Snowbound With The Bear (Bear Creek Clan 4) (6 page)

“I thought you wanted to sleep,” she teased, pressing her hand against his cock. Yes, just as she imagined. He was hard and she wanted to make love to him so that when he closed his eyes, all he could see, all he could think about, was his mate.

“I have slept enough in the past centuries, I’m sure a few late nights, with the right stimulation, would be good for me.”

“Stimulation...” She ran her hand up and down his length. “What kind of stimulation did you have in mind?”

He groaned against her, pressing himself into her hand. Then he broke away and before she knew what he was doing, he bent down and picked her up. It was the first time she had been carried like this since she was a child. His actions made her feel protected and safe as she rested her head on his shoulder.

Fiona didn’t need to ask where he was taking her. There was only one place they both needed to be. Hal nudged the door open with his hip and placed her down on the bed. She shuffled around to sit on the edge, her hands going to his pants, where she wrestled with his belt. For some reason, her fingers had become uncooperative, fumbling with his buckle when she tried to undo his pants. At last, she managed it, pushing his pants down over his thighs until they dropped to the floor.

Swallowing nervously, she touched his exposed cock with trembling hands. So big, so hard, she took him in her mouth, rolling her tongue over the head until he swayed on his feet, overwhelmed by her touch. Encouraged, she moved her head lower, his cock disappearing into her warm mouth. Hal fisted her hair, folding her in place while he moved his hips, her lips sliding along his cock while she sucked.

“Fuck,” he said, and when she looked up, he had his eyes fixed on the top of her head. Spurring her on, she placed her hand under his balls and squeezed them while her mouth worked him into a frenzy. She tasted the first drop of his pre-come, feeling nervous. What if she couldn’t swallow his seed when he came? Would she gag, making a fool of herself?

But he didn’t let it go that far. “I want to come inside you.”

She let him slide out of her mouth and she couldn't deny him, her sex ached to be filled by him. Leaning over her, he placed his hand under the small of her back and lifted her so that she lay fully on the bed. His lips met hers and he kissed her, his hand brushing the side of her cheek. When he pulled back, his eyes caught hers and the depth of emotion there made her heart ache. He loved her. Maybe it was just the bond between them, something out of his control, but when she looked inside herself, she found that his eyes mirrored the feelings welling up inside her.

She placed her hand on his cheek, her thumb rubbing his lips, and then she gently kissed him, before voicing their emotions. “I love you,” she said simply.

His mouth was insistent on hers, his cock pressed against her sex and he showed her with his body what his voice could not express. He took her hard, pushing deep inside her before pulling back out. When he buried himself inside her again, he lay still, unmoving, in her for several moments. She hardly breathed as she felt her sex contract around him and hold him in place. Her inner muscles straining against the invasion.

When he moved again it was slowly, leisurely. He made love to her as though they had all the time in the world. It made her feel as though the heavens could move above them but their love would always remain the same. Steadfast. He didn’t need words, but she understood him all the same. They were one now. Together through whatever might come their way.

His body covered hers, her senses consumed by the touch of him. Slowly, he brought her to the brink of her climax and then sent her over the edge. But he didn’t let her fall alone; he went with her, holding her against him while he cried out, a sound akin to pain.

He hid his face from her, covering his emotions. She kissed his neck and stroked his back, reassuring him. For a man so big and strong, he was insecure in himself. The years spent alone, leaving him at odds with this newfound bond, which tied him to her. She only hoped, with time, he would have the confidence to leave his mountain. Not forever, in fact she liked the idea of living up here with him. Yet there was so much more to life. His friends and family, the people who had helped him so long ago... Did they miss him? Of course they must.

Tears came to her eyes. She thought of her own family and her throat constricted at the thought of never seeing them again. But she couldn’t draw them into a battle with Kurt. She didn’t want anyone hurt, which was why she had run. It was better for them to have broken hearts, perhaps thinking she had run away without saying goodbye, than for them to end up with broken bodies from fighting for her.

“Are you OK?” he asked.

“Yes,” she whispered.

“I’m sorry if I hurt you.”

“No,” she said kissing his lips. “It was perfect. I just hope I’ll be able to see my family again one day.”

“You will, Fiona. Even if I have to fight fifty wolves to make it happen. Let’s wait out the storm and then go down to Bear Creek. Brad, the sheriff, is my good friend. He’ll get a message to them or something. It’ll be OK.”

“I’m so grateful you found me. And I don't mean just because I found my mate. I’m lucky you are so kind and understanding. And loyal.”

“You don’t know me, Fiona.”

“I know enough.”

She had slept in his arms all night. He couldn’t imagine her not being there now. It was as if she was the thing that he had been missing all of his life. She completed him and he only hoped she felt the same way about him. Together they would take on this cousin of hers, no one, no wolf, would ever come between them, or hurt her. He would tear his head off...

These thoughts worried him. His temper had raged over his sister getting hurt: What would it be like if he was protecting his mate? He hoped they would never find out. However, he wasn’t sure she would be content to stay up here all of her life, not when she had family in Wolf Valley.

He stretched and she stirred next to him. “Morning,” he said. “I think the storm has passed, it’s lighter today and the wind has dropped. I’m going to go out and retrieve that pack. At least then we won’t run out of coffee. There is no accounting for my moods if I don’t have caffeine.”

“OK. Give me half an hour and I’ll be ready.”

“Wait. I thought you would stay here.”

“You did?” She sat up, holding the covers against her breasts. “I am going to come and help you.”

“I can do it myself.”

“I daresay you can. But it’s safer out there if two of us go. If you get into trouble, I can help.”

“Fiona, please stay here where it’s safe.”

She kissed him on the cheek and then headed out of the room. “The way I see it, I’m safe where you are.” Just before she disappeared she poked her head back in and said, “And you are safe where I am. I’m capable of looking after myself.”

Hal sat up, looked at her pointedly and said, “Aren’t you the silver wolf I picked up off the mountain before you froze to death?”

“That’s unfair.” She came back to him, and wrapped her arms around his neck. “There were four of them. And I’m scared in case they are out there still. What if you disappeared and I never knew where or why. I can look after myself.”

He rested his head on her chest, her heartbeat loud in his ears. “I would never forgive myself if anything happened to you.”

“You don’t think that’s how I feel about you? If you were attacked, it would be because of me. Please don’t fight me on this.”

He sighed. “I can see I would lose if I did.”

She smiled down at him. “You learn fast.”

“I can see my life is never going to be the same. As the man, I thought I was supposed to be sole protector.”

“Maybe if your mate was a human, but not when she’s a wolf. I’m sorry.”

“I’m not.”

She smiled brightly. “Thank you. I’ve been on my own so long I’ve got used to fending for myself. I don’t think I could settle down and be the little housewife.”

He chuckled. “I could chain you to the kitchen. Make you cook and wash for me.”

“I have claws, you know.”

“Mine are bigger.”

“But I am so much faster than a lumbering old bear.”

“Go and get dressed, little silver wolf, or we won’t ever get out of this cabin. This lumbering old bear is in the mood for dragging you back to bed so I can teach you who’s boss.”

She pulled away from him. “I can see I’m going to have to train you, big bear.”

She was out of the room before he was out of the bed. His cock was hard and he wouldn’t have been responsible for his actions if he had caught her. He was in the mood to bend her over a chair and fuck her long and hard. But they needed to get the pack; so, instead, he pulled on some warm clothes.

This time he was going to be prepared, in case he had to change back into his human form. He would need to check Fiona was wrapped up, too. He hated to admit it, but it would be easier if she came along. That way she could help put the pack on his back. It would be so much easier to carry it back here that way than dragging it in his human form.

He only hoped they didn’t get into difficulties. The storm might have abated, but the snow would have drifted and the temperatures would be bitterly cold.

“I can hardly move.”

“Believe me; you’ll be glad of those clothes. When we reach the pack I’ll show you quickly how to fit it on me, and then we’ll come straight back here. Hopefully, it should take an hour at the most.”

“No problem. Let’s get this done and be back inside before my paws freeze.”

“Anything goes wrong, follow the tracks back here.”

“What can go wrong?”

His face dropped and he looked so serious a shudder passed through her. “The mountain can kill, Fiona. Never forget that.”

She sighed. “Let’s go.”

He pulled the door open; a blast of Arctic air hit them. She went first, changing into her other form as she leaped into the snow. Behind her, she heard the door slam and then felt the prickle of electricity flowing across her fur as he changed. Then they began the hard trek down the mountain.

At first, she went on ahead. Then, because she had no idea where they were heading and because it was easier to follow in his footprints, Hal moved into the lead. Fiona walked in his wake, her footsteps, lighter than his, following his exactly. It made the going much easier for her, but she could see how much of a strain it was for Hal. His big bear feet flattening the snow and then his short strong legs powering him forward.

Once or twice, he floundered into a deep pocket of snow, but on the whole, he knew where to walk and where to avoid. She had to admire his complete knowledge of this mountain he had roamed for so long. Faithfully she followed him, completely confident that he would get them to the pack and home safely.

But the temperature was freezing; her paws were so cold they were numb. She wondered if wolves ever got frostbite, but doggedly she ploughed on. Then he stopped and sniffed the air, looking around. She waited patiently, sniffing the air too. But she couldn’t smell anything other than the cold air. It was cleansing to her mind and spirit.

Hal put his head down and moved forward, then began digging in the snow. She joined him, although she did it to keep warm rather than because she had any idea where the pack would be. She watched him work methodically. He dug deep and then stuck his short snout into the snow, before moving and digging again. He knew exactly what he was doing. Whereas, she felt like a complete amateur. But if effort counted, then she was doing as good a job as he was.

However, it was Hal who found it. He dug down, sniffed and then pulled back to dig deeper. He eventually found the pack about a foot under the snow. It made Fiona shiver to think that would be her body if he hadn't found her. She would have been buried without all trace.

Now he had the strap in his hand and he was pulling it with all his might. She went to him and joined him, dragging it out of the snow and onto firm ground. Once it was completely uncovered, he stood looking at her, then looking around, and sniffing the air.

After several minutes he seemed satisfied, the air crackled, and she watched him change back into his human form. At the point he disappeared, she felt the loss of him leaving this world, but then a surge of relief when he stood there as a man in front of her.

Now it was her turn. For some reason, she felt as self-conscious now, when she was about to change in front of him, as when he had first seen her naked. She tried to imagine herself in her human form, but it evaded her.

Her heart beat rapidly. Was this a residue of confusion from when she had spent so long unconscious as a wolf? She panicked. Then she felt Hal’s hand on her fur, making her shiver as his fingers ran through her silver coat and she calmed herself down. Looking up at him, she saw him smile and knew it didn’t matter if she messed up. He would never judge her. He had made his own mistakes and understood that no one was perfect.

Breathing in the cold air, she kept her breathing steady and held her human form in her mind. The build-up of electricity in the air crackled and sparked; she saw it reflecting off the snow before the bright white world swam away from her. Then there was nothing before she came back into the cold, snowy world, her eyes connecting with his as her human form appeared before him.

“It’s cold” was all he said, then he turned to the pack and turned it over. She went to help him. He was right, it was freezing and they needed to do this as quickly as they could.

“What do you need me to do?”

He turned the pack, spreading the straps out. “I’m going to put these around my arms. Then I’ll change, the pack should be easy for me to shrug on, then you need to tighten up the straps.”

“OK. How the hell do you manage this alone?”

“When it’s empty I drag it behind me, so going down is easy, but I couldn’t drag it back up. When I go into town, I buy what I need and take it back to a friend’s farm. We pack it in here and then he helps me put it on.”

“Cool. OK. I can do this.”