Bear Lake- Book Three Read online

  “We can do this.”

  “You stay away from the female.” Marcus lifted the hand with the bottle and pointed to his kin. “She’s got enough problems.”

  “Thanks for the vote of encouragement.”

  “Asshole.” Marcus growled.

  “Takes one to know one, Marcus.”

  “What are you, five?” Marcus growled; tossing the bottle of Scotch towards him and hearing it smash against the back of the door. He found great satisfaction in that sound.

  ~^~

  Alex wasn’t about to just stand by and let Jackson have his way in this. Firstly, she wanted to meet Lucy. Her mate had stashed her inside Shane’s cabin, and nobody should have to endure that place for longer than five minutes. Secondly, she wasn’t about to let anyone kill the woman just because one of those boneheads had bitten her in the midst of mating.

  It wasn’t right, and it wasn’t happening on her watch.

  “Jack…” She started again, but the alpha tossed up his hand to silence her.

  “Not again, Alex. This isn’t up for debate.” Jackson growled long and hard at his mate’s stubbornness.

  “Jackson, I’m female. Every damn thing is up for debate from the colour of the damn toilet paper to the clan killing a female.” Alex tossed her hands onto her hips and Jackson groaned inwardly. He didn’t like that stance. That meant trouble and he had more than enough of that at the moment.

  “Alex…” He tried once more to head her off at the pass.

  “Don’t you Alex me.” She tried and failed to mimic his deep gruff tone. He couldn’t contain the smile that touched his lips and his eyebrows played over his dark eyes. She tried not to melt at that sight.

  “Honey…” He dipped his head and looked at her from under those eyebrows as they tried to meet above his nose and rose upwards. He looked so damn dark and sexy that she threw her hands up and covered her eyes.

  “I can’t see what you’re doing, so just stop doing it.” Alex heard his deep chuckle. He started towards her and snagged her wrists; gently bringing her hands down from her eyes. She snapped her eyes shut. “Don’t mess with me, Alpha. I’m not in the mood for it.” She grumbled.

  “What are you in the mood for?” His deep voice had just got a lot deeper, a lot sexier, and a lot more let’s shag like wild things. Boy, did she like to shag like wild things?

  “Not…” She bit down on the lie. Truth was that she was always in the mood for him. He reached for her, wrapping his strong arms around her waist and yanking her up against him. It was no surprise to her that his cock was rock hard.

  “Deny me, go ahead. I dare you.” Jackson teased. He dipped his head and took her lips with hot kisses. Not as hot as where his hands were travelling down her spine to her backside. He hitched up her skirt at the back.

  He growled long and hard at the feel of her bare skin in his palms. He fucking loved it when she went naked beneath her clothes. He spun her around in place, dropped to his knees and pressed open her ass cheeks with his thumbs. He could scent her arousal. He tasted it on his tongue a moment later.

  Alex had tried not to cave. Right up to the point where his tongue was against her sex. She bent forward and slammed her palms down onto the counter top. She needed something to keep her legs from caving as he devoured her…

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  “Fuck it, Jackson… distracting me isn’t going to…” Alex moaned long and hard at the push of two thick fingers into her channel. Ok, maybe it was going to work a little, fuck…

  Jackson grinned to himself as he growled and grunted against her flesh. He licked down one inner thigh and then back up the other as he took her with his fingers. She cursed, over and over, until he got to his feet and released his needy cock from his jeans…

  He rubbed it back and forth against the crack of her backside and she cooed. He leaned in over her shoulder. He couldn’t resist nipping the fleshy part of her lobe. He felt her inner muscles clench hard around his fingers and he growled with need. There was no damn way that he was going to let his fingers have all the fun…

  He released his fingers and pushed his cock into her. She grunted and moaned as he filled her on a slow push, stretching her around his length, and watching her fingers claw against the counter. She deliberately clenched those muscles around his length…

  “Fuck, Alex…” Jackson growled.

  “We can all play unfair, honey…” Alex chuckled. He reached around her body and found her clit…

  “There’s unfair and then…”

  “Fuck…” He always managed to find that damn nerve among all the others that pained and pleasured her at the same time. One thing it did do was send her higher, faster, taking her right to the damn edge. She clamped her inner muscles, harder, faster…

  “Alex…” Jackson growled and grunted with each thrust. His hips were slapping against her backside now. Burying his cock deep, taking her faster and harder… His hand fisted her knee and he lifted her leg, opening her right up for his cock. Her head came back against his shoulder and she arched her back.

  “Fuck me, Jackson, don’t tickle…” She ground out to the sound of his growl. Then he let go, taking her like a wild man. Pounding into her until she cried out with that very first orgasm…

  “Oh no, honey, not even close….” He growled out against her ear. The inner spasms of her channel made him want to shoot his seed deep within her, but he bit down on that urge. She wanted to fuck, he was going to fuck her good…

  He put her leg down and pushed her inner thighs together. His hand pressed against her shoulder blade and he pushed her over the counter top. Her feet came off the floor.

  He could feel her coming back to him. Feel her body start to respond again. The sweet sound of her moans spurred him on.

  His large hands cupped the curvy cheeks of her backside and he opened and closed her flesh, stretching her channel and then tightening it, taking her at just the right angel that his cock was rubbing hard and fast against those sensitive nerves within her. She cursed, over and over until the next orgasm tore through her…

  He wasn’t done. Yanking his cock out of her, he lifted and turned her. His hands fisted around her knees and he pushed them back against her breasts. Thrusting in deep, he became everything that she loved about him- wild.

  Jackson tossed his head back on his neck and savoured every thrust. The feel of her channel still pulsing around him and yet tightening right back up until it became almost painful was heaven, then she bit down on the kind of cry that he liked to hear from his woman… Finally, he knew that she’d had enough of him, anymore and she would be sore, and he wouldn’t hurt her for the world.

  He buried his length deep and let her inner muscles suck the seed right from his balls. He growled and grunted his way through the intensity of the orgasm that took him away from her. He hated those moments as much as he relished them, because he wasn’t right there in the moment with her.

  “I like distractions…” She breathed out as she fisted his hair and yanked his head up from her breasts…

  “Fuck, Alex… If I wanted to be fucking bald…” He growled out; shaking his head and trying to release her grip on his hair. He was still buried inside of her, starting to slowly lose his erection, but if she kept that up it would be back again in a heartbeat.

  “Now you listen to me…” Alex started as she pried her hooded eyes wider. He groaned.

  “Alex…”

  “Oh, no, lover. We are not back to Alex.” She growled back at him. It sounded too cute to his ears, and he smiled again. That sexy grin made her channel clench around his shrinking length. “Don’t you dare…” She hissed.

  “I think you need a little more distracting, sweetheart.” Jackson growled.

  “I’m pregnant!” Alex snapped and he froze in place. That smile disappeared from his face and she watched his eyes narrow.

  “Don’t you fucking tease me like that, Alex…” He growled out, testing the waters to see if he could pick up any
deceit from her.

  “Go ahead, smart boy. Scent me. You know what you’re looking for, right?” Alex gave him a steely gaze. She watched as he drew in a deep breath, his broad chest expanded, his eyes closed, and he savoured that scent.

  “Fuck, Alex…” He scooped her up from the side into his arms and crushed her against his chest.

  “Yeah, I don’t think you’re supposed to squish the pregnant woman.” He wrenched his body back from hers- allowing her the room to breathe. There was a grin on his face that said everything and more. Then he suddenly scowled at her.

  “Damn it, Alex…” He growled out and she raised her eyebrows in mock surprise.

  “Wow, aren’t I the one who is supposed to have the shifting hormones and mood swings…?”

  “You let me fuck you like that…” He growled. Alex chuckled.

  “Yeah, it was good…” She teased him and he growled louder, harder.

  “Did I hurt you?” He spun her around and gently placed her backside down on the counter top.

  “If I say yes will you feel guilty enough to not kill Shane?” He opened his mouth, groaned, and then closed it again. “Because this cub is going to need all of the bears in this clan and killing them off isn’t…”

  “Alex, damn it.” Jackson cupped her face with his hands and rested his forehead against hers. He closed his eyes and just breathed her in. “You’re going to have a cub, my cub…”

  “Our- cub.” She corrected him and he grinned. Opening his eyes he pulled back a little and enjoyed what he saw. She was glowing, and it wasn’t just the sex.

  How had he not seen it before?

  “Our cub. Don’t you think a heads up before I got inside of you would have been…?”

  “There was no time. It’s not like I could talk, in fact… you made it so I couldn’t talk. I’m surprised you just didn’t put me on my knees and stuff my mouth full of your…”

  “Don’t say it.” He chuckled.

  “Well, you have a habit of not being able to communicate.”

  “I’m working on it.”

  “Good. So let’s get started, about Shane…” He growled and then groaned. His mate was good at putting him on the spot.

  “He broke the law…”

  “Stupid law…” She shrugged.

  “It’s not a…” He took a breath. “You wouldn’t say it was a stupid law if you were the poor unsuspecting human that was bitten.” She wrinkled up her nose and thought for a moment.

  “Good point. But…”

  “No buts.” He shook his head.

  “This is his mate…”

  “Gee, that’s ok then. Mind if I bite you?”

  “Yes!” She punched him in the shoulder and he rolled his eyes.

  “Ouch.” His tone was bland and he raised just one eyebrow at her.

  “Find me a rolling pin and you’ll be saying ouch for real.” She offered on a frown. “Now, Shane bit his mate, only his mate should be able to say…”

  “And she can.”

  “Good. Let’s go talk to her.” Alex grinned. He didn’t move a muscle and she couldn’t go anywhere without him moving. She punched him again. He sighed. “I think I need knuckledusters…” She muttered to herself.

  “His mate must get through her first shift into her bear before she can stand up for Shane…”

  “Well, let’s go and do the changy thing…” Alex encouraged him with a wave of her hand. He still didn’t move.

  “The first change can kill her, Alex.”

  “What?” Her voice pitched higher. “Well what kind of a good idea is that?”

  “It’s not. That’s one of the reason’s there is a law.”

  “And so there should be. But, wait… what if she doesn’t die- then she can speak for Shane?”

  “Then she can speak.”

  “Sure? I mean she is a woman and all.” Alex heard the low deep growl that rolled through his chest, but it never got as far as his lips.

  “Alex, that’s not fair.” He said. She sighed.

  “I know. But, I just really want Shane- not to die.”

  “Me too.” He didn’t relish the thought of killing his kin. Shane was his brother. Not genetically, but closer than that.

  “I want to meet his mate.”

  “It’s too dangerous. She could lose control of her bear at any time and you’re…”

  “If you say pregnant I swear I will find that damn rolling pin and smack you around the head with it.” Alex growled again. It was even cuter now. He grinned.

  “I’ll remember to hide all sharp and blunt force implements…” Jackson teased. “It’s not safe for anyone.”

  “That’s not going to stop you from…”

  “I’m an alpha, and a bear, this is what I do.” Alex’s eyebrows reached up for her hairline.

  “I’m an alpha, and a bear, this is what I do.” She mimicked him again and he swept her up from the side and turned her towards the bedroom.

  “Funny. But, you know what? I’m going to make love to you like I should have done before. Like I would have done had you come clean about your pregnancy from the word go.” He growled.

  “I didn’t lie. I don’t lie.”

  “That’s a lie. You don’t get away with lying.”

  “Ok, that’s… true. But, the fact remains. I didn’t lie.”

  “You didn’t tell me.”

  “So then, not a lie.” She grinned at him and he shook his head as he carried her to the bed and gently laid her down. “Are you gonna get all girlie, mushy on me and make love like a storybook romance novel, cos, if you are, this is gonna be the first and last cub?”

  “I’m going to make love to you like an alpha…” He grinned and she chuckled.

  “That’s ok then.” She chuckled as she fisted his hair and yanked his head up. “Then we’ll talk some more about me seeing Shane’s mate.”

  ~^~

  “Shane, you need to calm the bear inside, man.” Reece warned.

  He couldn’t take much more of Shane’s pacing back and forth in front of the cabin, it was getting to his own bear. He felt for the man and his bear. When he’d found his mate, Suzanna, he’d had a hard time with his bear. There were even moment’s now when he was deep within her body that the need to bite was overwhelming- he guessed he was just lucky that he’d held it back or he’d be in Shane’s position now.

  “Easier said than done.” Shane bit out. The beast was clawing to get to their mate. He needed to be with her; see that she was alright, help her to understand what he’d done…

  “I know, Brother, but she needs time to find her bear.”

  “She needs me.” Shane growled as he rounded on his friend.

  “To be honest, Shane. I think you’re the last person that she wants to see right now.” Reece gave it to him straight.

  “Did she say that?” Shane’s heart almost stopped beating.

  “Not to me.”

  “Then you don’t know…” Shane started for the front door, but Reece stepped out and blocked his way. “I’ll go through you if I have to.”

  “And you’ll have to…” Reece assured him.

  “And me.” Marcus growled out from behind him. Shane spun around to the biggest of them standing there. Marcus could have been, maybe should have been an alpha in his own right, he just didn’t have the will.

  It sounded like a challenge to Shane’s bear. These two men, his kin, his brothers were keeping him from his mate. His bear rallied within him.

  “Let’s do this then.” Shane bit out. He was sentenced to die anyway. It might as well be like this.

  He started towards Reece, holding his bear back from bursting out within him, needing the feel of his fists planted in someone’s face before he allowed his bear out.

  “Don’t be an asshole, Shane.” Reece warned, but he matched Shane’s stride. Always up for a fight, always ready to swing his fists.

  Shane didn’t stop. Didn’t hesitate. The first punch landed squarely on Reece’
s jaw and knocked the man back a step or two. Reece was only too happy to swing back- he was pissed about all of this.

  One moment of lost control and he’d lost his brother- yeah, he wanted to rip his damn head off his shoulders.

  CHAPTER NINE

  Marcus stood back and watched the two of them go at it. He was itching for a fight when he saw one, but he needed to concentrate on Shane’s mate. If Reece went down then he’d have to get in line to keep Shane from getting too her.

  Shane felt his bear itching, clawing to be set free, and all of his pent up rage was bursting to get out with that shift into his beast, but it was only the sound of breaking glass that put a halt to his bear bursting from within.

  All three of them froze in place. All three listened to the sound of the tinkling glass and the ensuing crunch under foot. All three set off on fast feet around the cabin, the fight forgotten- for now.

  “Looks like your mate is a runner.” Marcus growled at the sight of Lucy taking off across the field towards the treeline.

  “I’ll get her…” Shane tossed back over his shoulder as he started to run after her. His beast wanted that chase, needed it.

  “The hell you will.” Marcus was hot on his heels with Reece following up behind them.

  “Lucy!” Shane called out and for one long second he thought that she was going to stop, turn back; her stride hesitated, but her legs kept going, and he only caught a side view of her face as she half turned her head towards him.

  Perhaps Reece had been right, perhaps he was the last person that she wanted to see.

  ~^~

  Lucy had heard the distraction coming from outside. She’d caught sight of the men going at it with fists and she knew that this was the perfect opportunity for her to escape. She took it.

  Planting a chair through the back door had been the easy part. Now she was running for her life. They were chasing her, and even though the sound of Shane’s voice had called to her on a physical level; she knew that if she stopped then they’d just lock her away again, maybe kill her this time…