Kodiak Moment: Paranormal Bear Shifter Romance (4 page)

He lay down beside her, pulling her in tight, feeling the heat of her warm, wet sex against his cock. Her lips found his, and for a while there was nothing but sweetness and the slow, slow burn of desire.

She was panting for breath and rubbing herself against him when they came up for air, and he was aching with his need to take her, claim her, take her as his own. She was wet and willing as he guided himself home in her. He tried to take it slowly, to savor the sensations, but she growled and took him inside herself as deeply as she could. The pleasure was almost overwhelming, and James fought for control. Beside him, Nessa twitched, her eyes shut, her hair spread over the bed like a sunburst.

Nessa had never felt pleasure like it. His touch had set her skin afire, and the look of adoration in his eyes was almost too much to take. She knew that she was too curved to suit most men, but he had looked at her as if she was a queen, touched every inch of her with reverence. Even now, with his cock deep inside her, even with her eyes closed, she could feel the burning heat of his gaze.

Slowly she started to move, flexing her hips, tilting her head back as his wandering, marvelous fingers found her clitoris. The heat inside her grew, warmth spreading out from her core, reaching towards her fingers and toes. Their pace was slowly increasing as their pleasure grew. They kissed, tongues and teeth twisting together.

Nessa could hear his breathing quickening and felt her own heart rate rising. She was becoming lost in the waves of pleasure that were swamping her, each one threatening to be the one that dragged her under. Each wave was bigger than the last, and she stilled her hips, the better to feel the full-length strokes from her lover. With an explosion of white behind her eyes, the last and final wave crashed over her, dragging her down towards unconsciousness, pleasure running wild through her system. Aftershocks, mini-orgasms raced through her as James continued to thrust, harder and quicker, until he tensed beside her, shuddering out his own release.

She murmured a wordless noise at him, and he muttered something back. Contented, satiated, she was only just aware of him pulling a blanket over them before she fell asleep.

***

He was warm and content, wrapped around a living, breathing pillow. For the first time that he could remember, his inner bear was at peace in the back of his mind. It was happy, loved, and more than a little protective. James sighed and curled in closer, breathing in the spicy fragrance of the red hair that surrounded him.

His bear would not be contented with this one night, and if he was being honest, neither would he. Perhaps he could persuade her to stay here with him, or maybe he would have to follow her back to the city. Either way, he wasn’t going to lose her.

The light oozing around the edges of the curtains hinted that they had slept the night through, and a glimpse at the alarm clock’s glowing dial confirmed it. It was early, and he could hear the soft hiss of the rain falling outside. The wind had died down, and it seemed the perfect morning to stay in bed.

He lay there in a half doze, listening to the sound of his mate breathing slowly and deeply. Eventually though, the discomfort from their activities got to him. Carefully, he unwrapped himself and slid out of the bed. His mate muttered sleepily and stretched out. Tenderly he pulled the covers up over her and then headed to the shower.

One hot shower later, and his thoughts had not changed. He was resolved that now he had found his mate, he would not let her go. Time to make her breakfast.

Nessa woke slowly to the smell of pancakes wafting through the house. She was warm, comfortable, and rather sticky. It took her brain a moment to emerge from the fog of happiness and begin to throw up memories of the previous night. The sweet taste of the wine, the tingling of her skin at his touch, and the intense pleasure that he made her feel.

She hadn’t intended to sleep with him, but she certainly had no regrets. He was a skilled and caring lover, and she was pretty sure that he hadn’t found her lacking, and she certainly couldn’t fault him for getting up to make breakfast in bed for her. She pulled herself upright, bringing the covers with her. As the bed squeaked under her, she heard footsteps outside the room.

A shirtless, smiling James appeared, his hair still hanging wetly around his face. “Morning, sweet,” he said.

“Morning yourself,” she replied.

“Shower’s free, clean towels are out, and I’ve left some of my clothes out for you until you head back over. Breakfast should be out soon.”

“So thoughtful,” she said, and pulled herself out of the bed, letting the covers fall back down. The air was surprisingly warm on her skin, and the look of lust on James’s face was still flattering. He pointed towards the closed door in the room, and she sauntered towards it, adding a little wiggle to her hips.

As the door closed behind her again, she heard James’ earthy chuckle.

The bathroom was immaculate, white tiles and a mirror steamy from another shower. A huge fluffy towel hung on the towel rail, and there was a pile of clothes on the shelves. It took Nessa a moment to work the shower controls, but soon she had a steady stream of hot water falling on her.

She stood under the spray, letting the water cleanse her and the continuous noise soothe her brain. When she was as clean as she thought she was going to be, she shut off the shower and swathed herself in the warm towel. James had set out a shirt and a pair of jeans for her. He had also gathered up her discarded underthings. The jeans were large on her, but the shirt was long enough to be classed as a mini-dress. And it wasn’t as if there was anyone around to scandalize.

She ran her fingers through her hair in lieu of a comb, trying to settle the sodden strands. James had left an elastic for her, and she pulled her hair back into a ponytail, before following the smell of food.

James had found the time to don an apron and was leaning over a hissing pan, but he turned as she stepped in from the main room. His jaw dropped. Grinning, she did a pirouette.

“You like?” she asked.

“I like very much,” he replied huskily and abandoned the pan in favor of giving her a soul-searing kiss. She felt smugly pleased at this ability she seemed to have to make him come undone, but acknowledged that he could make her feel the same way. Her knees weakened, but before she could fall, she found herself being guided into a chair, James whirling back to his pan, and a steaming plate of pancakes and crispy bacon appearing in front of her.

She certainly wouldn’t mind waking up this way more often, she thought to herself.

Breakfast passed quickly and quietly, James seeming to understand that she was not a morning person until after at least three cups of coffee. Rather than feeling annoyed that he knew her so well after only one night, she felt strangely happy.

After the plates were emptied and she was leaning back in her chair sipping her coffee, James rested his elbows on the table and grinned at her.

“So, what’re your plans for the day?” she asked, cutting him off before he could make whatever joke he was thinking about.

“I thought I’d go and find some firewood and salmon to keep my gorgeous girl in the manner that she deserves,” he said flirtatiously.

Nessa felt her heart clench at his words. He looked like he meant them, he sounded like he was sincere, but experience told her that she was not gorgeous. And just how did he think she deserved to be treated?

She bit her lip, not certain what to feel.

“What do you have planned?” he asked, either not noticing her distress or ignoring it.

“I thought I’d go into town for a while, get some supplies,” she said. “Then see about finding some bears.”

“Why hurry?” he winked at her. “Eager to get away from me?”

That implied that this was to be more than a one-night stand, more than just a good memory. Nessa felt a thrill in her stomach and felt a similar warmth pool between her legs. Apparently her body liked the sound of that very much indeed. Her head wasn’t so sure. Was this too quick?

She pushed her chair back from the table, the legs squeaking on the tiled floor. James looked startled at her sudden movement, but rose as well.

“I really have to go and change.” She fumbled for a reason, driven by some need to get out of there straightaway. “It was nice of you to lend me your shirt, but it’s not the warmest for sitting around in.”

His face fell, and he hustled to her side, wrapping his arm around her shoulders. Although she wasn’t that cold, she still snuggled into his heat.

“You should have said something sooner,” he said, walking her back through the house to the front door. He unhooked a large overcoat from its peg and draped it around her as he lifted his arm. “Just toss it over the porch rail when you’re done with it, or you could return it tonight?”

His voice was hopeful and wistful in equal measure.

“Tonight.” She nodded and wrapped the coat tightly around herself.

She left the cabin with the image of his broad smile etched into her mind.

The air outside was chilly, and the gentle breeze made it even colder. A faint fog lingered over the lake and in the forest, and the ground underfoot was slippery. Nessa minced her way carefully over the distance between cabins, almost burying herself in the thick coat.

The smell of James woven with the smell of wool was intoxicating, and put her in half a mind to return to his cabin and spend the rest of the day wrapped around his warm body. But she mustered her determination, crossed the icy ground, and entered her cabin. It was cold and uninviting, but she didn’t intend to spend a lot of time there. She walked into the bedroom and quickly pulled out jeans, T-shirt, and a well-worn and well-loved pullover. She snuggled into them and then pulled the overcoat back on top.

She grabbed her keys and handbag on the way out of the door, bouncing out and towards her car.

Carefully, she reversed, turned, and headed off to the town.

She flipped on the stereo which hissed out a burst of static, before it found a signal.

Somebody rapping about money blared out, before being lost again in static. Nessa winced and turned the stereo off again, but the music had planted a seed of doubt in her mind. She braked carefully to a halt, pulled her handbag to her lap, and rummaged through the contents.

As she had thought, she had left her purse in the cabin, and she would need it if she were to get any supplies in town. Rather than try to turn the car around, she shrugged, killed the engine and hopped out. It’d be quicker to skid back to the cabin.

There was no sign of James as she retraced her footsteps and unlocked the cabin again. It took her a moment to think back to what she had been doing the previous day and where she might have stashed her purse. As she searched, she also grabbed one of her cameras. You never knew when the chance to take a picture would come up.

Her purse had somehow migrated to the bay window overlooking the lake. Nessa scooped it up and then caught movement out of the corner of her eye. Just visible from her spot, James was stepping out of his cabin. Nessa smiled, and leaned back against the curtains.

He stepped off the porch and stretched, and Nessa’s mouth watered at the play of his muscles beneath his shirt. He didn’t seem to be cold, or aware that he was being watched. As she watched, an eddy of mist seemed to drift off the lake and wrap around him. Shadows twisted and lengthened, the mist dissipated, and where James once stood, now there was the striking form of a Kodiak bear.

Nessa stuffed her hand in her mouth to stifle her gasp, and gnawed gently on her knuckles as she watched the great bear amble away into the tree line.

He was a bear.

The man who she had slept with could change into a bear.

The same bear that had stared at her yesterday.

The man who had called her his gorgeous girl was one of the legendary shifters.

It never occurred to her to doubt what she had seen. James was standing there, then there was a bear, ergo, James was the bear.

Her mind seemed fixed on that fact as she left the cabin, returned to the car, and began to drive to the town again.

James was a bear, and for the life of her, she wasn’t sure how she felt about that.

***

Dalewood was a quiet, sleepy place, whose welcome sign proudly proclaimed its one thousand and fifty-one residents. There seemed to be one main road that passed straight through the center. All the shops and the single lone hotel were gathered there. The side roads seemed to branch out into residential areas.

Nessa found a parking space in the lot beside the drugstore and simply slumped over in her seat, resting her head against the steering wheel. Bear shifter.

In a way, it made perfect sense, thrilling her to her core.

At the same time, it scared her, straight to that selfsame core.

She had only been lost in her thoughts for a couple of minutes, when there was a knock at her window. She looked up, rubbing her face, to see the concerned face of a police officer looking at her. And if memory served her, it was the same officer that she had seen visiting James the other day. She rolled down the window.

“You okay, ma’am?” he asked, and she mustered up a smile.