Page 13 of Guard Bear (Return To Fate Mountain #5)

Chapter

Twelve

"Joy." The way he said it made her thighs clench and wetness pool between her legs.

She answered by closing the distance. Her lips crashed against his, tasting the sweetness of apple pie and feral hunger. His groan vibrated through her chest where she pressed against him, the sound shooting straight to her core.

Her hands found his shoulders, using them for leverage as she shifted closer.

The couch creaked beneath them, old springs protesting their combined weight.

Andre's arms came around her waist, but he let her control the kiss, let her set the pace.

His restraint made her bolder. When she nipped his lower lip, his grip tightened reflexively.

The power contained in his hands made her shiver. Her mountain lion purred, recognizing a male strong enough to handle her yet willing to let her lead. Joy deepened the kiss, tongue sliding against his. He tasted like cider and desire, sweet and intoxicating.

When she sucked on his tongue, mimicking what she wanted him to do elsewhere, his hips jerked up involuntarily. The evidence of his arousal pressed against her thigh through two layers of denim, hard and insistent. The size of him made her breath catch.

"God, Joy." He broke away to breathe, chest heaving beneath her palms. His pupils had blown so wide only a thin ring of brown remained.

"Shirt off." She tugged at the hem of his flannel, impatient now.

Andre reached back and pulled the shirt over his head in one fluid motion. The undershirt followed immediately. Joy's breath caught at the expanse of muscle. His broad shoulders blocked out the lamp behind him. The trail of hair that disappeared into his jeans made her mouth water.

She traced her fingers down the center of his chest, following that enticing trail of hair. His skin burned hot under her touch, like he was running a fever. When she scraped her nails lightly over his nipple, he hissed through his teeth, the sound pure sex.

"You're so hot." Desire colored her voice. She pinched his nipple again, watched his muscles tense, his hands grip her hips harder.

"You're killing me." His voice had dropped an octave, more growl than words.

"Good." She leaned down, replacing fingers with her mouth. Her tongue circled his nipple, savoring the taste of him. When she bit down gently, experimenting, Andre's whole body shuddered. A sound escaped him, part growl, part whine. Pure need that she'd drawn from him.

She kissed a path across his chest, tasting salt and male skin, feeling the way his breathing quickened with each press of her lips.

Her hands mapped the ridges of muscle, the dips and planes, memorizing the geography of him.

When she reached his other nipple, he was already tense with anticipation, chest rising and falling rapidly.

"Please." The word punched out of him when she hovered, not quite touching.

Joy pulled back to look at him. His face was flushed, eyes glazed with want, lips swollen from their kisses. She'd done this. She'd reduced him to begging with just her mouth and hands. The knowledge sent a fresh wave of heat through her.

She smirked and began unbuttoning her shirt slowly, watching his eyes track every movement.

"Can I do it?" He asked, breathless. His hands had come up, hovering but not touching.

The request made her chest tight, and her pussy clench. He was asking. Even desperate with want, he was asking.

"Yes."

Andre's hands shook slightly as he took over the buttons. Each one revealed more skin, and his breathing grew rougher, more ragged. She could smell his arousal now, musky and masculine, making her mountain lion pace with need. When he pushed the flannel off her shoulders, his exhale sounded pained.

"Beautiful." He traced a finger along the edge of her bra, barely grazing the lace. Even that light touch made her nipples tighten.

"Touch me." She arched into his hands, needing more.

He cupped her breasts through the thin fabric, thumbs finding her nipples immediately.

Joy gasped at the sensation, at how perfectly his large hands fit around her.

The heat of his palms burned through the lace.

Her bra had a front clasp, and she reached for it impatiently, needing skin on skin.

The clasp gave way, and she tossed the garment aside.

He took a sharp breath. "So fucking perfect." He cupped her bare breasts, testing their weight, learning their shape. His thumbs brushed over her nipples, making them peak even harder.

"Suck my tits, Andre."

He groaned at her words. When his mouth closed over her nipple, skin to skin, Joy cried out.

The wet heat of his mouth, the gentle suction, the way his tongue swirled—it all combined to send lightning straight to her core.

She could feel how wet she was, her underwear damp with need, the seam of her jeans pressing against her clit with each movement.

He switched to her other breast, giving it the same devoted attention. His hands spanned her ribcage, holding her steady as he worshipped her with his mouth. When he scraped his teeth gently across the sensitive peak, Joy saw stars.

"Andre." She pulled his hair, making him look up. His lips were wet, eyes wild. "I need?—"

"What?" His voice was wrecked. "Tell me what you need."

"That mouth." She shifted back, hands going to the buttons of her jeans. "I need that mouth on my pussy."

The words hit him like a physical blow. His hands covered hers, helping with the zipper. Together they worked her jeans down her hips. She had to stand to get them off completely and used the momentum to hook her thumbs in her panties, sliding them down in one motion.

The air between them crackled. Andre stared at her naked body like a man dying of thirst who'd found water. His eyes tracked from her breasts down her stomach to the neat triangle of dark curls between her legs. She was so wet she could feel it on her inner thighs.

Joy could see the outline of his cock straining against his jeans, the denim pulled tight. The sight made her mountain lion prowl restlessly, wanting to claim, to bite, to mark. The urge was so strong she had to clench her fists.

"No claiming." The words came out harsh. "I need to know you understand."

"Whatever you need." Andre's hands gripped her hips, fingers flexing like he wanted to pull her closer but was holding back. "However you want it. Just let me taste you."

"On your knees." The command came out steady.

Andre's pupils dilated further, his nostrils flaring.

Without hesitation, he slid off the couch to kneel on the floor.

The move was fluid, eager. He looked up at her from his position, and the sight made her knees weak.

This massive bear shifter on his knees because she told him to be. Waiting for her next command.

"Good boy." The praise made him shudder. Joy shifted to the edge of the cushions, legs spreading naturally. "Now show me what that mouth can do."

Andre moved between her thighs. His hands skimmed up her legs, leaving trails of fire. Every nerve ending seemed to wake up under his touch.

"You smell so good," he whined, the sound desperate as he pressed kisses to her inner thigh. His stubble scraped the sensitive skin, making her jump. "I've been thinking about this since I first saw you. Dreaming about how you'd taste."

His mouth moved higher, teasing. Each kiss was placed with intention, working up from her knee along the tender inside of her thigh. Joy's hands found his hair, fingers tangling in the short strands. When his breath ghosted over her center, hot and damp, she tightened her grip.

"Less thinking." She pulled him closer, until his mouth was an inch from where she needed it. "More licking."

Andre's first lick was tentative, testing.

Just the tip of his tongue tracing her outer lips.

Joy's hips bucked at the contact, trying to get more pressure.

He gripped her thighs, holding her steady as he explored.

His tongue traced her folds like he was mapping her, learning every ridge and valley.

"Oh god." He spoke against her, making her shiver. The vibration of his words against her sensitive flesh made her gasp. "You taste so fucking good. Like honey.”

He found her clit with the tip of his tongue, circling it gently. Too gently. Joy's grip in his hair tightened, guiding him, showing him what she needed.

"Yes, Andre." She pulled him closer, grinding against his face. "Give me more. Use your whole tongue."

Andre obeyed instantly. His tongue pressed firmly against her clit, licking with purpose now.

Broad strokes that had her seeing stars.

Joy's thighs trembled, her breath coming in pants.

She used her grip on his hair to show him exactly what she wanted—faster, harder, then slower, teasing.

He learned quickly, reading her responses, adjusting his technique.

"Like that." She ground against his face shamelessly. "Just like that. Don't you dare stop."

His hands moved from her thighs to her ass, pulling her to the very edge of the couch. The angle was perfect now, giving him full access. She was spread wide, completely exposed to his hungry mouth. He looked up at her, eyes dark with lust, before sealing his mouth over her clit and sucking.

"Fuck!" Joy's back arched, pleasure shooting through her like lightning. Her hands fisted in his hair hard enough that it had to hurt, but he just moaned against her, the vibration making everything more intense.

Andre alternated between sucking and licking, reading her responses perfectly. He'd found the rhythm that drove her wild and stuck to it with single-minded determination. When her thighs started to shake, when she could feel the telltale tightening in her belly, he slid one hand between her legs.

"Yes." She spread wider for him. "Use your fingers.”