Lonely Bear: BBW Paranormal Shape Shifter Romance (Bear Bluff Clan Book 6) (8 page)

Wiping the tears from her eyes, she lay back down, trying to catch her breath. Nate kissed her thighs, moving slowly higher over her body, kissing her stomach, and then her breasts, each taut bud in turn, until his body hovered above hers, and his cock rested against her entrance.

“I want you, Chloe. But I need to be sure you want me.” His lips were soft on her cheek as she struggled to breathe.

Yet she managed to tell him all he needed to know. “Yes.”

His cock pressed harder, she eased her thighs open more, and then he breached her outer lips, pushing into her warm, wet depths. Stretching her, he eased inside her, deeper, before pulling back. Then he pressed harder, his cock tearing her innocence, making her tense as a sharp pain filled her. But Nate sucked her nipples hard into his mouth, giving her a different, more arousing pain to think about as he pushed deeper, until he impaled her on his cock.

In and out he moved, his breathing growing heavier; and when she looked into his face she saw the tension there and knew he was hanging on for her.

There was nothing quite as sweet as the taste of her on his lips and the feel of her tight sex gripping him. She was a virgin. He hadn’t assumed that: having been engaged, he had figured she would have had sex with her fiancé. The fact she had saved herself for marriage, for him, made this all the more sweet. Now he would be the only man to make love to her, to pleasure her in such an intimate way.

But the sweetness made it almost impossible to hold back, he wanted to come, to fill her with his seed. The bear inside him was clamouring to breed with its mate, to potentially make a child with her right now. But he wanted her to come, to feel her sex contract around him and milk his seed.

She shifted position under him, tilting her body, and now he skimmed her clit with each movement. Her breathing became laboured. He pressed himself forward, making sure with each stroke of his cock, his body brushed that sensitive part of her that must ache to be touched.

He sucked her nipple into his mouth, rolling his tongue over it, feeling her tension rise as the sensations connected. Then she cried out, his bear roared, she was reaching her climax, and so he let himself go. Impaling her again and again on his cock. He lunged into her, deep, circling his hips to stretch her wide as her sex pulsed and throbbed. Then short, sharp jerks as he finally climaxed, his hot seed spurting deep inside her womb.

The bear clawed at his mind, roaring wildly as they claimed their mate. She was theirs now and always would be. Chloe nestled her face in his collarbone, trying to drown out her soft cries as a never-ending wave of pleasure washed over her. Her teeth nipped his skin, making his climax long, his cock still a hard rod of need as it speared her sex.

When they were both satisfied, the immediate need to fuck her gone, he gathered her to him and they lay in silence. He stroked her skin, feeling the warmth of her, breathing in the scent of her, while he could still taste her faintly on his tongue. What was there to say? What had passed between them was earth-shattering. But there was a secret he had, one that would shatter her world even more.

But it needed to be told.

An easiness settle over them as they sat down to eat dinner. Chloe had thought things might be awkward, but he made her feel at home. It might have helped that she also wore his shirt, while he went bare-chested. What a view!

She sat at Olivia’s small kitchen table, while he placed a perfectly cooked steak in front of her. She noted he liked his medium rare. He did remind her of a predator, and he had certainly had captured his prey. Not that she was complaining.

“This is delicious,” she said, cutting the succulent meat and putting it in her mouth.

“I’m glad you like it. It’s nice to see a healthy appetite; you might need to keep your strength up. I have a lot of physical exercise in mind.” He winked at her and she blushed. “You really are beautiful.”

“OK, you don’t have to flatter me. You’ve already got me into bed.”

“Is that all you think this is? A conquest?”

“I don’t know what this is, Nate. For all I know, you might just be after my money.” She hated saying that, but sometimes, when she looked at him, it was hard to see what exactly a man like him could see in her. Next to Olivia, she paled in comparison. They both had curvy figures, but Olivia was so much more confident in her own skin.

“Because you are the woman for me. The one I’ve spent my whole life searching for.”

“Why me, Nate? That’s what I don’t understand.”

“Fate,” he said simply, but he was hiding something from her.

“Or the fact I have a rich father?”

“Is that what you think? Truly?”

“I don’t know. I think because Jerry hurt me so bad, it is hard not to believe that money isn’t a motivator.”

“I can see why you would think that. But look at me, Chloe. Do you see a man who cares about material things? Hell, I’ve spent the last few months living in a cabin on a mountain. Not much use for a money up there.”

“Why were you up in your cabin, Nate?” She knew what Olivia had told her, but couldn’t quite believe it. That a man could ever be in love with a women, let alone her, that he would hide himself away rather than watch her marry someone else. Especially when he had not even spoken to her.

“I’m an old-fashioned man, Chloe. I believe that two people can be fated to be together. I believe that you and I are fated to be together.”

“That just sounds as if you’re trying to get inside my panties. Which you already have.”

“Chloe, there’s more to it than that. But it’s something I have to show you, not something I can explain. Because if I did, you would head for that door and never come back. You would think I was making fun of you.”

“So show me.”

“I can’t, not here. Let me take you back to my cabin. Stay with me for a few days. Let me show you.”

“I can’t walk back up there.”

“Then I will carry you.” He placed his hand on hers. “Please.”

“Now you are scaring me.”

“I’m not a stalker, I’m not after your money. I just want you, and to spend the rest of my life making you happy. Will you take a chance on me, Chloe?” He sounded so sincere, she wanted to believe him. But it also sounded so strange. Then her mind went back to the scene where she saw Jerry fucking another woman in his apartment, the way he had caught her eyes and smirked.

Yes, she had tried doing normal. She had tried going after men who ticked all of the conventional boxes and it had left her heart broken. Why not take a chance on Nate; he was about as unconventional as they came, particularly in his view of fated love.

“OK,” she said. “But I need to go home first and get some things together.”

“The sooner the better.”

“It’s dark.” She swallowed down her panic.

“I’ll take you home early, you pack, and then I’ll come and pick you up at first light. I’ve spoken to Dermot, given my statement, the only thing that is holding me here right now is you, Chloe. If you agree to come with me, we’ll spend a couple of days getting to know each other. Although I already know everything I need to about you.”

“This is the craziest thing I’ve ever done.”

He grinned. “That means you’ll come with me.”

“OK. I need to tell my dad where I’m going, though. I don’t want him sending those hunters with guns after me again.”

“No, that would be bad, especially since Dermot said they had left Bear Bluff. We can go up the mountain and have plenty of time to ourselves.”

“Want me to help you do the dishes first?”

“Sure, and we have dessert.” He got up and came around to her, kissing her on the cheek as she rose to her feet, unsteadily. “Although you are so sweet, I could eat you. Again.” His soft, warm breath on her skin made her close her eyes, and she fought off the longing inside her.

“Tempting, but I would hate for Olivia to come home and find us…”

“Making love.” He lifted her and sat her down on the table, nestling his body between her thighs. “I wish we could go right now, high up to my cabin, and never come down.”

She kissed him, her lips pressed to his, her tongue seeking entrance to his mouth. He sucked on her tongue, sending thrills through her body. Nate pressed his hand to the small of her back and dragged her so close to him it was as if they were one. Both longed to take it further, but neither wanted the embarrassment of being caught naked by Olivia, although Chloe was sure in Nate’s case it was to spare her blushes, not his.

***

“I’m sure I know what I’m doing, Dad.” He stood in the doorway of her room, watching while she packed. It was early in the morning, and he was just about to leave for work.

“Sweetheart, I only want to keep you safe, spare you heartache.”

“I know. And I appreciate it. But I’ve made up my mind.” She went over to him. “I love you. But the life I have here is not as satisfying as I want it to be. When Jerry proposed, all I wanted to do was settle down and raise a family. His job, your money, didn’t matter.”

Her dad sighed and stretched out his arms. She went to him, feeling safe, like the little girl she once was, when he folded her into his embrace. Kissing the top of her head, he said, “You know, you sound just like your mom. She would have been happy living in a trailer if it meant we were all together. You are so much like her.”

“So you approve?”

“I don’t know if I’d go that far. But I’ve seen how things work in Bear Bluff, so I guess you’ve managed to capture the heart of one of them.”

“What do you mean, one of them?”

“Haven’t you seen it? Watched how many of the true locals fall in love instantly and then there are the marriages that are decades old. Two people truly suited to each other.” His gaze strayed to the window, and he let out a shuddering sigh.

“Like you and mom.”

“Like me and your mom. Don’t get me wrong, I love Charity. But we are suited on a different level.”

She pulled back from her dad. “It means a lot for you to tell me that.”

“I’m sorry I pushed you away, Chloe. And I’m sorry about Jerry. I think I pressured you into going out with him. He just seemed like good husband material.”

“It’s in the past now. Nate is my future.” She went back to her packing. “And at least I found out about Jerry before we got married. I don’t intend to ever get divorced.”

“Then this Nate might be your man. Like I said, the Bear Bluff locals have a habit of getting it right where spouses are concerned.”

“I’ll see you when I get back, Dad.”

“You sure will. I love you, Chloe.”

“Love you too.”

Then he left for work, and Chloe packed the rest of her stuff. Going downstairs, she took some food from the fridge and made some sandwiches, knowing the climb back up the mountain might take a while. Her ankle felt better, but not strong enough for a mountain hike. If he had to carry her, he would need plenty of food and water.

When the knock came at the door, she was ready. Opening it, she looked at Nate, knowing that he was her future. Whatever he had to share with her, whatever secret he thought he had, she didn’t care. He was the man for her. The only man for her.

“Ready?” he asked.

“Yes,” she answered firmly, and meant it.

The early morning sun was rising above them as they made their slow way towards the trail leading up Bear Bluff; they were taking a different route than the one Chloe had followed.

“It’s longer, but not so steep; we wind around the back of the Bluff.” He held her hand, and carried her bag, if she had asked him, he would have carried her too.

“It’s beautiful here. We used to come this way when my mom was alive.”

“I’m surprised I’ve never run into you before. If you come on the mountain.”

“Well, it’s one more place we avoided when my mom passed away. Sometimes the memories are hard to deal with. But now, with you, I guess I feel strong enough.”

He kissed her hand, breathing in the scent of her skin. “I’m happy you feel that way.”

They walked slowly, but soon the town disappeared behind them. It was here that he stopped.

“I can walk on,” she said, “I’m not tired yet.”

“No, we should rest. And this is where I want to share my secret with you. Because if you don’t like it, then it’s not too far back down into town.”

“Oh, OK. I thought the secret was in your cabin. That was where it was hidden.”

“It’s not that kind of secret,” he said. Nerves were beginning to get the better of him. What would happen if she hated the idea of living with a man who could change into a bear? It wasn’t something you came across every day.

A fear filled him. He might have found his mate, only to lose her over his other self. However, his bear paced up and down in his mind, eager to be let loose.

“Nate, are you feeling alright?” Her voice told him of her concern and he wanted to reassure her, but there was little he could say. This wasn’t the sort of secret you told, it had to be shown.

“Yes, I just need to share this with you.” He loosed her hand and moved away from her. “Whatever you do, believe that I will not hurt you. That this is just another part of me. But I’m still me.”

“Nate, you are scaring me.” She shuffled around, her ankle obviously hurting her. Part of him was glad it did; it meant she wouldn’t be able to run into town when she saw him change. He felt that wave of fear, stronger now. She wouldn’t run, she would accept him for who he was.

A penniless pauper next to her rich father. Sure. Of course, she wouldn’t run when she saw he was also a freak.

“There is nothing to be afraid of. I just need you to understand why I was attracted to you, and how I know there will never be another woman for me, Chloe. My kind mate for life. And you are my mate.”

“Your kind? Nate, please come back to me.”

“No, it’s safer if I’m over here. I won’t hurt you.”

With a look of fear on her face, she backed up against a tree. He knew he had to get this over with quickly. Now was the time, before she got scared and did run. So he let his bear loose, and allowed the energy to cover him, knowing that his world would never be the same again. His mate would either accept him or shun him. They would either live happily together, or he would be a lonely bear for the rest of his very long life.