Embraced by the Bear (4 page)

After a long moment, Knox let out another long string of curses. “Fine, you greedy bastard. We’ll do things your way. Now get over here fast before I change my mind.”

Chapter Three

A familiar face materialized in front of Shae.
Nathan.
The connection was instant and powerful, much more powerful than the familiarity she felt with Knox. His piercing gaze broke through the fuzziness in her brain, calming her turbulent emotions as easily as one would smooth out a blanket for a child.

His expression was gentle, but his voice was hard. “You hurt her.”

“In case you haven’t noticed, she likes the pain.”

“I know.” Nathan straightened and pushed his jeans down to his thighs. “But I’m talking about a different kind of pain. The kind that comes with imprinting.”

“She wanted it.” Knox’s voice sounded a little indignant.

“She’s in heat, asshole. She doesn’t know what she wants.”

Shae opened her mouth to respond, but then Nathan stroked his cock, drawing her attention to it. Something dark and needy burned through her veins as she imagined taking it into her mouth.

“You want this little one?” he asked.

Shae’s skin tingled with awareness at his words. She nodded.

“Then take it, but remember to channel your power like I showed you.”

She opened her mouth to receive him, and groaned as his erection moved toward the back of her throat. Shae closed her eyes as the energy inside of her surged to almost uncontrollable levels.

Nathan glanced over her shoulder at Knox. “Stop moving.”

“Why?”

“It’s too much.”

“Fuck you.”

Nathan swatted Knox’s hand away from her head. “Stop it. Now. You have to give her time to adjust to the change in power.”

“How do you know?”

“I have experience with this. I know.”

“If you are so good at this, then why did she came to me for relief, eh?”

“She went to you because I was not around. This never would have happened if she didn’t leave my cabin.”

“Where you could control her. Perhaps she left because she got tired of your orders.”

Nathan’s jaw tightened, then relaxed as his gaze met hers. “No, she didn’t leave of her own accord. She only left because she was taken from me.” He brushed a stray hair from her face. “Isn’t that right, little one?”

She groaned as memories flooded back to her in a rush. She remembered it all clearly now, the cabin, his bed, the threesome and Nathan’s warm promises. Most of all, she remembered the strange creature, half bear and half human, who took her away from the comfort of Nathan’s arms.

Her anguish must have shown on her face, because Nathan’s gaze softened as he brushed his fingers against her cheek. “It’s okay, little one. I’m here now.” He brushed his fingers through her hair. “Everything will be all right.” He pulled back, then trust slowly into her mouth. “I’m going to help you release some of that power building in you.” He pulled out, then closed his eyes briefly as he pushed again. “I’m going to help you shift, okay? Just like we did back at the cabin.”

There was something in his eyes, something beneath the raw desire and jealousy. Shae knew that he was concerned for her, and wanted to help alleviate her ache. She closed her eyes and tongued the underside of his shaft.

“That’s my girl.” He flashed his friend a signal, and as Knox started thrusting once more. Nathan did as well, and soon they were both filling and retreating from her body as one.

“She’s my girl now, Nathan,” Knox growled.

“The imprint you gave her is not permanent. You need the ritual to stake true claim.”

“It’s only a matter of time.”

Shae moaned as the tension grew between the men. Their emotions penetrated and filled her to the point of breaking.

Nathan slowed his thrusts. “Neither one of us will have her if we aren’t careful with our emotions. Help me out here.”

“Fuck you.” Knox stopped thrusting and curled his fingers into her flesh.

“I’ve got enough to deal with here.” Nathan’s voice was calm and in control, but there was an undercurrent of anger that was difficult to ignore. “I don’t need your jealousy, and neither does she. Help me channel her energy.”

Knox must have sensed the chief’s anger as well, because of retorting, he started filling her once more. Nathan soon matched his movements, and once again pleasure filled her. The energy in the room rose, but it felt more controlled, more electric.

Nathan framed her face with his hands, holding her steady as he pumped her mouth. Shae moved over his shaft quickly, wanting to give him as much pleasure as he could stand.

“Easy, little one.” He gently tugged on her hair and retreated from her mouth. “Focus on your center.”

Knox reached around and slid his finger over her clit. “Right there.”

She gasped as pleasure burst through her body, blanketing her mind with bliss. She groaned as Nathan fed her his cock once more and both men started thrusting again. This time they performed quick, shallow movements that made her dizzy with need.

“Fuck, she feel so good,” Knox said as he pushed his hips flush with her backside.

“That’s it,” Nathan said. “Just like that.” He caressed her face as he plunged in and out of her, and the tenderness she felt was unmistakable. While Knox had been hard and unyielding, Nathan’s caring nature was almost too much to take.

She sucked harder, pulling him into her mouth and tonguing his shaft until his hands tightened around her head. “Shae,” he whispered as his movements became more jerky and desperate. “I can’t hold on.”

“God this ass,” Knox said. “She’s so fucking tight.” He straightened and pushed harder, lifting her up on her toes.

Something inside her snapped, and pleasure blanketed both her body and her mind. The men pushed harder, faster, and Shae could feel their power mingling with hers. She moaned as she raced higher and higher, then tumbled over the edge and into complete and total bliss.

As her orgasm whirled around her like a hurricane, it seemed to pick up the men, lifting them to the point of breaking. With harsh, animalistic cries, they orgasmed one after another, filling her with both their magic and their seed.

As Nathan retreated from her mouth, a bolt of energy sliced through her body, causing Shae to gasp.

“Step away, Knox.”

“So that you can take her from me? I don’t think so.”

“Get back.” Nathan moved with lightning speed, pushing Knox back. A bright light blinded Shae as every muscle in her body screamed out in pain. She fell to the ground and started screaming as her bones elongated and snapped.

Then, as soon as it started, it was over.

“Damn,” Knox said as the light began to fade. “I didn’t know she was a youngling.”

“Well, she is.” Nathan fell to her side and lifted her head. “Are you okay, little one?”

Shae opened her eyes and offered him a weak smile. She tried to speak, but the words wouldn’t form in her mouth. Looking down, she noticed that her body was covered in fur.

“You did it again, Shae. You shifted, but this time you didn’t need us harnessing your magic. You did it on your own.”

“Fuck.” Knox pushed his fingers through his hair and began to pace. “I couldn’t feel her age. I had no idea she was so young.”

“You couldn’t feel her age because you were blinded by lust,” Nathan said as he stroked her fur. “If you had just done as I asked, and extracted her from that lodge, she wouldn’t be in so much pain,” Nathan said as he looked up at his friend.

“So what does this mean, am I cast out, then?”

“Not cast out.” Nathan gave her one last pet and then straightened. “But there will have to be repercussions. You didn’t follow orders and as a result, put a shifter in trouble.”

“Shit. I didn’t know.”

“She deserves a bear who will meet her needs, not one who is a slave to his own lusts.”

“Nathan, I—”

“Go.” Nathan knelt by Shae once more. “And don’t come back until after she is marked. You are not ready to mate, and I don’t want her to suffer any more than she already has.” He frowned.

“Have a heart, Nathan.”

The bear chief glanced up at him and frowned. “Clearly, her power is bringing out the beast in you. For her sake, as well as the clan’s, you must go.”

Knox let out a string of swears as he changed into his bear form and stormed out of the cave.

Bringing out the beast. . .
A memory tugged at the edge of her mind. Something about her kidnapper.

Shae used the last of her energy to shift back into her human form. “Nathan.”

“Come on, little one. Let’s get you home.” Nathan slid his arms around her and lifted her into the air. Shae instinctively wrapped her arms around his neck. As she did, she spotted the increased wrinkles on her hands, and how the skin seemed looser, more pliable. It only confirmed her suspicions.

“Nathan.”

“Hush, little one.” He guided her head to his shoulder and she buried her head in his warmth.

Home.
As his body heat and scent surrounded her, Shae felt an overwhelming sense of comfort and calm. Something hovered at the edge of her memory, but she was tired, so fucking tired. As he left the cave and gave orders to his men, Shae struggled to remember what she wanted to tell him. Try as she did, words escaped her, and she felt just too content in his arms to worry much about it.

It wasn’t until she was back in Nathan’s cabin, tucked safely away in his bed, that she remembered what she wanted to tell him.

“Nathan,” she whispered.

“Hush now little one,” he said. “You’re safe.” He brushed his fingers down the side of her cheek. “Our rogue bear forgot to cover his tracks. It’s only a matter of time before we find him and the human he works for.”

He started to leave, but she grabbed his shirt and pulled him toward her. “Go easy on Knox.”

“Why should I?”

“I love him,” she murmured.

“You what?” Nathan’s voice was loud and hard, shaking away part of her exhaustion.

“There’s more.”

He curled his fingers into her hair. “Tell me.”

“I-I know who the rogue bear is.”

“You do?”

“Edward,” she whispered as she closed her eyes and relaxed her hand. “The rogue is Edward.” It was his hands, they were much more wrinkled than she remembered. Just like hers. Edward was a youngling too, but unlike her, he had no one to guide him. “I think . . . I think my presence at the lodge, my mating heat, might have initiated the change.”

Nathan stilled, and for a long moment he stood there, his expression unreadable. Shae knew that she could be concerned, but she just was so exhausted. Perhaps after a nap she could try to sort things out.

“I’m sorry, Nathan,” She murmured as she closed her eyes and let go of his shirt. “For everything.”

Nathan said something, but before she could make heads or tails of it, sleep overcame her.

For the first time in a long time, she didn’t dream.

The End

ABOUT VICKI SAVAGE

Vicki Savage loves a good story. She loves a dirty smut even more. There’s nothing too filthy or taboo for her books about hot coeds and the people who lust after them. When not writing, Vicki loves the great outdoors and can be found taking long walks in the twilight hours, the sexiest time of day.

For a listing of her latest releases, visit her
website
.

If you enjoyed
Embraced by the Bear,
you might also enjoy other books from the “A Bride for the Bear Shifter” series:

Captured by the Bear (Bk1)

Kissed by the Bear (Bk2)

Touched by the Bear (Bk4)

Claimed by the Bear (Bk5)

Need more? Then check these great series:

Fertile for the Billionaire Series

Freshman Fantasies

What follows is a quick excerpt from fourth book in the Bride for the Bear Shifter series,
Touched by the Bear
:

The old spirit stepped closer. “I know why you are unable to control your desire.”

Shae lifted her chin. “The others say it is because I am unmarked.”

He shook his head. “It is because you are undecided. Shifters do not go insane because they have no one to guide them. They lose their minds out of indecision and fear.”

She swallowed and fisted her hands. “I’m not afraid.”

“But you’re indecisive.” He climbed the steps, forcing Shae to step back and make room for him on the porch. “You are torn between two bears. One ignites your body. The other ignites your soul.”

Shae averted her gaze. “It’s true. Nathan says that I must choose, or I will put the entire clan in jeopardy.”

“He should know. Both he and Layla entered their union full of question and indecision. Neither were committed to the mating ritual for the right reasons. Layla wanted power, not a partner.”

Shocked, Shae unfisted her hands. “What did Nathan want?”

“I think you already know.”

She thought for a moment, then widened her eyes. “Sanctuary,” she whispered.

The old man nodded. “Yes, physical sanctuary for his shifters, but more importantly, he craved an emotional sanctuary from the difficulties of ruling the clan. He still wants that now.”

“And Knox?”

The man chuckled. “While Nathan craves sanctuary, Knox, desires something altogether different.”

Shae shoved her hands in her pockets. “He wants to feel like he belongs.”

Surprise lit the old man’s features. “Your instincts serve you well, little one.” He took a small step back and studied her face. “The questions is. . .” He dragged his gaze purposefully down her body, then back up to meet her face. “What are
your
needs?”

“My needs? I-I don’t know.”

“No?”

She shook her head.

He hooked his finger under her chin, and when he did, she felt the same calming sensation she had when she was with Nathan moments ago. “I think you are lying,” he said. “I sense that you not only know what you need, but know which bear can give it to you.”

“I do?”

“Yes child.” He brushed his fingers along the side of her cheek. “Nathan was right. Becoming a mate is a life-long commitment, and not to be taken lightly. You are entering a partnership, with each half fulfilling the needs of the other.” He gripped her chin with surprising force and closed his eyes for a moment. She gasped and tried to pull away when she felt a gentle pressure on her head, but the man held her steady with a surprisingly firm grip.

“Yes.” He opened his eyes. “You already know which bear you must choose.”

“Who?”

He let her go and retreated down the porch steps.

“Who should I choose?” she yelled after him.

He stopped and turned to face her. As he raised his hands, Shae felt the air shimmer around them.

“Search your heart, little one,” he said. “For the bear inside of you has already made its decision. It knows what you need to do.”

Tears streamed down her face as she stumbled down the porch. “Search my heart? How? Please. Answer me!”

She only made it a few steps into the snow before the bright light flashed. In his place a large hawk hovered, then squawked and took off into the trees.

“No!” She cried out after the bird. “Don’t go. I need you to show me.” She dropped to her knees as the bird flew farther and farther away. “I can’t do this on my own.”

A loud, steady clapping noise echoed through the forest. Wiping her eyes, Shae stood and turned to find a tall, thin man standing on the porch.

“Bravo, Shae Donovan,” the man said as he lowered his arms. “An academy award performance to be sure.”

“Edward,” she whispered. “What are you doing here?”

“I’ve come to destroy those menacing bears once and for all.”

“You can’t.” She took a step back as he quickly closed the distance between them.

“I can, and I’ll do it by using a negotiating tool.”

“Nathan will never compromise his sanctuary for you.”

“He will if I am holding the life of his woman in the balance.”

“You plan to use me as a bargaining chip?”

“Yes.” He snaked his arm around her waist. “With your life on the line, that damn bear will give me anything I want.”

“No.” Shae pushed and kicked, but Edward’s grip was surprisingly strong.
Strong like a bear.

“The first time I kidnapped you,” he said. “I allowed you too many freedoms. I will not make the same mistake again.”

“No!” Shae screamed and kicked as he lifted her into the air and carried her into the woods.

Find out what happens next in
Touched by the Bear
, available NOW!