Jo waited until the shower water stopped running red, before letting her hands trail over Nick’s skin. He was cut and bruised all over, but it didn’t seem to bother him too much.

“Does it hurt?” she asked, her fingers circling a large dark bruise at the side of his ribs.

He shrugged, his eyes focusing somewhere below her chin. “At the time, yes. And after, but we shifters heal quickly.”

“Good to know,” she grinned, her eyebrow lifting as she saw his aroused state. “No problem there, then.”

Nick’s eyes darkened. “None.” His hands were gentle, as he slowly lowered his head to her breasts, pulling a cry from her lips.

He stood up immediately, his eyes searching hers. “Are you okay? I didn’t hurt you?”

Her chest was heaving, as she stared into his eyes. “Why did you stop? Keep going!”

“I’m not hurting you?” he asked, confused.

Jo shook her head, pushing him back down. “No, you didn’t.”

Relieved, he tugged her close. “It’s hard for me to stay gentle.”

“Maybe I like it a little rough.”

That’s all he needed to hear. Nick groaned, kissing her hard before letting his hands explore her body further. Jo let out a shuddering breath, tangling her fingers into his hair and throwing her head back. Resting her back against the shower wall, she gave herself up to the sensations he was pulling from her.

Nick lifted his head, letting his hands caress her breasts instead of his mouth. Kissing her hard, he caught his breath as her hands reached for his cock, forcing a snarl from his throat.

Jo glanced up at him, her eyes wide. “It this okay?”

He closed his eyes, nodding. It would take a bit of time for her to get used to the sounds he made, but right now they were sounds of pleasure.

Jo grinned, even though he couldn’t see her. “Good,” she murmured, exploring him gently. She looked up at his strong jaw, touching the scruff on his face with her free hand. He looked rugged, almost dangerous. After everything she’d seen, Jo finally understood why.

With one hand, Nick pulled her palm to his mouth, kissing it before working his way up her arm and towards her shoulder. A shiver shook her, speeding its way up her spine but she didn’t let him go. Working her hand slowly, she gave him a wicked grin as he rolled his hips and groaned.

“Jo,” Nick muttered, his voice low and husky. “I love you.”

Her heart raced, as she lifted both hands around his neck. He was irresistible. “I love you too, Nick.”

He pulled her up into his arms, her legs spanning his waist. Pressing her back against the shower wall, he braced his legs and grasped the top of her thighs, strong enough to hold her tightly.

Nick looked into her eyes, pressing a kiss to her mouth as his arousal rested against her core. Slowly, he slid into her soft folds, a moan of pleasure coming from her lips. She was ready for him.

Flooded with sensations, Nick held himself back. He didn’t know what would happen when the bear was awake. He didn’t want to hurt Jo, unable to help himself from letting his teeth graze the skin at her collarbone as he dropped his head.

“Don’t hold back,” she exclaimed, her face a mask of ecstasy. “Don’t be scared, Nick. This is right. You know it.”

His hands cradled her face, as the bear let out a growl of satisfaction. Jo was right. She was his mate and he was hers. He had to let this happen, to trust that the protective instinct he had for her wouldn’t allow the bear to hurt her in any way.

“I know it is,” he whispered, gently nipping her lip as he pressed himself a little deeper into her. She leaned back, her hands grasping the top of the shower cubicle, giving him greater movement. Nick bucked into her again and again, waiting for her to find her release as he’d done before.

Pressure built, her whole body on fire. His strokes drove her closer to the edge, the strong grip of his hands making her crave him even more. As he began to move faster, Jo moaned again, her world exploding around her as she came. Closing her eyes, she held onto Nick. Her bear shifter. Her mate.

Nick couldn’t help the snarl that ripped through him, his release imminent. “I need to let go,” he shouted, his hands letting go of her thighs.

“No,” Jo urged, tightening her legs around his waist. “No, Nick. Stay with me. It’s different this time.”

He could barely breathe, knowing he was too close to stop now. Reaching for him, Jo tangled her fingers in his hair, her breast pushing against his chest. Dipping his lips to the curve of her neck, he pushed into her again and growled out her name, letting his teeth sink lightly into her skin.

Warmth flooded her as Nick let go, his head thrust back as he growled loudly. His chest began to heave with breath, his hands gripping her tightly. The bear reared up, stretching wide but there was no urge to change. There was no snapping of bones, no muscles stretching and snapping – there was just Jo.

Jo clung to him for a long moment, waiting until he’d set her back on her feet before looking up at him. The bear growled again, settling down quietly as Nick pressed a kiss to Jo’s forehead. “I love you, Jo,” he murmured, smoothing her hair back.

“And I love you,” she whispered, resting her head on his chest.

 

When Tom walked in, a few hours later, he grinned at the innocent picture Jo and Nick presented. They were both showered and dressed, lazily sipping cups of coffee on the sofa.

“Nice picture of domestic bliss,” he quipped, helping himself to a cup.

“How’s Dan?”

Tom shrugged, sitting down opposite. “Sleeping. Pretty banged up so he won’t be able to shift for a while. We’re safe for the meantime.”

“Did you put that lock on the door?” Nick asked, slightly concerned.

“Of course I did.”

“Good.”

Jo looked up at Nick. “What’s going to happen to him?”

“To Dan?” Nick pressed his lips together. “I don’t know. We’ll just get him better and take it from there.”

There was a brief silence as they all thought about what had happened. The Northern Wind pack wasn't exactly going to let up any time soon, especially when they thought Dan was dead. Things could get pretty dangerous.

“What are your plans, Jo?” Tom asked, eventually.

Jo swallowed, blinking a few times. “I – I hadn’t really thought about it,” she stammered, glancing over at Nick. “I quit my job, you see and I –”

“You did?” Nick interrupted, surprised. “You didn’t tell me.”

“There’s been a lot going on,” she replied, grinning. “When I was at the hotel, I remembered what you’d said about not letting Brian treat me that way, and how I needed to find out what it was I wanted from life.”

Tom got up, leaving them in peace for a few minutes.

“And what do you want?” Nick asked, his fingers brushing down her cheek.

Jo smiled up at him. “I want you, Nick.”

“You have me.”

Chuckling, Jo shook her head. “That’s as far as I’ve got.”

“I see.” Nick looked down at her, his heart beginning to thump in his chest as he put his coffee cup down. He took her hand in his, rubbing his fingers over the back of her hand. “How would you feel about living here?”

Her eyes widened. “Living here, in the cabin?”

“Sure.” He glanced at the boarded up windows. “I know it needs fixing up, but I could do that for you.”

“But what about the bears?”

“Well,” he continued, swallowing his sudden nerves. “I could be here too.”

“You mean, live here?”

“Yeah.”

“With me?”

He nodded, watching her face.

Jo felt a sudden rush of tears, which she blinked back immediately. Putting down her cup of coffee on the table, she threw herself into his arms. “I’d love that.”

He kissed her, hard. “Good.”

Tom wandered over, sitting back down. “You’re all sorted then, Jo.”

Settling back down on the sofa, Jo grinned over at him. “I guess so.” Her smile flickered. “Although, I don’t have a job.”

He quirked an eyebrow at his brother. “We’ve been saying we need someone to help run the mechanics for a while, haven’t we?”

Nick shook his head, rolling his eyes at his brother. “It’s nothing like what Jo’s used to though.”

“What do you need?” she asked, putting her hand on Nick’s knee.

“Just boring office stuff.”

“Maybe do the place up a bit.”

Jo grinned. “Then I’m in.” Sure, it wasn’t what she was used to, but Jo was determined to find a new life for herself, one that involved Nick.

“You’re sure?”

She smiled up at him, feeling completely sure about her new life. "Yeah, I am. I'll stay here with you.”

Ignoring Tom’s groan, she kissed Nick again, happier than she’d ever been before.