Loving the Bears: A Crimson Hollow Novella Read online

  “Why the hell does mating have to be so complicated?” She pushed out of Kaden’s lap and rose.

  “It’s not.” Ari rose and wrapped his arms around her waist. “Do you want to stay? Because a few minutes ago you were running off under the cover of darkness.”

  “I thought I didn’t have a choice. But this is my home.”

  “Then we’ll make it work.” Kaden pressed his body against her back and nuzzled her neck.

  “Hell yeah, we will.” Ari agreed. “If you want to stay, we’ll stay.”

  Without moving away Kaden, glanced at Ari. “That’s a bit of a change. What about the business?”

  Ari shrugged. “Jack can handle things there. We’ll promote him to manager. This job will take weeks anyway, and then we’ll take some time off to spend with our mate. After that we can open up a branch here, just like Jase said. Maybe we can hire new crews from right here. There are always jobs coming in, and most of the work already requires that we travel. We’ll make it work.” Ari dropped his gaze to Camellia. “That’s if you’re willing to put up with two grumpy bears all the time?”

  “This is all happening so fast.” She leaned back against Kaden. “A few hours ago, you strolled into Sin’s kitchen and pulled the rug out from under me. Now I’ve shared my past with you, and I am about to commit to two bears. My lioness pushes for me to say yes and for us to dash back to my place, but my fears are still there. What if Jase is wrong?”

  “What do you mean, kitten?”

  “What if there’s a sleuth out there looking for revenge? I can’t put you two in the middle of that.”

  Kaden kissed the curve of her neck before spinning her around to look at him. “We’re in this together. No matter what. You’re our mate, and if it takes time to convince you of that, then we’ll take the time. But your lioness will grow more impatient than she already is.”

  “He’s right, we’ll take on the world to keep you safe,” Ari said, nuzzling the side of her face. “You’re ours. Now and always.”

  “Screw it.” Her mouth slowly stretched into a radiant smile. “My place or yours?”

  “Why wait?” Kaden dug into her bag, looking for whatever he could lay on the ground to make a bed as Ari lifted her into his arms. “We want you now.”

  7

  Chapter Seven

  Moonlight sparkled through the trees as Ari carried Camellia to where Kaden had made a makeshift bed, just off of the path. She leaned into Ari’s warmth and slid her hands under his shirt. She wanted them, and the more she touched Ari’s hot skin, the stronger that desire became. Her lioness purred, vibrating her from the inside out, urging her to move forward and past her doubts. It didn’t matter that they were bears, or that she hadn’t been looking for a mate.

  All that mattered was having them claim her. She needed this as much as she needed her next breath. Mating was vital for shifters. Otherwise, over time, they’d die without the contact. They needed that bond to live a long shifter life.

  Ari stopped in front of Kaden whose gaze gleamed in the moonlight.

  Kaden reached out a hand and smoothed it over her arm. “I feel the tension seeping back into your muscles.” He brushed her hair away from her face. “Don’t think—just relax and feel.”

  His touch caused her skin to tingle and she glanced at Ari. “Put me down.” When Ari did as she asked, she stood between them, her hands on each of their chests. “I don’t know if it’s my beast driving my desire or not, but I want you. I just hope I don’t regret it in the morning.”

  “We’ll do whatever we can to please you.” Kaden laid his hand over hers. “Your happiness means everything to us. Our Mate—”

  “But bears…” She shook her head and tried not to think about what they shifted into. “Seems to me it’s a cruel twist of fate.”

  “Kitten.” Ari leaned toward her and nuzzled her neck. “There’s nothing cruel about this. Now stop delaying. I want you.”

  “Oh, really?” She arched an eyebrow at him. “Grumpy bear has decided to play nice so he can get a prize?” she teased as she grabbed his belt and began to unbuckle it.

  “I want to bury my cock in your pussy and have you screaming my name.”

  There was more of a growl in his voice as she made her way into his pants. No boxers—her bear was commando under his jeans. Smirking, she cupped her hand around his already hard shaft. When she stroked her hand down the length of him, he released more growls.

  “She has too many clothes on.” Kaden tugged her sweater upward; his fingers brushed along the curves of her body as he did.

  “Kitten, clothes off…” Ari’s bear deepened his voice. “Now!”

  “You’re not only a grumpy bear, you’re also very demanding.” She released his shaft and let Kaden pull the sweater over her head. “But gentleman, I’m not the only one who’s getting naked.”

  “Don’t worry, precious. Our clothes will be gone in a blink of an eye.” Kaden tossed the sweater aside. His hands came around her waist, quickly finding the button of her jeans, and he worked them off her as well.

  Before she could protest, she was standing in the middle of the forest naked, sandwiched between them. Her heart pounded against her chest, and butterflies danced in her stomach from a mixture of nerves and unease. The coolness of the night’s air blowing against her warm skin sent goosebumps rushing down her arms.

  Kaden leaned down, nuzzling her neck, kissing a path down her collarbone, as Ari stripped out of his clothes. Since he was standing before her, she watched his body as the clothes came off one by one. Ari was built for his bear nature, wide and tall, but every aspect was toned and muscular. She wanted to reach out and touch him, but he stayed just out of reach.

  “The scent of your desire is making my bear anxious. He’s demanding we claim you and soon.” Kaden spun her around to look at him. “The question is: will you be as turned on when you watch me undress?”

  “Kaden…” Wanting to reassure him, she reached out for him, but he stepped just out of her grasp. Now, Ari was behind her, his shaft pressed against her back.

  “Watch, kitten.” There was something in his voice that made her wonder if he was hoping she’d reassure Kaden.

  Did Ari think she’d only want one of them? They might have believed they’d share one mate, but were they concerned that she’d reject one of them? Did she have a choice in accepting both of them as mates? It didn’t feel like it. Her lioness didn’t want to choose. She wanted both of them, and she wanted them now.

  Kaden tugged off his shirt. He wasn’t as muscular as Ari, but his body was still toned enough that even in the dark she could make out the contours of his abs. He had a trail of light chest hair that started between his pecs, creating a path straight down his chest. As if leading the way to where she really wanted to be. The hair was thin and a lighter brown than the hair on his head, it almost blended into the tanned skin.

  Her gaze fell lower, until she reached the curves of his hips. Her breath hitched in anticipation. She wanted him naked so she could run her fingers over his body until she memorized every inch of his body. His fingers were already working on the button of his jeans. She could feel his gaze on her as he slowly worked the zipper down, but she couldn’t look away. She knew what was coming, and she wanted to give his reveal her complete attention. In one quick movement, he pushed down his jeans, sending his boxers with them. As quick as they were off, he was there in front of her, his hands running up the front of her body.

  “I love that look in your eyes.” He cupped her breast, sliding his thumbs over her nipple. “The one that screams your desire.”

  Needing more of his touch her body arched toward him. “I want you. Both of you.” It came out more like a moan than she had anticipated. “Fear filled me before to the point I wanted to run. Now…” She tipped her head to look back at Ari. “I guess the fear is still there. I’m still waiting for you to decide that revenge is worth more than a mate, but screw it. I want this.” Even if it’s only
in my dying moments.

  “If I find the bastard who told you bears would care more about a murderous bear than an innocent he’d be the one torn limb from limb.” Ari growled. “Bears are like any other shifter group. We’ll protect our own, but we wouldn’t seek revenge on someone defending herself.”

  Her bottom lip trembled. “Years of fear are hard to give up. You’re asking me to trust what you say is true, but we barely know each other.”

  “Then let us prove you can place your trust in us.” Kaden tweaked her nipple, sending a ripple of pleasure and pain through her. “The connection between mates will help you see that we speak the truth and that we’d die protecting you.”

  Ari nipped her neck. “Mate with us, kitten.”

  She couldn’t force words past her closed throat. Instead, she reached backward and hooked her hand behind Ari’s neck and leaned against his nude body while she locked her gaze with Kaden’s.

  With a quick nod, he picked up her hand and pulled her toward the makeshift bed placing her in the center. They lay on each side of her. While Kaden’s thumb resumed teasing over her nipple, Ari’s hands slid down her body.

  She moved restlessly between them. “Please, I want this.”

  “We know, kitten.” Ari pressed his hand against her inner thigh, gently pulling her leg toward him, opening her up so he could slide his fingers between her folds. “I could smell your desire, but I didn’t realize how wet you were for us.” He worked his finger into her channel, and his thumb caressed her clit, gently teasing the nerve buds until she pushed against his hand.

  “Someone is eager.” Kaden leaned down and captured her nipple between his teeth.

  “Please…” she moaned, pressing into Ari’s touch and arching her back.

  Ari removed his hand from between her legs, and the men shared a quick look before Kaden nodded and moved away. She held no further reservations when Ari moved over her. His shaft teased along her entrance. “We’re going to show you the best night of your life.” He kissed her, a long, slow deliberate kiss that gave and demanded. He cupped her breasts and teased the nipples, gently rasping his thumbs over the hard buds, and then pinching them. Pain mingled with pleasure, and her back arched.

  His warm laughter washed over her, and he abandoned her mouth, moving downward to suck one nipple against his teeth. The warmth of this breath and the coolness of the night’s air had the nubs hardening, arching toward him.

  Sparks of pleasure fired inside of her. He slid his hand between her thighs, urging them apart, and just when she thought he would take her, he teased her clit again and wrenched an orgasm from her. She cried out at the unexpected climax as the air sizzled. She wanted them both inside her. It was the only way to bring the connection between them alive. Only then could they bite her, claiming her as their mate.

  Turning her head, her gaze found Kaden. He was on his knees, just far enough back that he wasn’t in the way of Ari’s touches, but his fingers dragged along her arm as if he still needed to feel her.

  With Ari working his fingers in and out of her core, she was too far gone for words. Instead, she wrapped her hand around Kaden’s cock and gave a slight tug, letting him know she wanted him closer. She needed to taste him.

  She watched as his control slipped away, and he inched toward her. His shaft hard and swollen, ready for her. Heat melted through her as she caressed his length.

  Aware that Ari watched while his fingers glided back and forth against her wet folds, she never took her gaze away from Kaden. “Don’t make me beg. I want both of you. Now.” She didn’t wait to see what Ari would do; instead she leaned sideways and took Kaden’s cock into her mouth.

  A sharp intake of breath shook through him as she swirled her tongue around the tip, sucking it hard. Drunk on the need to have them both, she sped her pace, hoping that Ari would join them.

  Kaden groaned, and his hand reached down to tentatively cup the back of her head. He didn’t try to urge her to go faster. He allowed her to set the pace.

  Needing Ari inside of her she reached out to him, her hand landing solidly on his chest. Her nails raked against his skin as she silently pleaded for him to realize what she so desperately needed. She wanted him buried deep within her channel.

  Out of the corner of her gaze, she could see him watching them, braced above her with his shaft hard and thick, eagerly straining toward her. She let Kaden slip from between her lips but kept her hand at the base of his cock, holding him close.

  “Ari…” She called his name, the desire dripping off the single word. “Take me.”

  “Turn over.” He waited while she released Kaden’s cock, then gripped her hips and helped her turn, until she was on her knees before him. “It will be easier.”

  “For the bite.” Kaden moved to kneel in front of her, his shaft bouncing in front of her face.

  With one powerful thrust, Ari slid into her. She moaned as he worked his way inside, inch by inch as her body accepted him. With Ari working his way in and out of her, she let her attention go back to Kaden’s shaft. She pulled it into her mouth again, and then slowly worked up and down his shaft, until the three of them fell into a rhythm together. As they synced, their speed quickened, allowing them to find pleasure as one, rocking together in perfect harmony. She cupped Kaden’s hip keeping him close as Ari slammed into her, their bodies slapping together with every stroke.

  Kaden pulled out of her mouth. “I’m not going to finish in your mouth. I want to be buried deep within you when I finally let go.”

  She wanted to fight him, to pull him back and have him filling her mouth, but she didn’t. She pulsed backward, meeting Ari’s thrusts as Kaden’s fingers found her nipples. She was too close to the edge to stop. Waves of ecstasy engulfed her, and she arched up until her back was pressed against his chest.

  Ari slammed home, burying himself deep within her. He leaned forward, biting into her shoulder, his teeth breaking the skin. At the same time Kaden bit her on the left just above her collarbone. She clawed her nails against Kaden’s body. Mated for life to bears…

  8

  Chapter Eight

  Camellia would have collapsed into a heap on the makeshift bed if it wasn’t for Kaden and Ari holding her up on her knees. With the mating bond cemented, what she felt for them was taken to a whole new level. She had never felt this connection with anyone else, ever. It didn’t even come close to the bond she had with the tribe or the Chief. It was unlike anything she could have hoped for.

  “Our beautiful mate.” Kaden smiled at her as he smoothed her hair away from her face.

  “Wow.” She wasn’t sure what else to say. It was unbelievable what was happening within her and the bond; her body was overloaded with sensations. Everything seemed to smell stronger, emotions were clearer, and her body crackled with electricity. She tipped her head forward and nuzzled against the curve of his neck. The scent of honey and woods filled her, but for once it didn’t make her want to scurry away. She wanted to snuggle against Kaden and wrap herself in his scent.

  “Take her back to the cabin. I’ll grab the clothes.” Ari kissed her shoulder just above where he’d bitten her. “We’re not nearly done with you, kitten.”

  Kitten, she liked the way it sounded coming from him. The deep voice was like a direct line to her core, sparking the fire within her.

  Kaden slipped his shirt around her shoulders, lifted her into her arms, and still naked, he rose from the makeshift bed. “Back at your cabin, you’re mine.”

  She wrapped her arms around his neck. “There’s nothing I want more.” How things had changed. Just hours ago, she’d run in fear of her life. Now, the lion inside her was ready to surrender to her mate.

  They were her mates. Their species didn’t matter. She ran her hand along the curve of his jaw, and her fingers were met with the roughness of his stubbles from where he hadn’t shaved. Something she found wildly attractive. The coarseness fit perfectly with his longer hair and his beast.

  A sudd
en burst of fury blazed against her skin. Not hers. Not Kaden’s. Someone was hiding in the darkness. Her body went ridged and her chest tightened.

  She stiffened and held her breath, tuning her sense to seek out whoever was out there. Her lioness trotted forward, head tipped toward the sky, sniffing the air. Her hand stilled as she glanced around the compound, searching in the direction her lioness urged her to.

  There, not ten feet away from her cabin, stood Swift. Her red hair billowed in the wind, but it was the anger rippling off her that made Camellia take notice. What had her in such a twist? They had become friends over the last few years. But since Zoe had arrived, something had changed. Swift had hidden away in her cabin, avoiding everyone. Even when Camellia had tried to comfort her friend, Swift had pushed her away.

  “Put me down,” she whispered.

  He did as she asked, but kept his hand on her back. She could feel the tension vibrating through him as he evaluated the situation. Whatever he sensed had his bear on guard, too. Instead of listening to her better judgement, she continued toward Swift, buttoning the shirt Kaden had wrapped around her as she did.

  “You fucked them!” Swift’s accusing glare drifted between Camellia and Kaden’s naked body. “Outsiders in our tribe and you bring them to your bed. What if they are part of the attacks on the foxes?”

  Camellia took a deep breath and tried not to let her anger get the best of her. Swift was her friend, and she was hurting. This wasn’t her, but her anger and fear taking control. “They’re bears, not humans like the ones that have attacked—”

  “Don’t give me that shit.” Swift marched toward them. “You don’t know anything about them. They could be part of it.”

  “Swift…” She tried to keep her voice calm, even when she wanted to fight. They were her mates, and while she hadn’t known them but a few hours, she knew they didn’t deserve Swift’s accusations.