Bearing It All (Grizzly Affairs Book 1) (19 page)

Dropping his arms, Doyle strode forward until he towered over her. His body moved with an animal-like grace. His bear was pleased when she showed him no fear by standing her ground.

His mate was just as vicious as a she-bear, nearly just as deadly if he didn't tread carefully. Though his bear was salivating at the idea, he was not. He expected his mate to do as he said and let him protect her. It's the way things should be!

“Which is why you need to be kept safe!” he growled out, “You are the only one that can get the information we need. Also, you are my mate! My one and only mate! Without you I would die a slow and miserable death.” His face softened as he reached out toward her. “Can't you see that's why I'm doing this?”

“I can take care of myself.” She stated stubbornly, digging a finger into his chest while avoiding his imploring hand. “And another thing; just because I've agreed to go along with this mate business doesn't mean you have the right to boss me around.”

He brushed her poking finger away with a narrowing look. Circling her upper arms with firm hands, she soon found her back pressed against the hard surface of the door. Glancing down at her, Doyle lowered his head until their noses brushed.

“I am your mate. That means I do have the right. I have the right to protect, the right to love and keep you. That's how mates are supposed to be. Let's get the thought that you will be putting yourself in danger out of your beautiful head now.”

She smirked up at him with defiance. “Just try and stop me.” she challenged.

With a frustrated groan, his hands lost their hold and moved up to grip the sides of her face. Holding her immobile, his lips crashed into hers. His demanding lips took everything that she had and more. Reaching up, her nails bit deep into the nape of his neck. Her lips moved against his with savage need that she never knew she possessed.

A growl ripped from his chest as he bent down, his arms gripped her legs and jerked her high against his body. Her legs quickly wrapped around his hips, leaving no space between their suddenly starved bodies. His lips never lost their possession of hers. Slowly his lips moved down to her mating mark. The flesh had healed while retaining his brand of his bear's teeth, marking her as his forever, for all to see. Seeing his mark made his cock pulse from behind his jeans with a desperate need to claim her as many different ways as possible.

Bending forward his tongue slowly licked lovingly at her mark. The feel of his tongue against her jugular vein caused her womb to tighten with need. His hands speared through her untamed locks as he pulled back. Breaking away, he looked down at her, at the sight of her flushed face he almost found himself forgetting the battle against his need to protect her and her need for closure. With her bravery, ferocity and determination, she would make one perfect bear once the change took hold.

“What...What did you just say?” Jerking back, she narrowed her lucent eyes at him. Her reaction pulled him from his musings, making him realize that he'd spoken aloud.

“I was just thinking what a perfect she-bear you will be once you change.” Shoving her hands against his chest, she pushed some much needed space between them. Lowering her legs she slid from his embrace with a fluid motion.

“Once I change? What do you mean once I change?”

“I told you that once a human receives a mating bite by their shifter mate, the bite transforms them into a shifter as well.”

“I don't have that.” She denied. What was he saying? That she had no choice? The mere thought made her blood freeze with fear. With Malca she'd had no choice in what was done to her, in what she'd become. Now Doyle wanted to do the same? What was wrong with her that he felt the need to change her into something else?

Reaching forward, Doyle ran the back of his fingers over the mating bite that lay across her pulsing vein. “This is your mating mark. I gave it to you when I claimed you last night.” He explained.

“I never said I wanted you to do that.” She hissed.

“I don't need your permission. When you agreed to the claiming—that was part of it. Shifters live for hundreds of years far longer than humans do. Changing will allow you to stay by my side and become stronger than you all ready are. In less than a week you'll be able to shift like I do. Females are very vulnerable before a change. This is why you have to be protected.”

Taking a step back, she looked at her mate as though he were a stranger. She had just discovered that she was slightly more than human just ten minutes ago. Now he expected her to become a shifter too? There was only so much she could take before breaking and running again.

“I don't get a say in this?” She asked with disbelief.

“Why would you need one?” confusion was written across his face in layers. His bear whined, hurt that his mate was looking at him like she feared him or what he'd do.

Why should she fear him? Didn't she understand what she meant to him? A mating mark came with claiming one's mate. Just like a wedding ring in a human wedding ceremony. Becoming a shifter was a gift that he could only impart upon her. Why did she not welcome it? He shook his head while mentally shaking off his uncertainty with his mating. It mattered not. Within a week she would change and she would be protected.

“Let's pack a few things for a couple of days. I don't know how long we will be at the pack's compound.”

“The only place I'm going is after Malca, with or without you.” She watched as his face rapidly turned a dark shade of red. A single vein began to swell against his forehead in result of his frustration with her determination. His lips pealed back to reveal dangerous looking canines as his bear growled in anger.

“Pack a bag or go without.” his voice reverberated out. Spinning on his heels, he disappeared into the bedroom. Every heavy step he took made his bear's claws cut more deeply into his chest.

Protect our mate! Or I will!
His bear commanded, wiping his sharp claws within Doyle's mind.

Don't worry, old friend.
Doyle thought with reassurance.
Our mate will be protected.
He only prayed that his actions would not cost him Aria's heart.

Aria watched as Doyle strode from the room. His hands and shoulders were clenched so tight, she was surprised he hadn't pulverized every bone in his body. Since they'd met it seemed to be one battle after another. A battle to survive for her seemed only to distance herself from the one person she wanted to cleave to.

Groaning in frustration she shook her head. She would help bring down Malca. Regardless what Doyle thought about it. Malca had too much to answer for and she'd be damned if she let someone else fight her battles for her. She was jerked out of her thoughts as her stomach clenched painfully immediately followed by a low rumbling. With all the excitement in the hours prior, food had been the last thing on her mind and possibly Doyle's as well.

Glancing at the clock on the wall she realized that it was well past dinner time. Approaching the fridge in search for something to eat her attention was immediately drawn to the stove as the small kettle let out a shrill whistle. Carefully moving the kettle to a cold burner, she turned off the hot plate. At the sound of Doyle reentering the room, she turned to face him. He tossed a heavy, black gym bag onto the couch with a loud thump.

Once his eyes fell on hers, Doyle's entire form quickly relaxed. Slowly he approached her. Every one of his steps was slow and unrushed. Reaching her, his hands gently curled around her waist like loving vines. Pulling her deliberately closer, she stood frozen as he lowered his head with unrushed movements until he covered her lips with his own.

At the touch of his lips no further invitation was needed. Need washed over her as she reached up, wrapping her arms around his neck. She threaded her small hands through his dark hair as his lips moved and teased her own. Her fingers tugged on his dark, wavy locks as her weeping sheath pulsed and clenched with need. Darts of liquid fire shot through to her womb.

After last night and early this morning, she was realizing that she would only continue to crave him more. Her entire being seemed to hum in contentment at the feel of his hard body so close to hers. Breaking away, the tender—yet heated kiss left both of them panting for more. The sound of their combined racing hearts echoed as one around them like an army drum.

Releasing a pent up groan, Doyle pressed his forehead against hers as he struggled to catch his breath. His bear was clawing at him to claim his mate again, but he held himself in control. They needed to get to the pack's compound A.S.A.P. If this Malca person or even Raoul's accomplice was watching they'd soon make another play for Aria. He wouldn't be able to properly defend her out here, in the open.

“Aria,” Leaning away from her, his hands reached up to cup her shoulders. What could he say to make her relinquish her need to confront her tormentor?

Reaching up Aria softly gripped the sides of his face, pulling his face down to hers. Looking up at him with a quiet stillness, she whispered, “If you don't shut up and take off your pants or I will be forced make you.”

Chuckling, he took a step forward. “Are you threatening me?” he asked with amusement. Smirking up at him, she took a fluent step back.

“I'd like to think of it more as a provocative challenge.”

Moving forward he lowered his face to her smiling one. With the briefest of touches his nose brushed hers as his lips melted into a wolfish grin. “You should never challenge a bear unless you are willing to accept the outcome.”

Once again she shot him an insouciant grin while forcing space between them. She took another step back while running a teasing hand between the plump swell of her covered breasts. Her eyes sparkled with mischief as Doyle's dark eyes glazed over with gathering arousal.

“Like what?” she asked while sultry licking her lips. Her hand drifted down further until her soft hand swept under the hem of her soft cream colored sweater. Her smile widened as Doyle's hungry eyes followed her every move. Jerking his eyes back up to her teasing ones, his beast rumbled with desire to take his mate.

“We like to chase our prey first,” he growled out taking a step toward her as she took a slow step back, dancing just out of reach. Circling around the kitchen, she turned her back to him. Reaching down she pulled her sweater over her head. Letting the soft material slide from her fingers to the floor, she glanced over her shoulder at him.

“I like to be chased. What else?”

Watching her like the hunter he was, Doyle felt his mouth watering for a taste of his sweet mate. His hand reached up to rub absently over his mouth self consciously. Nope. No drool. His eyes traveled down the soft skin of her pale back, her shimmering white bra only highlighted her body's perfection. Looking over her body both his bear and himself were pleased not spy a single bone pressing against her tempting skin.

Planting a single hand on her hip she turned to face him. And how glad he was when she did. He thanked God had possessed the wisdom to gift him with a curvaceous mate. In fact it was that reason that he couldn't seem to remove his eyes from the two important reasons that he loved thick women. Her full breasts swelled over the silky cups that lovingly held them.

More for me...

“Doyle?” Tilting her head to the side, her golden hair cascaded over her bare shoulder with glimmering sunlight. “What else should I be careful about when handling a...” She paused as her eyes settled purposely over his hard erection concealed by his tight jeans. “Bear?” She finished with a mischievous smile. Flashing a smile of his own, Doyle moved closer until he'd backed her against the sink.

Caging her in between the sink and his powerful body he purposely took the opportunity to ground his desire for her against the soft swell of her stomach. Aria gasped at the feel of his hard cock pressing into her. Her clit pulsed, sending shivers of need up through her body and ending with her heavy breasts. Lowering his face into the crook of her neck, he inhaled her sweet womanly scent. The cold metal of the sink sent shivers down her bare back and goose flesh moving over her skin. But none of it compared to the feel of his facial stubble and warm lips as they skimmed against her pounding pulse.

“You should know there is something bears love more than hunting...” his teeth gripped the skin above her pounding pulse with a loving clutch.

“What's that?” She gasped. Rising up on her toes, instinctually she aligned her weeping core against his hard desire. She needed to feel more of him against her.

Allowing her flesh to slip from his loving mouth, he whispered, “Honey.” 

Gripping her hips roughly his hands glided down to grasp her buttocks. While one of his hands caressing and squeezing the meaty flesh lovingly. One of his hands slid around to the front of her jeans, sliding teasingly over her denim covered mound. Immediately her weeping center clenched and her stomach fluttered with delight. Both of her hands clutched at his muscular chest with need as her eyes gazed up at his with desire.

“You've forgotten. I can make you do whatever I want.”

With a well placed shove and a tug, Doyle found their positions reversed as he looked down at his mate's glowing sapphire eyes. With a grin she said, “Now it's my turn to play with you, my bear.” before he could utter a word, she added with a command, “Keep your hands to your sides and don’t move.”

Against his will his hands fell from his mate to his sides, limp as wet noodles. Unhurried, her hands crept down to the snap of his pants. With nibble fingers she quickly undid his only protection against her need to have him. Any way she wanted him. Her mind kept going back to the bath they'd shared this morning. More than anything she wanted to return the pleasure he'd given her. Going onto her knees her hands gripped the strong fabric of his jeans pulling them with her. She grinned up at him when she encountered nothing but pure male flesh. His cock bobbed out toward her face, begging for her welcoming attentions.

Panting with desire, Doyle struggled against her hold on him. His hands clenched with strain as he fought with all his might to reach her. Nothing. He couldn't move any part of his body—well one part was moving just fine on its own. Her breath batted teasingly at his exposed cock causing his muscles to knot tighter than before. Looking up at the ceiling he prayed for the will to survive this.

Perhaps it wasn't such a good idea that she discovered her gifts after all.

Carefully watching his expression, Aria eased her lips over the head of his cock. His reaction did not disappoint her.

“HOLY HONEY POT!” he shouted to the ceiling as his hands tightened against the hot heaven that surrounded him and threatened to consume him. Drawing deeply from his pulsing cock, she slowly let the hard flesh slide from her lips.

“Honey? Let me see if I can find some.” She teased seductively. Circling her fingers around the wide girth of his cock she moved him back between her silky lips, engulfing him from tip to root, pulling a groan of sensual torture from his gasping mouth.

“Release me! Now!” He growled out, his eyes glowing brightly as his eyes bore into her smirking face. “A-Aria...” He choked out. Her only reply was a gentle humming against his pulsing flesh that sent ripples of pleasure through his cock and up his spine. Above her, Doyle's hips thrusted forward with encouragement. 

He could feel his release building down at the base of his spine. His beast pushed forward for control. Within the next precious seconds Aria realized her gift may have held control over Doyle but it held no sway over his inner beast. Before she realized it, she found herself sprawled on her back. The feel of the cold hardwood floor against her bare back surprised her.

Doyle's arms braced on either side of her head, looking up and she saw a face she'd never met before. His face was a mix of human and that of a beast. With hauntingly glowing eyes looking back at her, she felt her heart race. His face had shifted into an incomplete muzzle. His normally tan skin darkened to a deep brown—a perfect match to his fur. His body seemed to thicken and grew larger before her eyes. A pulsing vein pushed against his forehead as he seemed to fight an inner battle for control. Emitting a low growl he flashed his sharp canines at her surprised eyes. A hot shiver rushed through her quivering form at the sight of him.

“Aria...” a deep growling voice rumbled from between his lips. She watched with curiosity as his yellow glowing eyes flashed back to his natural ones and then back again. “Get away. I-I can't hold him.” As the last of his words left his mouth, his eyes began glowing once more as a rumble vibrated through his chest and against the shear cups of her bra. Her nipples hardened with excitement, pushing against their soft coverings. She wasn't afraid. She had met his grizzly before and she knew who Doyle was deep down in his soul. But what was braced above her, struggling not to touch her was pure animal instinct. As his cock pulsed against her covered mound, her craving for him reached her limit. Straining up against him, she lifted her undulating hips up against his bare flesh. Her legs coiled up around his naked hips. Clasping his face within her hands she ignored how he squeezed his eyes tightly closed in apprehension. Pulling his face closer to hers, her lips covered his snarling mouth.

Thrusting her tongue between his surprised lips, Doyle groaned in delectation. He pressed his weight down against her before quickly breaking away. Leaning back, Doyle slashed his claws carefully at the waist of her jeans. With an impatient shove, she found herself clad in nothing but her underwear. Not giving his beast a chance to demolish those as well, she quickly shed her bra and matching lace thong. His lips curved in amusement as he watched her. Lowering his head, he nuzzled his face in between her unbound breasts. His stubble roughened face brushed her skin as he moved to pull a plump nipple within his mouth.

“Doyle!” She moaned with need.

Flicking his tongue over her wet nipple, he grinned as her body seized in reaction. Gripping her hips, he growled dangerous in her face. “Mine.” Without another word, she found herself flipped over onto her stomach. His strong hands tightly gripped her hips before jerking her up onto her knees. Chills swam up her spine as his hard length rubbed between the silky lips of her sex. A primal growl from behind her was the only warning she received as he drove forward. She gasped. Pushing back against his thrusts as molten fire was ignited with every stroke.

Deep within, Doyle felt the chains that had held his beast in check for so long—gone. From the first moment that he became aware of his beast, he’d been warned never to loosen his hold over his beast. Or he would be rouge, an uncontrollable and dangerous creature that was neither man nor beast. Being under his mate's compulsion had somehow broken that binding that their mating that loosened. Control was no longer needed. He was no longer a man and his beast —two separate being in one form. They were one. And now he intended to have his mate in such a way she'd never doubt it.

Locking his claws deep into the skin of her hips caused her to gasp; not just in surprise but in pleasure as well. His arms repeatedly jerked her back towards him each time his hips surge forward. In and out he pounded into her. A part of him prayed she'd not hate him for the barbaric way he took her, while another part of him demanded that he claim every inch of her in every way possible.

Aria welcomed the sting of his biting claws into her skin. The hot pain pushed her closer and closer to release. She had no idea what had set Doyle's animal off, but she needed to be sure she did it more often. Out of nowhere she felt Doyle's possessive hand move from his grip on her hip to cup her engorged clit. His clawed fingers began strumming her clit as his hard length drove back and forth, faster and faster into her.