Bear Security: BBW Paranormal Shape Shifter Romance (4 page)

“Terrifying to think of losing her,” Jacob finished.

“Yes,” Logan agreed, looking back at him. “Are we cool?”

“Always.”

They all went back into the bedroom to watch the woman work. Several minutes later, she stood and spoke to him directly.

“Are you her mate?” she asked.

“Yes,” he answered, “but I haven’t changed her and we haven’t completed the ritual.”

“Obviously, dear,” she chastised lovingly. “If you had, we wouldn’t be here right now. The infection is powerful, more powerful than anything I’ve ever seen, and it spread through her body swiftly. You have to change her now, or watch her die. My bonds will only hold for fifteen minutes, so make your choice quickly. Once you start the process, she’ll stabilize and you can take her home until she fully recovers. That should take about three days. Make sure you bring her to me then, or call me if it takes longer.”

“Thank you, I will.”

The woman left and Logan stared at Becca’s unconscious body on the bed.

When he’d told her about his bear, she’d run and didn’t come back until she’d needed his protection. After they’d made love, she’d expressed her desire to return home as soon as possible. She knew nothing about shifters, and possibly hated bears, but he couldn’t let her die.

“She’s going to hate me,” he whispered to no one in particular.

“No she won’t, she loves you,” Layla said. “We’ll give you some privacy.”

The two men filed out of the room and his sister followed, closing the door behind her.

He stared at his mate and watched the random twitches her body made as the clock ticked on. He only had a few minutes left to act, and he needed to get on with it.

He kneeled on the floor next to the bed and pushed up her shirt sleeve. Both sets of his canines elongated and he clamped down on her upper arm, releasing the enzyme that would change her into a bear shifter.

Becca released a tiny moan, and then her body visibly relaxed. It was as if a weight had been lifted, and she sank further into the comforter covering the mattress. The twitching stopped and he could see her chest moving air again. The clock ticked past the fifteen minute mark and her steady, deep breaths indicated the process had begun.

Only time would tell her reaction to his choice. In three days, he would discover if she hated him for turning her into a monster, or thanked him for saving her life.

He reentered the living room and prepared to take her home.

Chapter Four

Laughter filled the air and Rebecca stood back and watched the four people standing around the counter in the coffee house. She wanted to join them, but they seemed so far away. Every time she took a step toward them, it was as if she hadn’t moved an inch.

The two men were big, muscular and handsome, but they weren’t her bear.

“Logan!”

She cried out for him, but the only sound that filled the air was the laughter from the group. The woman behind the counter was tall, thin, and beautiful. Rebecca recognized her as a friend, though she didn’t know her name.

“Logan!”

She yelled his name again, but he didn’t come for her. Why didn’t he come?

The second woman at the counter was shorter than the others, and had more curves than most women. Her body type seemed familiar, and she liked the way the woman rocked her outfit.

Suddenly, the woman turned to grab her coffee and Rebecca saw herself.

She screamed at the woman to leave the drink, but her warnings went unheard. The woman picked up the cup and took a swallow of the warm brew. Seconds later, she fell to the floor and her body thrashed around wildly.

The men tried to restrain her while the woman shouted directions to her staff and made a phone call. The room fell silent as she watched the men carry her to the back of the building.

“Logan!”

She yelled his name again, and then screamed when she saw a bear running toward her. He crashed through the coffee shop window and bit down on her arm.

The room went black as the pain was instantly replaced by pleasure, and she slumped against the animal.

“I love you,” she whispered.

“I love you, too,” the bear growled back.

Rebecca gasped and opened her eyes.

She recognized the darkened room immediately, and looked around for Logan.

She located him sleeping on the other side of the bed. He rested on his back, fully dressed on top of the covers, and his arms were crossed across his chest. His hair looked wild, but the jeans and belt he wore seemed incredibly uncomfortable, and she wondered why he hadn’t taken off all of his clothes.

Because he doesn’t want you
.

She wanted to kick her nagging, know-it-all inner voice, but she knew the girl was on to something.

The last thing she remembered was standing in the coffee house with Jake, Mason and Layla. Mason had just finished telling a funny story, and she turned to the table she’d claimed earlier and took a giant gulp of her coffee. Jacob yelled for her to stop, and then everything went black.

She couldn’t remember anything else.

“You’re awake,” Logan said beside her.

“Yeah,” she looked at him and smiled. “I had a strange dream.”

“How do you feel?”

“Okay. How did I get here?” she asked.

He turned on his side to face her.

“What’s the last thing you remember?”

“I remember being in the coffee shop with Layla and the guys. We were laughing and then I took a drink of my coffee and Jacob started yelling at me. I turned to question him, and everything went black. What happened?”

“You were poisoned,” he revealed.

“Poisoned? Really?”

“Unfortunately, yes,” he got up and walked to her side of the bed.

“How? Why?”

“Try to sit up now, okay?” he said, holding out his hand. “Why don’t we go downstairs, and I’ll make you an omelet and tell you everything I know. You have to be starving.”

“I am pretty hungry,” she said, taking his hand and sitting on the edge of the bed. “How long have I been out?”

“Three days.”

“Three days?” she repeated. “Oh my god.”

“Yeah,” he agreed. “Be careful getting up, your legs might be wobbly at first.”

She used his forearm for leverage and pushed off the bed with her other hand. The sudden urge to use the restroom assaulted her and she carefully took a step in the direction of the room she needed.

Her legs seemed tired, but she didn’t need to lean on him for support. She walked the short distance on her own, and by the time she finished her business her muscles felt stronger.

Logan led the way down the stairs and she followed him into the kitchen and took a seat at the table. The tiny amount of movement had exerted her more than she realized it would, and she needed the break.

She watched Logan prepare her food, but he didn’t start talking until he set her plate in front of her and took the seat across from her.

“The man we were holding murdered one of the guards and knocked the other one out cold. We’re still not completely sure how he managed it, but he escaped and tracked you down at the coffee house.

“From what Jacob said, you left your drink unattended and he didn’t realize you’d gone back to it until you’d already taken a drink. He yelled at you to stop, but one drink was all it took. Shifter blood is poisonous to humans, and that cat dumped a lot in your cup.”

“So what happened?” she asked.

“Usually, if a human drinks shifter blood, depending on the amount, they suffer small tremors and then slowly fade away. If a healer reaches them in time, they can withdrawal the poison out of the body and save the victim. You had so much in your system, you started convulsing hard. Mason and Jacob had a hell of a time carrying you up to Layla’s apartment, and the healer used a lot of power to sedate you, but she couldn’t retract the poison.”

“What do you mean?”

“Becca, you have to understand there was no other choice.”

He was starting to scare her, and she put her fork down.

“Logan, you’re scaring me. What’s going on?”

“I know you hate shifters, but whether or not we complete the bond, you’re still my mate,” he said solemnly. “I couldn’t let you die.”

“What are you talking about? I don’t hate shifters,” she said.

“When I told you about my bear you ran,” he accused.

“I ran at first because I was afraid, but I stayed away because you let me go,” she reminded him. “I don’t hate shifters, Logan.”

“That’s good, because I had to change you in order to save your life.”

“Change me?” she asked.

“Turn you into a shifter.”

“I’m like you now?” she smiled. “I can change into a bear?”

“Yes, but you’re not obligated to stay with me after your training,” he said. “I can get Layla and some of the guys to help so you won’t be stuck with me the whole time, and you don’t have to live here anymore. The cat that poisoned you is dead and the meeting on Monday was promising. The panther alpha promised peace, and we updated the treaty. You’re safe now, Becca.”

She digested his words and thought about all the little things he’d said since she came back into his life. He’d claimed she was his mate, promised undying devotion, and protected her at all costs. Yes, he’d pulled away after their one sinful night together, but had she misread him? Maybe he pulled away to protect his heart because he felt certain she would run again.

She’d leave if he wanted her too, but not before confessing her true feelings.

“Logan, you told me you loved me on Friday night. Did you mean it?”

“Yes, but—”

“Then why are you always trying to get rid of me?”

“I’m not trying to get rid of you,” he said. “I’m letting you go without a fight.”

Of all the idiotic things…

“Why?”

“Huh?”

She sighed heavily.

“Why are you letting me go without a fight?”

“Because it’s the right thing to do.”

“That’s bearshit!” she laughed at her own joke, and smiled when he rolled his eyes and shook his head. “Guess what teddy bear?”

“Are you done?” he asked sarcastically.

“Not yet, but I need time to think of another.”

She stood and pushed in her chair.

“Feel free to take your time,” he groaned.

“Don’t worry, I will,” she winked. “As I was saying, we need to work on our communication. In the meantime, I’m going to slowly walk back upstairs, and I hope this time you won’t let me go without a fight.”

***

Logan watched Becca walk slowly toward the stairs as her words sank in. She wanted to stay with him, but more importantly, she wanted him to want her. She was right, they did need to communicate more, but not now. What they needed now was purely physical.

Go get her dumbass!

He got up so fast the legs of his chair scraped against the hardwood floor. A second later he grabbed her thighs and lifted her over his shoulder. She squealed as he started to ascend the stairs.

“You’re easy to train,” she teased. “Almost like a circus bear.”

“Call me a circus bear again, and I’ll spank your ass,” he growled.

He could tell by her next comment that she liked the idea.

“But circus bears are soooo cute!”

Smack!

The palm of his hand came down on her soft flesh and she squealed again.

When he reached the bedroom, he dumped her on the bed playfully before he remembered that her body had just been through a major trauma, and she needed her rest.

“Are you okay?” he asked.

“Of course,” she said, leaning in to kiss him. “I liked it.”

“That’s not what I meant,” he grabbed her biceps, and pulled away so he could get a good look at her. “You’ve had a tough few days; you need to take it easy.”

“I’ll take it easy after we complete the mating bond, and you mark me as yours.”

Lord help him, but he couldn’t resist her.

“Take off your clothes and get on your hands and knees.”

Becca followed his orders, and he removed his own clothes and joined her on the bed. He pressed the tip of his cock inside her pussy and rubbed the soft, round globes of her ass before he pulled his hand back and spanked her again.

Smack!

Her moan, combined with the pink handprint he’d left on her skin nearly pushed him over the edge and he grabbed her hips in a bruising grip. Becca tried to push back on his rod, but he was stronger and held her in place.

“If we do this, Becca, there’s no going back,” he warned. “You’ll be mine forever. Do you understand?”

“I understand,” she whispered. “I love you, Logan. I want to be your mate and stay with you for the rest of our lives.”

He entered her pussy in one swift thrust and they moaned in unison.

“I love you, too, sweetheart,” he said.

“Fuck me, Logan.”

She didn’t have to ask him twice.

Her pussy contracted around his dick and he pounded in and out of her needy cunt until she screamed his name and coated him with her essence. Still, he didn’t relent. When he felt the familiar tingling at the base of his spine, he leaned forward and pulled one of her nipples between his fingers.

His canines lengthened, and he knew hers would soon.

“Logan?” she asked, worried.

“It’s alright, sweetheart,” he soothed. “Let it happen. You need them to complete the exchange and mark me permanently.”

She nodded and whimpered when he switched his attention to her other nipple.

“Okay?” he asked.

“I think so.”

Her slight lisp let him know her teeth had fully elongated. He shoved his forearm in front of her mouth, and continued to thrust in and out of her pussy until they were both ready to come.

“Bite me, Becca,” he said, and sank his canines into her neck.

The mark he’d made to change her had already disappeared, but his mate mark would never go away, and neither would hers.

She hesitated for a few seconds, and then bit down on his forearm.

They came together as the bond started to form, and pain mixed with pleasure until pleasure prevailed. His cock instantly hardened again.

Holy shit!

He knew completing the bond was an amazing experience, but he hadn’t expected something so intense. He felt as if their souls intertwined, and he saw a burst of light explode above them, and then disappear before the sparks hit the mattress.

He released her neck, licked her wound and moved in and out of her slowly, absorbing every minute detail of the perfect moment.

Becca followed his lead and placed a chaste kiss on his mark.

“Did you see that?” he asked. “The sparks?”

“Yeah, but I thought it was just me,” she sighed.

“Definitely not just you,” he said, pulling out of her pussy and breaking their connection. “Get on your back.”

She obeyed and he entered her again.

“That was incredible.”

“It was so much more than that,” she whispered.

He nodded and kissed her gently.

“I love you,” he reminded her. “I’ve loved you from the moment we met, even after you ran. I’m sorry I didn’t go after you, but I’m grateful you came to me looking for help.”