Grayslake: More than Mated: Secrets to Bear (Kindle Worlds Novella) Read online

  ~ * ~ * ~

  Lira mumbled, horrified her body had let loose so completely. "I'm so sorry, it happened out of nowhere, I've never been so fast."

  ~ * ~ * ~

  He couldn't help but throw his head back and laugh. "You may just be stroking my ego, but I'm okay with that. He settled in next to her, gently running his fingers through her hair and softly stroking her face. He enjoyed the glow in her cheeks as she looked up at him.

  ~ * ~ * ~

  "I just didn't expect to at all, I guess..." She trailed off. How to explain that she rarely came for a partner? Specifically Ethan. It was a pleasant experience. But did he ever bring her to bone shattering passion? Not even once.

  "Didn’t expect to? Do you think I'm done making you scream in pleasure?"

  "Uhm. It's just..." She trailed off again. She couldn't think with him still touching her.

  "Your previous partner kinda sucked, I guess?"

  "You could say that. Or not, I suppose."

  ~ * ~ * ~

  Jake pulled Lira closer to him, settling her against his chest. He nibbled on her ear and listened to the way her breath caught in her throat. She wiggled slightly and he let his hands wander, rolling a nipple in his palm before skimming over her lush hips. He made soft, almost tickling passes over her wet pussy. Just a constant tease until she finally called out to him, "Jake, please. I need you."

  "Do you now?"

  Her hands fumbled on his pants and Jake groaned as she eased his cock out.

  Lira wrapped her hands around his hard girth and sighed happily. She leaned towards him and darted her tongue out, catching the salty tip with an almost tentative lick. Jake seized her arms and rolled her under him.

  "I won't last if you do that."

  Lira wrapped her legs around his waist, pulling him into the cradle of her hips. He positioned the head of his cock against her waiting entrance.

  "Are you sure? Are you ready?"

  She arched against him and whispered, "Yes."

  He eased into her warmth as slowly as he could manage. His inner beast wanted to pound into her, a wild coupling. It took everything he had to tamp down that urge. He gritted his teeth as he pushed forward, an agonizing slowness that was made worth it by Lira's thighs squeezing him.

  He eased in and out of her delicious wetness as he felt her passion building up again. Her head was thrown back in abandon and he grinned at the little mewls she made when he was fully seated in her.

  "Oh god, Jake, please, stop holding back." And her nails scratched down his back, a prick of pain that roused his bear. He couldn't be slow anymore.

  He grabbed her hips as he eased up into a kneeling position, her legs around his waist and her body dangling, only her shoulders touching the bed. His bear roared and Jake pistoned in and out of her. Her whole body arched and convulsed as an orgasm ripped through her again, and he didn't hold back, joining her passion, finally collapsing next to her.

  Chapter Three

  Sunlight beat against her eyelids and Lira slowly opened her eyes. Jake sprawled next to her and she wanted more than anything to snuggle against him, feel him wake up next to her. Yup, last night had really happened.

  But it was very much the morning after, and more than anything Lira didn't want to ruin just how wonderful last night had been by sticking around long enough for him to awkwardly kick her out. She slid out from under his arm, slipped out of the bed, gathered her things and eased into them as quietly as she could.

  She paused at the door and looked back at the sleeping man. Her heart quivered, practically commanded her to leap back into the warm and inviting bed. Lira steeled her spine and eased out the door, closing it silently behind her.

  As she walked out of the building, she slipped her sunglasses on. It was her first walk of shame. Funny, it didn't feel all that shameful. Even though she'd never see Jake again, how could she ever forget how magnificent he'd been. She didn't have to settle of mediocre sex ever again.

  Lira had never imagined just how amazing it could be. Now she realized just what a selfish lover Ethan was, caring only for his pleasure. She crossed the street to the bar parking lot with a bounce in her step.

  She giggled at herself as she approached her car, her steps faltering when she realized something was written across her windshield. WHORE was scrawled across the glass. She spun around, praying she was alone.

  Ethan. It had to be. Tears welled up in her eyes and she started to shake. How dare he? A cold chill crackled down her spine. Either he had come back and seen her car or had watched the whole time. Sour bile rose in the back of her throat.

  She pulled her phone out of her purse and snapped a few pictures of the damage. It looked like it was just mud mixed with some grease. She still wanted proof it had happened. She opened the car and reached into the glove box.

  Lira laughed as she pulled the baby wipes and a plastic bag out. People teased her about having baby wipes but damn they were convenient. She started cleaning as quickly as possible. It was a real pain being as short as she was to reach the middle. She was going to have to hit a gas station or a car wash.

  Wait, there is a car wash on the way to Magda's house. Perfect. It was clear enough for her to drive and she headed to her foster mother's home.

  She stopped in the driveway and stared up at Magda's house. She'd been a safe refuge after Lira's mother died and a safe refuge after the incident, since she was definitely not going to continue living with her former best friend. Still, she'd never come home to Magda after staying out all night.

  Lira crept into the house, hoping her foster mother still slept. The smell of coffee from the kitchen clued her in quickly that she wasn't going to sneak past Magda.

  "Get your ass in here, Lira!" Magda's booming voice filled the hallway and Lira walked into the kitchen.

  "Morning, Magda." There was no way Lira was going to be able to pretend she'd been up and running errands. Magda knew her too well.

  "Seems like you had a good night, then." Magda gestured at the chair across from her and poured a second cup of coffee. Lira took the coffee that was pushed across the table as she sat down.

  She inhaled the earthy notes of the coffee, not knowing what to say, and finally looked at Magda bashfully. "You know, I did."

  Magda threw her head back and cackled. Her sepia skin glowed in the morning light. "Finally! I was getting worried about you. Ethan was no good, and didn't deserve you."

  Lira shifted in her seat and rolled the bottom of the cup against the grain of the table.

  "Yeah, I'm starting to realize there was something about him that I didn't see. I saw him last night."

  Magda stopped smiling. "He the reason you came home in the morning?"

  Lira smiled shyly, thinking of Jake. "No, my knight in shining armor. Or perfectly worn denims."

  "But you still saw Ethan?"

  "I think maybe he followed me. I went over to Maybrick, to The Salty Shanty."

  "Classy joint," Magda drawled.

  "Well, they have dancing and I thought getting out might do me good. But then Ethan showed up. He literally said, 'It wasn't what you think.'" Lira flashed air quotes.

  Magda laughed again and shook her head. "You don't believe him, I take it."

  "God no. I know exactly what I saw. It was very clear. But, it's really weird, Magda. He thinks it's my fault, that I should give him a second chance."

  The older woman twisted her mouth. "There was always something off about him. I've heard stories, but it's a small town, you always hear stories about everyone."

  "Well, he tried to make a big fuss when the best looking man I've ever seen walked in and bee-lined for me. Totally acted like he knew me. Shut Ethan down pretty quick." Lira smiled dreamily, remembering the moment her eyes met Jake’s.

  Magda grinned and waggled her eyebrows. "Weeeell then, tell me about this man."

  "His name is Jake, and get that matchmaking gleam out of your eyes.” She pointed at Magda. “He was just passing thr
ough town." Lira rested her chin on her fisted hand and swirled the coffee in her cup.

  "Pity. He put a look in your eyes Ethan never did."

  "Yeah, now I'm not sure how or why we were together as long as we were, I think we just drifted together because that was what everyone expected? Like we were supposed to pair off because everyone else already had."

  "Except Angela."

  Lira winced. Magda was still beyond-words-angry at Angela's betrayal, had slammed the door in the woman's face when she stopped by the house and try and talk to Lira. Magda had a firm boundary.

  "Still, Jake made me feel completely alive."

  "Sex that good?" Magda's dry tone reduced Lira to giggles.

  "Magda! Well, I mean, also yes. He cared. Does that make sense?"

  Magda reached across the table and grabbed Lira's hand. "Yes, it does. That's what I had with my Stuart and why I have never settled for anything less since. Even if Jake is a passing flame, if he gave you that feeling? He was worth it. Carry that with you, forever."

  Lira sighed. She didn't want to tell Magda. "Something else happened. This morning."

  "Awkward with Jake?"

  "No, I left before he woke up." Lira blushed at Magda's grin and hurried on. "When I got to my car. I'm guessing it was Ethan, but someone vandalized it." Lira pulled the picture up on her phone and handed it to Magda. "See. He was watching me last night and he seems to think it's my fault he cheated."

  Magda's lips thinned to a hard line.

  "And something else. It's just...odd and doesn't make sense. When Ethan was harassing me? I've never felt so hot before. Like I was going to explode out of my skin and claw his face off. I wanted to not just scream at him, but roar and then chew his face off. If Jake hadn't come up to me, I don't know what I would have done."

  Magda's face went gray. "Oh honey. Seems like we need to get you out of town and away from that crazy. And that feeling...I think I know who you need to talk to. Your momma… She really hoped you wouldn't have to deal with her family."

  "What are you talking about? She didn't have any other family, that's why we stayed together."

  Magda shook her head. "I stayed with you because I loved you like you were my own. I wanted you well taken care of, and who better to do that than me? Your momma and I, we were estranged from the family. When she got sick, she made me promise that if we needed to, to go back to your family."

  "I don't understand. Why are you telling me now?"

  Magda stood and went to a nearby cabinet. She pulled her address book down and pulled out a fragile piece of paper.

  "She said...” Magda hesitated and shook her head. “It doesn't matter entirely what she said. Mostly she said that I'd know if you needed to find them. That wildness you felt? That means you need to find them."

  "I was only truly angry for the first time. I'm not sure what some distant quasi-relative could possibly do for me."

  Magda's deep brown eyes were serious. "Do you trust me?"

  "Of course I do,” Lira’s response was immediate.

  "Then take this opportunity to get out of town, put miles between you and Ethan and Angela. If I'm wrong, it won't matter, you'll have seen a different place. A road trip will do you good."

  "What about my job?"

  "You don’t need your job and you hate it. Do you really want to stay here? Be honest. You stayed because of your relationship with Ethan. Because I'm here. What is your heart telling you?"

  Lira wiggled uncomfortably in her seat. "That I love exploring."

  She'd taken a desk job because it's what Ethan thought she should do. Not what she'd actually wanted to do.

  "And you locked that part of you down. How many things did you pretend you didn't want to do, for the sake of being with that man?"

  She winced away from the harsh truths. "More than I care to admit. How did I not see it, when I was in it?"

  "Because he's very good at what he does. It's why he's good at selling houses. Selling dreams."

  "What about you, Magda?"

  "Tell you what, if you find a place you think I'll like better, I'll happily pull up my roots and move."

  "That’s not what I mean. What do you want?"

  Magda templed her hands and took a long, thoughtful pause. "Well, I wanted to have a long life with my Stuart, but the universe had other plans. Now, it would be nice if I could find another man like him, but he was one of a kind. Besides, I'm old and tattered."

  "Magda, you're what, 50? 60?"

  "You know I'm 43! Don't make me get the switch out."

  Lira laughed, "You've never raised a hand to me and I don't expect you to start now."

  "Well, keep calling me older than I am, and see what happens."

  "Seriously, Magda. You took care of me for years. What about your dreams? Your hopes and desires?"

  "I'm not sure if my dreams can ever be real again, but I had one last night."

  "Really?" Lira was skeptical.

  "It told me you should go to that town. Find those people."

  Lira sighed and threw her hands up. "Your dreams, not mine."

  "I'm serious. In my dream, you lead me somewhere. Because you went, I found something I'd been missing."

  "In that case, I guess I'd better go on this crazy quest to find my roots."

  "It's not that crazy, but if you really don't want to, we can figure something else out. I hear they need help rebuilding Nepal after those terrible earthquakes. I doubt Ethan would follow you there."

  "That's not a bad idea. Maybe after I find these people you think I need to find, I can do something like that. Just go see the world for a while."

  "Sounds good.” Magda snapped her address book closed. “You need a nap before you head out?"

  "Wow, you want me to go today? Now?"

  Magda's face grew still and Lira could tell she was measuring her words. "From what you said about Ethan, I think it would be better if you were completely out of reach for a while. I'm calling the sheriff, just to let him know what’s happened."

  "They can't do anything. There is no proof. He's just being weird and unpleasant."

  "He's being more than weird.” Magda narrowed her eyes. “I didn't want to tell you, but my friend, Libbie, visited yesterday."

  Lira dryly said, "More like mouth of the south." The woman had made small town gossip an art form.

  "Well, Ethan has been telling people the wedding is back on."

  "What!?" Lira's voice hit a high, shrill note. She felt that odd hotness from last night flood her body and she curled her hands into claws on the table.

  "Lira. Take a breath." Magda's voice penetrated her rage and Lira slumped back in her chair.

  "He is such an asshole. Let me run through the shower and throw together a bag. Pack me a lunch, like you used to?"

  "Get. Go." Magda shooed her out of the room and listened to her clomp up the stairs. She stared after her and looked down at the long scratches Lira had inadvertently torn into the wooden top. Magda stroked the shredded wood, sighed heavily, and said quietly to herself, "I wish your momma was still with us. I wish I could tell you and you'd believe me. But they will keep you safe."

  She picked up her phone and dialed the sheriff. "Joe? Ethan is causing trouble for Lira, like I said he would."

  Joe’s gruff rasp came across the line, "Dammit, are you sure?"

  "Bothered her at the Salty Shanty. Check with Mark. I'm sending her out of town, but Ethan scared her pretty bad. Thanks."

  “Will do.”

  She hung up and looked back up the stairs. "Dammit, I can't help her with this. Not alone." She grimaced and picked the phone back up. She'd sworn she'd never go back to Grayslake. But twenty-five years was a long time for a vow made in anger. Deirdre warned her not to let spite lead her.

  And Magda would do anything to keep Lira safe, even bend her pride. So she dialed the number.

  Chapter Four

  Jake reached out, a grin stretched across his face. He wanted to wake up the best
way possible, wrapped around his mate, but there was no one beside him. He opened his eyes and his smile vanished. Lira wasn't next to him. He patted the bed and pillow, but they were ice cold, as if she'd never been there. If it wasn't for her lingering scent he could have believed it was all a dream.

  No sounds came from the bathroom and her scent in the room was fading. She'd been gone for hours.

  His newly found mate had fled.

  He sat on the edge of the bed looking blearily around the room. The most amazing night of his life and she’d bolted. A hopeful spark jolted through him, maybe she left a note. She probably had things she had to do. Like a job. And he did sleep pretty heavily, like, well, a hibernating bear.

  He stalked around the room, scanning the tables for something. Anything. Nothing. His bear growled in disapproval. It wanted to tear the town apart brick by brick looking for her. Jake sank down into a chair with his head in his hands. Even if she was his mate, he had obligations. He couldn't hunt her down right this second.

  Ty sent him home to bring his errant family to Grayslake. His Itan was not going to want to hear about a missing mate until Jake had stuffed his cantankerous grandmother into the car and delivered her to the town’s little Bed and Breakfast.

  His mom and sister had cheerfully packed up, but Gran was having none of it. Jake could still hear the slap of Gran's cane against the floor through the phone and her bellowing, "If his Itan wants me to uproot my life, then Jake can damn well get his ass out here and bring me his own damn self."

  His mother had no sympathy for him. "Jake, you picked up the phone and demanded. Helen and I are ready for a clean start, but did you really think the Steel Grannie was going to ask 'how high?' when you said jump?"

  He'd never seen his new clan laugh harder than the moment he had to tell Ty that if he wanted to relocate Jake's family to Grayslake he was going to have to negotiate with Jake's grandmother. Of course Ty charmed her, but only conditionally. Jake was responsible for bringing Gran to Grayslake and he had no time to track down his errant mate.

  His bear was not happy with him and Jake considered calling Gran and seeing if she would at least start the drive with the rest of the family. For the possibility of him finally settling down, she might. He could at least give a call, after he made some coffee. He needed to check in and see if the movers had shown up to pack the truck.