Chapter 8

eight

. . .

Jemma

" L ook at that," I say, breathless as I stare out at the spectacular scenery.

We were hiking along the mountain and it just opened up in front of us. The peaks are stunning , traveling endlessly to the far-off horizon under the vast clear blue sky.

"Wow," I whisper to myself.

The view of the Montana mountains gets me every single time.

I breathe in the fresh cool air and smile as birds sing around me, my eyes getting a little watery. It's so peaceful up here. So timeless. I can return to this very spot in a hundred years and still see nothing but snow-capped peaks and rugged wilderness sprawling out down below.

"Have you ever seen anything so beautiful?" I whisper.

"I'm looking at something more beautiful right now."

I shake my head with a grin when I see Michael walking up the path with his eyes on my ass.

"Not that," I say. "I'm talking about the peaks."

"The peaks are beautiful too," he says as his heated brown eyes move up to my breasts.

"You're impossible," I say with a laugh.

He walks up beside me, puts a hand on my ass, and kisses my cheek.

"I've been looking at these mountains my entire life," he says as he looks out at the scenery. "I much prefer to admire my mate."

He wraps his big muscular arms around me and pulls me in for a kiss. I melt against his hard body as I feel his warm mouth on mine.

Will I ever get tired of kissing this man?

I doubt it.

It's been four days since he strolled into my camp naked and it's been the best four days of my life. By far.

He can't seem to take his hands or his eyes off me. I've never felt so desired. So wanted. Having a strong sexy man like him all over me has been a lot of fun. This man is insatiable.

When we're not exploring each other in bed, we've been getting to know each other, and that's been just as fun.

I love the way he talks about life on the ranch with such genuine excitement and enthusiasm. He's in charge of the animals and he's named each one. I can't wait to wake up early with him, grab our coffees, and go outside to feed the goats. He says he talks to them and they always talk back.

And he always wakes up with the most adorable bedhead in the morning. I love it. It's so endearing. Sometimes he forgets to fix it and we make it through the whole breakfast before he remembers and smoothes it down. Those are my favorite mornings.

And I love how he genuinely listens and remembers all of the small details of what I say. He remembered my parents' names days after I mentioned it once, and he seems to really want to know every single detail about me. He's so cute. He can't get enough, asking me question after question.

Our kiss turns heated. I know where this is heading…

I pull away from his mouth and back up with a grin.

"Not yet," I say, fighting the urge to climb up his big frame like a tree. "I'm too sweaty."

He steps forward with a possessive growl. "I don't mind. I like your salty taste."

I step back again. "Let me wash off first. Is there a river close by?"

He drops his head and groans. "About twenty minutes that way."

I bite my bottom lip, giving him a flirty look. "Let's get there in ten."

He adjusts the large pack on his shoulders and comes after me with a sensual look in his eyes that has me tingling all over.

We're finally heading back into town after being stranded all this time.

I'm tired of eating nothing but plain fish and he's tired of wearing the same thing every day. I gave him the largest pair of jogging pants I had. He cut them off at the knees, just so he could squeeze into them. And I gave him a tank top that's super loose on me, but is skin-tight on him. It's quite the view with those monstrous arms and chest.

Michael insisted on carrying everything, which I fought him at first, but eventually caved. That huge pack doesn't seem to be bothering him anyway. He's so freaking strong.

We left this morning and have been hiking all day. Michael said we should arrive around dinner time tomorrow night, so we packed a tent and will be sleeping in the forest. Normally, I'd be scared of wolves or other animals, but I'll have a protective grizzly bear sleeping beside me, so I'm just excited.

Once we get into town, he said he'll call one of his brothers to come pick us up. We'll stay at Michael's house on the ranch and then drive back up with a battery booster to restart my bus. After that, I don't know what's going to happen. I'm just kind of enjoying living in the moment for now.

"Did you bring your bathing suit?" I ask with a grin when we arrive at the river. We stop in front of an area where the river pools calmly around some huge rocks kind of like a natural swimming pool.

Michael drops the bag and pulls off his tank top in one smooth motion.

"No bathing suits out here."

I swallow hard as he pulls down his shorts, revealing his big thick cock. I still get shocked every time I see that monster.

"Lucky me," I whisper as my pussy gets all warm and wet.

He dives into the river and I watch as he swims into the middle of the rocky pool and stands up. The water is up to his waist.

"Is it cold?"

I see the thick root of his cock at the waterline and I swallow hard. It can't be that cold. There's no shrinkage in sight.

"It's nice," he says as he runs his hands through his wet hair, slicking it back. "You coming?"

"Yeah," I say as I kick off my shoes. "How can I resist joining a sexy man like you?"

I grab the elastic off my wrist and tilt my head back as I tie my hair into a ponytail.

Michael lets out a low carnal growl.

I gasp when I see the intensity in his eyes. He's looking at the spot on my neck, right under my ear that's been tingling non-stop for days. It might be my imagination, but it starts tingling even more.

It feels… demanding . Like it's impatient for his mouth.

The water starts rippling away from him in waves as his big body begins to shake.

"Michael, are you okay?"

He doesn't answer. His eyes turn a shining golden color as his body begins to swell. It grows before my stunned eyes—shoulders and chest expanding as he stares at my neck with such intensity that it makes me shiver.

"Is it this?" I ask as I graze the tingling spot on my neck with my fingertips. "Does your bear want to mark me?"

He's breathing so heavily. So angrily as his teeth extend into long sharp canines. They push his lips out, giving him a monstrous appearance.

Is this normal? Should I be concerned?

I gasp when I spot long black claws jutting out of his fingertips. When did that happen?

He squeezes his golden eyes shut, grits his teeth, and turns away, looking horrified that I'm seeing him like this.

His giant back is heaving up and down as he puts a monstrous hand up.

" Don't look at me, " he snarls in a voice I don't even recognize. " Go down the path ."

I look down the path, but I know I can't leave him. Not like this.

If I can help him, I will. That's what mates are for.

I remember his words on the first day we met.

A shifter always marks his mate. That spot of sweet tender flesh is destined for it. Once I put my mark on you, Jemma, we'll be one.

That's what I want. To truly be one. I want to be his in every way possible.

I quickly take off my clothes and step into the river. The water is cool, but after the hot grueling hike, it feels refreshing.

He looks at me over his big swollen shoulder, his eyes shining like glittering gold. His whole body is heaving up and down with every violent breath.

"It's okay," I say as I reach out for him. He flinches when I touch his back. "I'm your mate, Michael. I want this too."

He turns and faces me. I fight back a shocked gasp as I look up at him in stunned amazement. He's enormous .

"I remember what you told me," I whisper as I gently slide my hand up his massive chest. "Once I put my mark on you, Jemma, we'll be one. That's what I want more than anything, Michael. I want to be your mate."

He touches my arm with his giant hand and I shiver as those long black claws scrape along my skin.

" Oh ," I gasp when I see his long cock hardening in the water. It rises up like a sea monster, thicker and longer than I've ever seen it.

Instead of recoiling, I step forward and run my hand up it. He lets out a low possessive growl.

"I'm a… monster ," he growls as he looks down at me.

I shake my head as I start to stroke his hard shaft. "No," I whisper to him. "You're my mate. You're perfect."

I tilt my head to the side, exposing the spot. "Is this what your bear wants?"

He snarls and that big strong hand wraps around my arm tight. I whimper as he yanks me forward. His other hand grabs my leg and wrenches it up.

" Yes ," I moan as he pushes his big thick cock into my aching pussy.

My jaw clenches. Whimpers keep bubbling up my throat as I feel him stretching me out. He's so. Fucking. Big.

I scream out as he thrusts all the way inside, his massive dick filling me completely.

It's all I can focus on. I can't fucking breathe.

His impossibly strong hands hold me in place as he starts to thrust in and out, hard and relentless. Deep snarls and growls rumble out of his throat as he fucks me so hard we make waves in the calm pool.

I'm screaming out and clinging onto him as his massive dick thrusts in and out at a merciless pace. I cum almost immediately, it feels so good.

I don't think my orgasm ever stops. My hot pussy pulsates around him as he pulls me closer.

His hot breath on my neck awakens something primal inside me. I tilt my head to the side, exposing my neck for him.

It's time to become his. It's time to have his mark on me for good.

He lunges forward with a snarl and I scream out as his sharp teeth sink into my neck.

His powerful jaw holds me in place, his fangs unyielding as he puts his mark on my flesh. The tingling stops and is replaced with something else.

It's indescribable, but it feels like satisfaction, bliss, and perfect contentment all rolled into one. I'm his now. I belong to this perfect man.

He thrusts up with a grunt and shudders. I moan when I feel his cock cumming deep inside my pussy.

Another orgasm hits me—or, did it ever stop?—when I feel the surge of hot cum filling my insides.

The feeling is incredible. It's pure unadulterated bliss.

I'm trembling all over when his teeth finally slide out of my neck. My whole body goes limp in his big protective arms and I sink my face into his chest with a moan.

I can feel his body returning back to normal as I try to remember how to breathe. His massive cock slides out as he holds me. His hulking arms are the only thing keeping me from falling into the river.

"I'm sorry," he says, his voice back to normal. "I lost control. My damn bear?—"

"No," I whisper, interrupting him. "Don't apologize. I loved every second of it."

I touch the spot on my neck and it no longer feels demanding or like something is missing. It feels right . It feels complete .

Michael looks at it with his soft brown eyes and then kisses my lips. "We're one," he whispers.

I look up at him with a grin. "It's about damn time."