Taken by the Bear (Feral Instincts Book 2) Read online

  “I need you inside me. I can’t wait anymore.” Her words were music to his ears. His cock had been ready since yesterday. She’d been all he could focus on.

  He leaned back, his fingers still inside her. They stared at each other. Her nipples were red, firm buds. Her chest heaving. “You want me to fuck you? Here in my forest?”

  He finger-fucked her while she watched. In and out until she was dripping wet.

  “Answer me, Callie.”

  “Yes,” she said. “Take your shirt off. I want to see.” He slid his fingers away, bringing them to his face. He took a deep breath, savoring the scent of her heat. When he licked the moisture, desperate for a taste of her, she gasped. “What are you doing?”

  “I want to taste you,” he said. “Of course, I’d rather the real thing.” He tugged off his t-shirt at her request and arranged it on the log above his flannel jacket. “Lie down for me and open your legs.”

  She swallowed hard, but was no longer complaining about the cold. Without listening to him, she ran her hands in circles over his shoulders, her eyes wandering all over his upper body. Bear shifters were much larger than human males, and he was an alpha on top of that. His size appeared to have a direct effect on her libido.

  Callie bent over so she could kiss him. She crawled onto his lap at the same time, straddling him with her naked body. He wished he’d taken off his jeans earlier. His mate was on fire, and it was his job to leave her fully satisfied.

  They kissed, their tongues mingling. Her hands wandered over his back, then around to his pec and abs. When she reached his belt, she yanked with urgency. He’d had enough of this. Bastian stood and scooped her up, settling her on her back over his jacket. He lifted one of his legs over the log and sat down, flipping both her legs over his shoulders. Her pussy was the prettiest thing he’d ever seen. Pink and glistening. His mouth salivated just imagining what he was about to do to her.

  “Try not to scream too loud.”

  ****

  Callie was not used to anything kinky. Sure, she’d fantasized about everything in her erotic romance books, but real life had been something else entirely. Her sexual encounters hadn’t been plentiful, and to date they’d been basic, boring, and forgettable.

  Bastian was more than a man. He was a dirty beast. Nothing seemed to turn him off. The man wanted to eat her pussy in the middle of a forest. She couldn’t force one of her old boyfriends to go down on her if she’d tried. This was a first for her, and although she was nervous and a bit embarrassed, she was too far gone to care.

  She’d been obsessed over Bastian and everything he’d said yesterday. Then, believing she’d lost her chance to see him today, all she could think about was having sex with him. Being as physically close as possible. He had the body of a warrior—rough, heavily muscled, and powerful. Every time she looked at him or touched him, she wanted to scream for him to fuck her.

  Luckily, he appeared to feel the same way.

  When his tongue swiped up her folds, she bucked up into his face on instinct. She wasn’t expecting such an explosion of sensation. He pressed a hand to her stomach to hold her steady. “Bastian…”

  He didn’t answer, but fucked her with his tongue, plunging in and out of her pussy before licking her folds and sucking on her clit. The man was going to town on her, his rough stubble scraping her inner thighs. He flicked and toyed with her sensitized clit over and over until she thought she’d die from the onslaught.

  “No more,” she cried out.

  He lifted his head, looking up at her. She exhaled, trying to slow her breathing. “Be a brave girl for me. Just a little longer and you’ll get there. I have all day, sweetheart.” He winked, then delved back in.

  Callie cried and squealed and twisted and turned until a rush of heat washed over her. Suddenly, she went from overstimulated to needing it all and then some. She stopped fighting his advance, relaxing her legs open, and closing her eyes. It felt so fucking good. She was ready to take him up on his offer to live between her legs all day, but she knew she couldn’t last long in this sweet zone.

  “Don’t stop,” she murmured. She was almost there, the pressure building and building deep in her core. He growled, the vibration doing the final number on her. She screamed as she detonated, powerful waves of contractions making her pussy pulse. Lights and stars seemed to flash behind her closed eyelids. Her orgasm had been as powerful as the magic of the forest.

  She panted, not even able to form words at this point. Callie never knew sex could be like that, not in her wildest dreams. And they weren’t finished. He stood up, his massive frame blocking out the sunbeams. He unbuckled his belt, the jangle of metal capturing her full attention. He kicked off his jeans. When he was naked, she couldn’t help but stare. The man was hung. His cock was a shade darker than his body, thick, and virile. She’d never seen one so big, not that she was a cock-expert.

  “You taste just as I imagined, Callie. You’re my mate, and no other woman will ever do.” He roughly flipped her over, so the log was under her stomach, her bare ass in the air. There was no respite. Bastian swirled the head of his monster cock against her sensitive pussy folds, making her jolt. “I’m claiming you as mine. No other male will ever have this body but me.” He plunged inside her. She gasped aloud. His wide girth entered her without difficulty, thanks to her overflow of moisture. Once he was fully inside her, his big dick throbbed. He filled her so completely that she nearly gagged on the sensation of fullness.

  “Hot and tight and perfect.” He held her hips, his fingers digging in. She barely had time to reflect on all the things he’d said about being her mate and never wanting another woman. His focus was on taking her, hard and rough.

  He began to piston his hips, her body saved from the bark of the tree thanks to his jacket and t-shirt under her stomach. She took a deep breath, the natural scents filling her lungs as he pounded into her from behind. Every time he pushed inside her, she swore she’d come. He picked up a steady rhythm, fucking her like a machine. New and wondrous sensations flooded her body, and she knew she was close to peaking again.

  She felt so dirty, fucking this virtual stranger only a short walk from dozens of cruise guests. The possibility of being caught, the open air kissing her ass, it all added to the appeal.

  He leaned over her back, kissing her neck. His chest was slick with clean sweat. “You’re mine. I’m going to come inside you, Callie.” Bastian’s gruff voice made her swoon. “Tell me you’re mine.”

  “I’m yours. Make me come again.” She would have promised him the moon at this point. He had skills she never knew existed, and she was addicted.

  “I love this body. My body.” He pushed a moistened thumb into her asshole as he fucked her pussy like an animal. The taboo burst of sensation sent shivers skittering along her skin. The dual stimulation was too much and she crashed down hard.

  “Bastian!” Her pussy milked his erection, squeezing him mercilessly. An orgasm when she was stuffed full of hard cock was even better than the one from the oral sex. He roared and she felt the moment he came inside her.

  His grip eased on her hips and after a couple minutes, he helped her up to her feet. Now that the passion had begun to fade, she felt awkward and unsure what she should do. Regret wasn’t one of her feelings, so she was glad of that. She’d had enough damn regrets in her life. Even if she never saw him again, today had been worth it, and the memories would last a lifetime.

  They started dressing. “I think you’ve ruined me for other men,” she said, trying to break the uncomfortable silence between them.

  He tugged on his t-shirt, covering those delicious muscles and lightly furred chest. “Other men?”

  She finished buttoning her pants, and was as good as she’d get for just being fucked over a log. “I mean, that was really good.”

  “You’re not planning to go back to the ship, are you?”

  “I have to be back by four or they’ll leave without me.”

  He stepped f
orward, the intensity in his eyes unmistakable. “Don’t go, Callie. We’re mated now. Does that mean nothing to you?”

  “The sex? We weren’t exactly making love.” She didn’t want to disappoint herself by making more out of what just happened. Jumping to conclusions was something she did much too often.

  “It meant everything to me. I plan to do this again properly tonight. I’ll keep trying until you’re happy.”

  Holy crap. There wasn’t anything he could have done to make the experience better. “I have a job, an apartment, a life. I can’t just literally jump ship and pretend I don’t have a life to go back to.”

  “We can start something here. Together. I have a cabin up in the mountains. There’s a stream nearby, a view you’d love, and I make more than enough from my touring company to buy you anything you want.”

  “I don’t want you to buy me things, Bastian. It’s just a huge step. People don’t usually jump so fast into a relationship. We just met. Is this another Alaska thing?”

  He smiled, and it melted her from the inside. “What are you afraid of, Callie?” Bastian tucked some of her hair behind her ear.

  “Of you getting sick of me. Of realizing you’ve made a mistake. Then I’m stuck here. In the middle of nowhere with nothing to go home to and no way to get there.”

  Bastian shook his head. He leaned down to kiss her lips. “You never have to worry about any of that. I told you I’m different … in many ways, including how I view relationships.”

  “I need more time to think straight, but I only have a couple hours.”

  He interlocked his fingers with hers. “Let’s take a little walk. I want to show you something.”

  Chapter Five

  She was human. She needed to be courted. But, like she’d said, there was no time.

  Bastian didn’t need dates and movies and wasted months to know she was his mate, to realize he wanted to spend the rest of his life with her. Bears mated for life, but he couldn’t tell her that yet.

  He wasn’t sure when he planned to fill her in on everything he’d been hiding from her. All he knew was the truth could push her away. He had to wait until she’d committed to him, until she agreed to be his woman. Even then, revealing his true identity terrified him.

  There was a waterfall not too far from where they were. He’d spend some quality time with her there, hopefully give her a chance to clear her head so she could feel the mating call. Did humans even experience the same thing? Anything at all?

  “Do you have family here?” she asked as they walked around the maze of trees and bracken.

  “Just my brother,” he said. “Who do you have where you’re from?”

  She shrugged. “No one, really. I’m not too close with my parents. No siblings.”

  Callie didn’t even realize Alaska was the answer. He was the answer. Bastian wanted to be her family, to take care of her. They could make babies together and forget the rest of the world.

  They neared the cliff. He could already smell the freshness of the waterfall, and he couldn’t wait to see her reaction when she saw it. He’d passed by on his way from the helicopter landing site.

  After a few more steps, his hackles rose.

  They weren’t alone.

  “Bastian, stop,” Callie said. “Don’t freak out, but I saw a wolf.”

  He scanned the area, his senses on high alert. A wolf pack had them surrounded. They were feral wolves, not shifters, so they weren’t there to play games.

  “Stay close to me.” He put his arm around her, keeping her tight to his side. In his skin, he may be stronger than human males, but he was still vulnerable to a wolf attack. He wouldn’t allow these fuckers to harm his woman. His bear thrashed about inside him, roaring to be freed.

  Two of the males moved in closer, fangs bared, bloodshed in their eyes. They were hungry, and nothing would stop them from claiming their prey.

  “I’m scared,” she whispered.

  This was bullshit. Bastian was an alpha bear and he’d show these dogs their place if only he could shift. He hoped he could lead her away safely or scare them off to keep things as drama-free as possible. Today was about courting, proving he was a worthy mate.

  One of the wolves next to Callie lunged toward her. Bastian moved fast, blocking the animal from getting to his woman. The wolf bit down into his forearm.

  Callie screamed.

  The other wolves moved in.

  His bear had had enough. The shift took over his body, his skin quaking as it expanded, and a roar echoed through the forest as his bear fought for freedom. The power of his alpha flooded his veins, and he felt invincible. Within seconds of shapeshifting, he turned to the piece of shit who’d attacked him. Bastian bit down on its neck, giving it a few shakes and flinging it several yards away. Bastian charged the others, clawing, swatting, and trampling until they were all down. The smart ones had already run off.

  His chest heaved, his killing spree over for now. Then he remembered Callie and all his bravado faded to nothing.

  Bastian turned to face her. Her eyes were wide, her mouth parted. She held her coat closed, not moving a muscle. He could hear her blood rushing through her veins and smell her fear. This wasn’t how he planned to introduce his bear to his mate. He wanted her to love his bear, not feel threatened by it. He’d wanted to take his time, slowly preparing her for the truth.

  He walked closer to her, careful to move slow and keep his movements unthreatening. Bastian nudged her arm with his snout, looking right into her eyes. Couldn’t she see it was still him inside? He made the cutest noise he could, although it came out too deep and menacing.

  Another nudge.

  He wanted to feel her fingers through his fur, to feel her love and trust. That would come in time. The only way to explain what was happening, was to shift back into his human form. He turned away from her and changed into his skin. His fur receded, his bulk forming into human muscle and skin.

  “Callie…” He turned and gripped her shoulders, holding her steady. Bastian had plenty of first aid training through his business with tourists. She was in shock. “Speak to me. Please don’t be afraid.”

  In a sudden burst, she ducked and turned to the right and started running, heading deeper into the forest. Fuck.

  He ran both hands through his hair, wanting to pull it out by the roots. Nothing in his life so far had prepared him for this—a human mate. He had no idea how to calm her, how to make her see he wasn’t anything to fear. Mated males were lethal, but never to their mates.

  Bastian followed after her at a slower pace, wanting her to have time to settle down or come to grips with her feelings. Of course, his idea fell apart when another bear’s call echoed through the forest. It was Coben. The bastard was coming for Callie.

  He picked up his pace, needing to protect her. She’d stopped on the rough trail, her breathing labored. Callie faced him, hugging herself.

  “Please don’t run. Please listen to me.”

  “You’re naked.”

  “That tends to happen when I shift.” At least she’d said something. He took it as a good sign.

  “What the hell are you, Bastian?”

  “The same man who wants to spend the rest of his life with you.” He took her hands. “No different. I swear.”

  “You were a bear. I’d say that’s different.”

  “I’m a shifter, but I’m still a man. I had no choice back there. I’d do anything to protect you—”

  “Even from a grizzly…”

  “You remember that.” He smiled and tweaked her nose. “I’ll tell you everything. Anything you want to know, but not here. There’s another bear nearby, and he wants to steal you from me.”

  “What?”

  “Come with me to my cabin. Please, Callie. I’ll talk. You can interrogate me as much as you want. Right now we need to get far from here.”

  ****

  The helicopter dropped them off at a small landing, then lifted off as soon as they were clear. She
watched it disappear into the crisp blue sky until they were completely isolated and alone. Callie wasn’t sure what to think. She’d been falling for a man she barely knew. Then he turned into a bear before her eyes. It was something straight out of science fiction. She’d never have believed it if she hadn’t witnessed it with her own eyes.

  But he’d saved her, and her curiosity was definitely piqued. She needed to know more. Wanted to know everything.

  He’d changed into clothes in the helicopter, but kept quiet for the ride. Her fears had dissipated now that he was Bastian again.

  He led her through some more trees until they came upon a cabin nestled alone in the woods. She felt thrust into fairy tale land, one of Hansel and Gretel and Goldie Locks. “This is it.” It was a one-story log cabin with a full front porch complete with hand-made rocking chair. It was something off a postcard, cute and cozy. The perfect escape.

  “You live here?” It wasn’t what she expected for a grizzly bear man. Of course, she was completely in the dark about this whole situation.

  He turned and nodded. “We use the helicopter to get around and pick up guests for our tours. When it’s all done, this is home.”

  “Who lives here?”

  “Just me.” He held out his arms. “Or didn’t you hear that bears are reclusive?”

  “So what are you exactly? A bear or a man? I don’t understand any of this.”

  He opened his front door and held it for her to enter. It was simple inside: a wooden slab table, single chair, and a sofa. The place felt lonely. She didn’t notice any electronics or television. There were a couple other doors at the back. Maybe bedrooms.

  The ceilings vaulted above, all solid logs, rustic and natural.

  “Well, I guess I’m both. I don’t shift in my house, but once in a while I like to let the bear loose to have a good run, explore the forest, and let the other animals know who’s alpha of the forest.”

  “Is it your forest?” She lifted an eyebrow.