The Maverick Pride Tales - Chapter 38: Chapter 38

“Oooh!”
Jessica groaned as something shoved her and she face planted on the carpet of the trunk of her little SUV.
What the heck?
One second, she was trying to grab Uncle Uzzi’s packages with Reg chatting next to her, and the next something knocked her down. Something big and strong. But she wasn’t afraid. Not exactly.
Gulp.
Heat pooled between her legs, and she had to clench them together to stave the flow as her inner Tiger purred away. The thing that knocked her down was sniffing about her bottom, paying attention to the sliver of exposed skin under her butt cheek. Using her Shifter senses, she took a deep breath.
A Bear?
Shit.
Not just any Bear.
Her Bear.
Her inner she-Cat chuffed happily. It was definitely Brayden. But what the heck was he doing?
His warm breath tickled the flash of skin that peeped out through the rip in her jeans, and she couldn’t help the shiver of arousal that ran through her. More liquid heat pooled between her legs, and she had to bite back her moan.
Dammit.
His animal would most certainly smell her arousal, and she had enough humiliation after he hadn’t called her. It had been days since their date with no word or sign he wanted another, and Jess wasn’t sure how she felt about that.
“Will you quit it?” she murmured.
Jessica tried pushing against him with her butt so she could get out of the damn car. But he didn’t budge. Not one inch, the big bastard.
Ugh.
“Really? You know, personal space is a real thing,” she grumbled and tried again.
The big Black Bear gently bumped her again with his long ursine snout, tickling her with his hot breath before stepping back. Finally, the dope was giving her space to stand.
She did so, slowly, turning around and meeting the jet-black eyes of Brayden’s beautiful animal. He was large as a man, but as a Bear he was positively fucking monstrous. And so beautiful it almost hurt to look at him.
She sighed as she took in his handsome Bear. Jessica was not afraid. He didn’t mean her any harm. Though his intentions were unclear, her she-Cat knew she was not in any kind of danger.
On the contrary, he seemed intent on helping her or something. Head cocked to the side the Bear watched her with glittering black eyes. His nose sniffed the air, lips opening and closing, tasting it in that cute way Bears had of scenting things.
Unable to help herself, Jessica reached out with her hands. She just had to touch him. Slowly at first, to see if it was okay. Shifters weren’t pets, and not everyone was okay being handled.
But this Bear grunted happily and pushed his head further into her touch. Okay, so he liked to be petted. She smiled and ran her fingers over his face and neck, and up and down his back as far as she could reach.
“You’re so warm and soft.”
Jessica gasped and laughed as he snorted and sniffed her palm, breathing hot air into it till it tickled. She had expected his deep mahogany fur to be coarse and rough, but it was surprisingly thick and velvety. So smooth and warm to the touch.
Black bears in the wild were much like their Shifter cousins in that they came in many shades of color, despite their name. Black Bears could be brown, black, a combination of both, and some were even a light buff color near to white.
She sighed, heart doing double time, as Brayden sat on his back haunches and leaned into her. As if he was silently urging her to increase the pressure of her hands. She obliged him, loving the feel of the big Black Bear under her fingers.
She knew they were alone in front of the Pride House. Her Tiger could detect no other people or Shifters present. Strange, since there was always someone hanging around. Biting her lip, she stepped closer, drawn to the big animal and, if she were being honest, to the man within.
In just a few days, he’d become incredibly important to her. She’d been wondering about him. Guessing what he was feeling and thinking for most of the time they’d been apart.
It was the way of Shifters, she supposed. This fast insta-lust and extreme attraction. She just didn’t know her heart would be so involved. And it was. Big time.
His Bear hummed and purred, encouraging her to continue petting him. When she was as close to him as she could get, something completely unexpected happened.
One minute, she was running her hands over his furry head and neck, the next she was touching smooth, muscular skin.
Naked skin.
Jessica gasped and moved to step back, but Brayden held her close. His unrelenting grip on her hips meant she was trapped against him. She was strong as a She-Cat, but her strength was nothing compared to the raw power rolling off the Bear Shifter.
Brayden was just so much more dominant than she’d ever guessed. He could probably be an Alpha if he wanted.
Towering over her, his eyes darkened as he tightened his hold, tucking her carefully into his body as if she were fragile and small. She swallowed hard.
She was totally at his mercy like this. The question was, was Jessica a willing victim?
Yes.
Of course she was. She’d wanted this big, sexy man to hold her since she’d been awakened to the possibility that he was the man for her.
Gulp.
Heat filled her stomach in response to the deep growling coming from him.
No. Not a growl. That sound was more like a purr. Jessica was stunned. The big, naked— did she mention naked, Bear was purring against her.
Strong, steely bands that were his arms wrapped tightly around her. The thick bar of his erection pressed against her belly. He was flustered, holding onto his control by a thread, and he was definitely aroused. And it was all because of her.
Jessica’s panties practically melted off her body. She was so warm, so wet. She knew he could smell her desire, but that was alright with her. She could smell his, too.
It was almost too much to comprehend. The sexy Bear Shifter wanted her. Jessica moved against him, loving the groan that pulled from his throat. She felt powerful, feminine, her nerves buzzing with electricity and awareness.
Yes, please.
“Uh, Brayden?”
“You stopped,” he murmured, dipping his head down to the hollow of her neck.
“I don’t want you to stop, Jess. I like it when you touch me.”
Jessica’s mouth went dry at that confession. She had never really touched Brayden before. Truth be told, she liked it too. Liked the feel of the big hard Shifter under her hands.
Want more, the Tiger hissed.
He rumbled against her, pressing his mouth against her overheated skin. Brayden’s nose and lips grazed the skin of her neck, followed by the slow drag of his fangs. Jessica whimpered at the contact. The promised intent almost too much for her she-Cat.
Hell.
It was enough to force her heat cycle, though she’d never experienced one yet. Fuck, it felt good to be this close to him.
Really good.
She tugged her hands free without moving out of his arms. Then she ran them over his arms and shoulders, all the way up to play with the hair at the base of his neck.
Brayden purred louder, and she sighed, holding him right where she wanted him. His lips and tongue felt great against the exposed skin of her neck. His naked body felt pretty damn good, too. Especially the way it was pressed up against hers.
She cursed the clothing she wore that separated them. And she wondered at her own bold thoughts as they held each other, petting, and nuzzling one another right outside the Pride House.
When did I become a slut?
The second that naked man wrapped you in his arms, her Tiger replied.
Jessica shivered, but she wasn’t cold. She never really bothered with a coat. As a Shifter, she typically ran hotter than most. Her off the shoulder sweater meant Brayden had easy access to her neck and, well, other things. Like her breasts.
They swelled against his chest, nipples hardening into pebbles at the very thought of him touching her, exposing her, putting his mouth on her.
Yes, please.
“Brayden,” she said his name, more moan than intended, but she supposed that was okay.
“You smell like gingerbread cookies, spicy and sweet. So fucking tempting, Jess, you’re making me insane with wanting you,” he murmured.
His tongue darted out of his mouth, and he tasted the skin just below her ear.
Shit.
Jessica’s eyes closed against the light whispery touch. The promise of untold pleasures only he could bring teased her senses.
She shivered with delight. Sighing and moving her body every time his lips grazed her skin. He kept the pressure ever so light, almost as if he were afraid he’d break her if he pressed any harder.
His almost-kisses were a form of erotic torture, she decided. Heightening her already growing arousal and whetting her appetite for him in ways she had no idea how to handle. Her nails scratched his shoulders, not enough to break the skin, but enough to make him groan against her neck.
She felt so small up against the mountain of a man. Secretly loving the way he towered over her. He was practically bent in half as he trailed kisses along her clavicle. Jess bit her lip, silencing her whimpers as he dipped his head lower to graze the tops of her breasts.
Oh please, oh please, oh please.
Heat filled her lower belly, her sex dripped moisture, making her damp panties positively soaked. She couldn’t go inside the Pride House. Not now.
“Been thinking about this for days, kitten. So sweet, so beautiful,” he murmured, calling her a pet name for the first time ever as he kissed along the visible line of her cleavage.
“But you, you haven’t called me since lunch the other day,” she whispered, and some of her hurt seeped into her voice.
Dammit.
She squeezed her eyes tight and cursed herself for breaking the spell between them. It was time to put on her big girl panties and have a real talk with the man.
Gulp.
She felt a gentle hand on her chin, lifting her face. When she finally opened her eyes, it was to find his almost black ones staring into hers. She scented his regret in the air, and again, wanted to pinch herself for ruining the moment.
Nah. The hell with that. Jessica had to know what was going on before this went further. It was her heart on the line here, and maybe, if she was lucky, his too.
“I want to apologize for my behavior, Jessica. I can’t give you any excuse or reason that would be good enough for why I behaved that way,” Brayden explained.
She knew he was being sincere. Her she-Cat could sense it in his mannerisms, in his eyes, and in the scent he carried.