Chief Bear (Bear Shifter Paranormal Romance) (Rescue Bears Book 1) (10 page)

T
he slow song
played and Levi held Juliet in his arms as they moved across the dance floor. The ceremony had been perfect. The reception had moved on to the main dining room with a view of the lake. A band played at one end of the dining room and the bartender served drinks from the bar at the other end.

Shane’s lobster had been so delicious, most of the guests had asked for second helpings. By the time the bride and groom were ready to cut the cake, the guests were happy and satisfied as could be. As pleasant as it was to have satisfied guests in his lodge, none of that could compare to the feeling of having Juliet in his arms.

Wedding ceremonies were a human custom, a custom many shifters participated in. It only made Levi think of what his wedding with Juliet would be like one day. The words they had exchanged in his office had told him all he needed to know. He was done holding back. Not even Corey’s words could change his mind now. He and Juliet were meant for each other, and they would be together forever.

As soon as he could get her alone, he intended to show her everything he had to give. He wanted to fill her world with pleasure. He wanted to fill her with joy and bring a smile to her beautiful pink lips. Now that Juliet was in his life, her happiness would be his life’s mission.

As he danced with her, he whispered into her ear how much he looked forward to spending some quiet time together. She relaxed even more deeply into his arms and agreed that she wanted the same thing. He was about to suggest they go up to his suite when he noticed Duke walking through the dining room with a keg over his shoulder.

Dammit. The note.

Levi kissed Juliet on the cheek and led her back to her table before telling her that he needed to go speak with Duke. She gave him a worried expression as she looked up into his eyes, but he smiled down at her and patted her shoulder. Juliet was so kindhearted, always thinking of other people. She had tended to both Quinn and Charlotte in their hours of need. It would be his pleasure to attend to her needs from now on.

He crossed the room to Duke and tapped his friend on the shoulder. The bearded bear turned to him and frowned.

“I don’t see her anywhere,” he said.

“Who?” Levi asked, although he knew exactly who Duke was talking about.

“Quinn. Girl from the bachelorette party. We were matched on Mate.com,” Duke said. He leaned in to speak quietly into his friend’s ear. “I marked her.”

“Duke. I’m sorry, man. I have this note from Quinn. Juliet gave it to me.”

Duke took the note and unfolded it, his eyes scanning the contents before he crumbled it up, took a violent sigh and looked away. “She’s gone,” Duke said, looking back at Levi.

“She couldn’t handle her feelings for you, Duke. Just give it time, she might come around.”

“Not according to her note.”

Duke threw the note in the fireplace and walked away. Levi turned to watch him disappear out the dining room doors and into the lobby.
God dammit.
Duke was really upset and there was nothing Levi could do about it. Quinn had made her decision, and no one could force her to come back. She had taken Duke’s mating mark and run away with it.

Levi joined Juliet at her table, and they both drank a glass of champagne as the music played.

“Is he going to be okay?” Juliet asked.

“I don’t know if there is any getting over something like this. Quinn is his. The one. That might not mean much to a human, but to a shifter…it’s everything.”

Juliet slid her fingers over Levi’s hand, looking up at him with concern-filled eyes. It made his heart break to see her feel so much for others. He couldn’t wait a moment longer to fill her eyes with pleasure and passion. He wrapped his hand around hers and stood from the table.

“Duke and Quinn are not us. We have our own story to tell, Juliet. Come with me now.”

L
evi kicked
the door to his apartment closed behind them, the look in his eyes changing right in front of her. He narrowed them at her and picked her up off the floor, wrapping her legs around his waist as he walked through the room and deposited her on his giant king sized bed.

She kicked off her shoes as Levi stood over her in the gray three-piece suit he’d worn to the wedding. He peeled off his jacket and threw it on the floor, revealing his muscled chest and arms under the white button-up shirt. He loosened his tie and slid it out of his shirt. Their eyes locked, and an instant later, Levi was on his knees in front of her on the floor.

“You’re ready for this?” Levi asked, more hesitant than he had been the last time they’d made love. This time she knew she was ready.

“Yes,” she breathed.

The bear was close to the surface; she could see it in his eyes. She could see the hint of his sharp canines poking out from under his lips. It made her heart race as he slid his hands up her legs, pushing her dress back as he went.

He wrapped his fingers around her panties and began to pull them down. Juliet sucked a deep breath, her body erupting in goosebumps. His hot mouth kissed along the inside of her thigh as he pulled the panties off her feet. Juliet was a quivering pool of need, and all she could do was watch him.

He reached up and slid the zipper down her back, loosening her sleeveless dress so that it fell down to her waist. Her breasts faced him, and he pulled her dress down over her hips, leaving her naked in front of him. Her curvy form on display, she felt a shiver of self-consciousness she hadn’t felt the first time. This time was more serious. This time she was sure she wanted him. She bit her lip and looked away, her eyebrows pulling together.

He gripped her chin and gently forced her to look back at him.

“Don’t ever feel shy in front of me,” he said. “You are so fucking beautiful. Everything I am. Everything I have. It’s all for you.” He tilted his head toward her neck and took a deep breath of her scent as he cupped her breast in his big hand. “Because you are mine. You’re fucking mine, and I’ll never let you go.”

“I never want to go,” she whispered. She knew to the depths of her soul that this was right. Why couldn’t she have it all? Why couldn’t she have him? Levi, this man who was so gorgeous, so powerful and good. He really did love her. Want her. All she had to do was let him have her.

Levi kissed down her neck and licked her nipples into his mouth, making her ache for more. When he pushed her legs open and his eyes focused on her pussy, she couldn’t stay sitting anymore. She laid her back against the soft comforter as Levi’s tongue ran down her body, leaving a trail of hunger across her skin.

His fingers gripped her thighs, keeping her legs wide open as his mouth finally found her need. He licked up her slit, tasting her cream with a low growl from deep in his throat.

“You taste like honey, baby,” he growled.

Juliet glanced at him to see the light of his bear in his eyes. The sight of it swept her into another level of surrender. The animal inside of her lover was so close, so ready to take what was his. She slid her arms up above her head, her nipples taut, letting go to him. Letting him have everything she had to give.

His tongue played along her outer folds before dipping deeper, sweeping over her core and focusing on her swollen clit. Juliet arched her back, the pleasure surging inside her. He ran his tongue back and forth between her opening and her clit, wetting her already slick entrance with his mouth.

His fingers pressed against her opening, and he moved his tongue to her tight bud. As he pushed inside her, caressing her pleasure, he sucked her clit into his mouth. Juliet jolted, coming all at once, without warning.

She moaned and gripped her thighs around Levi’s head. He pushed his fingers in and out of her in a quick rhythm, letting her know what was to come. She couldn’t stand it anymore. She needed him inside her. Juliet reached down and gripped his head, pulling him up to her. Her greedy mouth focused on his, tasting her body on his lips. She groaned, reaching for his belt buckle.

Levi frantically pulled out of his clothes and slid over her, naked and hard. His long, thick cock settled over her pussy as he kissed her tenderly on the mouth, neck, and face. Juliet cupped his cheek in her hand, wanting him so close. Their connection flowed between them, moving back and forth in a passionate kiss.

She reached down and tilted his cock toward her opening. She couldn’t wait a moment longer. She needed him inside her. She wanted him to fill her with his seed. Mark her. Mate her. Make her his forever.

“Wait,” he grunted, reaching to the nightstand. He ripped open a condom and unfurled it over his throbbing member.

“But I want you,” she breathed.

“I know. I’m protecting you. This won’t be the first time.”

“I don’t care. I need you. I need you so bad.”

He slid back and pressed the head of his cock to her slick entrance. He moved inside her effortlessly. He was so big, her eyes widened and her mouth dropped open wider with each inch of him. She was nearly panting when he sank to the base of his shaft.

“Juliet. My mate,” he growled, sinking his face in the crook of her neck.

He pulled his hips back and thrust forward, sending waves of pleasure through her being. She called out to god and repeated Levi’s name as he moved inside her.

Everything in her called out to have him make her his. She was so open, so ready. All the moments of despair that had led up to this seemed to have been preparation to appreciate how wonderful it felt to surrender to true love.

She wanted him. She wanted his commitment. She wanted to let go like never before and she didn’t want to wait a second longer. Juliet could feel her orgasm barreling toward her, ready to break through and send her into the stratosphere.

“I want you to mark me,” she said, panting and holding him tight.

“I can’t. Juliet. We should wait,” he said, looking her in the eye and rubbing his knuckles across her cheek.

He wanted to protect her. But she wanted it. She wanted it now. Damn Quinn and her cold feet. That wasn’t Juliet. Juliet didn’t make impulsive decisions. She was tired of holding back and playing small.

“Please, Levi. I want to belong to you,” she said, writhing below him.

“You do belong to me, Juliet. I don’t need to mark you until you are sure.”

“I am sure, Levi. Please. I’m going to come,” she said, barely able to speak.

He tilted his hips back and pumped into her, drawing out the orgasm that was just below the surface. As her orgasm started to break through, she felt him stiffen inside her and his teeth brush over the skin of her neck.

All at once, he came hard into her gushing orgasm. His teeth sank deep into her neck, and Juliet launched into space. Galaxies were born, expanded, and died. The mark sank deep inside her as their bodies throbbed in time. It was a moment of singularity. Perfect bliss.

It took quite some time for Juliet to come back to consciousness. She found herself snuggled against Levi’s chest, her neck tingling from his bite and her body vibrating from their mutual orgasm.

“It’s done,” he said in a low rumble.

“Are you afraid I’m going to leave you like Quinn left Duke?” she asked.

“The thought had crossed my mind.” He turned to her, looking her deep in the eyes and running his warm hand up her arm. “If you left me now, it would break me.”

“I don’t believe anything could break you, Levi,” she said.

“Nothing else could. But you. You have that power over me.”

“I don’t take that for granted. All I want is you. I don’t know if it’s the same thing Quinn felt, but I do feel something. When I look at you, when I’m near you, when we make love, I know it’s right. I know we’re meant to be together. I’ve never had feelings this…immense. They’re too big to ignore. I’ve been trying to rationalize to be safe, but yesterday I decided I was done rationalizing. I’m done playing it safe. Playing it safe has never kept me from harm.”

“What are you talking about, never kept you from harm?” Levi said, pulling the blankets up over their naked bodies.

“Let’s just say, I’ve let myself stay in bad situations because I thought it was too risky to leave.”

“Juliet, it’s my job to protect you. I don’t take that lightly. You have to tell me, in detail, what you’re talking about so I can take care of it.”

“Levi, it’s not for you to take care of. It’s the past. I just want to think about the future. I need to go back to Portland to get my cat, Snuggles. But I hope you won’t mind him living at the lodge.”

“Snuggles is perfectly welcome at the lodge. Don’t change the subject. Tell me about these bad situations.”

The last thing Juliet wanted was to bring Levi into her problems. She didn’t want to think about Ernest or her job. She didn’t want to think about how humiliated he had made her for the last three years. She definitely didn’t want Levi to know about it. But she could feel the tug of their connection between them. Since he’d marked her, it was noticeably stronger. She couldn’t keep secrets from him. She couldn’t deny his honest requests.

“I was dating this guy for a long time. He didn’t treat me very well. He didn’t hit me or anything like that, but he made me feel small. Doubt myself. He told me I was ugly and fat and no one else would ever want me. It was like he was doing me a favor to be with me. When I finally got the guts to break up with him and move out of his apartment, he was transferred to my department at work and became my direct supervisor. When I complained to his boss about it, I was just told to suck it up and carry on because a hundred other people would do my job in a minute. It’s hard to find work in my field so I just accepted it. I had to pay rent on my own apartment and rental prices are going up all the time. I played it safe and paid the price.”

“So you’ve been working under the jackass who emotionally abused you? How long has this been going on?”

“Ernest has been my boss for about a year,” Juliet said with a sigh.

She didn’t want to think about asshole Ernest while she was lying in bed beside Levi. She could rest inside his eyes for eternity and always feel safe.

“Something’s going to have to be done about this,” Levi announced.

“Levi, please, leave it alone,” she pleaded.

“Not a chance. Now, come here. I want my arms around you as you sleep. I want you to know that my strength is always there for you whenever you need it.”

Juliet signed and closed her eyes. She couldn’t argue with that.