Page 31

Chapter Thirty-One

Enjoy It While It Lasts, Bear

Bellamy

Clover was shell-shocked. Not that I could blame her. We walked hand in hand back to the road. Sawtooth Security had our back.

Whatever the fuck just happened was totally mind blowing. I wasn’t sure if I’d hallucinated everything, but from the heavy silence of our crew, I was pretty sure we’d all seen the same thing.

Once I got Clover into the truck, I went over to talk to Barrett.

“That was wild,” he said. “I’ve never seen a community just appear like that.”

“We’ll have to compare notes.” I was relieved he’d seen it too. “Not tonight. I need to get Clover home.”

“Take care of your mate,” he said. “I like her. She challenges you.”

I laughed. “Does she ever.”

“Listen, you know the team has your back in this case. But I have a feeling this will be settled between Clover, her grandmother, and whoever has that locket. We’re here to do research and surveillance, but you two have already done the work. And the real breakthrough will come when you both discover your magic.”

“I’ll be back to work as soon as I can.”

Barrett shook his head. “I’ve got plenty of bears who can handle the business. Take all the time you need. You’ll be off on your mate moon after this case is done.”

He clapped his hand on my shoulder before he turned away.

Mate moon. I hadn’t had a chance to think about making things official.

“Where are we going?” Clover asked when I got into the truck.

“Home.” I made a U-turn and headed toward Granger Falls. “No matter what happens with this locket, I want you in my life, Clover Crowley. I want to come home to you every night and wake up with you in my bed every morning. I’m gonna get you a real ring, and we can make our own magic.”

She stared at me with her mouth open. “Did you just propose to me?”

“I guess I did.” I couldn’t suppress my grin. “Are you gonna tell me to eat shit and die this time?”

“How did that work out for me?” She looked down and twisted that spelled ring on her finger. “I don’t often admit that I’m wrong, and I might not ever do it again. So enjoy it while it lasts, bear. Rejecting you was pretty much the worst thing I ever did. I’m sorry I was so terrible to you.”

“It’s a red banner day when Clover Crowley apologizes.” I hadn’t planned things this way, but they were perfect. “Even more so when she doesn’t shoot me down.”

“Maybe I’m entering a new era.” She flipped her hair over her shoulder.

“I think I’m gonna like this era. But you can’t beat yourself up for being wrong before?—”

“Hey! We’re not dwelling on it. You got me to admit I was wrong. Yes, I’m ready to make magic with you. Take the win graciously.”

“You didn’t know who you were.” I could barely concentrate on the road. She fucking said yes. I was the happiest bear alive. And I finally had a chance to talk about this. I’d held all the anger inside for so long. “If you had said yes all those years ago, we would’ve crashed and burned under your nana’s curse.”

“It would’ve been a total disaster.” She laughed. “But think of all the hate sex we missed out on.”

“The make-up sex, the morning sex, the quickies on our lunch hours. We need to stop talking about this or we’ll have side-of-the-road sex. Again.”

“Don’t threaten me with a good time.” She sighed. “Do you think what Anders and Alba said was true? Talk about bombshell city. I tried really hard not to give them any hints to lead them. But they knew everything. And this ring! It’s just like Nana’s. How can it not be hers?”

“They must have been planning this since the day Anders got blocked from your life. And they took action when the opportunity presented itself.” We’d both need time to process this turn of events, but none of this happened by accident—or magic. “They knew you’d need your dad’s magic, and now you have it.”

“I can’t believe he’s my father.” She shook her head. The initial anger seemed to have faded into disbelief. “We need to check the dates on that website. I’m pretty sure that dude should’ve been dead before I was born.”

“He shouldn’t be alive now, and he’s ordering motorcycles and sending you magic.”

She looked at me as we crossed into Granger Falls. “What about your magic, Bellamy? We know you have it, but we don’t know anything about it. Your parents were never involved with the healers. Did anyone else in your family have powers?”

“If they did, they didn’t tell me.” This case was the first time anyone suggested I had magical powers. I was strong, some would consider me smart, and I tried to be an upstanding bear, even though others would consider my job unethical. “I think you bring it out in me.”

“I like that.”

The sun was starting to set when we got back to my cabin. The air was misty, the sky streaked with pastels. Clover already had her door open when she saw me round the front of the truck to her side. She closed it, beaming at me as she let me open it for her.

She wasn’t used to anyone taking care of her. Claiming her would be the greatest adventure of my life.

We walked hand in hand to the door. So much had changed today, but everything felt right.

Once we got inside, I pulled her against my body, loving the way her curves felt against me. Soft and warm. She tipped her face up, ready for a kiss, but I had something else in mind.

“No.” I shook my head. “We’re gonna do this right.”

She gasped as I dropped to one knee.

“Clover Crowley, you are my fated mate. You are my heart, my soul, and the reason the blood sings in my veins. Please do the honor of letting me claim you. Body, mind, spirit. I don’t think for a minute that I’ll ever tame you, but give me the privilege of calling that gorgeous wild spirit mine.”

“Only if you promise to be wild with me.”

“Always.”

“Good. Keep surprising me, Bellamy. I like it. A lot. The answer is still yes.” She took my face in her hands, studying it for a moment before bringing her lips to mine.

Our bodies melted as the kiss intensified. We were on the floor together, in front of the fireplace.

“I need to get you a ring. Don’t have one yet. Didn’t think I was gonna do this. You’ve got me wild already.” I chuckled and then kissed the line of her neck down to her collarbone. “I’ll get you something big and gorgeous.”

“I already have something big and gorgeous.” She pushed my shoulder, then considered the ring on her hand. “Maybe this should be my ring. It symbolizes everything that brought us together.”

“We can do that, if you like.”

“I think so.” She beamed at me. “And you can take all the money you were gonna spend on that ring and put it toward our mate moon in Bali.”

“Oh, you think we’re going to a tropical island?”

“I’ll book one of those bungalows over the water.” She leaned in and tried to give me a quick kiss, but I caught her before she got away. She surprised me by shaking her head. “I promise I’ll fuck your brains out later. But first, I really want to explore your magic.”

“I like the first option better,” I groaned. My cock was already ready to burst…

“Hear me out. What if fully realizing your magic makes sex even better?” She waggled her brows. “Listen, I know it’s scary. Unfamiliar. But it’s ours, Bellamy. There aren’t many things we can truly say that about.”

“You’re right,” I said and her eyes lit up. “What do you want me to do?”

She didn’t answer right away, instead scraping her teeth against her bottom lip. This woman had to know what that did to me.

“Lie down,” she finally said. “And promise you’ll keep an open mind.”

“Should I keep my clothes on?”

“Don’t have a one-track mind, you naughty bear.” She pushed my shoulders and I leaned back. “I’ll take care of that cock later.”

“Promise?”

“Yes. Now lie down and close your eyes. Try not to think of anything. Just concentrate on your breathing,” she said in a low voice. I imagined it was the same one that she would use with her clients at the spa. “Let all your muscles relax. You’re safe, Bellamy. If any of this gets to be too much, we can stop.”

I nodded. My body already felt heavy. Relaxed. It was nice not to have to be on guard for once. “You’re never too much for me.”

“That’s not something I hear often.” She laughed.

“This feels new for you. Zen.”

“You get to see a new side of Clover. Okay, take a deep breath in, hold it for three seconds, and then let it out in a sigh.” She waited for me to do as I was told. “Good. Do that two more times. Then I’m gonna run my hands over your body. I’m not gonna touch you. I’m just going to stop at the places that might draw the most energy.”

I peeled open an eyelid. “You can touch me all you want, and I have a few ideas of where that energy might be.”

“You dirty bear. Are you gonna take this seriously?” She let out an exasperated sigh that told me she was taking it very seriously. “If you have magic, think of how powerful you’ll be when you know what it is. I’m not sure how to make that grr side of you take this seriously, but maybe it will get you a promotion at work, or help you fight better, or help you please your mate.”

I grinned, but I didn’t open my eyes. “All those things appeal to my grr side.”

“Let me do this.” She paused, and I really wanted to open my eyes and see what she was doing. I felt the heat of her body close to my face. “I’m gonna start at your head and move down your body, stopping at each chakra.”

“Are you sure you haven’t done this before? You seem like you know what you’re doing.”

“I learned how to do reiki as service for my spa clients, but I’ve never performed it on a magical beast,” she said. “Tell me if you feel anything.”

I fully expected to have to make something up not to disappoint her. “Is it supposed to tingle?”

“It can.” Her voice went up an octave, like she was surprised it worked too. “Where do you feel it?”

“Along my scalp. And there’s heat too. Like you’re drawing it out of me.”

“Good. That means we have a connection,” she said.

I wished I could watch her, but she’d asked me to keep my eyes closed. And I wasn’t sure if I could open them. My body felt heavy, but light at the same time, almost a dream-like state.

“I’m moving over your third eye, in the middle of your forehead,” she said softly. The tingling sensation followed her, like one of those old-fashioned toys with the magnetic hair.

I let myself relax and enjoy it. I could feel her energy too. She was in her element, making someone feel better. Clover got frustrated when people didn’t understand her, and words often made things worse. But what she could do with her hands was pure alchemy.

She didn’t have to tell me she’d moved to my throat. A low rumble erupted inside me as soon as she brought her energy to the spot.

“Well, that’s interesting,” she said with a chuckle.

The sound intensified to a full growl. I dug my fingers into the carpet as my body temperature rose.

“Sweet moon, are you about to shift?” she asked.

“Maybe.”

“Let’s move down to your heart,” she said quickly, moving her hands and taking the energy with her. “I can see your body relax. That was intense, but good to know if we ever need it.”

“Wonder if we can use that to help you shift.” Shit, I probably shouldn’t have said that.

“We could try,” she said. “Not sure she’s ever gonna grace us with her presence again.”

“She will, when she’s ready.” My heartbeat slowed again as she held her hands over my chest, and my tummy warmed as she moved the energy there. Electricity flowed through my veins.

“I’ll move to your root chakra next.”

The energy warmed my body, and my eyes snapped open in response to the pure power Clover was drawing from me. She didn’t notice, she was totally engrossed in the ritual, like she’d cast her own spell. She looked like an angel, with heavy-lidded eyes, hair flowing down her back, and a sweet smile playing on her lips.

All that power was flowing straight to my cock. I writhed on the carpet, and the only sound I could manage was a growl.

Smooth.

Clover’s eyes snapped open. “Do you need to shift? Oh. Let me help you with that.”

Her hands were like fire when they made contact with the strip of skin above my jeans. Her fingers shook as she undid the button and fly and freed my cock. It was rock hard and ready for the burn of her touch.

She pumped my shaft frantically, like the energy had taken hold of us both. With her free hand, she pulled at her shirt.

“What are you doing?” I managed.

“I’m gonna ride your cock like a bucking bronco.” She let out a sound that was between a laugh and a gasp.

“No,” I said between gritted teeth.

“Let me get this straight. You don’t want me to slide my pussy onto this hard, ready shaft?” she asked, grinning when I groaned. “I think I can make you come in…”

“I want—” I could barely get the words out. “To do this to you too.”

“Bear, I can come for you all night long.” She pulled her shirt over her head. My entire being ached for her touch as she slipped out of her jeans and panties. “That’s what kind of magic you do for me.”

She straddled me, and I positioned myself to enter her. Her body was so warm, I was surprised smoke didn’t rise from my shaft as she slid down it. Sweet moon, this woman was absolute perfection as she took all of me. Her head fell back and those luscious tits bounced every time I moved her body up and down my cock.

The energy that flowed from her body to mine felt like liquid lava, and I wouldn’t be surprised if we set the entire world on fire.

“This is insane,” I gritted out. “It’s never been like this before.”

Clover fell forward. Her hands were on my shoulders and her crimson hair tickled my cheeks. Her tits swung forward, hitting my chest. Seeing my mate like this, coming totally undone, was enough to send me into overdrive. My balls hitched?—

“Bellamy,” she cried. “She’s coming.”

“Yes, you are, baby.”

“No.” She grasped my shoulders hard, her fingernails piercing my skin. “My bear. She’s coming.”