Page 26 of Fennick’s Fortune (Sentinels of Apollo #2)

I was still riled from the confrontation, if you wanted to call it that, with Hadar, and my overwhelming yearning to drag Akiva back to my house and ravish her had my emotions on edge.

I wondered what she would tell me that had her worrying it would be too much for me to handle.

If her father wasn’t an overload, I couldn’t think what or who else would be.

I eased back to allow her some breathing room, but we stayed close to the tree I’d pressed her against.

“I’ve found the easiest thing is to rip the Band-Aid off and expose the whole thing,” I told her, encouraging her to let it out. She did.

“I told you I don’t stay in one place long. The reason I don’t is to prevent my father from finding me. It has prevented me from forming lasting relationships. However, as a shifter yourself, you know that sometimes one has urges that must be fulfilled.”

The thought of another man or woman touching her caused a growl to rumble deep within my chest. She gave me a quelling look.

“Don’t give me that macho possessive male attitude that says that men can fuck as many women as they please, but your mate should be a virgin.

It’s unrealistic in humans to expect it, and definitely not most shifters.

I will say that I withstood the drive for many years before I gave in.

I didn’t go out and just pick up the first man I saw in a bar and have sex with him.

I at least chose men whom I knew and had established at least what I thought of as a friendship bond. ” She stopped there.

“Go on,” I said.

“Anyway, over time and as I moved from place to place, I had to re-establish contact with a man in certain areas to be my friend with benefits. It occurred when I knew the mating urge was becoming unbearable. I was always clear before anything happened that it was temporary. I wouldn’t be there forever, and it was purely sex.

No lasting relationship would come from it.

Honestly, the men I slept with seemed relieved and easily accepted those terms.

“That is, until the last place I stayed for an extended period before striking out again and eventually joining up with Asa’s group.

I told you I wasn’t from Cali, but I came from Utah.

I’d been there six months, the longest I’d stayed since living with Peaches and Ernie.

I was on the outskirts of Provo. I was doing well at my work and supplementing it by working with a local photographer who was overrun with business.

“Mickie was his name. He was wonderful and fun to work with. When I wasn’t doing my photography, I helped him stay sane and take a day off without worrying. Not long after starting there, I met his son, Mikeal. He was very different from his dad, but we found ourselves becoming friendly.”

“Let me guess, you become friends with benefits, only he had other ideas,” I said, unable to let the story unroll without commenting.

“Yes, he did. He was pushing for us to become a couple. I told him no and reminded him it was supposed to be only casual. He argued. I didn’t explain to him why I wouldn’t stay, only that my leaving was a given. Finally, when he wouldn’t listen, I refused to see him at all. It drove him crazy.”

“So you left and think he can somehow find you?”

“Let me finish. I told Mickie why I wasn’t continuing to see his son.

He knew we were hooking up. Mickie was disappointed but understood and tried to get Mikeal to see reason.

The reason I know Mikeal could possibly find me is that they’re bears, too.

Something I rarely ran into. I won’t lie and say it wasn’t comforting to be with other bears.

However, it wasn’t enough to make me stay.

Mikeal isn’t my mate, no matter what he may think or desire. ”

“And now you have me wanting to claim you, and Hadar does as well. Christ, no wonder you don’t want to commit,” I muttered.

“Fennick, look at me,” Akiva demanded.

I had glanced off in the distance. I wondered if I stood a chance of truly claiming her. I reluctantly faced her.

“I don’t want Hadar. And even if I have slept with Mikeal, I don’t wish to be with him in any capacity.

As for you… I crave you so much it’s maddening.

In a matter of a few days, I feel closer to you and burn in a way I never have.

And unlike any man in my past, Nova is receptive to being claimed by your Ripper. ”

Unable to resist, I crowded her. She didn’t back away. I wrapped her in my arms. “You just fucking made my day. Go ahead. There’s more. I can tell.”

“There is. I made arrangements to leave. I told Mickie and asked him not to tell his son. He swore he wouldn’t.

Right before I was to leave, Mikeal paid me another visit.

He came to the small cottage I rented. Like most of our preferences, it was in the country, away from prying eyes and humans.

Or as far away as it’s possible to be these days.

He tried to tell me that if I stayed and forgot the casual part, he could show me he was meant to be with me.

“By then, I was out of patience. I told him that Nova wanted nothing to do with his bear. It infuriated him. The next thing I knew, he was tearing at my clothing, shouting he’d prove I wanted him and he’d force my fucking bitch of a bear to submit.

I fought, but he was so strong, no matter his form.

I was so desperate to prevent him from giving me a claiming claw mark and raping me that I let Nova out.

He was startled, and she clubbed him in the head with her paw after clawing him to get loose.

She knocked him down. Before he regained his senses and shifted, she allowed me to come out, and I hit him in the head.

This time, it was with a large rock in my yard.

“With him unconscious for Goddess knows how long, I ran inside and grabbed the go-bag I always had prepared in case of an emergency.

I ran out the back door because I heard him yelling in the front yard, where my car was parked.

I ran for my life. I shed my clothes as I went and let Nova take over again.

Based on the crashing and roaring, I knew Mikeal had transformed and was hot on my trail.

“God, I thought for sure he’d catch me and I’d be claimed and left to a life of misery.

I had flashbacks to what my father did all those years ago.

I backtracked and tried every trick I could to lose him.

It was no use. He was on my trail. Eventually, I came to the Provo River.

I jumped in and floated for a stretch. Eventually, I intended to cross to the other side.

I hoped it would allow me to get away. However, the area had been experiencing heavy rainfall, and the usually gentle river and its rapids were much stronger.

I could fight myself free if I let Nova take over, and I was about to do it when I caught sight of Mikeal in the water, coming for me.

I panicked and let the water take me. I would rather drown than spend my life with him.

“It was close a few times, and the water kept covering my head. But somehow, I made it out on the opposite side of the river. I was exhausted, but I knew I couldn’t afford to rest. I hiked to the outskirts of the nearby town and flagged down a trucker who gave me a ride.

Sometimes, I’d walk or travel at night as Nova.

Other times, I’d be on foot or hitchhiking for a while.

When I was well out of Utah, I would stay in a small town for a few days or a week and do odd jobs to earn money or find a place to stay.

I was well into California when I ran into Asa and his people.

You know the rest. So see, if I stay with you, you’ll have more than my father or Hadar to worry about.

There’s always the tiniest chance that somehow Mikeal might find me.

I don’t know what’s wrong with me that I attract so many twisted individuals. ”

“Do you think I’m twisted?” I asked.

The look of remorse on her face told me that wasn’t the case before her words did it.

“Oh, Fennick, no! Please, I didn’t mean you.

I’m sorry. I’m referring to Hadar, Mikeal, and really, my father.

What is it about me that seems to attract them?

I swear I’m not doing anything that I’m aware of to cause it.

Yes, I slept with Mikeal, but I’ve slept with others, and they never went off the rails. ”

“You shouldn’t look at it as if there’s something wrong with you. You’re so bright and wonderful, and the ultimate catch that they can’t help but want you for themselves.”

Her aghast look changed to a smile. “Wow, you sure know how to make a woman feel special.”

“I haven’t even gotten started. You’re a honeyed dream. You know how irresistible honey is to bears,” I said a moment before I let my growl of desire loose. Then, I had her pressed against the tree again.

“Tell me I can’t,” I begged. My control was tenuous.

“Can’t what?” she whispered.

Her breath caressed my lips, and her unique perfume filled the air. My mouth watered for a taste.

“I want to taste you,” I admitted.

“You can always kiss me, Fennick.”

“And I thank you for that, and I want that, but that wasn’t the taste I meant. However, your mouth will suffice for now,” I whispered.

I took her lips in the most licentious manner to date.

I tongue-fucked her mouth, mimicking what I wanted to do to her pussy and, if she’d allow it, her ass.

Her moans were loud and wild. Akiva’s hands clawed at my chest and shirt.

One leg came up to wrap around my upper thigh.

Her entire body was plastered to mine, and she rubbed herself all over me.