Love to Bear (Heart of The Bear Book 3) Read online

  “Good morning,” she whispered.

  “Sorry.” He slipped one arm around her waist, and gave in to his need to drive into her. “I can’t get enough of you.”

  “Good.” She met every thrust, so tight, so wet. God, she made him crazy. “Don’t—hold back, Elijah.”

  He rolled her on her back, and looked into her sleepy green eyes. She trusted him, had given herself to him without hesitating. His heart pounded as he took a big chance, and asked for something he’d fantasized about for years.

  “Can I—” He cleared his throat. “Would you let me—tie you up?” Her eyes widened, and he opened his mouth to take it back.

  “A little love bondage, shifter? Is that what you’re asking for?”

  “I—yes. You don’t have to, not if it—”

  “Stop.” She flashed him a smile, then curled her hands around the iron headboard. “You should find something you can use as restraints in the top dresser drawer.”

  “Are you sure?” God, please let her be sure. He wanted to make slow, passionate love to her, have his way with her, and watch her surrender to her own pleasure. “If you’re uncomfortable with it, I won’t ever mention it again.”

  “I’m intrigued—and more than a little turned on at the thought of being helpless under those big, skillful hands.”

  He kissed her, trying to convey how much he cared about her, and what it meant to him that she trusted him like this. Then he eased out of her and shot off the bed, yanking the dresser drawer open.

  It was filled with Kaylee’s underwear. Mostly white, but he raised his eyebrows when he held up a black bra with red lace. She laughed at the sight of it.

  “An impulse buy. I haven’t worn it yet.”

  With a wicked smile, Elijah tossed it at the bed. “Wear it for me now.”

  He found two pairs of knee high socks, soft and thick, and turned to the bed. Kaylee stopped him in his tracks.

  She sat in the middle of the bed, wearing the black bra. The barely there, sheer black bra. Her nipples beckoned to him—and damn, he couldn’t wait to suckle them through that thin fabric, and watch Kaylee respond.

  Just the thought left him painfully hard. Time to take care of that.

  Kaylee lowered herself to the bed as he approached, draping her hair over the pillow before she stretched out her arms. “Where do you want them?”

  “Just make yourself comfortable, and let me know when you’re not. We’ll stop immediately.”

  “I hope not.” She smiled up at him. “You make me feel so free, Elijah. I want to explore any fantasy you may have. I have a few of my own.” She wiggled her eyebrows at him.

  How the hell did he get so lucky?

  He leaned down to kiss her. She wrapped her arms around him, turning a simple kiss into a hot, breathless preview. “I love you, Kaylee Jackson.”

  She cradled his cheek, tears brightening her eyes. “Then I am the luckiest woman in the world. I’m falling in love with you, Elijah Black.” She kissed him again, then lowered herself to the bed. “Now tie me up, my gorgeous shifter.”

  He did, making sure the knots could be easily freed by him. Then he stood back, admiring the view. Kaylee was stretched out across the white sheets, wearing only that sexy black bra. “God, you’re beautiful.”

  A blush warmed her cheeks. “So are you, Elijah. Now get that big, beautiful body over here and ravish me.”

  He didn’t need to be asked twice.

  ***

  Kaylee watched him crawl across the bed and straddle her, his cock long, thick, and out of reach.

  She tested the restraints on her wrists, and found that she could yank pretty hard. Good, because she planned to test them. Thoroughly.

  “I’m going to taste every inch of you, Kaylee.” His voice was a low growl, and she knew his primal half was close to the surface. It excited her more than she expected.

  He lowered his head—and she let out a raw cry when he closed his mouth over her breast.

  His tongue teased her nipple, the friction of the silk bra cup driving her crazy. She reached down to move him to her other breast, and let out an impatient sound when the restraint held her in place. Elijah lifted his head enough to flash her a grin, then did what she wanted by moving to her other breast.

  She arched up as much as she could, the feel of his tongue, his warm breath, shooting heat straight to her core. God, she had never been so aroused by a simple touch. And he didn’t touch any other part of her, no matter how much she strained to reach him.

  “Elijah.”

  “Hmm?” He hummed against her breast, and she burned hotter.

  “I want you inside me.”

  He looked at her, a wicked gleam in his eyes. “I want that as well, my beautiful Kaylee. But I want to learn every inch of this curvy body. It’s going to take time.” She groaned, and he laughed. “Your interruptions will only prolong my exploration.”

  “Then gag me and get on with it.”

  She was half joking, but the light in his eyes told her how much he wanted it.

  “I didn’t want to push.”

  “If you don’t, I’ll keep interrupting. We have a restaurant to clean before I open again tonight.”

  He climbed off the bed and returned with one of her white t-shirts. “You’re sure?”

  “Yeah.” It excited her more than she expected. “But we need some kind of signal, in case.”

  He sobered. “Right.”

  “If I go completely still, then you stop, remove the gag. Will that be enough?”

  A smile tugged at his lips. “Since you never stop moving, that will be more than enough.”

  “You sure know how to charm a woman.”

  “I try.” He sat next to her, and twisted the t-shirt. “Open your mouth. I want you to nod if this is comfortable for you.” She opened her mouth, and he eased the shirt in, lifting her head to tie it. He gently lowered her back to the pillow. “All right?”

  She nodded, trying to smile around the fabric. Elijah kissed her cheek before he straddled her again, starting up where he left off—teasing her breasts.

  Kaylee arched up, moaning against the gag. Not being able to talk freed her, and she let her body take over, making muffled sounds instead of conversation. Elijah finished with her breasts, and slowly made his way down her body.

  She kept forgetting about the restraints, and let out a frustrated mew every time she tried to reach for him. When she tilted her hips up to brush his cock, he caught her hips and eased her down to the bed.

  “Not so fast. There’s one part of you I haven’t had the pleasure of tasting yet.”

  She tensed, just before he lowered his head and ran his tongue along her slit.

  With a moan she bucked under him, her body clenching, wanting him inside her. His tongue found her clit, circling it slowly, devastating her. She dropped her head back, yanking at her restraints, frustrated and hot at the same time. Elijah was the biggest tease she’d ever been with, and he had the most talented fingers, surpassed only by his tongue.

  She rocked against that tongue, as much as she could. His hands kept her pinned to the bed while he drove her to the edge again and again. Finally, when she thought she might explode from the need to climax, he straddled her, leaning down until the hot, thick tip of his cock pressed into her clit. She jerked, her breathing ragged.

  “I’m so hard, Kaylee, watching you fight to touch me. I wanted to love you slowly, but I don’t think I’ll be able to control myself once I feel you.”

  She was so good with that. He waited, and she realized he was waiting for a response. She nodded her head as enthusiastically as she could.

  “Hang on to the headboard, sweetheart. This is going to be rough.”

  She closed her fingers around the iron posts—and cried out when he drove into her. His thick cock filled her to the hilt, and he stayed there for only a second before pulling out and driving into her again, deeper, harder.

  He lowered himself to her, his lips on
her throat. The new position had him stroking her clit with every thrust. She arched off the bed, the gag muffling her raw scream.

  “Kaylee—” He looked at her and she nodded, tilting her hips as much as she could to show him. “I can’t—shit—hold on—”

  He pounded into her, only the restraints on her ankles keeping her from sliding across the bed. Her body clamped around him, every thrust driving her closer to the edge she’d been walking since he first touched her.

  One last, deep thrust pushed her over.

  Elijah kept driving into her, sending an already shattering orgasm to another level of pleasure. He let out a raw shout and stiffened, moving even faster, until he climaxed, his hot seed filling her.

  They rode out their release together, and Kaylee let herself vocalize her climax as much as she wanted, since her screams were muffled. With a final thrust Elijah collapsed on top of her, his body hot and sweaty. His weight felt so good, his cock still buried inside her. Kaylee had never been this completely spent, or this happy.

  “Okay?” he whispered, lifting his head. She nodded, and let her head fall back, fighting to catch her breath. “That was incredible.” He kissed her throat, licking at the sweat on her skin. She felt her body tighten around him, and he growled. “Keep doing that, sweetheart, and we won’t see the outside of this bedroom for the rest of the day.”

  She was fine with that. More than fine. Her eyes widened as he grew hard inside her.

  “I told you—fast recovery. But no woman has ever set me off like you do. God, Kaylee—do you have any idea how beautiful you look?” He slid out of her just enough to thrust back in. She arched up, gasping against the gag. “Did you want me to untie you? Or would you like to go one more round?”

  She nodded at the second question. After spending so much of her life making decisions all day long, it was a relief, and a pleasure, to let someone else take the lead. And to her surprise, she enjoyed this, much more than she thought she would.

  He braced himself on his hands and started moving inside her.

  “This time, we’ll take it slow.” He flashed a smile. “Hopefully.”

  Eight

  Kaylee splashed water on her face, and stared at herself in the mirror. She was a different person than the one who had walked into this apartment a month ago. That woman never would have expected to fall in love, and let herself go completely with a man she had just met.

  But Elijah had found the way to her heart, with his care, and his joy for living. The fact that he loved her food as well didn’t hurt.

  She smiled, and wrapped her braid into a bun. He was downstairs right now, cleaning up from last night. There hadn’t been much sleep for either of them, between bouts of lovemaking and talking, but she felt buzzed. Excited. Tonight was going to be her first regular night as a restaurant, when the real test begins.

  With Elijah on her side, she knew she’d make it.

  She headed downstairs, and frowned when she didn’t hear the expected clink of dishes. Instead, she found a note on the prep counter.

  Hello Beautiful,

  I had a last minute meeting at the paper. The dining room is clean, the dishwasher running, and I’m thinking about kissing you every other second. I’ll see you tonight.

  I love you,

  Elijah

  She heard the hum of the dishwasher, and held the note to her heart as she wandered out to the dining room. Good as his word, it was clean, the tables empty and ready for fresh setups. Kaylee had a local coming in to sweep and prep the dining room every day, so she could focus on cooking.

  With a happy sigh, she headed back to the kitchen.

  She halted when she felt the presence behind her. Right before the world turned black.

  ***

  It took every ounce of control Elijah had not to walk out of the meeting.

  He couldn’t believe they were nitpicking over what was essentially a done deal. Again. All he wanted was to be with Kaylee today, help her where she needed it, offer support. Touch her. God help him, he was addicted to touching her.

  It didn’t help that he kept picturing her under him, flushed and moaning, straining against the restraints as he drove himself into her—

  “Shit,” he muttered, and stood. “Enough.” The other two men looked up at him. “We’ve been over this deal, and over it. If you still can’t sign, then don’t. I’ll be perfectly happy to take my column somewhere else.”

  He walked out of his manager’s office, ignoring the shouts. When he hit the sidewalk a sense of dread shot through him.

  “Kaylee—”

  He started pulling off his jacket as he sprinted for Main Street, his bear roaring to life, and prayed that he was wrong.

  ***

  Pain jerked Kaylee back to awareness.

  She reached up to cradle her head, and discovered that she couldn’t. Her hands were tied behind her back.

  Once she blinked her eyes clear, she recognized her surroundings. She was in the back corner of her restaurant’s dining room. Whoever had jumped her was here as well, ranting as they slammed a baseball bat against her beautiful tables.

  “He’s mine!” The sharp crack of the bat on wood drove in Kaylee’s aching head. “You won’t take him from me!”

  A pottery vase shattered against the wall inches from her head. She hunched in the corner to protect herself from the shards.

  “I’m sorry.” She cleared her throat, and spoke louder, flinching when the sound of her voice drove through her head. “I didn’t know.”

  Footsteps smacked the wood floor, headed right for her. Kaylee braced herself for more violence. Her captor appeared, and Kaylee blinked, recognizing her. She’d seen her behind the counter at Henry’s Café.

  “That stuck up Lindy Black should have told you!” She took a few deep breaths, calming herself. “Elijah and me—we’ve been thicker than thieves since we were five. Everyone knew that he, that I—” She swung the bat at the wall right above Kaylee. “He knew better! Now I’ll have to just run you out, like I done before.” She smacked the top of the bat into the wall next to Kaylee’s shoulder. “You go tonight, no one gets hurt.”

  “Okay.” She nodded, and fought to keep from throwing up at the movement. “Whatever you need me to do. I don’t want anyone hurt because of me.”

  The woman lowered her bat, a smile on her face. “Good. That’s good. You understand, don’t you? A woman’s got to fight for her man.”

  Kaylee understood crazy when she saw it.

  “If you can help me up, I’ll leave right now.”

  The woman paused, and Kaylee knew she’d stepped wrong, agreeing too easily.

  “You won’t leave. I can tell by looking at you—he’s had you.” She raised the bat. Kaylee tried to scoot out of the corner, but the woman blocked her. “If he stopped cheating on me, I could prove to him how much I loved him!”

  She swung the bat down. Kaylee did her best to protect herself from the inevitable impact—

  A low growl echoed through the dining room. The woman jerked around, the bat glancing off Kaylee’s left shoulder.

  “Elijah? I’m here, I came for you. She’s not the one, you know that. I’m going to take care of her.” She turned back to Kaylee, restarting the aborted blow. “We can be together—”

  She screamed as a huge brown bear slammed into her.

  It trapped her against the wall, long claws wrapped around her arms. She stared into black, merciless eyes.

  “Elijah? You know I was doing this for you. When she didn’t leave after the fire—” His claws flexed and she swallowed. Kaylee’s heart pounded as she watched the man—the shifter—she had given herself to, fight to control himself. “I did it for you.”

  The bear let her go and moved back. Kaylee knew what was about to happen, felt a tingle along her skin, just before he changed. Elijah stood in front of her captor, tall, glorious, naked—and furious.

  “You did this for you, Maisie.” His deadly quiet voice had the woman shr
inking away from him. “You could have killed Kaylee, leaving her unconscious in a burning building. Or was that your intent?” He loomed over Maisie, his hands clenched into fists. “You may have walked away from other alleged attacks, but not this time. I will be a willing witness to your assault of one Kaylee Jackson, as well as destruction of property.”

  Panic twisted her face. “Elijah—I only wanted—”

  “I know what you wanted.” He sighed, and laid his hand on her shoulder. “I’ve told you, over and over, there is nothing more between us beyond friendship. And I’m sure Phil wouldn’t appreciate your attempts to chase off women, seeing as you’re married to him.”

  “Only because he’s the one who asked!” She slumped against the wall, tears sliding down her cheeks. “I love you, Elijah. I just—I thought—”

  “Now you know better. You were about to brain the woman I’ve already chosen as my mate.” He moved to Kaylee and crouched in front of her. “That is, if she hasn’t been chased off.”

  “No, she hasn’t. Ow.” She lowered her head, pain stabbing at her.

  “I’ll get you to the doctor.” He eased her forward and freed her hands, rubbing her numb arms. “Seeing more than one of me?”

  “No.” But her head ached, and she wasn’t all that sure she wouldn’t throw up when he moved her. At least she wouldn’t ruin his clothes, since he didn’t have any on.

  “What’s this?” He eased her hand open. She was still clutching the note.

  “Your note.” She gripped the crumpled paper when he started to remove it. “I want to keep it.”

  He smiled, then closed her fingers. “I’ll make sure it’s kept safe. Now, let’s get you to the doc.”

  “What about her?”

  Elijah glanced over at Maisie. She was hunched over, rocking herself, mumbling.

  “She won’t be going anywhere. Even if she does, I know how to find her. Come on, arm around me.”

  Kaylee lifted her arm, only a little nausea threatening at the movement. “You’re naked, Elijah.”

  He grinned. “Thanks for noticing.” Gently, he gathered her into his arms and stood. She swallowed, hard. “Locals are used to seeing us walk around in the altogether. More than half the town are shifters, and the rest grew up with us. I won’t be shocking anyone, except some appreciative female tourists.”