His to Bear (16 page)

her was too much to bear. Each thrust brought nerve endings she’d never been aware

of alive. There was pain, but the burn and pinch bled into a white-hot pleasure that

ripped through her womb and had her pussy clenching with wanton need. She would

have never guessed her ass would be such an erogenous zone.

“Faster,” she panted. “Fuck me faster.”

He picked up the tempo, making each stroke a little harder, too. She slid her

hand under to take over her clit, and he gripped both her hips with his hands.

“I’m going to come,” he roared. “Work that pussy, darling. Come with me. I

want to feel your ass contracting around my dick, want to feel it sucking my cum from

me.”

She quivered, her body straining toward release. Cries spilled from her lips. She

had no idea what she was saying. Tears seeped from her eyes, wetting her cheeks and

the sheets. It was too much. She couldn’t handle what her body felt. Then she was

flying, soaring so high stars skated around the edges of her vision. Her mouth opened

wide around a silent scream as she shuddered. She felt her ass clenching on him,

flexing and gripping while he continued to fuck her.

Then he was crying out, her name filling the air as the first hot blast of semen let

go inside her. He continued to ride her as he came, slowing only when his dick was

spent. He collapsed against her back, and she felt him shivering against her. She could

tell it had been as all-consuming for him as it had been for her. She had no doubt

they’d be doing it again.

He eased off her, his cock sliding free so he could fall to the bed beside her.

“I think you killed me that time,” he muttered, one arm thrown over his face,

covering his eyes. “Jesus! Nothing has ever felt that good.”

“It was amazing,” she agreed, moving closer so she could rub her check over his

chest.

“Come here, darling,” he said and wrapped his arm around her, pulling her

higher against his chest. “We’ll rest for just bit then it’s time for another shower.”

“Mhm,” she agreed, her eyes already closing.

He’d have to carry her to the shower. She was almost certain her legs were no

longer going to hold her up, at least, not tonight.

Chapter Twelve

Holt left Jaeda sleeping early the next morning. He’d woken her up once and

forced her into the shower. She’d refused to open her eyes. It’d taken all he had to

keep her upright while he’d washed her. She’d grumbled and groused then moaned as

he’d taken a washcloth over her. She’d gone right back to sleep when he’d carried her

back to the bed. God, he was falling in love with her.

He met Murphy at the bottom of the stairs. His friend had texted him earlier to

let Holt know he and Finn would be heading back to Oklahoma today. Laramie had

told Holt he was going to ask them to leave. He and Murphy waited until they were

outside to talk.

“Everything okay?” Holt asked first, just to be sure nothing else had prompted

the brothers leaving. “Nothing’s happened?”

“Not that I know of,” Murphy replied. “Everyone’s fine. The Holloways are

antsy. Finn and I are more in the way than anything else right now. Laramie asked us

to leave, and I think it’s best if we do. Unless you need us to stay.”

Holt shook his head. “There’s a lot going on here. Laramie’s going to have his

hands full for a while.”

“Jaeda isn’t the only female,” Murphy said with certainty. “Hard to keep secrets,

even from a feline,” he teased. “We can stay and help. The offer stands.”

“I think this is something they’ll want to handle by themselves,” Holt said. “I’m

learning there’s a lot of differences between bears and cats, and I’m not talking

biology.”

“Every species is unique. Lumping all shifters together would be like lumping

all humans together. You just can’t.”

Murphy was right, and it made Holt feel a bit foolish for doing just that with the

shifters. He should have known better.

“So you heading out with us or staying here?” Finn joked as he joined them. He

wiggled his eyebrows. “I’m guessing from the smell of you, you’re going to stay right

here with that little bear of yours.”

“Bet your ass I am,” Holt agreed with a grin.

“It looks good on you,” Finn said.

“What’s that?” Holt asked.

“Happiness.” For a minute, Holt swore he saw a flash of something in Finn’s

eyes, a sorrow he wouldn’t have guessed the other man felt. Then it was gone, and

Finn’s grin was back. “I’ll make sure Kenzie knows you’re not pining away for her.

Or maybe I won’t. Depends on how nice Gabriel is.”

Holt laughed.

Finn grabbed him in a hard hug, patting him on the back. “Gonna miss having

you around,” he said. “Don’t think I won’t be checking up on you.”

Holt hugged him back. “I’ve already promised Jaeda I’ll take her to Oklahoma

for a visit.”

“Taking her west, huh?” Finn asked.

“You do realize that Oklahoma is south east of here? Right? I know everyone

kept saying west when we were leaving Colorado, but I admit I thought it was more of

like the West.”

Finn grinned. “I’ve always thought of Oklahoma and Texas as the West. New

Mexico, too. Makes me think of cowboys and cattle drives. I think Abby was just

amusing me. The others just played along like you did.”

Murphy shook his head. “My brother has a way of charming people to get what

he wants. Even apparently, which direction we’re headed.”

Holt chuckled. “I’m going to miss you two.”

Finn slapped him on the shoulder, shared a look with Murphy and turned. “I’ll

meet you at the car, Murph. Be safe, Holt.”

“Will do,” Holt promised and watched Finn walk away. “What’s up with him?”

Murphy sighed. “He’s restless. It’s getting worse. Something happened when he

was taken by hunters.” He stopped for a minute, swallowing. “When I almost lost

him. He doesn’t talk about it, but there’s a sadness in him. It worries me.”

“You know the same goes for me. If you need me, I’ll be there as quick as I can.

You guys are family. Nothing changes that.”

Murphy reached a hand out and the two men gripped forearms. “I know that.

He’ll be all right. I won’t have it any other way.”

“I’m here if you need to talk,” Holt reminded his friend. “You take too much on

your shoulders, Murph. You don’t have to. Any of us would be happy to help you

carry whatever’s bothering you.”

Murphy nodded, gave a small smile then turned to walk away. Holt watched

until he joined Finn at the car. They waved before they got in and the vehicle started.

Murphy honked the horn once then they were pulling out. There was something so

final about watching them drive away while he stayed behind, and it settled in his

mind that this really was where he belonged, now.

“Koby and Jensen should be back in a few days.” Laramie spoke from behind

him. “ Declan and Matheus left first thing this morning.”

“Do you expect trouble from the elders?”

“I always expect trouble,” Laramie admitted. “That way, I’m never caught off

guard. I don’t see them challenging me, though. They’d be foolish to even try.”

“Have you heard from Koby at all?” Holt asked as they walked side by side

away from the house.

“Not yet. I don’t expect to until he’s found who he’s searching for. Most likely,

it will be Jensen who calls.”

“These elders of yours. Do you trust them to protect the women? To have their

best interests at heart?”

“Most of them are good, but with a traitor among us, I’m no longer certain of

anyone outside those in this house. That includes you. I’m going to need your help.

Some of these people I know too well. I might not suspect them. You don’t know

them. You’ll be able to read them with fresh eyes…eyes untarnished by a past you

know nothing of. Will you do that for me?”

“Of course,” Holt said. “Jaeda and I were just talking about what we were going

to do. We can’t stay here forever. I need a job. We need a home of our own.”

“You can stay here. You can have your pick of any of the cabins you want. I’d

prefer you to stay close for now. I can sense something. It’s making my neck itch. I

want us together and ready if all hell breaks loose. As for a job, I’d like you to work

with me. You know security. I watched you while you were here last time. Koby

spoke highly of you. He did the same this time when you first arrived. I know you saw

a side of him you didn’t like where Jaeda was concerned. All I can say is mating does

something to a man, tears him inside out. Especially if he thinks another has what

should be his. Not an excuse, but an explanation nonetheless.”

Holt noticed Laramie said what and not who. He wondered if the other man

realized it. Once again, he thought how much Laramie needed a mate, one to soften

his edges and give him the comfort that only a woman could truly provide a man.

“We’ll stay in the main house for now. Jaeda will be safer there. I’ll trust your

senses as mine are going a little crazy right now.”

“Welcome to being a bear,” Laramie said with a grin. “They’ll level out, and

you’ll be amazed at what you can smell and hear, at how bright the night can be.”

“I need to warn you about a promise I made my mate. One I plan to keep.”

“What’s that?” Laramie asked.

“I agreed to watch out for Sidia. If she’s unhappy or scared when she gets here,

I’ll step in. I won’t allow Koby to force her into anything.”

Laramie sighed. “I know it’s hard to believe, but he won’t hurt her. He wouldn’t

have been the way he was with Jaeda if you hadn’t been in the picture. His primal

reaction had little to do with her and everything to do with you. You were a threat. It

made him crazy.”

“So as long as there’s no other man trying to claim Jaeda’s sister, Koby will be

fine?”

“Yes,” Laramie agreed. “He’ll treat her like the treasure she’ll be to him. He’ll

woo her, steal kisses and heated embraces until she’s ready to commit to more. He’d

never hurt her.”

Holt nodded. “I’ll make sure Jaeda understands that. She’s worried about the

others, her sisters most of all.”

“I’ll protect them. I know you don’t understand our ways, yet, but I vow I’ll see

them all safe and happy. My brothers are good men. The few others I trust and have

put calls into are the same. I can’t offer the women free choice, not when so much is

at stake. The survival of our species for one. I’ll let them chose only from those I

know can protect them. Those who are loyal and would never betray us. It’s the only

thing I can do.”

“I understand,” Holt admitted. “I didn’t at first, but I do, now. I think if you

explain it to them like you just did to me, they’ll understand, too.”

Laramie nodded. “What about my other offer? Will you work with me? Help

with security?”

“I’ve watched since I’ve been here, too,” Holt said. “I don’t think you really

need my help, but it’s yours, anyway.”

“You’re wrong there. I have more need of you now than ever. All hell will break

loose when I begin digging for the one who brought all this on,” Laramie reminded. “I

don’t expect them to jump out and reveal themselves. Nor do I expect them to slip

away. I expect them to attack in the ways only a coward will. I can’t keep my eyes

turned in all directions, nor can I keep tabs on everyone.”

“I’ll help,” Holt said. “With the right equipment, the trees themselves can have

eyes.”

Laramie smiled. “I can get you anything you need.”

“What exactly is it you and your brothers do for money?” Holt asked. “I’ve yet

to see a single guest here.”

“My grandfather and his father before him made wise investments. My great-

great-grandchildren could live comfortably off what we have now. My father

expanded on it. He had a hand with the market. Jensen oversees it all. It’s almost

doubled again since he took over. Must be in the blood.”

“So what? You expect me to believe you just lounge around?”

“When my father was the alpha of our pack, I was one of the enforcers. There

were six of us who worked in two man teams. Koby and I, as the oldest Holloways,

were among them. It was our job to see to the punishment of those who broke our

laws.” He glanced at Holt. “The same basic laws as every other society, only we don’t

have prisons. Our punishments are swift and merciless, fitting to the crime.”

“Are those the men you’ll be calling back? The ones you trust? The enforcers

you worked with?”

“Yes,” Laramie said. “They’re already on their way here. I should have called

them to me sooner. I let so much slide when my father passed. Then the attacks came,

and it seemed there was nothing left when we lost our women. To know otherwise…it

won’t happen again.”

“I know this is a bear issue, but all it takes is one call and Finn and Murphy will

be back. Tah, Reno, Logan, Zane. Gabriel and Gideon. Every one of the pride

members will be here to help you.”

“Thank you,” Laramie said. “I’ll keep that in mind. For right now, I’d like to

keep it within our pack.”

Holt nodded. It had been the answer he’d expected. “I can get started on a list of

what I need. How soon will you be able to get it to me?”

“I’ll make a call. It can be here by nightfall.”

Holt smiled. “Some of it might not be so easy to come by.”