Wedding Bear: BBW Bear Shifter Paranormal Romance (Enforcer Bears Book 3) (13 page)

Slowly, she drew off the blindfold. His eyes were watching her, alight with passion. With a smile she touched his cheek before she drew him into another kiss.

“Come on,” she whispered against his lips. “I want more of you. I want everything.”

“Everything I have to give is yours, my mate,” he said, his voice turning into a growl once more.

He moved over her, his gaze still holding hers. The brown of his eyes had turned to gold once more. It was as if she was looking right into his heart: she saw the brown of rugged tree trunks, the gold of amber, the power of something ancient and wild.

But he was not a feral beast. He was her Kayden, her mate—and everything that was still wild and dangerous in him would only ever rise up to protect her.

When he slid inside her, she gasped his name, her thighs coming up to clench around his hips in encouragement. He filled her with thrust after thrust, her inner walls clutching at him as he drove her crazy with the powerful rhythm. His gaze was still holding her own, the beautiful brown so dark with desire it seemed nearly black.

She drew her hands up his arms to his shoulders, feeling the strain of corded muscles and tendons beneath her fingers. Lightly, she dug her nails into his skin in encouragement, and he gave her another little growl. His thrusts sped up. Every motion of him inside her sent little ripples of mind-melting heat through her.

And then he tensed. All the muscles in his body seemed to tighten. His thrusts sped up as he groaned, burying his face against her shoulder. Together they cried out, completely one as their climax came crashing through them.

Dimly, Sidney felt the pressure of his teeth and the heat of his mouth. It didn’t hurt—he was biting her in his passion, but it didn’t hurt at all. Instead, she seemed to float away on a cloud of pleasure, her body damp with perspiration and boneless in his embrace, pulses of ecstasy rolling through her again and again.

Finally, his teeth released her. He slipped out of her exhausted body, and she made a soft, content sound, immediately rolling over to nestle into his arms once more.

He pressed a kiss to where his teeth must have left a mark. At least she hoped that there’d be one. Even now, the thought brought a small pang of heat exploding in her belly.

“Sorry,” he murmured in apology.

“Is that what you do to your mate?” Sidney asked, stretching contentedly in his arms.

“Mm. I should have asked first...”

Sidney laughed softly, remembering the instinct that had made her want to dig her own nails in. “I didn’t ask either. But if it’s always going to be like this, I’m really looking forward to learning all there is to know about mates...”

“I think you’ve already mastered the most important part,” Kayden said, his voice a delicious rumble in his chest.

“I’ve always been a fast learner,” Sidney said and stretched smugly.

Bears. Who would have thought... No wonder Cleo and Eve kept it a secret!

T
he day of the wedding had dawned without a single cloud in the sky to threaten all the careful plans. The meadow near the house where Chris and Eve lived was decorated with several pavilions and garlands of flowers. In the apple trees surrounding the meadow, fairy lights and paper lanterns had been hung to be lit once it got dark.

But for now, the sun was shining brilliantly. Sidney was fighting tears of pride and joy as she watched both her cousin and her best friend on this happiest day of their lives. Both were luminous, their eyes shining with light, and the crowed oohed and aahed at the first sight of the beautiful brides.

There was not even the smallest bit of jealousy in her as she watched Eve and Cleo walk to where their own shifter mates were waiting. Cleo had chosen a deceptively simple dress. It was made of ruched chiffon with a small train. The layers of white chiffon fell in carefully arranged folds around her body. As she moved, she looked like a movie star from an old film walking down the red carpet with the gorgeous, light-weight fabric floating around her beautiful curves.

Eve in turn looked like a princess. The dress she wore was made of gleaming satin. The fabric was simple and unembroidered, but there was nothing plain about her dress. A stunning, intricate lace studded with tiny gems that caught the light like little stars hugged her curves. With the contrasting simple, flared skirt, she drew all the eyes.

Both women were radiantly beautiful. Sidney, who’d promised herself that she wouldn’t cry and ruin her makeup, felt the first tear trail down her cheek before the officiant had even spoken the first sentence.

Every now and then, Sidney looked out at the crowd, catching the eye of Kayden, who’d been seated with her own family. Fortunately her Mom seemed to be just as affected by the sight as Sidney, and so Kayden’s only task was to helpfully keep holding out tissues.

How strange—everything has changed so quickly,
Sidney thought as she watched the ceremony. There was so much more to life than she’d ever expected.

There were shifters, for one thing.

The peaceful, quiet little town that she loved so much had in truth been the home of two bear shifters. And now an entire new clan of bear shifters had moved in as well.

Kayden, Chris, and Steven had talked for nearly an entire day. Sidney still wasn’t entirely sure that she understood the finer points of shifter culture—but in the end, they’d all agreed that Kayden and his clan could stay. They’d settle in the forests to the south of Linden Creek, while other areas would remain the territory of Chris and Steven.

But who knows, sooner or later the clans might mingle all on their own,
she thought as she watched the two bear brothers claim their brides and mates with a ring and a kiss.

The gathered families erupted in joyful cheers. Sidney thought of the bear cubs she’d seen playing in the forest, and the little secret a blushing Eve had whispered into her ear last night, swearing her to secrecy before she’d officially announce it.

Yes. There might soon be new bear cubs running through these woods. And maybe...

Maybe Chris and Eve’s cub won’t stay lonely for long.

She turned to give Kayden another smile. She’d always thought that children shouldn’t grow up alone...

“You look happy,” Kayden murmured as the crowd finally began to mingle, everyone trying to be the first to congratulate the newly-weds.

“That’s because I am.”

She didn’t resist when his arms wrapped around her. The kiss made her sigh, and when they parted, Sidney trailed a finger along his tie.

She smiled again. “I have everything I could possibly want. And you know what the best thing is? It might not be what other people think I should want—but it’s all I need to be truly happy.”

Kayden kissed her again, his lips warm against her own, his eyes filled with that determination she knew and loved.

“I can promise you one thing,” he whispered back. “No more midnight runs when I could be in bed with my irresistibly sexy mate instead.”

Sidney gave him a low laugh, blushing a little when her eyes fell onto the tie again.

She felt sexy indeed in her dress. It wasn’t one of the monstrous bridesmaid dresses that seemed designed to fit starving models. Instead, she was wearing a dress made from gorgeous, light-blue satin. It swirled around her legs when she moved as though she was a princess, with a bodice fitted so well to show off her own generous curves that she’d caught Kayden staring with dazed desire at her cleavage earlier.

She grinned a little, twirling for him so that the satin flared around her, and then stopped with her hand at her hip, giving him a cheeky look.

All of a sudden, cheering erupted behind them once more.

When she turned, she saw that a crowd had gathered around the two brides. Cleo and Eve were waving their bridal bouquets at the eager singles who’d formed a line not far from them.

Just a few weeks ago, I would have been among them. Jostling for a better place just in case, because I needed the luck.

Sidney turned and smiled at Kayden. No, she had no need now for bouquets to tell her that she might find love soon. Let one of the other girls catch it. She’d already caught a bear of her own.

Then Sidney’s eyes widened. There, behind the bushes, a stranger had appeared.

No, not a stranger,
she thought when the man turned and golden-brown eyes met hers. They were solemn despite the beauty and joy of this day.

But he’d come. Logan, once known as Blood Claw, had come. Perhaps that was all that counted.

Logan made no move to join them. Even though he kept himself hidden, she could feel the pain and loneliness that surrounded him.

She should be angry with him. He’d attacked her mate. But somehow, she couldn’t bring herself to feel anything but compassion for someone who forced himself to keep apart even on his brothers’ wedding day.

Then giggling and whoops erupted when the two brides tossed their bouquets. Sidney turned again, eager to see if she knew the lucky singles who’d catch it—only to find that a sudden breeze must have sprung up.

One of the beautiful bouquets was carried away by it, sailing right over the outstretched hands of the waiting women. It would have hit Sidney straight in the face if she hadn’t raised her hands instinctively.

“Sidney! Congrats Sidney!” Cleo called out, beaming at her.

“Whoo! Sidney and Kayden!” Eve yelled with a wide grin. “Now kiss!”

The crowd joined in after a moment, and laughing, Sidney allowed Kayden to draw her into his arms to shield her from the teasing family members that began to crowd them.

“Come on, give the two some room! This isn’t Sidney’s wedding—yet,” her mother said with a smug look at Kayden.

Kayden smiled a little, keeping his arm wrapped around Sidney while the crowd began to swarm around the other lucky bridesmaid who’d managed to catch a bouquet.

“You know, I wasn’t sure when the best moment for this would be,” Kayden murmured. “I told you, there’s still parts of everyday human life I’m not quite up to date on. But among my clan, a clan meeting like this is the perfect moment for big decisions. And it seems that your own clan thinks the same.”

Kayden nodded at the bouquet that Sidney still held in her suddenly trembling hands. Then Kayden released her. From a pocket, he pulled a tiny box.

All of a sudden, Sidney could feel butterflies in her stomach again. She felt as dazed and as overwhelmed as when she’d seen him standing naked in her living room that first time.

Kayden went to his knee.

When he opened the box, rays of sunlight hit the diamond within, mounted on a band of gold. It sparkled in all the colors of a rainbow, more brilliant than anything Sidney had seen in her life.

She could not breathe through the tears of shock and joy that had sprung up all of a sudden—but she could understand Kayden perfectly.

“Be my mate,” Kayden said earnestly as he looked up at her with hope in his golden eyes. “Rule my clan with me. Found a clan of our own with me. You already know that you own my soul and my heart. My life is yours. I ask for nothing in return but your love.”

“And you have that. You’ll always have that,” Sidney breathed, and then she was in his arms, kissing him through her tears. “I will! Oh, of course I will!”

Somewhere behind them, there was more whooping and cheering—but Sidney no longer cared. She’d tried so hard to please her family and friends. She’d worried so much that she’d even claimed a stranger as her date.

But now everything had fallen into place, and she realized that she no longer cared what anyone else might think of her.

Because she already had everything she wanted. Her bear. Her mate.

And somewhere in her mate’s golden bear eyes, she’d found herself.

Always,
she whispered through the mate bond.

***

T
hank you for buying
Wedding Bear
! I hope you enjoyed it. If you’re starting the series here and would like to know more about the bear shifters of Linden Creek, the first two books are
Bear Cop
and
Hunter Bear
.

Please click on the title to write a review of
Wedding Bear.
I love hearing what my readers think! It helps me decide whose story to tell next in the
Enforcer Bears
series.

If you’d like to be emailed when I release my next book, please
click
here
to be added to my mailing list.

And keep paging through to read a sneak preview of another book I wrote,
Bear Cop.

***

B
ear Cop
.
(Enforcer Bears #1).
A BBW baker with a troubled past + a protective bear shifter cop with a secret of his own + an accident that leaves them stranded in the wilderness = one untamed romance!

Hunter Bear
.
(Enforcer Bears #2).
A BBW artist who fears she's lost her muse + a scarred, reclusive bear shifter hunting danger + a mysterious treasure map = one adventurous romance!

The Easter Bunny's Bear.
A BBW bunny shifter with a pony farm + a lonely bear shifter hunting a dangerous werewolf + a criminal werewolf pack causing trouble = one steamy springtime romance!

The Snow Leopard's Mate
. A curvy waitress longing for a better life + a lonely lumberjack snow leopard shifter + a wild night that will change their lives = one sweet and steamy romance!

Bear Mechanic
. A curvy woman desperate to protect her little brother + a bear shifter mechanic who will do anything to keep his mate from harm + a team of shifters determined to help their friend and his mate = one action-packed romance!

Firefighter Pegasus
.
(Fire & Rescue Shifters # 2).
A curvy pilot wary of flighty men + a firefighter pegasus shifter determined to win her heart + a high speed air race with even higher stakes = one explosive romance!