Fighting Dirty for His Girl (Wylde Bears) (7 page)

Kenzie lifted her eyes to his, and he said it more slowly, so she knew he meant that one word more than anything else. And that she knew exactly how important she was to him.

“You’re my mate, and nothing you can say about your past will make me want you any less.” The subtle scent of one of the reasons she told him all of that was because she thought he would be disgusted with her. Another shifter m
ight not have been able to pick up on the slight change in smell, but he was more animal than man, and because of that he picked up on what others missed. Bram let go of the table, and a piece of wood fell onto the floor. “You’re mine, Kenzie, and I’ll say it over and over again until you realize that it is the truth.” He moved closer to her until only a foot separated them. “I’ll keep saying it until every fucking person on this planet knows it.” He was on edge again, itching for a fight, and wished he could hold her, and make her pain go away. “I can’t really make myself any clearer, Kenzie. All I can tell you is that being my mate is not something I take lightly, and certainly not something I am willing to ignore.” He lifted his hand and cupped her cheek, a guttural groan leaving him when she closed her eyes and leaned into his embrace. “I’m not going to let you go, because I want you too fucking bad, baby, and because you’re mine to protect and cherish.”

If he sensed for one moment that his words were too much for her, that his alphaness was going over the line, he would have backed the fuck off, but all he sensed was her inner animal growing soft and giving. She wanted this, and no matter how bad her life had been she trusted him in the way mates did with each other.

Knowing how she felt toward him Bram didn’t want to deny himself any longer. He leaned in close and waited a heartbeat just an inch from her mouth. Their eyes were locked, and he waited until he saw her acceptance in her gaze, and the slight nod of her head before he pressed his mouth against hers. He took her lips in a kiss, softly at first, waiting to gauge her reaction. He wanted to show her how gentle he could be. At first he just caressed her lips with his, but the desire to take more from her was too strong. When she didn’t push him away he went a bit further. Sliding his tongue along the seam of her lips was a sensory overload as he tasted the flavor of her flesh. She was sweet and addictive, and he couldn’t stop, wouldn’t even if his life depended on it. Kenzie was hesitant at first, but soon opened her mouth and allowed him entry, and Bram took it all.

Slipping into the warm, wet cavern of her mouth had a grunt of pleasure leaving him, and when she moved her tongue along his he hardened eve
n further. The lounge pants offered little obstruction as he moved closer to her and pressed his cock into the soft swell of her belly. The scent of her arousal coated him, and brought him to new heights, so Bram didn’t stop his bear from rising to the surface and experiencing this right along with him.

“I want this so bad, Kenzie.” He broke the kiss and trailed his lips over her cheek and down her neck. “I want you so bad, more than I have ever wanted anything or anyone before.
I just don’t want to go to fast, push you too far, and have you running from me.”

Her answering moan and the way she gripped his biceps, as if she thought he would leave, told him she wanted this
, too.

“All you have to do is tell me that this is okay.” Nipping and licking at her throat had Bram’s pulse beating frantically at the tip of his dick. “
That I can go further, and I promise I’ll be gentle.” He ran his tongue up the length of her throat and then moved it back down again. “I’ll make it good for you.” He slid his hands down her back and over the full mounds of her ass. “And I’ll make sure I am the only male that you think of.”

Curling his fingers into her soft, generous ass, Bram felt his shaft grow even harder.
God, he really was a bastard for even wanting this from her right after she told him about her abuse, but he needed to help her wipe away the memories of the panther, and replace them with only ones of him. He didn’t do any more than kiss her slowly, waiting for her to give her permission to go further.

“I don’t know how this will end up, but I do know I’ve never felt like this in my life, Bram.” He pulled back and looked down at her. In a soft, voice she said, “I want to forget about him, and I want you to be the male to help me with that.”

As he pressed his hips forward the fresh scent of her pussy called to the male in him. It wasn’t lost on him that her scarred past made her delicate and vulnerable, but showing her, telling her that he fucking needed her, that she was it for him, and that he would do everything in his power to ensure she knew that, eased the human and bear within him. That asshole’s time was coming, and when he faced off with Bram, because there was no doubt the panther would come after Kenzie, Bram would let his bear out at full force and finally bring his girl peace.

“Bram
.” She sighed and let her head fall back, and he continued to lick her like she was the best tasting treat in the whole fucking world. “I do want this. I do want you, but I can’t.” She put her hands on his chest, and he dragged his teeth up her neck. Her breathing was haggard and rushed, and he knew that if he pushed her just a bit more she’d give into him, but that wasn’t what he wanted, and that wasn’t how he was going to get her under him. It took a lot of strength for him to take a step back because he badly wanted to be buried deep inside of her body, but he and his bear were in agreement that rushing her was not the answer.

Before she could pull fully away from him he sank to his knees in front of her and held her hips loosely in his hands. Staring up at her showed her expression was one of shock.

“What are you doing?” she asked. Her throat worked as she swallowed, and he smelled her confusion.

He had never gotten on his knees for anyone, let alone a female, but Kenzie was something different, something special.

Bram grabbed the edge of her shirt. It was one of his, and far too big for her body. He couldn’t help but smile at the little knot she had made out of the edge of the material to make it less baggy. He lifted the hem up, and she stopped his hands by placing hers over his.

“
I know I’m asking a lot, fuck I know I am, but trust me like you’ve never trusted any other person, and I promise I won’t ever disappoint you.”

It took her several seconds before she removed her hands
slowly and let them fall to her sides. Bram resumed lifting her shirt up until the scar she’d revealed earlier was visible. His vision turned red at the old injury, but instead of showing her his anger and pain that he hadn’t been there to protect her, he leaned forward and ran his tongue along the length of it. She tensed, most likely wondering what the fuck he was doing, but Bram was intent on showing her that there was nothing he didn’t like about her. To him she was perfect in every conceivable way. He kissed her over and over again, keeping his hands on her waist, feeling her smooth, warm skin beneath his palms, and wishing things had been so much different. He moved his tongue along her belly until she relaxed once again and placed her hands on his shoulders. The scar tissue was raised beneath his tongue, but that just made him lick her more slowly and thoroughly. He vowed to himself, and would soon do the same to her, that once she was naked and in his bed, he would drag his tongue over every inch of her, memorizing her body the way it deserved, the way
she
deserved.

“I wish I could take it all away.” And he did, with every fiber of his being. “I’m sorry that he hurt you.” He continued kissing her until his lips were numb and she trembled against him.
“I’m sorry I wasn’t there to make sure you were safe.” He moved his hands in slowly so that he was now framing the scar. “I just want you to know that you don’t have to be afraid of me.”

Pulling back and lifting just his eyes to her, he saw the fresh stream of tears falling down her cheeks. But despite her tears, there was no sadness, only a profound understanding that what he said was the truth.

“There is no need to run from me.” He stood and took both of her hands in his. “Instead let’s go shopping, because I know girls like to do that shit.” He smiled, changing the mood to something lighter, because he wanted, no, he needed, to see her smile. She gave him what he wanted, and his heart thumped against his chest as her lips curved slightly. He was lost for his girl, and it hadn’t even been twenty-four hours. Mating could be a tricky fucker, but dammit he wouldn’t change it for anything, not when he actually felt like a man in her presence and not just a bear walking in a human’s body.

Then she said the words that meant more to him than anything else he had ever heard.

“Okay, Bram, I’ll trust you.”

Chapter Six

Bram handed the cashier a wad of cash and took the shopping bags off the counter. When he had first told
Kenzie they would go shopping she had told him no, that she couldn’t accept something like that from him. She didn’t have a job or money, and although it was mighty generous of him Kenzie just didn’t feel right about it. He may be her mate, but she knew nothing about him, and certainly couldn’t accept something so generous.

Of course no one told Bram Wyl
de no, especially a deer shifter that was shit at staying firm to her word. In his defense he was quite the negotiator. He went as far as telling her if she made him a home cooked meal tonight then they would be even. What he didn’t know was she had never cooked a day in her life. Rook always had people to prepare their meals and clean. She had been about to tell him she still didn’t feel right about it all, that it was his death wish if he really wanted her hovering over a stove for him, but he had put on his no-nonsense face until she reluctantly agreed.

“Come on, Bambi.”

He gave her a wink, and she sighed in exasperation. For some reason he had decided to call her that today out of the blue. It was such a juvenile name, but there was also a little part of her that got all girly and giddy over the fact she knew he called her that as an endearment. He wrapped his arm around her shoulder and pulled her close to his body. She still tensed at contact, but with Bram it wasn’t because of uncertainty of what he would do to her, but her own desire slamming right into the center of her body. He had been touching her little by little ever since they left his cabin. It seemed he had to always have his hands on her, and every time he touched her, or leaned in and his warm, sweet breath teased the side of her throat when he whispered something into her ear, Kenzie felt herself draw even closer to him. Finding a mate was on a whole other level from anything else. There was no logic when two mates found each other. Even thinking about her parents after so many painful years still brought a smile to her face. They had always been kissing or whispering things to each other. And their love for one another was as real as Bram standing right in front of her.

Bram tightened his hold on her
, and the hairs on the back of Kenzie’s neck stood up. Looking over her shoulder she scanned the street. People walked up and down the street, talking with one another, and looking pleasantly oblivious that a monster most likely still resided in their sweet little town. She had been so very hesitant to leave the cabin, knowing that Rook and the cougars would still be hiding out. She hoped they were holed up and licking their wounds, just waiting to leave until they were healed, and not staying hidden until they could come after her. She also wouldn’t put it past them to go to extremes in their tactics to get information from others on her whereabouts. Not like anyone would know much anyway. She was nobody with a life a deranged madman created.

“Kenzie, you okay?”

She pulled her attention away from the busy street, not seeing anything that would have put her on alert, and looked back at Bram. He was now looking over her head and their surroundings, and she felt his animal come forward. It was a heady feeling that washed through her and had the essence of her feminine side rise up. The scent of his wilderness was like a blast to her face, and if he hadn’t been holding onto her she would have stumbled back from the intensity of it.

“I’m good.” She was paranoid, but rightly so. He scanned the area once more, and when it was clear he was satisfied with his findings he visibly relaxed and looked down at her.

“I told you I wouldn’t let anything happen to you.” He said it with so much conviction she had no doubt in him. “You feel me, Kenzie? You’re safe with me, and if I have to prove that to you for the rest of my fucking life than so be it.” His blue eyes held hers. “If someone wants you they will have to come through me to fucking get you, and that won’t happen. Yeah?”

A raw, untamed look was on his face
, and she nodded. She may trust his bear to protect her deer, but that didn’t change the fact that just yesterday she was trapped in Rook’s deadly embrace.

They resumed walking along the cobblestoned sidewalk, and he wrapped his arm around her waist, mindful of her nearly healed wounds. The town of Sweet Water was exactly what someone would expect to see in a movie where everyone waved as she passed their little shops.

“You hungry?”

Kenzie stopped and looked up at Bram. He looked down at her with a confused expression.

“What?”

All it took was him saying those
simple words for her to be at ease once more.

What is it about him that makes me feel
… free
?

“We ate like a pound of food an hour ago.” For a full minute he didn’t say anything. It was almost like he didn’t understand what she was saying.

“Yeah?” He said the word slowly, like he was really trying to grasp what she meant. Kenzie started laughing, and he gave her a lopsided grin. “I’m hungry again.” He let go of her hand and patted his stomach, and she started laughing again.

“You’re a machine.”

The amusement left his face, and Kenzie held her breath as he leaned in slowly.

“You have no idea, but you will, very, very soon.” He dipped his gaze to her lips
, and she watched as his breathing changed from steady to rapid. The haze of desire washed through her, and Kenzie’s body acted on its own, having her lean forward. At that moment she wasn’t standing in the middle of the sidewalk surrounded by passersby. It was only her and Bram, her mate, and the only male that she felt safe with. Kind of crazy for her to think like that, but it was what it was, and she was sick of questioning everything in her life. She hadn’t ruled out leaving Sweet Water, but what was to say she couldn’t give herself willingly to Bram? Kenzie had never been made love to, had never been stroked and caressed and kissed, and she knew Bram was just the bear to show her that there were good males out there still. No way in hell did she want Rook to be the last man that touched her intimately.

Kicking her self-doubt and worry to the side for just a small amount of time, she did
what she wanted to do, what she ached to do every time Bram was near. She initiated the kiss.

At the first touch of her lips against his fire licked along her spine. It was just a kiss, but then again it was so much more. Rook slipped further and further into the back of her mind
, and all she could feel, smell, and hear was Bram. When he speared his hand in her hair and pulled her more firmly against him she moaned against his mouth. He was just so possessive, so powerful, and didn’t care about anything but getting what he wanted, and what he wanted was her.

It exhilarated her, consumed her, and made her want to forget everything that had happened the last
eleven years, and just be the ten year old little girl that still had her parents with her. She wasn’t going to pounce on his large body right in the middle of town, but she was going to let her deer do the leading for once, and right now it wanted to let this bear have his way with her. The kiss was everything she remembered from back at his cabin, but it had her wanting more, and she knew he could give it all to her. Breaking away from him she was pleased that he looked stunned.

You put that look on his face, Kenzie.
Her inner deer whispered inside of her, and pleasure coursed through her veins.

“Unless you want me to make eggs and bacon for dinner we might need to make a stop at the store for some ingredients.”

Bram blinked several times, and she couldn’t help but smile at his bewildered expression.

“How can you talk about food after a kiss like that?”

That made her smile. “You’re the one that first brought up food.” She nudged him in his rock hard chest and liked that she could tease him and feel so at ease by his side. It was refreshing yet scary all in the same breath. He ran a hand over his mouth and looked around. Kenzie let her eyes travel down his body and spotted the impressive bulge that pressed against his fly.

I will not think about that right now. I will not think about that right now.

“Groceries, Bram.” Her smile widened when he genuinely looked lost. “A supermarket? You know, it’s where they sell food, unless you want scrambled eggs again.” Before they had left and made their little deal she had taken a look in his refrigerator. Aside from the basics of milk and juice, there
were only a few cartons of eggs and a bag of potatoes. She hadn’t looked in the freezer, although she knew it was probably stocked with plenty of protein. For a man of his size he would certainly need a lot of the latter.

“I have some steaks in the freezer at the cabin
.” He skimmed his eyes down her body. “But I’m not in the mood for red meat, but I can think of something else that sounds pretty fucking good right about now.” He leaned in closer until she felt his warm breath along her lips. “Am I going too fast for you, Kenzie?”

He sounded genuine, and she knew in her heart, felt it surround her, that he really was. Yes, this whole situation was fast, unexpected, and confusing, but it also felt right. Bram felt right. She shook her head at his question, not able to find the words because he was so close, so overpowering, that all she wanted to do was get lost in everything that this male was. He leaned in the rest of the way
and ran his tongue along her lips. A shiver wracked her, and for the hundredth time she asked herself how she had gotten so wrapped up in this male.

“We will finish this later, baby, because I can smell how
much you are there with me.” He kissed her once more and took a step back. “Damn woman, you’re going to be the fucking death of me.” His expression was one of awe, and her heart picked up speed.

Bram was cocky and overly self-assured of his prowess, but he was also confident and knew what exactly what to say to make her a puddle at his feet. Before she could respond, not like she could have said anything after his statement anyway, Bram was taking hold of her hand and leading her down the sidewalk.

“The grocery store is just right down the street, so we might as well walk.” He looked over his shoulder at her. “Only if that’s good with you.”

Kenzie nodded and smiled up at him. What a considerate male her mate was. They rounded the corner
, and the small grocery store came into view.

“We’ll head in, get whatever your heart desires, then head over to the butcher shop.” He lifted
their conjoined hands and pointed to a small shop across the street. When she didn’t answer right away he continued. “It’s the only place my brothers and I go for steaks.” She wasn’t a very big meat eater, not since she was a deer shifter and all, and when she wrinkled her nose he laughed. “Baby, you’re mated to a bear shifter. You know, a
carnivore
.” He winked and leaned down to lay a soft kiss on her forehead. It wasn’t the most intimate display of PDA they had performed, not like what they had just done moments before, but it still had her toes curling. They headed into the store, and Kenzie decided spaghetti and a salad was probably the safest option if she was the cook for tonight. How hard was it to boil water and throw some lettuce in a bowl?

After they grabbed what they needed, and Bram picked up a bottle of red wine, which he insisted was needed since it was a crime to eat pasta without it, they were
walking across the street to the butcher shop. She stayed back while he ordered so much meat her head reeled. The smell alone of raw meat had her stomach clenching. Once he was finished they headed back to his truck.

There was a group of young men standing right by the alley, and it was clear by their secretive actions they were doing something illegal. She had seen enough back alley drug deals living with Rook and being around the people he associated with to know what one looked like. It seemed even in quaint appearing towns there was scum that littered it. Bram tightened his hold on her, and just as they were about to take the
longer way, one that had them crossing the parking lot and turning left, one of the guys called out.

“Hey, you got a smoke, man?”

Bram tensed and pulled her behind him. She could see around his arm the four guys making their way closer, but still staying by the alley for protection. The wind picked up, and she scented that they were wolverine shifters. Normally that breed was on a thin wire as it was, easily provoked, and angrier than any other species she thought possible for the small animals inside of them.

“No.” That was all Bram said, and she could feel how tense he was, how on alert, and that had her deer feeling the same. These males were off, high on whatever it was they were exchanging
among them, and unstable.

“We’re just passing through on our way to Mogador. Thought we’d stop at butt fuck Egypt for some brews and a little recreational enjoyment. We got some for sale.” The one who was talking seemed to be the leader. His dark hair was long and greasy, and his clothes hung off his willow-like frame. The other three didn’t look any better. They were high for sure. They wore the same frantic, paranoid expressions.

“No.” Again, that was all Bram said.

“What, you too good for my shit?” That was the thing with junkies, they always thought the worst about everything, and it always concerned them.

“Didn’t say that. We don’t do that shit. I don’t have cigarettes for you, so move along.” The tension that came from these four wolverines was intense. It was still daylight out, yet they clearly didn’t care if anyone saw. She knew something was about to happen before they made that first move. The hair on her arms stood, and her animal rose to the surface. She couldn’t win against one wolverine, let alone four, but she could outrun one, and there was no shame in that. Bram’s bear rose violently as well, and the growl he emitted would have had any sane person fleeing, but these shifters were high, and clearly stupid as hell.