Warlock and the Bear Read online

  A silence fell that was so absolute the ticking of the clock on the mantelpiece sounded like a death knell.

  “Yeah. That’s grim shit right there,” Kacie muttered. “But I like bears, so he’s still an idiot.”

  Lilly snorted. “Can’t argue with that. Just don’t tell him I said it, okay? He’s still my boss.”

  Kacie looked offended. “Girl code. Nothing will pass these lips. Including any hot details about Mr. Muscles Warlock. So… spill. Now. Before we have to get nasty…” She wiggled her fingers, motioning toward Lilly’s ribs. Automatically her stomach clenched. She was ticklish as hell and they both knew it.

  “There’s nothing to tell,” she admitted. “We’re not together. Morgan is staying at my place because Bennett Allan has matestrike.”

  “Oh shit,” Kacie breathed.

  “Why?” Kait demanded. “What’s matestrike?”

  “Well, as Dean explained it, it’s when you get a furry stalker.”

  Lilly almost snorted at Kacie’s explanation. But, to be fair, it was accurate. “Yeah. Kind of. It means that Bennett has fixated on me as a potential mate. Until it wears off, he’ll be a right royal pain in the ass. And the quickest way to deal with a matestrike is to convince the afflicted that their desired partner is mated to someone else…”

  “Ahh!” Both girls chorused.

  “Hence… Morgan moved in with me until Bennett’s got his head on straight.”

  Kait nodded. “Makes sense.”

  But Kacie’s look was more direct.

  “Yeah… but why Morgan? Dean told me what happened in the bar. There were other shifters there…” She grinned, the expression saying she knew she had Lilly pinned.

  “So why did you kiss hot-lips Morgan?”

  Twilight had begun to darken the sky as Lilly pulled into her drive hours later and parked behind Morgan’s big truck. She’d barely managed to avoid having an escort home—both her human friends wanted to protect her from Bennett if he should show up.

  Her lips curved into a smile.

  She was under strict instructions to give three rings when she got home, to let them both know she was safe. Three rings. Not a text. They’d been very particular about that. Apparently, Bennett could pretend to be her in a text, but he wouldn’t know about the three rings.

  Cutting the engine, she grabbed her purse and rooted inside it for her cell. She found Kacie’s number and waited for the requested three rings, then did the same for Kait. Both responded with a thumbs-up text that made her smile. They had to have been virtually waiting with their cells in their hands.

  She had no doubt one or both of them had been timing her as well, and if she hadn’t called within an acceptable amount of time, they’d no doubt have called in the cavalry.

  Warmth filled her. She had awesome friends, and they’d always had her back, even if they hadn’t always known what she was. She’d always had to be careful to protect them from her world, but now they knew about the clan, knew about her ‘other’ side, and they’d accepted it without question. They’d leapt whole-heartedly into her world, and she couldn’t be happier. She didn’t have to hide that side of her anymore, and it was a great relief not having to watch everything she said or pretend to be something she wasn’t.

  Dropping her cell back in her purse, she got out of the car to the sound of raised voices. Kids’ voices.

  “Oi, half-skin… go back to where you come from!”

  “Yeah! We don’t want your kind here!”

  “Half-skin, half-skin!”

  Her hackles rose at the bear-centric taunts. This road was almost entirely shifter houses, but they were still close enough to the center of town they needed to be careful. She was about to round the back of Morgan’s truck like a hurricane and send them all packing when a deep voice cut through the air like a whip.

  “Enough! You think this is funny? A crowd of you picking on one person? Huh?” Morgan demanded, and he was more pissed off than she’d ever heard him.

  “Huh? Nothing to say for yourselves now someone bigger and meaner than you is here?”

  Lilly edged around the back of the truck to see a group of bear kids huddled in a mass in front of the big warlock. A small girl stood at his side, no more than six or seven. Lilly had never seen her before, which meant she was one of the Jenkins who had just moved in down the street after joining from another clan.

  Right now, though, she looked terrified, shooting glances between the warlock and the gang who had been tormenting her, her body language saying she wanted nothing more than the ground to open and swallow her whole. But as Morgan spoke, her spine straightened a little and, warily, she reached up to slide her hand into his.

  Lilly held her breath, but Morgan didn’t skip a beat, his larger hand tightening around the little girl’s.

  “And what’s this about ‘your kind’?” he demanded. “Last I checked, you were all bears.”

  Several of the kids looked startled. It was one of the clan rules, drilled into them from the cradle. Never say it in the open. Ever. It could, at best, put you in the pits, at worst, it meant expulsion from the clan. Even worse than expulsion… it could mean an entire clan would have to move.

  No one wanted to be the reason the clan had to move.

  Morgan held up a hand wreathed in blue fire. Their eyes went wide at the display of magic.

  “I can say it because I took precautions. You didn’t, did you?” he chided them sternly. “In fact, the only person I didn’t hear throwing around forbidden insults—the only one I didn’t hear breaking the rules—was my little friend here.”

  He smiled down at the girl, who practically glowed. Returning his attention to the gang of bear kids, his stern expression returned. There were six of them, all from local families she’d be having words with.

  “So I’m going to ask again,” Morgan growled, doing a good impression of a pissed off bear himself. Sometimes a bear’s mate would begin to sound more bearlike themselves. It had happened with both Kait and Kacie— they both pulled cute little growls now when they were annoyed. But Morgan wasn’t a bearmate, so that growl had to be natural.

  “What’s this about ‘your kind’? Are you, or are you not, all bears?”

  One of the kids, James McKinnon—a little POS—opened his mouth, but Morgan wasn’t done.

  “If anything other than ‘yes sir’ comes out of your mouth, I can take care of that and turn you all into weasels for a week.”

  “You wouldn’t dare!” James squeaked, outrage in his voice. There was genuine fear as well, well-hidden by his attitude as he tried to maintain his status among his little group. To prove to them that he was ‘the man’ and not afraid of anything. Especially a non-bear.

  Lilly realized there was a superiority complex at times in the clan against non-bears, as though bears were somehow superior to anyone who was not.

  “Dean Sterling would never let you,” the boy carried on, his shoulders squaring at the very mention of the prime’s name. “He’d have you in the pits in a heartbeat,” he threatened with relish. “And tear your throat out.”

  Morgan laughed, the deep sound of genuine amusement rolling through the air. “Oh, I’m sure he could try. How do you think I know that your prime’s allergic to weasel fur? I’ve turned him into all manner of creatures, and not only would he let me turn you into something small and prey-like, he’d probably say a weasel is too good for you and order me to turn you into something slimy, like a frog.”

  There was a gasp and the little gang’s collective nerve failed them. With cries of alarm, they bolted, hurtling off up the street as fast as their legs could carry them.

  Morgan chuckled again, but didn’t bother to follow them.

  “Would you really have turned them into frogs?” the little girl asked, awe on her face as she looked up at Morgan.

  “Of course.” He looked down with a smile. “They’re bullies, and I hate bullies.”

  “Have you really turned the prime into a wease
l? And he let you?”

  Morgan chuckled. “Wanna know a secret?”

  She nodded and he leaned down. “I’ve turned your prime into a toad before. He doesn’t scare me at all. You know who really scares me?”

  “Uh-uh?” She shook her head, her eyes wide.

  Even Lilly found herself crowding closer. Who was Morgan scared of? She didn’t think the balls-to-the-wall, best of the best warlock was frightened of anything.

  “Your head enforcer, Lilly Braun.” He dropped his voice, and looked around as though he didn’t want anyone to hear. “She’s mean as hell and scares the daylights out of me. Wouldn’t want to end up in the pits with her.”

  The girl snorted. “Don’t be silly. Girls can’t be enforcers. They’re girls.”

  Morgan leaned back, shock on his face. “Are you kidding me? Who told you that rubbish?”

  “My daddy, and my uncle. They said girls aren’t strong enough to be enforcers.”

  Lilly’s lips compressed into a thin line. Looked like she needed to have a word with Mr. Jenkins if he held to attitudes like that.

  “Pfft… utter rubbish,” Morgan exclaimed. “If anything, girls make better enforcers. The meanest and most dangerous bears I’ve met have been she-bears. I wouldn’t want to tangle with any of them. So if you want to be an enforcer, then you go for it. Okay?”

  The biggest grin spread over the little girls face and she nodded enthusiastically. The fact Morgan was astute enough to realize the girl needed her confidence building was impressive enough, but to figure out the best way, as well? Yeah, the guy had hidden depths.

  “Okay, enforcer. Wanna show me which house is yours?” Morgan asked.

  “I don’t need you to protect me!” The little girl retorted fiercely.

  “No, not at all!!” Morgan put his hand over his heart. “But I need you to look after me. Lotsa bears around these parts who’d prey on a poor, innocent warlock like me. So how about it?”

  “Okay. I’ll protect you.”

  Lilly’s heart melted as the girl led Morgan down the street toward her house. He didn’t argue, just let her lead the way. Yeah, he’d make a great father.

  Quickly she locked down the thought of a little bear-boy with Morgan’s blond hair and blue eyes, totally ignoring the pang in the center of her chest. Not happening. Morgan and her? Not mates… she was still waiting for her fated mate. A nice bear guy, not a warlock.

  No way. No how.

  Chapter 6

  “Hey. What are you doing here?”

  Morgan froze as he walked through the door and spotted her in the kitchen, a look of surprise on his face.

  Lilly gave a small smile as she stirred the pasta sauce. “I live here?”

  Then she made the mistake of looking up, and her breathing caught at the sight of him in the doorway. He was framed by the light, his face almost in shadow. The light kissed him from behind, outlining the large, heavily muscled frame; the broad shoulders and wide chest, lean waist and hips. The powerful thighs and calves. Had he ever played sports? Was that why he was built the way he was?

  She didn’t know, and at the moment, her ability to think had hightailed it over the horizon. All she wanted to do was walk across the kitchen and right into his arms. After what she’d seen earlier, she needed to kiss him again. They’d kissed this morning yes, but she’d been half asleep and she couldn’t remember…

  No. That was a lie and she was honest enough with herself to recognize it.

  She remembered everything about this morning. It was seared into her memory for all time. All. Time. She remembered everything about the way he’d held her, touched her… saw to her pleasure rather than taking anything for himself. The way his arms had enfolded her protectively as his kiss had seared her all the way down to her soul.

  And he wasn’t the arrogant, self-centered jerk she’d always thought he was.

  So why couldn’t she just kiss him? They were both consenting adults, there was nothing stopping them from kissing.

  Stirring the sauce, she turned the heat down and turned to walk toward him. With each step she took, the tension in the room mounted. He didn’t move. Undaunted, she came to a stop in front of him and lifted up on her tiptoes to reach his lips. Gently, she pressed a kiss to them.

  He still didn’t move, watching her as she pulled back to look up at him.

  “What are you doing, Braun?” he asked, his voice a heavy rumble.

  Her estimation of him went up another notch. He hadn’t grabbed her, nor deepened the kiss at the mere hint she might be willing. He hadn’t done anything, just watched her warily.

  “What does it look like?” she whispered, kissing him again. “I’m kissing you.”

  Her lips brushed over his as she learned their shape and texture. At first, they were firm, closed against her, but the more she kissed him, the more she sensed him relaxing. Then he growled and hauled her into his arms, up against his hard chest, and kissed her back.

  He didn’t mess around. These were not soft kisses. Instead, he claimed her mouth, parting her lips with a sweep of his tongue to drive within. A deep rumble reverberated through her chest, a growl of approval direct from her bear as she melted in his arms. Heat swept through her as his tongue found hers and slid against it in short, hot strokes that made her want to mewl and whimper as she pressed herself harder against him.

  The kiss went from hot to supernova in a heartbeat, and then, with a curse, he yanked his lips from hers.

  “Yeah, but why?” he demanded, hands on her upper arms to stop her moving in again.

  She looked him in the eye. “Because I want to. Because I like you. Don’t you like me?”

  “Fuck, yeah, I like you. More than like you,” he growled and moved faster than anyone she’d ever met.

  In the blink of an eye, his big fist was tangled in her hair, to tilt her head back so he could look down into her eyes. His gaze was piercing, a little uncomfortable, but filled with so much heat she was forced to bite back a whimper and press her thighs together.

  “But we carry on like this, and we won’t just be kissing,” he promised.

  Hot and cold shivers raced over her skin and she nodded. “Yeah, I know.”

  “Know what? That we won’t just be kissing?” He growled again, his grip tightening. It wasn’t painful, just firm. Holding her in place so she couldn’t move. Of course, with her inhuman strength, she could easily have broken his grip and thrown him across the room if she’d wanted. But she didn’t want to, so she just looked up at him.

  “I know we won’t just be kissing,” she whispered.

  “We’ll be fucking,” he promised her in a hard voice, spreading a large hand over the back of her hips to press her harder against him as if to back up his words. Her knees went weak at the hardness she felt against her stomach.

  “I’ll strip off every stitch of clothing you have on, spread your pretty little thighs, and drive balls deep into your pussy,” he leaned down to murmur by her ear. “I’ll make you take every inch of my cock and have you begging for more. Do you want that? Because if we carry on, that’s what’s gonna happen.”

  “Oh, moon,” she couldn’t help whispering. “Yes. Yes… I want that.”

  He pulled back to look down at her, his handsome features drawn tight with triumph. Without warning, he leaned down and lifted her up, walking her backward to set her ass down on the island counter. His lips claimed hers in a searing kiss. She gasped and he slid his tongue in to tangle with hers, the kiss heating within seconds.

  She had no idea whose hands stripped off her top and bra, or his shirt. All she knew was the utter satisfaction of all that satin skin over steely muscle under her hands, and the bone-melting pleasure as he cupped her breasts in big, calloused palms.

  Her soft sigh was drowned out by a deep groan as he leaned down to take one of her nipples into his mouth. A whimper escaped her as warm, wet heat closed around the turgid peak and she clung to his shoulders. He laved attention on first one and t
hen the other, soft kisses and licks interspersed with sucks that drew lines of fire from her nipples right down to her clit.

  “I have to taste you,” he broke away to declare, pushing her back flat onto the counter as he wrestled her jeans and panties off her hips and down her legs. She bit back a giggle as her clothing fought him and he growled.

  “What?” he demanded darkly, but she caught the quirk at the corner of his lips. “I’ve finally got you here, you think I’m gonna let some pain-in-the-ass clothing stop me?” he said as he finally got them to her feet and dropped them onto the floor unheeded.

  “Oh… moon’s teeth…” she murmured as he yanked her closer, parting her thighs as he dropped to his knees. The counter was just the right height for him to wrap steely forearms around her thighs, his hands parting her pussy lips as he licked her slit all the way up to her clit. She keened softly, trying to twist away, and he chuckled, easily holding her in place.

  “You’re not going anywhere, beautiful,” he promised. “Not until you’ve come all over my face.”

  Oh. My. God. He totally did not just say that. Lilly’s cheeks burned as she realized that, yes, he had just said that. He had just told her he planned to eat her out until she came.

  She whimpered as he leaned forward and this time, when his tongue slid between her pussy lips, he didn’t stop. He feasted on her like a starving man at an all-you-can-eat buffet.

  Each lick was hotter than the last as he explored her. Found her clit and stroked it with his tongue. Soft, long licks combined with hard slices of his tongue until she wriggled and squirmed in his hold. But he didn’t take pity on her. Instead, he slid his tongue down and teased the entrance to her body, pushing inside to fuck her with his tongue before returning to tease at her clit until her body was on fire.

  “Morgan… please!” she cried out, on the edge as she gripped the edge of the counter.