Guardian Bears: Marcus (5 page)

Spending years in a special unit with others of his kind had been the best thing possible for him, and had taught him so much about his abilities and what he could use them for. But one thing that they’d always stressed was that he couldn’t share the existence of shifters with outsiders. There were rules, and with good reason - who could tell how the world would react if they knew about his kind?

The supernatural community had good reasons to want to stay out of sight.

But difficult as he’d found it to keep her in the dark back then, it was a lot harder to keep silent now. Her tender touch made him feel at home, relaxed, in a way no one else ever had, and it would be so easy, so right to simply tell her everything.

He lifted his bandaged arm and flexed it. She’d done a great job fixing him up again, just like she always had. It wasn’t just her skill, he realized. Her presence quieted his mind, let him be at peace. Even the bear inside him was at peace in her presence - the powerful creature inside him, the monster he’d spent years trying to understand and control, was silent.

Not absent; Marcus could still feel the bear there, just beneath the surface of his mind. But it was quiet, resting, in a way he’d never felt in all the years he’d been away from her. The only time it came out was when he’d seen Lisa threatened by Cal - and then, it had been almost too much for him to control.

“I can’t believe how strong you’ve gotten,” Lisa said, packing away her first aid supplies. “That punch… it looked like something out of a dumb action film.”

In fact, it had been an effort not to hit him even harder. The bear inside Marcus had been just as angry as he was at how Cal was treating her, and keeping that rage in check wasn’t easy.

“Learned a few things in the Army,” he said, trying to cover that with a half-truth. After all, without the training he’d gotten there he might not have been able to hold back the change. “Spent a lot of time in a special unit.”

She smiled and nodded, looking pleased. “I guessed you’d be Special Forces. You’re smart enough, and you’re certainly tough enough.”

Marcus grinned back, glad that she wasn’t pressing for details. He couldn’t share much more anyway, no matter how much he wanted to. Their shared smile seemed to touch something in Lisa, and she reached out to brush his cheek with her hand.

Her touch sent a shiver through him, and suddenly he recognized the feeling. It wasn’t new, of course: he’d felt it around Lisa throughout his life. But this was the first time he put it together with the stories others in his unit had told.

Stories about their mates.

The people fate had in store for them. Their perfect partners.

Some of them had scoffed at the idea, others had sworn that it was true. That once a shifter felt the touch of their mate, there was no mistaking it, and that the doubters would understand when they met their own. Marcus had never known how to feel about the idea; the notion had always been faintly uncomfortable, somehow. Like the very idea he might meet someone like that was a betrayal of Lisa.

Now he knew why - he’d already met his mate, he just didn’t know what to call the feeling. Everyone telling the stories had talked about it as meeting someone new.

“Marcus? Are you alright?” Lisa waved a hand in front of his face, looking worried. “You went away somewhere.”

“Sorry,” he said, shaking off his distraction. “Just remembering something from my time in the Army. It’s nothing.”

She tilted her head, assessing him, concern on her face. Marcus smiled again, trying to look reassuring. She looked so beautiful, so wonderful, sitting there in front of him, and he wanted nothing more than to take her away from all her troubles here, all her problems and his. But there was still work to do, and even if he did sweep her away, how could he know how she’d react to finding out the truth about him and his abilities?

He knew that she was perfect for him, but he had to work at being perfect for her before he let her into that secret.

“Let’s talk somewhere a little more comfortable,” he said, taking her hand and squeezing gently as he got to his feet. She looked up at him, a little nervously, pushing her hair behind her ear and biting her lip.

“I’m not sure I’m ready for this,” she said dubiously. “Being alone with you, like this…”

He stopped and let go of her hand, smiling reassuringly. “I’m not going to do anything you don’t want. I care about you far too much for that.”

He stepped back, giving her space. Lisa’s hesitant smile widened, and she stepped closer again, reaching out for his hand and leading him out of the kitchen and into her living room, guiding him to a sofa and sitting down beside him. He reached out to embrace her, pulling her gently against him and felt her relax in his arms as they sat together.

It reminded him of the time before he’d left, and he could feel her remembering too. The long hours they’d spent together, sitting close, talking into the wee hours of the morning or just quietly spending time together. It felt like home.

“I didn’t think you’d be gone so long,” she said eventually, breaking the silence. “Were you in the Army the whole time? I thought you’d just do a couple of years, and then be out.”

He held her tight, feeling her body move against him as she breathed. “I was good at it, and I met a lot of good friends there. It was right for me, at the time. Just like being back with you is right.”

She twisted to look up at him, and he saw a small smile on her face. The measuring look in her eyes as she tried to get a feel for him. He wondered then what she’d been through while he was away. Things had gotten a lot worse in Coldwood since he left, that was clear, and he’d nearly left it too long before coming home to her.

Maybe if he’d written more, she’d have told him how things were going - but that had been difficult to keep up when he’d had so little he was able to share with her. His unit, his missions, his shifter nature - all secrets he’d had to keep, so their correspondence had slowed and eventually come to an end.

He leaned in and kissed her nose, making her smile wider.

“It does feel right,” she admitted, shaking her head. “But I’m still afraid. What if it all goes wrong? You’re dealing with the Serpents, and I’m not sure I can handle that. But I am sure that they won’t just let you walk away from whatever business you’ve got with them, especially not now you’ve punched one of them out. I can’t see how this goes anywhere good.”

“It might be tough,” Marcus said, “but I don’t believe that there’s any problem between us we can’t fix. We’ll find a way to make things work.”

“I’d love to be that sure.” Lisa held him tight, and he could feel her warmth as she rested against him. “You make it sound so easy. But it isn’t, not like this. Not when you’ve been gone for so long.”

“I know it won’t be easy,” he said, brushing a hand through her hair. It was so soft and bright, like golden silk. “But I also know that we can manage it. And I won’t leave you again.”

“You can’t know how much I missed you,” she said, relaxing into him as he stroked her hair.

“Sure I do. I missed you just as much, every day.”

“Really? All those years and there was no one else?”

“No one,” he assured her. “I could never think about anyone else the way I think about you. No one could live up to you, Lisa. That’s why I had to work so hard to be good enough for you.”

She laughed, softly. “You were always good enough for me, silly. Always. And now you’re back, and I’m still just this small town girl.”

“Now who’s being silly? You’re beautiful, and perfect.” Marcus leaned down to plant a kiss on the top of her head, inhaling the scent of her hair. For a moment, he struggled with the desire to abandon the plan. To tell her about himself and run off with her into the night and leave Coldwood and the Serpents and everything else behind.

But that wouldn’t work, he knew. He was here to help the whole town, not just his mate, and he’d hate himself if he abandoned the place when it needed him. There was still Hazel to think about, and everyone else. It wasn’t in him to turn his back on them, even if Lisa would go along with it.

And he doubted she would. She had a core of steel, and turning her back on her family and friends wasn’t something she’d go along with, no more than she’d abandon him. That was one of the things he loved about her.

Taking a deep breath, he focused himself. No matter how much he wanted to tell her everything, he needed to be a soldier for a little longer. Complete the mission first, then he could put all this behind him and concentrate on his mate.

Lisa snuggled into him, her head against his chest, her warm soft curvy body pressed against him. She chuckled softly as he sighed with happiness.

“Do you really think I’m pretty?” Her voice was low, quiet, peaceful. “I never knew for sure. You’ve always been handsome, tall, strong. Now you’re a Special Forces veteran, too. I’m just average.”

“Are you fishing for compliments?” Marcus grinned. “You should know better. You’re more than pretty, you’re beautiful, and brave, and strong. You’re holding your own against the Serpents, you’re looking after your mother when she needs it. You’re the light that’s led me home, Lisa, and you’re so much better than I am.”

He shook his head. “It’s easy to be brave when you’re a big, tough guy like me. Standing up to trouble when you’re not, that’s real strength, and you’ve got that.”

Lisa took his hand and brought it to her lips, kissing it gently. Her touch made him shiver, electricity shooting through him.

“It’s nice that you see me like that,” she said. “But it’s not fair. It’s not true. I’m just, just trying to live up to what I thought you’d want me to do.”

He turned her face up to look at him, meeting her eyes and feeling a jolt of connection between them.

“You did that, you know. Better than I could have imagined. I’m proud of you.”

Bending over her, he kissed her on the lips. Her mouth opened under his, and he felt her body tense then relax as she returned his kiss.

W
hat am I doing
?
Lisa’s mind spun out of control as she kissed Marcus on the lips, feeling his strong, rough face against hers. But despite her confusion, one thing was clear in her mind. She wanted this. She wanted
him.

Pulling back just enough to break the kiss she looked into his deep, dark eyes, and felt the connection between them which distance had never quite broken. There were good reasons not to want him right now, but she didn’t care.

“Marcus, I’ve been so alone without you,” she whispered, letting her hand run over his cheek, feeling his stubble under her palm. “I didn’t realize how much I missed you ‘til you were back.”

“I missed you too,” he answered, and she could hear his sincerity. His strong hands lifted her gently, and he turned on the couch, laying her back on it. Leaning over her, he kissed her again, and she felt her body heat with the touch of his lips, her reluctance melting.

“I love you, Lisa,” he whispered into her ear, kissing her there too. “I have always loved you, I think, and there’s no other person in the world for me.”

“No one? In all the years you’ve been away?” She couldn’t quite believe it. Despite the fact that she’d not had any interest in anyone else while he was away, Marcus was a man, and she knew what men were like.

“Never,” he assured her. “I knew I was coming back to you.”

His teeth caught the lobe of her ear and tugged, making her gasp and writhe under him. Heart racing, she reached up to stroke his face again. There was no deceit there, no dishonesty, and she couldn’t doubt him. Not now, not here.

His tongue flicked against her and her breath caught. It felt so good, so unlike anything she’d imagined. She closed her eyes, letting the sensations wash over her, feeling his solid weight above her.

Pulling back, he rose over her, and she noticed his breathing was rough, too.
Am I having the same effect on him that he is on me?

She felt his hands, so powerful yet so gentle, on the top button of her blouse and gasped, her eyes flicking open. Marcus paused, meeting her gaze, and she looked up at him uncertainly.

“Tell me to stop, and I will,” he promised. “I don’t want anything you don’t.”

She bit her lip, feeling herself flushing bright red as her mind warred with itself.

Of course I want you to, you idiot,
she wanted to scream, but instead she found herself gently pushing his hands back. He let go instantly, starting to get up.

“Wait,” she said, looking him in the eyes. He was flushed too, she saw, struggling to control himself. “Just… wait a minute.”

“I can wait however long you need me to,” he said, stopping in place. “I am here for you, not for one night. I don’t want to push you into anything that you’ll regret doing.”

For a moment they stayed still, watching each other. Lisa’s breathing was quick, ragged, and Marcus’s broad chest was rising and falling quickly. Tentatively, she reached out to him, pressing the palm of her hand to his chest and felt his heart pounding.

“This is a lot to take in,” she said. “But I’ve wanted this for so long. I’m not going to regret it.”

He smiled, and for a moment there was no barrier between them. None of the reasons that this might be a bad idea mattered. He reached up and took her wrist, gently removing it from his chest, pushing it down to her side. As tender as his touch was, she could feel the strength behind it, and found herself pinned to the couch by him.

“Okay then,” he said, voice low, hungry, and eager. The control he’d exerted on himself before was slipping, and she shivered with anticipation as he growled at her.

She squirmed, testing his grip, and found herself helpless in it. Her breathing sped up, and she gasped at the delicious feeling of vulnerability his grasp brought her. He lowered himself over her and kissed her again, a powerful deep kiss, their tongues meeting hungrily.

Then his lips left hers and trailed down to her neck, making her whimper and arch under him. The little kisses he planted each sent a shock like lightning flashing through her, lighting her up inside.

Pressed against her, she could feel him hardening in his jeans, and wanted so badly to see him. But he was taking his time, kissing his way down to the top of her blouse, tugging at it with his teeth. Lisa tried to pull her hands free to help him undress her, but he growled again, a deep and dangerous sound which kept her still as his teeth closed on the top button.

With a jerk of his head, he ripped it away. Then the next, and the next, until her blouse hung open and her body shook with desire.

His kisses trailed down her body again, across the tops of her ample breasts, down her ribs. It was as though he was savoring her, enjoying the taste of her. And her body was responding with a wildfire of desire, her flesh trembling where his lips passed. Each kiss made her breath catch, her heart pound, her legs tremble.

His rough, unshaven face rasped the skin of her belly as he kissed lower and lower until he reached the top of her jeans and paused.

Looking down at him, Lisa saw Marcus grinning at her as he kept her pinned, her body shaking with desire. “Is this what you want, sweetheart?”

She nodded, biting her lip, not trusting herself to speak. This was everything she’d dreamed of and more.

“Good. Because we are going to enjoy this,” he told her. “Stay still for me.”

He let go of her hands, sliding his fingers around her waist and undid the button of her jeans. She whimpered something, she wasn’t sure what, and looked away as the zipper came down. Marcus slid the jeans down and off in a smooth, powerful motion, and she lay back on the couch, acutely aware of his eyes on her.

Marcus stood over her, looking down at her body, and she wanted so much to cover up. Lisa knew she could never be a model, she wasn’t skinny and pretty like men wanted. But looking up at Marcus, he didn’t seem to care. His eyes roamed over her, slowly and with a laser-like focus, as though he were committing every inch of her to memory.

And she could see by the bulge in his pants that she was having an effect on him.

Her eyes flicked back to his face, and she caught his grin. He’d seen where she was looking, but despite his obvious amusement, he wasn’t mocking her. His eyes were alight with desire and joy, and his handsome, rugged face was filled with curiosity. And need.

Need for
her
.

But she could see a question there, too, and knew that he would stop in an instant if she asked him to.

Instead, she nodded slightly, and he reached down to slip the blouse off her. His fingers traced gently along the straps of her bra, fumbling with the clasp for a moment as he unhooked it before lifting it from her.

It was endearing in a way, the fact that he wasn’t an expert reassured her. But more than anything, she wanted his touch. Reaching up, she took his hands and, feeling bold, pulled them to her breasts.

Marcus rumbled a happy groan as his hands explored her, caressing gently, his touch making her throw back her head and gasp. Her nipples hardened under his palms, and fire shot through her.

Lowering himself over her again, Marcus kissed her breasts, moving from one to the other, his tongue darting out to flick at her nipples, fanning the flames within her. She reached up to stroke her hands through his hair, and he chuckled, kissing his way across her body as his hands roamed lower again.

Lisa felt the heat build between her legs as his fingers brushed over her panties, stroking between her thighs, parting her legs. She couldn’t hold in a moan of desire as he slid his fingers under the waistband, teasingly close to her pussy.

With one swift, strong pull, he yanked them down and off, leaving her naked on her couch. Bare before him.

Lisa moaned, trying to close her legs and hide herself from him, but he gently, irresistibly, pressed her knees open again. Looking up at her with a wicked grin, he shook his head.

“Don’t hide from me,” he told her, voice rough, low, eager. “I want to see all of you. Touch all of you.
Taste
all of you.”

Sinking back, he kissed his way down her body again, keeping his eyes on her face as she watched him. She couldn’t find words to answer him, but they weren’t needed. She knew he could see her agreement on her face as he slid down from the couch, his kisses alternating between her thighs as he drew back, and then rose up again. Slowly, his lips approached her sex.

Part of her wanted to look away, to be ashamed, but his earnest eager desire for her washed away any shame she felt. She met his eyes, their gazes locking, his breath hot on her body. She ached for him in a way she hadn’t realized possible, her body felt empty without his touch. But still he held back, waiting between her legs.

She swallowed, nodded, and his grin widened. Leaning in he kissed her, his lips tender but powerful, their touch making her arch and cry out. It was so much more powerful than she’d ever felt when she touched herself.

And that was nothing compared to the sensation of his tongue, as he swiped it over her. She thrashed under him, would have fallen from the couch if he hadn’t held her, his hands strong and unyielding as she moved against him.

His tongue was rough, wet, hot against her. Each touch was like lightning, thundering through her, leaving her aching for more. The sensation was unbearable and something she
needed
, at the same time. She couldn’t keep still, but his strength was easily enough to hold her in place, his tongue flicking across her again and again.

She managed to look down at him, seeing his dark eyes staring up at her, full of hungry appreciation.

“Oh, Marcus!” She reached down with trembling hands as she cried out his name. Sliding her fingers into his hair, she pulled him to her, or tried. He chuckled, sending a wave of sensation flashing through her, his slightest motion made her shudder with delight.

Lisa never realized how badly she wanted, no,
needed
his touch. It was something else, so different from anything she’d experienced before, and so much better. Her body trembled as he urged her onward with his tongue, skillfully pushing her towards her climax, not too fast, not too slow. Lisa’s breath turned into hurried, delighted panting and she found herself howling his name at the ceiling as she thrashed in his arms, pleasure overtaking her in an explosion of joy.

It was as though he’d known exactly what she needed, exactly how to please her. As though he knew her body better than she knew herself.

The orgasm exploded through her like chain lightning, flashing through her body and making her writhe and cry out over and over until she could take no more. Only then did he stop, carefully pulling back and planting one last passionate but delicate kiss on her pussy before folding her in his arms.

* * *

M
arcus held her tight
, feeling her naked body tremble against him as she recovered, and marveled at her beauty. Her arms slowly folded around him as she came back to the world, and he smiled down at her, his heart pounding with joy.

I’ve never felt anything like that
, he thought, watching her eyes flutter open. It had been magical and unexpected even for him.
It’s like I could feel her, feel everything about her.

Maybe it was because she was his fated mate, but whatever caused it, he knew he wanted more. Nothing would stop him having that feeling again, no matter what happened.

“Oh my
God
,” Lisa said in a shaky voice, holding him tighter. “That was… amazing. I didn’t know how good it could feel!”

“It wouldn’t be like that with anyone else,” Marcus told her, grinning back, stroking her bare skin. “You and me, we belong together, and that’s just your body’s way of letting you know.”

“Not just mine, I think.” She stroked between his legs, blushing prettily as her fingers brushed over his erection through his jeans. Marcus laughed happily, leaning in to kiss her. Her lips trembled against his, and her breath caught again.

“Of course not. I feel it too,” he said as he sat back again. “But you’re tired and it’s been a long day. I can wait.”

That was just barely true. His body ached for her, wanted her, and it was an effort to restrain himself when he felt her fingers touching him. But he wasn’t going to rush anything, not with her. Even though the animal inside him wanted to claim her right then and there, the man knew that they had the time to take things slowly.

“Now you stop there, mister,” she said, and he saw a fierceness in her eyes. A determination. “I’m not going to let you get away with that!”

“Get away with what?”

“You don’t get to put me in your debt,” she told him. He felt her fingers on his belt, fumbling nervously at it. “You deserve something too.”

He started to laugh, but the look of determination on her face stopped him. It wasn’t just the look of someone who didn’t want to be indebted, he realized. There was a shyness there too, an embarrassment hidden behind the look she shot him. The laugh caught in his throat and he looked past the timid uncertainty sparkling in her eyes. Beyond that, was a joyful lust, twin to his own.