Chapter Twelve

Heather woke to the sound of voices. She blinked her eyes, confused about where she was for several heartbeats.

Warm arms held her tight.

Isaiah.

Shit. It hadn’t been a dream. She was in his bed, and the faint light in the room suggested it was morning.

She’d known him twenty-four hours, had numerous orgasms in his care, and been fucked hard. So damn good that her pussy jumped to life even now.

Voices sounded again.

She tensed. The voices weren’t out loud. They were in her head.

Isaiah didn’t stir. He was fast asleep, his grip still firm under her chest.

Hot as hell.

Even in slumber the man held on to her.

“We just want to talk to you, Heather.” The male voice was firm. It belonged to someone older. Maybe in their sixties. How long did bears live? She had so much to learn.

She remained still, knowing Isaiah would freak the fuck out if he thought she was talking to these people. “Go ahead. I can hear you.”

Her communication must have been successful because she could feel as well as hear the relief in the man’s tone. “My name is Lawrence. I’ve come from the Arcadian Council. Not sure how much you know about us, but we’re the governing body of North America.”

“I’ve heard some of the details.”

“We’d like to meet with you. Perhaps you would be so kind as to come outside or let us in?”

“I don’t think that’s a good idea yet. I’m not even out of bed.”

“We mean you no harm, but it’s our job to ensure your safety and that of those around you.”

She could read between the lines. It was their job to make sure she told no one about their existence. Her instinct told her the man meant what he said, but since this was her first time communicating with someone telepathically, she needed to be leery. She couldn’t read his body language or his facial features. That left her at a disadvantage.

There was no way she could honor the man’s request, anyway. If she moved a muscle, Isaiah would wake and haul her deeper into his embrace.

“We understand your reluctance, and I don’t blame you a bit. This is all new to you. But please consider our position. Our task is to maintain the concealment of an entire species. We don’t take this lightly.”

“I understand completely, and don’t take offense when I tell you I’m not ready to meet with you yet. I’m still acclimating. I hardly understand what has happened to me.”

“We can help with that transition.”

“Maybe you can. But I have no way to know where your interests really lie, so with all due respect, give me more time. You know there’s no threat from me as long as I’m inside Isaiah’s home. I don’t have any way to make a phone call. Give me more time.”

“Perhaps we could set a time?”

“Be careful, sir. Don’t place ultimatums on me. You know better than I do how infuriated Isaiah will be if he finds out. Just as you also must realize I can’t keep my thoughts from him. I have no understanding of your blocking skills, and this is my first real communication.”

It was amazing even to her how calm she managed to remain during the entire discourse, considering she should have been jumping on the bed and glancing around to find the source of the voices.

She felt stronger today. One day and already she had a better grip on her new reality.

“Please, reach out to us soon. We grow weary of waiting.”

Interesting choice of words, and she chose not to respond.

Lips hit her neck, nibbling the spot where he should have marked her last night. Lust raced down her body the second he licked that tender skin. How long had he been awake? Or at least alert.

“I’m proud of you,” he whispered.

Okay, long enough.

“How much of that did you catch?”

“All of it.”

She smiled slowly. “How long have you been awake?”

“About ten minutes longer than you.” His voice was still low, gravelly with sleep. “Best sleep of my life too, I might add.”

“Hmmm. I concur. I don’t think I’ve ever slept that soundly.”

“You needed it.”

“Why didn’t you bite me?” She twisted her neck to see his face.

“You weren’t ready.”

“How could I be more ready?”

He smiled that slow sexy smile that made her pussy jump to attention. “Making a decision to be forever bound to another shifter shouldn’t be done in the heat of intense sex, Heather. You’ll make the choice when the time is right, preferably not while my dick is inside you.”

“I find I like you inside me.”

“And I agree. Sweetest spot on earth, but not going to sink my teeth into your neck while you’re in the throes of passion.”

She closed her eyes. “What do we do now?”

He kissed the top of her head and spun her so that her chest flattened against his as he rolled onto his back. “Eat breakfast.”

She giggled. “Hardly what I meant.”

“One thing at a time then.” He narrowed his gaze at her, and his lips parted as though he had something else to say but was reluctant. “I might regret telling you this, but the binding can go either way, or both for that matter.”

She cocked her head. “What do you mean?”

“I mean I’m not the only one capable of binding us. You could do it too. We could also do it at the same time or one after the other in theory.”

She smiled slowly. “So you’re saying I could sink my teeth into you if I wanted, even if you didn’t agree to it?” She knew she would meet no resistance, but she wanted to make sure she understood correctly.

He rolled his eyes. “Like I said, in theory.”

“And in practice? You mean usually the male claims the female?”

“Probably in most instances, although modern couples often both participate.” He set a hand over his neck and rubbed it. “Please don’t get any ideas. You do not have the first clue about your strength. I would hate to bleed to death because you sank your teeth into me too far.”

Now she giggled. “I think I like this information.”

“Yeah, figures you would.”

“If you didn’t want me to know, why did you tell me?”

He kissed her nose. “I’ll never keep anything from you. We’ll be equals in all things, except perhaps the bedroom.” He winked.

“Bossy sex fiend.”

“Don’t you forget it. And if you didn’t get off on it, I wouldn’t do it.”

He had her on that. She definitely got off on his brand of sex.

“Let’s get some breakfast and see how our guardians are doing this morning.”

She lifted to sitting. “Did they stay out there all night?”

“I’m positive, though they probably took turns sleeping.”

“It’s cold at night.” She shivered. She’d spent the previous night outside alone under a Mylar blanket. She should know.

“Not to them. They’re bears, babe. This is nothing.”

“Right.” She scooted off the bed and reached for one of Isaiah’s T-shirts. Then had a different idea. “Mind if I take a shower first?”

“Of course. Go right ahead. As long as you don’t mind if I watch.”

“Be my guest.”

“We’ll never make it to the kitchen,” he muttered under his breath.

She was sharper this morning, however. Nothing got by her. She realized she didn’t need his verbal communication any more than she needed the four men outside to speak directly to her. “I’ll turn the water on,” she communicated as she entered the bathroom.

“Excellent.”

She spun around to see his face, filled with pride and awe. “Why couldn’t I communicate with you last night?” she said out loud.

“I guess your body wasn’t done transitioning. And don’t get me wrong. You’re only able to communicate with me because we’re in close proximity, same as the council members outside. Distance weakens the ability incrementally, unless the person is your mate or a close family member.”

She leaned into the shower and turned on the water. “In other words, I need to stay close to you for the time being.”

“If you want to hear my thoughts yes.” He reached past her to test the water with his hand, and then he stepped inside, taking her with him.

“I thought you were going to watch.”

“I am, from super close.”

»»•««

Isaiah had just set heaping plates of omelets and hash browns on the table when a knock sounded at the door. He sighed and pointed at the food. “Start eating. I’ll talk to him.”

“Who? Him who?” she asked as she took her spot. She hadn’t felt the presence of another being. It unnerved her. On the other hand, until the person was standing at the door, neither had Isaiah. Why?

“Lawrence. The council member you communicated with earlier.” He set a hand on the doorknob. “He blocked me until he was at the door. He’s powerful. Be right back.”

Isaiah opened the door but then disappeared through it so fast she didn’t get a chance to see the other man’s face. She did notice he was as tall as Isaiah, if not taller. Were all the bear shifters so damn huge?

The omelet smelled amazing, and she was once again starving, so she picked up her fork and dove into it.

Isaiah returned in less than a minute and took a seat next to her. “He wants to meet with you.”

“I know. He told me that himself.”

“Yeah. Well, he’s smart enough to know he has to go through me to get to you. Especially after the way you spoke to him earlier.” Isaiah smirked as he picked up his fork. “He was feeling you out, trying to determine how strong a personality you were and what you might be willing to do behind my back.”

“Which is nothing. He gets that right?”

Isaiah leaned across the table and kissed her lips. “Yeah. He’s clear.” He tore into the food, moaning around the first bite. “Breakfast is my favorite meal.”

Heather had to agree, especially if she was going to frequently benefit from his culinary skills. She finished everything on her plate before him, considering the head start. And then she leaned back and sipped the cup of coffee he’d made with the perfect amount of cream and sugar.

“You didn’t finish telling me what you told Lawrence.”

“That I’d talk to you, and we’d think about it.”

“You’re stalling.”

“Bet your ass.” He set his fork down and sipped his own coffee. Black.

“You’re waiting on me.”

He shrugged. “I’m not going to rush you if that’s what you’re asking.”

“But your entire species is waiting on me.”

“Don’t look at it that way. They can go screw themselves. No one’s asking them to wait outside as if you were about to deliver the savior.”

She shuddered. “Speaking of which…”

He eyed her speculatively, grinning. “This ought to be good. Can’t wait to hear what crept into your mind to follow a reference to the birth of Christianity.” He snapped his fingers. “Oh, right. Religion. You want to discuss religion? Let me guess, you’re Christian, and you want to know how I feel about it?”

She tipped her head, running her thumb along the rim of her coffee mug. “That hadn’t occurred to me at all, but now that you mention it…”

“We don’t consider ourselves members of any modern religion as you know it. Though some shifters have picked up on one faith or another, most of us believe in something a bit more broad, like Mother Nature and a higher presence.”

“That sounds lovely.”

“I’ll tell you more about it one day.” He leaned forward. “If that wasn’t your aim, what were you going to ask?”

“You mentioned the virgin birth, and it reminded me we haven’t used condoms.”

He grabbed her hand over the coffee mug. “Ah. Right. We don’t have the same issues as humans. We don’t carry diseases, and we can’t get pregnant as easily. When you’re ovulating, I’ll know immediately. I’ll scent it on you. Bears make a decision together whether or not to tempt fate during that season.”

“Season? Are you saying I won’t ovulate monthly anymore?” She sat up straighter. First enormous bonus to switching species.

He shook his head on a chuckle. “No, you won’t ovulate monthly anymore. Several times a year, but not twelve.”

“Damn. That’s nice.”

“I wouldn’t know.”

“But it’s super convenient that you don’t use condoms.”

He shrugged. “Again, never bought them myself.”

“Seriously? Never. You never needed them?”

He shrugged. “Some guys use them when they have a relationship with a human. It’s easier than explaining why they don’t need them, which is forbidden of course.”

“But you never have?”

He reached across the table, cupped the back of her head, and hauled her face close to his. “The first time I had sex with a human was yesterday.”

She gulped. Damn.

“And I’ve never slept with an ovulating bear shifter. Too risky.”

Her gaze widened. “Every few minutes I’m reminded that I’ve slipped into a different dimension.”

He frowned. “I hate for you to feel like that. Although shifters have a different background and unique abilities, I want you to realize that in many ways we’re exactly like humans. We’re often integrated in regular society. We have regular jobs and lead mostly normal lives.”

“Except you can talk to each other from a distance without cell phones, you don’t carry regular diseases, you have unimaginable sexual stamina, oh and let’s not forget your ability to shift into a huge animal.” Her voice rose as she finished. Her stress level was through the roof.

Isaiah squeezed her neck. “Babe, one day at a time. I’m right by your side. We’ll figure out the details together.”

She nodded. At least if she had to get scratched by a rogue bear shifter in the woods, someone had shown up to sweep her off her feet and do his best by her. She shuddered to think what might have happened if Isaiah hadn’t arrived when he did and she’d been kidnapped by Jack Tarben.

Would he have bitten her and turned her into not only a bear but his mate?

On the other hand, perhaps if Isaiah and Wyatt hadn’t shown up when they did, none of this would have happened. Perhaps Jack only attacked her out of spite toward the Arthur family for stepping on his family’s land.

On the flip side, if Jack had been estranged from his family at the time he scratched her, maybe his intentions had nothing to do with geographical boundaries and everything to do with mental instability.

“I can hear your thoughts, baby,” Isaiah whispered, leaning closer until their faces were inches apart. “We can’t do anything about the past, and we may never know what would’ve happened if circumstances had been different. We have no choice but to focus on the future.”

At least he was coming around to a new way of thinking. Hopefully he was done blaming himself for Jack’s actions.

She nodded, inhaling deeply of his scent at such close proximity that she had to clench her thighs together again. If they hadn’t gotten dressed after their shower in order to eat like civilized people this morning, there was every chance she would swipe the dishes off the table and insist he fuck her again right there.