Beaufort Creek Shifters (10 book series)
The Bear’s Arranged Mate Chapter 16

Elva

Days after our little mishap with a new enemy, I was bent over Jermaine with gauze between my teeth and an alcohol swab positioned over his neck.

"Stay...still," I grumbled through the gauze.

He growled when the swab met his skin. "That hurts!"

I dropped the gauze. "It hurts because you're not staying still, you dork!"

Though he was doing much better-especially with his skin sewn mostly back into place-he still had a few small scrapes remaining from that dreadful injury. What lingered appeared more like cat scratches than anything. But they bled like they were knife wounds. And he still wouldn't stay still.

I dropped the alcohol swab and threw my hands in the air. "You know what? Fine. I'm calling Dr. Windsor and having her do it."

"No, wait!" He snatched my waist and yanked me to the couch. "Don't be so dramatic, El. Her hands are freezing cold. I hate it when she touches me."

"You going to let me dress the wound?"

He hummed for a second, stalling for time. I knew that was what he was doing. He had developed a bit of a chaotic attitude since his injury. Not that I minded too much. It was nice to be in charge for once.

"Maybe," he whispered. "As long as I get a kiss with the dressing."

"I'll give you my fist if you don't-"

He kissed my neck, sending goosebumps in every direction. One touch was all it took these days. It was wild how a close encounter with death changed everything. The mark on my neck proved it.

As soon as we had gotten home the other night, he sank his teeth into my flesh. I had insisted on the mark, knowing that not only would enemies see it as a layer of protection, but others would understand our bond was complete.

And once I did the same to him, I would feel more comfortable with us leaving the house.

Which I had moved back into, of course. It hadn't taken long for Jermaine to beg me to rub my scent back into everything.

Though I wasn't quite sure why the place had reeked of bleach seeing as how it didn't need a bleach treatment for another week.

I relaxed into Jermaine, closing my eyes to focus on the energy he gave me. Chaotic swirls of brown and teal danced together in my mind's eye. A soothing breeze came with it. Petrichor, aloe, leaves soaked with rain-it melted together to create a personal paradise that I never wanted to leave.

And I didn't have to.

"I'm glad you're healing quickly," I whispered. "Dr. Windsor said that's thanks to the mate bond, too."

"Thanks to you."

I rolled my eyes. "I guess so."

"It takes two to tango."

"And one to ruin the whole foxtrot."

He chortled. "You just made that up."

"Yeah, duh. I thought it was funny."

"You hear me laughing?"

I huffed. "Not enough, actually."

He shook his head, chuckling as he burrowed into my neck. With him taking up so much room on the couch, I had to keep myself balanced on the cushion lest I fall to the ground. And then both of us would be injured.

That wouldn't be a pretty sight.

"Hey, El?"

I perked up. "Yeah?"

"You can sit on me, you know."

"I didn't want to hurt you."

His chest rumbled with a snicker. "You could never hurt me, sweet pea."

"Oh, but I have."

I flipped around and straddled him, enjoying the way our bodies fit so beautifully together. The way his chest expanded with each breath, the way his muscles flexed as he slid one arm under his head, the way his pupils blossomed when he peered up at me. He spoke without speaking. He loved me loudly. He did what he did because he could-and not for any other reason. It was a pairing I had never imagined in my wildest dreams. And I was plenty wild enough for us both. He smiled. "What are you thinking about?"

"I'm thinking about how the uninjured part of your neck needs a mark." "What's stopping you?"

A bashful heat swept through my chest and infected my cheeks. I grew feverish, the strain of tension in my gut coiling so tight that I thought I might break in half. I bowed toward him and rested my hands gently on his chest. Sheepish or not, I was going to meet his gaze and tell him the truth.

All of it. Without any reservations.

"I didn't want to ask because..." I broke eye contact for but a split second. "Because I was scared you would reject me, Jermaine."

He circled my waist with his free arm. A subtle wince told me the tendons were still sore in his neck from the wound. Though most of the muscle had repaired itself, he still had trouble moving around.

But right now he seemed more intent on holding me, his discomfort coming second to making sure that I was properly cherished.

"I'm so sorry, Elva," he whispered. "I shouldn't have pushed you away. I don't want you to ever leave again, okay? Believe me."

"I think I believe you."

He smirked. "I believe I know a way that you will believe me."

He craned his neck, hissing as he exposed the uninjured side of it. The sight of his flesh made my canines descend. I bent toward him with my lips parted, my heart aching as I pictured the way he would taste on my tongue. With a mark to match mine, we would be unstoppable.

We would be inseparable.

Just how it should be.

One bite sent an echo through us both. I felt the way he felt it-and felt how he felt it in me. I whimpered as I succumbed to the warm taste of him, hot copper overwhelming my taste buds as I consumed him. He rolled his hips as I marked my territory, a bulge growing hard against my slit.

I rubbed against him. That simple movement made him shudder. He grabbed my bottom and thrust between my legs, urgently sliding his hard member against my aching clit. Every thrust sent a wave of shock through me along with a cold wave. My nipples hardened as I sat back, watching as the bite on Jermaine's neck sewed itself back up in a matter of seconds.

Mesmerized by the sight of his desire, I shimmied out of my jeans and tore off my top. I unbuckled his pants and shucked them to his ankles, eagerly positioning my slit on his cock. Warm arousal coated the space between us, making it easy for me to slide up and down his shaft.

He gripped my hips and took control of my humping speed, drawing me close to him quickly and then sliding me back as slowly as he could handle. It was a maddening pace, one that caused me to swell. Painful throbs erupted with every sweep, making it difficult for me to focus.

That was his goal-to tease me senseless. He had a way of reducing me to begging. But I swore to myself I would hold out. I would make this last. I would survive the onslaught of his pleasure, knowing that it would be worth it in the end when I finally came. He grinned through the strained concentration of his features. "Holding back, are we?"

"N-no."

That devious chuckle melted one of my walls.

That was fine. I had plenty more in place.

I gritted my teeth together as I grabbed a fistful of his shirt, trying my best not to tighten the fabric where his wound was still sensitive. Without any gauze, the scratches were exposed. I had to be careful.

And I think he was counting on that.

He pushed my slit away and grabbed himself, sliding the head of his cock through my folds. The motion broke another wall.

Maybe I'd fooled myself into believing I could survive the way he teased. When had that ever worked in the past? The reason we couldn't keep our hands off each other was because of this right here-the persistent beat of lust that forever pushed us toward each other.

I raised my hips and sheathed him. Surprise made him falter for a second, curses flying from his lips as I took back control. I grinned triumphantly as I bounced once, then twice, gripping his shirt just a little tighter to keep myself upright. Joy erupted where his fingers roamed. I gave myself over to his touch, throwing my head back as I bounced again, and again.

I couldn't get enough of him.

Each roll of my hips was met by a thrust. I found myself surrendering to his rhythm as I often did, lured by the promise of what I knew would be a toe-curling orgasm. Every part of me yearned for that release. We hadn't been able to physically make up for what had happened the other day-and now that we had the chance, I wasn't about to let it slip through my fingers.

"That's it, sweet pea," he whispered gruffly. "Take what's yours."

I whimpered. "I'm yours, too, right?"

"All mine."

"Promise?"

He sat up, encompassing me with his great arms. "Forever."

That word alone sent me into the familiar spiral. I lost sight of him for a second. Which was fine by me. Seeing Jermaine didn't always mean I needed a visual. He was in my arms. He was inside me. That was more than enough to witness him.

He whispered encouragements to me from eager lips, breathless hints of his eruption soon to follow. Gruff grunts and rumbling groans sent me over the final edge, causing me to tense up as he continued pounding.

The world faded when we were entwined like this. He engulfed me in every way. When I was with him, nothing else needed to matter. My past couldn't haunt me. It could try, but it couldn't break through the bonds I had just sealed.

And now that I had marked my mate, now that I had truly claimed him, I knew my body no longer belonged to the monsters of yesterday. Never again would I suffer the horror of a meal withdrawn or a fist planted in my back. Jermaine would never do that. I knew-not because of how he treated me, but because of how it felt when I let him hold me.

Seconds later, I was on my back. Jermaine pumped a few more times, drawing attention back to my core. I felt him explode and rode another wave, smiling through a series of blissful shivers. Blood decorated my tongue, my chest, his shirt.

I stared up at him, trying to catch my breath. "The gauze..."

"Baby, I'm fine. It's just a scratch."

"It'll get infected if you don't-"

He kissed me. Silence enveloped us, a comforting quiet that told me I was right where I belonged. He was still inside me, still hard, still twitching with the force of his eruption. My hips bucked naturally, wanting so much more of him. Desperation wasn't my thing. But with Jermaine, I just couldn't get enough.

Not because I wasn't satisfied. But because it was too satisfying.

When he released my lips, I sighed contentedly, draping my left arm over the edge of the couch to replace the gauze. I lazily bandaged the scratches. He rolled his eyes playfully, allowing me to play nurse, giving me the moment to care for him. "Happy now?" he asked as he pulled me into his lap. "Or should I get you a nurse's outfit?"

"I didn't know you liked role-playing."

He winked. "I like a lot of things."

"Well, I can't wait to replace out what all of those things are."

"And if you don't like them?"

I shrugged. "I'm not worried about any of that. I'm only worried about making a good life with you."

Affection passed over his face. A sublime look settled into his eyes as he gazed at me, nothing but love pouring from him. Doubt had no place to sit here. Worry was welcome as long

It seemed like he was rubbing off on me.

I squinted at him. "What are we going to do when you're all healed up?"

"About what?"

"About the defense class. We might not be able to do it while Gwendolyn is kidnapped."

He appeared thoughtful. "I guess we can put it on pause. Is there anyone you can pass it off to temporarily?"

I stared at the brown rugs under the coffee table. "One of my students might be able to do that."

"What about the cafe? Your temp jobs?"

"I quit those."

He raised his eyebrows. "Why?"

"I want to be here full-time. I don't want to miss anything."

"But don't you like those jobs?"

I shrugged. "I did them because I had so much time on my hands. It also let me meet a lot of guys to sleep with."

He growled.

I laughed while tapping the tip of his nose. "You're cute when you're jealous. Do you know that?"

"Elva..."

I grinned. "Don't worry about me, darling. I'm not about to cheat on you." I kissed his lips, soothing him with a simple gesture. "You're my mate. I could never hurt you." "You promise?"

it was reasonable.

I stalled for as long as I could. I kept quiet for a truly annoying amount of time while my lips warred against my facial muscles to smile when I didn't want to smile. Jermaine practically shook me-as gently as possible-when I didn't give him an immediate answer. He dug his fingers into my sides.

Laughter burst from me as I said, "I promise, I swear!"

But it was too late. The tickle monster had arrived. I was in for it.

That was fine. I didn't care about being tickled. I had my mate. I had his mark. He had my mark.

We were set for the rest of our lives-however long that ended up being.