Gray Back Bad Bear (Gray Back Bears Book 1) (6 page)

Her heart pounded with the realization and, feeling brave, she eased back and pulled his hand to her chest. She wanted him to feel how much he affected her.

There was no hint of disappointment in his eyes as he raked his gaze down her body. With a steadying breath, she pushed down her shorts and swimsuit bottoms. “Be kind,” she pleaded.

Matt turned and sat on the bed, holding her hips at an arm’s length away as he studied her. His gaze had gone hungry and sent a shiver of anticipation up her spine.

“You’re the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen.”

His voice rang with such honesty, her muscles relaxed and she slumped forward. “I was scared—”

“Don’t,” he said, eyes trapping her with that silvery glow. “Don’t ever be afraid around me. You’re perfect, Willa.”

Running her hands through the sides of his hair, she stepped closer to him, settling in between his legs. With him sitting down, she was almost eye level with him. “You gonna kiss me or what?”

His response was instantaneous. Hand on her neck, thumb on her cheek, he leaned up, then sipped her lips with his. Her insides caught fire, and a helpless moan worked up her throat. Encased between his powerful legs, his hand so gentle on her face, Willa felt safe.

She’d been right to wait for Matt.

His jaw worked as he brushed his tongue against hers, and she smiled into the kiss. She would never get tired of this connection with him. Right on the verge of reading his thoughts, being able to finish his sentences, being on the exact same page with another living being—Matt had breathed new life into her.

Desperate to be closer, to feel the warmth pulsing from his skin, she straddled his lap, his erection pressed between her slowly soaking folds. Matt shuddered, his shoulders shaking with the remnants, and he pulled her harder against him, rolling his hips as he did.

His lips trailed down her jaw to her neck as he rocked against her again.

He was hitting right where she was most sensitive. It would be so easy to come like this. Damn, she was already close, but she wanted more. “Matt?”

A soft growl was the only answer.

“I did some research,” she said breathily. “On Cora Wright’s Web site, it said you don’t get human sicknesses.”

He nipped her collar bone and eased back to look at her, a slight frown marring his face. “No, I don’t get sick. What are you really asking?”

“I’m on the pill.”

He gripped her arms and searched her eyes, confusion swimming in the churning silver depths of his own. “I’ve always used a condom before.”

“Good. I want to be the first you don’t use one with.”

His chest was heaving now as he shook his head slowly back and forth. “Willa, are you sure?”

She nodded and smiled. “I’m sure.”

He spun her around and settled her back against the mattress, one hand strong on the leg she’d curled around his back. “Okay.”

He reached between her legs and eased his finger inside of her, drawing another moan from her as his hand pressed softly against her clit. His finger made a wet sound as he pulled it out, and he smiled. “Who’s sensitive now?”

Unable to answer, she bowed back against the comforter as he added a second finger and slid into her again, slower this time.

His breath hitched. “So wet,” he murmured, pulling out of her.

The head of his cock brushed her, turning her insides to lava. Oh, he felt so good right there, barely in her. Rocking his hips, he pushed inside of her an inch, then eased out. Willa ran her hands down his flexed triceps. He was trying to keep his weight off her, sweet bear.

“Come here,” she whispered.

Matt eased over her, up on his elbows now as he stroked her hair from her face. He kissed her slowly, tasting her, exploring her mouth as he pushed into her again, deeper this time. It burned and stretched.

“Relax your legs,” he whispered against her lips.

Concentrating, she relaxed her muscles and pulled her leg up against his side, creating a better angle.

His abs flexed against her belly as he drove into her deeper, stretching her more. The small discomfort was nothing compared to the pleasure. His back flexed under her fingertips as he bucked into her slowly time and time again, deeper and deeper until he brushed her clit.

“Matt,” she said on a sigh.

“Does it hurt too bad?” he asked.

“No. You feel good inside of me.”

A breathtaking smile took his face as he wrapped his arm under her hips and pushed deeply into her again.

“Oooh,” she drawled out, mesmerized at how something someone else was doing could feel so good.

He brushed his tongue against hers, his muscles contracting each time he was buried deeply within her, as if his control was slipping.

“Willa,” he rasped out, pumping into her faster. “God, I can’t stop anymore. I can’t—”

“Shh, then don’t. I don’t want you to. Ah!” She closed her eyes against the pressure building inside of her. The pleasure was so intense with each stroke, she couldn’t form thoughts anymore. Couldn’t do anything other than absorb each sensual blow.

Matt stroked into her faster and faster, holding her so tightly against him. A growl ripped through his chest and brought her closer to the edge.

Matt closed his eyes tightly, but opened them again, silver, churning, his animal right there, looking at her like she was everything good in his world. His breath shaking, muscles twitching, riding her harder, and she didn’t care about the sting of pain in her middle. Not when it felt this good to be with him.

The growl settled in his chest, and he yelled out just as a pulsing orgasm exploded through her. A shot of wet heat filled her, and then another as Matt gritted out her name. She met his hips, crashing together as release filled them both.

Matt slowed, breathing hard, but his eyes on her—always on her. “Are you okay?”

Another aftershock pulsed through her, and she giggled, feeling high as a kite. “Better than okay.” Was she sore? Yes, but that didn’t take away from the beauty of this moment with the man she was falling hopelessly in love with.

She dragged kisses across a long scar near his collar bone, then nuzzled her face against him. “You did good, Griz. I knew you could be gentle.”

Matt chuckled and eased out of her. A gush of warmth pulsed from between her legs.

“Shit,” he said, startled. “You’re bleeding. Not a lot, but I can smell iron.”

She sat up as he looked down between them where they’d been connected. “Stay here.” His voice had gone hard.

Had she done something wrong? Maybe she hadn’t been as good at this as she’d felt a minute ago. Her confidence plunged as Matt disappeared into a small bathroom. The sound of the tap was loud in the sudden silence. It seemed to run forever before Matt turned it off and returned. He held a gray washrag, and when he pressed it between her legs, it was warm and comforting.

“I’m so sorry,” he murmured in a broken voice.

“Hey.” She cupped his cheek and pulled his attention to her. “I’m not sorry. That was always going to happen. Especially the first time.”

His nostrils flared as he inhaled, then let out a long breath. “I thought I hurt you.”

Stunned, she whispered, “I’m not a virgin anymore.” A smile stretched her face. “It feels so weird. I’ve been waiting and wondering what it would be like for so long.”

“And?” he asked, pulling the washrag gently across her sex again.

“And it was more amazing that I could’ve ever imagined.”

Matt huffed a relieved sigh and kissed the nub of her oversensitive clit gently before he crawled up on the bed beside her. Curling his body around hers, he brushed his lips onto the back of her neck and said, “I’m glad you waited for me.”

Willa smiled at the cream-colored wall of his room as happiness flooded her. Pulling at the edge of the comforter, she threw it over their legs and snuggled back against Matt. Her Matt.

All safe and warm and his, she whispered, “Me, too.”

“No!” Matt yelled, rocketing out of bed.

Willa’s heart pounded against her ribcage as she sat straight up and squinted her eyes against the darkness. “What is it? Matt, what’s wrong?”

He was crouched in the corner of his room, encased in shadows, the moonlight streaming through the window, illuminating his eyes and making them glow. His breath was loud, ragged, and the look on his face terrifying.

“It was a dream,” he rasped out. “Only a dream. You’re okay. Are you okay?”

“Yes, babe, come here. I’m okay.”

Matt slunk to the bed, his gait uneven and hitched, as if his bear was still wary of danger. She pulled him down against her. “Tell me the dream.”

“It doesn’t matter.”

“My mom always told me that when you have a bad dream, you should tell someone so it won’t come true.”

Matt’s skin was clammy and cold under her hand, and she rubbed his back over and over to work warmth back into him.

He swallowed audibly in the dark. “You were in the Menagerie with me and Cassie, and Reynolds was taking you away to the tissue sample room.”

“What’s the Menagerie? And who is Reynolds?”

“And I was beating on the window, screaming for them to bring you back to me, but they dragged you into the room, and I couldn’t see you anymore. And then I heard you screaming. Pain. I couldn’t Change to save you. My sister and I beat on the window until our fists were bloody and the glass finally broke, but your screams had already died to nothing. I threw open the door, but it wasn’t the tissue sample room anymore. It was woods. Piney woods. Hot. Sun shining through the canopy. And you were laying on this bloody, ripped up mattress, and I thought you were dead. So much blood. But you opened your eyes and…and…”

“Finish it fast,” she said, so scared she couldn’t move.

“And your eyes were silver, like mine.”

“It was just a dream, Matt. Only a dream,” she chanted to calm him as much as herself. She’d had nightmares before, but never about someone she cared about being hurt. “What’s the Menagerie?” she asked again, quieter this time.

“Don’t want to talk no more,” he said in a gravelly deep voice she didn’t recognize. His eyes blazed in the moonlight as he pulled her ankles to the end of the bed.

“Okay,” she whispered, spreading her bare legs. “Do you need me?”

“Too soon. You’ll hurt.” His fingers were frantic as he worked the panties she’d put on after dinner down her legs.

“Then what do you—” Oooh.

He plunged his tongue into her, lapping, his fingers digging into her hips as she arched back against the bed. She gripped his hair when he slowed down and rolled her hips with each stroke. Easing out of her, he sucked gently on her clit. A soft growl rattled between her legs, and she cried out his name at how good it felt. Tongue in her again, Matt gripped her ass and pulled her closer.

This time, she wasn’t sore at all. There was no pinch of pain, no reservation. Only pleasure. Matt ate her as if he’d known her body for years. Kissing, thrusting, drawing her closer to orgasm with every deep, lapping lick.

“Oh my gosh,” she cried out, louder than she’d intended, but fuck it all, this was awesome. Release pounded through her, and before her aftershocks were even done, he leapt up on the bed and straddled her hips, stroking his long shaft hard and fast.

Desperate to feel his completion in some form, she pulled her sleepshirt over her head just as he leaned forward on the balls of his feet and groaned. Hot, creamy jets shot from the swollen head of his cock, and she gripped his tensed legs as he showered her breasts and stomach. Holy shit, this was hot—sexy Matt, coming on her skin like he was marking his territory.

Warmth wept down her ribs and onto the comforter, but she didn’t care about keeping his bed clean. She cared that his muscles were relaxing and the effects of that awful nightmare were being washed away from him.

With a groan, he lay down beside her and cuddled her close. He released a sigh against her hair and trailed his fingers up and down the curve of her waist. Her sexy bear shifter, taken with lust for her, but caring enough to make sure she knew she was adored afterward.

Willa hugged him tight and pressed her knee in between his, thankful he was okay.

“Sleep,” he urged. “I won’t let anything happen to you.”

The last words he’d spoken like a promise to himself.

His mate was a sound sleeper. The smell of bacon and the sound of the sizzling skillet hadn’t woken her, and the glass he’d dropped on the counter and nearly broken hadn’t stirred her either.

A wave of cocky pride washed over him, and he allowed a private smile. Hell yeah, she was sleeping like a stone. He’d rocked her world last night. No. He frowned down at the orange juice he was pouring. Last night hadn’t been like anything he’d done with any other girl. It wasn’t some wild night for the brag book. Sex with Willa had changed everything.

Last night was the first time his bear had ever gotten the urge to claim a woman. He’d have to keep sex with her to missionary position since going at her from behind was going to make it really hard for him not to sink his teeth into her neck and Turn her. She was his mate. Had been since the first time he’d seen her, but Willa was human and was going to stay that way.

If he told her how devoted he was to her already, it would scare her. Hell, it scared him.

All right—bacon, eggs, toast with a little bowl of strawberry jam, and orange juice. This was the first time he’d ever made a woman breakfast in bed, and once again, as he often was around Willa, he found himself nervous. Her opinion meant the world. More than Kong’s or Creed’s or Cassie’s even.

Willa didn’t know it yet, but she toted the power to destroy him.

He padded into his bedroom with the tray of breakfast. He wore only a pair of low slung sweat pants. For the first time ever, he didn’t care that his scars were on display in front of a woman. She’d seemed disappointed when he’d put on a shirt to sleep in last night when they’d crawled into bed together, so he’d pulled it off and let her run her fingers absently over his uneven skin as she drifted off to sleep.

When he saw her face in the early morning light, he stopped short, almost toppling the glass of juice. A couple of strands of her bright red hair had fallen over her face as she hugged the pillow next to her, but not even that could hide how beautiful she was.

He smiled at her death grip on the pillow. She was a cuddler. He’d learned that last night when she moved with him every time he rolled over or moved his leg. He was usually restless in his sleep, but last night hadn’t been so bad. She chased away his ghosts, and after the nightmare, she’d given him peace.

He wasn’t into cuddling in general, but it was different with Willa. Holding her settled his restless animal.

Outside, Creed whistled an ear-splitting sound. Ten minutes until it was time to load into their trucks and head up the mountain road to the new jobsite the big boss-man, Damon Daye, had assigned them.

God, he was going to miss Willa.

Creed gave a second whistle. That one was for Clinton, who never woke up on time.

Willa opened her eyes a crack and stretched with the cutest fucking squeak he’d ever heard.

“I made you breakfast.” It was the least he could do after coming to her needy and barely in control after that nightmare.

Willa sat up, hair ruffled with a big old grin stretching her face. “That’s the nicest thing anyone has ever done for me. I feel like I’m in a romantic movie.”

He chuckled and set the tray on the table. He was pretty sure no one would ever make a movie that involved bear shifters.

“How long do you have before work?” she asked.

“Creed just gave the ten minute warning. I don’t want to leave you, but we have to make up for bad timber numbers yesterday. Easton picked a fight and cut our day short.”

“Is that why you were all torn up when I met you at the falls yesterday?”

“Yeah. It’s Gray Back tradition.”

“What is?”

“To fight like hell and make everything more difficult than it has to be.”

She laughed, but she wouldn’t if she knew how serious he was being. Gray Backs probably bled more than any other crew.

“Okay, give me a minute.” Willa slid off the bed and jogged for the bathroom.

She beamed at him just before she closed the door. What was she doing?

The tap turned on, and he could hear the rhythmic brushing of her teeth. “Your juice is going to taste nasty now,” he called through the door.

By the time she finished in the bathroom, he had about five minutes before Creed came busting down his door.

She threw open the bathroom door and ran for him, then leapt into his arms with a giggle. Knuckles on her forehead, she arched back and said, “Take me, sexy grizzly man.”

“Take you? Woman, I have five minutes max, and I imagine you’re sore as hell this morning. Bad idea.”

“Or awesome idea. Five minute challenge. Stop telling me no.” She pulled at the elastic waist of his sweats. “This is going to happen. I will be driving all over creation today trying to keep busy while you work, and this has to tide me over until I get to see you again. And besides, I’m not that sore. Come on, man. You’re wasting seconds.”

With a growl, he gave in and laid her on the edge of the bed, then tore through her panties with a satisfying
riiip
.

“Matt! Those are my favorite—”

He kissed her hard, swallowing the rest of her complaint. She tasted like Willa and cool mint, and when that sexy moan she did so well sounded, he plunged his finger into her to make sure she was ready. She was. His mate got wet on a dime for him, and pride surged through him that he’d found someone so perfect for him. God, he was hard. Harder than hard, he was already throbbing, as if he was ready to come just thinking about her wet pussy.

He slid into her halfway. Damn, she was tight. Tight and wet and perfect. Easing out, he reveled in the little pleading sound she gave him. Fuck, he couldn’t get enough of her. He slid into her until she gasped when he hit her just right. Another stroke, and he was losing control. Bear snarling through him, he bucked into her again. Trying to keep from hurting her, he gripped the comforter and set his teeth against her neck, grazing her but not biting down. Never biting down. He wouldn’t Turn her. Wouldn’t ruin Willa’s life.

“Do it,” she said.

“What?”

“Bite me.” Her voice came out desperate, husky as her hips moved against his.

“You don’t know what that means.”

“I do so. Claim me.”

Shit. Focus. So close. Gonna blow…

He slammed into her faster, and she met him stroke for stroke. He could hear them now, skin slapping together, the slick sound of his dick sliding in and out of her. So tight. All of his nerve endings were having a fucking holiday. God, oh God.

“Fuck,” he gritted out as he blew his load into her.

She yelled as she clamped down around him in quick pulses. Yes, that was his girl. Coming for him fast and hard. His hips jerked as he shot into her a few more times, emptying himself completely.

“Let’s load up!” Creed yelled outside.

Matt kissed Willa, lapping his tongue against hers just to taste his mate. Her eyes had gone hazy. “Stay as long as you want.”
Stay your whole life if you want.
“I have to go. I’ll be home around seven if you want to come back here. Or I can meet you in town.”

“Here. I’ll meet you here,” she murmured in a dreamy voice.

He nibbled her lip and slid out of her slowly. There was that scent of iron in the air again. She was bleeding. He couldn’t wait until she was totally healed and could take his size without pain or damage. That right there was a big part of the reason he hadn’t ever slept with a virgin. But Willa wasn’t just any virgin. She was his. His Willa, his woman, his mate.

Matt dressed in a rush, conscious of her eyes on him the entire time. He kissed her quick, and said, “I can’t wait to see you tonight,” then ran for the door. He threw it open just as Creed was jogging up his porch steps looking pissed.

“I’m coming.”

“From what I heard, you already came. What the fuck did I tell you about potential mates in the trailer park, Barns?”

Okay, Creed was irate. As he should be. There was no more denying Willa was a potential mate. She was the one. Fuck, Creed was going to hurt him today.

“Ream me out on the landing. I don’t want Willa to hear,” he pleaded low.

“I’m not going to ream you out, Barns. I’m going to bleed you for disobeying my orders.” Creed spun around and strode for his truck where Clinton was hanging out the window pointing and silently laughing, the prick.

“Get the fuck out of my ride,” Creed yelled at Clinton. “Go ride with Easton.”

“Aw, man,” Clinton said. “I don’t want to ride with Easton. He’s weird and will probably drive us off a cliff just for funsies.”

Creed stopped in his tracks. “Why does everyone think that whatever I say is a suggestion? That’s a fuckin’ order, Clinton. I swear to God…” Creed kept muttering, but Matt couldn’t hear what he was saying under his breath anymore as he stomped around the back of his truck. “Get in, Matt!”

“This is your fault,” Clinton said, kicking a rock as he sauntered toward Easton’s truck.

Easton stood leaned against his old beat-up Ford, green eyes dancing as he gave Clinton a predatory grin.

Aw, shit, Matt did feel bad now. Today was going to suck for everyone. Everyone except Jason, who had the day off and was enjoying the show from his front porch with a big old grin on his face as he blew on a mug cupped in his hands. He was also incredibly naked, as he always enjoyed his coffee in the mornings, dick out for all to see.

Fuck it all, Creed was right. A woman didn’t belong up here.

His inner bear snarled his disagreement.

Sack lunch in hand, Matt slid into the passenger’s seat of Creed’s truck and slammed the door beside him.

“You need to cut that snarly shit out, Matt.”

Matt swallowed hard and forced the sound in his throat to stop.

Creed jammed the key, and the engine roared to life. “Who is she?”

“You met her yesterday. Her name’s Willamena Madden. She just graduated college, and she’s here on vacation.”

“No, dipshit. Who is she to you?”

The truck lurched forward as Creed slammed his foot on the gas.

Matt rolled down the window to ease the electricity that snapped from Creed’s skin toward him. His alpha’s bear was a gnarly beast to mess with, and Matt was practically pulling the damned thing’s stump tail just by breathing right now.

“She’s the one.”

Creed shot him a look. Eyes round, mouth hanging open—that kind of look. Matt’s lip lifted in a snarl, and he looked out through the woods that were passing in a blur.

“Have you lost your mind? She’s human, Matt. I’ve already forbade you all from Turning anyone, and there’s a reason for that.”

“I’m not Turning her, Creed. I wouldn’t do that to her.”

“Then what’s the plan, man? Cause I have to tell you, I don’t see this working out for any of us.”

“The Ashe Crew has human mates—”

“The Ashe Crew is the A team, Matt! We’re the fucking C team. You know why? Because our dumbasses went and recruited all the problem bears.”

“For a reason.”

“Doesn’t matter what our reasons were, Matt. The only way this works is if we don’t complicate our lives up here. Women complicate things. Mates complicate things. Humans complicate things. Willamena Madden is a fucking time bomb.” Creed ran his hand roughly over his black hair and spat out the open window. “She can’t stay here. I’m not going back on my orders.”

“Her place is with me if she wants it.”

“Yeah? And what am I supposed to do with that? Can you even imagine Clinton or Jason thinking ‘Aw, Matt found a mate. That looks fun. I think I’ll go find one?’ What about Easton? Do you want to unleash Easton on Saratoga looking for a woman to bring back to the trailer park because you have someone to fuck, and he wants that, too? Our crew would singlehandedly traumatize all the women within a hundred mile radius. It’s not just fun and games, Matt. Not when we have bears like him to manage.”

“Creed, stop. Willa’s here for a week on vacation. I don’t even know if she’ll stay for me. You could be freaking out over nothing.”

Creed’s voice went hard as steel and deadly low. “Or it could be the worst thing to ever happen to our crew.”

“Yeah, well what do you want me to do? I’ve been searching for a mate for years, and she’s finally found me. I’m finally feeling in control of my future, and one of my best friends is giving me shit over it. You could’ve said ‘Congrats man, I know you’ve been through hell, and you deserve some peace.’ You could’ve! Instead, you’re up my ass about how I’ve ruined everyone’s life by finding someone who can settle me. I love her, Creed. I fucking love her. Let that sink in. I actually have enough feeling left in me after all the shit I went through to love something.”

Creed slammed his hand against the steering wheel and let out a string of cuss words Matt had never heard put together before.

Let his alpha curse his name. It didn’t change the way Matt felt about Willa.

Creed turned onto a switchback and accelerated on the straightaway. They’d be at the landing soon, and his alpha had stopped talking completely. Instead, he seemed lost in thought as he rubbed his two day stubble absently. “What am I supposed to do here, Matt?” It was the first time Creed had sounded uncertain since he’d claimed his alpha rank over the Gray Backs.