Rick

 

The trip had taken hours just as Rick had thought. His bear grew more restless the longer they were stuck in the car. When they arrived at the casino, Rick’s heart started to pound with a weird anxiety about going inside.

“You okay, man?” Steve asked.

“Yeah, I’m good,” Rick choked.

They walked in and Rick instantly crumpled on the ground in pain. A migraine grabbed hold, and all he could see was black. He could hear Steve trying to talk to him, but he had no way of replying. Suddenly, he felt himself being lifted off the ground and moved. Rick tried to fight through the pain, but it was too intense. His bear whimpered in agony. Rick tried to summon the energy to shift, but his body refused.

“Hang in there, buddy,” Steve said as he laid Rick down on a bed.

Rick gave into the darkness and the comfort of the bed.

“Rick!” Her voice broke through the pain and she seemed stronger than before.

He tried not to believe she was there again. If he accepted that she was there, then he would be even more disappointed when he woke up and realized she was gone.

“Rick! Are you okay? It’s me, it’s Stella,” she said, reaching out hesitantly.

Then her warm hand touched his face and chased the pain away. He couldn’t resist her touch. He melted into it, and inhaled her beautiful scent.

“You’re back,” he whispered, opening his eyes and taking her in.

“I am. I’m here. Where are we?” she asked, scooting onto his lap.

Rick adjusted himself on the bed and leaned against the headboard. He hugged her close.

“I’m not sure,” he said, trying to blaze through the fog in his mind and remember. It was like he couldn’t connect the two worlds: the one he lived in during the day, and the one with Stella that he visited in his dreams.

“Think, Rick. Think hard. Where are you? I can come to you if I know where you are,” she begged.

“You are here. Just don’t leave,” he said, squeezing her tighter.

“I want to stay. I don’t want to leave,” she said, running her fingers down his face.

Rick leaned down and tasted her lips. It was a quick and gentle kiss meant to solidify that she was truly there on his lap. Instead, it turned passionate, fast. She pulled him back to her and kissed him with a fierceness that made him come to life. He felt his bear soar to life with a strength he hadn’t felt in years. He took control of the kiss.

His tongue moved in and stroked hers. A fire ignited inside of him, and he felt alive. He felt whole. The mate bond swirled between them, and it felt like a tangible rope that he could pull on to bring her closer still.

She pulled back from him and grabbed his face, looking at him as if she was desperate for him. He’d never been looked at with such true intensity before. Her eyes were pools of desire, and love.

“Rick, as much as I want this, I need to know where you are. You have to tell me,” she pleaded again.

“Um… I’m in a casino.”

“A casino! One of your casinos?” she squealed with delight, her eyes brightening with hope.

“My casinos? No, I don’t have a casino. I have a bar on the beach. I’m with a friend, Steve. He wanted me to have a guys’ weekend at a casino.” Rick wasn’t sure why he suddenly couldn’t remember where he was, but it felt like it was on the tip of his tongue.

“You’re doing great, my love. Keep thinking. Think of me wherever you are. As you walked in the door, think about what it looked like. Picture me there with you, walking in the front door.” Her voice was smooth as honey, and he could feel himself being lulled back to a sleepy darkness.

“No, no, no. Stay with me, Rick. I can feel you leaving. Stay with me.”

She kissed him again. Then she adjusted herself so she was straddling him. Her shirt was up and over her head in seconds, and she removed her bra. Rick tried to stay with her. His hands roamed up the sides of her body, feeling all of her curves and milky, smooth skin. Their kiss was electric.

When he was kissing her and touching her, he was free. Free to be the strong shifter he had once been. He lifted her and laid her on her back, covering her with his body. He started stringing kisses down her body. He was frantic to be inside of her, and to claim her the way he knew he should. When he got to her pants, he placed soft kisses before yanking them down her long legs.

He finished undressing them both, and then lifted her hips to meet his. Her eyes were wide with surprise, but he could feel how ready she was for him. Her slick folds welcomed his fingers as he glided them across her entrance.

“I love you, Rick. You’re my mate,” she whispered.

He plunged deep inside of her then. At the intensity of their connection he felt raw power surge through her and into him. Memories flooded his mind. He stilled inside of her as the life he had forgotten came rushing back to him. Rick’s eyes must have showed his clarity, because she smiled and dragged him down for a knowing kiss.

“You remember,” she said.

“Yes, Stella. My love, my mate. I remember.” He leaned his forehead against hers.

She wiggled under him, and he groaned with pleasure. He pulled out of her slowly, and then sank back in, relishing the joy of feeling her tight walls squeeze him inside of her. Goosebumps broke out all over his body as he continued their slow, pleasurable tempo.

Stella arched against him and writhed under him, begging him with her body for more. He pulled out slowly, but then slammed into her. Her moan filled the room and made his mouth water. Rick tasted her breasts again.

He caught her hand and then slid it down her body. Her eyes locked on his, wide but willing. He continued to pump into her. When he got to her core he brought two of her fingers into his mouth and suckled. Then he placed them on the spot he knew would drive her crazy. He didn’t have to show her what to do then. Watching her touch herself while he was deep inside of her drove him crazy with pleasure. Her eyes never left his while she moaned softly in the back of her throat.

“I’m so close, Rick,” she panted.

He leaned down and kissed her. He felt her walls tighten around him and her legs begin to shake. She squeezed tight and screamed his name. Rick slammed inside of her one final time, releasing himself deep within the one woman he never thought he’d find: his mate.