Page 10 of Bear Love's Hidden Destiny
“Sure you are,” she said, her fingers circling the rune, her smile fading into something softer, more serious. She leaned closer, her breath warm against my neck. “I’m not afraid of you, Benedict. Not the bear, not the man. I want to know all of it.”
I swallowed, my hand finding her waist, pulling her closer. “You’re playing with fire,” I said, my voice barely above a whisper.
“Maybe I like fire,” she said, her lips brushing my jaw. Her hand slid up to my shoulder, her touch igniting something deep inside me. The bond was a living thing, urging me to close the distance, to give in.
She whispers, “I want all of you, Benedict. No more fear. No more holding back.” Her words broke something in me, my control slipping like sand through my fingers.
Chapter Nine
Isabella
I felt the moment everything inside Benedict snapped, like a rope stretched too tight finally giving way. His hands slid up my arms, firm and warm, his fingers pressing into my skin with a need that made my breath hitch. His eyes locked on mine, dark and hungry, teetering on desperate, like he was fighting something he couldn’t hold back anymore. I saw it, the way he’d been resisting, clinging to control because he thought this bond, this pull between us, was too dangerous to embrace fully. But I was done with caution. I wanted the truth, every wild, untamed piece of him, no matter what it meant. My heart pounded as I leaned closer, my hands resting on his chest, feeling the shifter rune under my fingers, the heat of his skin drawing me in like a magnet.
Our mouths met in a deep, urgent kiss, his lips claiming mine with a force that sent a shiver down my spine. I climbed onto his lap, straddling him, my thighs pressing against his hips as I let my body take over, instinct overriding thought. His hands gripped my hips, pulling me down against him, ourbodies already finding the rhythm we both craved. I tugged my shirt off, tossing it aside without hesitation, the cool air of the hollow brushing my bare skin. Benedict’s eyes darkened, his gaze roaming over me, lingering on the curve of my shoulders, the dip of my waist. He pulled me closer, his lips moving to my collarbone, teeth grazing my skin, sending a jolt through me. I gasped, my fingers digging into his shoulders as his mouth trailed lower, kissing the sensitive spot just above my heart, then lower still, teasing the edge of my bra with a slow, deliberate kiss.
“Benedict,” I whispered, my voice trembling but certain, my hands tangling in his dark hair. He groaned against my skin, his lips moving back up to my neck, nipping gently, each touch igniting a spark that made my whole body shudder. There was no rush this time, no frantic need to close the distance. Every kiss, every touch was deliberate, like we were carving each other into memory. He slid his hands up my sides, his thumbs brushing the curve of my ribs, then higher, slipping under my bra to cup my breasts. I arched into him, a soft moan escaping as his fingers teased, gentle but firm, sending waves of heat through me. I reached behind, unhooking my bra, letting it fall away, and his breath caught, his eyes drinking me in like I was something sacred.
“You’re beautiful,” he murmured, his voice rough, his hands sliding to my back, pulling me closer. His lips found my throat again, kissing the pulse there, then lower, his tongue tracing the curve of my breast, teasing until I gasped, my hands tightening in his hair. I pulled at his shirt, yanking it over his head, my fingers exploring the hard planes of his chest, tracing the scars and runes etched into his skin. His breath hitched as I touched the gash from the fight, now half-healed but still raw. “Careful,” he said, his voice low, but he didn’t stop me, just leaned down to kiss my shoulder, his lips warm and soft against my skin.
I reached for his jeans, my hands trembling as I undid the button, the zipper, and he helped me, kicking them off until there was nothing between us but heat and need. His body pressed against mine, skin on skin, the warmth of him overwhelming. I ran my hands down his back, feeling the muscles shift under my fingers, the faint scars from battles I didn’t yet know. He kissed me again, his tongue teasing mine, slow and deep, and I moaned softly, my hands sliding to his hips, pulling him closer. He moved over me, his hands framing my face, his lips trailing to my jaw, my throat, lingering where my pulse raced. I slid my pants off, and he followed, his hands guiding them down my legs, his fingers brushing the inside of my thighs, making me arch toward him.
He lifted me gently, laying me back onto the fur blanket near the fire, the warmth of the flames licking at my skin. My legs wrapped around his waist, pulling him down, and he hovered over me, his eyes searching mine for a moment, like he was asking permission. I nodded, my hands on his shoulders, and he kissed me again, deep and slow, his body pressing against mine. His hands roamed, one sliding down my side, the other cupping my face as he kissed my neck, my collarbone, then lower, his lips teasing the curve of my breast, his tongue flicking against my skin. I gasped, my back arching, my fingers tangling in his hair as he explored, each touch deliberate, each kiss pulling a soft sound from me.
When he entered me, it was slow, powerful, each movement measured, like he was savoring every second. I whispered his name, soft at first, then louder, each time more certain, my hands tightening in his hair. The bond between us pulled tighter, a living thing that bound us with every thrust, every shared breath. His hands gripped my hips, guiding me, his lips finding my throat again, kissing the pulse there as he moved deeper, stronger. I clung to him, my legs tightening around him, mynails grazing his back as the rhythm built, slow but intense, each movement drawing us closer. His breath was ragged, his voice low as he murmured my name against my skin, his hands sliding to my thighs, lifting them higher, pulling me against him.
The world shrank to just us, the heat of the fire, the heat of our bodies, the bond humming with an energy that felt wild, unstoppable. I arched into him, my breath catching, my hands roaming his shoulders, his chest, feeling every muscle, every scar. He moved faster, deeper, his lips capturing mine in a kiss that swallowed my moans, his hands holding me close as we lost ourselves in each other. Every touch, every thrust felt like it was sealing something, tying us together in a way that went beyond the physical. I whispered his name again, my voice breaking, and he groaned, his movements growing more urgent, more desperate, until we both shattered, the bond flaring bright, complete, like a piece of us had finally locked into place.
When we finally collapsed together, spent and trembling, he pulled me into his arms without a word. I rested my head on his chest, his heartbeat pounding under my cheek, strong and steady. The fire crackled softly, its light flickering across the stone walls of the hollow. I felt him, all of him, the bond sealed in a way that wasn’t just physical, it was spiritual, like something ancient had claimed us both. I tilted my head, looking up at him, a smile tugging at my lips. “I can’t believe I saw you as a bear earlier,” I said, my voice light. “You’re too handsome for that. You know what’s the same? You’re both wild.”
He chuckled, his hand brushing through my hair. “You and your mouth,” he said, his voice warm, teasing. He leaned down, kissing me softly, his lips lingering on mine.
I grinned, poking his chest. “You love my mouth.”
“Guilty,” he said, kissing me again, his hand resting on my hip. “But you’re gonna get us in trouble with that mouth of yours.”
“Me? Trouble?” I said, feigning innocence. “You’re the one turning into a bear and fighting bad guys. I’m just an innocent archaeologist.”
“Innocent?” he said, raising an eyebrow. “You ran into a forbidden forest with a creepy book. That’s not innocent, that’s reckless.”
I laughed, snuggling closer, my hand tracing the rune on his chest. “Maybe I like reckless. Keeps things interesting.”
“Interesting’s one way to put it,” he said, his arm tightening around me. “You’re gonna drive me crazy, you know that?”
“Good,” I said, resting my head on his shoulder. “Keeps you on your toes.”
We lay there, the fire’s warmth wrapping around us, the quiet settling in. I could feel his heartbeat slowing, his breath evening out, but the bond between us was still there, strong and alive. Outside, the wind shifted, rustling the trees, and the fire hissed softly, spitting embers. I drifted toward sleep, my body warm, my heart full, but something tugged at the edge of my thoughts, a faint unease I couldn’t shake.
Just as my eyes closed, a low voice spoke my name from the trees. It wasn’t a whisper. It was a summoning.
Chapter Ten
Benedict
I woke just before dawn, my heart pounding like I’d been running through the forest in my sleep. The air in the hollow felt different, heavier, like the forest was holding its breath. The protective hum I’d always known in Esoterra, the steady pulse of the Veil that kept this place hidden, wasn’t passive anymore. It was alive, watching, listening, reaching out with a purpose that set my bear on edge. Beside me, Isabella stirred, her body curled against mine on the fur blanket, her warmth grounding me. Her breath hitched, a soft sound, and then she murmured a name, “Eldrin,” clear as day, though I’d never heard it before. My bear growled softly, uneasy, but I stayed still, watching her face, her brow furrowed like she was chasing something in her dreams. The name lingered in the air, unfamiliar but heavy, like it carried a weight I couldn’t yet understand.
I slipped out from under the blanket, careful not to wake her, and stepped outside into the pre-dawn chill. The clearing was quiet, the fog thick and swirling, but the ground beneath my boots pulsed, a second heartbeat syncing with my own. Icrouched, my fingers brushing the dirt, and watched as glowing symbols formed, slow and deliberate, curling outward in a wide circle around our camp. They weren’t hostile, I could feel it in my bones. These were Veilborn sigils, ancient, protective, tied to the bloodlines that first shaped Esoterra. They only appeared when the forest recognized one of its own, a resonance so rare I’d only heard whispers of it from the elders. My chest tightened as I traced one of the symbols, its faint glow warming my fingertips. The voice that called Isabella’s name last night, the one that sent a shiver through me, wasn’t a threat. It was a guardian call, the forest’s magic reaching for her because she was the last of her line. It wasn’t trying to hurt her. It was guiding her home.
I went back inside, the fire reduced to glowing embers, casting a faint light across the stone walls. Isabella was sitting up, rubbing her eyes, her dark hair a tangled mess from sleep. “You’re up early,” she said, her voice groggy but sharp with curiosity. “Everything okay?”
