Page 10 of Bear to be Wild (Moonlight Siren #5)

ROAN

M aribelle’s lips were as soft and delicious as I’d imagined. I was finally kissing her. My bear cheered in jubilation.

She pulled away slightly, but the warmth of her lips lingered.

Her eyes blinked rapidly as they appeared to come back into focus. She stepped backward. “Cursed cauldrons, what am I doing?”

“It’s okay,” I murmured, not sure what I was supposed to say. All I knew was that I wanted to resume the kiss.

She bit her lower lip. “We shouldn’t have done that.”

“What?” I asked, stupefied. “Why not?” It was the best thing that had happened to me since I’d stepped foot on this ship.

“Roan,” she declared with a tilt of her chin. “What we just did, we should not be doing. It was a little snafu. We need to be professionals.” Her voice hardened with determination.

Snafu? “Okay,” I agreed, though not at all convinced. If that was what she wanted to do, I’d have to go along with it.

“What the hell is wrong with me?” she muttered to herself as she paced away. “Kiss the bear. Why on earth would I kiss the bear? Everyone knows you don’t poke the bear! ”

I caught up with her. “What’s wrong with kissing the bear?” I shook my head. “Me.” I tapped my chest. “Me being the bear.”

More like sounding like an idiot. No wonder she thinks it was a mistake.

She turned to me, eyes wide. “It’s a terrible idea. We already have this major complication as it is.” She motioned back and forth between us.

I rolled one shoulder. “It didn’t feel wrong to me.” I took a step closer. “But very, very right.”

“Roan…” She raised her hands to her temples. “I have rules. Rules for a reason.”

“I know,” I said gently. “But I’m not any of those men from your past. I won’t hurt you.” I reached out and brushed her hand. “Give me a chance.” When she didn’t pull her hand away, I clasped her hand in mine. “Dinner.”

She blinked at me. “What?”

“Have dinner with me tonight.”

She tilted her head and pursed her lips. “We don’t have a choice now, do we?”

“No, I don’t mean because of this bond.” I shook my head. “But a real date.”

“Roan.” Her protest softened to barely a whisper.

“Maribelle,” I insisted. “Just one dinner.”

She appraised me for a few hard seconds. “Okay, bear.” She raised her index finger. “One dinner.”

The dining room blurred around me that night as I took her to a specialty Italian restaurant.

The chatter surrounding us, the clinking of silverware, it was all background noise.

All I could think about was being on the island earlier, the soft heat of Maribelle’s mouth against mine, and the vibrant sense of how right it felt when I’d kissed her.

Because she’s our mate , my bear pointed out. Again.

Now, across the table, she pushed a Caesar salad around her plate without eating much of it. Her silver curls caught the low light, her pale blue eyes guarded.

“You okay?” I asked.

“Yeah.” She put her fork down. “Just a little”—she paused and glanced around the room while appearing to search for the right word—“overwhelmed.”

I straightened in my chair. “By us? Being here together?”

She took a deep inhale before responding. “I don’t want to complicate things.”

I leaned forward and took her hand. “It doesn’t have to be complicated.”

She slanted her gaze. “How can it not be? We’re flippin’ anchored together because of my mess. Forced to sleep in the same room.”

Same bed , my brain added, but I kept it to myself.

“What if this attraction between us is just—a side effect of the spell?” she asked in a near-whisper.

“It’s not,” I declared.

“How do you know for sure?”

Because my bear knew from the first moment we met.

“Let’s not worry about that now. Tonight, we should have some fun.

Not work, not deal with the stress of undoing the spell.

” I was about to remind her that I’d called tonight a date but didn’t want to add any more stress, so I kept it light. “Just…fun.”

“Fun?” she repeated with arched brows.

“Yeah, I’m new here and would love to have you show me around. What do you do for fun?”

“Not much,” she admitted and finally took a bite of her dinner. After swallowing, she said, “I work a lot at the spa. And then try to unwind.”

“How?”

She snorted. “Anything that doesn’t involve working. I’ll see what’s going on or just take some time for myself.”

“So let’s see what’s going on tonight.”

After dinner, we wandered the entertainment decks, navigating through the crowds of others looking for things to do. I took her hand with the excuse of not wanting to lose her in the traffic. We avoided the bright lights and garish sounds of the casino. She chose a battle of the sexes show.

“Want to join?” I asked her.

“Nah, it’s fun to watch. Trust me.”

We ordered drinks and squeezed onto the last available seat. It was barely large enough to fit us both, so our bodies touched. Perfect.

We sat back and watched the participants on the stages, embarking on all kinds of ridiculous challenges, such as moving balloons from one person to another without using their hands.

I barely paid attention with Maribelle’s body so close to mine.

My heart thumped as her scent filled me with longing.

And I looked forward to returning to her cabin tonight, sharing her bed.

After the show, we wandered up to the Celestial Lounge, where the soft sound of piano spilled out.

A woman with a beautiful voice crooned. A handful of older couples in fine clothing danced while others sat in comfortable seats, many with great vantage points to gaze out to the night sky and rolling sea that surrounded us.

The urge to hold her took hold, and I found the perfect opportunity. “Dance with me?” I suggested, attempting to keep my tone neutral, but heard the low edge in my voice.

Maribelle exhaled slowly, a sign she was about to turn down my invitation. But then she said, “Okay,” surprising me.

I led her to the edge of the dance floor so we wouldn’t be the center of attention.

She was stiff at first, her hand light on my shoulder, but when I drew her closer, she relaxed.

Her body softened into mine, her curls brushed my chest, and her scent wrapped around me.

My bear rumbled, content in a way he hadn’t been in years.

I could stay there holding her forever.

We stayed there for the rest of the night, swaying together, until the band stopped playing.

She pulled back, her cheeks flushed. “I guess it’s time to go to my cabin.”

The walk downstairs was charged with heat. Her cabin was dim when we stepped inside, the hum of the ship’s engines providing a low backdrop.

Maribelle turned to face me, lips parting as if to speak—but her gaze dropped to my mouth. Hungry. Full of longing.

Reflecting my need.

I moved toward her and cupped the back of her neck before I kissed her. Harder and deeper than before, fueled by hours of restraint.

She melted against me, and her fingers clutched my shirt. I removed it and walked her backward until she reached the bed. She gasped softly as I moved her onto it and covered her body with my own.

“Roan—”

“Yes?” I murmured against her throat, kissing down to her collarbone.

She let out a breathy sigh. “Don’t stop.”

Never. I moved down her body, marking her with my mouth and lips as I undressed her. When no clothes remained, I caressed my beauty, worshipping her, tasting her, discovering what she liked.

Delicious. A sensual feast, and I loved how responsive she was to my touch.

I had her right there. On the verge. Her body taut and trembling as she hovered on the edge. She arched up, breathing hard and fast, and I pushed her to break. She shattered with a cry and trembled as the climax rocked through her.

I pulled away and slid over her body. “You’re exquisite,” I murmured before I kissed her.

She clung to me and moaned. “I need you, Roan.” Her raspy voice caught, edged with need. “Need you now.”

Hell yes. I kissed her neck, teased by the pulse beneath her skin, the call to claim her. Mark her. Make her mine.

No, not yet. She wasn’t ready.

I removed the rest of my clothing and covered myself with a condom I retrieved from my wallet. She held onto me as I inched into her, slowly. Damn, she felt incredible. So wet, so tight. I let her adjust before I pushed forward, and once I was fully in, I paused.

Absolute bliss.

I drove into her, slow and steady, while she wrapped her legs around me. Her breathy moans filled my ear. The world slipped away to just the two of us.

The intensity built. Driving. Steady. Relentless.

I rocked into her, harder now, and her moans turned to low gasps.

I lifted her hips and the pressure hit her just right.

She rose against me, wild for more, building, climbing…

She came apart with my name on her lips, and it had never sounded so damn sensual.

She pulsed around me as wave after wave of her climax swept through her. So tight, so good. Pressure climbed. Intensity built, more and more and more—I couldn’t hold back any longer.

A low, primal growl vibrated from deep within. I rumbled, “Mine.”

A fierce explosion rocked my body, sparking lights behind my eyes, as I crashed with my mate.