Page 29 of Fire Bear (Return To Fate Mountain #1)

Chapter

Twenty-Nine

Eliana rested her head against the truck’s seat as Ash navigated the winding road beneath the moonlit sky. For months she had been preparing for this night. Ever since she and Ash first discussed the possibility of her embracing her own inner grizzly, she had felt an undercurrent of curiosity, wonder, and longing.

Tonight was the moment when all her preparation would become reality. She touched the mating mark on her neck, remembering when Ash had claimed her, the previous fall. She had been his mate for months now, but tonight she stood on the threshold of becoming something more.

When the truck eventually rolled to a stop, Eliana peered through the windshield. The headlights illuminated Ash’s small cabin, secluded among the trees. Ash came around to take her hand as she hopped out. He then led her up the short steps to the cabin’s entrance. The door opened without protest, revealing a glow from inside that spilled into the darkness.

He’d obviously redecorated the place for their wedding night. A low fire already crackled in the brick fireplace, sending warm orange flickers across the hardwood floor. Bouquets of spring flowers in vases decorated every tabletop and counter.

“It’s beautiful. The cabin looks so cozy and inviting. I’m glad we decided to keep it for nights like this.”

His arm slipped around her waist. “I wanted our wedding night to feel special. I have to admit, Holly helped me design most of this.”

She turned in his arms, resting her hands on his chest. “It’s perfect,” she said. “Your sister has amazing taste.”

They walked into the living room and sat on the couch in front of the fireplace. A feast awaited on the coffee table: a platter of cheeses, fresh fruit slices, crusty bread, and a dish of honey. A bottle of chilled champagne stood beside it, condensation beading on its surface.

Eliana let out a content sigh. They had enjoyed a lavish wedding feast earlier. But the dancing had picked up again, and she’d spent an hour on the dance floor in her gown. After she’d changed into her traveling clothes, said goodbye to everyone, and drove out here with Ash, she was ready to relax.

They sat together on the new loveseat. The fire crackled in the hearth, sending shadows dancing along the walls. She sipped her champagne and nibbled on snacks, thinking about her plans for tonight. Months of discussion and introspection had preceded Eliana’s decision to become a shifter.

She’d consulted other humans who’d chosen to take the shifting bite. She’d gleaned information about the physical intensity she’d experience, and the heightened emotional bond she’d have with Ash.

Ash had always assured her he’d love her with all his being, no matter what she chose. But finally, she’d decided she wanted to share everything with him, in human and bear form. She set her plate aside. “I’m ready,” she said, meeting Ash’s gaze.

Ash nodded, setting aside his glass. He stood, offering her a hand. She rose from the chair and stepped into his arms, feeling the steady beat of his heart. He led her to the bedroom. The soft light illuminated the fresh linens that were scattered with rose petals. She inhaled, a tremor of excitement coursing through her.

When Ash leaned in for a gentle kiss, she answered with her growing excitement. She pressed closer, hands sliding up his arms, relishing the warmth of his skin through his clothes. The quiet pop of a burning log accented the soft sounds of their breathing.

He helped her out of her clothes, placing light kisses along her collarbone. His touch lingered, reverent and steady, mapping each curve as though memorizing her. She returned his caresses, unbuttoning his shirt and feeling the ripple of his muscles under her palms.

Every sense sharpened as they settled onto the bed. The fragrance of rose petals mingled with the smoky scent of the fire. The flickering light etched shadows along Ash’s torso, revealing the strong lines of a firefighter. She traced a path down his chest, and her body gushed in anticipation.

They kissed with renewed intensity, tongues meeting in a slow dance that sent pulses of heat through her wet core. Time seemed to blur. As his hands roamed her body, exploring and coaxing, she lost track of everything except the building tension coiling within.

“I want this,” she murmured, cupping his cheek in her palm.

He lowered his head to press a tender kiss against her neck, right where he had claimed her months ago. She shivered, overwhelmed by the sensations racing along her skin.

Ash slowly caressed her body, first cupping her face, then sliding his hand over her chest, cupping her breast before moving down between her thighs. She gasped with pleasure as his fingertip slipped between her folds. Her body responded instantly, gushing with desire when he pressed his fingers to her clit. Eliana called out, lifting her hand to cup his face and draw him into a deep kiss as his fingers sank deeper inside her. Wet and slick with need, he slipped into her channel, caressing her inner walls with a gentle touch. Ash leaned down, sucking her nipple into his mouth as his fingers withdrew, then pressed in deeper.

She ran her fingers through his hair, groaning as she caressed him while he built her pleasure. Fire tingled down her spine when he found her G-spot and stroked it. His tongue teased her nipple as he guided her toward a mind-shattering release. Pleasure coursed through her, and she wrapped her quivering thighs around his waist.

Ash settled between her legs, angling the head of his cock against her wet, throbbing entrance. He darted his tongue into her mouth as he pressed inside, his shaft hot and bare against her flesh. She groaned at the sensation of his ridges sliding along her inner walls.

Eliana cried out and trembled as her body clenched and spasmed around him. Ash groaned, claiming her mouth in a passionate kiss. She ran her hands down his back and cupped his ass, squeezing hard as he thrust deep into her.

“Oh, Ash…” she breathed, her eyes rolling back in her head as she came again. In that ecstatic moment, he burst inside her, his sharp canine teeth pressing against her mating bite. She groaned as his release flooded her channel, sending her into another wave of ecstasy. His fangs pierced her flesh, releasing the changing venom into her blood. She tried to scream, but no sound escaped as she raked her fingernails down his back.

The changing venom was pure fire in her veins, surging from the bite mark throughout her limbs. She clutched him, eyes squeezed shut, chest heaving as that jolt mingled with pleasure. She felt her mind float in a haze of blinding heat. Then the world snapped back into focus, sharper than ever as he withdrew his fangs.

She was gasping. Her skin prickled, every inch hyperaware. She stared up at him, pupils dilated, trying to wrap her mind around the roaring that filled her senses. It sounded like a wild creature calling from inside her. Her inner grizzly had been born.

He brushed her hair back, concern laced with relief. “How do you feel?” he whispered. She opened her mouth to reply, but a growl that did not sound entirely human rolled in her throat. A flush of energy thrummed, compelling her to move, to stand, to experience the night air on her bare skin.

She pressed a palm against Ash’s chest, then pulled away from him with a force she did not know she possessed. Disentangling from their union felt abrupt, yet she could not stop herself. Something in her demanded the open sky.

“Eliana,” Ash said, worry flickering in his eyes.

She paused only to cast him a reassuring glance, eyes wide, before her body moved on its own. She stumbled toward the cabin door, snatching the handle and stepping out onto the porch. The night air slapped her skin, a cool caress that heightened every nerve ending. She realized she was naked, but modesty felt meaningless beside this overwhelming primal call.