Bound To Her Bear (Bear Bluff Clan 1) (5 page)

“No, we are not mates,” he agreed.” I only want you to see how special you are.”

“Well, this special person needs food. So, steak is good here?” she asked lightly, looking out of the window to hide her confusion.

Thankfully, he let it go, got out of the car, and came around to help her out. His warm hand holding hers sending tingles through her body. As she got to her feet, she stumbled forward and he caught her. She honestly hadn’t done it on purpose, but she had to admit the press of her body against his was electrifying. To such an extent that she pulled herself back away from him as if she had received a shock.

He didn’t react. Whether he was pretending not to have felt anything, or whether he actually hadn’t, she didn’t know. But if they were going to get through this evening with no awkwardness, she had to ignore it too. Still when he took her hand and led her into the restaurant, she wondered if her appetite would return. Because, at the moment, her hunger was replaced by butterflies filling her stomach.

Inside, they were seated in a quiet corner; the look the waiter gave them made it plain he thought they were here for a romantic meal. Neither of them corrected him. As they ordered, the easiness between them returned and she could almost believe they were more than just friends.

“You were right, this is good,” Drew said as she took her first bite of her tender steak.

“I bought my mom here a couple of weeks ago.”

“How is she?”

“Thinking of learning to drive,” he said with a hint of disapproval.

“And what’s wrong with that?”

“She tried to learn before. I vividly remember being in the car with her and thinking we were going to die.”

She giggled. “I always thought your mom was like superwoman and could do anything.”

“Then driving is her Achilles heel.” He took a drink and then said, “I only hope she doesn’t expect me to teach her.”

“My dad taught me to drive. He’s very patient. Maybe I’ll ask him to teach your mom.”

“Are you saying I’m not very patient?”

“I don’t think I know you well enough to make that judgement.”

“Then I hope we can both spare the time to change that. This is the most relaxed I’ve felt for months.”

Inwardly she glowed; outwardly, she kept her eyes fixed firmly on her plate. She put every bit of her concentration into cutting up her meat, putting it in her mouth, and chewing it. Swallowing was the difficult bit because her throat had constricted in her desire for him. Damn, if this was how lust felt, she never wanted to find out what it was like to be joined by the mating bond. Her sympathy for her father grew. And she promised herself to avoid finding her mate at all costs. Instead, she could have some fun with Eirik, perhaps.

If she wasn’t wrong, he had an itch that needed a scratch. And perhaps in his capable hands, she could learn to satisfy this craving she was starting to have for him. Taking a sip of her soda, she had decided not to drink alcohol; she needed a clear head. Drew mused over what it would be like to be with a man. Was Eirik experienced? She knew he would look after her and make everything alright. He had grown up into the type of guy any girl would want. Kind, considerate, and caring. Not to mention handsome, toned, and very, very fit.

Was it his imagination or did she glow? Watching her as she ate, seeing the way the colour rose in her cheeks, made him want her more than he had ever wanted a woman in his whole life. Why couldn’t she be his mate? Instead, he had to fight with his conscience. Did he really want to sleep with her, have sex with her, and then move on when his mate turned up?

The question was right there in the tightness of his pants. Yes, he most certainly did.

Their conversation lapsed; he figured she was having similar thoughts. Damn, he wanted to reach across the table and hold her hand. No. He wanted to reach across the table, pull her to him, and fuck her right here and now.

He shifted uncomfortably in his seat. In truth, he should go to the bathroom and splash cold water on his face and the rest of him. Was it hot in here, or were those the flames of desire licking at his stomach and spreading heat through his body?

Coughing, he looked up at her and smiled. “Some night, huh?”

“I’ve enjoyed it.”

“Really?” He thought he had probably frightened her off. “You can probably tell I’m not used to taking women out.”

“Who aren’t your mother?”

“Yes. Who aren’t my mother.”

She smiled and his heart flipped; his pants also grew tighter, if that was possible. He didn’t know how he was ever going to leave the table to take her home. He was fit to burst out of his pants any moment now.

“Another drink?” he asked.

“No. I don’t think I shouldn’t be too long. I’m worried my dad might be boring your mom, or breaking down in tears. I’d hate for him to fall off the wagon.”

“She’s good at listening to people and their problems. She listens to me enough. Especially about my work.”

“And how is work?” Drew asked.

“Slow. But I’m learning to enjoy it. The only problem I have is that I have to run everything by Stuart before I make changes.”

“And you would like a bit more responsibility?”

He drained his soda, wishing he had ordered a beer instead, but he was driving and didn’t want to risk his licence. If he was driving, he operated under a no-drink rule. “I never thought about it. But yes. Funny, I thought I hated responsibility, now I want to be my own man. Make my own mark on the Clan.”

“And you’ve told Stuart this?”

“God, no!”

“Why not? This is your role, you should be able to make decisions.”

He chuckled. “It’s because every time I speak to him and sit on the council I feel like a child. These men have been running the Clan for as long as I can remember. It feels wrong for me to be there.”

“I don’t think you have anything to worry about. They need some new blood on the council. Just think how grateful Freyja will be, to find you there to help her when her time comes. It’s better that you learn the ropes now.”

“You make it sound so easy,” he said. “And so plausible. But I doubt Stuart will go for it.”

“Why don’t you ask him?” She grinned mischievously. “Or do you want me to come with you and hold your hand?”

He couldn’t help himself, this time he did actually reach across and take her hand. Turning it over, he stroked her palm with his thumb. “I think if you held my hand, I could do anything.”

She burst out laughing. “That is the corniest chat-up line I have ever heard.”

Pulling his hand away, he sat back in his chair. “I’m sorry, I misjudged the moment. Shall I get the bill?”

Cursing herself, she waited for the waitress to bring the bill. Why hadn’t she simply let him hold her hand? Because she wanted more. And that scared her.

Now they sat in silence, their easy friendship seemingly in tatters. It was no good, despite how much she wanted to spend time with him; she would have to say no. Or open herself up to those deep desires that lay inside of both of them.

“Here, I’ll pay my half,” she said opening her purse.

“No, it’s my treat.”

“I can’t; it’s not like this is a date,” she said. Why did she insist on making things worse between them?

“Listen, Drew, I invited you here. Let it be my treat, please.”

When he said it like that, she knew it would be churlish of her to refuse. And she didn’t want to offend him. “OK. Thank you,” she said closing her purse. “My treat next time.”

“That would be great. I was beginning to think there wouldn’t be a next time.”

“I’m sorry. I overreacted.”

“Apology accepted, now let’s get home and see what our parents have been up to.”

He came around and pulled her chair out for her, so that she could get up. Then he held her arm, and she let him, leaning ever so slightly against him as they went outside. A cool autumn chill was in the air and she shivered. Instinctively he wrapped his arm around her and pulled her close. She closed her eyes and allowed herself to imagine what it would be like if he was her man. Then she pulled herself together and told herself there was no point heading for heartache. He wasn’t her mate, he was someone else’s, and this was just going to end badly if she let herself feel deeply for him.

“So, I was thinking,” he said when he held the car door open, taking his warm body heat away from her. “Tomorrow I am going to go in and see Stuart.”

“Good for you, Eirik. I think it might be just what he needs to hear.”

“What do you mean?”

“Well, think about it. You say yourself that you haven’t been too sure of yourself. Worried how the others perceive you. Maybe he picked up on that. Once you show him you are up for the job, maybe he will give you more power.”

“You mean I need to show him I have a backbone?”

“Yes. You need to show him you can do the job. That you want to do the job. Because from what you’ve said, up until now, I don’t think you have known whether you are man enough to do it.”

He put his hand up to rest on the roof of the car, his body almost wrapped around hers. “You are very perceptive. Since my father died, I have felt that I might be weak like he was. That if someone tried, they would be able to persuade me to hand over the deeds to whatever they wanted. I mean my dad did that when Carson showed him a birth certificate that said he was his son. He never tried to check if it was authentic. And that was his job with the Clan. Checking all the papers were in order.”

Now it was her turn to touch him, to stroke his face. Running a finger across his brow, she traced the worry line that was forming there. “Be yourself, Eirik. Don’t be scared of who you are.”

This time he did lean down and press his lips against hers. All her thoughts, all her dreams about what it would feel like, were nothing compared to the real thing. So soft, so warm, his lips moved against hers and she had to grasp his shirt with her hands to keep herself on her feet. Her knees threaten to buckle under her, while her body threatened to give itself to him right here right now.

He moved another step forward, invading her space, pressing his body between her thighs. She slipped her feet further apart and allowed him to press himself against her. The tiny bundle of nerves at the centre of her need throbbed to be touched by him, to be stroked until she came in his arms. That was how close she was to a climax that had been bubbling under the surface of her emotions all day.

Placing his hand behind her, he pressed the small of her back into his body. She moulded to him, her arm shifting to encircle his neck. Still his lips moved, questioning her. Parting them slightly, she gave him her answer. She wanted this as much as he did. If not more. When his tongue pressed for entry, she met him, entwining with his, tasting him, and teasing him.

Then just as suddenly, he pulled away, a heart-rending groan escaping him. “I’m sorry,” he said roughly. “I don’t want you to think I brought you out to dinner expecting something in return.”

“I don’t think that.” Her voice was hoarse, barely above a whisper.

“I should take you home.”

He moved to pull away but she caught his hand and pulled him back. “Eirik, you have done nothing wrong.”

“This shouldn’t be happening. I am not your mate.”

“This is my choice too. Like I said, I do not want to find my mate. So if you are offering me a relationship built on friendship, then I would take it.”

“I want more than friendship.”

She couldn’t resist his honesty. This was no time for brushing him off. Her choice was clear: she either told him her feelings were the same or said goodbye to him. Their mutual attraction was too strong. If only ... she thought. If only he was the one.

“So do I. Eirik. I know it’s sudden. I know it’s not the real thing. But I have feelings for you that I never knew I was capable of.”

He came back to her and kissed her once more, pulling her to him. This time his mouth was fierce, a claiming of sorts. They might not be mated, but there was a spark between them that threatened to turn into a flame. His hand went between her thighs and he rubbed her clit through the fabric of her pants. She gasped against him. Damn, it felt so good, so very, very good.

Feeling like a tramp, she allowed him to kiss her and touch her until she came right there in the parking lot. When her orgasm hit her, she had to bury her face in his shoulder and smother her cries. Her fingers dug into him, kneading his flesh. Wave after wave of pleasure passed over her, through her, and made her want him even more.

When he finally released her, she sagged back against his car, gasping for air. At first, she couldn’t meet his eyes, feeling ashamed that she had let herself go in front of him. But when he lifted her chin and kissed her lips lightly, she looked deep into those soft brown eyes. There was nothing but warmth there. This was a man who would never tease her, never betray her, and always be there for her.

As he helped her into the car, she said to him. “I think the council should know how lucky they are to have a man like you, Eirik.”

“Wow, was it that good?”

She grasped his hand and pressed her lips to it. “You are a good man, Eirik McCormac.”

“Damn it, Drew. I wish we were meant to be together.”

“Stupid fated mates.”

He kissed her quickly. “Stupid fated mates,” he murmured.

He had never tasted anything so good as Drew had on his lips. She was the sweetest thing he had ever known, and he wanted her more than anything before. All he wanted to do was take her home, carry her up the stairs to his bed, and make love to her. But they had to go back to her house to check on their parents.

That made him smile, as if they were the adults and their parents needed supervising. If anyone could read his thoughts right now, they would know it was him that needed supervising. All the things he wanted to do to Drew, starting with kissing every inch of her luscious body. Starting at her toes, he would work his way up until he reached his prize. That heated part of her that would be even sweeter on his tongue than her lips.