Joel (BBW Bear Shifter Wedding Romance) (Grizzly Groomsmen Book 5) (90 page)

“Listen,” Elise said gently, daring to approach him. “You told me that the animal was inside you all the time. Well, I figure that means the human is there all the time too. Forget about what’s outside. We’re safe in here, Dietrich. It’s just you and me.”

The growl abated, and it gave Elise more confidence. The bear cocked its head to one side, tense but attentive. Elise stepped closer still, and placed a gentle hand at the side of Dietrich’s neck. The muscles were superbly powerful, frightening even, but Elise pushed back her fear. Inside this strong animal was her man, they were one and the same.

“Come on, now,” Elise soothed. “Take control.”

Slowly at first, the bear began to shrink. This time Elise did see the claws retract and vanish, hairs receding into skin as a paw became a palm once more. Dietrich was soon lying on the floor on his front, gasping from the speed of two transformations.

And totally naked.

“Stop peeking,” he said wryly, “and get me a blanket or something.”

Elise did as she was told, but not before she’d taken a mental picture of the strong, defined line of his spine, and how it lead to a pair of taught, muscular buttocks. When Dietrich was wrapped up in a throw from the couch, they sat together on the floor in the dimly-lit cabin. Dietrich rested his head on Elise’s shoulder, and she ran her fingers gently through his hair.

“No-one has ever calmed me down like that before,” Dietrich said in amazement.

“I live in LA,” Elise said with a shrug. “Everyone’s anxious there, twenty-four seven. You get used to handling it. Although this was a very different kind of challenge.”

The mention of LA was a small mistake, for it brought the noise outside back into focus. The press were still rapping at the doors and windows, still shouting their questions through the wooden walls.

“We need to do something about that,” Elise mused angrily.

“You know, I might just have an idea,” Dietrich replied. He kissed Elise’s cheek, his long stubble tickling her cheek. “Pass me your phone.”

“I can’t actually believe my luck right now,” Elise said into her cellphone.

“I know,” Jane answered proudly. “I told you that no press was bad press. We’re set up, honey. It’s relaunch time.”

“Okay, well you get the details together and call me tomorrow,” Elise replied.

“Not later tonight?” Jane asked.

Elise felt her cheeks flush red, and she was glad that her agent couldn’t see them.

“I’ve got plans tonight,” she said as discreetly as she could.

Jane said her goodbyes, and Elise was hanging up the phone just as Dietrich entered the room. They were in the lounge at the Rangers’ Lodge, the same place where Anina had first introduced them, and it was dark outside the windows. The fire was crackling in the hearth, lending a warm glow to the room, and Dietrich seemed more relaxed than Elise had ever seen him.

“Was that your agent?” he asked.

Elise nodded with great enthusiasm.

“You won’t believe it,” she said, beaming. “Some activists for natural beauty got hold of the Twitter war and started fighting on my side. And now, the cosmetics company Naturalis has offered me a huge contract! Natural beauty is on trend, and I’m going to be the face of it.”

Dietrich leaned in and kissed her gently.

“You already are,” he said softly.

He crossed the room, settling in one of the wide easy chairs by the fire. Elise watched him with interest as he put his hands together eagerly.

“I have news too,” he began. “After I started making those calls to the different wildlife federations, their lawyers got together. Fairhaven Park officially has a ban on all commercial press and media entering its gates.”

“No press?” Elise exclaimed.

“It’s bad for the grizzly bears,” Dietrich replied, grinning.

“So that means my career’s not over, and you’ll never be bothered by the media again?” she asked.

She crossed the room, settling herself on Dietrich’s lap. He pulled her in, his warmth spreading into her skin.

“Aren’t we lucky?” he whispered against her neck.

He began to kiss her there, trailing ghost-like pecks down her throat. When he reached her collarbone, Dietrich lingered, tracing his lips and tongue over the ridges. Elise felt a shiver that was nothing to do with being cold, and she glanced to the fireplace, and the rug that lay before it.

“Did you say that Anina and the boys were out tonight?” she asked.

Dietrich paused in his kissing to give her a thoughtful look.

“Kurt goes down to LA overnight for some downtime, now and then,” he explained. “This time Gram wanted to go with him to get some shopping done, and she’s got Ben helping her to carry it all.”

“And Hart and Reinicke?” Elise pressed.

“Night patrol,” Dietrich answered. “Reinicke loves the high mountain outpost, he practically lives there. Hart’s down at the campground for the night.”

Emboldened by this news, Elise rose from Dietrich’s lap. He frowned, opening his arms as if to invite her back in, but she shook her head. She moved to the rug in front of the fireplace, trying to look graceful as she lay down before it on her back. Dietrich remained in his chair for a moment, his mouth a little open in surprise.

“Are you sure it’s not too soon?” he asked.

Elise shook her head, her face warmed by the fire.

“Everything has worked out for us to be together, Dietrich,” she said softly. “This is right. And I can’t wait any longer for you.”

Dietrich pushed off from the chair, down onto his hands and knees. He began to grin that shy grin of his as he crawled across the floor, approaching Elise.

“Well, I’d hate to make you impatient, Miss Natural Beauty,” he teased.

Elise felt her shoes being coaxed off first, then Dietrich’s strong hands slid up her bare legs. When he reached her thighs, the path of his fingers veered off teasingly, drawing circles on the outside of her legs instead. He found the waistband of her skirt and undid the small buttons, allowing her to wriggle out of it as he pulled it down. Whilst he was busy with that, Elise fumbled with the buttons of her blouse, leaving it to fall to either side of her chest. Dietrich paused, his golden eyes roving over her nude-colored underwear, before his mouth began to tease the visible section of her breasts.

It was Elise’s turn to groan, and the animal noise that escaped her seemed to wake something in Dietrich. He was faster suddenly, more determined as he helped her to sit up and unhook her bra. Whilst she was up she pawed at his shirt, and Dietrich broke two of the buttons in his rush to take it off. He eased her down, laying on top of her as his tongue plunged into her mouth. Elise’s hands were everywhere, racing down his back to feel the shift of his muscles, then rushing back up into his hair to hold him close and kiss him deeper.

The contact of their bare chests sparked with electricity, and it made Elise all the more aware that they weren’t yet totally naked. As Dietrich showered her neck and breasts with warm, wet kisses, Elise reached for her panties and managed to wriggle them off. Dietrich continued a downward path, hands and tongue drawing shapes on her stomach. She felt his breath on her thighs a moment later, and she waited. The pause was too long.

“I want you, Dietrich,” she murmured. “Please. Please kiss me. Touch me there.”

“Sorry for the delay,” Dietrich teased, “you know how much I like to admire outstanding natural beauty.”

Elise was about to reply, when Dietrich suddenly slipped his tongue into her. She gasped, then giggled at his boldness, and then the wonderful shock gave way to a deeper sensation. She could feel her back arching as Dietrich’s tongue pushed and swirled against her clitoris, sending shockwaves up her spine. She buried her fingers into the rug beneath her, feeling Dietrich’s hands as they held her quivering thighs steady. If he wasn’t careful, he’d bring her to climax before they’d even really begun. She didn’t want that, as incredible as it felt. She wanted it all, the full connection.

“I’m ready,” she whispered. “God, I’m so ready. Get up here. I need you now.”

There was another delay, but this time Elise didn’t complain as she heard the shuffling of more clothes coming off. When Dietrich lay himself down on her, she felt the long, hard shaft that throbbed against her thighs. Her legs were already open, and a deep burning came from somewhere within, begging him to fulfill her. She looked into Dietrich’s golden eyes, and they were darker than they’d ever been before. She found herself wishing that she’d always be able to gaze into those eyes for the rest of her days.

Dietrich began to kiss her, strong lips pressing against hers. In the same moment, he rocked his hips forward, and guided himself into her. It had been a little while since she’d last had a boyfriend, but the pressure faded after only seconds. She squeezed his hips with her thighs as he pushed deep into her, filling her completely. He paused there, his tongue tracing patterns on her lips, and she reached up to wrap her arms around his broad chest. They were so close, so complete, and Elise wanted to say something very important. She didn’t know if she could. Would it scare him away if she did?

When he broke the kiss, Dietrich rested his lips against her ear.

“This is perfect,” he whispered. “You’re perfect… And I love you.”

Joy washed over Elise, and she smiled so wide that it hurt her face a little.

“I love you, Dietrich,” she said in that same quiet tone.

She held him fast as he began to thrust. He was powerful but controlled, and every push sent waves of heat through Elise’s body. His hips were strong and heavy between her legs, and she reached down to hold onto them, feeling his power with every thrust. When he was reaching a steady rhythm, Elise snaked her hands round to cup his buttocks. She gave them a squeeze and Dietrich let a growl loose from his throat. The sound vibrated against Elise’s neck, and he began to kiss her rapidly there.

He was speeding up, and Elise felt a new jolt of electricity every few seconds. She could feel her muscles tensing, readying themselves for the moment she’d been aching for since she first laid eyes on Dietrich in that very room. Their bodies were soaked with sweat, sliding against one another as they writhed, and Elise began to pant as she lost her breath in the excitement.

But the pattern soon changed. Dietrich lifted himself onto his strong arms, slowing down. He pressed deep into Elise as far as he could reach, then pulled out slowly, almost all the way. It was the most wonderful torture she had ever felt, and when she had her breath back, she looked up into his grinning, gorgeous face.

“You know, for a shy boy, you’re pretty wicked,” she remarked.

“It’s the beast in me,” he teased.

His voice was low and throaty. Dietrich held his weight up with one arm, the other reaching down to slip between Elise’s legs again. He found her clitoris at once, so swollen from all the pleasure he’d given her, and he rubbed a teasing circle over the knot of flesh. Elise’s hips gave a spasm that was out of her control, and she cried out with sudden pleasure. He was teasing her, drawing the torture out, and she knew that when she did reach her climax, it was going to be huge.
 

Dietrich stroked her until her thighs were shaking, and then he pressed down onto her to finish what he’d started before. Kissing him deeply, she held onto his shoulders as he took control of her. Thrust after thrust came hard and deep, growing in speed with every moan and groan that she made. In those last few moments as the rush and the ache built up inside her, she ran her hands all over his body, tasting every muscle with her fingertips. Dietrich broke off their kiss, panting hard, and his whole body trembled, so fiercely that Elise felt like the room was shaking.

She let go, crying out as wave after wave of the orgasm hit her. It made her wriggle and moan, unspeakable pleasure attacking her body with nerves and heat. Seconds later, she felt the last hard thrust against her hips, and Dietrich shook as he came. Sharp, low noises escaped him, reverberating through the room. Slowly, Elise became aware of the world again, and the heat of the fire against one side of her body. Dietrich kissed her softly on the lips, and they stayed in place as they caught their breath.

He watched her carefully, searching her face.

“You’re incredible,” she breathed.

“I’ll have to be,” Dietrich reasoned, “if I want to keep you forever.”

Epilogue

Three months later.

It was easy, getting back and forth between Fairhaven and the city. Elise had finally found a balance in her life, even though her career was ten times busier than before. She didn’t need to attend awards and parties late at night in LA, now she only went where she was invited, and where the right kind of people were there to support her. The Naturalis campaign had launched to superb success, and Elise Davenport was a name synonymous with nature, beauty and calm.

It was these three things that she craved, and when she came home to the Rangers’ Lodge at Fairhaven, they were always waiting for her. It was a bright Sunday afternoon when she found herself gazing out of the window of the bedroom that she and Dietrich now shared. She looked out into the vast, dark woods and the mountains beyond, letting the stresses of work disappear into the fall foliage. She heard a noise behind her, and a moment later Dietrich’s hands snaked around to hold her stomach. She leaned back into his strong body, putting her hands over his.