Authors: Jane Wakely
“Yes.
Last night after you ran off, Matt told me and showed me his wolf. He also described
a little bit about mates and the strong connection he and Jenn share.”
“Did he
tell you you’re my mate?”
“Matt
didn’t confirm anything, but it made sense to all of us that you were talking
about me when you told him about our meeting in the market and then later, when
you tried to hit him after you found out we’d kissed.”
He
growled at the mention of her long ago kiss with Matt. “Ugh, don’t remind me.”
“It was
a long time ago and it didn’t mean anything, or do anything, for me.” She
laughed.
“Don’t
even joke about it. You
are
my mate.
I can’t stand the thought of you with anyone else, even if it was in the past.
You’re really not afraid of me?”
“No, I’m
really not.” The thought that she could be afraid of him was absurd to her.
Maybe she needed to let him know she thought he was perfect, too.
“There’s
a lot of other stuff I need to tell you—and I know we need to take it slow—but
when you’re ready I want to marry you.” This time he’d surprised her.
“Bull,
you hardly know me. You can’t know that for sure.” Even as she said the words,
allowing him to change his mind and take his back, she wanted them to be true.
“Actually,
I can. It’s different for shifters. Like I said, there’s a lot of other stuff
you need to know, but there’s no doubt in my mind you’re the only one for me.”
He
seemed so certain. Christina couldn’t stop the tear that escaped and slid down
her cheek.
“Hey,
it’ll be okay. I won’t rush you and if we never marry, it’ll be fine. I just
want to be with you.” He wiped away the tear with his thumb and kissed her
lips. “Do you think we can give it a try?”
Christina
hugged him tight.
“I’m
crying because I’m happy, Bull. I want to be with you, too.”
“You
do?”
“Yes,
very much.”
“Good.”
He sighed and seemed to relax. “As long as those are happy tears, let them
fall.”
He held
her tight and let her cry until she pulled out of his arms and rested her head
on his shoulder.
“So, do
you shift into a bull?”
“No, a
bear,” he said laughing.
“A bear?
Really?” She pulled back to study his face. Seeing him nod, she put her head
back on his shoulder. “Then why does everyone call you Bull?”
He
laughed again.
“Growing
up with this big body was difficult, especially as a teenager. I was really
uncoordinated and my mom said I was like a bull in a china shop. The name just
stuck.”
“You’re
nothing like that now, although I like
Bull
better than James.”
“Yeah,
me too.”
Chapter Nine
“Bull?”
Christina asked quietly.
“Yeah?” He
cleared his throat, ready to answer her questions.
“Is that
all we needed to talk about?”
Her
words had his pulse racing. Somehow they made him think of sex.
They’d
sat on the couch with her head on his shoulder for several minutes after they
discussed his name. He wanted to kiss her again, but he gave her time to ask
questions and adjust to what he’d told her.
Christina
didn’t ask any questions. She’d taken the information remarkably well and he
was a bit surprised. She hadn’t asked to see his bear or any specific details
about his animal. It worried him, but he didn’t want to force her to accept
him. He hoped she would though. He wanted her to accept all of him. He didn’t
want her to be afraid.
“That’s
all for now.” Her silence was driving him crazy. Would she make him leave?
Could she accept him? Bull wished she would say something.
“Okay.
Do I get to see your bear?”
Could it
be that easy?
“Yes, if
you want to, I want you to see it. I don’t want you to be afraid though, I’m a Grizzly
and I’m big, but I would never hurt you.”
“Will
you know it’s me?”
“Yes.
Except for some exaggerated senses, I’m the same as I am now—just in a different
form. I’ll be a bear, but I keep all of my human thoughts and feelings.”
“That’s
good. Then you can always find your way home.”
He hoped
she would be there waiting for him when he did.
“Bull?”
She whispered.
“Yeah?”
What would she say? His palms were sweating and his skin felt too tight. He’d
walk out if she asked him to, but it would tear his heart out.
Christina
laid her palm on his cheek and turned his head to face her. He’d been lost in
thought and hadn’t heard what she’d said.
“Kiss
me.”
****
Christina
should have known Bull’s animal would be a bear. Due to his size and
temperament, it made sense, but she didn’t really know much about bears. She’d
have to pick his brain for the details, but that could wait until later.
She’d
known Matt had no reason to lie to her, but she’d still been afraid of what
would happen when Bull got to know her and all of her faults. Hearing him
confirm she was his mate and that he didn’t care about her past began to knock
down the wall of fear surrounding her heart.
Bull
seemed honest when he admitted his feelings and even though she’d only met him
two days ago, she had feelings for him. It didn’t make any sense, but sometimes
love didn’t. She’d watched Jenn and Matt fall in love quickly and never
questioned their commitment. From the outside looking in, it was as if they
were meant to be. Maybe it really was that way for Bull and herself also.
Christina
was ready to take the leap and give love a chance.
She’d
asked Bull to kiss her, but his mind seemed far away. It was as if he was sure
she would turn him away. The thought had never crossed her mind. Instead, she
wanted to kiss him again.
“Kiss
me,” she said after she turned his face to hers.
Bull
didn’t waste a second. His lips landed on hers carefully, coaxing her mouth
open with tender nips and brushes with his tongue. He took his time, but the
rapidly pulsing vein in his neck gave away an underlying urgency that sent her
heart racing. Bull’s kisses became more determined, and his mouth left a fiery
trail down her neck.
Christina
leaned back on the couch, pulling him down on top of her. He kissed her mouth
again and settled between her legs. His hard length pushed against her warmth as
he slid his tongue inside her mouth. Already sensitive from his kiss, the combination
caused more liquid to dampen her panties as she wrapped her legs around his
waist, trying to pull him closer.
To her
disappointment, Bull pulled away.
“I’m
going to crush you.” He tried to get up, but Christina wouldn’t loosen her
hold.
“No you
won’t,” she said as her hand around his neck pulled his mouth back to hers.
He
kissed her once more before he pulled away again, this time using his strength
to flip them so she was on top.
“Bull!”
Christina screamed at the abrupt movement.
“I want
you so much but I don’t want to hurt you. I need you on top this time.”
“Okay,
but I know you won’t hurt me. Let’s go to the bedroom.”
“Okay.”
Christina’s
second scream turned into a laugh as Bull used his strength again. He rose from
the couch with her still wrapped around his waist and carried her to her
bedroom. Bull sat on the edge of the bed with Christina on his lap.
Slowly
he lifted her shirt and she raised her arms to help him pull it over her head.
Next he unfastened her lacey bra and dropped it to the floor. Bull’s hands
carefully massaged her large breasts.
“You are
so beautiful.” He leaned forward and licked one of her hard pebbles before
slowly sucking it into his mouth, pulling back and licking again before letting
it go. He repeated the process on the other side, alternating as Christina
wiggled on his lap.
Too many
clothes separated them and she couldn’t quite get the completion she desired,
though she feared she might come from his mouth alone. No man had ever loved
her breasts enough for her to orgasm, but Christina felt the familiar
sensations around her opening.
She held
onto Bull’s shoulders and ground against him harder. He knew what she needed,
undid her jeans and slid his hand down over her panties. Christina moaned and
rocked against him. Bull wiggled one finger under her panties and slid it
easily into her warmth.
With a
hand behind her back, he leaned her back and latched onto one of her breasts as
he moved his finger in and out. Christina held his head in place and came in
seconds, moaning her release.
Bull
pulled her upright, removing his finger and kissing her mouth as she recovered.
A twinge
of fear surrounded Christina as she replayed the last few moments in her mind.
She’d ground against Bull like a stripper giving a lap dance until he gave her
want she wanted. She then loudly moaned her satisfaction, forgetting to try and
keep quiet. What would he think of her now?
“I need
to see all of you. Right now. Do you have any protection, honey?”
“Yeah,
in the drawer.” She pointed to the nightstand.
Bull
stood up and her feet slid to the ground. He kissed the top of her head and
hugged her close. Christina felt his arousal against her stomach and she wanted
to give him pleasure, too. Her fingers moved to the button on his pants and he
stepped away, working the button himself.
“As much
as I want to go slow, I can’t this time. I’m so sorry.” He’d taken off his
clothes rapidly as he turned to get the condom out of the drawer. Seeing his
urgency, Christina took off her jeans and panties. When he turned back to face
her, she couldn’t move.
Bull was
all muscle surrounded by defining lines and he seemed larger without his
clothes on. No wonder he’d been afraid of crushing her. She still believed he
wouldn’t, but she’d convince him later. He ripped open the wrapper, rolled the
condom over his massive length and lay down in the center of the bed.
“Christina,
honey, ride me.”
She
grabbed his outstretched hand and crawled on top of him.
Christina
wrapped her fingers around his hard member and positioned it at her wet
opening. She slid down slowly, her palms resting on his chiseled chest,
adjusting to his size. She took him in little-by-little until he was fully
inside, filling her like no other man ever had.
Bull
hadn’t moved a muscle while she maneuvered down his length.
“It’s
okay. We fit perfectly.” She kissed him on the lips, before she started to
move.
Steady,
controlled movements soon lead to a frantic rhythm, spurred on by Bull’s own
growls and grunts. When he finally started letting his hands roam, she’d moved
faster, pushing him toward completion.
The
friction led her to another orgasm and Bull followed within seconds, yelling
her name. She smiled, happy the apartments weren’t connected. He was so much
louder than she was.
Christina
collapsed on top of Bull and he encircled his arms around her, holding her
tight.
“That
was fantastic.”
“Yes, it
was.” She agreed.
“I need
to take care of the condom.”
Already
drowsy, Christina carefully released Bull and lay down on the bed beside him.
She was asleep minutes later when he came out of the restroom, but she still
heard the words.
Bull
pulled her close and whispered, “I love you.”
Christina
snuggled closer in response. She loved him too, but she wanted to be fully
awake when she told him.
Epilogue
Bull was
nervous. He couldn’t believe his palms were sweating. The final papers were
signed and he couldn’t wait to show Christina the surprise. The silence in the
cab of the truck was overwhelming and added to his fears. He allowed himself to
think about how much had changed in the last two months.
He’d
moved out of the hotel and into Christina’s apartment the first day they’d made
love. The next day he went to his scheduled interview with Matt’s boss and got
the job. He started work the next day.
He and
Christina had fallen into an easy routine as if they had been together for
years, not days. There was no doubt in his mind—moving to Chestnut Rock was the
best thing he’d ever done.
Not only
did he have Christina, but Matt and Jenn were here, too. The foursome spent
time together every couple of weeks and sometimes they invited Hollie. Once
Christina found out that Hollie was an actual bunny, she understood Hollie’s
strange reaction to Bull and wanted her to feel comfortable around him.
Their
friends easily answered any questions she had.