Page 14 of Her Embarrassed Bear Mate (Crescent Lake Bears #5)

FOURTEEN

Alix

Alix ate her eggs quietly, her eyes fixated on her own plate to avoid looking at Veronica. After their unexpected midnight encounter, her cheeks and ears glowed red hot when she thought about their kiss and what almost happened.

It seemed like she was doomed to have almost-sex with Veronica which was honestly worse than if they hooked up properly. Then it would be out of their systems and everyone could move on.

Her mum reached for the orange juice. “Dirk was telling me there’s a lovely walk along the cliffs. I figured we could all go and enjoy the views and the fresh air.”

Nate cleared his throat. “Oh, we actually made plans to do some kayaking. There’s a local club that lets us use their equipment.”

Alix wished she had a good excuse too but none came to mind. She didn’t want to make it too obvious that going on a walk while her mum clung all over Dirk wasn’t exactly her idea of a fun morning either. It would just be up to her to watch the needy Princess and adventurous Trixie while having to avoid Veronica.

It was like someone had manifested her idea of hell.

She made the mistake of glancing up, only to find Veronica watching her. Images of the night before flashed through her mind and it made her cheeks and ears burn. This was definitely not the time or place to be thinking of Veronica’s soft lips, her tongue, her daring hands, her— Alix broke their eye contact and drank some water, almost choking on it.

Yes, there was no way she could go on this walk if Veronica was going to be there too.

After breakfast, she pulled her mum into the hallway for a private moment. "I'm not feeling so great. I think I'll skip the walk. "

"But then I'll have to watch Trixie and Princess all by myself. You know they're a handful."

Alix didn't point out that it was her mum's brilliant idea to bring everyone along on this stupid family holiday or that her mum was the one who chose to have a dog and a child without thinking it through.

Instead, Alix just took a deep breath in and out in an attempt to calm herself. "I just didn't sleep very well and I don't want to feel worse tomorrow when I have to drive us back."

Her mum agreed reluctantly and went back into the living room while Alix hid upstairs, glad to finally have a moment to herself. As big as the house was, there were far too many people in it and all the forced activities together were coming out of her ears. She was done with being constantly surrounded by people. It was so dire, she was actually looking forward to her commute because it meant she would have half an hour alone in her car.

She listened to the chatter and clattering of people getting ready to leave. Princess was barking extra loudly, Trixie was telling excited stories, the jangle of keys. Then she heard the sound of the door hitting the lock and then finally, silence. Sweet, blissful, precious silence.

For the first time this week, Alix felt like she could breathe again. She caught up on some messages from her friends, read some nonsense articles on her favourite procrastination website until she was convinced everyone online was an idiot, and posted a handful of pictures on her social media so it looked like she had a life.

After that, she went back downstairs for some water and to watch some telly. She had no idea how long the others would be gone but she was going to savour every second on her own.

She passed by the large windows leading to the patio and something outside caught her eye. At first, she thought it might be a lost dog. On second glance, it was obviously not a lost dog but a brown bear moseying through the garden.

Alix stood frozen, unsure what to do. A normal person's instinct might be to call the police or animal control but as someone who grew up in a shifter community, Alix wondered if the bear in the garden might be a shifter. It seemed the most logical explanation because bears didn't live near the sea, did they?

The bear noticed her and stood up on its hind legs and waved. A bit dumbfounded, Alix waved back. Definitely a shifter then but that begged another question. Who the hell was it?

A sinking feeling hit her stomach. It wasn't Veronica, was it?

The bear wandered back and forth through the garden for a bit more, sniffing flowers, and doing funny hops. Its behaviour was certainly very human-like and kind of endearing. After a little while, it came to the house and knocked gently on the glass door.

Alix gulped and reached for the handle, unsure whether she should open the door or lock it.

The long nails of the bear's claw clicked against the glass and this time, it definitely gestured to the handle.

Carefully, Alix slid the door open slightly. "Hello...?"

The bear grunted softly and stuck its nose into the house.

Panic got the better of Alix and she quickly slammed the glass door shut. A cloud of pink smoke engulfed the bear and the form changed into Veronica. A very naked Veronica who looked a little shocked.

"Hey, you almost hit me," she said as she came into the house.

"Sorry, I didn't know it was you," Alix defended herself. Only an insane person would let a bear walk into their home and she'd almost been insane.

Veronica shrugged. "Fair enough."

"You gave me a total fright. I thought I was alone here and suddenly there was a bear in the garden. Why didn't you go on the walk?"

"You seemed uncomfortable over breakfast so I stayed behind to give you some space."

"Looks like that backfired on us," Alix muttered, unable to stop staring. She knew it was bad form on her part, she knew she was being blatantly obvious about it too, but seeing Veronica naked like this was making her brain glitch.

Veronica seemed entirely unbothered by being naked. Or being looked at, for that matter. If anything, there seemed to be a little bit of a pleased grin floating around her lips as she paraded through the house without any attempt to cover or get dressed.

She got herself a glass of water and returned to the living room, still totally naked. "Are you enjoying yourself?"

Alix stuttered. "Sorry?"

"Watching me." The hint of a grin grew into a full smirk. "You're staring. "

Nonsensical gibberish noises left Alix's mouth and her cheeks started to burn. Once again, she was powerless against her own desires and the impossible temptation that was Veronica. It was embarrassing how any and all thoughts had left her mind, only to be replaced with a haze of lust.

Veronica paused right in front of her. "So you do want me?"

"Was there ever any doubt?" Alix asked, finally managing to find her voice.

"Well... We didn't sleep together that first night. And last night, you didn't seem interested either." Veronica actually sounded insecure.

Alix was absolutely baffled by that. She thought she'd been the least subtle person ever in how much she'd been staring at Veronica. Maybe she'd done a better job at avoiding the bear shifter than she thought after all.

All that restraint was long gone.

Without wasting a second, Alix pulled Veronica into her and captured her in a desperate passionate kiss, hoping to convey just how much she wanted her. All the good reasons why they should stay away from each other went out the window as she felt Veronica's body against hers. Her skin was cold from being outside and Alix was desperate to warm Veronica up.

"How long are the others going to be gone?" Alix asked between kisses, just barely holding onto the last ounce of sense.

"The walk is about two hours and my dad always likes to go for a drink in the local pub at the end," Veronica panted.

"Good."

They wasted no time removing Alix's clothes, a feat much easier when nobody was drunk, and finally, they were both naked. Skin to skin, hands running all over each other, kisses that grew more careless and wild. There was so much desire coursing through Alix's body, it was making her tremble.

She sank down on the couch, moaning as Veronica ended up on top of her. It was a sight to behold. The bright winter sunlight from outside was casting harsh shadows on Veronica's body and showing off all her curves. Alix's gaze was drawn to the pink mark on Veronica’s hip, not that she needed any proof that Veronica was truly a bear shifter.

She’d seen that with her own eyes.

Without thinking, she traced one of the swirling lines with the tip of her finger. It was really pretty and looked so good on Veronica’s pale skin.

“That tickles,” Veronica said with a cute giggle.

Alix's apology got lost in their next kiss. She pressed herself into the kiss, desperate to touch and be touched. Veronica’s mouth felt so good, especially when she kissed Alix's neck with her burning lips.

“What do you like?” Veronica murmured in Alix's ear. “Anywhere I shouldn't touch?”

Alix's mind was clouded from the hot little kisses Veronica was giving. It was making it hard to think or formulate an eloquent answer beyond letting out encouraging moans. She wasn't sure if she had all that many preferences or had ever really been with someone who cared enough to find out.

“Alix?” Veronica paused and moved back ever so slightly.

“I like this,” Alix said, turning her head to expose more of her neck. “I want you to kiss and touch me all over. And I want to make you feel good too.”

She moaned when Veronica returned for more kisses and pressed her bare breasts against her. Alix let her hands glide all over Veronica's body, enjoying how her touch was clearly turning Veronica on. She could feel it from Veronica's faster breathing, the kisses that were growing more demanding, the heat radiating from between Veronica's legs.

Finally, finally, it was happening.

Alix spread her legs when she felt the brush of Veronica's fingers on her inner thigh. The touch was gentle and curious and much lighter than Alix wanted. Her heart was pounding and her whole body felt there was electricity coursing through it.

"Touch me," Alix whispered, moving her lower body so she was even more open. She was so ready, she was worried she would explode within seconds.

Veronica pressed her fingers in the right spot and Alix moaned. It felt good, oh so good, to finally give into the temptation. The pleasure built like a raging fire, much faster than Alix expected or had experienced before. The weeks of frustration and tension acted like one long session of foreplay and her body was ready. She wrapped her legs around Veronica and dug her fingers into the woman's back. Quickly, far too quickly, Alix came. The burst of pleasure took her off guard and she gasped and moaned into Veronica's neck, caught between the delightful waves of pleasure rolling over her body and the horrified feeling of coming so quickly undone.

"I-I... I'm sorry, I don't usually come so quick," Alix stammered, her head still spinning a little .

Veronica's hoarse chuckle vibrated against her skin. "Why are you apologising?"

"Because I came super fast?"

"Yes, I noticed that." A pretty satisfied smile hung around Veronica's lips. "But why is that something to apologise for? I want you to feel good, you can come as quickly as you want. You're not a teenage boy."

Alix wanted to argue but realised Veronica was totally right. There was no reason for her to feel bad and it wasn't like this was the end. She had her release but her body was still thrumming with desire, potentially even more so than before. Especially because Veronica was slowly grinding herself on Alix's thigh.

With a grin, Alix reached between their bodies and angled her hand in a way that she could reach between Veronica's legs. From the gasp escaping from Veronica's mouth, it was clear she found the right spot. Alix moved her fingers with the rhythm of Veronica's moving body, perfectly content to stay where she was with a view like this. Veronica was a vision. The way she was rolling her hips and rocking her body while she rode Alix's fingers was the sexiest thing in the world.

It didn't take long before Veronica's pace quickened and her movements grew more erratic. Alix's free hand intertwined with Veronica's as she offered support and connection. The heat between Veronica's legs got even hotter and the look on her face was one of pure delight. Alix moved her hand more, providing more pressure and friction until Veronica moaned loudly and collapsed on top of her.

"Fuck, that was so hot," Alix murmured in Veronica's hair. "You're so sexy."

"So are you," Veronica panted, her breath hot and ragged. "You have no idea how long I've been wanting to do this."

"Same. I wanted to rock your world that first night. I was so frustrated and embarrassed that I fell asleep," Alix admitted.

Veronica sat up just enough to look her in the eyes. "We finally made it happen."

"Hmm, this could've been last night if you hadn't left."

A grin tugged Veronica's lips up. "Or if you had asked me to stay."

"Okay, so we both chickened out. In our defence, there's a good reason why we shouldn't have hooked up," Alix said, her worried thoughts conjuring images of her mum and Dirk. They would not be pleased if they knew about this. Of course, she had zero intention of telling anyone about what happened here .

Veronica brushed her fingers along Alix's face. "It'll be our secret."

Alix was sure this was going to backfire on them somehow but right now, she didn't care. She just wanted to enjoy the moment and pretend nobody existed but her and Veronica on the last day of this weird holiday.