A Mate For The Bear: BBW Paranormal Alpha Shifter Romance (Bear Brides Book 4) (6 page)

Lisha went over and picked
Rita up immediately. “I got this. Ooh! You definitely need a
fresh diaper, princess!” Rita squealed delightedly as her
mother carried her out.

The dining table began to
fill up with trays and plates of sizzling food, and everyone took
their places around the table. Dalton pulled out a chair for Joyce
and sat next to her. She smelled absolutely delicious. The smell of
cooking mingled with her sweet, feminine scent made her utterly
irresistible.

He had to touch her, pull her
closer before his bear went mad. Dalton curled his arm around her
waist and felt her soft, warm body under his fingers. Joyce blushed
and smiled shyly at him. His bear growled and pressed up against his
skin, wanting to feel all her soft, luscious curves. Dalton pulled
her closer to him and sighed. It felt so right to have her by his
side, in his arms.

Everyone tucked into the
scrumptious dinner with gusto. His family made it a point to include
Joyce in their conversation. They engaged her and asked her
questions in a gentle, light-hearted way, trying to know more about
her.

Joyce was forthcoming and
honest in her answers, and she told them about her past, her life,
and why she had to work as a stripper at Candybar. Dalton heard Tony
snarl something extremely rude about her ex-husband under his breath.
Terri elbowed him, but he looked unapologetic.

Cole leaned forward and spoke
to Joyce, “You are now under the protection of the Nightfire
Clan. Dalton has taken care of your debt. The Crimson Wolves won't
be coming after you any more. They won't dare touch you. You are
working for our Beta, which means you are working for us. You are
part of the clan, Joyce. Part of the family.”

Joyce looked down and took a
moment to compose herself. “I...I don't...” She
swallowed and continued, “All of you have been so good to me.
The Nightfire bears saved me that night at Candybar. Dalton took me
into his home, and gave me a job, shelter, security. And now,
you...you've welcomed me into your clan. I don't know how I can
thank you enough. How can I ever...repay you?”

“By giving Dalton some
cubs...ouch!” Tony glared round the table. “Who just
kicked me? What did I say?”

Dalton kicked his brother
again. Tony scowled and wagged a finger at Brad. Brad immediately
put up his hands in a not-me gesture and stuck out his tongue at him.

“I know it's you!”
Tony accused. “You just kicked me again.”

“Prove it!” Brad
challenged.

Terri and Lisha simply rolled
their eyes at their mates and muttered simultaneously, “Boys.”

Dalton glanced at Joyce but
she didn't seem to have heard Tony's comment. But his brother had
hit the nail on the head. Dalton could absolutely see Joyce as the
mother of his cubs. She might be in his house now, but she had yet
to see this place as her home.

To her, he was just her
employer, her benefactor.

But she hadn't resisted when
he put his arm around her waist and held her close. In fact, he felt
her melting against him, her body soft and yielding.

Did she...want him?

He had to find out—tonight.

Dalton groaned inwardly. His
family was always welcome in his house, and he always enjoyed their
boisterous family dinners. But right now, he just couldn't wait for
dinner to end.

He wanted to be alone with
Joyce.

He wanted her all to himself.
And he wanted her the whole night.

Joyce put all the plates in
the dishwasher and started to wipe down the kitchen counter. Dinner
with Dalton's family had been wonderful. They were all so warm and
welcoming, and she'd enjoyed playing with Brad and Lisha's twins
after dinner. Lisha was right. Those cubs were strong. They
clambered all over her and hung upside down from her arms. Like all
babies, they wanted to touch and taste everything. When they tried
to eat her hair, Brad and Lisha stopped them and gently pried them
away. Thwarted, the twins burst into tears but they were soon
giggling and laughing again when Cole and Dalton threw them into the
air. Those daredevil cubs squealed with excitement as they plunged
from gravity-defying heights into their uncles' huge hands.

Before they left, Cole and
Abby told Joyce to call them if she needed anything. They were the
Alpha pair of the Nightfire clan, and they already saw her as part of
the clan. Lisha, Terri and Abby had insisted that Joyce join them
for their next shopping trip. The three women were like best friends
and sisters, and she rather envied their bond. They were making an
effort to include her, but Joyce wasn't sure she really belonged in
their circle. She was Dalton's housekeeper, not his...mate, or wife.
She wasn't even his girlfriend.

Joyce knew that a guy like
Dalton would have no trouble getting a girlfriend. He might be
single now, but it was just a matter of time before he brought a girl
home. Joyce winced. The thought was oddly painful. She had no
right to feel possessive and jealous, but she did.

She gasped when Dalton came
up behind her and plucked the cloth from her hand. “You're
been rubbing and wiping the same spot for some time now. I see no
stain on the counter.” Dalton turned her round to face him.
“What's on your mind, Joyce?”

She shook her head. “I...”
I was just driving myself crazy imagining you with another woman
.
“Nothing.”

“You look unhappy,”
he said, curling a finger under her chin. “What is it? Are
you not happy working here? Do you feel that...”

“No!” She
started. “I am happy here. Really I am. You've helped me so
much, Dalton.”

“Something's troubling
you. I can tell.” Dalton frowned. “Don't be afraid to
tell me anything, Joyce. Nothing you say can shock me or scare me.
Do I look like a man who scares easily?” He huffed and
pretended to look insulted.

Joyce let out a small laugh.
“No. You look like a man...” With a gulp, she swallowed
the rest of her words.

“What?” Dalton
demanded. “Just say whatever you want to say.”

Joyce squeezed her eyes shut
and said in a strangled voice, “You look like a man who can
have any woman he wants. I don't know why you're even on that dating
site. You're rich, handsome, smart...” She threw up her
hands. “You might be single now, but you'll find someone soon.
And I...I know I'm just your housekeeper, but...” Joyce took
a shuddering breath and continued in a whisper, “I don't know
if I can bear it.”

“Joyce.” Dalton
tilted her face up to him. “You are not just my housekeeper.
You are my mate.”

It took a moment for his
words to register. “What?”

“You are my mate,
Joyce. The woman meant for me. I've been searching for you. And I
found you, through that dating site. That's why I was on that dating
site. To find my mate. To find...you.”

Joyce blinked up at him, her
breath coming in short, sharp bursts. “What are you saying,
Dalton?” she whispered.

“I want you, Joyce.
Only you.” He captured her face in both hands and ran his
thumb lightly over her cheek and lips.

Joyce found herself panting
as he leaned in. She could see that his eyes were dark with desire,
and she was fully aware of the heat and power in his strong,
masculine body. He towered over her, moving inexorably closer to
her, caging her in.

Breathlessly, she pressed her
palms against his solid chest and felt his heat sear through her
skin. He was all rock hard muscle, a powerful wall of predatory
strength and lust. Joyce could feel her pulse racing as she wound
her arms slowly, seductively round his neck. They were still
standing in the middle of the kitchen, but everything seemed to fall
away as she stepped closer to him. This man in front of her, this
tall, handsome, kind stranger...was no stranger. He was her friend
before he became her boss.

“Dalton...” she
whispered, tracing his handsome features with her fingertips. “DJ.”

“That's me,” he
smiled. “One and the same. You know me. You've been chatting
with me for months now. I've never lied to you, Joyce. Everything I
told you is true. I am DJ, your friend, your...mate.” He
paused before quirking a lopsided smile. “I loved you the
moment you sent me that first message.”

“My first
message...oh!” Her eyes widened. “The one that was
peppered with expletives.”

“And a few very
creative suggestions on what I could do with myself if I was looking
for an easy fuck, because you've had it up to here with bad days and
bad men.”

“Gawd!” Joyce
buried her face in her hands. “That was the rudest, crudest
message ever!”

“And you sent it to
me!” Dalton beamed proudly.

“You actually replied
to my message, and so politely too,” Joyce said, slapping her
forehead. “You are unbelievable, DJ!”

Dalton grinned. “So
are you, JD.”

Joyce reached up to cup his
face in both hands. She stared deeply into his eyes for a long
while. Dalton didn't hide his emotions from her. He let her see his
love and longing for her. His heated gaze never left her face as he
pulled her flush against him.

Joyce's heart pounded as she
tilted her head up. There was no mistaking his raw desire and hunger
but he made no move to kiss her. He was waiting, waiting for her to
say yes to him. He wanted her, but more than that, he wanted her to
want him back.

Raising her lips to his,
Joyce whispered, “You...are my friend, DJ, but I want us to be
more than friends. I want you, Dalton.”

Dalton didn't wait. He
couldn't wait any longer. At her words, he claimed her mouth in a
scorching, hungry kiss. Her lips were soft and yielding, parting
immediately for him. Dalton didn't want to stop kissing her. She
was sweet, hot and utterly intoxicating. Her curves pressed up
against him, and he could scent the moisture between her legs. She
was aroused and wet, and she wanted him.

“Joyce,” he
growled against her mouth. His hand moved to cup her heavy breast in
his palm. He could feel her pebbled nipple stabbing against her bra,
and he groaned as he thumbed that hard nub through the maddening
layers of fabric between them.

With her back against the
kitchen wall, Dalton locked her wrists on either side of her head and
kissed her endlessly, not coming up for air. He pushed his tongue
into her mouth and tasted her thoroughly, licking her lips, her
teeth, her tongue. He kneaded her bountiful breasts, feeling her
nipples pebble and press into his palms.

“Dalton...” she
panted, arching her back for more.

Dalton trailed his lips down
her neck, nipping and sucking. Running his hands down her waist and
generous hips, he felt her soft, creamy thighs and groaned when she
parted her legs for him.

Growling, he hiked her dress
up to her waist and pulled one leg up to his hip.

Joyce whimpered when he
ground his aching erection against her crotch. Her panties were
soaked, and she was shaking and panting with need.

Dalton pushed his fingers
past her damp cotton panties and fingered her folds. She was hot and
wet and quivering with desire.

Joyce let out a cry when he
slipped a finger into her. Her mouth and eyes widened when he began
to fuck her slowly with two fingers. She was so tight, and she felt
so damn good. Dalton stared hard into her eyes as he moved in and
out of her pussy, feeling every shudder and tremor course through her
body. She bucked and moaned in pleasure when he circled her clit
with his thumb. She was so ready, so responsive.

Dalton could feel her channel
pulse around his fingers, gripping him hard as she came. His name
tumbled from her lips as she clung to his shoulders for support.

Boneless with need and
pleasure, she slumped against him. Holding her up with one arm,
Dalton sucked her juices slowly off his fingers. Her blush deepened
when she blinked up at him.

“You taste so good,
Joyce,” he growled. “I'm never going to have enough of
you.”

Her braid had come undone and
auburn curls cascaded down her shoulders. Dalton speared his fingers
through her beautiful red hair and kissed her long and slow.

“Take me, Dalton. Love
me,” she rasped, melting against him.

“I do. I love you,
Joyce,” he whispered.

She gasped as he gathered her
in his arms and climbed the stairs three at a time to his bedroom.

Kicking his bedroom door shut
behind him, Dalton stalked towards his bed, his senses heightening as
his bear rose to the surface. His claws sliced out, and Dalton used
them to rip the dress from Joyce's body.

Joyce whimpered, but he
scented no fear. Instead he could see and smell her fierce arousal
as the cloth shredded and fell from her body.

Tearing her bra and panties
away, he prowled towards her and commanded, “Spread your legs
for me, Joyce.”