Then there’s the matter of her step-brother. Once Rafe finds him, I’ll need to figure out if he’s still a threat to Lana.
If he is, he won’t be for long. I will end him.
“Teddy?” she calls from the bathroom, and I race across the room, using shifter speed to get to her side.
At the last second, I stop short in the bedroom. Dammit, not again. I can’t keep slipping. It’s like my bear wants Lana to know what I really am.
The bathroom door is cracked open, but I rap on it anyway. “What is it? Are you all right? Are you hurt?”
“No, I’m good. Come in.” She greets me with a smile that slams into my gut like a fist. She’s so beautiful. So sunny. I’ve known her less than a day, and I can’t imagine not having her in my life.
“Look at this.” She points to her forehead. She’s removed the bandage, and the skin underneath is smooth and unscarred.
The serum Matthias used worked too well. I am going to have to mindwipe her.
“The cut is totally healed! Isn't it weird and wonderful?”
“Yeah,” I mumble, sagging in the doorway.
“It didn’t even leave a scar.” She leans into the mirror, examining her head this way and that. “And my head is a lot better, too. I feel better than I have in a long time, actually. Must be all the fresh mountain air.”
“Must be.”
She turns and looks up at me through her lashes, and I realize two things. One, she’s wearing only a towel. Two, the way she bites her lip makes me want to take a bite out of her.
“Teddy? Did you hear me?”
“Hmm?”
“I said I need to get my phone working. Touch base with my company, check my Instagram. I haven’t been off social media this long since the summer my nanny took my phone away for flunking French.”
No. I can’t let her get a working phone. I can’t let her go. “You didn’t tell me you owned a company,” I stall.
“It didn’t come up. It’s nice to be off the grid like this.” She sweeps her braids back, baring her shoulders. The towel is slipping, showing off sweet curves of her breast.
I step closer, needing to be near her. “So it’s true. You are famous.”
She shrugs, and the towel inches lower. “A little.”
Shit. All the more reason to mindwipe her. She could make one phone call and be in front of cameras, telling the world about shifters.
She’s not Tiffany.
“Teddy? Are you okay?”
My voice is husky. “I’m fine, babygirl.” One of her braids is askew, so I brush it straight. Her honeyed scent fills the room.
“It was great meeting the triplets,” she says. “They seem so young, though.”
“Yeah. They’ve been a bit sheltered. They were homeschooled. If they come off as immature, that’s why.”
“I think they are sweet.” She leans into me, almost unconsciously. “You’ve been so great. Rescuing me, taking care of me. I’m really grateful. But I don’t need any more rest. It’s been fun being your prisoner, but I really don't have a reason to stay.” She bites one plush lip. “Unless…you give me one.”
I toy with one of her braids.
She closes her hand over mine. “So that settles it? I should go?”
“No.” I fist my hand in her braids and gently pull her head back.
“Teddy?” Her lips part, and I can't take it anymore. I tilt my head and kiss her.
Lana
Teddy leans over me, holding me upright with his hand in my hair. His mouth slants over mine, taking, plundering.
“You’re not leaving,” he growls, and the sound vibrates through me, making me shudder. I let the towel drop.
He hoists me up and lays me out on the bed, covering his body with mine. “All night, I was dying to do this.”
Squee!
He rears up between my legs and cups my pussy, grinding down with his palm.
“Does it ache right here, babygirl? Do you want me to make it better?”
“Yes, please.” My hips are already rocking. He brushes a finger against my entrance, and I shoot up off the bed.
“Easy,” he murmurs.
“What about you?” I put my hand to his crotch. There’s a throbbing monster hiding in his jeans, and I can't wait to meet it. “This feels hard and painful. I can kiss it better…”
“Later.” His fingers probe my entrance. “I’m going to be gentle, baby. This time.”
“You don't have to be.”
“Don’t tempt me.” He nuzzles my belly, finding a few stretch marks and kisses them. My breath catches in my throat.
He continues licking and kissing his way down, his beard teasing my soft flesh. I writhe, ticklish, and he slides his big hands up the back of my legs, hooking behind my knees and holding me open.
“Yes, babygirl,” he breathes, drinking in the sight of my splayed pussy. “This is what I want.”
The first soft kiss on my mons sends ripples of pleasure through me. I reach down and grab Teddy’s head. He captures my wrists and pins them to my side.