His to Protect (9 page)

Axel leaned closer to her, bringing his lips to her forehead, then the tip of her nose and finally, her lips. He kissed her softly but thoroughly. “Is it really so ridiculous the way we’re connected?”

Without a doubt in her mind, Harper shook her head. “No. It’s not ridiculous at all.” It was her turn to kiss him, and when she did, her whole body lit up with the reaction he never failed to elicit in her. She had to pull away, only to finish saying what she needed to say before her brain was completely clouded with passion for the man. “I have never in my whole life felt about someone the way I feel about you. It might be crazy. It might be too soon. It might be a lot of things. But one thing I know for sure—bear or not, I am absolutely, completely, body and soul, in love with you, Axel Jackson.”

I
t was all
he needed to hear. His mate loved him. She was his. He was hers. They would be mated as soon as they consummated that love.

His mouth covered hers and he kissed her long and hard until she made that little whimpering noise that drove him crazy. He wrapped his hand in her hair and tugged her hair to the side so he could kiss his way down her neck. The cotton collar on her t-shirt quickly got in his way and with a swipe, he tore it from her body.

Harper gasped and pulled back. “That’s how you…before…you…” She laughed and shook her head. “You’re going to need to simmer down with that or I’ll need a whole new wardrobe.”

“Baby, I’ll buy you whatever you need.” A surge of love and protectiveness welled up inside him. “I’ll give you everything you need from now until the end of time. I love you. You’re my mate and I swear you’ll never want for anything.”

Harper laughed a little and ducked her head. “Those sound oddly like wedding vows, Axel.”

“No.” He shook his head. “Not wedding vows. Much more meaningful than that. We’re mates and we’ll be connected forever as soon as we finish mating. I’m just making sure you—”

“Wait.” She put a hand on his chest but didn’t push him away. “We’ve already had sex. Does that mean we’re mated?”

He should have explained it to her. It was too easy to take for granted that she already knew everything about the bear world. He was going to have to keep reminding himself that she was new to all of this. He’d have to be patient. With Harper, that was never going to be a problem. He had all the time in the world for her. “No,” Axel said slowly. “The mating process is really quite simple and I don’t want you to be scared.” He could see on her face that was the wrong choice of words. “It won’t hurt. Not really. Well, to be honest…I don’t really know.”

“You don’t know?”

“Well, I haven’t done it before. You’re my mate.”

She laughed a little. It helped defuse the tension. “True, I guess. So tell me…”

“I’m going to bite you.” Again, it was the wrong thing to say. But it was the truth. He reached for her, trailing his fingers slowly down her neck until she closed her eyes from the pleasure of the touch. It never failed to affect him, the way she responded so readily to him. “It’ll be fine.” He pressed his lips to the sensitive skin below her ear and felt her shudder in need. “I promise.”

Axel moved slowly, pressing Harper back into the pillows until he was on top of her, surrounding her. She looked so beautiful laying beneath him, with her hair spread over the pillow, her luscious full breasts bared to him, and her face flushed with need for him. He moved so he could take one perfect breast in his mouth. Her nipple hardened to a firm peak almost instantly and he flicked his tongue back and forth until she moaned from the pleasure of it. His hands kneaded the soft flesh while his thumb brushed over the other nipple, giving it the attention he knew it also craved.

“God, you have the most beautiful tits.” He buried his face between them, allowing himself a moment to enjoy the perfection of his curvy mate before he kissed his way down her body until he reached her belt. Axel’s first instinct was to rip her jeans from her body, but he stopped himself and fumbled with her belt instead.

“Get rid of it.” Harper’s eyes were heavy with desire as she ordered him to destroy her clothes. She needed him as bad as he needed her.

Axel growled and did as she wished.
His mate, perfect in every way.

When she was stripped bare to him, Axel resumed his worship of her body, kissing, licking, and nibbling until he reached her apex. He slicked a finger through her heat. She was so wet. So ready for him. The knowledge that he could turn her on so quickly, so easily, only fueled his desire. He added another finger and pressed inside her, making her gasp. He grinned and moved in and out of her while his thumb brushed over her sensitive nub just enough to build her to a frenzy of need. He instinctively knew what she needed, what she craved from him. He was more than happy to give it to her. He’d give her everything she wanted.

Always.

“Axel?”

He paused his movements and looked up in question at her gorgeous face, made even more stunning by the flush of passion on her cheeks.

“Axel, I need you. Now.”

Before he could respond, her hands reached up and tugged on his shirt. He could have sworn he heard a small growl come from his mate. It was a sound that made his already hard dick twitch against his zipper. Helping her, he yanked his shirt over his head and shucked his jeans down, freeing himself for her.

Once again, he straddled her, poised at her entrance. He waited until her eyes met his. The love he felt for her matched the look in her eyes and he knew without a doubt that this would be a life-changing moment for both of them. He bent to kiss her lips, deeply and possessively as he slid into her heat.

Harper gasped into his open mouth and he swallowed her groan as her body grew accustomed to his size. He had to pause, just for a moment. Just long enough to slow his heartbeat. She felt so damn good. Better than anyone or anything else he’d ever experienced. Because he’d never been in love before. He’d never had his mate before. But now that he’d found her…there’d never be anything or anyone who could ever compare.

W
hen Axel entered her
, it was different than anything she’d ever felt before. Even different than their first time. All Harper’s senses were heightened this time. Every part of her body was alive with sensation. It took a moment to grow used to his size because he felt so damn good she thought she might explode from the inside if he moved.

But then he did move, and it was amazing. With every stroke and thrust, the need built in her. He pulled back, until only the tip of him was in her, before driving back inside, deeper than before. She wrapped her legs around him, pulling him tighter to her.

“Axel, I…” Words failed her as he drove into her, her body accepting everything he could give. Instead of words, she pulled his head down to hers and kissed him hard to communicate in the only way she could.

A pressure deep down began to build and Harper threw her head back, gasping for air as the feeling inside her grew stronger. She’d had orgasms before, but the storm brewing inside her was different. She squirmed under him, trying to move away, but not sure why considering the feelings he was giving her were unlike anything she’d ever experienced. Needing a release, Harper dug her nails into Axel’s muscled back.

“That’s right, baby. Let it happen.”

She wanted to ask him what was happening, what she needed to let happen, but there was no way Harper could formulate a thought.

“It’s your bear,” Axel whispered in a hot breath into her ear as if he’d just read her mind. “Don’t fight it—just let her out.”

Harper had no idea what
letting her out
would mean, but she stopped her mind from asking questions she didn’t have answers to and focused on the sensations that ripped through her body. She thrust her hips up against Axel’s, needing him deeper, stronger. Needing something she couldn’t even put into words. Her nails raked across his back and he groaned with the pleasure of it, but the sound of it barely registered—Harper was so consumed by keeping up with everything her body was throwing at her.

Finally, she could feel her body reach the point of no return; she was going to orgasm like never before. Harper threw her head back and a noise she didn’t recognize as her own escaped her as the pressure built to the point of explosion.

“You are so fucking sexy.” Axel dropped his mouth to her neck and kissed her hard as he thrust into her one final time, taking his own pleasure as her orgasm shattered through her. She could see nothing, hear nothing, and feel nothing but the weight of Axel on top of her and inside her as she came completely apart under him with a force she never could have expected.

When she finally opened her eyes, he was watching her intently. He stroked her hair back from her forehead, but made no move to leave her body, which Harper was thankful for. She was certain if he withdrew now, she’d feel an emptiness she never had before. She needed him right where he was. At least for another moment longer.

“God, I love you,” Axel said, but she didn’t see his lips move. He must have seen the confusion in her eyes, because he smiled a little and explained, “I didn’t know if it would be possible, but I’ve heard stories of mates who could communicate without speech. Mostly when they’re in their bear form, but legend has it that fated mates can communicate when they’re…well…
joined.
”

Harper giggled at his choice of words. “So we can—wait! Mates? You mean, we’re…”

“Mated.”

The word hung in the air. “But I…you didn’t…”

“Bite you?”

She nodded.

“Babe, I did.”

Her mind swirled. He didn’t; she would have known. She would have felt it. Or would she have? There’d been a lot of intense feelings going on. A lot of sensation. He kissed her gently on the lips and pushed himself off her body. She immediately felt his absence.

“Give me a second.” Axel disappeared into the bathroom and returned a moment later with a warm washcloth and a handheld mirror. “Look.”

When she took the mirror from him, all she could see was a very tousled, very well sexed version of herself staring back at her, but slowly she moved the mirror down and almost dropped it when she saw the evidence of their mating: a bite mark at the base of her neck, directly over her collarbone. The teeth marks were clearly defined and they were most definitely
not
human. Her free hand crept up and tentatively touched the wound, because that’s what it was. A wound.

“But…how did you…I don’t…”

Axel’s hand slid up to cover hers, and the bite mark. “You were a little distracted.” His grin said everything else and Harper couldn’t help but laugh.

“I was
very
distracted.”

“Does it hurt?” He removed her hand and used a finger to gently trace her neck. “Now that you know it’s there?”

Harper shook her head. “No. It doesn’t. Well, it’s a little sore maybe. But I like it.” She twisted her neck back and forth, testing it. “It’s like a reminder of you and…us.”

“I like it that you’re marked. Now everyone will know I’m yours.”

“I’m yours.” She tested the words on her tongue. They sounded just right.

“You’re mine.” He kissed her thoroughly. “And I’m yours. Always.” When their lips met again, the kiss held a different kind of passion. They were connected now more than ever, and she could happily lose herself in him forever.

A moment later, a crash at the window jolted them apart, and not even a second after that, Axel was up out of bed and out the door. Harper grabbed the bed sheet and wrapped it around her body; forgetting momentarily about her foot, she jumped out of bed to follow him. She vaguely acknowledged that her foot felt a bit stiff, but hardly hurt anymore. She made her way to the window to see what was happening.

As much as Harper strained her neck, she couldn’t see anything. She heard Axel yelling, calling out to whomever or whatever had been at their window. A moment later, the door opened and her protector—her very naked protector—walked in and shut the door behind him.

“What was it?”

He shook his head. “I couldn’t see anything.”

“It might have been an animal or a bird.”

“Maybe.” He didn’t look convinced. “I should have gone after it but whatever it was, it was too fast and I could have shifted, but…”

“But what?”

“There are rules.” While he spoke, he walked through the room and gathered his clothes. “You can’t shift where humans could see you. It’s a responsibility to protect people from the truth because mostly it’s ourselves we’re protecting.”

“You shifted in front of me.”

Axel tugged his t-shirt over his head and shrugged. “That’s different. You’re my mate and besides, you
are
a shifter.”

“I didn’t know it. Besides, I don’t know if I can even shift.”

“I think you’d surprise yourself. You’re sure as hell surprising me.” He kissed her quickly and bent to tug his jeans on. “Get dressed.”

“Where are we going?” She wanted to talk about shifting some more. She hadn’t even considered it as an option until just right then, and now that the idea was in her head she wanted to talk about it some more. She wanted to explore the idea.

“I’m taking you to the Den,” he said. “You’ll be safe there.”

“I’m not safe here?” A shock of fear shot through her, but was gone just as quickly, knowing Axel was there.

“Not until I figure out what or who was out there. I want you where you can be protected. Just in case.”

Harper nodded and accepted the clothes Axel had pulled out of the drawer and handed her. She’d always been a woman who could look after herself—hell, she still was—but it was pretty damn nice to have someone who cared enough to look after her, too. She couldn’t deny that.

T
he last thing
Axel wanted to do was leave Harper alone. But she’d be safe at the Den. He’d carried her through the woods and set her up on the couch in front of the fireplace with a cup of coffee and a book. She said her foot hardly hurt, and it would be totally healed soon. Shifters healed quickly, and if she’d been a full-blooded bear, she would already be good as new; it was just taking her a little longer. Not that he minded carrying her and having her heat pressed up against his body—that was something he could definitely get used to. He’d carry her everywhere, but he was pretty sure that would be taking the protective thing a little too far. As it was, she’d protested about being left behind, just the way he knew his mate would. She was a strong woman who liked to be in control, but she was going to have to get used to him taking the lead some of the time and taking care of her, because there was nothing in the world he wanted to do more.

And that’s why he needed to leave her for a few minutes. He needed to figure out what had been outside of the cabin. It might have been a raccoon or a bird. But he didn’t think so. His instincts were clouded at the moment, that was for sure, but since he’d mated with Harper and finally claimed her for his own, they’d cleared somewhat.

But not enough.

He needed his brothers.

Kade was in the kitchen. “I need your help.”

“Hello to you, too, big brother.” Kade slammed a pot onto the countertop.

“Hello,” Axel amended. “I need your help.”

“Of course you do. That’s all anyone ever needs from me around here.”

Perfect. Kade was in a mood.
His little brother had always been the moody one in the family, but it was a problem that had been growing increasingly worse ever since he’d been denying his bear. He was getting downright impossible to deal with some days.

“Right.” Axel chose to ignore Kade’s drama. “It’s about my mate.”

“Of course it is.”

Axel slammed his fist down on the counter, rattling the jars of spices Kade had collected. “Are you done?” His brother glared at him in response. “Because this is serious.”

“It would have to be, if it’s for your
mate.
”

Axel’s fists flexed next to him and he twitched to punch his brother. Kade obviously needed a reminder about who exactly was in charge. “I’ll give you one more chance, Kade. But that’s it. I’m not in the mood today. And I don’t have time to deal with this.”

Kade looked as if he was going to challenge Axel again, but he swallowed hard and crossed his thick arms over his chest. “What do you need?”

It was as close as he was going to get to acceptance, so Axel explained the situation and gave him two choices. “You can stay here and protect my mate, or you can come with me and hunt whatever it was that was outside my window.”

They both knew that it wasn’t a choice. Not for Kade. Going with Axel to hunt the threat would mean shifting. And Kade flat out refused to do that. Having him at the Den to protect Harper, even when he was surly, didn’t worry Axel in the least, because even if Kade struggled with the very idea of a mate, he was a fierce protector and more than that, he was loyal. Harper would be safe with Kade. Of that, he had no doubt.

“I’ll be here,” Kade said. “If anything or anyone threatens her, I’ll take care of it.”

As an afterthought, Axel turned and asked, “Where are the guests?” The last thing he needed was a threat running around when they had their first paying guests at the Ridge.

Kade shook his head. “Don’t worry. They’re with Nina, down at Blackwood. Brian called to reschedule their trail ride for this afternoon. I didn’t think it would be a problem.”

“It’s perfect,” he said, “And those reporters?”

Kade shrugged. “No idea, but they didn’t go with everyone else.”

Axel nodded. It wasn’t ideal, but at least there weren’t many people around to worry about. He waved absently and left his little brother in the kitchen where he’d found him. Come to think of it, he always found Kade in the kitchen. He worked too hard; maybe they should think about getting him a little help when things settled down. Maybe it would help calm him a little if he had somebody to work with instead of being alone every day. Maybe, but he doubted it. He couldn’t think of it at the moment anyway. Axel had bigger problems, and he needed to find Luke to take care of them as soon as possible.

H
arper fumed
. She wasn’t happy about being left in the Den by herself like some weak woman who needed to be coddled. She was perfectly capable of taking care of herself, and even if Axel wanted to be her hero, there was no reason she couldn’t be involved in the search.

She wiggled her ankle and flexed her toes. They weren’t sore anymore. Tentatively, she tried to stand, aware of the pain that was probably going to drop her back to her ass. But instead of pain radiating through her leg the way it had before, she was able to stand with only a dull throb. Encouraged, she took a step forward. It didn’t hurt. At all.

“There’s no way.” Harper laughed at herself and took a few more steps around the living room. “It’s better.”

“Of course it’s better.”

Harper jumped back, startled by the voice.

Had the person who’d been outside the cabin found her? Was she going to be attacked? Axel was wrong; she wouldn’t be safe at the Den.
A million thoughts flew through her head, but as soon as she turned around and saw Kade with a tray full of cookies, she laughed.

“Am I funny?” He tried to look stern, but Harper could see the smile teasing at the edge of his mouth. Kade wasn’t nearly as tough as he liked people to think he was.

“No,” she said. “I’m laughing at myself and my crazy imagination. Axel got me all worked up is all.”

Kade put the tray down on the table in front of the couch and crossed his arms over his chest. He was really a beast of a man. Axel was a big man, but his little brother was huge. “I see that’s not all he did.” Kade nodded toward Harper.

Her hand flew to her neck where the scarf she’d wrapped had slipped. She hastily tugged it back into position but it was too late.

“You’re mated.” It was a statement, not a question.

“We are.”

Kade grunted something she couldn’t make out and shook his head.

“What was that?” Axel had told her that Kade didn’t believe in mating, that his opinion was only a negative one—nothing good could come from mating. She’d only been mated a few hours, but already she knew in her heart that nothing but positive things could come from it.

“It’s nothing,” Kade said. “I baked some cookies.”

“You baked me cookies?”

“I just baked them. You happen to be here.”

Harper smiled to herself. Deep down, Kade definitely had a soft spot.
Maybe all he needed was a mate of his own?
“Hey, where’s Nina?” Her friend popped into her head, not that she’d be a good mate for Kade, but it was always an option...
No.
Knowing Nina, it was definitely not an option.

“She went with the others down to Blackwood Ranch for a trail ride.”

“Oh.” Harper was disappointed. She would have loved to share with her friend about what had happened between her and Axel. Not that she really knew how to explain things, but still, it would be nice to be able to talk to her girlfriend about things. But there was probably some cute businessman to flirt with or something. It occurred to Harper that she hadn’t even seen the new guests yet. She’d been so occupied with her own drama she hadn’t noticed that life kept moving without her.

“Did you need something? Whatever you need, I can...get it for you.” He shifted from foot to foot, obviously uncomfortable and itching to get away.

Harper laughed. “I’m good. Now I have cookies.” She picked one up and took a bite. The buttery flavor exploded on her tongue. “Delicious cookies,” she said through a mouthful. “I’m just going to curl up with this book and eat cookies until Axel comes back.”

Kade looked unsure.

“Honestly,” she said. “I’m fine. Go do whatever you need to do. I’m not going anywhere.”

“Oh, I know you’re not going anywhere. You’re on my watch. But I do need to put the bread in the oven if we’re going to have it for dinner.”

“Go.” Harper waved him away. “Honestly, I’m fine.”

Kade hesitated for a moment and finally nodded. “Okay. Call me if you need anything. I’ll just be in there.”

Harper laughed. “Go. It’s not like I’ll need anything.”

And she didn’t either. The book she’d brought with her turned out to actually be pretty good. It had been so long since she’d allowed herself the time to read for fun and for the life of her, she couldn’t remember why. Before she knew it, she was so immersed in the love story, she’d eaten half the plate of cookies and didn’t even notice when someone came down the stairs and joined her on the couch. It wasn’t until the cushion sank with the weight of him that Harper jostled, shocked by the intrusion in her reading.

“Hello, Harper,” the man said.

A flash of fear that quickly turned to disgust moved through her.

“Trent.”

“It’s Kevin around here.” Trent laughed, a sound that made Harper’s stomach turn.

“What are you doing here?” It didn’t occur to Harper to be scared. After all, she was in the Den; Kade was only a few feet away in the kitchen. He’d be there in an instant if she needed anything. Besides, it was Trent they were talking about.

“I came to see you.”

“How did you know I was here?”

His smile, the one she once thought was handsome and welcoming, made her want to stab him with something sharp, or better yet, blunt and rusty. “If you’re trying to hide,” he said, his voice filled with cocky self-assurance, “you should tell your friend to be a little more careful about what she publishes. It doesn’t take a genius to figure out that you were her traveling companion to an out-of-the-way Montana retreat.”

Harper shook her head. She should have known better about what Nina was writing. But there was no time to worry about it. She refused to focus on details she couldn’t change at the moment.

“Who’s Kevin?” She shook her head, trying to make sense of his presence and what he’d said.

Trent laughed again, the sound worse than before. He waved away her question. “It doesn’t matter.”

She was pretty sure it did matter. A great deal. But she kept her mouth shut and waited to hear what he had to say.

“I understand you’re having a bit of legal trouble,” Trent said. “I’m sorry to hear that.”

Harper stuffed her hand underneath her to keep from hitting him. “I’m sure you are.”

The man she’d once shared a life with leaned in and Harper had to bite the inside of her cheek to keep from shuddering.

“It’s only going to get worse,” he said. “That is, if you don’t cooperate with me.”

She should yell for Kade. She should get up and walk into the kitchen herself. But something told her she needed to stick around and hear what he had to say. It couldn’t hurt at this point. “What are you talking about?”

Trent pulled out a piece of paper; it looked like a contract of some sort. “Sign this.”

Harper shook her head. “No way am I signing something without reading it. Do I look stupid?”

His laugh was gross and Harper could taste bile in her mouth. “No. But you do look like a woman who is going down for embezzlement. And if you don’t sign this paper relinquishing me from any wrongdoing, things will get a lot worse for you.”

Of course.
It wasn’t surprising that he’d try to pull something like this. Not really. Nothing about Trent surprised her anymore.

When she didn’t answer right away, he flapped the paper in her face. “Sign.”

She shook her head. “I’m not signing that.” She crossed her arms over her chest. “I had nothing to do with anything. You and Blake planned everything. You were behind the embezzlement, not me. And my lawyer is going to prove it.”

“No, he’s not.” The cold tone and smug look on Trent’s face caused Harper’s breath to hitch in her throat. She held her breath, determined not to let him see the effect he had on her. “He won’t be able to prove a thing,” Trent continued. “Because I have a new story, complete with photographic evidence.”

“What story could that be?” Even as she asked the question, Harper’s stomach sank.

“To sum it up for you,” he said with another smirk that she itched to smack off his face. “Basically, it was your plan all along to steal money from the agency in order to build an elaborate love nest in the mountains where you could engage in kinky sex with your lover.”

Harper’s blood ran cold. What was he talking about?
Love nest? Kinky sex?
But there was one phrase in particular that stuck in her head.
Photographic evidence.

“It was you,” she said. “At the window.”

He held an iPad in front of her, pushed a button and the screen came to life with a photo of her and Axel in bed together. He flicked the screen. It was the next picture that took her breath away. Her head was thrown back, her face a mask of divine pleasure. She couldn’t see Axel’s face because he was bent to her neck...biting her. Mating her.

She ripped the iPad away from him and had to work hard to swallow back the rage that built inside her.
How dare Trent invade her privacy in such a way? How dare he capture such an intimate moment? And worse, try to exploit it.

She could feel something inside her churn, threaten to explode as she flicked through the pictures. “You had no right.”

“That one’s my favorite.” He ignored her to reach over and point at the photo Harper couldn’t stop staring at. “Although it’s particularly disgusting. Really, Harper. I didn’t take you as the type for a little kink.”

Rage boiled within her. “You would have no idea what
type
I am,” she said through clenched teeth.

Trent shrugged and picked up the paper again. “Oh, and don’t bother deleting them,” he said. “We have copies on Blake’s laptop.”

“Blake?” Of course he’d be there, too. The idea that Trent had not only infiltrated her happiness at the Ridge, but also brought his lover with him to assist in ruining her, only added to the insult.