Page 44 of Mated to the Mountain Bear (Bear Protector #1)

BEN

“ W e’re heading to Maddox’s place,” Beau calls from the living room. “Want to check if those wolves did any damage to his property on their way through.”

“Fine.” I grunt, not moving from where I’m frozen in the bathroom doorway.

Zara’s on her knees in front of me, looking up with those green eyes that see right through me, and my brothers are about to leave us alone. My bear prowls restlessly beneath my skin, knowing what she needs, what we both need, after coming so close to losing everything.

“Should be back in an hour or two,” Mason adds, and I hear boots on wood. The door opens and then bangs shut. An engine starts, then fades down the mountain road.

We’re alone.

Zara’s still kneeling there, water droplets clinging to her skin, and every instinct screams at me to claim her, to mark her, so she’ll always be mine.

Tomorrow, we’ll head to the city to deal with all those things she mentioned: the apartment, the lawyers, her sister’s contracts.

My bear growls uneasily at the thought of leaving our territory, of being trapped in concrete and crowds, but we’d follow her anywhere.

Whatever our mate needs, we’ll give her.

Eyes locked onto mine, she rises a little and parts her full lips. She hesitates with the tip of my cock touching her bottom lip now, just for a fraction of a second, but it’s enough to have anticipation bursting out of me.

When her pink tongue darts out to lick the slit in my swollen head, collecting the bead of pre-cum pooling there, I have to stop myself from thrusting forward.

She kisses the tip gently before running her tongue around the engorged top.

Every sensitive nerve ending sings with the exquisite sensation of warmth and wetness as her lips slide over me.

My fingers tangle in her wet hair as she works me with lips and tongue, and just enough teeth to drive me wild. She’s inexperienced but eager, learning what I like from every groan and curse that escapes me.

“Fuck, Zara.” I growl when she hollows her cheeks and takes me deeper.

The sight of her like this, my mate on her knees for me, showing me without words that she wants this connection too, nearly undoes me.

When she reaches up and places my hand more firmly on her head, giving permission, my bear roars with satisfaction. I rock forward gently, testing, and she moans around me, the vibration making my control slip.

“My perfect mate,” I murmur, watching her work. “Look at you, taking what’s yours.”

The scent of her arousal fills the small space, and I know she’s getting off on this, on pleasing me. When I feel myself getting too close, I pull her off, ignoring her sounds of protest.

“Not without you,” I growl, hauling her to her feet.

Before she can respond, I back her against the wall, caging her with my arms. “You want me to show you what it means to be my mate?” My hand slides between her thighs, finding her slick and ready. She gasps as I push two fingers deep inside her. “To be mine completely?”

Her breath catches. “I need to know...”

I bring my fingers to my mouth, tasting her as she watches with wide eyes. “So fucking sweet.” I hum as I swallow, then without warning, I bend and toss her over my shoulder. She squeaks in surprise, hands gripping my back, as I stride toward the bedroom.

“Ben!”

“Mine.” I growl, my hand possessively gripping her ass, as I carry her. “Going to show you exactly what that means.”

I drop her on the bed, watching her bounce slightly on the mattress. She pushes up on her elbows, but I’m already moving over her, caging her beneath me.

“This is what being mates means,” I say, settling between her thighs. “It means you’re it for me. First thing I think about when I wake up, last thing before I sleep.”

She shivers as my weight presses her into the mattress. “Ben...”

“It means knowing you’re mine, whether we’re here or in the city.” I let her see everything I’m feeling. The need, the certainty, the promise. “Means my bear will always know where you are. Will always find you. We’re obsessed with making you happy.”

When I finally sink into her, we both groan at the connection. It’s different this time. Deeper. More urgent. She feels it too; I can see it in her eyes and feel it in how she clings to me.

“Everything is more intense,” I tell her, moving slowly at first, trying to maintain control. “I’ll never get enough of you...”

She arches beneath me, nails scoring my back, and my words cut off in a growl.

My hands tighten on her hips, probably too hard, but she just moans and pulls me deeper.

“Ben,” she gasps. “Don’t hold back.”

My careful rhythm falters. “Zara...” This is our first time. I can’t let my control slip too far.

“I need all of you,” she whispers against my mouth. “Show me.”

Something snaps inside me. My hips drive forward harder, deeper.

She cries out, wrapping her legs around me, and the last thread of my control frays.

“Mine,” I growl, the word torn from somewhere deep in my chest. My voice doesn’t even sound human anymore. "No man will see you like this, or hear you like this, ever again.”

“Yours,” she agrees breathlessly, and that single word destroys what’s left of the man, leaving only the beast.

I flip her onto her stomach in one smooth motion, my hands gripping her hips, as I pull her back against me. She pushes up on her hands, looking back at me over her shoulder, and what she sees there makes her eyes widen.

“Ben?”

But I’m already moving, already taking, already claiming everything she’ll give me.