arms and thighs contract in erratic movements, and he pushed deeper with each stroke in response.

"Damn you, Joseph!"

Her body shuddered with his new assault, making him smile against her lips. When she squeezed around him, he knew her release was imminent, and he prepared himself. "I'll make this official this time." It was hard to speak with so much delicious friction, but he managed to get the words out while he increased his pace and force.

He'd need to find his voice soon. There were important things that needed to be said, and he wouldn't waste another minute. There was no way to control his breathing, so he spoke between panted breaths. "I have … provided food… eli-m-mi-nated a rival…"

"Fuck, gonna come!" He needed to hold it, and there was only one way to do it. He let go of her leg and stepped back, slipping out of her scalding heat. His body protested, and Dara growled. He responded by turning her to face the tree trunk. When she looked over her shoulder, he entered her from behind and focused on three words. "Am I worthy?"

He watched her fingers dig into the tree while he reamed her. He gripped her hips and pulled her onto him. The softness of her round ass enticed him, and he reveled in the sensation of her cheeks as she crashed into him. The sight of her ass as it bounced stoked the flames of the inferno raging inside him, and he wanted more. "Am I worthy, Dara?"

"Jo-Jo-seph!" A red flush swam over the skin of her back, and her inner muscles spasmed around him. He could see the tree bark's imprint in her skin, those areas redder than the blush that took over her body.

Her orgasm wouldn't give him pause. He pushed harder and allowed her yelps to fuel his movements. "Answer me or I will fuck you until next hibernation!"

She screamed into the bark of the tree while her body creamed around him. She was wetter than ever. His thrusts produced a squishing sound with every advance, and he almost lost his concentration. "Am I?" Almost.

"Yes! Oh God, yes!" She continued to squeeze around him, and when her legs wobbled, he held her hips tighter.

"Do you choose me?" Five hard thrusts punctuated his sentence, and he closed his eyes.
Come on, Dara. This is fucking killing me!

"Y-yes!"

"Only me?"

"Only y-you, Joseph."

At those words he released her hips and pulled out. He turned her to face him and lifted her under her arms. He heard his pulse in his ears as he placed her back against the tree and slammed into her. She yelped again, and he pulled her legs around his waist and stepped back. He supported her weight and wrapped both arms around her before he tilted forward. "Say it." He held himself still inside her, the urge to plunder her depths nearly blinding him.

"I choose you, Joseph."

"Say it again." His arms and legs trembled as his body cried out for its release, but he'd wait just a little longer.
She's shaking too.

"I choose you, Jo…"

It was all he'd allow her to say before he rocked into her with thrusts that stole her breath and his sanity. His bear influenced him in that moment and he gave her everything bears were known for, power, strength, tenacity, and ferocity.

In no time, his balls tightened against his body, and his breath hitched. His growl was loud in his own ears, and he held her tight as he shot jets of his seed into her. Her muscles sucked and pulled at him, another sensation his body craved, and he released a soft moan in response.

Now that she'd agreed to be with him, he wouldn't have to mark her body with his seed to keep other males away. With her acceptance of him, she'd fight any other bear that got too close. The thought of this fact filled him with pride. The act of releasing into her body was a reminder of his new station.

When Dara began to go limp in his arms, he pulled himself free and cradled her to his body. Her eyelids fluttered as he carried her back to the cave, and she shivered in his grasp.

He lifted the top half of her body to his face, and inhaled near her neck before he placed her on the fur. She still smelled amazing, and just like before, he loved having her clothed in his scent.

She fell asleep after several moments, and he left the cave to retrieve the boar. He'd done his part to secure her. Now it was her turn.

Chapter 3

The Reality

Two days of bliss, interrupted by forced periods of unconsciousness had passed. Dara was sore in every muscle in her body. Even her eyelids ached, making her aware of how many times she blinked in a day. A smile spread her lips at the thought, and she nuzzled into Joseph's chest as he slept next to her.
I wouldn't have it any other way.

He'd shown his strength and his fitness to be her mate for the year, and boy, did he show his prowess as a lover. Her passage ached with the memory of their joining. A tiny shudder moved through her legs when she recalled how she squeezed them around his waist.

Another morning after, another day of getting closer to him, and she still couldn't get enough. He was her drug of choice, and with the advent of the season upon them, it seemed nature conspired to bring them together, offering perfect weather and plenty of prey.

She placed a light kiss on the center of his chest and attempted to wriggle free of his arms. He reacted as she expected; he tightened his grip and groaned.

"I need to use the bathroom."

He didn't open his eyes, but he did release her. She got to her feet and stepped over him. She wasn't a foot away before she felt and heard a slap on her ass. "Damn it, you scared the shit out of me!" She jumped a full foot off the ground and held her sore cheek with her hands. When he chuckled, she rolled her eyes before she shifted and left the cave.

"Don't be too long. I've got plans for you."

Her blood raced through her veins at those words, and she hurried to do her business.

The sun shone bright in the clear blue sky and she shifted to revel in the rays on her bare skin. She wanted to get back to the cave, but this was a rare, quiet moment, and she decided to make the most of it.

When she spotted a felled tree, she sat on its soft, moss-covered surface. The world was coming to life all around her, and when she thought about it, so was she. Her senses were more acute, her body more pliable, and her endurance increased as well.

She looked around at the trees, and she smiled with pride at the markings on some of the trunks. Joseph's scratches were clear, but she'd added her own next to his. This was
their
territory, at least for now, and the dual marks sent the message for all to see.

She was ready to head back when she caught a scent on the breeze. Her bear came forward in no time, and she bounded toward the smell. An intruder, and she wasn't about to allow a stranger into her area.

The forest and underbrush blurred around her as she reached her top speed, and when she spotted the male, she ran toward him.
Get the hell out!
She curled her lips and showed her teeth, the only warning she'd give.

The male ran at her, but she held her ground and watched him stop short of her snout. She thrust her paws into the ground before she moved forward, and looking on as he back tracked.
That's right, be smart.
Male bears may be larger, but the females are known for killing them.

He stretched his neck and flared his nostrils, and she lunged at him in response.
Not interested, buddy. Just move along.
When he lingered, she reared up on her hind legs. When he did the same, she landed several blows to his muzzle.

The male turned and moved off, but she chased him just to make sure he left the area.
You made the right choice. Now stay the hell out!
She watched after him until he disappeared over the horizon. When she was satisfied he was well and truly gone, she headed back to the cave.

* * * *

After a quick dip in the stream, Dara made her way inside the dark cave and took a deep breath. The smell of their lovemaking filled the air—each gulp of air a trip down memory lane. She took in deep breaths, and as she did, her nipples hardened and her juices began to flow.

"Bathroom, huh?"

"I had to drive off a…" When she rounded the corner she found Joseph on his back. His erection was obvious, but what gave her pause was the way he gripped and stroked himself.

"I've been waiting for you."

She was hypnotized by the way he pumped his hand. Her mouth fell open as he swirled his precum over his head with his thumb. Her senses were already engaged by the scent in the air. The sight in front of her was enough to make her heart thump against the inside of her chest.

"Come here."

She swore she felt the vibrations of his voice in her breasts, and she walked toward him as if she was pulled by a leash. When she was close enough, he took her hand in his and pulled her down to her knees. He repositioned her so she straddled his face, and he narrowed his eyes before he pulled her down to his mouth.

She released a long breath as he traced her delta with his tongue, and her clit pulsed and throbbed with want. She tried to move her hips, but he held her in a vice-like grip, and growled into her.
Guess not.
When he dragged his teeth along her lower lips and nibbled at her, she abandoned her struggle and gave into to the pleasure of his ministrations.

She wouldn't be able to contain her moans if she tried, and she luxuriated in his touches. When he licked a long line through her folds, he continued to avoid her nerve bundle and she swore under her breath. "Quit fucking teasing me."

She knew he'd hear it, and she didn't care. She wanted more, and as he licked and nipped her sex, she got more. In fact, by the time he stilled his tongue, he had pushed her so high she was happy he avoided her most sensitive spot. Her fingers gripped his hair, and she pulled his mouth hard against her. Her thighs quivered, and her breaths were inconsistent. She needed to keep him still or she'd go crazy. "I'm going to come!"

"I know."

In a flash, her entire world dissolved into a sea of white, her body paralyzed. Joseph's teeth closed down on the sensitive skin between both openings, and he inserted his thumbs into both holes when he bit down. He moved his thick digits in circles, and filled her with sensations she had no name for. She couldn't scream, and she couldn't move. Her orgasm robbed her of control, and even her sight was a victim.

She started to sway, but her muscles remained locked, her mouth in a large O. She registered the feeling of the fur beneath her back, and when her sight returned, Joseph's face filled her field of vision. She blinked a few times and stared up at him, still unable to speak.

"You're not done." He pushed into her with force, and the white flash returned, only this time for a much shorter duration.

His movements were merciless and the urge to cry out strong. But she couldn't—her voice hadn't returned from her first orgasm—and as he pummeled her into the next one, she needed to scream. She wanted him to
know
, but the best she could muster was a hoarse whisper.

It felt like her body had started to dissolve as her next orgasm flowed through her. This time was different. He wasn't just fucking her; she was being reborn for the year. She gripped his shoulders and tried to hold on.

Her bear came forward just enough to stabilize her, and she bit into his shoulder. His thrusts became even more powerful, and her mind swam in a thick stew of ecstasy. With her bear's help, she found her voice, and she keened into the confines of the cave.

He held her captive to her bliss for endless minutes until she felt as if she would slip into delirium any moment.
He knows just how to do me in.

Their days in the cave were numbered, and they both knew it. They made the most of their time together, and as they performed their lustful dance, they allowed themselves to forget for a while. Soon enough they'd have to return to the village with the others and plant crops and tend their fields. But for now, they could give into their nature.

Joseph released a tortured grunt when he came, and he shuddered over Dara's body. She felt his thick fluid spurt inside her. When the sensation stopped, she pulled him down onto her chest.

"Another year together." He breathed the words into the skin of her neck and ran a hand into her hair.

"You managed to prove yourself again, but you might not be so lucky next year." She laughed when he growled, but his discontent was short-lived and he joined in.

"I'll never stop coming for you, you know that." He pulled his head back and stared at her with those honey-colored eyes. She felt the same rush in that moment as she did the first time she saw them. But that was twenty years ago.
He hasn't changed—he's still the man I married all those years ago.

Despite being husband and wife, their bears demanded they follow a yearly ritual. Bears don't mate for life, so each year, the males have to prove themselves worthy of the female or she'd reject them. Any sign of weakness would be their undoing.

He kissed her deeply before he pulled back and smiled. He asked the same question he did after each hibernation since they'd wed. "Will you be my wife for another year, Mrs. Grayson?"

She flicked her tongue against the tip of his nose and smiled. "Give me another reason to say yes, Mr. Grayson."

The End

Publisher’s Note

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About Nulli Para Ora

Nulli Para Ora is a romance author who writes in multiple genres. A lover of languages, anime, martial arts, video games, nature, and music, Nulli pulls inspiration from the profound to the mundane.

Whether it’s crafting a new realm, an alien planet, a new species, or an alternate reality, you can always count on twists and turns in Nulli's tales. Love can be irrational, undeniable, blissful, and sometimes frustrating, but it's also universal, binding hearts across cultures and time.