To Bite A Bear (5 page)

will never be parted from you. You’ll be the entire

source of my blood. I won’t be able to drink from

anyone else ever again.”

Fear struck Harris. “I thought vampires didn’t

have permanent mates.” Everything he’d heard

and read about vamps stated they didn’t do

forever bonds.

“It’s rare,” Rohan agreed. “Most vampires

never find the one meant to be theirs. I’ve never

even met a vampire who has. Blood bonds are the

objects of fiction in a vampire world, but I found

mine. I found you.” Triumph sparkled in the

vampire’s gaze.

Harris gulped his water, hoping his panic

didn’t show.

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Amber Kell

Rohan sighed. “Now, I’ve made you

uncomfortable. I’m sorry, beloved. What about

you? Do you think we’re mates? I can’t imagine

you are everything for me and I’m not your mate.

You can’t be bonded to another. I won’t stand for

it.”

Harris’ heart pounded in his chest, pulsing in

time to the blood vessel throbbing in his forehead.

How had a simple meal turned into a lifetime

commitment?
However, he couldn’t lie.

“You haven’t had more than a drop of my

blood. How can you tell that I’m the one for you?”

Harris grasped at the straw clinging to that one

truth.

Rohan smiled. “I can tell. You smell like mine.”

Harris didn’t know what to say. He’d hoped

the vampire would notice him. He’d gotten his

wish.

“Tell me. I know you can identify your mate

after sex,” Rohan said. The vampire wasn’t going

to let it go. Harris could tell.

Thankfully, the waiter arrived. “Here’s your

salmon.” John set down the plate before Harris.

“Can I get you anything else?”

Desperate to focus his attention on anything

other than the vampire across from him, Harris

stared at his meal. “Um, no, this looks good.”

He shoved a bite into his mouth. If he was

eating, he couldn’t say something stupid.

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To Bite a Bear

Rohan took Harris’ left hand and sandwiched it

between his own. “Don’t panic, beloved.

Everything will work out. I know we are meant to

be together.”

“You think so?” Harris desperately needed to

talk to Carey or Denton; hell, he’d even take

Eaton’s advice at this moment. A friendly voice

would go a long way to settling his nerves.

“When we get back home, you can call your

friends,” Rohan assured him as if reading his

mind. They were touching. For all Harris knew,

Rohan did just read his thoughts.

Harris blushed. “Thank you. I will.”

“I hope you will look to me in the future to

provide guidance.” Rohan released his grip on

Harris’ hand and took a drink out of his glass.

“What’s it like?” Harris asked curiously.

“What?”

“Drinking blood out of a cup versus a person. Is

it different? Disgusting?” Harris needed to know

all the little things that made Rohan tick. He

couldn’t help it. Whether he chose to acknowledge

it or not, Rohan was his mate.

Rohan shrugged. “It’s not my favorite. I prefer

the feel of warm flesh against my lips and the

pulse of a heart beneath my tongue. But, when

nothing else is available, it will do.”

“You ordered AB blood. Is that your favorite?”

Harris asked.

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Amber Kell

Rohan shrugged. “I generally like it better in a

glass than the others. Most blood tastes better

from the source.”

Harris swallowed back his nervousness.

Despite its quality, he could’ve been eating ash for

as much as he tasted the food.

“You worry too much, beloved. There is no

rush. We can take things one day at a time,”

Rohan reassured Harris.

“But, if I am your blood bond, then we will

have to stay together.” Harris’ hand shook. He set

down his fork.

“I’m confused,” Rohan frowned. “I thought all

you shifters hoped to find your other half, and yet,

here I am and you are almost frightened I might

be the one.”

Harris picked up his fork and toyed with his

food. “I know. It’s silly, but the idea of a mate and

the reality of one are very different. I like the idea

of someone meant to be mine someday. I guess

I’m not ready, and to find out you’ll be completely

dependent on me for sustenance is unnerving.”

Rohan smiled. “How about I won’t bite you

until you’re certain I’m your mate.”

Harris took another bite of salmon before

admitting the truth. “I appreciate you trying to

break me in gently, but I’m almost positive we’re

mates.”

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To Bite a Bear

“Then, eat your salmon, my sweet bear, and

we’ll head home afterward. I want to taste you

completely as I make you mine again.”

“Okay,” Harris choked out. He finished his

meal while listening to Rohan’s light banter. The

vampire was going out of his way to make sure

Harris wasn’t uncomfortable. At least Rohan

planned to take his blood virginity gently.

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Amber Kell

Chapter Three

ohan tried to be patient while Harris finished

R his meal. He concentrated on making his

mate more comfortable with their relationship. He

didn’t want his bonded to be worried about their

connection. Being the mate of a vampire was

different than with another shifter. Shifters

became obsessive over their bonded but not to the

level of vampires. Rohan almost felt sorry for his

adorable bear shifter.

He’d make sure Harris never lacked for

anything and was able to focus on his art while

Rohan ran the coven. He saw no reason for Harris

to change his ways. Surely, they could find all

kinds of projects to keep the creative man

occupied. He had a feeling if Harris wasn’t busy,

trouble would follow.

Now, with the sorcerers still on the loose and

potentially after anyone Rohan might care for,

Harris had a big target on his broad chest. Rohan

would have to talk to Carey and make sure the

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To Bite a Bear

hawks were watching Harris whenever he went

out of vampire territory.

“Hey,” Harris nudged his foot. “What are you

thinking about?”

“Your safety,” Rohan confessed.

Harris tilted his head. “I’m fine. I can take care

of myself, you know.”

Rohan remembered how confidently the bear

shifter had handled the big gun when they went to

rescue Eaton and nodded. “That’s true. However,

sorcerers are tricky and might bewitch you

somehow.

“Nope.”

Rohan frowned. “What do you mean
nope
?”

“Aden had us inoculated. I can’t be charmed.”

Harris shrugged as if of course he’d had the anti-

charm shot.

“I’ve heard they pulled that shot.”

“Not until after we got it. Aden made sure we

were inoculated. He was, too. None of us can be

charmed.” Harris’ engaging grin had Rohan

smiling back.

“I can’t tell you how happy that makes me.”

Not only would Harris be safe from sorcerer

enchantment, but also from unscrupulous

vampires trying to bespell him. Some vampires

could control minds, Rohan included. The more he

heard about this Aden, the more he wanted to

meet him.

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Amber Kell

Harris took another bite of salmon. The waiter

had brought an extra-large portion as if he knew

the bear shifter needed more food than most.

“How is your mural coming along?” Rohan

asked. He’d given the artist the job to keep him

close, but he couldn’t deny Harris had a brilliant

talent. His vampires were always going on about

the beauty of Harris’ work.

“All right. I’m still working out all the details.”

Harris shrugged off any interest over talking

about himself. “Mind if I ask you something?”

Rohan wondered if he’d regret his answer. “No,

of course not.”

“How old are you?” A blush burst across

Harris’ cheeks like a flower blooming beneath the

sun.

“It’s not considered polite to ask a man his

age,” Rohan scolded. “Let’s just say I’ve been

around the block a couple hundred times.”

Harris laughed. “So you’re much older than

me.”

“Yes. Is that a problem?” Rohan had never

thought about the age gap between them. After

all, both shifters and vampires had long lives.

“No,” Harris denied. “I was just curious.”

“You are a rather curious fellow, aren’t you?”

After spending years with vampires who had seen

and experienced everything, Harris’ interest in his

surroundings was a refreshing change.

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To Bite a Bear

Harris grinned. “I am. I’m very curious about

your bedroom right now.”

The waiter coughed as he approached the table.

“Is there anything else I can get you? Dessert?”

“Have you ever had sex with a vampire?”

Harris asked innocently.

“Yes, sir.”

Harris propped is chin on his palm. “And how

was it?”

The waiter grinned. “It was good.”

“Did you go back for seconds?” Harris asked.

“Leave the poor man alone,” Rohan scolded.

“No, that’s all right, I don’t mind answering.

Vampires tend to have several lovers. I was just a

one-night stand; we weren’t emotionally attached

or anything.” The waiter waved between them.

“Not like you two.”

Rohan nodded his approval.

“Except, of course, you get a vampire all to

yourself.”

Harris laughed delighted.

“Our special tonight is honey ice cream with a

honeycomb crisp,” the waiter offered, a knowing

smile cured his lips.

Harris’ eyes glowed as he turned a brilliant grin

on Rohan. “You planned this!”

“Yes, I did. Would you like ice cream?”

“I would.” Harris nodded vigorously.

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Amber Kell

Rohan had known it would be worthwhile to

twist the chef’s arm. He’d insisted the man come

up with a dessert worthy of a bear. If Harris didn’t

love it, the restaurant would need a new pastry

chef.

John went off to put in their order.

A short time later, a man in a white chef

uniform stomped toward their table. “You the

bear shifter?” he asked Harris.

“Yes, is that my dessert?” Harris clapped his

hands together with joy.

A long sigh left the chef as his bad temper

dissolved before Harris’ obvious happiness.

“Harris, beloved, this is Chef Tibor Park; he’s in

charge of the kitchens here.”

“Nice to meet you. The food is amazing here!”

Tibor’s usual scowl faded to a faint smile that

Rohan had never seen the chef give anyone.

“Well, I hope you enjoy your ice cream.” Tibor

set the bowl down before Harris and waited with

arms crossed.

Rohan narrowed his eyes at the chef. If Tibor

said one rude thing to Harris, he would snap his

neck.

“Oh damn, this is good,” Harris’ ecstatic noises

had Rohan’s cock hardening. No one should get

that much joy out of ice cream. Rohan watched

with increasing lust as Harris licked and sucked

on his spoon in an obscene show of enjoyment.

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To Bite a Bear

“I’ve got more in the back,” Tibor mentioned,

licking his lips.

“Have the driver collect it before I go,” Rohan

said, dismissing the chef with a wave of his hand.

He’d have a small freezer placed near Harris’

work area and give him daily ice cream breaks if it

got him more of those sounds. Tibor didn’t need

to be there to hear them.

“Will do. It was nice meeting you, Harris,”

Tibor said the words with a taunting look at

Rohan. “Looks like you have your hands full.”

“I hope so,” Rohan said.

* * * *

The flight of stairs had never stretched so long

before. Rohan rushed Harris upstairs, his fangs

dropping again in anticipation. He hadn’t ever

yearned to taste someone this badly before. That

brief drop he’d tasted the night before had been

only a prelude to the delicious taste of his blood

bonded. He couldn’t wait for more.

Slamming open his bedroom door, he almost

shoved Harris inside in his rush to get the shifter

into his bed. If he were anyone else, Rohan’s push

would’ve landed him across the room. However,