Beauty and the Bear: Denali Den #1 (Alaskan Den Men) Page 5

  “That’s great to hear.” They continued to walk side by side until they reached the steps of the dining hall where Stryker gestured for her to walk in front of him through the front door. “It’s always a bit of a worry hiring non-Alaskans. Not everyone enjoys this rustic of an environment without a television and limited Internet.”

  “Well, I want you to know I love it and I want to apply for the year around position you have available.” Lexi decided it was as good a time as any to make her intentions known.

  “Alaska in the wintertime is quite different than the summer.”

  “I grew up in Michigan. No worries. I know all about cold winters.” She lifted an eyebrow. “Besides, as long as you have a nice warm cabin, the winters don’t scare me.”

  “All right then. I will keep you in mind for the position.”

  Her eyes immediately scanned the room for Silas. Since she was officially off duty, she took a seat at the bar with some of the other counselors and staff. A line of chattering campers formed behind the buffet style dinner.

  Lexi smelled grilled salmon. Her stomach grumbled, but she refused to leave her spot at the bar until she saw Silas. One of the other counselors, Felix asked, “Are you getting in line?”

  “No, you go ahead. I’ll be there in a minute.”

  He nodded and crossed the room.

  Felix was a nice guy and if she hadn’t been with Silas, she might even be interested in him, but for her, there was no one except Silas. He’d been in her thoughts almost every second of every moment. It didn’t make sense. She was a practical woman most of the time, who made well-thought out decisions. She didn’t do irrational things, well…unless a dare was involved, but really, her obsession with him did border on the ridiculous.

  Silas entered the dining hall via the kitchen and sat across from her. She lifted her lids to make eye contact, but it wasn’t necessary because she’d felt him enter the room—she’d been aware of him before she saw him. Not only was her obsession with him outlandish, it was bizarre. Maybe all this fresh Alaskan air had somehow addled her brain. “Hello.”

  “Hello to you,” he said.

  She involuntarily reached across the table wanting to touch his hands, but when he didn’t do the same, she pulled back and set them in her lap. She kept her fingers occupied by fiddling with the fabric of her skirt. “I saw you today, across the lake.”

  “Oh yeah? Did you have canoe duty?”

  “Yes, I did. I think I will request lake duty more often. I love being near the water.”

  “Are you a good swimmer?” he asked.

  “I am actually.” She nodded. Even though he didn’t reach out to touch her, she could see desire burning in his eyes. Her stomach flipped over and while she was hungry for dinner, this hunger had nothing to do with food. “So I was wondering…are we going to meet in my cabin every night, or should we mix things up a bit?” She reached out to twirl her hair, but forgot she had piled it up on her head. A nervous habit she needed to get rid of anyway. “We could go swimming.”

  The muscles of his jaw flexed. “We could. In fact, we could go skinny dipping.”

  A smile tugged on her lips. She bit down on the inside of her mouth in an effort to not look too eager. “We could.” She shrugged, but her heart raced. “I’d be up for that.”

  “Good. We’ll plan on it.” His voice sounded deeper and more intimate. “Can’t wait to see your entire body slick and wet.”

  A pang of yearning bubbled deep in her soul. She wanted to respond, but Felix and two other staff members returned to the table with plates full of food.

  “Aren’t you hungry, Lexi?” Felix asked.

  “Yes, as a matter of fact I am.” Standing up, she leaned over the table to whisper in Silas’ ear. “I’m not wearing anything under this skirt.”

  Before she moved to the buffet line, she watched Silas visibly swallow.

  Deliberately, she put extra sway in her steps as she slid between tables to the buffet line. She felt the burn of his stare at her back and her smile grew wider.

  “Dammit,” Silas murmured under his breath. He’d had every intention of letting Blue down easy. He was going to tell her he wouldn’t be coming to her cabin tonight.

  He’d gone Native that afternoon and taken a swim in the lake to cool his riotous thoughts. He shouldn’t get in any deeper with her—he knew that—and yet, when he saw her in that canoe, he’d turned instantly hard.

  Hell, he didn’t even need to see her across the lake, he’d sensed her.

  He’d had sex with human women before, but never with this kind of craving afterward, like his soul might go insane if he didn’t have her again. And now here she was confessing sexy secrets to him about how she wasn’t wearing any panties. He quickly rose from the table for fear of every person and werebear in the dining hall noticing the extra-large bulge in his jeans. He confined himself to the back of the kitchen and willed himself to think about anything except Blue and all the things he intended to do to her tonight. He’d start with flipping that skirt up and licking between her thighs.

  “You were looking at that new hire like you might have her for dinner instead of the salmon.” His brother, Stryker, appeared from out of nowhere and startled him.

  “Shut up.” Silas opened the industrial sized dishwasher and started unloading silverware.

  “We’ve got staffing to do that.”

  “I’m just standing here. I can do it.”

  “Yeah, I guess that’s my point.” Stryker moved alongside him. “You’re supposed to be eating dinner now.”

  “Mind your own business. I think I know when to eat and not eat. What are you? Mom now?”

  “Whoa.” Stryker held up his hands. “Apparently I’ve hit a nerve. How’re things with the Internet bride search going?”

  Silas flung the forks and spoons into their respective containers. “Being I’m a year older than you, you have no idea how bad it gets. I’ve got to connect with my True Mate soon or I might do something crazy.”

  “Yeah, I know. That’s the whole reason you resorted to the Internet. I get it. And I’m not waiting much longer either. Why do you think I make so many trips to Foxhollow to that Total BS Donuts shop? Trust me—I don’t go there for the donuts.” He raised both brows. “Although they are really good.”

  “What do you want? Why are you here?”

  “I have to have a reason to check in on you?”

  Silas held a handful of knives in his hand and gave his brother the death glare.

  Stryker held up his hands again. “Okay, don’t stab me. I know I was giving you a hard time about the whole mail order werebear bride thing, but I just wanted to let you know that I get it. I actually have to go to Fairbanks next Wednesday. I ordered some new fixtures for that one shower stall that keeps leaking. Anyway, I know it’s harder for you to get away and if you want me to pick anyone up at the airport and bring her back here—I’m happy to do that.”

  Silas was about to say no, but then he didn’t. He kept unloading dishes and weighed the merits of buying a ticket for Ava. “I did meet someone I’m interested in. I’ve considered buying her a ticket and having her come up for a visit.”

  “Go ahead, if you want. Make it for anytime on Wednesday and I’ll pick her up.”

  “I don’t know. How’s it going to look for me to say, ‘oh here’s your ticket and by the way, my brother is picking you up.’”

  “I don’t know what the big deal is. You don’t have any time off for three more weeks, until this batch of teens leave and the next one arrives.”

  Silas took two coffee mugs and placed them in a cupboard. “I think I know our work schedule.”

  “I’m just saying if you don’t want to wait that long, you don’t have to. It’s admirable how long you’ve waited already. I personally don’t know how you’ve done it.”

  “I kept thinking the right one would come along.” He grabbed two more mugs and stared absently out the kitchen window. Could he mention to Str
yker that maybe he’d already met the right one? “You know—that I’d meet her and I’d just know.”

  No—he couldn’t. He could never be with a human. He couldn’t tell Stryker or anyone else that he’d even considered a human as a True Mate.

  “It does seem like it’s never been easy in our family.”

  “What do you mean?” Silas put the mugs away and grabbed two more.

  “You know, it’s not like some bears who know who their mate is from the time they are kids. Look at Mom and Dad—Mom says she knew, but Dad didn’t. She had to convince him they were meant to be life mates.”

  They both laughed. Their mother told the story often because it was extraordinary. Usually both werebears just knew, but their dad was stubborn and wouldn’t budge for a long time.

  Stryker clapped him on the shoulder. “You’re just like Dad, is all. Haven’t met the right one yet, or if you have, you’re fighting it, just like he did.”

  The irony struck him to the core. He nodded. “Yeah.”

  “Anyway, I’ll leave you alone—to eat or not eat whenever you want. Just let me know if I need to stop by the airport next Wednesday.”

  “I’ll do that.” Silas moved to the lower rack and pulled plates from the dishwasher.

  Stryker turned to leave.

  “Wait,” Silas said. “Actually yes. I’ll do it.”

  “Do what?”

  “I’ll talk to Ava. We’re supposed to Skype tomorrow. I’ll buy her a plane ticket.”

  Stryker smiled. “Sounds great.”

  Only Silas wasn’t smiling. He wasn’t feeling good about this decision at all, but it didn’t matter. This was his choice and he’d stick with it. He’d have a werebear as a bride, or he’d have no one. And no one wasn’t an option. Bears weren’t meant to be alone.

  A bear alone would rather be dead.

  8

  Silas had long since cleaned up the dining hall and everyone had left. With the front door locked, he was ready to go to Blue’s cabin—more than ready, but he had a sudden attack of conscience. If he sent for Ava and brought her to Alaska with the intention of marrying her, what was he doing having sex with someone else? He stared at the clock. 11:13 p.m.

  It wasn’t like him to be late. It also wasn’t like him to be indecisive. But before he could make up his mind about which choice to make, a knocking sounded and he knew without a doubt it was Blue. He opened the door.

  She strode in with hands on her hips. “You’re late.”

  “Sorry about that.”

  “I wasn’t sure if maybe we were meeting down by the lake, since we’d mentioned skinny dipping, but then I didn’t see you for the rest of dinner.”

  “Yeah, I had stuff I had to do.” His choice seemed so easy now. How could he have ever doubted what he really wanted? To hell with his conscience. “But I’m ready and available now. You still naked under that skirt?”

  He eyed her mouth and watched her lips purse. “That’s for me to know and you to find out.”

  He shook his head and laughed.

  She flung her long blue hair over her shoulder and spun around. The skirt flared up so he could see her thighs. He bit down on his teeth. “I’m going to guess yes.”

  Her face turned a pale shade of crimson. “Um…okay—you’re right. I’m naked as a jaybird under this skirt.”

  He laughed again. He’d taken this finding a True Mate issue so seriously for so long, he’d forgotten to have fun, but he intended to have plenty of fun now. “This is what I’m going to do. I’m going to lift you onto one of these tables, push up your skirt, and lick your clit.”

  Blinking several times, she looked like she was going to say something, but she seemed too flustered to do so. Her open vulnerability made something ancient and primal click inside him. He imagined other pink parts of her body and the juncture between his own thighs hardened more. Taking a step toward her, he said, “Not only do you smell good, I happen to know you taste even better.”

  She turned to one of the eight-foot-long tables in the dining room and hiked one of her legs up, followed by the next. He hadn’t expected her to comply so readily, to be so open and willing to his demands. Before he knew it, she was on all fours. Her head cocked to the side. She eyed him. “Do you want me on my back?”

  Yes. That was exactly how he’d imagined her, but now with a view of her backside, he thought maybe keeping her on all fours would work even better. Holy shit. He scratched at his cropped beard. “Listen, Blue, someone could stop by—you know, if someone is still hungry. We could be interrupted.”

  “The front door is locked. That’s why I came around to the back and found you in the kitchen.” One of her hands pulled at her floral skirt. “You’re like the Alaskan adventure I’ve always wanted to have, but was afraid to ask. You’re completely gorgeous and what you said about licking me…well, it totally turns me on.” She pulled up her skirt all the way to her waist, baring her ass and her sex. “I’m already wet.”

  He swallowed against the knot in his throat. If she only knew how much beyond being merely Alaskan he was, she’d run.

  Sweat beaded on his forehead. The bear within clawed to get out.

  “You never said if you wanted me on my back or all fours,” she murmured.

  He sensed more to her story than only wanting an Alaskan adventure, but for now he was going with what she offered. A gorgeous ass and parted thighs begging to be touched. His bear within growled.

  In one swift step, he was on her. He placed his hands on her hips. As slowly as he could manage, he inched his hands around her waist, to her belly, then to her moist sex. He leaned over and breathed in. Gently, he fingered her tender folds. “You smell so good, Blue. I want to taste you.”

  A helpless moan escaped her lips. She flung her head back. “This so much better in person than in my fantasy.”

  He’d ask about her fantasy later, but for now he tenderly caressed her sex with his fingertips, careful to keep his tough light, teasing her, readying her. He stroked the satiny soft flesh of her inner thighs. “You smell so sweet. Your scent is like…God, I want you.” His craving was too much to bear. He turned her over on her back. His fingers parted her.

  Arching her back, she asked, “What do I smell like?”

  “Like honey and vanilla…like something so sweet, I’ve got to taste you.”

  “What are you waiting for?” Her eyes widened. “I crawled on this table and pulled up my skirt—I can’t be any more obvious about what I want. I want you, Silas, only you.”

  He wanted to know more than her scent. He wanted to know her flavor. She’d taste like honey, like a long overdue drug.

  He pushed her legs farther apart for better access to her satiny folds. Using both hands, he caressed and fondled her nub. Lightly flicking, then stroking.

  Unable to resist another second, he swallowed, then leaned in to taste her. His tongue lapped her up and down, from her nub, to her folds, to her ass and back again. Her juices were sweet. Her skin like velvet. She tasted just like he’d imagined, only better.

  Her breathing quickened. She shivered and curved her spine. “Take me, Silas. Bury yourself in me. I can’t stand it.”

  He didn’t hesitate. He shoved his jeans to his ankles, sheathed himself with a condom, and grabbed her hips with both hands. Her ass was perfectly round and soft. His height, even with her on the table made for easy access. “Are you ready?”

  “I’ve been ready for you all day.”

  He seized her hips and impaled himself inside her warm flesh. He rammed into her with erratic, desperate thrusts. He became completely unaware of their surroundings. Only Blue existed. Only Blue could make him come this hard. He sank deeper into her. Her moans came higher and louder.

  He heard a muffled cry, followed by “more.”

  He thrust harder several more times. Finally, their bodies broke apart together.

  They panted and breathed heavily for a minute, until everything slowed to a normal pace.

&n
bsp; Blue spoke first. “Is it always like this?”

  He gently pulled himself out, sat on the benched seat of the table and folded her in his arms. He kissed her temple along the hairline. “I don’t think so.”

  9

  Lexi met with Silas every evening, and while the love-making they shared made them incredibly close, she could feel him slipping away. Emotionally he’d been distancing himself and she didn’t know why. Of course the argument could be made that this was only sex and nothing more, but she knew that wasn’t completely true.

  The emotional and physical pull where Silas was concerned couldn’t be explained. Well, if she was being honest she could logically explain the physical. Her body hummed in his presence. She couldn’t be near him without feeling that incredible urge to wrap her arms around him and hold him close. It bordered on the supernatural.

  In fact, her body sensed when he approached her cabin each night. Right now, she noticed his absence. The clock read five after eleven. It wasn’t like him to be late.

  With storm clouds forming over Mt. Denali, she grabbed her raincoat and headed to the dining hall. Activities were winding down for the evening, most campers were in their cabins, but with the everlasting light, it was never completely quiet until well after midnight. The main hall had board games and movies until 10:30 p.m. All evening activities tonight would be indoors due to the impending rain.

  The wind picked up and Lexi quickened her pace. She looked to the window above the dining hall and saw Silas’ light on. She’d been in his apartment only once where they went for dessert. They couldn’t wait for their designated eleven o’clock start time, but Lexi preferred not to be at his place because they had to be quiet.

  About to enter the kitchen’s entrance, she heard raised voices. She peered into the woods where she saw Stryker and two other teens. By the sounds of it, they were arguing and Lexi hesitated, unsure whether she should intervene. She stepped closer, hoping to make out the words. She heard Stryker’s voice above the others. “If you two need to fight, then fine, but we’re taking it away from camp.”