Catching Her Bear (24 page)

Another weight dropped onto her shoulders. “I plan to sell it, as I never want to live there ever again.” She visibly shook.

“Smart. I’m sure there are too many bad memories associated with that place.”

“Definitely.” Their server stopped by, and Kalan ordered a beer while she asked for a Merlot. Elana didn’t want to discuss problems associated with the home. It was too depressing. “So tell me. Do you eat a lot of fish?” He was a bear after all. It shouldn’t really matter, but the more she understood about the bear culture, the better she’d feel.

It took a few seconds for him to understand why she was asking before he cracked up laughing. “Because of my other persona?” He whispered the last word.

“Yes. It’s a reasonable question.”

“For your information, I like fish, chicken, beef, and everything else just like any normal man.”

Sometimes, Kalan seemed more bear than man to her. “Besides that cute transformative trick you do, are you able to do anything similar to what Izzy can?” Izzy had trained her to use code words to describe the Wendayan talents. Elana would have to be just as careful in public if she had to discuss anything related to werebears.

“I’m afraid not. Izzy transferred some of her talents to Rye, which means he can do some really cool things the rest of us can’t.”

If Kalan ever decided to mate with her, he’d get nothing in return, which wasn’t really fair to him. Perhaps that was why he hadn’t bitten her.

Don’t dwell on that. I need to be thankful he’s with me now.

Once their drinks arrived, Kalan held up his glass. “May your life be smooth sailing from here on out.”

“Wouldn’t that be nice.” She sipped her wine then set it down. “I don’t think I told you that the men working on my apartment said they’d be finished in a few days.”

“That’s great.” His voice sounded cheerful, but his eyes had darkened.

In the short time she’d come to know him, it seemed that his eyes changed color depending on his mood. Super excited, and they were amber; angry, and his eyes turned a forest green. Right now they bordered on the dark side.

If he didn’t want her to move back to her apartment, he should say something. Stupid man.

Their server came for their dinner order. She ordered a steak, and Kalan picked out the salmon. She swore he did it just to mess with her mind. Elana was bursting with so many more questions about what it was like to be a shifter, how old he was when he first shifted, and did it hurt when he changed shape—but a restaurant wasn’t the place to discuss those kinds of things. Besides, Kalan seemed a little distracted, so she sipped her wine and waited for their meal to arrive.

“I’d like you to move in with me,” Kalan said out of the blue.

“Excuse me?”

“I know the danger is mostly over, but I’d feel better if you stayed with me. You’re too alone above your shop.”

As she studied the color of his eyes, his lips twitched on one side. What did that mean? His motive for asking remained a mystery. Was it merely his protective instinct that made him ask, or did he really want to give the two of them a chance to learn about each other and fall in love?

“Why?”

“It’s obvious isn’t it?”

Because I’m your mate?
“Not to me.”

He leaned forward, planted his elbows on the table, and then glanced around, probably to make sure no one was listening. “I can’t think straight when I’m away from you. You dominant my every thought.”

It took a moment to unravel the double negative. “Because you’re worried about me?”

“Yes, I’m worried about you, but it’s more than that. You are like my compass, helping me focus on what’s important.”

He dragged a hand down his head, probably to smooth the wisps of hair that had escaped the band. Failing to tame his beautiful locks, he ripped off the tie and his hair fell about his shoulders. She could watch him do that move a hundred times a day and not grow tired of it.

“What exactly is important to you?” She didn’t want to sound dense, but she needed to hear the words.

“You are. I want to be with you. It’s not just about the sex either,” he whispered. “It’s how I feel when I’m with you. I’m more alive than I’ve ever been before.”

That worked for her. “Then I say yes!”

‡

A
fter their huge
meal at the Lake Steakhouse, Kalan insisted they stop at the grocery store for some brownie mix. The whole idea of baking something together really appealed to her, but it would mean Elana would have to do something later about cutting back on all those extra calories.

With a bag full of ingredients in hand, he opened his front door and motioned she go in first.

“Your dad told me you didn’t know how to cook.”

His eyes widened. “Are you kidding me? Didn’t I make the best hot dogs on this side of the lake?”

She laughed. “You did. Perhaps you should cook something for him and show him.”

He tapped her nose then set the bag on the counter. “I just might.”

“What can I do to help?”

“First, I need to read the instructions on the box.” He removed it from the bag and as he read the ingredients out loud, she organized them on the counter then turned on the stove.

Together, they located the bowl and mixer. It didn’t take long to make the batter and then grease the dish. Before she had the chance to put the bake pan in the heated oven, Kalan stuck his finger in the batter and licked it. “Yum.”

As long as he had a taste, she wanted one too. She scooped up two fingers full of the mix, but before she even opened her mouth, Kalan leaned over and sucked it off her fingers. Instant heat soared through her at that action, flooding her system with hormones.

“That’s not fair. That was my taste.”

He grinned. “I’ll give you your taste.”

He stepped back, unzipped his trousers, and then stepped out of them. Elana was speechless at the huge bulge in his briefs. The man seemed to be in a perpetual state of arousal. Izzy’s words came back to her about the effect a mate had on her man. Holy shit. To think they weren’t even mated yet. Heaven help her if he ever bit her.

Hooking his fingers in his briefs, he kept his gaze on her face as he eased them down—inch by excruciatingly slow inch.

“Need help?” She licked her lips, hoping he’d get the hint.

“In a moment. The animal in me wants you too fucking much right now.”

She planted her hands on her hips. “I want the
man
in you to want me.”

“Oh, baby, he wants you more.”

Kalan knew how to sweet-talk her. Once he’d discarded his briefs, he reached over to the brownie mix and swiped a large glob then slathered it on his cock.

“That’s what I’m talking about,” she said.

“Fair’s fair. Since I stole your lick, how about tasting this?”

Uh-oh. His eyes turned a golden hue and his eyeteeth poked out of his mouth, but she had to trust his bear wouldn’t escape.

As if she were bobbing for apples, Elana clasped her hands behind her back and leaned over. The scent of chocolate had her salivating. Not wanting the batter to drip, she began her adventure at the base of his cock and licked upward.

“Fuck, that feels so good.” He grabbed her shoulder and groaned.

This was fun and tasty. She decided the only way to get all of it was to devour his cock, but that would require her hands. Unclasping her fingers, she pulled his big shaft closer and then sucked on him hard, swirling her tongue around and around to get every bit of chocolate.

“Enough.” Kalan lifted her by the shoulders. “I can’t wait any longer.”

As he undid the buttons on her shirt, his gaze never left her face. If she hadn’t wanted to impress Brian, she would have donned a T-shirt—one that was easy to remove. With each button Kalan unhooked, he moved her backward until she bumped into the counter.

“Never doubt my desire for you. You are what I need. What I want.”

He’d said that before, but Elana hadn’t wanted to believe it could possibly be true, because she didn’t want to be disappointed if he lost interest later on. Though at the moment, that didn’t seem likely. “Okay.”

She wished she could come up with a better response, but right now his cock was pressed against her belly disrupting her ability to think, much less express herself.

Kalan finished unbuttoning her blouse, slid it off her shoulders, and then tossed it aside. Hopefully, it didn’t land in the brownie mix. She might have looked had he not leaned over and kissed her. The moment their lips touched, she pressed her chest against his, and heat spread like wildfire.

He reached around her back and unhooked her bra. The thought of his roving tongue across her breast and then sucking on her nipples had her damp with need. With her clean hand, she grabbed a fistful of his thick, wavy hair, and its silkiness turned her on.

Kalan lowered the straps on her bra then leaned back. “You make me wild.”

“Ditto.”

As much as she wanted to touch him, she didn’t want to break the incredible connection they were experiencing. He slipped off her bra and let it fall to the floor. “I need you higher.”

After shoving the mixing bowl and the empty brownie box out of the way, he lifted her onto the counter. He then leaned over, and when he sucked on one breast, tiny explosions of need shot in every direction.

He stopped his delicious assault. “Wait. I have a better idea.”

What could be better than what he’d been doing? Kalan stepped over to the batter—which she now suspected would never be made—scooped some with his forefinger then dragged it across her other nipple.

He blew out a long breath. “All mine.”

Lowering his head again, he sucked, twirled, and devoured the batter off her hardened tip. Just listening to his moans and grunts, her need ratcheted. At the pressure he was exerting on her body, she was forced to lean back on her elbows. With this new angle, she could wrap her legs around his waist. Too bad, she was still clothed.

Seconds later, he must have recognized the dilemma for he undid the button on her jeans, unzipped them, and then tugged them off. “Zebra striped. Nice. Maybe I can find you ones with bear paw prints on them.”

How cute would that be? “I’d gladly wear them.”

“Right now, I need you wearing nothing.” In a flash, her panties disappeared.

He lifted her legs onto his shoulder, forcing her onto her back. He grabbed her blouse from the counter, rolled it into a ball, and placed it under her head. That was definitely more comfortable. “Thank you.”

“Let me show you my appreciation.” His eyes lightened and his hair fell into his face as he leaned forward and swiped a tongue across her opening.

Bursts of pleasure ran rampant inside her, and she had to grip the edge of the countertop to keep some control as each lick and flick brought her closer to her climax. What was wrong with her? She’d never been this sensitive in her life. With Kalan things were so different…more wonderful, special, amazing.

“Take me,” she gasped.

“Easy.”

“I am not easy. Okay, I am with you, but if you want me, you have to make love with me now.”

He sucked on her clit once more, heating her to the max. “Only because I don’t want you to suffer will I honor your request.”

“You’re full of shit. You can’t last either. Your facial hair is thicker and those teeth look mighty sharp.” Damn. She never should have tossed out that dare. Now, he might withhold the prize.

Kalan responded by lowering her legs and wrapping them around his waist again. “Let’s test that theory of yours. Hold on.”

Score!
Reaching under her, he lifted her off the counter. She grabbed onto his broad shoulders for support and planted her feet on his thighs. By sitting up straighter, she was able to reach his delicious lips. His arms tightened around her, and he kissed her hard and with so much passion that it released every feminine hormone in her body. As their tongues dueled and each fought for position, joy burst from within.

He then reached below them and adjusted the tip of his cock so that it was at her entrance. The anticipation made her even wetter.

When he didn’t try to impale her, she widened her legs a bit and dropped down on him, immediately closing her eyes to keep from hyperventilating. She swore he was bigger than ever before.

As soon as the pulsing and throbbing subsided, Kalan eased out and drove into her again, sending a cascade of pure bliss through her. He lowered his head and loosened his grip, allowing her to lean back. The first tug on her nipple had her soaring. God, it was hard enough to keep from coming with his big cock inside her let alone after he added the glorious nipping and teasing on her tits.

He growled and plowed into her again. While his scruff looked closer to a beard, she wanted him even more desperate, so she clamped down hard on his cock.

His mouth opened, and he sucked in an audible breath. “That’s it. I can’t…control… it any more.”

His hands slid to her waist, and she increased the pressure on the sides of his legs to keep from slipping. Together, they rode each other hard, until her oxygen-starved brain yelled his name when her orgasm rushed in. Kalan drew her close and kissed her again just as he released his hot seed. She closed her eyes, and as the light show begin, her whole body felt as if she’d been transported to another dimension—one in which she could romp free.