The Kodiak's Mate (Shifters-Match.com Book 2) (7 page)

“Not really a cupcake guy, or cakes either. Overall I’m really not a dessert person. But muffins, oh hell yeah, love them. Any kind.”

“I have a honey and almond one that you would love. And maybe a blue and blackberry one. Yeah, I think that’s the way to go. Definitely.” Just the idea of baking for him made her happy. “I know I didn’t say it before but welcome to my shop. Feel free to poke around all that you want to, love. My shop is all yours as well. I will have to create some things just for you. Maybe the other bears will like them, too?”

“I’m pretty sure that anything you make, they will love. You have a pure talent and love for baking that shows in everything you create.” He moved to lean a hip against a countertop and watched her. “You love what you do and it comes through in your baked goodies.”

She soaked up his compliment with a smile. “Flattery will get you everywhere with me, just so you know. And yes, I do believe that I will create a line of muffins just for the bears in your pack. Maybe it’s time for me to create for
everyone
in the Falls. What do you think?”

“I think you are an amazing woman, Alaska Ceridwen. I also know that I’m the luckiest man and bear alive because you are my mate.” Pushing off the counter, he moved toward her and slipped his arms around her waist. “Do whatever makes you happy. It shows in everything you do and that’s all that really matters. If you want to expand into new muffin lines, then do it, but do it because that’s what you want and not because you think I expect you to. My only expectations for you are to be in my bed each and every night for the rest of our days. Although the occasional muffin wouldn’t be turned down either.”

“I plan on being in your bed as often as I can.” It would be everything she could hope for, everything she would want as well.

“It won’t only be the bed. But that’s a discussion for after we get home and naked. Now, what all do we need to grab?” He gave her a gentle squeeze before releasing her to clap his hands. “Give me some things we’re taking and I’ll toss them in the truck.”

“If you’ll grab the large unopened bag of flour and sugar, I’ll get the rest of the ingredients. Then we’ll come back for the tins and some other of the little things that we’ll need.”

“You just want to see me flexing and exerting myself, I get it.” With a wink, he went to collect the bags she needed, one under each arm, and headed for the door. “I’ll be back for the other things. Gather them up and stack them on the counter for me, sweetheart.”

“Do you blame me for wanting to watch you flexing and doing your thing? You have beautiful muscles. I want to see them.” She began to gather everything she needed, then looked around. She also tossed a couple of pastry bags in there so that she had them just in case.

Harley returned to take another load out to his truck, leaving only a few smaller items. When he came back next, he looked around. “Anything else?” he asked. When she shook her head, he held out a hand after collecting the last few bits. “Then let’s get home and get you naked.”

“Do you want me to bake in the buff as well?” She would—for him she would do anything at all. She would let go of all her inhibitions and fears. He was her everything. He was her life. Besides, she liked the idea of baking in the nude. She had never done it before.

“I like the idea, even though I don’t want you hurting yourself. But now that you’ve said that all I can picture is you running around in an apron and nothing else. Damn it, woman,” he muttered. Reaching down, he adjusted his cock and shot her a glare.

“It’s baking, not cooking. There is no way I would be hurt by something splattering on me, thus why I offered. I think it would be hella kinky to bake in nothing but my apron and hand mittens for when I pull them out of the oven.”

“Killing me here.” After tossing the last items into the truck, he lifted her up into the passenger seat. “I’m never going to survive you bending over to drag anything from the oven if you’re naked under your apron. I love you, Alaska, but that’s probably going to put me in an early grave, woman.”

“Good point. Maybe you should sit on the other side of the island while I pull them out.”

“Babe, if you’re naked I damn well will be, too. That much I can guarantee you.” Shutting her door, he walked around to his side and climbed in with a wince. He made another adjustment of his cock before getting them moving away from her shop.

“We just have to be very careful because I don’t want to burn them. Think that we can get things done that we need to in less than fifteen minutes?” She moved her hand to his thigh and looked at him. “Can I help you at all with that?” She pointedly looked at his cock. “I wouldn’t mind it at all.”

“And have me driving into a ditch? Not a good idea. We don’t need the sheriff coming out to the accident scene and asking you what happened. Your pretty blushes would give us away in an instant. There are many things I’m more than willing to do, but hanky-panky in a moving vehicle isn’t one of them.”

She grinned. “As soon as we get home, then. Once we get things in the house, we are getting nekkid and I will let you take me against the wall or table, or anywhere you want to.”

“You’d better hope I let you inside at this rate. Maybe I’ll just take you against the hood. If you make it that far.” Sliding his hand over hers where she had it resting on his leg, he laced their fingers together. “And now onto safer topics to allow me to still have blood in my brain—have you decided what you’re making first?”

“I think the honey muffins would be perfect. After that I think I will do blueberry and then maybe some chocolate chip banana bread muffins. How does that sound?” She just hoped he liked them. She was all nervous about baking for him.

“Works for me. Like I said earlier, I’m pretty easy. But you’re nervous now. What’s up with that?” Lifting her hand, he pressed a kiss to her fingers while shooting her a quick look. “Talk to me, Alaska. I can smell the change and it’s got my bear scratching around inside.”

“I guess that I’m just a little nervous about baking for you for the first time. You’ve never tasted my baked goods, so that has me all sorts of nervous. I just hope that you like it. I always get nervous when I learn someone’s tasting my baking for the first time.”

“I’ve had your bread, and I have had muffins the guys have brought into the shop. Not exactly my first time, Alaska. Although it will be a first for me having my own personal little baker in my house creating something just for me. I personally can’t wait to see what she comes up with.”

That had her face heating. She had to grin and bowed her head as she leaned into him. “Well, I think you’re pretty awesome, so I want to create some pretty awesome treats for you. Things that you can lord over your friends, saying that I’ve made just for you and you alone.”

“Babe, I have you. That’s plenty to lord over my friends. Sexiest woman around and she can bake. Pretty sure that’s the grand slam of relationship goals.” Slowing the truck, he turned them onto a back road before speeding up once more. “They will all be begging me to bring in goodies you’ve made. I can already see it happening.”

“Well, if they do I will let you have them to bring in. I’m going to create the cake for Jagger and Phi’s son’s first birthday. Did he tell you that? I can’t wait. It’s going to be so much fun.”

“Do you want to have kids, Alaska?”

“Of course. I love kids but I’m perfectly willing to wait for as long as you need to wait.”

“Let’s make sure you’re around to have these kids before we go the full Monty under the new moon. We have someone out to do you harm that we need to take out of the equation. Then we should take some time for ourselves before we start making mini Alaskas for me to adore.”

She sighed and nodded. “You make me feel so safe that I forget about being in danger. We have to find this bastard.”

“I’d be a lot happier if we had a clue what we’re going up against. My biggest problem with this whole thing is that he’s obviously been watching you, knows what and who you are, and planned to take you from the shop. The why of it all is eating at me and making it really hard to be on board with your plan, Alaska.”

“Which is what’s killing me as well. I don’t understand at all why this person is doing this.”

“Hopefully, when we catch this guy trying to grab you, we can ask him. It would be nice to know if he’s the only threat waiting out there or if there’s someone else I need to hunt down.”

“Oh God, I hope that there isn’t more than one person, Harley. I don’t want to live our lives in worry. I want a long and healthy and happy life with you for the rest of forever. Neither of us needs to live this life looking over our shoulders.”

“And we won’t, Alaska.” Turning onto the road leading to the house, he slowed more. “We are going to make sure that you’re safe and that whoever thinks they know things about you is no longer a threat. To you or your coven. I don’t know how yet, and I still really hate your plan, but we’ll find a way.” Throwing the truck into park, he turned to look at her, brushing his fingers against her cheek. “I don’t like the idea of you being bait. I hate the thought.”

“Me, too, but I will do everything in my power so that we can have our lives together and one day, hopefully, have little bear cubs running around with their daddy.”

“I know you will, sweetheart. Now, why don’t you take the little bag with you to unlock the door and I’ll grab the heavy stuff. Then you need to get to work baking for your man.” Leaning in, he gave her a kiss that cooked a few brain cells, pressed the keys into her hand, and slipped from the truck while she sat there trying to remember her own name.

She finally shook herself out of her stupor and got out of the vehicle, then started for the door. She left the front door open for Harley and headed toward the kitchen so that she could start what she needed to do to bake her bear some muffins.

He slid his arms around her from behind a couple minutes later. “Don’t think I forgot about getting you naked. Or that I need to fuck you silly until you can’t walk straight for a week.”

“Oh, I was just waiting for you to get everything in and close the door. I didn’t want to chance someone coming up before we were behind closed doors.” She turned in his arms and ran her hands up and down his arms. “I’m going to get naked and put on my apron. You wanna watch?”

His low growl had her clamping her thighs together in need. “Fuck yeah, I want to watch.” Stepping back, he kept his hungry gaze locked on her.

She began to sway, moving with music only she could hear as she stripped for him. Alaska knew that her body wasn’t one of perfection but of curves and soft rolls that denoted her love for the sweet but when Harley looked at her like he did, she felt like she was the sexiest thing on the planet and that gave her all the confidence in the world. She tossed her clothes all on a chair on the other side of the kitchen, then winked. “Wanna help me with my apron?” she asked as she pulled it off the counter.

“Baby, there are any number of things I’d love to help you with. Covering you up with that apron is not one of them. But I will since you are making me muffins. This one time. Don’t think this will become the norm around here.” He tied the apron at her back, his hands then trailing down to her ass to give it a squeeze and light slap. “It’s taking everything I have not to bite this sweet ass, Alaska.”

“Let me, at least, get started and then I will let you,” she teased him, turning around. She leaned up on her toes and pulled him down to her. “Kiss me, then let me bake.” His lips met hers in a slow kiss that briefly had her rethinking even starting to bake. Then he drew back and let her go with a smile that said he knew exactly what he did to her.

“Damn,” she whispered, because he certainly knew how to play her body and she loved it. “Okay, organization, then baking.” She had to get herself on track or she was seriously going to get lost and go right back into his arms.

Chapter Nine

Alaska’s birthday. High in the mountains at the hot springs…

Alaska had her tent set up in the trees so that it would—she hoped—be protected from whatever burst of power came this year. Harley and several of his pack mates were in bear form in the woods. Because of that, she wouldn’t be stripping naked as she usually did. She would wear her bra and panties and hope that they survived. Her fire was built and the frisson of power was starting to dance along her skin. She swallowed hard.

She was hot and cold all at once, her skin too tight, and her whole body was starting to ache. She sent up a silent prayer that Harley wouldn’t come while she was changing or gaining power. She’d had to explain to him and all of his pack mates that were helping that it would look like she was in agony, and she would be, but it was expected. They were only to interfere if the man came for her.

Kneeling on a blanket, she took a meditative pose in front of the fire. The sun slid across the sky until it was pitch black save for her fire before her. Lightning struck her body, and the pain was immense but it was no worse than it had been last year. She sensed the powers shifting, merging and changing, and held back a shriek of pain.

That’s when all hell broke loose.

She was suddenly grabbed from behind, a hiss of death near her ear and icy cold fingers digging into her skin. Then there was the iron again, which had her screaming. Between her gaining power and the iron, she couldn’t have stopped the shout even if she had tried. She heard it then, the sound of a snake hissing but in a man’s voice. “Perfect timing. After tonight, I will have daylight again,” the thing whispered in her ear.

It couldn’t be possible. That race was long dead.
No, it can’t be
, Alaska thought to herself, then turned slightly and yelled in real horror as she saw it. “Vampire!” she cried for the whole forest to hear. Sure, they had all heard stories. But vampires had long since died out, or so Alaska thought.

“That’s right, Alaska, a vampire. I am the last, for now,” he purred. “I can’t believe your idiot Kodiak let you go out alone. Tsk tsk. Oh well, I hope that he got his last goodbyes in,” he said as he stroked long nails up and down her neck.

More power poured into her and she was sobbing in utter agony, the iron making it harder for her body to absorb the energy. Her skin was breaking out in welts and boils from the overpowering surges. “That’s right, little witch, just a bit more,” the thing whispered with his claws digging into one side of her neck.

Another bolt of lightning struck, followed by a low, deadly sounding rumble. Not thunder, she realized, but something even more dangerous. The thing at her back switched his attention from her to the forest around them. The rumble sounded again, closer, raising gooseflesh along her skin. The sound held comfort and hope for her, but death for the vile creature.

Before her, the fire began to sputter. There was no way it should have but she could see it happening. There were no sounds coming from the forest now. Not a bird, not a leaf rustling—absolutely nothing moved and yet she knew her mate and the other Kodiaks were closing in steadily.

She felt the claws scraping her neck and taking flesh with them. Unfortunately, she had even more problems to deal with as another surge hit her harder than before. Alaska needed the cuffs off, now. The acrid scent of her own skin reached her nose even as it cracked and bled. The power she was gaining was killing her because she had iron on her.

“Harley, please, now!” She begged for her mate. He would know the pain she was going through, because they were tied together as one. She just hoped and prayed that he wasn’t experiencing the pain she was. When the thing leaned his head closer to her neck and inhaled, she thought she would be ill.

“Ah, you are more powerful than I thought. Far more powerful than your mother. The bitch couldn’t give me the sun back but I think that you can. Finally.” He licked her blood and he shuddered behind her, which made her want to gag and throw up, especially when she felt the iron hard-on that he had pressed against her naked back.

“You are killing me,” she bit out through her shuddering teeth. “The iron, it’s killing me.” She tried to reason with the thing but it just laughed.

“I think it’s fitting. One of your great-great-sometimes-over-grandmothers cursed and killed me, so it’s only fair that you give me life back. Don’t you think?”

“No,” she said and leaned her head forward, then snapped back as hard as possible. She fell forward while the thing fell back holding his mouth and cursing at her. She was in convulsions now. The pain was nearly too much. “Harley…”

Doubled over, Alaska couldn’t see the sudden chaos that broke out in the clearing but she heard it and felt it through the ground beneath her. A roar sounded. One she was pretty sure came from a bear. A fight ensued too close for comfort. Then warm, familiar hands touched her face. “Shh, I have you.” Strong arms and a familiar scent wrapped around her when Harley lifted her from the ground. He carried her some distance before setting her down and moving to take hold of the cuffs.

He snapped the chain between them before bringing her arms around to her front. “Same as the last ones. I’m going to have to pick the locks to get you free. Are you okay?” he asked.

“Just please hurry. I know more is coming.” She was shaking as the power rumbled around them. “Cut off his head. Please, hurry,” she repeated. “I love you, Harley, so much. I can never let you go.” Her back arched and there was more pain as another surge hit her.

“Fucking hell, that hurts like a bitch,” he muttered. “If what I’m feeling is only a drop to what you’re getting, I have some seriously choice words for whatever ancestor gave you this damn legacy.” The first cuff fell from her wrist. Already the relief coursed through her having that one cuff off.

Some distance away she heard a fight still ensuing. Low growling and vicious hissing noises told her that the vampire was still alive, for now. Then the second cuff was off her wrist and Harley was pressing something into her hand. “It’s bottled water. Wash your wrists off the best you can. I have to go help Jagger kill this freak but only if you tell me you know why he did it.”

“He thought that I might be able to reverse the curse an ancestor put on him long ago, so he would be able to walk in daylight again,” Alaska said as she quickly washed her hands off. “Please, kill him. If we have children and he’s allowed to live, he will come for them. Go, the next part is going to hurt like a motherfucker so be warned.” Because what was coming next was going to usher in the crescendo of this whole fucked up birthday ritual of hers. While it wasn’t the strongest wave, it was the next strongest. The last wave would knock her out. “The one after this will knock me out. Be warned,” she told him as she sensed him turning back into his bear, a bear she loved with all her heart and soul. She then arched in on herself and waited for the next wave and screamed with the howling she heard. After that wave there was silence. Then, from the blue, the last surge hit her and had her whole body lifting from the ground. She cried out in pain before giving in to the blissful darkness that beckoned her.

****

Harley stumbled at the pain tearing through his body. He knew it wasn’t truly pain he was feeling but only an echo of what was happening to Alaska. Bracing his paws, he rode through the tidal wave even as he heard her cries choke off. He heard her breathing and her heart beating, which was the only reason he was able to focus on killing the threat to her. Both he and his bear wanted to curl around her and protect her from anything else that came her way, but he had a task to see to first. Then he was taking his mate home and pampering her for a week, at least.

The vampire on the ground was attempting to crawl away even while surrounded. Harley lowered his head and stalked toward the vile being. He let out a growl to warn the others he was going after the thing with everything he had. The creature suddenly stopped, turned, and looked him dead in the eyes. The grotesque, bloody smile had Harley pausing.

A grunt from Jagger made Harley shake his head at the question. Focusing, he moved in closer and when the vampire opened his mouth to speak, he struck. A paw full of claws tore the thing’s head clean off. He backed off from the spray from the contaminated blood and forced the change to sweep over him. “Burn it all and make sure nothing survives but ash. We need to be sure,” he told the others when they’d returned to their human forms. “I’m taking my mate home.” She’d probably kick his ass but too damn bad. He needed her in familiar surroundings and safe. If she blew out all the light bulbs again, so be it. She was unconscious, which meant she damn well didn’t get a vote.

A few long-legged strides carried him back to where she lay crumpled in a heap. Gently he lifted her into his arms before he headed through the thick brush to where he’d parked his truck. An hour tops and he’d have her home, cleaned up, and tucked into their bed. He’d likely be awake the entire night checking on her but so be it. Better safe than sorry.

She roused in his arms, but her eyes were still closed. His bear chuffed in happiness when she curled in closer to him and whispered, “I wanna go home.” Well, there was her vote, damn the woman. “I love you, Harley. Thank you. For taking care of me.”

“Always, little witch. You are mine to care for and protect. Go to sleep for me. I’ll take care of everything.” Dropping a kiss on the top of her head, he cuddled her closer while protecting her body from the branches slapping at them during their journey through the trees. “When you next wake you’ll be tucked in our bed all safe and sound.”

“Sounds good,” she whispered, then drifted back off to sleep. Her trust in him just bewildered him. Even when she had been surrounded by bears she hadn’t been afraid, because he had been holding her. He eased down an incline. Two minutes later they reached his truck and he got her inside into the nest of blankets he’d been smart enough to set up. Even if she’d been out there the whole night without the vampire incident, she’d have been chilled. After tucking her in, he quickly dressed, then got to work driving them home.