The Steel Bear: A BBW Bear Shifter Romance (Highland Brothers) (5 page)

H
e waited by the fireplace
, creating a circle in front of the hearth. This was fucking insane. He had lost his damn mind. But suddenly things were coming into focus. Things he had never seen before. He kicked himself.

Mila was beautiful. Her body was fucking amazing. She was smart. She could recognize design flaws like a seasoned expert. And she had been in love with him for a year.

He picked up a log and tossed it on the low embers. The fire struggled to weave through the wood. He stoked it with the fire poker.

He would just keep her here long enough to sort things out. He had to know if she really was the one. His bear was anxious to taste and feel her, but he knew things weren’t that simple. He wasn’t about to break a girl’s heart just to satisfy his bear’s primal needs.

He kept a hiking pack in his closet. He jogged up the stairs. Mila’s door was closed.

He pulled the backpack from the shelf. Before he left the room, he stopped in front of his dresser. There was the chance things could get heated quickly like they did last night. He tucked a row of condoms in the bag before heading downstairs to load up on water, power bars, and a few other cabin necessities.

He heard soft footsteps on the staircase and looked up to see Mila fully dressed in the clothes he had given her.

“Nice.” He laughed. They were loose and way too big for her, but she looked cute. Adorable.

“Don’t make fun. I can’t hike in the heels.” She glared.

“Come on. You’ll love it.” He led her through the garage, and into the backyard. They passed the garden and stepped on to the trail.

He stopped after a few minutes to check on her. She was keeping up with his pace. “You doing ok?” he asked.

“Of course.” She grinned. “This is nothing compared to my salsa class.”

“Salsa class?” He held a branch to the side for her to walk past him.

“Yes. Salsa. Thursday nights my friends and I go to salsa class where we learn dance steps, and then usually after class a whole group goes out dancing.”

“Really? I didn’t know you danced. Sounds like fun.”

“It is. And it’s an intense workout. But it’s fun. Energizing.”

He smiled. He pictured her hips swaying to the beat of a salsa drum. Her body moving in rhythm as her bottom rocked to the music. Damn. He swallowed hard. It was the only thing he could think about. God, he needed to know how her body moved.

They were still fifteen minutes from the cabin. Crawford paused by a tree and reached in his backpack for his water bottle. He had packed a second for Mila.

“Water?” he offered.

“Sure.” She accepted the stainless steel bottle and took a sip. A drop slid from her lips and rolled over her chin.

Crawford reached forward, absorbing the droplet on his finger before it trickled along her throat.

Mila’s eyes flashed to his. He could hear her pulse quicken. His bear was tuned in to her every movement.

“We’re almost there.” He cleared his throat. He shoved his bottle in the pack. “It’s just a little farther this way.”

They started on the trail again.

“Have you ever tried salsa?” she asked.

“No. I don’t have much time for anything other than work. We’ve taken on so many projects this year.”

“You must do something outside of the office for fun. Do you have a way to de-stress?”

He almost laughed. “Yeah. You could say I have my outlets.”

He could see the rugged outline of the chimney peeking through the trees.

“Oh wow,” Mila whispered.

“We’re here.”

“It looks like something in an old movie. It’s perfect. I can tell you designed it.”

“You can?” He fished the key from his pocket and unlocked the door. It creaked open.

“Of course I can.” She smiled, stepping past him.

It was a simple cottage. He, Hudson, and Striker wanted a safe house on the property where they could keep an eye on things, be free to transform into their true forms, and escape from the rest of the family when the holidays got too crazy. They deemed it the ultimate man cave.

There was a set of bunk beds lined along one wall, a double bed against the other, and a small sofa in the center of the room. In the corner was a table Crawford had made during college. It had become a permanent fixture.

“Sorry it’s so cold in here.” Crawford noticed Mila was rubbing her arms to keep warm.

“It’s fine. This place is cute.” She looked around. “Small, but cute.”

“I won’t tell my brothers you said that.” He placed the backpack on the table and looked for kindling he had packed. “I’ll get it warm in here in just a second.”

There was a stash of logs in the bin. He stacked them in the fireplace, arranged the bits of kindling, and lit the tendrils with a match. In minutes the kindling had lit the rest of the logs. The cabin began to glow with new warmth.

“How long have you had this place?” Mila sat on the sofa, watching him work.

“We used to camp here in tents when we were kids.” He rose from the floor. “Then as we got older we decided we might as well build something a little more substantial. The three of us did it together.” He knocked on the wall. “It’s solid.”

She unwrapped the flannel shirt from her waist. “Any chance you have a bathroom in this palace?”

“Oh yeah. I added one a few years ago.” He pulled back a pocket door in the wall, to reveal the addition.

“Thanks.” Mila stepped past him. “I think I’m going to change shirts.” She held up the flannel.

“All right. I’ll get the drinks.”

The door slid shut behind her.

Crawford unzipped the backpack and pulled out two beers. If he had brought another bottle of red it might look like he was trying to seduce her. This looked casual, and as much as loved a good wine, he loved a cold beer.

The pack of condoms fell on to the table. He quietly shoved them back in the bag. He didn’t know what he wanted, only the longer he was around her he knew he couldn’t think of anything else. He couldn’t remember another woman he had been with. He forgot he was looking for a she-bear. Hell, he had dreamed about her last night.

He flicked the tops off the beer and sat on the sofa.

He had never brought a woman to the hunting cabin. It wasn’t as if he and his brothers had any rules, but he was fairly certain Mila was the only woman to walk over the threshold. He stared in the flames as the fire roared to life.

In his heart he knew what all this meant. There was a reason Mila showed up on his doorstep. There was a reason his bear awakened when she kissed him. There was a reason he dreamed about her last night. He looked at the bathroom door.

His bear was getting restless.

M
ila fumbled
with the buttons on the flannel shirt. The bathroom was barely wide enough to spin around. There was a standup shower, pedestal sink, and toilet. She should just be grateful the Highland men had installed a bathroom all the way out here. She wondered how they had it plumbed.

She tied the tips of the shirt together in a knot. She had given up on the pajama pants. They were going to hang on her hips, no matter what she did. She would wash everything and return it to Crawford later in the week.

She slid the door back. He was sitting on the couch, holding a beer in her direction.

“Aren’t you a red wine man?” she asked, taking a seat next to him.

“I like cold beer too.” He grinned.

Her stomach did a somersault. His lips were edible and delicious. The way he smiled at her made her forget all the reasons she was supposed to be annoyed with him for rejecting her. Instead, she felt all the emotions of her crush come sweeping back in.

She closed her eyes, sighing. She was never going to get over this man.

“Something wrong?” He leaned toward her.

“No. I’m fine.” She took a sip of the beer, concentrating on the flavor. She needed to focus on something other than his lips.

“It warmed up in here pretty fast.” She noticed how toasty the cottage was from the fire. Crawford had stocked the hearth with plenty of logs.

“Yeah, it’s nice to get out of the chill for a bit.” He stretched an arm around the back of the sofa, grazing her shoulder. “It’s nice we have this place to take a break from the hike.”

“It is.” She knew better, but she looked into the dark pools of her eyes and felt her knees go weak.

“I thought we could talk.”

Her eyes widened. “Talk?” Her head raced.

“Yes. Talk. I think it’s long overdue.”

She wanted to drink the entire beer, but she forced herself to stop after another sip. She might need to be clearheaded for this.

“Ok. What is it?”

His gaze softened, as he turned his body toward her. “I think I’ve been an idiot.”

“What are you talking about?” she whispered.

He traced the side of her face with the back of his hand. The stroke sent a warm shiver through her.

“You, Mila. You’ve been in front of me all this time.” He inched closer.

“Mmmhmm.” She didn’t know where this was headed. Her pulse raced.

“And last night opened my eyes to something I should have seen all along.” His hands cupped her face, drawing her toward his lips.

She could feel the warmth of his breath graze her cheek.

As his mouth crashed against hers she felt sudden heat and fire blaze over her lips and tongue. She groped at his neck, sucking and kissing.

His lips trailed over her throat, nipping behind her ear. His hands were already working the buttons on her shirt, shoving the flannel off her shoulders. Heat blazed between her legs as his lips pressed against her collarbone. Her head reeled back at the sensations.

This was unreal. Crawford was kissing her again. Everything came rushing back. The feel of his arms. The strength in his hands. Her heart was defenseless to his touch.

She opened her eyes when she felt him pull back. He rose from the sofa, and within seconds scooped her in his arms, carrying her with ease. He crossed the room and laid her on the bed. He looked into her eyes, hungry for her.

He kissed her again, twining his tongue deep in her mouth.

His hands canvassed her body, until they landed on her bra. He unfastened it with one click, and peeled the straps from her arms. She looked at him, but he was already licking his lips. He descended to her breast, pulling her nipple with his teeth. She bucked at the sensation, but wanting it, needing it.

“Ohh,” she purred when he squeezed the flesh in his rough hands.

His tongue flicked across her nipple, making it harden to a point he sucked relentlessly. She squirmed under the pressure, loving the sensations searing through her breasts.

“These are magnificent,” he growled. “Fucking amazing.” His teeth clamped on the second nipple and began the delicious torture of the other breast.

She gripped his head, pressing him harder against her chest.

His eyes shot toward her. “What does the rest of you taste like?” His eyebrows waggled.

Before she could protest, he had yanked the loose pajama pants from her hips, revealing her naked flesh.

“No panties again?” he asked.

She nodded, filled with raw want and need. Crawford had undressed her completely. She was lying naked on the cabin bed, the fire roaring near by, and the man she had fallen for begging to be between her legs. Her daydreams didn’t compare to what was happening.

She sighed as he pushed her knees wide.

“You’ve done so much for me,” he whispered. “Let me do this.”

The touch was light at first. His breath blew across her skin warming her, then she felt his fingers massage her opening. She wiggled under the contact, but groaned when his fingers pulled her wider. He ran his tongue between her legs, licking the bud that was pulsing with heated vibrations. Her head thrashed to the side.

“Oh, God,” Crawford growled. “I didn’t know you’d taste so fucking sweet.” His tongue, hot and wet, licked at her entrance before circling over the nub again. He sucked and nipped at it while his fingers moved in and out of her body.

She bucked wildly, the sensations building at her core. The pressure tightening as she felt her orgasm building. He ran his tongue over the nub once more before plunging it deep inside her. Her body arched from the bed, pressing against his face. She clawed at his hair, grinding her hips, widening her knees, desperate to open herself to him.

She felt the vibrations of his growl between her legs. Her eyes widened and she looked down. He was lost in her. Lapping at her juices. Thirsting to taste her. His tongue on a mission to make her feel pleasure, and holy shit it was working.

She gripped the sheets in her fists.

“I’m going to come, Crawford. Please don’t stop. Don’t fucking stop.”

She screamed as he pressed her knees wide to the mattress and forced his tongue as far as it could go into her. The shaking started from the inside as it started to spill through her body, taking the control away from her and handing Crawford the reins.

He sucked hard against her, then rose from the spot between her legs. His hands were on his belt buckle. He worked the jeans over his legs and tossed them on the floor. Mila sat forward to shed the shirt from his chest. Her fingers raked over the ridges of his chest, landing on the waistband on his boxers.

“I need you, Mila.” He pressed her hand against the hard steel between his legs, and he let a groan slip into the air.

She nodded. “I-I’ve wanted you so long. I can’t believe this is happening.” She wanted to hit pause. She wanted to suspend this moment in time. The moment when Crawford Highland took her to his bed and worshipped her body with his hands and mouth.

She lay on the bed, anxious for him.

He stepped out of his boxers and her jaw almost dropped. His cock pulsed with want for her. It was long and hard, rigid and thick. She’d never wanted anything so desperately in her life.

He leaned toward her lips, kissing her slowly. His tongue sliding over her mouth as he settled between her legs. She could feel his shaft pressed against her. She wanted to open for him, pull him deep inside her and keep him there, but Crawford was in control. They were moving at his pace.

She realized he had always been in control. It didn’t matter that she was a smart and independent woman, she had given her heart to him the minute they met. Now she was about to give him her body. She wanted him to know all of it. He had to know before he sank himself deep inside her.

He propped himself on his elbows, staring into her eyes. “I better get a condom.”

She grabbed his wrist. “No.” She stopped him from rolling off her.

“No?” he asked. She saw the lust fill his eyes.

“I need to feel you. All of you,” she whispered. The ache for him was so powerful it had started humming in her veins. “I’m on birth control. You don’t have to worry.”

“But…” he hung his head, keeping his body balanced over her. “It has a completely different meaning.” He kissed her shoulder.

“I know it does.” She had waited to say these words. “I’m in love with you, Crawford. I’ve always been in love with you.”

His lips moved to hers, kissing her deeply. “I should have seen you. I was too focused on the wrong things.”

Her heart fluttered in her chest. The words invaded all her senses. For an entire year she had waited for him to notice her. See her. Laugh with her. Strategize with her. Ask her to dinner. Ask her to stay over. Make love to her.

“That’s why I need all of you like this. Nothing between us,” she explained.

His head dipped toward her breast. His tongue running over her nipple. She perked at the sensation.

“Ohh,” she moaned.

She loved how he sucked her into his mouth. She felt the building in her core tightening again.

“I always thought my mate would be someone like me.” He kissed between her breasts. “But now I see how stupid I was.” His hands ran between her legs, and she opened for him. He grinned. “You’re so wet and ready.”

Her hips rocked forward, and she gasped when he slipped a finger inside her entrance. She wanted his hard cock, but his fingers moved and she couldn’t resist coiling around them.

“Crawford,” she moaned. “I’ve waited so long.” Her head rolled to the side.

He widened her entrance and she wondered if he was helping her prepare for his width. It wouldn’t be easy to take all of him at once, but she wanted to try.

“I know you have. I’m a fucking idiot.” He worked his fingers back and forth, and brought them to his lips. His tongue ran over the tips. “You’re so sweet.” His eyes closed, and Mila groaned when his fingers slid inside her again.

“I want you.” She panted. “I need you. I don’t want to come without you.” She tried to hold off her orgasm. It was beautiful and delicate—constructed from his touches, from his words. Built from the heat of their bodies.

“I want you too, baby.” He kissed her collarbone. “I want to bury myself inside you.” He kissed her throat. “I want to fuck you until sunrise tomorrow.” She moaned at his words. “I want to fill you. I want to know every part of you.”

“What’s stopping you?” she grinned. “I’m yours.”