Page 19

Chapter Nineteen

Tegan

“Where did you learn how to do this?” My hair was perfectly curled and pinned, and my stylist had just expertly added a strip of lashes. No, I wasn’t in the Moonlight Mates makeup trailer. I was in Natalie’s bedroom. “You have some serious talent.”

“When you’re the nerdiest kid in a small town you wind up with a lot of time on your hands,” Natalie said as she spread the glue on the other lash strip. “There are only so many science experiments Dad will tolerate, and I like to keep busy. So I started watching tutorials and practicing on myself. And it was a good way to make friends when I went away to school.”

“Your dad will go pretty far to make you happy.” Even though it was completely unexpected to have Natalie with us on our first weekend truly together, getting to know her had been pretty amazing. She was smart, funny, and surprising, and I loved watching her and Barrett together. If I’d had any doubts about committing to this bear, they’d completely disappeared after I saw how good he was with his daughter.

“Dad tries too hard sometimes.” She sighed. “He wants to make up for the fact that Mom is gone, like it’s his fault. I try to make things easier for him. Stay still for a minute and let the glue dry.”

“You’d be surprised how much he likes a challenge.” It took everything I had to keep my gaze down and not blink away the emotion I felt at the thought of this teenage girl trying to take care of this big, protective bear.

“From you.” Natalie was grinning when I was finally able to look up. “Can I tell you a secret? I’d been low-key dreading this trip home because he was so sad when I left the first time. Didn’t know if either of us could go through me leaving again. But with you here, he’s so happy. There’s light in his eyes again.”

“He makes me happy too.” I reached for her hand. “Can you promise me something? I know we just met, and I’m kind of in a weird place, being your dad’s girlfriend.”

“I think you might be more than his girlfriend.” Natalie’s cheeks pinked. “And I know better than to commit to anything before I know the terms and conditions.”

“If only I’d known you when I got my contract for Moonlight Mates .” I laughed and rose from my seat in front of the vanity. “Don’t hold yourself back because you think you need to take care of your dad. He can’t wait to see you go into space.”

Natalie gave me a surprise hug. “Take care of him for me.”

“I promise.”

She left me alone to get dressed. I’d chosen a black crushed velvet minidress that hugged every curve. I would’ve never had the confidence to wear something like this before I met Barrett, but the way this bear looked at me…

I strutted into the living room to find his gaze sparkling and hungry. It was enough to take my breath away, and that was before I even had a chance to consider the total package. Tonight he was wearing a black button-down shirt, untucked, sleeves rolled up to the elbows, dark jeans, and boots.

“Hi.” I slipped my hands around his waist and kissed his cheek.

“That dress is incredible.” His voice was low enough only for me to hear and had that delicious rumble to it, and these panties would barely make it out of the house. “I can’t wait to see it on the floor.”

My cheeks burned. “Barrett.”

I turned to make sure Natalie wasn’t paying attention to us. She was already back in her room, knowing I would take good care of her dad.

“I’ve been dreaming about this night.” My naughty bear was relentless. “I want to tell you all the details, but it will give it away.”

“You should just tell me.”

“What fun would that be?” The only instructions I’d been given for the night were to get dressed up.

The two of us were quiet on the drive, but it didn’t mean the energy between us wasn’t supercharged. As excited as I was for whatever Barrett had planned, I was nervous too. Our world so far had been small, inside a snow globe, and this was our first official date.

“Are we in Granger Falls?” I asked as we entered the small town. There was no other place we could be—I recognized many of the shops on Main Street from The Real Werewives.

“We are.” His eyes were on the road, but his lips were curled into a wicked grin.

“Where are you bringing me?” It was too late for dinner, and we’d had some food before we left. My heart pounded.

“You really don’t like surprises, do you?”

“They usually aren’t good.”

He glanced over at me. “We’ll have to change that. Starting tonight.”

Barrett drove straight through town and into a giant, bustling parking lot full of cars, trucks, and motorcycles. I would’ve known that giant building anywhere.

“We’re at the Stepchild.”

There was a line outside the club when we got there, and Barrett led me to the front. “It’s been torture trying to keep this a secret from you, but this is the first of many.”

There was a camera crew waiting for us. A woman approached. “Tegan? Hi, I’m Stephanie Manada, one of the executive producers from The Real Werewives . As much as we were thrilled to hear that you didn’t need our help finding a mate, we were even happier when Barrett reached out to see if we could help him out tonight.”

I turned to my bear. “How did you pull this off?”

“I work with Javier, Stephanie’s mate, on a regular basis. You know from the show that some of those wolves do undercover security work. We’ve saved each other’s asses more than once, and they were more than happy to help me fulfill this fantasy for you.”

“You mean, they’re gonna film us in Red Heaven?”

“Not exactly,” Stephanie said. “It will be just like the show. We’ll film just up to when things get too hot to handle, and then leave the two of you alone for the rest. You’ll never know we’re there.”

This was amazing. “Will it be part of an episode?”

Stephanie shook her head. “If we’d like to use any of it for promo, we’ll let you see it first and you’ll sign off on everything. Tonight, you’re an honorary Werewife, and you always have final say of how we use the material. But mostly, this is just for you and Barrett.”

“This is amazing,” I said as the sound woman pinned a mic inside my dress.

“You love these shows so much, and I thought your episode should have a happy ending.” Barrett’s voice was pure growl, like it was every time he took me to bed.

“It already does.”

He was mic’d too, and there was no way they didn’t pick it up when he said, “I can’t wait to watch this night with you, over and over again.”

My body heated with the suggestion, but then I remembered this was just for us. I pulled away from him and motioned for him to follow me.

The crowd at The Redheaded Stepchild was rowdy and ready to party tonight. There was a band onstage, and the dancefloor was full of people singing along, dancing, and lost in their own rhythm. Sweet moon, I was really here. Barrett’s hand was on my back.

I looked over at him, his gaze was on the stage, but it slid over to meet mine. Always the protector. Always knowing what I wanted. He pulled me into his arms and gave me a kiss that turned my legs into jelly.

His hand moved up my leg, pushing my skirt up to a dangerous level. He rested on the curve of my ass cheek. My heart pounded—even though I’d had a camera crew following my every move for weeks, tonight was different. Supercharged.

It was so much different when I was actually with my mate. I never thought I’d feel anything like this. I’d chalked it up to being human. Not feeling my emotions as deeply as someone who had animal instincts. But I had it all wrong. I was capable of feelings this intense.

The band started again, and I moved my hips to the frantic beat. Barrett’s erection was hard against my stomach.

He somehow managed to tear his lips away from mine. His eyes were on fire.

“I want to strip you out of this dress,” he growled. “I need to take you.”

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Stephanie motion to her crew to head to Red Heaven.

I nodded to Barrett. “I want everyone here to know I belong to you.”

He picked me up easily and headed away from the crowd. My arms were around his neck. It took everything I had to keep from kissing him.

A guard nodded to us and lifted the velvet rope.

“Welcome to Red Heaven, baby,” he said.

The area was dimly lit, with curtained rooms along the walls. Dancers in various stages of undress were on a narrow stage in the middle of the room.

Those little curtained rooms…many of them were full, even though the curtains were wide open. Couples, threesomes, even one woman with four mates—you go, girl—were all lost in the throes of passion.

The camera crew hadn’t followed us back here.

Barrett set me down on my shaky feet. I’d fantasized about this night so many times, I knew exactly what to do.

I slipped the strap of my dress off my shoulder, and ran my hands over my body, luxuriating in the feel of the velvet. Pretending they were Barrett’s hands. I ran them over my breasts, going back and forth slowly as my nipples pebbled.

The lace of my bra was visible, and my touch was electric as I dragged my fingers over it.

Barrett’s eyes were glued to the motion, and he was in a full body rumble as he backed me against the partition between two of those little rooms. One of them was empty, but the other one was rocking.

I didn’t have eyes for anyone but my bear.

He pushed the dress down, taking the bra with it. My boobs were out, on full display in this crowded room. Sweet moon, this was so hot. Barrett lowered his mouth to take one of my nipples into his mouth. He covered my other breast with his big hand, running his fingers over my nipple, bringing it to an impossibly hard peak.

“Barrett,” I moaned. I thought I was gonna explode.

He moved up my body, his forehead dewy when it brushed against mine. “I need you now, Tegan.” He groaned. “Do you want stay here, or go in one of the rooms?”

“The room.” I could barely speak. “But don’t close the curtain all the way.”

His lips curled into a wicked grin. He lifted me again, this time putting me over his shoulder. Just enough so I could see all the people watching us.

I pushed the curtain open as we passed it.

“You’re not so shy after all,” he said as he pulled the dress over my head.

I shook my head. Words were too much right now. I reached around and unhooked my bra and let it fall to the floor. Barrett’s big body was in front of me, offering some shelter, but otherwise, I was just in my drenched panties and stockings in this bustling, exclusive club.

My fingers shook as I unbuttoned his shirt and slid it down his shoulders. He was pure beast, rumbling, vibrating, and I practically expected fur to burst through his skin. But I was more than thankful that it didn’t.

His hands were on his belt buckle, and he freed himself from his pants. His cock was hard and ready for me. I dropped to my knees, taking my thick shaft into my hand, and opened my mouth.

Somehow, he managed to pull me to my feet. No words, he simply shook his head.

“Why?” What man would say no to a blow job?

“Turn around,” he growled. “This is your fantasy, and I’m going to make it come true.”

He was behind me now, and I was on full view to the entire room. He ran his hands over my body, the sensation driving me crazy.

“Hold on to the bar.” He guided my hands to the thick pipe above me. There was no hiding now. As terrifying as this was, I loved it. I had no idea how much this had turned me on until I found out Red Heaven existed, and I couldn’t stop thinking about it. But I never would’ve been comfortable enough to do this with anyone but Barrett. He’d keep me safe. He’d worship my body, make sure anyone who dared to watch us knew I was worthy of being cherished.

Ravished.

Claimed.

His thumbs slipped into the thin straps of my panties and slid them down my thighs. Sweet moon, I was completely naked. He rubbed my hips, and his knee was between my legs, spreading them apart.

I was already dripping wet when his hand slipped between my thighs, but that didn’t mean Barrett didn’t take his time. By now, he knew all the moves that sent my body haywire. My body bucked forward, and the only thing keeping me up was the bar overhead, and his hand on my hip.

Barrett intensified the motion, taking my clit between his fingers and giving it a squeeze.

I saw stars. I cried out as I reached climax. Just as the band stopped playing. I felt like I was in the spotlight, all eyes on me.

My bear wrapped his arm around my waist. His other hand slipped away from my hip and I could feel him positioning that giant cock of his to enter me.

I had a feeling this might be his fantasy too, whether he knew it or not. There was nothing gentle about the way he entered me, his thrusts strong and fast. My muscles pulsed around him as if trying to trap him inside me, claiming him as much as he claimed me.

His hands moved to my shoulders, steadying me as he continued to slide in and out of me. The rhythm was relentless, and my next orgasm was building fast.

Barrett’s claws dug into my skin---claws? He was still human, but at the same time, he was all bear as he scraped his nails down my shoulder, marking me.

His shaft swelled inside me, and he came. We’d definitely gotten those condoms.

The two of us stood there, naked and panting, but forever intertwined.

“That was amazing,” I finally managed.

“That was just the beginning.” He kissed my dewy forehead. “I can’t wait to be wild with you, again and again.”

Thank you for reading!

I hope you had as much fun reading Tegan and Barrett’s story as I did writing it! I loved having a chance to revisit one of my favorite fictional places, Sawtooth Forest. Okay, it does exist, but the jury is out on whether any actual shifters live there. I’m a little biased, but I think they definitely do. Granger Falls, however, is purely fictional. This is my first foray into exploring the bear shifter population in the area, but if you want to read more about the Sawtooth Shifters and The Real Werewives season that filmed in Granger Falls… you can get all the details here .

If you’re curious about Bellamy and the mate who rejected him…she’s back, and bringing chaos to everything she touches. He’s not getting involved. Or so he thinks…

Keep reading for a sneak peek at My Un-Bearable Mate!