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  Chapter Three

  Three

  Harper

  Who the hell is this beast of a man? Why do I feel so close to him when I know nothing about him? I expect him to kiss me or tell me he feels this pull between us. So, I am a little disappointed when he pulls away. The minute his warmth is away from me, I shiver and realize that I am soaking wet from the rain. He clears his throat.

  “Come on, let's get you dried and warmed up before you catch a cold.” His voice comes out growly and he has a scowl on his face. Maybe he really doesn’t feel this thing between us. I tuck my head and follow him inside. “This is the living room. The kitchen is over there,” he says pointing to the huge kitchen. “Follow me.” His voice sounds a little deeper than before and I love it.

  “Wow, Max. This place is beautiful,” I say running my hand along the wooden banister. “Did you make this?” I don't know why I ask but just picturing him working with his hands is such a turn on. He nods his head but doesn’t say a word. He silently leads me to the bathroom. “Why don't you get in the shower and I’ll make you some hot chocolate to warm you up.”

  “Okay, that sounds lovely.” He clears his throat again.

  “I’ll bring you a shirt and some sweats so you can have something dry to wear while I wash your clothes.” He eyes run down my body and I shiver but not from the cold. Fuck, he is sexy. His voice is like warm honey and I keep picturing that growly voice saying naughty things in my ear. I blush at the image and feel my panties dampen. He inhales deeply and snarls. “I’ll be back with your things,” he says, slamming the door so hard it makes me jump. He’s back a second later. “Sorry, the faucet is a little tricky,” he mumbles and walks past me. His buff arm brushes against my breasts and my nipples harden. I bite my lip to keep from moaning out loud. I swear to God, I am going to combust. He turns on the water and the bathroom immediately starts to fill with steam. He takes a deep breath. My eyes widen and I step a little closer to him. What was that sound?

  “Do you have a dog?” I ask. He turns around and I gasp. Damn, I didn't realize how much bigger he was then me until now.

  “No, why?”

  “I swear to God, I just heard something growl.” Is he blushing? He rubs the back of his head.

  “Uh, no. No dog. I'm going to let you get showered.” He practically runs out of the bathroom. I can’t help but giggle. He is almost as awkward around people as I am and I kind of love it. I quickly strip then walk into the shower. I hiss a little when the hot water hits my cold skin.

  After a second, my body starts to warm up and I sigh. I grab his body wash and pop the lid open. I have mud all over my arms from taking pictures like I said I like getting down and dirty for my work. I picture that it is Max in here with me, washing my body. His strong hands working their way over my body. My nipples harden and my pussy aches. I lightly caress my hand down my body, over my boobs and down my stomach until I get to my wet pussy. I run a finger through my creamy folds and moan. I pretend that it's Max's hand between my thighs. His strong, talented fingers working over my clit. I swear I can almost hear him whispering in my ear to come all over his hand so he can fuck me. I whimper and my fingers move faster. I slip one finger inside and use the heel of my palm to fuck myself. “Oh God, Max just like that. Fuck my virgin pussy,” I whimper out loud. My fingers moving faster in and out of my tight hole. I push down on my clit and moan. My eyes squeeze shut, and my pussy starts to flutter. I slam my other hand over my mouth to muffle the sound of my scream as I come. I hear that same growling sound again and my eyes snap open. The door shut loudly as I try to catch my breath.

  Oh my God. Please, please do not have let him have heard me or fuck. Seen me. I get out of the shower and wrap myself in a towel. I hear muttered curses and a cupboard slam shut. I tiptoe out of the bathroom and make my way to the kitchen.

  “Max.” He stiffens. “Max, are you okay?” I ask walking up to him. He has changed since I last saw him. Gone is the sexy uniform and in its place is a pair of gray sweatpants and a threadbare white t-shirt. I can see some tattoos running over his shoulder and down is arms. I run my hands along his hard-muscular back. He groans and turns around. He grabs my hands so that I'm not touching him anymore.

  “No. Harper, we can't do this,” he says pulling away from me, like my touch struck him or something.

  “Okay, maybe I should leave,” I say barely above a whisper. The first man I think about sexually doesn't think of me the same way. I need to get the hell out of here asap.

  “NO,” he shouts. His eyes get big and he looks scared. He books it out the front door. I run out of the house after him. As soon as he clears the porch landing, a huge bear rips through his body, leaving his clothes in a tattered mess on the wet grass. I skid to a stop at the top of steps and watch in awe as he lands on all fours and roars into the woods so loud that I have to cover my ears. My mouth pops open. Oh my God! He just turned into a Goddamn bear.

  I should be terrified. Fuck, I should be running for the bear spray I have but the minute he turns around and looks at me, I can still see Max in those eyes. They look so troubled and haunted. He looks like he is gutted. I hate it.

  I take a deep breath and prepare myself for what I am about to do.

  Chapter Four

  Four

  Max

  Why isn’t she running? She is just standing there, staring at me. Then she takes a step toward me and I freeze. What the fuck is she doing? Putting herself in danger like this. I back up farther to the tree line, but now she’s running right for me. She skids to a stop an arm’s length away from me.

  “Max? Oh, my God! You’re a bear. A fucking bear! How ridiculously cute are you?” she asks, reaching out to pet me. I lean into her touch. Well, the bear leans into her touch. Mate, mate, mate is all I can hear in my head. He’s demanding that I claim her. I know that I am going to give into him. I have never felt like this in all my years. Even before the incident, I didn’t have time for women. Why is this crazy, gorgeous woman is petting me in the rain wearing nothing but a towel? She’s fucking petting me. She’s lost her damn mind. “You’re so soft. Is this why you were avoiding me like the plague?” she asks in a whisper. I chuff in response, because really, what else can I do?

  “Can you come back to me so we can talk, Maxy? I have so many questions. So many questions.” I close my eyes and let the shift take over. Suddenly, I am standing before her naked. Her eyes widen as she looks me up and down and then she grins. I clear my throat drawing her attention back to my face. I am also grinning ear to ear, and just being near her is making my cock hard.

  “My eyes are up here,” I say causing her to giggle.

  “So, a bear, huh? How’d that happen? Have you always been able to do that?” she asks. I can tell that she is forcing herself to keep her eyes on mine and not lower.

  “Uh, no. About ten years ago, my best friends and I were caught in a house fire. One of those friends was in med school at the time and he was working on a cure for cancer. It mutated and infected us each in different ways. This is my curse.”

  “Why do you look at it like it’s a curse?” she asks. For the first time, I wonder at that. Why do I?

  “I am worried about causing pain and destruction wherever I go.”

  “And that’s why you live out here in the woods, so far from town?”

  “Partially. My bear feels at home out here. Here, he can roam.”

  “I get that. It’s beautiful out here,” she says looking around.

  “It’s nothing compared to you,” I say honestly. She is soaking wet, but I can smell her pussy and it’s driving me crazy.

  “Don’t be silly,” she says. So, I stalk toward her. Does she really not know how beautiful she is? “You’re not cursed, ya know?” she asks quietly.

  “I am beginning to see that,” I reply.

  “Don’t you feel what’s between us?”

  “I do,” I answer solemnly.

  “Then you should know that you won’t h
urt. I feel that in my soul, for some reason,” she says.

  “You do?”

  “I do.”

  “That’s good. Really good, Harper.”

  “What else can you do?” she asks, looking directly at my cock.

  “Harper. There isn’t much I can’t do,” I say closing the distance between us. The soaking wet towel that’s wrapped around her body slips slightly so that I can see the tops of her perfectly round breasts. I got a good look at her bringing herself to orgasm in my shower, but this is different. I reach my hand out and tug on the towel, she lets it fall to the ground. She is fucking breathtaking.

  “Really?” she asks raising an eyebrow. My hands tangle in her long hair as if on their own volition. I use it to tilt her head back. Her eyes widen as I lean down to kiss her. As I kiss her, my bear makes himself known by purring. Actually purring.

  “Mate,” I growl as I pull back from her.

  “What?” she questions.

  “I’ve been waiting for you, Harper. Waiting for so long,” I tell her. As soon as I do, my bear calms for the first time since he joined me.

  “I can’t explain it, but that makes so much sense,” she says and back her up to the tree in the middle of my yard. The rain is still pouring down around us, but my skin is so hot, it is sizzling off of it.

  I kiss her neck, making her moan for me.

  “Harper,” I groan as my fingers find her soaking wet pussy.

  “Max, please,” she says.

  “Please what? Use your words,” I demand.

  “Make me yours.”

  “Done.”

  I drop to my knees in front of her and drape her right leg over my shoulder. After kissing her thigh, I move to her pussy. I drag my tongue from her clit to her tiny pussy hole. I have no idea how the hell my cock is going to fit inside her, but it fucking has too. It’s already leaking at just the thought of sliding into her.

  The second her honey coats my tongue, I lose it. She tastes like heaven. I lose track of how long I lick, suck, and place little bites on her. I eat her out until she comes on my face.

  “Wow,” she breathes, pulling my shoulders. I stand so that I am face to face with her again. I kiss her again, knowing full well she can taste herself on me. She’s moaning.

  Unfortunately, taking her will have to wait, because the fucking storm has picked back up. Lightning flashes and a few seconds later, thunder crashes. Without a word, I lift her into my arms and carry her swiftly out of the rain. As soon as we reach the porch, I set her down. My cock is so hard it’s painful. I can’t wait another second to get inside of her. Here and now is where I claim her.

  Chapter Five

  Five

  Harper

  “What are you doing?” I ask as he puts me down. I try to keep my eyes on his face by looking at his chocolate brown eyes but mine have a mind of their own. I practically purr as I look over his hard and chiseled chest that is full of amazing tattoos. They wrap up the left side and go down his arm into a full sleeve. His eight-pack washboard abs look like they were made from marble. Fucking hell, he is the definition of male perfection.

  “I can’t wait any longer, I need you now.” His eyes are practically glowing, and his voice is gruffer.

  “Take me I'm yours,” I breathe. His lips close over mine and I moan as he wraps his arms around my waist and brings me down until I am laying on the cool wooden porch. He kneels between my legs. I spread my thighs wide and grin when he growls.

  “Fuck, you look so sexy laid out for me.” I expect him to just ram into me, but he continues to surprise me by lightly running his hands over my heated skin, down my rib cage until his big hands are on my thighs. His grip is firm and unyielding yet tender at the same time. He leans forward and kisses my pussy before running his nose up my rib cage. He sucks my left nipple into his mouth, and I gasp, my back arching off the porch. My hands go to his back.

  “Oh, my that feels so good, Max.” He hums then moves to my other nipple. Every pull of his lips sends shock waves to my clit. “Oh God, I'm going to come and you’re not even touching my pussy.” He groans and lets my nipple go with a pop. He leans up on his hands and looks down into my eyes. I can see so many emotions flying across his dark eyes and my heart melts a little. “What are you waiting for max?” I ask.

  “I’m scared I'll hurt you,” he says barely above a whisper. I grab his face and he leans into my touch.

  “You won't hurt me, Maxy. Neither of you will. I won't hurt you either.” I pull his face down to meet mine and kiss him. He groans and takes control of the kiss. I feel his huge cock rub against my wet folds, and I moan into his mouth. He pulls back and sits on his heels. He grabs his cock and holds it at my opening with one hand and the other is by my waist.

  “You sure about this, Harper? Once I have you, I’m never letting you go.”

  “Good, because I don't ever want you to.” His eyes flash then he thrusts his hips forwards and impales me with his hard cock. He tears through my innocence. Fuck me that stung a little. Tears prickle my eyes and my gasp is answered with his groan.

  “Sorry, baby. I had to do it fast. I didn't want to hurt you.” His voice comes out gruff and full of remorse. I nod my head.

  “It’s okay, Maxy. I'm okay. Just give me a sec.” He kisses my face and my neck until the discomfort I felt a minute ago is replaced with an ache I can’t describe. “Max, I need. Something.”

  “I know what you need, baby.” He leans forward, his hands going on either side of my head by my shoulders. He pulls out a little then slides back in. “Fuck you’re so tight, baby. I’m never going to last.” He groans and repeats the same move he did before.

  “Oh God. You feel so good, Max. Fuck me.” He pulls out half an inch then thrusts back in. “Harder,” I demand, loving the way he fills me so full. He pulls out until just the head of his cock is inside of me, then he slams back in. “Oh fuck, just like that,” I whimper. I wrap my legs around his waist, and he growls and slams into me so hard I gasp loudly. My hand wraps around his bicep and the other digs into his shoulder. Over and over he does this. He takes me hard and fast. On ever upward thrust his pelvis hits my clit and I cry out. He leans closer and sucks my nipple into his mouth then bites down and I am gone. I scream as an orgasm washes over me he groans but he never stops moving. He lets go of my nipple.

  “Fuck just like that, baby. God, your pussy feels so good milking my cock,” he growls and kisses his way up my chest to my neck. He smells of smoke, pine, and fur and I love it. Fuck, I think I love him but that can’t be right. You can’t fall in love with a man in such a short amount of time. He kisses my neck and all I keep thinking about is him biting me. Bite me, bite me, bite me, I can’t help chanting in my head. I want his mark on me. The need is so primal and raw that it is hard to breathe.

  “I want to bite you right here. My bear wants to mark you as his. Fuck, I want that too you walking around with my mark on you,” he growls. Oh God, it’s like he just read my mind. I whimper.

  “Oh, fuck yes, please mark me, Max. I want the world to know that I'm yours.” He slams into me and bites down on my shoulder. I expect it to hurt but instead I feel is whole for the first time in my life. Simultaneously, I cry out, my pussy clamps down on his cock and my entire body shakes as an orgasm like rips through my body. He growls and I feel his cock swell and rope after rope of his come fills my unprotected womb.

  “Damn your already healing,” he says pulling back. He looks at me in awe. “I was worried I had hurt you.” I wrap my arms around his neck.

  “I've always been a fast healer. Maybe it just shows that I was meant to be yours.” His cock starts to harden again, and my eyes go wide. “Again?” He grins.

  “Fuck yes. This time it’ll be in our bed.” He pulls out of me and before I even have time to whimper, I am in his arms and he is walking us into the master bedroom. He makes love to me two more times before making me a steak and potatoes dinner. We stay up all night talking and learning about each
other. He makes love to me one more time before I fall asleep in his arms just as the sun starts to rise over the mountains. I hope that I get to fall asleep like this forever.

  Chapter Six

  Six

  Max

  Waking up with her in my arms is even more calming than the best drugs designed for just for that purpose. When this first happened to me, I was under heavy sedation, sleeping pills, you name it, I've tried it. I had to do something just to get through the nights. Shifting only did so much. There was so much pent up energy that I turned to prescribed drugs. However, due to my bear’s metabolism, they burned off quickly and did nothing for me, so that lasted less than a week. Her deep, even breathing is more relaxing than anything. She must sense that I am staring at her, because her bright green eyes pop open. She smiles up at me lazily. Her long brown hair is messy

  “Good morning, Maxy,” she says yawning.

  “Good morning, Mate,” I say using the word for the first time since I claimed her last night. “Did you sleep well?”

  “I did. You kept me so warm. I can’t believe it’s still raining.”

  “It’s supposed to for the next few days according to the weather reports. Speaking of, what the hell were you doing out there taking pictures?”

  “Oh, that,” she says giggling. “I have always been drawn to storms and pretty much any weather phenomenon. Nature speaks to me and I feel the need to capture it. Some of my pieces have been featured on TV, which was pretty cool, but that’s not why I do it. I do it because I have to. I need it. It calms and centers me. The women in my family have always been able to speak to storms. That is why I am not worried about ever being struck by lightning. We are priestess’ of sorts.” That gets me thinking.

  “Do you think that’s why we are drawn to one other? Why we mated?”