Shapeshifter Romance: Duty of a Lion (Paranormal Army Hero Navy Seal Shifter Protector Alpha Lion Romance) (Fantasy Military Action Adventure Urban Wolf Romance Short Stories) (21 page)

“How did you know what I wanted?”

“You look a little pale and too skinny. You need some protein.”

“Too skinny? God, I love you for that.”

***

Tim looked her over. She was too skinny, but he wouldn’t be able to fatten her up in one meal. At least soften those lines. A bear liked more to hold onto, more to sink into when he was mating.

She was still his mate, skin and bones, or ripe with his child. The thought stopped him. She probably didn’t want to have children. She wouldn’t want to stop her high-powered career to have a baby or two. Another reason, they would never work.

Damn. He wanted a Werebear mate who knew the rules. Who knew what was going to happen and what it meant to be someone’s mate. Simone would have no idea.

But she would be gone, never to be seen again, after he signed over the company to her.

Shit. This sucked.

“Last chance,” he said, when she cleared her plate.

“Last chance for what?”

“To turn me down. You can leave and we’ll never speak of it,” he said.

He leaned casually on the counter, but he didn’t feel casual. He felt like a kid the day before Christmas. He knew what was going to happen and how good it was going to be.

He also knew that it was temporary. She’d get the company and forget about him. He would never forget about her.

“No, I want your father’s company. We made a deal and I’m sticking with it.”

“You aren’t afraid?”

“Of you, Tim?” She laughed. “No, I’m not. I’ve only ever felt safe in your presence.”

Fool. He could topple her world if he wanted to, but he wanted a mate that wanted to be here. Wanted to share his life. Simone wasn’t that woman. They didn’t desire the same things.

“If you say so.”

“What do I have to fear from you? I might have the worst sex of my life?” She waved her hand. “Please. It’s just sex.”

This wouldn’t be the worst sex she’d ever had. He was sure of that. She would be ruined for all other men, but that wasn’t his concern.

“Then let’s go.”

He strode around the island. He scooped her up and took her up a set of steps off the kitchen. Placing her on his bed, he admired her for a moment. Drinking in the moment so that he’d be able to remember it forever.

Simone. In his bed. Willing. Letting him do what he wanted.

He could lick her head to toe if he wanted. She looked up at him and he almost melted with the trust in her eyes. Did she feel it too? Did she feel a tug to him? Did she feel that he was going to be different than any other lover she’d had?

He doubted it, but he could hope. A smile broke out on her face.

“Having second thoughts?”

A chuckled rumbled out of him. “No, just deciding how I want you the first time.”

*****

The first time? So he was serious about spending a whole twenty four hours together. Her body zinged with the idea. Simone liked sex as much as the next girl, but for some reason, she felt this would be different.

She’d bet that Tim was an expert lover. That he’d had lots of practice pleasing a woman, but that wasn’t what excited her. She thought he might touch her soul. No one had ever done that.

He leaned down and kissed her. It was the sweet kiss of a long-time lover. Not the hungry mauling she’d expected from him. No, it was warm and gentle. Then he deepened it and her body came alive.

Just from a kiss. Only their lips were touching. What would happen when his hands got involved? The rest of his body.

She might ignite. Burn down the forest.

He stopped kissing her, but he didn’t move his face away from her. She saw the desire in his eyes. Desire for her and suddenly she was the only woman on the planet. No one else existed and she saw herself reflected in his eyes.

She swallowed and at that moment realized that this night was probably going to change her forever.

He knelt in front of her, unbuttoned her blouse. He slipped it off of her shoulders, then folded it, setting it onto the night stand.

“Are you serious about not needing a condom?” he said.

His voice was gravely. Uneven. He was affected by all this also.

“Yes,” she croaked out.

He gazed down at her breasts as if they were the most beautiful things he’d ever seen. He ran a finger along the line of the cups. Her eyes fell closed. He was going to take his time and torture her wasn’t he? She was going to earn his compliance.

He put one hand under her breast as if weighing. She looked down at it. It fit perfectly in his hand.

“Take off your bra for me,” he said, his voice just a little lower than before.

She reached behind her and did as he said. He put the bra with her blouse. His hands want back to her, his thumbs rubbing back and forth over her nipples. They came alive and she felt the sensation to her vagina. She wanted to squeeze her legs together go quell the feeling.
He was resting between her knees so that wasn’t possible.

“Lay back and I’ll take your skirt off.”

She did and he slipped both her skirt and her panties off. With his hands on her thighs, he just looked at her. It seemed to Simone that he was memorizing her features. He tugged her to a sitting position.

He scooped her up then spun around to sit on the bed. She was now on his lap, her legs over his, spread wide for him.

“Put your arms around my neck, loosely,” he said.

She did. He groaned.

*****

Her scent was giving in a raging hard on, but he wasn’t going to rush. He only had one night of Simone. One night to do all of the things he’d been dreaming about since he’d met her.

“I think you need to be naked, too.”

“In a moment. I’ll get there,” he said.

Right now, he was in control. If she wanted to do that, she’d have to wait her turn. She was aroused. No doubt about it. He didn’t need his bear sense of smell to know that. It wafted up from her pussy.

He could have died a happy man right now. He would die even happier tomorrow.

He ran his thumbs up her parted thighs until he reached her warm apex. Soaked. She was soaked for him. Did she know? Did she feel their connection on some deep level? Or was it merely physical and she’d already discounted her feelings. He’d hoped she would come around some day, but this would have to do for him.

He would have no other mate. No other woman by his side.

He parted her folds, found her spot then rubbed. He watched the play of emotions on her face. Surely she wasn’t a virgin. She was a magnificent woman even if she was a little skinny for his taste.

“Oh,’ she said.

He grinned. He’d found the right spot the first time.

“You found it,” she said, her voice breathy.

Her fingers dug into his shoulders as he pushed harder. Her back arched and she pushed her pelvis into his fingers. He didn’t stop. Just held her legs apart until her body began to shudder. Her nails dug into him and he wanted to growl. In pleasure.

She was his. He was going to mark her in some way. She’d never forget him. He’d make sure of that, then maybe she’d come back. Probably wishful thinking on his part, but it had worked for his farther.

The difference would be that if Simone were always in his bed, Tim would have no reason to be with anyone else. He would love and stay faithful to his mate.

Simone let out a growl as her body spasmed. Her teeth were bared, her head thrown back. She was even sexier in the throes of her orgasm. His beast side warred to get out, but Simone wouldn’t see that side of him.

Unless she stayed and that was unlikely.

She opened her eyes and they were a sharp blue. Like he’d never seen them. Her smile filled up her face. “No one’s ever been able to find that on me. I thought it didn’t exist. I thought orgasms like that were myths.”

He chuckled. “No myths. You just haven’t been in bed with the right person.”

She kissed him with more passion. And it stirred something in him. Would she stay? Could he ask her to stay? Her life was with people. He’d given up being with them when he knew she’d never be a part of his life.

*****

Simone hadn’t thought her body capable of such an orgasm. Tim had just done it with his fingers. Not his tongue. Imagine what his tongue would reap.

Holy shit. She was probably in over her head, but there was no way she was backing out of this. She wanted that company. She wanted this night with Tim.

His beard tickled her. She rubbed her nose, then realized that they weren’t done. He was still clothed.

“You need to be naked.”

He set her on the bed and she watched him, wishing she could stand so she could undress him. His body was impressive. Large muscles, but not the kind of a gym rat. No, these were the muscles of a man who worked for a living. He had dark hair on his chest that matched what was on his head. His eyes were dark with passion, too.

And then he pulled off his pants. Holy mother of pearl.

That was one impressive erection. She knelt on the bed, reaching out to touch it. Soft and hard at the same time. She gulped. She’d never had anyone that big.

When she looked at his face, his eyes were closed as if he was enjoying her touch. So she stroked softly up and down his cock.

“Oh, Simone. You better be careful. We might be done before we start,” Tim said.

Her turn to laugh. “I wouldn’t want that.”

She tightened her grip, tugging him closer. When he was in range, she leaned down and kissed the tip of his penis. She licked around the end. He growled.

She let go. Laying back on the bed, she said. “Take me now big boy.”

With a beastly growl, he was on top of her. His eyes had such passion in them she felt dwarfed by the whole idea that he felt this strongly about her. She’d bet a bad day in bed with Tim was better than a good day anywhere else.

He was poised over her and she spread her legs, giving him easy access. At this moment she would have signed away the company to the lowest bidder to have him inside of her. He put his hands on either side of her head, kissed her than took her in one stroke.

Her breath hitched. He reached bottom then stopped.

“Don’t stop.”

“I just want to enjoy the sensation of you for a moment.”

She liked that idea. He filled her. She’d never been this filled. Her body jerked without her knowledge. She wanted him to move. She wanted him stroking her insides.

“Be still. Just for a moment longer.”

Was he trying to memorize the feeling of her? She’d come back out her once in awhile if he wanted her to. Just to feel that orgasm again. Just to feel him inside of her again.

And they hadn’t even completed this act. How was he ever going to let him go? How was she ever going to sleep along again, knowing that this sex was possible?

*****

Tim wondered how she wasn’t feeling this connection with him. He felt as if he’d come home. As if he’d never had sex before this. Wait, no, he’d had sex. This was more powerful. This act was wrought with emotion.

They were in his bed, making love.

Simone was naked and writhing beneath him. The enormity of it all threatened to choke him. He took a deep breath then back to thrust into her, each time he pulled himself almost all of the way out. Then he thrust himself back in until he reached bottom.

“Oh, God,” she said.

He could echo her sentiments. If he could talk. His world was distilled down to only their bodies and where his touched hers. He couldn’t have described the sensations. Only that they were making the bear in him want to come out. He couldn’t let that happen, but if he and Simone were to have more than tonight, she’d have to know.

That was a problem for tomorrow.

His only problem now was to make sure she came first. Based on her mewling noises she was close. He sped up his strokes. Her body meeting his each time. No matter how fast or slow he went, she was there when he thrust in.

His body strained to keep from climaxing. When he finally felt her body clenched around his, he was able to let go. With a few strong thrusts, he emptied his seed into her. He growled. She screamed.

They were so good together that God was screaming their name instead of the reverse.

He slumped onto her, his body spent form the effort and the emotion. Had she felt it?

He moved off of her, so as not to crush her. She gripped his shoulders. “Don’t move yet.”

He stayed where he was, encased by her.

“Damn,” he said.

He couldn’t have moved if the bed had been on fire. His breathing finally stilled. Her legs were splayed and she must be uncomfortable so he moved off of her, sliding out.

She whimpered, then she snugged herself up against him as he lay on his back. He played with her hair because that was the only limb he could move. He wanted to sleep, but he also wanted to stay awake so they could do that again.