Authors: Stephanie Summers
“I inherited a shit ton of money from my grandfather. He was a shifter like me, and I was the only one besides him in the family, so I had a special place in his heart. There was no job to worry about and I found myself bored with the social scene around here. Never really found a connection with anyone. The forest is more peaceful, and I can do whatever I want. I can shift when I want, which isn’t all that easy to do in the city.”
“Tell me more about shifters.”
“All breeds of shifters are different. Some can shift from birth, others not until something triggers it. My kind of shifters are all born male and we’re able to shift for the first time around puberty.”
“How is that possible if you can’t get anyone pregnant to make more?”
“That’s where that mating thing comes in. Once a male finds a woman he wants to mate with, they go through a pretty elaborate ritual where she is turned into a shifter. She is able to shift whenever she wants after the first full moon of her transformation.”
“Wow. Now that’s commitment.”
“That’s why there aren’t many of us who shift into bears around. Most women cringe at the thought of not only pledging themselves to one man for the rest of their life, which ends up being quite long because our lifespans are around two hundred years, but becoming a whole new creature entirely disgusts them. It’s too much for most to handle.”
Seraphina caught herself wondering what it would be like to turn into a bear. Would it hurt? Would it be exhilarating? Her index finger rested on her bottom lip. “Did you come through the cave, too?”
His chin tilted up as he began to speak. “I walked right out the front fucking door.”
“How did you manage that? Weren’t they waiting to kill you?”
“Some of them put up a good fight, but they were no match for me. I’m bigger, stronger, and smarter than any of them.”
“You killed them all. For me?”
“Yes. Westerly and his son, too.”
Her breath caught in her throat. “We need to leave, and get you out of town before you’re caught.”
“It was a bear attack, Little Angel,” he winked at her and smiled a half-grin, “but I’m glad to know you’d run away with me.”
“You caught that, I guess.”
“Yep.”
“It’s just that I don’t really have anywhere to go, you know? I can’t go home because my mother was in the process of moving when they took me, and I never really saw the new place. Not that I’d want to go back to her anyway.”
“You do have a place… with me. This can be your home.”
“Would you be here, too?”
“Sometimes. I prefer my other home… I can’t stand being around crowds of people anymore.”
“What if I wanted my home to be wherever you are?”
His eyes widened. “You’d be my mate?”
“I’m considering it… You make me feel safe, Ryder. I have all these feelings for you bubbling to the surface, and I don’t want to ignore them. I feel like I’ve known you for an eternity instead of just a day. You’re the only man I’ve ever had in my life that made me feel protected and so much like a woman.”
“You should probably hear the details of the mating ritual before you decide.”
“Will it be unpleasant?”
“Certain parts might be, but mostly no.”
“Tell me.”
“It involves sex… raunchy, primal, animalistic sex. After that, I shift into a bear and bite you, that’s where the unpleasant part kicks in, but it’ll only hurt for a few minutes. I shift back into my human form, and fuck you some more. Your wound will begin to heal almost immediately, and once it does, you’ll be like me.”
“How does it heal that fast though?”
“I honestly don’t know. It has something to do with the magic of sex.”
“Magical sex? I’m in… But…”
“What is it?”
“Why would you take me as your mate? You just met me.”
He took her hand in his and pulled her to his chest. “My grandfather always told me that I would know my true mate when I found her, and to never give her up once I did. Well, I’ve found her.” He cupped her face with his hand and feathered his lips across hers. “I fell in love with you the moment I saw you running through the woods. When that bastard almost caught you, something snapped in me, and I knew I had to protect you – not just then, but always.”
“Ryder…” Her eyes welled up with tears as her lip trembled.
“When can we do it?”
“Next full moon. Two nights from now.”
* * *
Moonlight broke through the trees and illuminated their way through the forest to the little cottage Ryder called his home. The air was crisp and fresh. Goosebumps pimpled Seraphina’s flesh.
They’d opted to take the easy way in, which involved a motorcycle ride to a clearing in the forest. Ryder pushed the bike along from the clearing to the cottage as Seraphina followed close behind.
Many thoughts ran through her head. Was this what she truly wanted? Was she crazy to fall head over heels in love with a man so fast? What if he was putting on an elaborate act just to fool her into getting whatever he wanted from her?
There was something about Ryder she trusted completely. Though logically she knew she was being foolish by rushing into this mating, she couldn’t shake the feeling that she was his and he was hers. Their bodies fit perfectly together despite the size difference between them, he made her feel safe, and even his deep voice was the sweetest sound she’d ever heard.
They arrived at the cottage not long after reaching the clearing. Ryder parked the bike out front and opened the door. He turned to Seraphina and scooped her into his arms, carrying her across the threshold.
“What was that for?” She giggled.
“You’re my bride, Little Angel. It’s tradition, isn’t it?”
Her arms tightened around his neck. “But we didn’t get married.”
“We don’t have to. After tonight we will belong to each other once again and no piece of paper can ever truly define us.”
Seraphina’s eyebrow arched up. Her lips pursed together before she spoke. “Once again?”
“Yes… My kind believe that we recognize our mates instantly because we’ve lived hundreds of lifetimes together throughout the ages. Our souls are drawn to one another and fight to find their way back to each other.”
“I guess I have a lot to learn about ‘our’ kind.”
Nodding, he sat her down on her feet. Immediately, he shucked the shirt he was wearing from his body and threw it aside. A small bottle of thick liquid sat on a shelf near the door. He picked it up and doused himself in it. A pungent aroma filled the air as it dripped off him to the floor. He glanced at her out of the corner of his eye and caught the questioning look she had on her face. “It’s part of the ritual, just some oils. It helps get the magical part started.”
The scent of the oil filled her nostrils. Deep in her loins, need for him began to build. Body quivering, she ached to be touched by him, to be one with him. Her body threatened to come undone if he didn’t take her soon.
He took her hand and led her back outside. Laying her down in the darkness of the forest floor, he brushed a strand of hair back behind her ear. He stood and shimmied out of his jeans, kicking them aside.
Ryder stood like an Adonis before her, illuminated by the pale moonlight. Cords of muscle tightened around his body and rippled as he flexed. He began to shake and in an instant, the beast stood before her.
Falling to all four paws, he huffed and snorted as he smelled the ground around her. The scent of her need for him brushed against his nose as he nuzzled her there.
She closed her eyes and tried not to think about how much he turned her on, even in his bear form. Her soul cried out to him, and that was all that mattered.
The air was earthy and charged around them. A cool breeze blew. She shivered as her fingers grazed his fur.
Ryder roared above her like only a bear can, and changed back to his manly form. His eyes were fierce and animalistic. He tore at her dress until it was nothing but shreds around her. His big hands gripped the top of her panties and ripped them from her body
She shook with desire and fear of the unknown. His hands ignited her flesh despite the cool air. Reaching up to touch his face, she smiled sweetly at him.
His desire for her only intensified. The beating of his heart, powerful and fast, pumped blood to his cock. Shoving her thighs apart, he jammed his tongue against her pussy, working her harder and faster than she was ready for.
She exploded into his mouth within seconds. Her voice echoed through the night air as she screamed out.
Despite her pleas for him to give her a second to recoup, he kept on, lapping at her clit. His fingers worked her inside, stimulating that sweetest of spots until she came again, this time fluid rushed out of her and onto the ground.
“I’ve never… done that… before.” She said in between deep, ragged breaths. She’d always thought female ejaculation was a myth until that very second.
Ryder didn’t say anything, only grunted as he raised his head to her breasts and pinched her nipple between his teeth before licking his way back to her neck. Both of his arms hooked her legs behind the knees, pushing them toward her head. He nibbled at her throat as he thrust his hips and sank himself deep into the slit between her thighs.
Her pussy locked onto his cock as she raked her nails over the back of his shoulders. Pounding hard into her, he cried out her name. His arms slid underneath her as his hands grasped the tops of her shoulders, anchoring him in place.
He thrust himself into her balls deep and savored the way her tight depths melded to him. In that moment, there was no doubt in his mind she was the one made for him.
Passion, pleasure, and love overtook him. He lost himself to her as his seed spilled out deep within her.
She lay on the forest floor writhing, aching for more of him. He backed away from her and shifted into his bear form. For a split second, she was terrified. She knew he had to bite her, but how badly would it hurt? Would the pleasure she felt make up for the pain?
Ryder’s eyes were downcast as he moved closer to her. She could sense the sorrow emanating from him as his sharp teeth grazed her skin before clamping down on her breast.
Searing pain ripped through her as she cried out to him. Blood trickled out of her and beaded on her skin. He instantly shifted back and cradled her momentarily before flipping her over, forcing her to her hands and knees. Tears flowed down her cheeks as his blossoming erection caressed her ass.
He reached around her and between her legs to rub her clit as best he could. Her mind drifted away from the pain of the bite. His fingers moistened as he coaxed her to come again. As she did, he rammed his cock into her and began to fuck her harder than he had before.
Her hands clawed and gripped the earth. Sweat formed on the tips of her swaying breasts and dripped below. His hands dug into her hips as he thrust into her.
Pulling out of her, he turned her over and made her stand. He closed the distance between them. His hardened shaft pressed against her abdomen. Hands ran along her flesh to the backs of her thighs. He pulled her up to him, settling her pussy just over his cock. He slid easily into her.
She wrapped her legs around his waist and her arms around his neck while she bounced up and down on him. The rough ridges of tree bark ground against the flesh of her back, scratching her in tiny lines all over. But there was no pain. The bite wound on her breast had already begun to close up.
Visions of the two of them performing the same mating ritual danced before her eyes - flashes of memories, of other lives spent together. She saw them in a castle; she saw them in an ancient hut; she saw them in a field of wildflowers. Each time she saw them somewhere new, one constant remained - the two of them together, making love as passionately as they were now.
The pressure in her core began to build once more. Any doubt she had disappeared entirely as she gave herself to him wholly. Her hips thrust in a steady rhythm, edging her closer to the breaking point. He slipped his arms around her and carried her to the nearby river the fed the water fall, never pulling out of her. They splashed down into the water until it was chest deep on him. Clinging to his body, she fought to stay above the water. She arched her back as waves of ecstasy radiated throughout her.
Their marathon fucking session came to an end a few hours later, after he’d had her against the tree, in the stream, on the ground, atop the motorcycle and finally in his bed. The wound healed as he came harder than he ever had, and the ritual was complete.
They had mated completely. She shifted for the first time on the next full moon when they repeated the sexual escapades from that night, like they were destined to do forever.
* * *
Years passed. Their love for one another grew stronger by the minute. Neither of them ever regretted their decision or doubted that they were made for each other. As they grew on in years, they relished the fact that they would find their way to one another again in the next life.
About Stephanie Summers
Stephanie Summers is a wife and mother of two. She recently graduated from West Virginia University with a degree in accounting, though writing is her true passion. Stephanie seemed to always have a story or two or ten running around in her mind. At the ripe old age of 30, she finally decided it was time to put aside the thought that she didn't have what it took to write a novel and began writing her first story.
Craving is the first installment in the Willow Creek Vampires Series, followed by Haunting. Her short story, Love Forgotten, was chosen to be published in Stardust: A Futuristic Romance Collection (available now). Her contemporary rock star romance, Take Me On, as well as the third installment in the Willow Creek Vampires Series is scheduled to be released later in 2014. Look for a set of erotic short stories to be released soon as well
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