The Bear's Healing Touch Read online

  “My former patient needs her rest,” Sven put in when there was an opening in the ongoing conversation between the other three. “Good night all.”

  Sirena received a few questioning looks from her friends, but John merely smiled and wished her a good night as Sven whisked her out of there with less fuss than she’d expected.

  Chapter Twelve

  When they pulled into the clinic parking lot, Sven paused, stopping the car just inside the entrance to the lot.

  “Where to? Your old room or my place? I leave it up to you.” He kept his hands on the steering wheel and turned just his head to look at her as his words faded.

  She was tired, but not that tired. The flame Sven had kindled in her blood was still flaring strong, and she wanted to explore their attraction. Daring greatly, she whispered. “Your place.”

  Sven gave her a small grin and turned his attention back to the wheel. Instead of parking close to the clinic entrance, he moved his vehicle back toward the area where she’d seen him go up the pathway when he’d fetched the wine just an hour or so earlier. It seemed like longer than that. In fact, she felt like she’d known him—or been waiting for him—all her life.

  He parked the car in a secluded space that had a reserved sign on it. Not that it was necessary. His was the only car in the lot at the moment. But these bears were planners, and they had probably set up the clinic lot with the future in mind when the town would be bigger and the town doctor and clinic would be busier.

  Sven opened her door for her and ushered her toward the pathway that led…somewhere. The trees were dense here and created a living canopy over the tops of their heads. If it hadn’t been dark out, the path would still have been shaded by the treetops. There were no lights. Most shifters could see very well in the dark, so they weren’t strictly necessary, though if the bears wanted to maintain a semblance of humanity, she might recommend they put some in, just for appearances sake.

  Mer had gotten very good at blending in over the years living closely alongside humans on the coasts of various countries. Other shifters tended to keep to the wild places, which were less populated by humans. This Grizzly Cove experiment, if it progressed to where they opened up the town even more to human foot traffic, would be quite a challenge—hiding a large concentration of shifters all together, in plain sight. Sirena knew her people could help the bears there, but that talk was for later. Tonight was all about just the two of them.

  “Are you okay with the climb? It’s not too steep for you?” Sven asked solicitously.

  “I’m fine. I didn’t realize how far up the slope your house was. It’s really hidden quite well from the clinic.” She looked behind her and saw that the parking lot was out of sight, around a slight bend.

  “The clinic is my public space, but my den is private,” he explained. “Only those I invite come here. Before this town, most of us would have been considered loners, and we still like our space.”

  “I can see that,” she said, nodding toward the house just coming into view around another subtle bend in the pathway. “Wow.” She stopped short just to take it in as the house was fully revealed. “That’s gorgeous.”

  “I’m glad you like it. I designed it, though some of the guys helped me build it. I’m not as good a carpenter as some of the others,” he admitted, showing a bit of humility. “Come on, I’ll show you inside.”

  He led the way into the house, pausing to see her reaction when he turned on the gentle lighting. The impact was magnificent. The place had been built on an open concept, and the main area was done in what she could only describe as ocean colors—rich greens, a multitude of blues and frothy whites. It was a mermaid’s dream. Or a polar bear’s, apparently.

  “This is…” She trailed off as she moved into the living room, turning in a circle to take in the high ceilinged area. “It’s beautiful, Sven.”

  “I’m glad you like it.” He stood a few feet away, watching her. The moment stretched until she looked back at him.

  “It’s the colors of the oceans,” she said quietly, meeting his gaze.

  “The northern oceans, to be exact,” he stated, stalking quietly closer, holding her gaze, moving in that slow, sexy, silent way of his. “The Bering Sea. The Arctic Circle. Places my bear feels at home. This is his den as much as it’s my home, and we both want you to be comfortable here.”

  “I bet you say that to all the girls.” She couldn’t help the catty comment.

  The thought of Sven with any other woman made her turn feral. Especially in this lovely house that looked as if it had been built especially for her. If she could have dreamed about the perfect place to live, this would be very close to her ideal. It was truly lovely. And secluded, despite being close to the center of the small town.

  “Actually…” Sven stood right in front of her and touched her hair with the barest brush of his fingertips, allowing a few strands to curl around his hand. “I’ve never brought a woman here. You’re the first, Sirena. In so many ways, you’re an original. A one-of-a-kind in my experience. I feel like everything is fresh and new with you…and…special.”

  Her breath caught. Unless her instincts were way off, he was completely serious. And his words mirrored thoughts she’d been having about him. She’d been with other men, but somehow, everything about Sven was different. Outside her experience. Completely original, like he’d said.

  What did it mean?

  She resolved to see this course through to its logical end, hoping to find out. With that in mind, she stepped closer, right into his arms. Looping her hands around his neck, she pressed her body against his.

  “I feel like that too,” she whispered to him, right before she reached up and matched her lips to his.

  The kiss took off from there, starting gently and turning into a tempest of need and longing. Sven’s hands came around her body, shaping and molding her form to his. She was caught up in the storm, tossed on the waves of their shared desire, swept away on a spiral of passion that rose higher and higher. It was a doozy of a kiss. Like nothing she’d ever experienced before.

  And then, she was flying, floating in his arms, moving without effort. Belatedly, she realized he’d picked her up. His strength made her tingle in appreciation as he carried her deeper into his lair. She didn’t really care where he was taking them—as long as their destination contained a bed or some other suitable surface on which to explore this combustible attraction between them.

  She heard a door open, then he was lowering her onto her back as he broke the kiss to stare down at her. His eyes were like molten flames, and her cold saltwater heart wanted to leap into the fire with him. Only with him.

  That was the mer side talking, coming alive for a man as it never had before. Sirena had somehow known there was something different about Sven from the moment they met. He stirred not only her human passions, but also the deep, dark mer side of her nature that was slow to act and somewhat aloof. Any man who could do that was dangerous, indeed.

  “Are you sure?” was all he said, but she understood the nuance of his tone.

  If she agreed to this, then she agreed to more than just this one night. It might not be forever, but from the way they sparked off each other every time they touched, it could take a while to slake the thirst that had sprung up between them.

  “I’m sure.”

  Her words were low and intimate…just between them…just like this magical night and whatever would come after. Her people, his people—they didn’t have a say in this. The attraction between them was bigger than judgments and opinions. It was something private, something almost…sacred.

  And that’s when it hit her. This could be something even more special than she’d thought. It was just possible that Sven was her mate. She wasn’t sure, but everything that had happened between them had led to this moment, to this revelation that she was looking at more than what she’d thought would be a temporary relationship at best. This could be for life.

  But the answer to his
question wouldn’t change. She was sure about wanting him. She was sure about tonight. What came after… Well, that was in the hands of the Goddess.

  When he still didn’t move closer, she took action. He seemed to be waiting for more than just her verbal agreement, so she decided to show him that she wanted him in ways he couldn’t ignore. Using her lower body strength, she pushed up and over, rolling him beneath her.

  She wouldn’t have been able to do it if he hadn’t let her, but he was smiling and watching her carefully, as if willing to play along in whatever she wanted. The feeling of power made her laugh. She felt like Venus rising from the waves…only with too much fabric still on her body.

  Well, that was easily remedied. Sirena straddled Sven’s hips, rising above him while she stretched, removing the shirt she’d put on earlier in the day. It was stretchy and soft and came off with a loving caress of fabric over her arms that made her shiver as she bared herself to him.

  Her scales didn’t hide her femininity now. She was purely human…soft and vulnerable. Bare from the waist up, she sat back and watched Sven’s fascination with her flesh, loving the desire she saw in his eyes. Reaching for his hands, she intertwined their fingers for a moment, lifting his hands upward, then untangling them while she placed his palms over her breasts.

  Warm, strong hands learned the shape of her body. His touch was tender, but firm, exploratory but knowing. He tried different ways to touch her, studying her response, taking time to figure out what she liked. She could appreciate his care, but the way he was touching her was driving the flames higher. She couldn’t take much more without exploding. She had to do something.

  Wiggling against the hard rod of his cock through their clothing, she settled over him in a way guaranteed to drive her out of her mind if they didn’t get rid of the fabric soon. She decided to do something about it. She unbuttoned his shirt and pushed it aside, down over his massive shoulders, exposing a muscled torso that she could spend a few idyllic hours licking…later.

  Right now, she wanted more. She slid down his legs, and he sat up as she moved lower, seeming unwilling to let her go completely out of his reach. He continued to stroke her body as she set to work on removing his pants. The belt was easy, but the zipper was a bit stubborn—coupled with the fact that she was trying to be careful. She didn’t want to unman him before he got a chance to show her just how talented he was with that big dick pressing right up against his fly.

  When she finally freed him, he groaned in appreciation as she wrapped her hand around him. He was a big man, and she looked forward to learning how they would fit together. For now, though, she wanted to explore more, but he forestalled what she planned next by lifting her by the arms, placing her beneath him on the mattress.

  The show of strength made her cream her panties. Speaking of which…she wanted them gone. As if he heard her thoughts, Sven took a moment to meet her gaze before lowering her stretchy pants and panties all in one go. He slid them all the way off, following the slow path of the fabric with his hands, stroking her from hip to ankle and back again in a way that made her shiver.

  When he moved back up her body, he spread her legs wide before him, exposing her. This was the moment when she knew she trusted him beyond all doubt. Sven had seen her through one of the worst events of her life, but he wasn’t just someone who could be trusted to help her when she was down. No, Sven was someone she could trust with her innermost secrets, her hopes, her dreams, her passion and…her heart?

  She didn’t have time to examine that thought further because he lowered his lips to kiss a trail from her belly button down to the apex of her thighs, using his tongue in amazingly expert ways to bring her to a sharp, fast climax. Sweet Mother of All! That was unexpected.

  She was still shaking when he kissed his way up her body, stalking forward over her like the predator he was. She cupped his face, loving the feel of his pale golden beard stubble beneath her hands as she pulled him to her for a deep, soul-shattering kiss.

  “I can’t wait, Sirena. I thought I could, but…” he whispered against her lips before diving deep for another lingering kiss. When they came up for air again, they were both breathing harder than ever. “You do things to me, woman.” His tone was exasperated but teasing, and she loved that he could bring fun into these tense moments. Everything with Sven was brighter. He just made her happy, on so many levels.

  “I want to do a lot of things to you, doctor, but right now, I don’t want to wait either.” She slid her body downward, seeking the hard shaft that was rubbing against her thigh. “I want you now, Sven. Don’t make me beg.”

  He lifted his head to stare down into her eyes. “I would never. Well, not for real.” His smile sent a little thrum of pleasure through her. “Your wish is my command, princess.”

  “Then, do me hard, bear-man. Make me yours.”

  Where were those words coming from? Some little hussy must’ve taken up residence in her brain because Sirena had never said such things aloud before. She might’ve thought them, but she’d been too reserved to actually say anything to any of her past lovers. Not that there had been all that many.

  All thought fled as Sven joined their bodies together in one long, glorious slide that took him inside and filled her completely. They were a match. A perfect match, if what she was feeling held true. Damn. He felt really good inside her.

  He started moving, and all hell broke loose—in the best possible sense. He pushed into her deep, then retreated, taking part of her soul into his and returning it with part of his. He took and gave with equal measure, meeting and receding, like the waves on the shore. First, a gentle lapping of wavelets, then a set of breakers, and then, the tempest, followed by the tsunami of pleasure that made her scream his name.

  It seemed like only moments, but he had built the pleasure over time so that, when she finally came, the explosion was so great she might’ve blacked out for a few moments. She would never be sure. The only thing she knew for certain was that Sven held her throughout. Was with her throughout. He was her safe harbor in the storm. He was both the gale itself and the gentle sunshine after.

  He held her in his arms as she shook with rapture, then as her shaking dissipated into minor quivers of the memory of bliss, he held her still. It was as if he didn’t ever want to let her go, and she felt the same in that moment. That shared time of ecstasy fulfilled and lifelong memories made. Their first time together had been monumental, and she never wanted it to end.

  Sven shifted them so that they lay side by side, his arm still around her as they both tried to calm their breathing. Her body was slick with sweat and…other things. A dip in the ocean would clean her right up, but she couldn’t move. She never wanted to leave Sven’s side.

  Ever.

  Whoa. Serious thoughts. Too serious for right now. Now was time to float and enjoy the sensations that had been all too fleeting and far between in her life. Of course, she’d never had sex like this before. Sven was unparalleled in her limited experience, and now that she’d had him once, she hoped they would have many more encounters. Many, many more.

  She might have drifted for a time, sleeping in Sven’s embrace. When she woke, she was alone in the bed, but she didn’t think too much time had passed. It was still dark outside the windows she spotted on the far side of the room.

  If the main area of the house was the sea, the bedroom was the beach. Sandy tans and woody browns dominated, with touches of green and a few splashes of complementary colors. Sven’s house was the next best thing to being outdoors, and she loved every last detail of it.

  “Sorry,” Sven said, coming back into the room from a doorway she hadn’t noticed before. It looked like his bathroom. “I didn’t mean to wake you.”

  “It’s okay.” She sat up in the bed, taking the sheet he must’ve put over her along with her, a bit shy now that they’d made love.

  He sat on her side of the bed, facing her. “I have to apologize again. I didn’t use protection. You…overwhelmed
me a bit, Sirena. I’m sorry.”

  She did some mental math and smiled. “It’s okay. My mer side changes things a bit for my human side in that respect. I’ve been wearing my scales for long enough this time that we should be okay for a while. I probably won’t be back on a human schedule for a month or two considering how long I’ve been in the ocean this trip.”

  “Really? That’s kind of fascinating. I don’t know of any other shifter that has that sort of issue.” He was sounding like a doctor again, but she didn’t mind. That doctor’s mind was a part of him, just like his polar bear fur.

  “Hmm. I’ll let you in on more mermaid secrets, in time, but first, you should probably make love to me again. Just to make sure that first time wasn’t a fluke.” She teased him, loving the way he went from cerebral to sexy in no time flat. He was a complicated man, but she’d enjoy spending time learning all his edges and angles. And most especially his hard spots…

  Chapter Thirteen

  Invigorated from their night of lovemaking and the sweet friction of their magic energizing them both, Sirena left Sven’s house with him the next morning. They were headed to the clinic for a while. He had a patient to see, and she wanted to get her stuff.

  Leaving him in his office with a kiss, she went to the room she’d been using in the clinic to pack up the few items that she might want to keep. A toothbrush, toothpaste, a few other toiletries and some fuzzy socks Sven had given her from the stock he kept on hand in the clinic. There wasn’t much, but then, she didn’t have much here in Grizzly Cove with her. She’d have to make arrangements for some of the items she’d had placed in storage sent, but that would take a few days.