The Bears Capture - Jenika Snow

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THE BEAR’S CAPTURE

JENIKA SNOW

THE BEAR’S CATURE By Jenika Snow www.JenikaSnow.com [email protected] Copyright © August 2018 by Jenika Snow First E-book Publication: August 2018

Cover photo provided by: Adobe Stock Editor: Kasi Alexander Proofreader: Liz Murach

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED: The unauthorized reproduction, transmission, or distribution of any part of this copyrighted work is illegal. Criminal copyright infringement is investigated by the FBI and is punishable by up to five years in federal prison and a fine of $250,000. This literary work is fiction. Any name, places, characters and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events or establishments is solely coincidental. Please respect the author and do not participate in or encourage piracy of copyrighted materials that would violate the author’s rights.

CONTENTS The Bear’s Capture Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Chapter 5 Chapter 6 Chapter 7 Epilogue One Epilogue Two Excerpt: His Wrath (Underground, 2) The Underground Series His Wrath Chapter 1 More by Jenika About the Author

Bear The solitude had always been my companion and I accepted it, embraced it. Living on my own with the forest as my backyard had always been good enough for me. Until it no longer was. The quiet could be loud, the loneliness a burden. I was tired of being on my own. I wanted a wife, needed a woman to call my own. Who I wanted was Susie. She was sweet and kind, innocent and soft in all the right places. She made this caveman part of me rise up and take control. The things I wanted to do to her would probably frighten her, scare her away for good. I didn’t pretend to be a gentle man. I was brutal and savage in my way of living, but when I looked at her I felt something soften within me. It was time to man up and tell her what I wanted, that she was all I thought about, all I needed in my life.

Susie I’d loved Bear for as long as I could remember, but I was just the grocery delivery girl, a person he barely talked to, rarely saw when I did my drop-offs. I’d always been too much of a coward to tell him how I felt, so I divulged all my longings and secrets to my best friend. But I was tired of doing that. I wanted to be honest with him even if that ended up putting this wall between us, even if I got a broken heart. I was willing to risk all of that to pour my heart out, to finally be honest. I was willing to do all of that in the hopes he would say he loved me too.

Warning: This may not be a paranormal story, but it has bite to it! With a growly, celibate hero who’s been lusting after one virginal heroine, it’s time he staked his claim in all the ways that matter. Don’t worry, it’s still safe with a HEA and all the sexy goodness that goes along with it!

1 Susie

I’d been taking groceries up to Bear Hollis’ cabin in the woods for the last two years. He was quiet, with a stony composure and cold demeanor. Despite his brisk attitude and the fact he ignored me the majority of the time, I wanted him. He was the strong, silent type, living alone, embracing solitude as if it were his best friend. I didn’t feel sorry for him, not when I could see how much he enjoyed being by himself. I pulled my beat-up Cherokee to a stop in front of his cabin and cut the engine. I didn’t see him at first, but there were many times when I dropped off his groceries and never saw him at all. He was a lone wolf, not even wanting to come into town to do his monthly grocery shopping, and instead paid the fee to have the store send me up to deliver. I didn’t mind though, not when there were those chances of getting to see him. Maybe that’s why I was the only one who volunteered to drop off his shit. Maybe everyone else was too afraid of the man he’d become. I wasn’t ashamed to admit that over the years, my fascination and arousal for him had grown into something much more. Love. I loved a man who didn’t even look at me half the time, who probably didn’t even know my name after all these years. I was in love with a man who couldn’t stand to be around people, whose only friend was another recluse loner named Wolf, who’d just found himself a wife after years of solitude. I was insane for wanting Bear, should have just put him to the back of my mind and moved on with my life. But I couldn’t. I wouldn’t. I got out of the car and shut the door, standing there for a moment to see if he would emerge. When he was at home he usually came out and grabbed the groceries out of the back of my car, not saying anything but giving me a gruff grunt as if that was his way of saying thank you. But all was still and quiet, which led me to believe he wasn’t home. I opened the back door and started grabbing the paper bags out of the backseat. There was a month’s supply of food I’d brought with me this time, mainly

nonperishables, but he’d also requested fresh fruits and vegetables. Although I knew he had a garden during the summer months, some fruits and veggies couldn’t be grown in our zone. Taking the porch steps one at a time, I set one of the bags down and knocked on the front door. I already knew he wasn’t around, but I never just barged into his place. When there was no answer, I opened the front door and picked up the bags again before heading inside. The interior of his cabin smelled like pine, not the chemical, artificial kind, but the real wood aroma. It was the kind that told me he’d built this place on his own, cut the trees down, hammered them in place, made this his own. Even if I didn’t know that to be true, the craftsmanship and how much effort and pride he put into building this place was evident. It took me four trips to my car before I had all of his groceries inside. As per every other time before, I took everything out of the paper bags, not putting it away, but setting it on the counters. A part of me liked doing this even if it wasn’t my job. I felt like this could be where I lived, putting the groceries away while the man I loved was out hunting for us. I was insane, absolutely crazy for what I wanted and how I felt. Placing my hands on the edge of the sink, I curled my fingers around the ceramic and stared out the small window. All I saw was trees, these woods so thick and high up on the mountain that the air had a crispness to it. It was the middle of summer but up here there was a chill in the air when the wind moved through the trees. I turned and stared at his place, having been in this home countless times over the last couple of years. To my left there were two leather chairs, worn and tattered from years of use. Between them was a coffee table, one that appeared handmade, no doubt by Bear. The fireplace was in the center, the stone mantle dark from soot and use. There was a short hallway off to the side, the bathroom on one side and his bedroom on the other. I closed my eyes and inhaled deeply, the scent of Bear mixing with the pine and the wilderness making me feel drunk. I couldn’t stay up here forever even if I wanted to. And I really wanted to. I wanted Bear to notice me, to see past my pin-straight brown hair, the Plain Jane appearance, and the Olive Oyl skinny body. He was masculine and big, strong and muscular. I was short and felt frumpy, not pretty at all, certainly not for a man like Bear. But I wanted him to see me, to notice me.

God, I wanted it so badly. Pushing away from that counter, I took the paper bags with me and walked out to my car. I heard birds chirping overhead, a woodpecker a few feet away. I tipped my head back, following the thick lines of the redwood trees, the noise from those birds seeming to go on for miles. And then there wasn’t any noise, just this peaceful stillness that seemed to encompass me. The quiet was loud … peaceful. Maybe one day when I came up here I’d have the nerve to tell him how I felt, that I was here, that I wanted him to notice me. Maybe one day I’d have the courage to tell Bear that I loved him, that I wanted to stay with him, isolated from everyone and everything. Just the two of us. I kept saying that, but it seemed that “one day” never did come.

2 Bear

I stood behind a thick redwood, watching as she drove off, her Jeep bouncing on the uneven terrain. My body was tight, hard in all the right places. I should feel shame for wanting her, for the things I thought about, the things I wanted to do to her. But I felt nothing but possessiveness and territorial desire. In one hand I held an axe, the fallen tree I’d been chopping up for firewood just a few feet from me. I should’ve gone and spoken to her, said something, asked her to stay for dinner. Told her she was mine. I’d stayed back, hidden behind the trees, concealed by the shadows. Been a coward. But I wanted Susie like I wanted to breathe. I’d watched her for years, desired her for just as long. She was the first woman, the only one who stirred my cold heart, had it beating faster, harder. But I was a coward, unsure how to proceed, knowing that if I told her what I wanted, that I desired her above all else, that I wanted her with me always, it would scare the hell out of her. But a part of me, one I kept buried, hidden because of the ferocity of it, the intensity, was slowly rising up, taking control. It was growing stronger, that primal need to make Susie mine rising up like a tsunami, about to level anything in its path. Maybe I was weak, or maybe I was just ready to finally have a woman of my own. But I was letting that beast consume me, welcoming it. I was letting it take charge. The next time Susie was up here she’d know exactly how much I wanted her.

* * * Susie I grabbed the two coffees from the barista and headed over to the small table in the corner. I glanced over at my best friend, Sherry, who’d gotten the nickname Cherry in high school due to her obsession with the fruit. She was

already sitting down, her smart phone in hand, her eyes wide as she no doubt read one of her latest romance books. I sat down and set the cup in front of her, but she was oblivious to my presence. For a few moments, I found humor in watching her read, knowing that she was probably on one of the juicy parts if she wasn’t even taking her focus off the screen. Leaning back in the chair, I brought my cup to my mouth and took a long drink of the vanilla chai late. We lived in a pretty backwoods town, the population small and intimate, but our coffee shop was pretty damn incredible. It wasn’t one of those chain stores with the fancy drinks that took you thirty seconds to rattle off. It was a mom-and-pop coffee shop that sold homemade pastries along with specialty drinks. And the vanilla chai latte was probably the fanciest one they had. It was also heaven in a glass, an addictive ambrosia that I seemed to get daily with no guilt. I glanced around the coffee shop, three other tables filled. One of them had Mr. Kingsley, a forty-five year old bachelor who also happened to be the twelfth grade English teacher at our local high school. He sat behind his ancient laptop, no doubt grading papers, his black rimmed glasses perched on the bridge of his nose. He had this scowl on his face, then he shook his head and muttered something to himself as he typed away on his computer. Then there were Bret and Harper, newlyweds who were expecting their first child. It had been a shotgun wedding due to Harper’s father, the town pastor, pulling it all together once he realized she was knocked up out of wedlock. That had been the talk of the town for the last month. Then there was the last table, which made me a little sad as I stared at Mrs. Sorrows. Even her last name was ironic, given her situation. She’d not only lost her husband two years ago, but she’d also recently lost her only child to a car accident. To say the town mourned for her and her family was an understatement. “I go over there every other weekend to have lunch with her.” I looked over at Cherry and gave her this sad smile. She’d since put down her phone and was staring at Mrs. Sorrows. “I’ve gone over there a few times since she lost Frankie, but she never really says much and instead keeps giving me baked goods to take home.” Cherry nodded and picked up her coffee, leaning back in her seat. “Yeah, I

think that’s how she copes … baking stuff and giving it to people.” Cherry took a long drink of her coffee before setting the cup on the table and exhaling. “I can’t even imagine.” I shook my head. “Me either.” We sat in silence for a long moment, not sure what to say, or maybe just reflecting on how lucky we really were. “How’s school?” I finally broke the silence to ask Cherry about her last semester of college. She shrugged. “It’s going. I’ll be glad when it’s finally over, but then I have the hassle of finding a job, which won’t be in this podunk town.” I knew Cherry didn’t want to stay in our picturesque little mountain retreat of a town. Hell, I didn’t even know why I did. Yes I do. Bear. Well, it wasn’t just because of him, although my love for that man could have moved oceans. I don’t know how long I sat there, staring off as I thought about Bear, imagining telling him how I felt, just throwing caution to the wind and saying fuck it. “What’s on your mind?” Cherry asked, drawing me out of my thoughts. I glanced up at her and blinked a few times, clearing my vision. She looked at me with this expression that told me she already knew the answer. “Nothing,” I said, but the lie sounded obvious. “Nothing?” She lifted an arched eyebrow, the expression on her face telling me she didn’t believe one word of it. “This about Bear?” I cleared my throat and glanced away. I didn’t know why I was so nervous talking about him, especially with Cherry. “You know you can talk to me about whatever, right?” I knew I could. She didn’t push, but I didn’t want to talk about it, didn’t want to bare my soul, so to speak. “Why don’t you just tell him how you feel?” she finally said after a prolonged moment. I looked up at her, knowing my eyes were wide, feeling like they were saucers. I probably looked like a deer caught in headlights. It was no surprise that she guessed what was on my mind. She was pretty good at reading people, especially me.

I exhaled and leaned back in my chair, holding my coffee cup and running my finger along the rim. “Because the risk of him turning me down and breaking my heart scares the hell out of me.” She looked sympathetic but then this steely resolve covered her face. “Even if he did turn you down, even if it did go that way when you were honest with him, you’re a tough girl and can handle it. I know you would regret not saying anything, wondering what his reaction would have been.” She gave me a soft smile. “But I doubt he’ll turn you down, much less break your heart. How could he? You’re gorgeous and sweet. He’d be stupid to break your heart.” She exhaled. “Besides, I’d kick his ass if he made you sad.” I chuckled, knowing Cherry meant that. “I guess I’ve been trying to talk myself into telling him how I feel. I go out there every month, sometimes see him, sometimes say a few words here and there. I swear the man doesn’t even know I exist. He hardly looks at me, and if he does speak to me it’s just one-word answers that sound more like grunts coming from a wild animal.” Cherry chuckled softly, but the space between us became solemn as time passed. “He’s a definite mystery,” Cherry said, staring at her coffee mug. “But you know why he’s like that. You know why he stays by himself.” She looked at me and I felt my heart lurch in my chest. Looking at my coffee cup, I nodded. “Yeah, I know.” “I mean, losing his mother, the only family he had left, scars a person, I imagine.” I thought about when he’d first moved to town all those years ago. I’d been a young girl, hearing the rumors about the newcomer who’d bought the cabin and piece of land out in the middle of nowhere. The rumors were cut and dry, that Bear had lost his mother and moved out here to be alone. And he’d succeeded in that for years. “Loss creates scars that run deep. He just needs to find that spark of life again.” She reached out and gripped my hand in hers, giving it a squeeze. “As soon as you say the words to him, when he looks in your eyes and sees what he’s been missing, everything will click into place.” “I’m glad one of us is so confident.” I smiled, but it was forced. Deep down I was a nervous wreck thinking about all the bad things that would come from me spouting off the truth. But despite that, I knew I’d push past

my worries. I’d tell Bear everything, consequences or not.

3 Bear

I sat on the oversized leather chair in Wolf’s cabin and stared at him and his wife Ruby as they went heavy on the PDA in the kitchen. I scrubbed a hand over the back of my neck and looked away when Wolf’s hand slid down to cover her ass, and he leaned in to kiss her. Leave it to the rugged mountain man to not give a shit who was watching when he wanted to stake a claim on his woman. We’d been friends for years, the only person I would let into my life. But we’d never actually spent an extended amount of time together like this. We never did dinner, didn’t shoot the shit on the porch drinking beers. We helped each other prepare for the winter, chopping wood, gathering supplies. We hunted together, but kept our distance socially because that’s how we both wanted it. But ever since he married Ruby, found the woman who made him whole, I saw changes in him. He was still the gruff bastard I knew, but he was … different. But his solidarity and aloofness was why we got along so well. We were one and the same. But with her being in his life, I’d seen the wall he’d erected around himself slowly coming down. They lived in his cabin away from everyone else, but he seemed happy, complete. I couldn’t help it: part of myself wanted that as well, needed it on this deep-rooted level. I brought my beer to my mouth and took a long drink, finishing off the alcohol as I watched the flames dance across the logs in the fireplace. I heard Ruby giggling, knew that dinner tonight had been her idea. She was used to living around others, despite the fact she craved the solitude like her husband, like me. But it didn’t change the fact I felt out of place, almost uncomfortable being here. Despite all of that, my need to leave, to be alone once more, I kept thinking about Susie. I kept imagining, fantasizing having her with me, hearing her laugh softly as I ran my finger along her cheek, as I leaned in and whispered all the filthy fucking things I wanted to do to her.

“Do you want another beer, Bear?” Ruby asked. I glanced over at her and gave a tight nod. She handed a bottle to Wolf and he came over, sitting on the tattered leather chair across from me. He handed me the beer and I popped the cap, drinking half of it in one go, trying not to seem like I was crawling out of my skin being here. It was nothing against them. This was all on me; I’d allowed myself to be alone for so long this kind of social setting made me awkward as fuck. “You hate this, don’t you?” Wolf asked and grinned right before he brought the bottle to his mouth and took another drink. “I haven’t done … this in a long fucking time.” Wolf chuckled and looked at the fire for a prolonged moment. “Yeah, neither had I before Ruby came into my life.” He looked at his wife and smiled, the love clear on his face. “Before Ruby I don’t even know how I survived.” I’d never told Wolf about Susie, about my feelings for her or how I wanted what he had … a life, a family, to finally feel alive. After my mother passed away and the reality that I was truly alone in the world settled in on me, I knew that I might as well move on, live alone, stew in my own loneliness. That happened years ago, well over a decade. My mom had been the rock in my life, the one person I’d always been able to depend on. Even as a grown man I was a mama’s boy, looking up to her, knowing she could change the world if she wanted to. She raised me as a single parent, worked her ass off doing two jobs just so I’d have a roof over my head and food in my belly. So losing her suddenly, not being able to say goodbye, had fucked with my head. I was in a better place now, having accepted her death, moving on with my life—even if it was a solitary one. But the more I thought about it, the more I pictured what it would be like to have her around still. I knew she wouldn’t want me being this broody, cold and hardened bastard. She’d want me to be happy. And I wanted that too. So I’d found this little picturesque mountain town and used my savings to purchase the land and materials to build the cabin. I lived out of a tent for the better part of six months, taking my time but knowing that it had to be done before the first winter set in. And since then I’d slowly added on to it, made the wraparound porch, added a couple more rooms, made the cabin my own.

But I was tired of being alone. I wanted something more substantial in my life, wanted a legacy to leave. I wanted Susie as my wife, wanted to create a family with her. I stared at the flames, watching the reds and yellows move across the charred wood. The sound of crackling filled my head, drowned out everything else. I could picture her sitting beside me, my arm around her, her hand in mine. I’d keep her safe, protect her. I’d make sure no one and nothing ever hurt her. I looked back at Wolf, who watched me inquisitively. I could tell he knew my mind was turning, that maybe I was thinking about everything I’d lost, everything I didn’t have. He was a smart man, could read people like they were an open book. Maybe it was because he’d lived the same life as I had. Maybe it was because he knew that dark loneliness that ate at a person and filled their head with too much noise. It was time to change all of that, to rectify the situation. It was time to make Susie mine.

* * * Susie I loaded up the last of the grocery bags in my Jeep and shut the trunk, my hands shaking, my heart racing. I wasn’t nervous because I was going up to Bear’s cabin, but because of what I would tell him today. After speaking with Cherry and hearing her tell me about how I should go after what I wanted, that life was too short, I knew she was right. I couldn’t pretend things would fall into my lap, or that I’d be able to live with myself if I kept my emotions on lockdown. I didn’t want to always wonder what would have happened if I’d told Bear how I felt. It had been a month since I’d taken groceries to his place, and longer than that since I’d actually seen him. But during that whole time, I’d been thinking about how to go about this, how to tell him exactly how I felt. I was tired of waiting, pretending that staying back and keeping my mouth shut was for the best. It wasn’t. I was lonely and in love with him and he didn’t even know it. This could go a thousand different ways. If I told him I loved him and he turned me away, told me there was nothing that could ever happen between us, my heart would be broken. Or

maybe he’d embrace me, tell me he loved me too, that he’d been waiting for the right time to confess his feelings as well. Of course, the latter was my fantasy, something that most likely would not happen. The reality was, I was pretty sure of his reaction and how he would take what I had to say, how he would tell me being alone was what he wanted, why he lived the way he did. I would just be an obstacle, a confusion for him that he couldn’t deal with. Why else would he not have a woman yet, be married already? Bear had never said anything to me aside from a few gruffly spoken greetings in passing. I was nothing to him but the girl who dropped off his groceries. Even knowing all of that, even bracing myself for how things would happen, I was still going to go through with this. I was still going to tell Bear exactly how I felt and see where the chips landed. Because if I didn’t speak up now, I’d always wonder what would’ve happened if I was honest with him.

4 Bear

I heard her Cherokee approaching before I saw it. I grabbed a rag from the back porch and wiped the sweat from my face. I had my truck parked a few feet away, my tools set up beside it, the hood opened as I worked on the engine. The Jeep turned off, the sound of her car door opening and closing coming through. I made my way around the side of the house. There she stood, with her back toward me, looking around. A part of me wanted her to be looking for me. She gave a little huff after a few seconds and I couldn’t help but smile at that. Then Susie went over to the back of her Jeep and opened the passenger side door, grabbing a couple grocery bags before turning and facing the cabin. She still had yet to see me so I was able to watch her uninterrupted for a few seconds, enjoying the view. She started taking the grocery bags inside and I made my way slowly around the house until I stood in the front, staring at the door, looking inside of the darkened interior. I could hear her setting the bags on the counter, the shuffle of paper as she took everything out. My heart was beating hard and fast, this possessive part of me wanting to just go in there and toss all the shit on the ground, grab her hips and lift her onto the island. I wanted to step between her splayed thighs … take control. I’d gently cup her neck, my fingers wrapped around her throat, my mouth close to hers. I’d tell her all the things I wanted to do to her, all the filthy things I’d envisioned. She might be scared, would be smart to want to run away, but she’d look at me with desire and arousal reflected in her gaze. I’d know then that she was mine, that there was no going back. And then I found myself taking the four steps onto the porch, walking inside the house, and watching her as she unloaded the groceries and put them on the kitchen counter. She had her back to me, her long dark hair loose and in waves around her shoulders. I curled my hands into tight fists at my side, wanting to go to her, push the long fall of her hair off her shoulder and place my mouth right on the side of

her neck. I wanted to lick and suck at her flesh, taste her skin and see if she was as sweet as she looked. I found myself moving closer, my body having a mind of its own. Every part of me said to screw formalities, to forget about everything else aside from making Susie mine. The island stopped me from getting any closer, but then she turned around, our gazes clashing, her eyes widening. Her lips were red, naturally shaded that color and so kissable. My cock was hard, thickening behind my jeans, pressing against the zipper. The bastard wanted out, wanted to be buried deep inside of her, claiming her in the rough and primal way that a man did when he was consumed by the only woman he had ever wanted. The longer we stood there staring at each other, the more I saw her chest rising and falling, faster, harder. Her pupils became dilated, her mouth parting slightly. The air between us heated, became thick, almost suffocating. I lowered my gaze to her chest, not able to help myself, wanting to see the mounds behind the cotton of her shirt. Her nipples were hard, pressing against the fabric, making my mouth water. Things were moving fast, my arousal taking control. There was so much that needed said, so much that needed done before it got to this level. But I couldn’t stop, couldn’t control myself. I saw the way her throat moved when she swallowed, her nervousness clear. Hell, I could practically smell her emotions. She moved away from the island, her little teeth pulling at her bottom lip. My cock jerked behind my pants, the tip becoming slick with pre-cum. “Bear.” She said my name breathlessly. I envisioned her saying that in the throes of passion, her lying in my bed with me over her, her hair fanned out across my white sheets … my cock deep in her body. “I didn’t hear you come in.” She licked her lips, her little pink tongue moving along first her bottom lip, and then her top. I heard a deep rumble fill the house, realized it came from me. Her eyes widened even further and she took a step to the side, eyeing the door. Maybe she’d try and run from me. A part of me hoped she did. The savage part hoped I could chase her. I took a step back, not wanting to make her even more anxious. Although I knew she wasn’t afraid, could tell, see it in her face. She was unsure of how things were going right now, of how the situation was playing out. This was

the closest we’d been since she started delivering my groceries. That was my fault, though. I always stayed away, kept my distance. I might’ve helped her unload the groceries a time or two, but I never made eye contact. I kept distance between us because that was how I would keep my control in check. “I better get the rest of the groceries,” she said softly and turned to head out the front door. I took a step toward her but stopped, knowing that pushing her would make things worse. That was the last thing I wanted to do. I needed to talk to her, tell her all the things I wanted, all the things I’d kept inside. And so I found myself following her outside, down the steps and stopping in front of her Jeep. She held onto the edge of her back door, looking over at me, questions reflected back at me in her expression. She moved away from the door until she was a few feet from me, her expression unsure. She was scared, not of me, but of what was happening right now. “I told myself the next time I saw you I would tell you.” “Tell me what?” I was on a razor’s edge right now. She took long moments to answer, but I gave her that time—not pushing her, not revealing how I felt, what I wanted. She was looking down at her feet, her hands in front of her twisting together, her anxiety high enough I could feel it like it was my own. And then she looked up at me, licking her lips, this deer caught in headlights expression on her face. “I’ve been asking to be the one to bring your groceries up this whole time.” I could see how nervous she was saying this to me, but I didn’t speak, just let her take her time. “And it’s because I have feelings for you, Bear.” A long moment of silence passed before she continued. “I know we don’t really know each other, haven’t said much of anything. But I feel something for you. I come up here hoping to see you, hoping that the few words we exchange will lead to something more.” She chuckled softly. “It’s insane, I know. I told myself I’d be honest with you, that I’d tell you the truth. I didn’t want to keep all of this bottled up anymore. As it is, it’s eating me up inside.” I didn’t respond, not because I didn’t want to, but because I didn’t know how to. I’d been the one that expected to say these words, to confess my feelings. The last thing I expected was Susie telling me how she felt, that she wanted me as well. “God,” she whispered and ran her hands through her long hair. “I must sound like a crazy person, professing my feelings when you don’t even know me.” She closed her eyes and hung her head a little bit, shaking it as if she were humiliated.

I felt something shift inside of me. I knew that I couldn’t let her think telling me was wrong. I found myself right in front of her, my hands cupping her cheeks as I tilted her head back so she was forced to look at me. Her eyes were wide; no doubt she was surprised by my actions. “Bear?” She whispered my name and it sounded incredible. “I told myself I would tell you how I felt the next time I saw you. I’ve been a coward hiding in the shadows, watching you every time you came up here, wanting you like some possessive bastard. But I’d always stayed back, not wanting to frighten you, knowing that the life I lead isn’t for everyone.” I leaned down slightly so we were face-to-face. “I didn’t know how to tell you that I wanted you as mine.” I stared into her eyes, my control slipping, the need to kiss her running in me strong. “There’s no way I could describe in words what I want with you, how I feel for you. Maybe we are both crazy.” She sucked in a breath. “So I’m going to show you, Susie. I’m going to show you what it means to be mine.”

5 Susie

Before I could understand what was happening, Bear had us inside, the front door shut, both of us just a few feet away from the other now. “I hope you’re ready, Susie,” he said low, soft, his voice this rough growl. God, I couldn’t breathe. He was like an animal, stalking me, making me feel so damn vulnerable in the best of ways. He made me retreat until my back was to the wall. I felt my breathing increase, my chest rising and falling, my nipples pressing against my shirt, the tips sensitive, my body aching. “Is this really happening?” I whispered, not meaning to say the words out loud, but feeling them with every part of my body. I didn’t expect him to answer. He kept his focus trained right on me. “So much more is going to happen, Susie.” I licked my lips, so wet, so needy for him. He made this deep sound in the back of his throat, his focus going down to my chest. I felt my nipples tighten even further. This wasn’t just about my arousal, but my emotions as well, running high, taking over. I looked down and saw how hard my nipples were. They ached, wanted to feel his hot, wet mouth covering them. And then I found myself acting out of character, just going with it, letting my inhibitions go and lifting my hands to cover my breasts, cupping them, my nipples digging into my palms. “Don’t hide yourself from me. Let me see what’s mine, Susie, what I’ll be claiming.” Was I hiding myself from him, or tempting him? “Drop your hands, Susie. Let me see you, all of you.” I removed my hands, let them hang at my sides. “Now the shirt, baby. Take it off. Let me see how pink your nipples really are.”

And then he was right in front of me, his hands on my arms, his fingers skating along my flesh. He stopped at my wrists, placing his fingers right over my pulse point. I felt it jump, speed up. “Once you’re mine, there’s no going back, there’s no denying it.” “Maybe I don’t want to go back. Maybe I’ve wanted this for a long time.” And here I was, being honest in a roundabout way, telling him but not really saying the truth. “Mine. You’ve always been mine, Susie.” I became lightheaded, my mouth parting on its own, my lips feeling sensitive, wanting his kiss, needing it like I needed to breathe. He leaned back just an inch, but still I couldn’t catch my breath. I inhaled deeply and exhaled just as forcefully, taking in the very masculine, potent scent of him. He smelled like the woods that surrounded us, the redwoods that towered around us like living creatures. Every erogenous zone in my body tingled at the way he looked at me, like he wanted to devour me. I felt my pussy become wetter, my nipples aching, becoming even harder. “I want you,” I found myself admitting. “I really want you, Bear. I have for a long time.” And there it was, the words hanging between us. He placed his hands by my head on the wall and leaned in, this deep, low sound leaving him, like an animal set free. His nostrils flared as he took in my scent, as he went primal. It was like he stroked my flesh with his look alone, like he undressed me. Touch me. Be with me. Make me yours. But he moved away just as I lifted my hand to bring him in close, to have my body pressed to his. He kept his focus on me, on my body. “Did you think I was leaving you, baby? Did you think I was stopping this?” I shook my head, not sure what to say, how to respond. “Oh no, baby. I’ve only just begun.” He lifted his hand and ran it over his mouth as he stared at my breasts. “I want to see you. I want to see every part of you.” Moving away from the wall, I didn’t even hesitate in gripping the edge of my shirt and lifting it up and over my head. I needed the offending material

gone. The air was chilled, and my skin puckered with goosebumps. He looked at me as if he owned me, as if he wanted to possess every inch of me. His gaze was penetrating, like he was reaching out and touching me. He looked right in my eyes. “Take it all off.” My hands shook as I did what he wanted, as I undid my bra, then went for my pants, my panties. I felt his need for me. It matched my own in intensity. When I was naked before him, nothing hiding me from this man, I watched as he looked his fill of my body. “God, Susie.” He ran his hand over his mouth again. “You’re so damn beautiful.” I knew what we were about to do would change everything. His gaze lingered on my pussy and then lifted to my breasts. I felt my nipples harden further, if that was even possible. This man held so much power over my body; I couldn’t even think straight when I was around him. Chills raced along my entire body, my arousal a force to be reckoned with, another living entity in this room. “I want you.” I said the words, wanting him like I needed to breathe. I didn’t want foreplay, or maybe I did. I just wanted Bear to touch me. “And you’ll have every part of me.” His voice was a husky growl, one that sounded more animal than man. He reached down and gripped himself through his jeans obscenely, but I liked it. God, I liked watching him touch himself because of me. “You see how hard I am for you, how much I want you, Susie?” I felt myself nodding, my body reacting automatically. Bear was the only person who made me feel alive, who’d ever made me want to experience more in life. I felt like I was on the precipice of falling over a cliff, the view bottomless, the ground never in sight. He made me feel nervous and anxious, uncertain of what was next. And I craved it. When he moved forward again, I held my breath. He reached out and cupped my chin in a firm, strong hold. For long seconds he didn’t say anything, didn’t even move. The air around us grew hot, humid … charged with our combined arousal.

“Bear.” I whispered his name. He moved his thumb along my bottom lip, skating the pad over the flesh, staring at the act. “You’re shaking,” he whispered. I was, but not from fear. I was excited. “I should have told you how I felt long ago. I should have been a man and claimed you instead of waiting on the sidelines being a brooding bastard.” I didn’t know what to say. I could have told him the same thing, that I’d waited so long too, that I had wasted so much time worrying and wondering instead of acting and taking charge. Then do it. Say it. Tell him. “Bear,” I whispered. Tell him the truth. What can it hurt at this point? “Tell me, Susie. Tell me anything, everything.” He slid his hands down my outer thighs and my pussy tingled, my clit throbbing in time with my pulse. My mouth was dry, my head throbbing with everything I wanted to tell him, with the endorphins and adrenaline pumping through my veins. “I want it all.” That was the only thing I could say at the moment. Bear moved his hands in slow but demanding movements, scraping his nails slightly into my flesh. I gasped, the pleasure maddening. “Tell me you like this, that you like what I’m doing to you.” I nodded, not trusting my voice. He was controlled as he touched every part of me, as he ran his fingers over every part of my body. Then he had his hands on my breasts, tweaking my nipples, making me cry out in pleasure and pain. I still couldn’t speak, my throat tight, dry. He curled his hand around my breast, adding pressure, making it hurt in a good way. He made this deep, gruff sound. “Say my name. Tell me you want me to lick your pretty pink pussy, that you want me to make you come with my mouth and then with my cock.” He added more pressure. Another gasp of pleasure left me. “Yes,” I groaned. “Say the words,” he demanded.

“Yes, I want all of that.” He growled. “Yeah, of course you fucking do.” He breathed hard, fast. “Because it’s exactly what I want.” And then Bear had me in his arms, his hands cupping my ass, and was striding to his room. He put me on the bed and took a step back. Time seemed to stand still as he stared at me, not speaking, not moving, but certainly looking at every part of me on display. “I want to see you spread for me.” My heart stalled for a moment, and then I was in the position he wanted. I curled my hands into fists, waiting for whatever he had planned. I lay there watching as he took his pants off, my body temperature heating, yet chills raced up my body. I stared at his chest. The sight of his exposed pectoral muscles and defined abdomen had a fresh gush of wetness leaving my pussy. I was primed for him. And as I looked at his cock, I felt my throat tighten. He was huge. My pussy clenched with the need to be filled by him. “Spread your legs for me, Susie. Let me see how wet you are for me.” I licked my lips, my mouth so damn dry like I’d swallowed sand. I braced my feet on the bed and spread my legs wide until I knew my pussy was obscenely on display for him. Then Bear was moving closer to me, his look purely predatory. When he was close enough, he reached out and smoothed his fingers over my inner thighs, moving closer to the part of my body that ached the most for him. He added pressure, his nails now scraping along my skin hard enough there was a flash of pain mixing with the pleasure. I gasped in surprise, needing more. The way he stayed silent, watching me with intent, turned me on so damn badly. He leaned above me, his mouth so close to my pussy, his warm breath moving along my exposed folds. A shiver worked through me. “Please. Bear. I need more.” I arched my back, my nipples hard, aching. And when Bear ran his tongue over one hard tip, we both groaned. “You’re so fucking receptive to my touch,” he murmured against my breast before he sucked a nipple into his mouth. Over and over he moved his tongue along the peak, sucking on the flesh, tugging at it with his teeth, and bringing me closer to coming. He sucked harder and faster, groaning against the flesh until vibrations

went right to my clit. “Bear.” “Say my name again.” He growled the words out. “Bear. Oh my God. Yes, Bear. I’m going to come.” He groaned and smoothed his fingers between my slick pussy folds. My back bowed as pleasure slammed into me. He moved his lips up my chest and settled at the crook of my neck, gently pulling at my flesh with his teeth. He had his hand between my legs, his fingers rubbing at my clit in gentle, pressurized motions. “More,” I begged shamelessly. “Christ,” he groaned. I cried out as he moved his finger around the little bud faster. “Give it to me, Susie. Let go and come.” I placed my hands on Bear’s shoulders, wanting him closer, needing so much more. He didn’t stop rubbing his fingers against my clit, giving me pleasure, making it never end. I came for him, because of him. When the pleasure started to dim I ached for more, desperate for it to last forever. He used the weight of his body to press me down on the mattress, his chest to mine, his strength meshing with my softness. “So fucking good.” He growled out the words. “Knowing I’m making you feel good gets me off, baby.” He ground his erection into my belly. He reached between us to touch my wet pussy again, rubbing his fingers through my folds. I was going mad with my lust. He ground himself against me harder, as if he was losing his mind … like I was. “I’m so fucking hard for you, Susie. You feel how hard you make me?” He was huge and hard against me. Bear slid his hand down my thighs and took hold behind my knee. I couldn’t breathe, my throat so dry and tight, this arousal pumping through me

like another person in the room. He moved in between my open legs, his cock now pressed right up against my pussy. I gasped and he groaned. I knew I had to tell him this was my first time. Licking my lips, I inhaled and just said it. “Bear, I’m a virgin.” He growled, this purely animalistic sound leaving him. “Mine,” he said with determination. “All. Fucking. Mine.”

6 Susie

Sensations moved through me, controlling me, trying to consume every inch of my body. I found myself desiring to do whatever he wanted, not because I was weak, but because it gave me pleasure to make him feel good. Did he feel the same way? “Give me everything, Susie. Give me you.” His voice was husky, deep. It moved over me like fingers stroking along my entire body. Bear thrust his massive cock against my pussy, back and forth, slow and easy, torturing me. The thick length moved up and down my center, teasing my clit, making the bundle of nerves swell, my lust burning hotter. He ran his teeth and tongue along the side of my throat, right over my pulse point. “You were mine before we got to this point, but once I’m stretching your virgin pussy, once that cherry is popped and my cum is filling you … there’s no going back.” He pulled back ad looked into my eyes. “Is that what you want?” I nodded, not able to say a word. He moved back another inch and I looked down to watch him grab his dick, stroking the monster from base to tip. “Say the words. I want to hear them.” I swallowed. “I want this, Bear.” He shook his head. “Say it how I want to hear it.” I licked my lips. “I want you stretching me with your big cock, popping my cherry.” He groaned and clenched his jaw, the muscles under his scruff-covered cheek flexing. He opened his eyes again and used the hand not gripping himself to touch me. Bear started touching me again, rubbing his fingers up and down the lips of my pussy, making me wetter for him. He moved a finger lower, plunging it into my body. I opened my mouth on a silent cry, my body trembling for him, for his touch. He started fucking me with his finger and I knew I was going to come

from this alone. My pussy clenched around his digit, sucking it in deeper, needing something thicker, more substantial. “Let go.” And as if his words had been what I needed, I came for him, closing my eyes and crying out. I reached up and gripped his wrist, holding onto it for support as I was thrown over the edge. It was when the pleasure dimmed and I floated back to reality that I realized Bear had removed his finger from my pussy and was now right between my splayed thighs. He claimed my mouth, plunging his tongue into the hot, wet recesses and fucking me there. I felt him move on top of me, knew he was pressing his hips into the mattress, dry-humping it because he couldn’t control himself. That turned me on even more. “Fuck,” he said in a deep voice. I spread my legs wider, his body big and hard, pressing me into the mattress, making me feel wholly feminine. The pleasure still coursed through me, stealing any thoughts from my mind, taking the very breath from my lungs. He pulled back after long seconds and stared at my pussy, this look of pure need, of untold desire, flashing across his masculine face. I was burning up, yet goosebumps moved along my arms and legs. Bear reached between my legs and spread my pussy lips wide. He stared at the most intimate part of me for what seemed like forever. “I’m going to fucking devour you.” And then his face was between my legs, his warm breath moving along my exposed flesh. He placed a hand on each of my inner thighs, holding me in place, keeping me immobile for what he was about to do. “Ask me for it,” he demanded, looking up at me from between my spread thighs. I couldn’t breathe, couldn’t even think of a single word, but I found myself wanting to say the words, wanting to admit them. “I want to feel you down there.” “Doing what, baby?” He still stared at me, his pupils dilated. “I want you to lick me, to make me come with your lips and tongue.” He groaned and closed his eyes, not moving for a long second. When he opened his eyes, I swear I saw a flash of primal need. And then he had his mouth on my pussy. He worked his tongue around my clit, moving the muscle

along my lips, sucking the cream from me. The sound of him sucking at my flesh seemed to reverberate in the room, echo off the walls … make my arousal climb higher. I was so close to coming already and he’d only just started. But just when the sweet taste of release would have claimed me, he stopped. I groaned in disappointment, opening my eyes, not realizing I’d closed them. “Don’t worry, baby. I’m not done. I just got started.” He moved up my body, licking, sucking at my flesh. He dragged his tongue over one of my nipples, drawing a cry of ecstasy from me. I arched into his mouth, needing more. “Bear,” I found myself whispering. He licked and sucked at my breasts until the peaks were hard and red, wet from his mouth. Then he moved back, looking down the length of my body, staring right at my spread pussy. Bear grabbed his cock again, aligned the tip of his dick with the entrance of my body, and for a second we just stared at each other. “Tell me how much you want this, you want me.” I was breathing hard, hyperventilating. “I want it all.” He’d never know how much I meant those words. “You want me to fuck you, claim every part of you?” I found myself nodding, not able to speak. “You want my cock stretching you, popping that virgin cherry, filling you with my cum?” “God,” I gasped out. “Yes.” I was willing to beg for it. He started to push inside and I felt the stretch and burn from his penetration. Tears pricked the corners of my eyes, my virginity now taken by this man, the one I loved. He made these deep-rooted sounds, ones that came from deep within his chest. “God, yes,” he ground out, his focus on me. Bear gripped my waist as he continued to push deep into me. He was slow and easy at first, gentle even, but I could see he was holding back, restraining himself. “I want all of you,” I whispered, knowing he’d understood what I meant. And then it was like something in him snapped. Bear started to fuck me in long, hard strokes. Over and over he plowed into me, the sounds of our moans and gasps filling the room. Sweat lined the valley between my breasts, the mounds moving back and forth sensually as he thrust in and out of me.

I had the sheets tightly in my hands, holding them as he claimed me. “Touch me. Hang on to me,” he demanded, growled out. I grabbed onto his biceps and dug my nails into his flesh. He started fucking me in slow, languid strokes, making every part of me come alive, burn for him. Before I knew what was happening, Bear pulled out of me, flipped me onto my belly, and gave my ass a hard slap. I looked over my shoulder, gasping from the pain, but also the pleasure that slammed into me. “So fucking gorgeous,” he murmured low, as if to himself. He touched my ass, gave the mounds a squeeze and skimmed his fingers along the flesh until I was all but lifting my bottom to him, needing more. He pushed my legs apart and the air moved along the most sensitive part of me. My pussy felt swollen, wet. In fact, I was soaked for him. I was still staring at him over my shoulder, and glanced down the hard planes of his defined abdomen, stopping at his hard cock. He was huge, long and thick, the head slightly wider than the shaft, a drop of pre-cum lining the tip. “It’s been a long time for me, Susie. I haven’t been with a woman in so fucking long.” He looked at me. Our gazes held. “I’m too worked up for you.” He slipped his finger through my slit, moving the digit up and down my center, making me cry out involuntarily. Bear placed the tip of his cock back at my pussy, held onto my waist, and curled his fingers into my flesh. And then he thrust into me in one deep, hard move. My cry was muffled, my face pressed into the mattress. This position made him feel deeper in my body. “You’re so fucking tight. This virgin pussy was made for me, only me. Isn’t that right?” His voice was gruff. “Yes. Only yours, Bear.” I couldn’t help but moan those words out. “Your cunt will be nice and stretched by my dick alone.” He slammed into me again and again, groaning behind me, causing me to shift on the bed with his thrusting. I couldn’t think straight. “Christ,” he said on a harsh whisper. “Yes,” he hissed out. “So fucking hot.” The groan that came from him was long and deep.

His balls were pressed right against my clit, slapping the bundle of nerves every time he thrust into me, slammed that hard cock into my pussy. “That’s it, baby. You feel so fucking good.” He moved faster, harder, fucking me with long, powerful strokes. God, I wanted this to last, needed it to. I didn’t ever want it to end. He gripped me harder, making it known with his touch that I was his. The possession in his hold was tangible, clear as day. Bear grabbed a chunk of my hair with his other hand and pulled my head back. With my throat arched, exposed, I was vulnerable to him. “Come on, baby. Give me one more.” Another orgasm rose up, consuming me, making me cry out for more. He tightened his hold on my hair a little harder, thrusting into me faster. I couldn’t help but cry out for more, from the sensitivity of it all. “Bear,” I cried out and closed my eyes as my climax washed through me. He pushed into me once. Twice. And on the third thrust he buried himself deep in my body and filled me with his cum. And when he finally relaxed, Bear pulled away, his hands lingering on my hips for a moment. I was too exhausted to hold myself up. I collapsed on my belly, eyes closed, breathing hard. After a moment, I forced myself to open my eyes. My head was to the side and I watched as Bear looked at me, this intense stare on his face, trained right on me. He owned me, irrevocably, undeniably. He reached out and rubbed his cum along my flesh, as if wanting his scent, his very essence engrained in me. “I do,” he said and I hadn’t realized I’d said that thought out loud. I should have felt humiliation over that, but all I felt was longing, need, and my arousal climbing. He pulled me close, holing me tightly, making me feel like nothing could touch us, that we were in our own little world. There was no doubt Bear was primal and intense, that he was feral and a loner. But being with him, having him touch me, give me pleasure, told me I was his … all of that made me feel like the wall he’d built around himself was crumbling.

For me.

7 Bear Three months later

I parked outside of the grocery store where Susie worked, my nerves running high being in town. I was a recluse, a hermit, more or less, and I most definitely wasn’t a fucking people person. I didn’t miss the townspeople glancing at me, the way they whispered, no doubt talking about one of the savage mountain men who’d come down into town. But over the last three months I’d found myself coming into town more than I ever had. And it was all because of Susie. It was all because I loved her so fucking much I’d deal with the suffocation I felt when I was around all these damn people. I straightened when I saw her leaving the grocery store, her focus on me and her smile wide. God, I loved that woman more than life itself. Over these last few months we’d been talking about her moving in with me, and although I’d never rush her, the very thought of sharing my space with her, waking up with her beside me every morning, holding her as she fell asleep every night, had me jonesing to rush it. But I also knew that I’d wait an eternity for her to decide what she wanted to do. And if she didn’t want to move in with me, well, we’d cross that bridge when we came to it. What I did know was that I’d move to this godforsaken town if that was her wish. I’d realized shortly after I’d claimed her that if she wanted to move to the busiest city in the world, I would have gladly followed her. Because not having her in my life was not an option. She crossed the street and climbed into the passenger side of my truck. The scent of vanilla and cherries filled my nose, instantly made me hard, and all I wanted to do was pull her over the seat, into my lap, and fuck her. But instead I leaned over and kissed her, closing my eyes and inhaling deeply, taking her scent into my lungs and memorizing it. I straightened and cranked the engine, driving out of town and to the lake. The drive was twenty minutes outside of town limits, the picnic lunch I’d packed before picking her up sitting in the back of my truck, as well as the bottle of homemade wine, a

thick blanket, and my need for her overriding all of it. Once at the lake, I parked the vehicle and cut the ignition. The click, click, click of the engine cooling filled the interior. Looking over at Susie, I saw she already watched me, her gaze hooded, her smile soft. I could practically feel her arousal coming from her in waves, knew she was ready for me. Even though I didn’t give a shit about people watching us, we were on our own out here. Privacy, seclusion. It’s what I craved, especially when I wanted to make my mark on my woman. I reached across and pulled her onto my lap, her legs on either side of me, the gasp leaving her sweet and intoxicating. “What are you doing?” she whispered, the lust in her voice clear, driving mine higher, making me just want to reach between us and pull my cock out, push her panties aside, and plunge into her welcoming body. Instead, I kissed her, cupped her nape, took control. I licked her bottom lip, her flavor sweet, addicting. When I pulled back she panted, her pupils dilated, her need for me as strong as mine. “The food’s getting cold,” I said and grinned, hearing her disappointed moan. It fueled me higher. We climbed out of the car and I grabbed the basket and blanket from the back. With the basket in one hand and the blanket draped over my arm, I took her hand with my free one and led her to the lake. I found a clearing, spread the blanket out, and started pulling the food out. My mind was not on this fucking scene, but having my girl so worked up I could practically hear her breathing behind me turned me on so damn much. And once everything was set up, I turned and faced her, my cock achingly, painfully hard. Who the fuck was I kidding? I couldn’t control myself when it came to Susie. “Come here, baby.” And when she was right up against me I used my upper body to press her to the blanket. I positioned my hips between her open thighs and pressed my jean-clad erection against her panty-covered mound. Her skirt had ridden up her thighs, and I was thanking God right now that she’d worn it. A moan spilled from her when I thrust against her. “That’s it, Susie. Give me more.” She speared her hands into my hair and pulled me closer, kissing me with fervor. Her warm tongue slid along mine, stroking, mimicking the exact sexual act I was about to do to her. A slow, steady thrust of my hips against

her had her panting against my mouth. She lifted her hips for more and I groaned. “More,” she murmured against my mouth. “Oh, baby, I’ll give you so much more you won’t be able to handle it.” I slid my hand down her side and stopped on her outer bare thigh. I was so hard, like a steel rod behind the fly of my jeans. I kept trailing my fingers high and higher, twisting my hand until my finger brushed along the crease where her leg met her pussy. I was about ready to come in my jeans like some damn teenager. Rivulets of sweat beaded down the length of my spine. We tilted our heads at the same time, our tongues delving deeper between each other’s lips until the act of fucking was constant, obvious. I broke the kiss, panting. “You taste so good.” I trailed my lips over her jaw and down her neck to where her pulse beat frantically. I continued a slow, steady press of my hard cock against her. And then I was resting my fingers at the edge of her panties, not moving, just rubbing the pad of the digit back and forth. I groaned against her neck, my body tense, my breathing ragged. “Yes.” She lifted her hips, rubbing herself against me, making this animal break free inside of me. When I let my fingers slip underneath her panties, finally touching her wet slit, I groaned like a madman. Sliding the digits up to her clit, I rubbed the engorged bud back and forth, causing her to cry out. “You’re so wet for me.” I moved my fingers down her slit and teased the pad of my thumb along the opening of her body. Her legs shook as she braced her feet on the ground, her thighs wide open for me. When I dipped just the tip of my finger into her, she cried out. “You’re so fucking tight and wet, so ready for me.” Her inner muscles clenched down and I groaned. I captured her mouth in a kiss, sliding my tongue between her lips at the same time I pushed my finger deeper into her body, past the second knuckle. With a twist of my wrist I removed my thumb and placed it at her clit, fucking her with my finger at the same time as I rubbed the little bud. “I want you to come for me.” I moved my thumb faster on her clit and lifted my head to stare down at her, watching as she got off. “Go on, Susie, give it to me.” Her mouth parted and her eyes widened as the pleasure exploded from her.

She held onto my biceps, her nails digging into my flesh. “God, Bear,” she moaned, her eyes closing and her body going rigid as pleasure stole her. I watched her the whole time, seeing her pleasure consume her, knowing it was because of me. I gave her a slow, drugging kiss. I wasn’t nearly done with her. I’d never be done with her. She opened her eyes and I watched that lust climb as she stared into my very soul. She owned every part of me. “Bear.” My cock hardened. “One day soon I’m going to make you mine in every single way, even more than now. My wife, the mother of my children … mine in every single fucking way.” She gasped and nodded. “Yes, Bear.” She cupped my face and kissed me softly. “I think that would require us to live together,” she whispered. Pulling back, she stared into my eyes. “So how about we start by moving my shit to your cabin?” She grinned. My heart pounded against my chest. “Yeah, baby?” She nodded. “Yeah, baby.” And I didn’t think it could happen, but damn, I fell in love with her even more.

Epilogue One Susie One year later

“You’re doing great,” Ruby said and I looked over at her, holding my hands tightly at my sides, both of them curled in a tight fist to stop them from shaking. I was nervous as hell, knowing I shouldn’t be because this was an intimate ceremony that I’d wanted for a very long time, that I’d dreamed of. Ruby came over to me and adjusted my veil, placing it over my face until a light sheen of white obstructed my view. My wedding gown was simplistic but beautiful, one with nature. Made of cotton with lace accents, it wasn’t anything fancy but it was exactly what I’d always envisioned I’d wear on my wedding day. I stood in the cabin I’d shared with Bear for the last year, my bouquet of simple wildflowers sitting on the table, the baby blue satin ribbon tied around them and keeping them together matching the same ribbon tied around my waist. “Oh my God!” The sound of Cherry’s voice came through and I looked over my shoulder to stare at my best friend. “You’re so damn gorgeous I could cry, but then I’d have to redo my make-up, and ain’t no one got time for that.” She started waving her hand in front of her face, as if the act would stop the tears. Leave it to Cherry to have my nervousness leaving, at least for a short while. “She’s right. You look so pretty,” Ruby said, this big grin on her face. “Makes me want to get married all over again.” She chuckled and I looked over at her, feeling my face heat, my heart race. “Almost. I was way too nervous on my wedding day to want to relive that.” She chuckled again. I felt like my heart was going to explode out of my chest. I moved over to the chair and sat down, needing to relax and catch my breath. “I feel like I’m going to pass out, or maybe throw up.” “I was that and more. It’s not like we had a large wedding either. It was small and intimate with only a few people on my side and nobody on Wolf’s

side,” Ruby said and moved over to me. Cherry was already sitting on the seat beside me, her hand in mine, giving me her strength when I was about ready to crawl out of my skin. “I don’t know why I’m so nervous. I’ve wanted this for, God, I don’t know, years.” “It’s normal, and I guarantee Bear is feeling the same thing, although he’d never show it.” I nodded, knowing Ruby was right. No, men like Bear and Wolf didn’t show emotion on the outside, at least not with anyone else. There was a knock on the door and my heart jumped. “Ladies, it’s time.” Wolf’s voice came through the wood loud and clear and I felt my nervousness increase. “You’ll do great. It’ll be over before you know it and you’ll wish you could marry him all over again—well, until he gets on your nerves for leaving the toilet seat up, or tossing his dirty clothes right beside the hamper instead of inside it.” I burst out laughing. “Man, Ruby, you’re making marriage sound incredible,” Cherry said sarcastically and we all laughed. “Ready?” Ruby said and I nodded. We stood and I let them lead me outside to where we had the ceremony set up. A simple archway where the officiant would stand, a few wooden benches Bear had made on either side to seat our guests. Petals scattered along the aisle, blue ribbon on each of the chairs. This was my life now. The next half hour seemed to pass quickly, in a blur. My father walked me down the aisle, gave me away. I was crying before I’d even made it to Bear, but as I stood there in front of our family and friends, he lifted his hands and wiped my tears away with the pads of his thumbs, never once taking his focus off me. I don’t even know if I’d said the right thing, spoken the correct vows. I was in a haze as I stared at the man I’d loved for longer than I could ever even admit. And then it was done, we were joined as husband and wife. There was clapping all around, our friends and family witnessing the start of our lives together. I couldn’t stop the grin that spread across my face, or the tears that

formed in the corner of my eyes. “I’m really yours now,” I whispered. “You’ve always been mine.” God, wasn’t that the truth.

Epilogue Two Bear Three years later

“Push, baby. Come on, you can do it.” “Bear, if you don’t shut the hell up, I’m going to kill you,” Susie said once her contraction subsided. I reached for a rag and wiped the sweat from her forehead, strands of her hair sticking to her temples. “Is Rooney okay? He’s not scared or anything? I’m trying to keep my shit together.” I shook my head. “He’s fine. He’s outside with Cherry hunting for frogs to put in the pond.” With Susie in labor with our second child, I should have known how all of this would go, been prepared. But hell, I was a wreck and hated that she was in pain. And then everything happened fast. She started pushing, the contractions coming on one right after the other. I felt my heart race, but I tried to appear calm, stay collected for her. The minutes passed, blurring into an hour, Susie bringing our family’s newest addition into this world. “That’s it,” the midwife said, giving her support. And then I heard our baby cry, a sweet but high-pitched squeal that had me grinning and looking over at Susie. She had a couple tears falling down her cheeks, and I leaned over and wiped them away with the pad of my thumb. “A gorgeous little girl with a head full of dark hair,” the midwife said and I felt pride fill me. “Just like Rooney,” I said and took the baby from the midwife, bringing her over to Susie. I handed our daughter to my wife, the only woman who had ever made me feel alive. “Can you bring him in here?” Susie asked and I nodded, leaning down and kissing her on the forehead. I left to go get our son, knowing he would be excited to meet his sister. Once I had him in my arms with Cherry following behind, her hands covering her mouth as she cried because of how happy she was, I went back into the

bedroom. Rooney was wiggling in my arms and babbling about meeting his new sister. We walked into the bedroom and I saw Susie sitting up in bed, the baby bundled up and cradled in her arms. She looked so small in the pink blanket, her dark hair matted to her head because she still needed a bath. I set Rooney on the floor and he ran toward his mom, trying to jump on the bed. “Easy, buddy,” I said and grabbed his hand, gently pulling him toward me. I got down on my haunches and looked him in the eyes. “We have to be gentle. Baby sister is very little and fragile.” Rooney puffed out his chest and tipped his head back, getting this serious expression on his face. At three years old he had the world in his hands and he knew it. “I’m gonna protect her,” he said quickly, his voice full of pride. “I know, buddy,” I said and ruffled his hair. “You’ll be the best big brother.” He turned and looked at Susie and she held her hand out for him. She pulled him in close and helped him up on the bed to sit beside her. I rose up and sat on the edge of the mattress, watching as she spoke softly to Rooney, telling him about his baby sister. “What’s her name?” Rooney asked, his little face turned toward the baby, his focus trained right on her. “Bailey,” Susie said and grinned when Rooney looked up at her, his eyes wide and his mouth open in surprise. “That’s the name I picked,” he said excitedly, his voice hushed as he glanced over at the baby, clearly fearing he’d woken her. “That’s right,” Susie said softly and leaned in to kiss him on the forehead. “We loved the name you picked out so much we decided that baby sister should be called that.” Rooney lifted his hands and covered his mouth, giggling softly. I sat there and stared at my wife and two children, the love I had for them bursting from me. For so long I’d been on my own, accepting the solitude and embracing it. It had been perfect for me, what my life had been about. But then Susie had come into my life and changed everything about me. I couldn’t even envision myself without her by my side, without the two beautiful children we’d created running around the property, looking up to us for strength and support. There was a lot to be thankful for in the world, a lot I’d taken for granted for so long. But no more. I’d never take for granted what I had in my life, how lucky I truly was.

And until the day I died, took my last breath, I’d make sure Susie, Rooney, and baby Bailey knew exactly whose corner I was in. Theirs.

The End

The Underground Series Something Fierce His Wrath Deeper: coming soon

Brea Collins’s past kept resurfacing no matter how hard she tried to outrun it. When she finally settled in a small town, working at a club to save enough for what she hoped was her final escape, she never expected to meet Adrian Holden, a man who made her feel something other than fear. Adrian’s life has been far from a fairy tale. He fought in the Underground, an illegal cage fighting organization housed below an up-and-coming nightclub. It was his anger and grief that fueled him, that made him the barbarian he was. When he saw Brea, she called out to every protective, possessive instinct in him. But their happiness could only last so long. With two traumatic pasts and an uncertain future, there was bound to be something that drove them apart. But Adrian was determined to have Brea at all costs, and he would do everything in his power to ensure that, even if it meant raw knuckles and bodies at his feet.

Warning: Please note there may be sensitive content that triggers readers. Previously published under the title Adrian’s Wrath, this story has been revised, re-edited, and new content has been added.

1 Adrian threw another shot back and stared ahead. The club was packed, as usual, but he was impervious to all that happened around him. His thoughts were too raw, too real. He needed to drink tonight away and just be somewhere else, at a different time, not stuck in the fucking past. “Another.” He slid the empty shot glass across the counter. The bartender grabbed the whiskey and gave him a refill. This was his fourth shot, and Adrian had no intention of stopping. Maybe he could get drunk enough to forget about tonight, to forget about everything he’d lost. Through the mirror lining the back of the bar, Adrian could see her before she even sidled up to him. Her platinum-blonde hair was in need of a new dye job, and her lips were covered in this coral-red shade that reminded him of a clown. He slammed the glass on the counter for another drink, and it was refilled right away. She stood beside him now, her perfume overpowering as she “accidentally” bumped into him. They were all the same. They all thought they were someone special, that they had the pussy of the century. To Adrian they were not something he’d allow himself to get lost in. He drank the shot, loving how the burn from the alcohol had since diminished and all he felt was numbness. “I’m sorry. Can I just grab one of these?” Her ploy to get his attention wasn’t lost on him, but he wasn’t interested. He could have told her as much and saved her the time of trying to get in his pants, but right now his mind was blank, the alcohol making nothing really matter. Of course that had been the point. When she leaned across the counter, practically sitting on his lap to get a napkin, of all things, he could see her nipples poking through the thin material of her top. All it did was make him feel disgust. “Not interested,” he said without looking at her. Thankfully she didn’t argue, didn’t try and push herself on him even more. The club was popping despite the fact it was a Wednesday night. Fighting was the only outlet that helped to relieve the pain, anger, and all-out hatred he felt on a constant basis.

Closing his eyes, he exhaled. He was tired, so fucking tired of the daily repetition that was his life. With his eyes still closed, his senses became heightened. He felt the vibrations of the music, smelled the overpoweringly cloying scent of sweat and sex. And then the scent of roses filled his senses despite the tang of spilled beer and arousal in the air. Instantly he knew who it was, and he didn’t stop himself from opening his eyes and turning to the right, seeing her. She was only a couple feet from him, a waitress leaning against the side of the bar, the tray in her hands overflowing with empty glasses. She looked tired … and sad. Hell, he knew all about the kind of sadness that consumed a person. She was a tiny thing, short and thin and way out of her element working at a place like this. That much was obvious. As if she sensed him, she lifted her head and met his gaze. Even from the distance and without adequate lighting he could make out the startling blue of her eyes. He would never be able to forget when she had looked up at him that night in the Underground, the crowd intense, the scent of blood filling the air. He’d ripped those men away from her as she appeared scared. When Adrian had heard her scream, even with the noise surrounding them and the blood rushing to his ears as he faced off with his opponent in the cage, every protective instinct inside of him had gone on high alert. Memories had assaulted him, and tunnel vision had taken over. He’d had one goal in mind. Get to her. When Kash had joined in, the two cage fighters had made quick work of the drunken bystanders. It had been a very long time since he’d felt any emotions for the opposite sex. But the bone-deep protective instincts that had slammed into him as she had looked up at him, silently begging for his help, had broken something inside of him. Brea, he’d found out, was her name. It sounded sweet and innocent. The walls he’d built around himself, especially his heart, had cracked at that moment. Never had he experienced such a strong reaction to a woman, and never so instantaneously. His heart had started beating again, his blood rushing through his veins. He’d felt alive. It had been weeks since that night, and despite his inner pep talks that he needed to stay away from her, that he was damaged goods and she didn’t need that in her life, he found himself frequenting the club where she worked, if

only to see her. He didn’t miss the way women stared at him, ones who had been to the underground cage fighting right below this club. They wanted him for the sole reason that he fought. It turned them on. How would they feel if they knew he fought to release his emotions, to experience something other than the tightness that squeezed at his heart? How would they feel to know he enjoyed giving pain as much as he relished receiving it while in that cage? He needed to stay away from Brea, but whatever it was about her, Adrian found the more he saw her, the more he wanted her. It was a dangerous combination, and one he shouldn’t even be contemplating. But when it came to her, something in him shifted and he found himself growing possessive and territorial of her. He found himself wanting her as only his.

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