Page 33 of Purrfectly Kissed

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?

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