Tempting The Bear: Paranormal Bear Shifter Romance (Gray Bears Book 4) (6 page)

“
He's a fast learner,”
Winston said, rubbing Jeremy's head. “He can shift back and
forth now, but I think he prefers to be in his lion form. All cubs
do. He's six weeks old now, but as a human baby, he can't even crawl
around. But in lion form, he can strut and run and even climb. He's
an intrepid little explorer!”

“
We had to chase him all
over the park,” Gramma huffed. “He wouldn't come when I
called him. He only goes to his Godpa!”

“
Can I get you a cup of
coffee?” Harper asked Winston.

“
Thanks, but I have to
get back to the station. I took the day off, but one of my deputies
just called me. It's nothing major, but I feel better if I pop in
and have a look.”

As Winston headed for the
door, Jeremy jumped out of her arms and ran after Winston. He clawed
at Winston's trousers and snarled.

Winston crouched and ruffled
Jeremy's golden fur. “Hey, buddy, I have to go now. But I'll
see you this weekend, okay. You stay with your mom and
great-grandmas, and be a good lion. You take good care of the ladies
now.” Jeremy made a soft mewing sound as his godfather winked
at him and left.

“
He's really close to
his Godpa,” Gramma remarked. “But I think he likes
Jackson more.”

Harper chuckled. “Yes!
He likes Jackson best. He only wants Jackson to tuck him in at
night. Jackson's been reading to him and he won't fall asleep unless
he hears Jackson's voice.”

“
Ah, my grandson, now a
papa bear himself,” Gramma sighed happily.

Ne-ma came bustling out of the
kitchen, demanding, “Where's my good little great-grandcub?”

“
Jeremy's not such a
good little great-grandcub today. He made me run all over the park.
My legs are killing me now,” Gramma grumbled as Ne-ma picked
Jeremy up and rubbed noses with him.

“
Are you hungry? You
must be starving, my little darling. Shifting is hard work. I'll
get you a nice, hot meal.” Ne-ma ignored Gramma and ambled off
with Jeremy on her shoulder. “And it's such a windy day
today...”

“
Hey, I'm starving too,”
Gramma groused, hurrying after them.

Harper poked her head through
the kitchen door and saw Gramma and Ne-ma at the kitchen counter,
chattering non-stop as they prepared sandwiches together. They
sneaked bits of ham and sausage to Jeremy when they thought the other
wasn't looking.

Jeremy pounced on the ham like
the hungry cat he was. He still refused to shift back to human form.
He was enjoying his freedom and mobility too much.

Harper smiled and went to
start on her other chores around the inn. There was still so much
cleaning and vacuuming to do.

CHAPTER
FOURTEEN

Jackson finished reading “The
Very Hungry Caterpillar” and peered down at the sleeping baby.
He pulled the baby blanket up over Jeremy's tummy and stroked his
chubby cheek. Jeremy was growing so fast. At six weeks, he was an
active, sturdy baby, and his lion had emerged. Winston was a
wonderful godfather. Jackson had always liked the Sheriff, but now
his respect for the man grew tenfold.

As Jackson was putting away
the book, Harper came in to kiss her son goodnight. They had just
moved Jeremy to his own little nursery. Gramma, Ne-ma and Elle had
worked their magic once again, and this time they got it right. The
animals frolicking across the walls and ceiling had the right colors
and patterns on their coats. They had even painted the words
“Jeremy's Room” in bright, cheerful colors across the
wall.

To Jackson's surprise, Harper
hadn't asked for an extra bed in Jeremy's room. Instead, she'd
bought a baby monitor and placed it in the room. She was going to
continue sleeping in his room, in his bed, with him.

Having her so near every night
was both bliss and torture for him. He didn't want to hurt her or
frighten her. But his hunger for her was driving him out of his
mind.

He wanted to take her and
claim her, mark her as his.

Harper whispered to her son
and kissed his forehead. Jeremy was a happy, lively baby but he
usually slept through the night. He was such a joy to be around and
Jackson couldn't imagine not having the little boy in his life.

Flicking off the light, they
left the room quietly and pulled the door shut. Smiling, Harper took
his hand and tugged him to their bedroom. She locked the door and
came to him.

“
Jackson,” she
whispered, sliding her arms around his neck. “I want you.
Tonight.”

He inhaled sharply, his
burning gaze never leaving her face.

“
Harper...”

“
We have been sleeping
together, but not really sleeping together,” she said. “I
know you think I'm not ready. But I am. I'm ready. I don't want to
hold back anymore. Not with you.”

Jackson held his breath as she
moved her hands up his arms and traced her fingers over his chest.
Very slowly, she unbuttoned his shirt and pushed his shirt over his
shoulders. She licked her lips as she stared at his tanned, ripped
torso.

Jackson captured her face with
both hands and growled, “Harper...I want you...I don't think I
can hold back...”

“
Then don't,” she
whispered.

Her eyes fluttered shut as
Jackson's mouth closed over hers. He kissed her and stripped her at
the same time. He couldn't wait any longer. His claws sliced her
blouse and bra to shreds. She gasped as he tore her skirt and
panties from her hips and tumbled her onto the bed.

Jackson kissed down her soft,
smooth body. She was so tiny, but her breasts were full and heavy.
She was still breastfeeding Jeremy, and Jackson saw a drop of milk
ooze from her nipple.

Gently, he licked the drop
away and she panted. “More...take more...”

Jackson slipped the dark
nipple past his lips and suckled her. He tasted the sweet, creamy
milk on his tongue and he sucked harder. Harper sighed as Jackson
drained some of the milk from her breast. The pressure from her
hard, engorged breast was causing her discomfort, and the relief she
felt was immense and immediate.

Jackson lapped at her wet
nipple and licked his way down her body. He could scent her need and
arousal. He had scented it every night, but he had restrained his
bear and his lust by sheer iron will.

Jackson spread her legs and
explored her pink, wet folds with his tongue. She writhed and ground
against his mouth. When he slid his tongue into her pussy, her
entire body shuddered as she moaned, “Yes...yes, Jackson...”

Fucking her steadily with his
tongue, Jackson caressed her hips, her buttocks, and fingered her
clit. Harper cried out and came suddenly. Her body quivered with
pleasure and she blinked hard.

Pushing herself up, she
reached for Jackson and hissed, “I need you...inside me, now!”

CHAPTER
FIFTEEN

Harper looked into Jackson's
eyes and saw the burning, primal lust and desire. Her breath hitched
as he pushed his hands under her knees to spread her wide for him.

“
So beautiful,” he
growled. “You are so beautiful, Harper.”

Her eyelids fluttered as she
felt him slide slowly into her. Jackson was big, and he filled her
completely. His cock rubbed against her walls, stimulating her and
making her even wetter.

She wrapped her legs around
his hips and urged him deeper into her. Jackson growled and moved
very slowly and gently in and out of her. She could see his veins
throbbing at the side of his neck and temples. He was resisting the
urge to thrust, and was forcing himself to take her slowly,
carefully.

“
I won't break,”
she said, arching her back. “More, Jackson. Deeper,
harder...”

“
Tell me if it gets
painful for you,” he gritted out.

“
No pain, Jackson. Only
pleasure,” she whispered. “And I want more. I need
more, Jackson.”

He began to move his hips,
stroking rhythmically in and out of her body. Harper pulled him down
to her and kissed him. She raked her fingers through his soft, blond
hair and down his back.

Jackson's biceps flexed as he
raised himself above her and stared down at her with fierce, feral
hunger. She could see his bear so close to the surface. His muscles
bulged and throbbed, and she saw the glint of claws and fangs.

Harper ran her fingers
greedily down Jackson's undulating, muscular back. She loved how he
felt in her arms, and she loved every solid, hard inch of him. She
wanted him to be hers. She had already given him her heart. And
tonight, she could finally surrender her body and her pleasure to
him.

She threw her head back as she
felt the first flickers of her orgasm. The pleasure intensified as
Jackson pounded into her, roaring his claim.

He grabbed her and his teeth
clamped hard on her shoulder. She felt his hot seed shoot deep into
her body. With a cry of ecstasy, she plunged into a swirling, heady
vortex of explosive, shattering pleasure.

Jackson held her tight,
murmuring into her hair as he continued sliding in and out of her,
letting her milk every last drop of him.

Harper heard herself sob as
Jackson kissed her eyelids, nose and cheeks. Her body felt limp,
warm and sated, but her heart felt like it was going to explode.

“
Shh,” Jackson
said, cuddling her. “You're amazing, Harper. So amazing and
perfect.”

She took another shuddering
breath and whispered, “Thank you, Jackson...for everything...”

“
Ah.” He tsked at
her. “I said...”

“
I know, I know. I
won't say thank you any more.” She laughed and rested her head
on his chest.

“
That's better.”
He chucked her under the chin. “I love hearing you laugh.”

She sighed deeply and said,
“You've been taking such good care of me and Jeremy. But...we
can't stay here forever. I...”

“
Why not?” he
frowned. “You are my mate. And Jeremy is my cub.”

“
Y-your...cub? But he's
a lion and you...”

“
Doesn't matter. He's
my cub.” Jackson sat up and stared at her. “Unless...you
don't want him to be mine.”

“
No, no…”

“
Would you let him take
my name?” Jackson asked solemnly. “Jeremy Gray.”

Harper pressed a hand to her
mouth. “You...you'd give him your name?” she stuttered
at last.

“
My name, my heart and
my life belong to you and Jeremy.”

“
Oh Jackson!”
Harper bowed her head. “I don't know what to say...”

“
Say yes.”

“
Oh...yes!” Her
eyes were shimmering as she threw her arms around him. “Yes,
yes and yes!”

Jackson hugged her hard and
kissed her. “Mine,” he said fiercely. “You and
Jeremy are mine. I love you both so much.”

“
I love you too,
Jackson. I think...” She let out a girlish giggle and blushed.
“I really think that my wish has come true!”

CHAPTER
SIXTEEN

Harper pushed the stroller and
walked towards the park. She had just finished her shift at
Broomstick Inn. Alisa said that she was feeling much better today
and insisted on coming in to prepare lunch for the guests. Gramma
and Ne-ma told Harper to take the rest of the afternoon off and spend
time with her son.

It was late afternoon, almost
evening now and the breeze was cool and calming. Harper sat down at
the park bench and carried Jeremy out of his stroller. She perched
him on her hip and strolled down the winding little lane, pointing
out the flowers, insects and birds to him.

Jeremy looked confused when a
butterfly landed on his nose. His eyes crossed and he moved his arms
up and down, mimicking the fluttering movement of the butterfly's
wings.

“
That's a butterfly.”
Harper laughed. “No, you can't fly, darling. You're a lion,
not a butterfly.”

Jeremy immediately gave a
little roar and looked disappointed when the butterfly flew off.
Harper hoisted her son higher on her hip. He was getting quite heavy
now and she was glad he was growing so well.

She hummed the song that
Jackson had been singing to Jeremy almost every night. It was the
same tune as “I'm a Little Teapot”, but Jackson had
changed the lyrics to “I'm a little lion, brave and strong...”

Jeremy clapped and made happy
sounds as he tried to sing along. It was his favorite song, a
special song that his daddy had made up for him.

Harper swung her son around,
dancing merrily in the golden sunlight. She glimpsed someone coming
up the path towards her, but she couldn't see him clearly against the
sun's glare.

She stopped dancing and
singing immediately, and the warm, carefree mood vanished in an
instant. Instead, a chill seemed to pervade the air.

Harper swallowed hard, feeling
strangely uneasy and tense. She hugged Jeremy closer to her and
turned around stiffly. She wanted to head back to the bench and put
him in his stroller. Then they would hurry home.