Called by the Bear 1-3 (17 page)

L
ily

H
ot breath tickles
my sweat-slicked skin as I trace the outline of a tattoo on the guy’s huge bicep. A low voice rumbles through me as the muscled man who just made me scream says, “You’re so beautiful.” He pulls out of me, and it’s as if he’s taking a piece of me away for safekeeping. I whimper and am about to speak…

Bands of sunlight filter through my blinds as I wake.
Today’s the day.
I’m so out of here. Last night I packed my car and threw my room-cleaning clothes, sneakers and all, in the dumpster behind the motel as if I was shedding my skin. I'd been running the place for so long I don't think it occurred to me I was allowed to have a life.

After I shower and dress, I grab my last bag and the list. I should feel guilty about leaving my mother with nothing but directions for keeping the business running. But I don’t, because nothing I can do will make her deal with life outside a bottle of Mr. Boston coffee brandy.

The scarred wood floor creaks under my feet as I walk through the living room toward the front door. Leaning over the couch, I kiss my passed-out mother goodbye for the last time. Her sour smell turns my stomach as I place my note on the coffee table.

She’s no longer my problem.

T
he moment
I had the first bear dream, I knew I was meant for a lot more than Grand Junction, Colorado. Catori, the old Indian woman who scared the children in my town by knowing things she shouldn't, confirmed it. She told me I was destined to save a clan, and here I am. Ready to save the black bear.

Well, that's not the only reason. The man in my dreams is calling me, too. Carly and I have been texting since the day she and Sierra gave me my tattoo. She says he's quite real and anxious to meet me.

I glance out at the grass that leads to pine trees on the side of the interstate just before I get off at the Bangor exit. I don't know when it started, but I've had the strangest feeling something is following me, and the flash of black I see in the woods every once in a while has me convinced.

When I get off the highway, I pull over at a gas station to check my phone for the final directions. The breeze that greets me when I open the door of my car carries the scent of pine mulch from the freshly landscaped flower beds.

I'm only a few miles from my destination, and my stomach starts to roll, while my palm is slick against the gas nozzle. My confidence has just taken a hike. The gas pump meter ticks away as if I'm running out of time. A flash of black makes me glance at the trees that surround the gas station. I’m paranoid because I don’t see anything. I can't seem to shake my uneasy feeling, but after three days of driving, I'm not turning back now. I burned my bridges behind me.

As if to seal my fate, I see a bear along the side of the road just before I get to the gift shop where I'm supposed to meet Carly. I wonder if attacks are a problem here, and it makes me more wary about my rash move across the country.

Ten minutes later, I pull into the parking lot of the address Carly gave me. It’s a wooden building, unpainted and grayish with age. The door is clear glass, and Carly's face is warm and welcoming when she opens it to greet me. I begin to relax. She's genuinely happy I’m here.

“I’m glad you’re finally here. Come meet Annie. You’re going to love her.” She leads me into the small gift shop.

My feet thump softly on a wood floor as we enter, and a tall woman approaches us with a tray. “Hi, I’m Annie.” She holds out the platter full of candy. “These are made from our maple syrup. Try one.”

“Thanks.” I reach for a leaf-shaped sweet.

The sugary treat melts on my tongue as she asks about my trip. After a few minutes of small talk, Annie says, “I know Carly has filled you in on what we do, so if you’re ready, I'm going to drive you around to show you the business.”

I nod in agreement as I put a final tiny maple leaf candy on my tongue.

“Good. Let’s go see your new home. That is, if you decide to stay.”

I don't tell her I have no choice. “Sure, we can go now.” She leads us out the back, and we climb into a Hummer. Being a big girl, I appreciate the roominess and slide comfortably over the leather of the front seat.

Annie drives us through hundreds of acres as she and Carly tell me about the multifaceted business of a tree farm. My skills from running the motel can be put to good use if I want, or I can try something new. By the end of the tour, I feel as if I made the right decision to come here, even if my cautious nature is making me unsure.

We return to the shop, and I’m instructed to follow Annie and Carly to their home. When the blinker of the Hummer in front of me indicates it’s time to turn, a chill lifts the hair on the back of my neck. I shake my head at my silly fear of the unknown and follow them up the long drive toward Carly, Brady, and Annie's home. My anxiety morphs to something more like panic, because I'm going to meet Ian soon. My dream floods my memory, and my insides tingle as I remember his large arms holding his weight above me. I recall the pressure of him inside me and how I didn’t want him to leave. It makes me take a deep breath to calm down.

Driving through a wrought-iron gate, I stare in awe at the huge house. I’ve heard the weather here can be severe, but this building looks as if it could withstand every natural disaster. Landscaping with gardens that give the impression of wildflowers in a field softens the ominous structure, and a wrap-around porch encircles both levels. The look is majestic, like something you’d see in a travel magazine.

Pulling my worn duffle bag from the front seat of my old car, I wonder if Ian is this rich, too. My car door creaks open, and Carly comes up next to me when I slam it shut.

She says in a quiet voice, “This place overwhelmed me the first time I saw it, too. My apartment in California was the size of the guest bathroom. But Annie and Brady are awesome, and you'll be comfortable, promise.”

A smile forms on my face at her kind words.

Our feet tap lightly on the three wooden steps as we climb to the front door. We enter a large room that has a peaked ceiling two stories high. Plenty of windows let in daylight, and I take in the surroundings as they lead me through. Annie says, “Carly, I'll go make tea if you want to take Lily to her room.”

I like that Annie doesn't ask if I want anything and assumes instead. Carly takes me up stairs covered with a carpet runner that muffles our steps. At the end of the hallway, we enter a room decorated in pale aqua and green. The bed is set up high with a thick comforter, and the numerous pillows on it make me want to slide in and snuggle.

Carly says, “I'll let you unpack and get settled. Come on down to the kitchen when you’re done.”

I'm quick, and the kettle starts to whistle when I join Annie and Carly. A plate of cookies and a selection of teas are on a table in a windowed breakfast area.

Annie says, “Now that you’ve seen our business, you can mull over what you might want to do. It’s our hope you’ll decide to stay and settle down.” The kind blonde’s eyes sparkle as she says, “Nothing would make me happier than to see you have children and a family with Ian.”

Her words strike me as odd, and I sense they aren't telling me something. We move on to easy conversation that distracts me from obsessing about meeting Ian. The moment the girls perk up as if they’ve heard something, my heart begins to beat faster. I stand when Annie goes to open the door.

Ian's familiar deep voice carries toward me from the great room as he makes small talk with Annie. When he enters the kitchen, the first thing I notice is his size. While all three women in this room are at least six feet tall, Ian is even bigger.
Just like the version in my dreams.

He's wearing a button-up shirt with the sleeves rolled to his elbows. A bunch of daisies tied with a blue ribbon is thrust at me as his rich baritone voice says, “Hi, Lily.”

How sweet. I take two slow steps toward him and take the flowers as I notice the broadest shoulders I've ever seen. I take in wavy hair that falls just below his shoulders before I see the kind smile.

“Hi.”

He says, “You're more beautiful than in my dreams.”

Heat rushes to my cheeks as my skin tingles. I drop my gaze as my face reddens even more. Annie is quick to try to put me at ease. She says, “Ian, I need you and Lily to do me a favor.” A drawer rattles when she opens it, and she hands me a pair of scissors. “Go cut me some chives from the garden.”

The plastic handle is cool in my hand, and I nod. Ian opens the door for me, and I mumble thanks as I go past him. I stop to let him lead the way, and we walk side by side toward a stone path.

Scanning the area, I hope to find what looks like an herb garden and spy a green section as Ian asks, “Do you know what we're looking for?”

I shake my head, and a deep laugh rumbles from him. It's contagious, and I join in. When he finishes, he says, “Me either. Let's go see if we can sniff it out.”

We both squat down in what we think are herbs, and he breaks off a leaf. He holds it to his nose and then hands it to me as he asks, “What do you think of Maine? Is it much like Colorado?”

“It's greener here.” I sniff and say, “Mint. I think chives look like green onions, sticklike.”

I spot a plant that looks like grass and snip a piece off with my fingernails. Green moisture stains my skin, and the familiar scent floats to my nose. “This is it.” I hold it up for Ian to sniff.

Heat radiates from his face as he leans close. My breath catches in my throat, making me think he might kiss me.

“I feel it too, Lily. I want to touch you, but my head is telling me that's insane, we just met.”

I whisper, “I know.” The memory of his kiss in my dreams plays in my mind.

His voice is low as if he's talking to a frightened animal. “I won't rush this. Please don't be scared.”

I reach out slowly and stroke his cheek. A hint of stubble is rough on my finger. “I'm not afraid of you.”

The corners of his mouth turn up slowly, and he lets me trace the outline of his face. When I get to his mouth, his lips part slightly, and he licks the tip of my finger. The warm moisture matches the way I'm melting, and I take a deep breath, exhaling shakily.

“I—” I drop my gaze in embarrassment.

Ian grasps my hand gently. “I like your hair. Did it used to be blonder?”

I recall the tattoos that cover his arms. We know a lot about each other’s physical appearance. “Yeah. I’ve been making a lot of changes lately.”

“Was it hard to leave home?”

I shake my head, and the stench of my mother’s perpetual alcohol breath makes me frown. “No. It was a good thing for me to leave.”

Ian squeezes my hand. “When you’re ready, you can tell me anything.” He winks at me. “I even know a few guys that could take care of business if you wanted.”

I smile at him and tease, “Those tattoos are gang related?”

“Naw, I’m actually pretty wimpy when it comes to violence. But this connection we have makes me want to protect you.” He flexes his arms. “Just say the word, and I’ll call the cops.”

I chuckle as his brown eyes crinkle at the corners with his grin.

He says, “We should get back inside.”

Without letting go, we stand, and our fingers interlock as we return to the house. While my trip started days ago, I think my journey has just begun.

C
arly

A
nnie loves to cook
, and she also seems to love matchmaking. Over a dinner of lasagna, salad, and garlic bread, she directed the conversation to enlighten Lily on Ian’s childhood while keeping it away from werebear. When we finished, she suggested Ian take Lily out for ice cream before returning her to us.

Excitement danced in Lily's eyes when he asked if she liked motorcycles, and it made me imagine the roar of the engine under me with Brady between my legs as I wrap my arms around him. Sex has been something the two of us haven't been able to get enough of since the day we met. And now that I'm pregnant, my supersensitive body has taken my heightened awareness to a level I never knew existed.

When I push the button to start the dishwasher, it begins to hum softly. Brady tosses the sponge into the sink with a light thump, and his heat envelops me as he slips an arm around my waist from behind and nuzzles my neck. “Annie is happy to play nervous mom to Lily.”

I arch my back to push my bottom against his groin as I take a deep breath. “Did you have something in mind?”

Knowing Annie can hear us easily even though she's in the other room, he speaks in his head.
“The taste of you, for starters.”
His hands move to grip my hips, and he presses his erection hard against my butt.
“And then I want to bury my cock inside of you until we both can't take any more.”

I tease back as I turn to face him.
“I was thinking along the lines of ice cream, because there's something I want to lick.”

He takes my shoulders,
and his mouth meets mine with hunger. The desire to have him naked is so great that I have to force myself not to strip off his clothes, and I break away.
“Upstairs, now.”

“I love it when you get alpha on me.”
Brady pulls me by the hand as he practically runs to our bedroom.

He kicks the door shut as his shirt falls to the floor with a light thud, and he lets out a low growl as he approaches me. I'm already pulling my shirt over my head, and the sound sends shivers of anticipation down my spine. As soon as he's naked, he drops before me onto his knees and helps me with my pants.

I climb onto the bed, and he crawls over the floor toward me like a cat. It makes me giggle, but I stop the moment he pulls my hips to the edge and spreads my legs. He says, “You’re so soft and sexy. I want to devour you.”

The texture of his tongue on my thigh makes me tremble, and his hot breath teases me with what's to come. Brady begins to nip as he gets closer, and I'm about to beg when he finally hits his target. My hips buck up, and I moan in pleasure as he brings me to a mind-numbing orgasm.

Usually he likes to thrust into me while I'm still quaking, but tonight I won't let him. “No. I need to taste you, too. Please.”

He climbs onto the bed with a big grin. “You don't have to ask me twice.”

I'm not sure if it's like this for normal women in love, but the taste of my husband is so good I actually crave it. I lick the drop of precum and savor the saltiness. The smooth skin is silky under my tongue as I drag it from base to tip and then take him in my mouth.

His guttural sounds reverberate through me as I suck and move up and down on him. Knowing I have the power to make him lose his mind in pleasure, my second orgasm begins to build. My hips are rotating as my sex quivers, wanting more.

Brady pushes my head slightly to get me to stop and says, “Watching that ass of yours move drives me crazy. Mount me.”

I quickly straddle him and lower myself with a sigh of satisfaction, but it's short lived, as I need the friction of him pumping into me. I ride him and let the sensations take over. I'm almost there when he flips me onto my back and drives into me. He practically roars as he comes, and I follow close behind him.

Sweat is slippery between us as we lie panting. Brady lifts himself up on an elbow to look down at me. “I think about being with you like this when I'm at work. If I weren't the boss, I might have fired me by now. I'm not getting much done these days.”

His hair is silky when I comb my fingers through it, and he sighs at the sensation of my nails on his scalp. I say, “I keep waiting for it to get old, but I hope it never does. I can't believe how much I love you.”

Mossy-green eyes look at me, and I see my affection reflected. “Carly, my love for you will never get old.” Brady moves down and lays his head on my stomach. “You've given me the greatest gift. Nothing is more precious to me than the four of you.”

I think about how protective he's been lately. The other day he tried to forbid me from swimming in Fishing Gorge with Annie because it borders Veilleux land. I sigh, remembering the fight we had, but I don't want to rehash it right now.

Brady says, “Hey, little guys, we're going to get a peek at you tomorrow.”

In the morning I will get an ultrasound to make sure the babies are okay. While they’ll look and act like human children, if anything goes wrong in a regular hospital, our animal side could be discovered. Fortunately, werebear have the same career desires as humans, and we have plenty of doctors as well as our own small hospital to deal with our health needs.

Brady asks, “Are you afraid of childbirth?”

“Kind of. I think I'm more afraid of how I'm going to take care of triplets.”

Brady grins at me. “Really? You'll have every woman in the clan ready to hold and care for our kids. You should be worried you won't get them to yourself.”

He's probably right. The Le Roux women haven't had children in twenty-five years. I think of Annie and how sad it must make her to know she'll never have a baby.

“Maybe, but Annie is the official babysitter. Which reminds me, we need to make her the godmother and legal guardian should anything happen to us. I can't think of another woman I would want to be their mother. Can you?”

“Not even Sierra?”

“Oh, Sierra would be great, but Annie is their family.”

He strokes my cheek with a finger. “You're going to make her cry when you ask her. She always wanted to have children.”

I imagine Annie as a mother. I'm glad she'll be around to help me, because having grown up with only a father makes me doubt my abilities. I think about my lunch with Marion tomorrow and wonder if my suspicion that she's my mother will be confirmed. If so, she'll be a grandmother, too.

I say, “Donna is excited to have grandchildren, too. Maybe we should have a lot of kids.”

“A lot? How many kids do you want to have?”

“I don't know, but you should be happy I want to be pregnant multiple times.” I reach down and grip his cock. “Because it makes me really horny.”

He rolls on top of me, pressing his growing desire against my belly. “Does it now?”

I yank his head down into a kiss and show him just what I mean.