Brother Bear Mated Page 7

  “I don’t know. A feeling maybe? Like you knew I was your mate? But Newt isn’t my familiar. He’s just a pet. I would know. You have to trust me.”

  Thames took her hand in his and she stared down at the connection. His touch calmed her. Grounded her.

  Anchor or not.

  “I do,” he said. “How could I not after what you risked for this clan.” His throat bobbed with a heavy swallow. “For me.”

  She saw the truth in his eyes. He believed her. And after the fight she’d had with her sisters, it meant the world that Thames had faith in her.

  “Thank you,” she whispered, tears welling again.

  But he didn’t let them fall. Instead, he swept her up in another soul-shattering kiss, gently pushing her back against the bed as his mouth danced in time with hers.

  She loved this. Kissing was much nicer than she’d ever anticipated. If this was any indication what sex would be like with Thames, she’d be picking herself up tiny confetti piece by tiny confetti piece by the time morning came. Because he was breaking her. Breaking her in the very best way.

  Like one of those chemical light sticks you have to crack before it will glow. With his lips on hers, she almost believed he could snap her and bring her light back.

  Nastia moaned when his tongue once again swirled seductively with hers, and the rock clattered to the floor as she wound her arms around his neck. His body lying over hers felt like raw power. All coiled energy just waiting to be sprung.

  Thames was intoxicating. His breath, his heat, his hands roaming her body. The rumble of his bear vibrating his chest. It sent delicious chills running from her spine to her toes.

  More.

  Pulling her bottom lip between his teeth, he nibbled his way across her jaw to give her earlobe the same attention.

  “Tell me,” he whispered, his breath skipping along her skin and making her shiver. “Does this feel wrong to you?”

  “N-No,” she managed.

  He dragged his lips down her neck and along the curve of her shoulder, nipping gently at the cord there. God, the sensation was almost too much. Nastia jerked involuntarily but she didn’t want him to stop. When he went to pull back, she tangled her fingers in his short hair to make him stay.

  Thames chuckled softly, working his mouth across her collarbone. “How about this, little witch? Feel wrong?”

  “Goodness, no.”

  His big hand swept upward, rippling along her ribs, touching her soft enough another round of chills broke over her skin. If only he would touch her harder maybe she wouldn’t squirm so much. Palming her breast, he squeezed and sucked her nipple into his mouth causing her to jack up off the bed with a cry.

  Oh my.

  “Wrong?” he asked.

  “No. No, no.”

  With a sexy snarl, he mouthed her tender nipple again, swirling and lapping until her breath came hard and mixed with odd sounds she’d never made before. Nastia lifted her head to watch, but then slammed it back to the bed when Thames’s hand slipped between her thighs. Instinctually she clamped her knees together and his touch stilled.

  The opposite of what she wanted.

  But as much as she wanted him there, she couldn’t move to let him in. Couldn’t catch her breath. Couldn’t think. Then again, maybe she wasn’t supposed to think. Maybe that was the point.

  This… this was invigorating.

  He pulled his lips from her breast, nuzzling the valley of her cleavage and placing a gentle kiss to her sternum before meeting her gaze. A carefully neutral expression masked something else, but she couldn’t think about what.

  “I know you were never taken by a male,” he rumbled, “but has anyone ever touched your body like this? At all?”

  He knew? How did he know if she’d never told him? Maybe his animal could sense it. Or perhaps it was the way her thighs were playing sentinel to her lady parts.

  Nastia shook her head to answer because she didn’t trust her voice. No. No one had touched her like this ever.

  His breath rushed out and his shoulders where they bunched to hold him above her seemed to sag in relief.

  “Good, okay. That’s good.”

  Nastia wondered…

  “Are you untouched too?”

  Slowly, he rose up, pressing his forehead to hers so their noses touched, and then just breathed.

  “Yes,” he said finally. “But I’ve touched others. Long ago, when I went through the Mother Bear’s training to become a full grown bear shifter.”

  Nastia frowned, her forehead crinkling against his. “Mother Bear?”

  “The leader of my clan. Former clan. They’re all gone now.”

  “I’m sorry.”

  “Don’t be. Those were horrible times for me and Theo.”

  Horrible times. The pain in his voice might as well have bled her heart. Thames’s darkness had come for him long ago. But maybe she could be his light now. Until she had no more left.

  Nastia curved her palm around his cheek, loving the way his scruff abraded her skin.

  “Your past is history. That’s all,” she whispered. “It has no place in the present.”

  Thames pulled back to look at her, his gaze shifting from painful memories back to the fire she’d seen only minutes ago.

  “I don’t want that between us right now. Just want to give your body what it deserves.” He dropped a soft kiss to her lips. “Wanna make it sing for me. Wanna make you need me, little witch.”

  Then he disappeared down her body again, this time passing her breasts to go lower.

  Oh, she needed him alright. The ache between her legs was nearly unbearable.

  Nuzzling her belly, nipping at her hips, circling her navel with his attentive tongue. And then lower. Where she burned for more.

  Nastia gasped at every movement, jerking as she tried to get used to the wonderful sensations of his body gliding against hers. Nothing had ever felt so good. Nothing had ever hurt so beautifully.

  “Open for me, mate,” Thames murmured, his lips brushing against the crease of her thigh where she held so stiff. His hand on her other leg urged her to let go, to spread wide for him, but it felt impossible. His teeth clamped gently on her skin, making her feel wild in the best way. “Trust me.”

  Trust. Like he trusted her.

  She had trusted him since she woke up here. Why should now be any different. She trusted Thames with her body, with her secrets, with her future. That’s what this was. She was giving this man her future. And somehow, she knew he’d hold it carefully in the palm of his hands.

  Nastia relaxed under him, letting her legs fall open so he could kneel between them. He looked wild, like he was going to gobble her up in the sexiest way. His eyes traveled down, over her breasts that arched up for his touch. All the way down to where she was spread for him.

  “My female is beautiful,” he husked. Thames stared at her with such emotion, it drove her heart wild. “Especially inside. I feel it in our bond, how noble your sacrifice was in battle. How pure your intentions. Your heart isn’t dark, mate. I’ve seen dark.”

  Later she would get to the bottom of that darkness he talked about. She’d ferret out his secrets and insecurities and make him realize how wonderful he was. Just like he was doing with her.

  Without another word, he settled in, gripping her thigh with one hand, the other flat over her hips to hold her still for his attention. A deliberate lick up her center had her hips bucking with pleasure. Nastia cried out, but he didn’t ease up at all. His tongue made another long, slow stroke over that part of her that burned so hot with desire. Like he was savoring an ice cream cone.

  “Mmmm,” he hummed, and she bucked again, but he held her strong for his attention.

  More of his urgent tongue along her tender folds, swirling and plucking until she was delirious with pleasure.

  “Didn’t… know…” she panted. “Didn’t know… it could feel… this good. Thames!”

  A growl against her flesh threatened to send her ove
r the edge.

  He lifted away just long enough to demand, “Say it again.”

  “Thames,” she cried helplessly. She should be embarrassed by her reaction but she wasn’t. “Thames, Thames, Thames…”

  “Fuck,” he breathed, but she didn’t even mind the profanity. Not when his trembling breath had barely managed to get through the word in one piece. Not when it felt like a prayer from the heart.

  Latching on to her, he sucked softly, wringing more pleasure from her body. Nastia’s hand flew to his hair, tangling and pulling, which only made him suck harder, and his throaty growls louder.

  She was there, at the edge. She knew what was coming but could hardly believe it was actually happening. One more hot lick of his tongue, and she tumbled over, her mouth open on a silent gasp as her body convulsed in waves of pleasure.

  Before she was finished, Thames rose up tall, rolling his shoulders back proudly. He was sculpted as an Olympian god. All fine muscle and fire in his eyes that threatened to incinerate her. Each ridge and valley called for her to lick and nibble. To adore, the way he did her.

  She took him in, eyes traveling lower, and that was the first good look she got of the thing she’d felt under the water. It was just as hard now as it was then, but much bigger than she’d realized.

  It’s going to feel good. Instinct told her it would. Her mate’s body moving inside hers… she was suddenly so hungry for it she saw stars.

  “Have I proven myself, female?” The question was soft, but Thames’s eyes glowed with barely contained power.

  He was magnificent, his bear just below the surface, waiting for his reward. And his question was the make or break moment for him. He needed to know she found him worthy. She could feel his need so strongly it was almost her own. Like they were of one will.

  The bond he spoke of. It was powerful, threading around her heart and taking it a willing prisoner.

  “Yes,” she whispered. “You’re mine, bear. And as your female, I find you more than worthy. I find you to be everything I ever wanted but never knew it.”

  She watched his throat bob as he swallowed hard, fists clenching open and closed, and his chest puffed out even more with pride.

  “Now make me yours like you promised. By scent and claw.”

  His slow, sure nod seemed to promise to do just that. Steady, he positioned himself at her entrance, watching as they connected. His urgent tip pressed in, so tight she had to struggle not to hold her breath.

  “Slow, slow,” he mumbled softly, his eyes dazed with lust. “Don’t hurt mate.”

  When he reached her barrier, he paused to look at her, dropping down on his elbows so they were face to face. He brushed her hair from her cheeks and gave her a tender kiss. In that moment she felt utterly adored. Had anyone every treated her like this, so… special?

  The answer was no. Only Thames.

  “If anything hurts, tell me. I’ll make it better. I can heal you with our mating bond. Except for the claw. It needs to leave a mark, understand?”

  Nastia nodded, writhing her hips to get more of him.

  Eyes locked on hers, Thames thrust hard, fully invading her. Nastia gasped at the hot sensation, nails digging into Thames’s shoulder. But then her body relaxed and accepted him, the slight pain easing aside to make way for something much greater.

  Thames trembled, clearly battling the urge to move within her. And holy mystic moonbeams, she wanted him to.

  “You feel so good, mate,” he gasped. His hips moved, but only mere millimeters. Testing, waiting. Her patient bear. His chest rumbled, the sound echoing off the cavern walls. “Hold on tight, baby. My bear is wild for you.”

  Nastia wrapped her arms around his neck as he pulled back, retreating, before he plunged back in, the push and drag filling her with delicious sensation. Slow at first. Slow again, like he was waiting for her to catch up, then increasing in speed when she groaned at the pressure building.

  “Yesss.”

  Her eyes closed in pure bliss. She was losing herself. But not to the darkness. To Thames and his love.

  Faster he thrust, gripping her thigh to open her wider, so he could go deeper. Every push beckoned her close to the peak. He’d taken her there once already, but this time, she would get his mark. This time, they would be bound forever.

  Forever. The thought was an unwelcome douse of cold water to her pleasure. What if binding herself to him caused him pain. What would happen to him when she went dark.

  He slowed, like he could read her thoughts, and with his hand on her cheek, pulled her gaze to his. “Together,” he said, dominance rolling off him with the single word. “We get through it together.”

  For once, she’d have someone to face the darkness with her. Being the first of her coven to go dark had always scared her more than she’d ever admit. She was always meant to lose her light first, before her sisters. The loneliness of it choked her sometimes in the dead of night.

  But now she had this. Thames. Their mating. Someone who would fight for her like she’d fought for him.

  “Together,” Nastia agreed.

  He kissed her soundly, picking up his rhythm and bringing her to the peak again.

  “Are you ready, mate?”

  “Yes,” she squealed as her orgasm overtook her. At the same time, she felt his release flood her, hot jets, marking her. A claiming of the body, and she wanted to do the same to him.

  Before she could think better of it, she raked her nails down his back, drawing a growl as he continued pounding into her. And to seal the deal, a sharp swipe of his claw across her collarbone.

  Nastia cried out, but less from the pain, even though the mark did hurt. It was more about the mating bond solidifying within her. It was magic like she’d never experienced before. Not light, but not dark. It just… was. Like a part of her she’d been born with had remained dormant and was suddenly given life.

  Significant. That’s how it felt. Permanent.

  Thames slowed to a stop, bowing his head over the shallow claw mark and lapping at the wound. “Perfect,” he murmured, his voice wobbling with emotion. “Mine.”

  Nastia grinned, letting herself be perfectly happy in this moment where there was no worries or fears. Only him and her and their pact.

  “Yours.”

  Her legs twitched with the aftershocks of her release and Thames carefully dropped to the side, pulling her into the curve of his big body.

  Safe.

  The purr that lived in his chest never faded and the vibration of it against Nastia’s ultra-sensitive skin brought a giggle.

  “What?” Thames husked, nipping playfully at her ear.

  “Your bear. He’s very happy.”

  He squeezed her even closer, letting off a long content sigh. “You have no idea, little witch. You have no idea.”

  She snuggled in, twining her fingers through his and kissing his knuckles because it felt natural to do so.

  “I think… I think I might.”

  Chapter Nine

  “Be careful,” Theo had said when Thames told him the good news of his mating. “Don’t take your eyes off of her, you hear, brother? Something isn’t right. I can’t place my finger on it, but the bobcat elder says our fight isn’t over.”

  Our fight isn’t over, his bear agreed.

  But that was two weeks ago, and Thames had been watching his mate as much as was physically possible. Every action and habit was now burned into his memory. Like the way she tucked her hair behind her ear with her middle finger. Like the motherly way she fretted over Newt. She’d actually made him a nest next to their bed from a scarf of hers, and the fool reptile slept there every night.

  The way she bent at the knees when picking something off the ground instead of sticking her ass in the air. But god, he wished she’d stick her ass in the air. Even with those flowing dresses on, his memory of her naked was enough to fill in the picture.

  The smart way she bantered with him. His mate had a mouth on her. She was taught to be p
olite, but if she let her guard down—which to his delight, she did with him—she had a sarcastic bite that drove him crazy wanting to one-up her.

  Yes, he’d been watching her. And things seemed to be looking up.

  So why did he feel like they weren’t out of the woods yet?

  Her obsession with counting only happened before bed now unless she found a new rock. He’d tried to remove them all from the cave except the ones he left for her to find on purpose. The heart stones. He was up to nine, and he had number ten waiting in his pocket for the perfect time.

  She was getting along with her sisters when they came to see her. The three of them were working on a possible spell to hold back the darkness until a permanent solution could be found. One that would hold them past the autumnal equinox when their time would be up and they’d transition to Magei.

  And that was the answer to his question. His bear was still unsettled about Nastia because although she was holding steady, she wasn’t clear of the darkness’s power. That angry bitch was still coming for her. Even though she was marked. Even though he loved her and she loved him. Even though it should be enough, it wasn’t.

  Thames was not her Anchor.

  His bear knew it. Theo’s knew it. And so did the sisters. All of them. Especially Nastia.

  The sour sting of failure rose in his throat, reminding him of his past, reminding him he was meant to be nothing to her, but he swallowed it back down. Forced it back into the little box he kept it in, hidden behind his heart.

  No hero ever triumphed by wallowing. Whether they failed or succeeded, they did it by fist and fury, busting through obstacles as they came. If he was going to fail her, he’d do it fighting and believing the end could be different.

  Thames walked to the fridge they’d added when they turned a little alcove of the great room into a kitchen area. Pulling it open, he reached for the bottle of moscato he had chilling. He was more a standard beer guy, but his mate wasn’t a drinker. She needed something sweet to work into it. Eagan had offered up his secret homemade peach moonshine, but Thames didn’t want to get her drunk. He just wanted to spend time with her that didn’t include fixing up their cave or finding a cure for the darkness.