Bite of the Moon: Paranormal Shapeshifter Romance Boxed Set (50 page)

She slumped low into the chair and recoiled. “Holy crap! I can’t believe what I’m seeing.” Lurching forward, she placed her hand over her mouth. “This is too much.” The room spun. “Oops, I think the grilled cheese is coming up.” She gagged.

With a swift swoosh of fur and flesh, he transformed back into a man. He immediately grabbed his pants from the floor and stepped into them. In a flash, he was at her side, smoothing her hair from her brow. “Andi, are you okay? I shouldn’t have roared.”

“Noise isn’t the problem.” She chocked back a sob. “You really are a grizzly. Wow, I just got used to the friendly bear on the trail thing. Hold on.” Still reeling, she gripped the chair. “This one is going to take a moment. God, I hope I don’t throw up on you.”

Mac grinned. “I have a feeling you’re going to be okay. Andi, you are incredibly brave. I knew you would be. I’ve been waiting for a woman like you my entire life. Cross my heart, I’ve never shown myself in grizzly form to anyone outside the bear clan. You’re the first.”

“This is your secret? You didn’t call me back because you’re a bear? Wow, this is hard to wrap my head around. I did wonder why a guy like you was single.”

“It’s not something you can casually share on Tinder. ‘Swipe right. Let’s meet for a beer. By the way, I’m a bear.’”

“Yeah, that line probably wouldn’t work or would be misunderstood.” She drank in the sincerity shining in his eyes, and relaxed. “Mac, what are you exactly?”

“I’ve got a human heart just like you. I’m a man who wants all the things any normal person would want, yet I don’t get to be normal. I’ve been starving for someone to share my life with. I’d like to have a real home, not just a cabin provided by the county for seasonal use. For the past couple of years, I’ve been pretending I can live without these things, but I can’t. Keeping an ancient secret isn’t worth watching my life tick away.”

“Why me? Did I just happen to cross your path at the right time?”

“No. You’re something special.”

“I’m not fishing for compliments. I’m just trying to understand all this. What makes me special?”

“I think you’re absolutely gorgeous. You’re strong-minded and you know what you want. That’s the trait of a leader.”

“Being a leader has left me lonely too. To be honest, I’ve never met my match. I’ve dated a lot of great guys, and I was even engaged for a short time when I was just out of college. Big mistake. I wasn’t ready and he couldn’t handle a woman who wanted to be the boss.”

“Bossy doesn’t scare a grizzly. I love it.”

“I just watched you turn into a bear, so why am I telling you my dating history instead of screaming my head off?”

He drew a tense breath. “Because there is nothing normal about what is happening between us. We’re courting. You have to open up to me. In this case, you don’t have a choice. These are the pheromones talking.”

She leaped to her feet. “What?”

“That bite you received from the grizzly is having a physical and emotional effect on you.”

“No. I’m in control of me.”

“Nope, sorry, boss. It doesn’t work that way. Until the next new moon, the bear is in control. That tiny bite is still active in your bloodstream. You will do and think things you don’t normally do.”

“Like hike and do push-ups?”

“Yes. It set off a cascade of reactions that will make you more receptive to accepting the possibility of….” He smacked his palm on forehead. “I’m screwing this up so badly! I’m making it sound as stilted and awful as that fifth-grade lecture about the miracle of life, minus the squirm-worthy slideshow.”

“Oh, God. Where is this conversation going?”

“Andi, I want you. You’re perfect for me, but, sweetheart, my bear set you up.  You’re primed and giving off a she-bear mate scent. I am trying so hard not to scoop you into my arms and then toss you onto my bed.”

“Actually, I would like that.”

“But it wouldn’t be fair. I want to give you a fighting chance to get to know me and choose me without the goddamn bite interfering in your decisions.”

“Pheromones as in chemical attractant, the same sort moths use to lure other moths deeper into the jungle? Is that what we are talking about? You think the bite is affecting my mind?”

“I know it is.”

“Bear bite or not, Mac, I think you’re very attractive. I didn’t need to be bitten to notice you’re a hulky, hot filet mignon with hair on its chest.”

“There’s more. The bear wants a mate for life.”

“The bear or you? I’m getting confused.”

“We are one and the same and come as a package deal.”

“Can I mix and match? Say take the man as a lover and keep the bear for a hiking companion?”

He shook his head.

“Why?”

“After we’ve finished this conversation, I’m going to grab my keys, get in my truck, and drive.”

“You’re going to leave me?”

“It’s the only way. I can’t be this close and not want to touch you.”

She reached out and stroked his arm. “Touching is allowed. Mac, I’ve been thinking about you non-stop.”

“I believe you. I’ve obsessed about you too. It’s a trust issue. The bear has already bitten you once. I can’t trust myself. It would be so easy to get carried away, kiss your throat, and bite. Every cell in my body is screaming for me to do it.”

“You mean nip?”

“Andi, I would never harm you. But that second nip, delivered so close to the first one, is a one-way street.”

“To where? Temptation? I say we go there.”

“No, we’d be headed to Bearsville. The second bite will load enough pheromones into your system to cause the physical transformation to begin. You won’t just want to hike the hills. You’ll need to lumber around on all fours—at least part of the time. Andi, you’ll turn into a she-bear.”

“No fucking way!”

“Exactly. I was born a bear, but you would have to volunteer. I would never thrust something as extreme as bear transformation on you no matter how lonely I was.  Force never works. It would be a disaster. For centuries, MacBrun women have always been offered a choice about becoming a bear or not.”

“The MacBruns are all bears—bearserkers?”

“Yes. In 1173 AD, an ancestor of mine had himself and his brothers blessed by an enchantress before going into battle. The blessing was decidedly unchristian and done in secret. The men donned bearskins of the most powerful bulls in the forest and swore a blood oath to Ursulmar, the great northern god of bears.” Mac offered his forearm and pointed at a tattoo. “Do you see the shape that resembles a horseshoe and a claw? That’s the mark of Ursulmar.”

She grazed her fingers over his arm. “There’s so much hair here. I saw the tattoo, but didn’t recognize it.”

“On the battlefield, my ancestors fought like demons possessed. They decimated their foes with ease, but victory came at a high price. In order to fight with the frenzied strength of a bear, we were also compelled to become bears. You see, my ancestors didn’t realize until after the fact that the enchanted bearskins they wore into battle had melded with their souls. It became impossible to be parted from them. Afterward, the MacBrun clan and the bears were forever one.”

“Mac, you look so serious. I have to be frank, you’re scaring me.”

“You should be a little scared. It’s a normal reaction to something most people will never have to cope with. What started as an advantage on the battlefield soon became a liability. Can you image the horror of falling into battle rage and then never being able to get out of it? That’s what happened to my ancestors. As mercenaries, they slogged from one gritty, blood-drenched battle to the next, hiring themselves out to any lord who could pay—wishing battle would kill them before they killed again.”

“That sounds horrible. How did they get themselves under control?”

“They took wives. The same enchantress who cast the spell told them marriage would balance their bearserker spirits. At this point, the MacBrun warriors had accrued much wealth, but they were not welcome in established aristocratic bloodlines. They were still fur-clad, coarse, and half battle-crazed. Instead of facing rejection, they were instructed by the enchantress to choose wives from among women no one else would claim. Impoverished widows, orphans, or the plain girls who walked with a limp topped the list.  Those wives were taken in and cherished. You see, the enchantress who cast the spell knew if the MacBrun men could tone themselves down enough to be gentle with heartbroken women, they would regain control over themselves and their raging inner bears.”

How many times had she wished to be special in someone’s eyes and a boon to their life? Her throat ached from holding back unshed tears. “That is a wonderful story.”

“And it’s all true. Now here I am sitting across from you and scared to death. You’re beautiful, smart, and ambitious and you don’t need me for a single goddamned thing. I’ve even gone too far and done something you might hate me for later.”

“Mac, you haven’t turned me into a bear.”

“Not yet, but I want to. My bite will eventually wear away. You have until the next bear-claw moon to be free. The choice has to be yours. I’d never trick you or use force. That’s why I should leave.”

“Both you and the bear have been gentlemen.”

“If I kiss you or stay here a moment longer, good manners and gentlemanly behavior will go out the window.”

“Were you listening to yourself when you told me the MacBrun legend? You’ve been my hero twice and demanded nothing in return. You’ve treated me with real gentleness too. I’ll be candid with you. On my first trip up the mountain, I felt pretty broken. I’d focused my life on getting ahead with my career and taking care of my mother. The thought of ending up as vulnerable as she was scared the hell out of me. The anxiety left me socially crippled. I don’t really date. As soon as I sense a man is trying to take control of my time and freedom, I shut them down. I wanted to give my mother everything she never had. I did, and it’s over now. This past year, while I sat with my mom during her chemo treatments, as a distraction we’d talk about silly things.” She swayed in the chair. “At the clinic, they seat you in these big padded recliners and hook the patient up to an IV. The process feels like it takes forever. I tried to always go with her and keep her company. Several sessions in, I noticed my mother never mentioned the condo on the beach or the new car I bought her. In her most unguarded moments, she wanted to talk about things I had done when I was a baby, like covering the bathroom floor in talcum powder and using it to draw pictures. Of course, I didn’t remember any of it, but we laughed anyway. Movies we’d seen together came up often, or her fixing my hair into an overelaborate updo for my high school graduation, which required forty bobby pins to keep in place. Stuff like that. During one of those treatments, it hit me hard that if I ever take my turn in the chair, what would I have to talk about that wouldn’t bore someone else to tears?”

He reached out and held her hand. The callused edge of his thumb traced circles on her palm.

Andi looked into his eyes. His lashes were so dense and black they cast shadows on his cheeks. “Mac, I’m pretty sure you and the bear are my story. I doubt life will offer me anything better or more magical than the two of you. For the past ten days, you’re all I’ve thought about. Don’t say it’s simply the pheromones talking, because I choose to call it fate.”

So many conflicting emotions rolled across Mac’s features; she couldn’t decide if he was about to sob or smile. “Mac?”

“Yes?” He sounded rough and unsteady.

“Take me to bed.”

Chapter Eight

A log in the iron stove crackled and split with a
hiss
. She waited in silence while Mac wrung his hands and stalled.

“Andi, I can’t guarantee I’ll be able to control myself.”

“I think you can. It’s time to believe in yourself. As far as I’m concerned, you’ve done everything right.”

“But I could lose it so easily and bite. It wouldn’t take much. The smallest nick will do. You need to understand that you’ll become what I am, and there is no going back.”

In exasperation, she struck the tabletop with her palm. “I couldn’t go back to my old life even if I wanted to. I don’t fit there anymore. My old life ended when I hydroplaned my SUV and drove over the cliff. What I need is a future worth living.” She paused, breathless. “Take me to bed.”

“Don’t think I’m not tempted! Why did you come back so soon, sweetheart? I told you to wait. Don’t make me feel any more guilt than I already do.”

“Do you bite women often?”

“Never.”

“That’s what I thought. Am I someone special?”

The tension melted from his face and his eyes glistened. “Oh, God, yes. More than I ever hoped for.”

“You don’t have to bite me now, do you?”

“Of course I don’t have to bite. I’m just afraid I won’t be able to resist.”

“Earlier this evening, the grizzly had every opportunity to nip me and didn’t. You’re a man—are you less trustworthy than the bear?”

“It’s a huge risk with no plan B if something goes wrong. One nick, and boom, you’re a she-bear.”

“Maybe I’m ready to be a bear.”

“Or maybe you just need to sober up from the pheromone cocktail you’re currently under the influence of before you make such a rash choice.” 

“Mac, if you drag your feet a second longer, I swear, I’m ready to lunge across this table and nip you.” She rose from her chair and walked toward him. Standing in front of Mac, she placed her hand on her hip. “Well, are you going to offer me a seat?”

He slid aside so she could take his chair.

Thrusting her palm against his chest, she brought him to a halt. “I don’t want your chair, I want to sit in your lap.”

A heavy sigh escaped him. “Not a great idea.”

“Indulge me.” She slipped onto his lap and wrapped her arms around his neck. Her weight settled across his muscular thighs and a solid bulge rose in between. Deliberately, she pressed her lush bottom against him. “You can’t deny that part of you is enjoying having me on your lap.”

His heavy arms locked around her waist. “All of me is enjoying being this close.” The tip of his nose grazed her hair. “You smell sweet and feel so soft, but is it wise to tease a growly bear with your gorgeous ass?”

Leaning close, she slowly, lovingly kissed the gritty edge of his jaw, then his forehead, and finally his mouth. As he closed his eyes, his breath stilled. The moment lingered. Andi pressed her lips to his and whispered, “I’m not teasing. I’m offering. I’m telling you the truth when I say I’ve never been this turned on in my life.”

“Andi, we barely know each other, but my instincts are telling me that you’re the one. I’m certain I’ll never find a better match. Just so you know, MacBruns mate for life.”

She glided her fingertips across the silky hair on his chest. “I can’t think that far ahead. Let’s become lovers and take one day at a time.”

“Sounds fair.” Mac scooped an arm beneath her and lifted her against his chest as he rose.

“Whoa!” she squealed, and held on tight.

Taking long steady strides, he walked toward the bed and tossed her gently on the mattress. She bounced and rolled onto her elbow to look up at him with a smile. “You are the only man who’s ever picked me up and carried me like that.”

“I’m happy to be your first.” A broad grin accentuated a dimple in his cheek. His brushy black hair had dried slightly rumpled and wild. Like a redwood toppling, he fell facedown onto the bed beside her, and then drew her into his arms. He stroked a strand of hair from her cheek and gazed into her eyes. “Are we crazy to let things move this fast?”

“Ask me later. I’ve never fallen in lust with a bear before.”

Tangling his hand in her hair, he pulled her close. “Andi.” Warm breath bathed her cheek. His mouth grazed hers in a featherlight stroke. “I’m a lot more than just in lust with you. I’m already in—”

“Hush.” She placed her finger to his lips. “Don’t say it.”

Gently, he drew her fingertip between his lips and sucked. As the heat of his mouth and the pressure increased, a thrill shot through her. Using just the edges of his teeth, he held the finger captive before releasing it with a quiet
pop
. With her hand now freed, she draped her arms around the expanse of his muscular shoulders. “Kiss me.”

His hand slid behind her head to cup her nape. Gathering her hair, he gave it a gentle tug, forcing her to lift her face to his. He held her close. His warm breath flooded her face, but their lips did not touch. Tension built and his muscles coiled as an ember of defiance burned in his eyes. “If I want to say I love you,” his voice was gruff, “I will. You can’t stop me.”

She nuzzled him, loving the light earthy scent of musk on his skin. In an act of willful abandon, she raised her arms above her head and surrendered to him.

In a sweeping rush, Mac’s mouth covered hers. The first kiss was whisper soft, but the next demanded her full attention. His mouth glided against hers as his tongue teased her lips apart. She melted beneath him, sharing his warm breath. He gave the lush cushion of her bottom lip a nip and then sucked the tender flesh between his teeth. The fleeting sting of his bite echoed the silent promise of more to come, and raised gooseflesh on her arms.

Deftly, he plucked several buttons on her pajamas free. Pushing the fabric aside, he bared her full breasts and strawberry-pink nipples. With a husky moan, he thrust the hard bulge in his pants against her thigh. Feral desire roiled in the depths of his eyes. Cupping her breast in his palm, he lifted it to his mouth. His tongue circled the nipple until it glistened and stood taut. Closing his lips around the tip, he sucked a slow, steady rhythm that registered deep in her core.

He unfastened the last button and pushed the pajama top from her shoulders. They lay skin to skin, the hair on his chest tickling her breasts. His hands grazed her waist. Untying the pajama bottoms, he pulled them down her hips, pausing to stroke the soft curves of her thighs. “You’re so luscious, Andi. You were made for me.” He motioned for her to raise her hips, and when she did, he slipped a pillow beneath her and tossed the pajama pants to the floor. She stretched across his bed with her hips arched high.

“I want to taste you,” he whispered, as his hands traced the length of her thighs and parted them.

Hooking a finger in his waistband, she gave it a tug. “Shouldn’t you take those jeans off?”

Grinning from ear to ear, he shook his head. “Once these come off, it’s all over for me.” Gliding his hands down each of her thighs with a featherlight touch, he lowered his face in between. He brushed his nose against her auburn curls and inhaled the distinctly female scent of arousal. “Your scent is so exciting. It’s really doing a number on me.”

He kissed her mons with a featherlight touch. Parting the lips, he gently explored her with his tongue. The first slick stroke ignited her senses like liquid fire. The second tantalized her by traveling in slippery circles until her clit ached. The light grain of Mac’s beard stubble teased her inner thighs as he rocked his head from side to side, bathing every inch of her pussy in wet kisses. The pleasure became so keen, soft, desperate-sounding cries floated free.

It had been far too long since she’d experienced anything close to the sweet ecstasy Mac offered. Without inhibitions, she thrust her hips in his face and begged. “The little spot next to my clit.” She wriggled, almost sliding off the pillow. “Suck it.”

His lips closed around her clit. The gentle pulse of his mouth built to a rhythmic throb that drove her crazy. The blood rushed between her thighs. It became impossible to remain still. She needed to move and rock her hips, but she didn’t want to bump Mac’s nose. Sensing her struggle, he intervened. His hands gripped her hips and held her tight as he swooped down, taking full possession of her.

Once captured, she allowed her mind to drift to every hot and dirty thought she’d ever had, now re-imagined and recast starring Mac. She couldn’t wait for him to fuck her and hoped he’d pump inside her deep and slow while sucking her aching tits.

He smacked his palm playfully against the side of her thigh, making a shocking sound. She leaped in surprise, her eyes wide. He gently penetrated her with a finger and made a coaxing motion that lured her toward the edge. With every nerve on fire, it was all too much. “Come for me, Andi.” A quiet growl rolled deep in his throat.

She shuddered. Her belly clenched. The first ripples of climax swept over her, growing stronger until she thought she might jump out of her skin.

“Mmmm.” He pressed his mouth hard against her. His tongue flicked. The low vibration of his growl sent her pleasure soaring.

As the fleeting moments of bliss carried her away, she melted against the sheets. Too stunned to move, she stared at the ceiling beams, noticing the light cast from the iron stove had dimmed to an orange glow. She reached for his shoulders and tried to haul him onto her, but he proved too heavy to budge. “Mac, you know what I need now. Do I have to beg for that too?”

Pulling away, he sat back on his heels. The ruddy glow of the fire cast half his face in stark shadow. His jawline glistened where it was still wet from her. “Begging is optional. But if you like it, go ahead.” He unfastened the top snap of his jeans and then the next. He stood to finish unbuttoning his pants, and then pushed them down his long legs and kicked them aside.

She allowed herself the luxury of looking at Mac. This time, minus the awed surprise of watching him shift to bear form, she saw how well-made he was. His body possessed the perfect balance between man and bear. Power and strength were on full display.

His gaze traveled the length of her. A wicked gleam shone on his eyes. “What if I lose control and bite?”

She rolled onto all fours and crept toward the edge of the mattress, allowing her breasts to sway. “You are gentle, considerate, and kind, and I am going to suck your cock like a shop vac, and prove that in this bed, you are the master, not the nipping grizzly.”

“You sound confident.” His voice was reduced to a gruff rumble.

“I’m not, but I’m going to do it anyway. Besides, I’m already sold on becoming a bear. It sounds amazing. So bite me. I want it.” She crooked her finger. “Come here.”

Taking a cautious step, he approached her.

Glancing upward, she smiled. “Do you want me sitting or kneeling?”

“Both.” The answer burst forth. “This whole thing is blowing my mind.”

She traced a delicate line around her nipple with her fingertip. “You sound nervous.”

“I am. I’m scared I’m going to bite you, grab hold of your hips, and fuck you too hard.”

“Again, it sounds great.”

“Really?”

“Yes, really. Now that we have your worst fears out of the way, can we have some fun?”

His lips parted in a lingering moment of silence. “I just don’t want you to have regrets.”

“No regrets. I’m in your bed because I belong here.” She reached for his hand and drew him closer. Mac towered beside her. Sitting back on her heels, she gazed up at him. Grasping hold of his shaft, she gave it a playful stroke from tip to base, feeling the heat of it against her palm. His eyes reflected the amber glint from the fire, lending him a slightly savage look. Leaning down, she placed a soft kiss on the glossy crown and then glided her tongue around the rim.

Mac closed his eyes and tilted his face upward. An innocent expression of surrender flooded his features. The heavy muscles of his thighs tensed as he swayed to avoid toppling.

Swishing her hair across his belly, she allowed the silky strands to cover him like a veil. The lemony scent of soap on his skin beside the darker hint of musk inundated her senses. Using tender kisses and the tip of her tongue, she teased his cock, licking the first salty bead of cum from the crown.

He responded with a low grumbling sigh, followed by a big hand gently placed on the back of her head, urging her to take more. Parting her lips wide, Andi swallowed as much as she could, simply holding him in the snug embrace and slowly sucking him deeper in increments. Her lips caressed the shaft and her tongue explored the crown as she barely moved. “Uummm.” The growl vibrated low in her throat.

He pulsed his hips against her mouth, but immediately stopped and withdrew. He slid free of her lips with a juicy
pop.
“Too much.”

“Not enough.” She held on to his shaft, guiding the slick head of his cock to her breast. It met her nipple in a wet kiss. She rubbed his cock in slow circles against her breast. The tip pebbled and flushed rose. “If you want to, come on my tits. I’d love it. Massage it into my skin when you’re finished.”

Conflict burned in his gaze and his jaw tensed. A slight tremor rippled through his thighs, warning he was close to pulling the trigger.