BEARedtoYouBBWShifterEroticRomanceARe (11 page)

“What about these tits? Do you like a little bit of pain when you fuck?” He simultaneously stroked her clit and pinched one of her nipples. The sharp pain and sweet pleasure blended together, threatening to send her over the edge. He stopped just before she sailed over the last hurdle to completion.

She nearly cried in frustration.

He kissed one corner of her mouth then the other. “Look at me.”

She opened her eyes.

His were focused on hers. Wide and warm. They were dark but full of tenderness. “I came to you because I had to have you. I had to possess you. But I’ve stayed with you because I need you.”

His confession brought tears to her eyes. She hadn’t realized how much she’d longed to hear those words from him. And she hadn’t realized how much she ached to tell him she was falling in love with him. But she wouldn’t. No. She couldn’t. It wouldn’t be fair to either of them.

He settled over top of her and she shuddered as his dick prodded at her slit. He glided into her slowly, the leisurely pace of his thrusts making the most of every intimate stroke. He made love to her. Stroked her. Held her. Kissed her.

His cock drove in and out of her, taking, claiming, but his touches and whispered promises were sweet and sincere. What had started out as a hot fuck ended as lovemaking beyond her wildest dreams. Lovemaking she’d never forget, no matter how long she lived.

And when it was through, he untied her and held her until she drifted off to sleep. As she slipped into her dreams, she swore she heard him whisper, “I love you, kitten.”

* * * * *

“Wake up, sweetheart.” Tarik’s deep, husky voice entered her dreams once again. In her mind’s eye, she saw his face. He smiled. “Time to get up. We have a long walk ahead of us. We need to get going.”

Slowly, her dreams faded and the sensations of the world around her penetrated the haze of sleep. She didn’t want to move. Didn’t want to open her eyes. She just wanted to go back to sleep and dream some more. There, in the world of her fantasies, none of the bad stuff existed. Only good. Tarik. He loved her.

“What time is it?” Her voice was gritty from lack of sleep. It felt like she’d drifted off only fifteen minutes ago.

“Just after three.”

She groaned and dragged the pillow over her face. “Why do we need to leave so early?”

“We need to get moving if we want to clear the Canadian Customs before sunrise. I don’t want to tangle with Torborg until I’ve had a chance to get online, but if we’re going to get into town by a decent hour, we’re going to have to catch a ride from someone to White Moose. It’ll take us days to walk.”

“We’re going to hitchhike?”

“Sure. It’ll be safe. Most of the time the only people driving these roads at night are vacationers in RV’s and truckers. I figure either way, we’ll be comfortable. Besides, those boots of yours aren’t exactly made for hiking. Your feet would be shreds if we walk. It’s only a few hours down to White Moose by car. We can be down there by breakfast. I’ll buy you steak and eggs at the White Moose Grill.”

That set her mouth a-watering. Quite suddenly she realized she was starving. “Steak sounds good.”

“Let’s go.” Since he was already dressed and ready to head out, he did a lot of pacing as she dressed, put on some make up, ate a snack and gathered her things. She knew they’d have some walking to do, so there was no way they’d be able to take everything they’d managed to haul to the motel, but she was determined to take everything she could. She crammed as much into her rolling suitcase as would fit—the thing had to weigh eighty pounds!—wrapped a blanket around her shoulders and nodded. “Ready.”

He gave her one of those no-way looks and pointed at the suitcase sitting on one end beside her. “You can’t take that thing.”

“Why not? It’s heavy but it rolls. I need the stuff in there.”

“Hot rollers?”

“Yes, hot rollers. We’re heading into a city, right? What if we decide to go out for some drinks? My hair’s frizzy if I don’t curl it.”

“You look fantastic without going to all that fuss. Besides, I doubt there’ll be anyone there you’d want to impress. Take the small bag. Put a few clothes in it. Warm clothes. Some food. And let’s go. We’re not going to be walking along the road. If we’re going to get past customs, we’re going to have to cut through the woods. That thing’ll slow us down. A lot.”

The woods? They were going to be walking in the woods?

In the dark?

Was that safe?

She’d spent more than enough time on this trip thinking she was going to be snack for a bear.

“Are you bringing the gun?” she asked.

“No, I wasn’t planning on it. Why? I thought it made you too nervous.”

“Well, yeah. It did. When I thought you might use it to shoot people. But I’m not about to hike in woods in the wilds of Canada without one. What if we run across a grizzly?”

“We’ll leave it alone and it’ll most likely leave us alone.” He tossed the mostly empty carry-on bag onto the bed and opened it.

“Most likely?” She pushed the larger suitcase onto its back and reluctantly opened it. She hated to leave all her belongings behind, but perhaps after it was all over, she could call the hotel and ask them to ship them home? That was an idea. She could live with that. She pulled out the warmest pieces she’d brought with her, along with some underwear, and packed them into the smaller bag.

“I’m just thinking the gun is a bad idea,” Tarik said, as he set about pacing again. “I wouldn’t want to get caught by border patrol armed on public lands. It isn’t hunting season. I could be arrested. It’s bad enough we’re illegally crossing the border. Besides, I doubt I could shoot someone. No, it’s better if we leave it behind. Honestly, I can’t remember the last time I read about a grizzly attack in the paper. Outside of…you know.”

Was he telling her the truth or telling her what he thought she wanted to hear? Being totally ignorant of animals while vacationing in Alaska was a bit of a complication. “Okayyyy.” When she’d stuffed as much as she could into the small suitcase, she zipped it closed and nodded toward the door. “I’m ready. I guess.” She didn’t sound ready.

Standing like a sentry next to the door, he caught her shoulders in his hands and looked into her eyes. “Trust me. I’ll keep you safe. No matter what.”

She believed him. After giving him a nod and a weak smile she said, “Let’s go.” She followed him out into the dark night.

* * * * *

“Okay. You were right. I’m dying,” Abby admitted after her suitcase became snagged once again on a fallen log. North-west Canada’s forests weren’t as scrubby as Michigan’s. The shrubs growing under the trees weren’t as dense, but there were lots and lots of other obstacles to stumble over as one made their way in the dark. And her having never been the outdoorsy-type, she was that much less equipped to handle the strain. They’d been walking for what was probably less than an hour and already she felt like it had been days. She had a new respect for pioneer women who’d traveled on foot to parts unknown. They were clearly made of stronger stuff than she was.

Probably wore better shoes though too.

Tarik, being the gentleman that he was, offered once again to carry her bag. But she was stubborn and wouldn’t accept his help. After all, she’d been the one to insist on taking the stupid thing in the first place. Why should she be a sissy and make him lug it around for her? She was no diva. She was a girl who took care of herself. Paid her share. Carried her own luggage.

Even if it was going to kill her.

“Wait. I just need to get a better grip.” She stopped walking and pulled blindly at the stuck bag while cursing fallen trees and the lack of a full moon or flashlight. When it didn’t break free, she added another round of colorful curses.

“Give me that,” Tarik barked, sounding more amused than angry. He snatched the handle out of her hand and yanked it away from her before she could stop him.

“Hey! I was getting it.”

“You’re too damn stubborn for your own good.”

“I’ve had a few people tell me that. Now give it back.” Almost completely blind, she lunged in the general direction of his voice. She found nothing but air. “Where’d you go?”

“Here.” His hand, big and warm and reassuring, closed around hers and he pulled her gently forward. “Take small steps. There are some tree roots here. I don’t want you to fall.”

“Thanks.” It was a whole lot easier going without the added burden of the suitcase, on top of the challenge of walking in the dark in unfamiliar territory. “I promise I’ll carry it once we get out of these woods. I can’t see a thing.”

“Really?” He sounded genuinely surprised. “You can’t see anything?”

“Nothing. That surprises you?”

“I can see fine,” he said, sounding bewildered. “I guess I never realized I was different from other people…outside of maybe being a little stronger than some of the other kids when I was younger.”

She wasn’t about to tell him he was easy at least twice as strong as any man she’d ever dated. And she hadn’t dated one hundred-pound weaklings either. Jack had spent more than his share of time in the gym pumping the proverbial iron. Of course, he had pumped more than that, she’d learned sometime later. But that was beside the point.

No, it was clear by the tone of Tarik’s voice that he yearned to feel normal, like he was no different from any other man on the planet. Like he’d always assumed he was.

And she was inspired, as she stumbled along behind him, gripping the waistband of his pants and using it to keep herself on her feet, to list all the ways he was exactly like any other male who’d trod upon the Earth.

“That whole seeing-in-the-dark thing is such a minor issue, when you look at the big picture,” she said trying to reassure him. “To me, you’re like any other guy.”

“Did you forget that I turn into a bear?”

“No. But it’s not like you turn into a bear every hour, or even every day. It’s been a while since I saw you in bear form. At least…what? What day is it? I’ve lost track.”

“It’s been less than forty-eight hours since I last changed.”

“Doesn’t matter. You’re still one hundred percent guy to me. You pass gas when you sleep.”

“Dogs do that.”

“You scratch when you wake up. That’s a guy thing.”

“Apes probably do that too.”

She jerked on his pants in a show of frustration. “Oh, for heaven’s sake! You’re looking for reasons to compare yourself to an animal. If you ask me, the average American male is at least fifty-percent animal. If I understood your long and confusing explanation of genetics, you’re less than one-percent bear. In my opinion, that makes you genetically superior to your standard human male.”

“Nice try,” he said dryly. He was obviously not going to make this easy.

She stumbled over something on the ground and crashed into his back. While struggling to get her feet back under herself, she asked, “Can I ask, why is it so important that you define yourself as normal? Why do you need to be like everyone else?”

He stopped walking. “Why? Because all my adult life I’ve been studying what makes mankind different from all the rest of creation, and trying to find ways to overcome our physical shortcomings. Disease, aging. Now I have to face the fact that I’m less than what I thought I was. A lot less.”

“Or more,” she suggested.

“How can being part
animal
be more?”

“I can list people who were no doubt one hundred percent genetically human but who were no better than animals. Hitler. That serial killer, Son of Sam. Some politicians…need I go on? No person is the sum of their DNA. They’re so much more than strings of protein, don’t you think? I mean, if you had a child who had a genetic mutation or whatever, would he or she be less than human to you?” Not knowing whether he could see her or not, but suspecting he could, she shrugged. “It’s that half-empty, half-full thing, I guess. The way I see it—being a girl who could care less about genetics—you’re
more
than the average guy. You’re stronger, smarter, loyal and brave, better in bed…and I’ll probably never be content with another “normal” man again.”

Silence.

Uh-oh.

What was he thinking?

Did he think she was ready to drag him to the altar? She was so not going there. In fact, she was still operating under the assumption that they’d be going their separate ways once this whole Omega thing was straightened out…not that she was particularly thrilled about it.

“Could you just pretend I didn’t say that last part?” she murmured.

He didn’t respond, which meant he wasn’t about to forget. Wouldn’t you know it, her bear-man had to have the memory of an elephant?

At least he started walking again.

A few minutes later, they broke through the dense forest. They were standing in a ditch. Up above was a road. Paved. Oh, what a beautiful sight!

“Does this mean we’re ready to catch a ride?” she asked, trying not to get too hopeful. She reached for her suitcase, but Tarik refused to hand it over, regardless of the mean-eyes she gave him.

“I’m carrying it and that’s the way it is,” he said.

“See? Typical male stubbornness. You’re definitely human in my book.”

He grunted and started trudging up the incline toward the road, pulling her along as he walked. She was grateful for the help. Her legs were pretty much shot by then and she knew she wouldn’t have made it up on her own.

He stopped when they reached the top, set the bag on the ground and gave her a long look. His back was to the moon, so it wasn’t easy to make out his expression. And his eyes were hidden under a heavy shadow, but she could see his mouth. It looked yummy and kissable and scrumptious. She wanted to kiss him and make him forget all about that man-beast thing.

Who cared if he sprouted fur from time-to-time? She didn’t.

She licked her lips, preparing to act on that impulse when her all but forgotten cell phone rang. Stunned, since the minute she’d arrived in Alaska she’d been unable to get a signal, she scrambled to find it. Where had she put it? In one of her coat pockets? She patted herself, discovering the lump as it rang for the fourth time. Too late. Damn. But at least she could see who it had been. Maybe whoever it had been would leave a message.