Her Reluctant Bear: A Hot Paranormal Fantasy Saga with Witches, Werewolves, and Werebears (Weres and Witches of Silver Lake Book 5) (28 page)

Jillian clasped the top of his head and held on tight. With each suck and wiggle, her body pulsed a beautiful cobalt blue. Her delicate cooing sounds made his bear claw his insides for release.

Brian couldn’t take it any longer. Releasing his hold, he stretched out on top of her. Her luscious tits drew him in, but he yearned to taste her lips too.
Decisions. Decisions.

Tits first then lips
, his bear urged.

“Brian, touch me, please!”

*

Jillian hadn’t meant
to sound so desperate, but…well, she was. When Brian withdrew his fingers and stopped licking her, she wanted to throttle him. The pressure had been divine. Then when he crawled on top of her and just stared at her chest without doing anything, her patience ran out.

After her plea, he palmed one breast and licked the other nipple. It was as if he’d plugged her in, and judging by her blue glow, she was putting out some serious wattage.

“I love your breasts,” he said.

“I’m glad you enjoy them.”

He smiled then drew one nipple taut, sending a different kind of spark straight to her core. She lifted her hips and pressed hard against his cock. When she wiggled, his growl brought so much satisfaction.

“Kiss me,” she pleaded. As wonderful as it was for him to suck on her breasts, she wanted his lips and cock more.

Brian kissed the hollow of her throat and then tugged on the shell of her ear. She dug her nails into his shoulders and tried to pull him upward, but he seemed intent on feasting on every part of her body. Didn’t he know how hard it was for her to hold back her climax right now? He too had a powerful aura radiating from him, so he must want her just as bad.

Finally, he lifted his head, and when he captured her lips, bolts of joy skipped down her spine. She widened her legs to accept him, and he didn’t disappoint. In one thrust, he entered her, and the friction set her on fire. She planted her feet on the bed and met the next plunge with equal force, her glow intensifying with each encounter. Their breaths mixed, and it was as if they were becoming one, a molecule at a time. On the next thrust, he hit every nerve in her body, and her blue glow increased and grew until both of them were encased in a bubble.

He must have recognized what that meant, because he broke the kiss and lowered his head, his teeth scraping the tender part of her neck. “I love you, Jillian Garner. And that’s not just my bear talking.”

His love soothed every emotional ache in her body, and the tears leaking out of her eyes were from pure joy. “I love you too, Brian Stanley. I want you forever.”

As if they had rehearsed this, they each sunk their sharp animal teeth into the other’s neck. Her climax swooped in with the force of the strongest tornado, and carried her to a safe and wonderful place.

Brian then lifted his head and kissed her. When their tongues touched, his cock detonated, pummeling his hot seed into her. He held her tight, and when his breathing slowed, he rolled over, taking her with him. Still connected, she rested her head on his rather furry chest, content beyond all belief.

“Maybe I should thank Frank Whitlaw,” she mumbled.

Brian tightened his hold. “Whatever for?”

“For escalating the time of our meeting.”

He kissed the top of her head. “I hope I’m worth it. You’ve been through a lot of pain, losing your dad like that and then your friend.”

Brian was so sweet. “You had it worse. You lost your parents and a sister for thirty-eight years.”

“But I found you and that makes up for everything.”

Aw. Jillian was one lucky woman.

*

The next week
was bittersweet for both of them. Brian asked Jillian to move into his apartment, and she’d agreed. That was the good part. Now that they’d mated, their need to be with each other was growing stronger every day, which meant the pain of separation while they were at work, intensified with each hour. Keeping busy helped—somewhat. Because Anna was still recuperating, Elana had come into work. Kalan’s mom had been thrilled to take care of her only grandchild.

“So what are your plans now?” Elana asked.

Jillian and Brian had spent hours discussing what needed to happen next. “Once Anna returns, I’m going to head back to California.”

Her brows pinched. “What about Brian? This will crush him if you leave.”

Jillian waved a hand. “I’m not moving back. I’ve already called my boss and given my notice, but I need to clean out my office and put my house up for sale.”

“Brian didn’t say anything about going with you.”

“We talked about that also, but he has responsibilities at work and didn’t think it would be wise to ask for a few weeks off. He’ll stay here.”

Elana rubbed her arm. “That will be hard. I remember when Kalan and I first mated, we could barely go a few hours without each other.”

Jillian smiled. “We’re the same way, but this has to be done. Besides, the sooner I leave, the sooner I can return and look for a job.” Elana didn’t need two employees.

“You’ve done such a great job here. I really appreciate you helping out.”

“I’m not sure Anna feels the same way. Whitlaw wouldn’t have targeted her if I hadn’t been here.”

“She doesn’t blame you.”

Jillian hoped that was true. “Speaking of which, have you talked to her today?”

“I called her this morning, and she’s feeling better. Now it’s a matter of letting the stitches dissolve and the bruising to go away,” Elana said. “However, she said she wanted to come into work tomorrow, but that she’d stay in the back room and help with the arrangements.” Elana finished placing the roses in the vase. “Anna also said that your brother has called a few times to check up on her.”

“Really?” He hadn’t mentioned it. Then again, Dalton was closed mouthed when it came to women.

“She couldn’t believe that he rushed into the building and saved her when you’d been injured.”

Jillian hoped Anna wasn’t developing a crush on Dalton. He might be more handsome than any man deserved to be, but he was a workaholic. “Dalton said he didn’t know I’d been injured at the time.”

Elana placed the flowers in the cooler. “Now that Anna will be returning tomorrow, when do you think you’ll leave?”

“I guess I can go anytime. I’ll see if I can get a flight tomorrow.”

Elana hugged her. “I can’t thank you enough for everything you’ve done here.”

“It was my pleasure. I would have died of boredom if I hadn’t worked. If you hear of a law firm in need of a lawyer, let me know.”

“I will.”

When five o’clock rolled around, Jillian was sad to say goodbye to Blooms of Hope and Elana and Anna. Jillian loved the fragrance of the flowers and the peaceful setting, but she had to tie up her own affairs.

She trudged up the stairs, already missing this place, this town, these people. Brian had today and tomorrow off, and as soon as she walked into the apartment, he came over with a glass of wine for her. “How was your day?”

She kissed him then took the proffered drink. “Good. Anna will be back tomorrow.”

He glanced away, the energy he’d emitted seconds before diminished. “I guess that means you’re leaving?”

She set her glass down and wrapped her arms around his neck. “Leaving, yes, but only for a short period of time. I’ve already hired movers to come in and pack up everything. I won’t be gone for that long.”

He held her tight. “A day is too long.”

“I know.”

“You sure you won’t realize how wonderful Los Angeles is and want to stay?”

Brian was being silly. She pulled his head down and kissed him. Out of the corner of her eye, she spotted her sparks streaming off her body. When their tongues touched, she absorbed all of his goodness. “Does that answer your question? You can always come with me, you know. I’ll warn you now, it will be boring.”

“I really wish I could.”

He was so dedicated. She understood that he hadn’t experienced much success in his life and wanted to turn things around.

“I understand.”

He stroked her face. “I guess tonight will have to be something special then. I don’t want you to forget me.”

She laughed. “Never in a million years.” Jillian ran her hands down his back and lifted up his shirt. “Turn around.”

“Why?”

“I want to look at your marking again. I want to be certain that our incredible mating wasn’t a figment of my imagination.”

He turned his back to her. “Still there?”

She ran her finger around the symbol of their union. “Yes. Your bear paw seems to be darkening every day. The vine looks good behind it.”

He faced her. “And yours?”

Jillian smiled. “It’s the same as yours.”

“Show me.” Brian grinned. The oven timer dinged and he stepped back. “Crap. Bad Timing. Hold that thought.”

She sniffed and detected the heavenly scent of sugar. “What are you baking?”

“Chocolate chip cookies.”

She’d told him that was her favorite food and that she missed her mom’s home-cooked ones. “You made me cookies?”

He grinned. “Just for you.”

She loved him even more. Brian headed into the kitchen and Jillian dropped down on the sofa to enjoy her wine. She’d taken one sip when her cell rang. “It’s Dalton,” she called to Brian then returned her attention to the call. “Hey, what’s up?”

“I wanted you to know that Whitlaw’s body was autopsied by Dr. Williams.”

“Meaning what?”

“Our shifting identities are safe. We could have shipped the body directly to Los Angeles, but we wanted one of our own to perform the autopsy. We don’t need anyone to realize that a bear and a tiger killed him.”

“Good point, but wasn’t Dr. Williams suspicious?”

“He’s a shifter, and cleverly put the cause of death as blood loss due to a stab wound.”

“That’s an understatement. Let’s hope the LAPD doesn’t question his results,” she said. “They’d know he’d faked them.”

“From what I could tell, he had no next of kin, so maybe we’ll be in the clear.”

She sipped more of her wine. “Do you think I can tell Dalia’s parents that he confessed to murdering their daughter?”

“Let’s hold off on that. It might be hard to explain how you learned about it. I’m not sure we want to say that Whitlaw came after you and that you managed to overpower and kill him.”

Dalton always was so logical. “True. While I’m happy Whitlaw is dead, I would have enjoyed seeing him brought to trial and convicted. His cellmates would have had a ball with a cop.”

“Jillian, we need to be content knowing he can’t hurt anyone anymore.”

Dalton was right. “I agree. By the way, I’m going to see if I can get a flight tomorrow for LA.”

“What about Brian?”

“We’ll Skype or call.” Sure, he’d suffer with her gone, but she’d be in just as much pain.

“Stop by tomorrow before you go.”

“Will do.”

As soon as she disconnected, Brian brought over two cookies and the tin. “I didn’t want you to spoil your dinner. I’d like to take you to the Lake Steakhouse.”

She smiled. “This will be a night to remember.”

‡

B
rian tossed back
his second scotch. It had been nineteen days and counting since he’d been with Jillian. That was nineteen days too many. He looked around and absorbed the sights and sounds. There was something soothing about McKinnon’s Pub and Pool. It might be because this was the first place he’d stopped at when he’d visited his parents so many months ago that made it almost feel like home.