Page 55 of His to Defend

Ryker wanted it all to be okay. No, he needed it to be okay. Because if the last forty-eight hours had taught him anything at all, it was that he would never be able to live without her. He needed her with a ferocity that should have scared him, but now that he realized exactly what it was, it fueled him.

He could have kissed her forever, but despite her objections, there were still things to talk about. A lot of things. Reluctantly, he unwound himself from her and sat back. “Babe, I don’t even know where to start with this.”

“The girls filled me in,” she said with a laugh. “So let’s skip all of the messy details and get to the good part.”

“The part where I tell you how much I love you?”

She grinned and Ryker never wanted her to stop. “That’s a good start.”

“How about if I tell you how much I need you?”

“Also good.”

“And how crazy you make me?”

“I like it.” She reached out and traced his lips with her finger.

“You bring out the animal in me, babe.”

She shivered, but Ryker knew it wasn’t from the cold. “I want to see.” Nina sat back and tucked both her hands beneath her. “Your bear.”

“You want to see?”

She nodded.

“You won’t be scared?” In his grizzly form, he was huge. It was intimidating. He just got her back; the last thing he wanted to do was risk scaring her.

She shook her head. “Never. But I need to see you, Ryker.” Her hand reached behind her neck to where he’d marked her. “I need to understand all of it.”

He rocked forward on his knees and reached for her shoulder. “About this.” His fingers dipped beneath her sweater and traced the mark. He could feel the heat of it, and traced the outline of his mark without seeing it. “I should never have done this.”

Nina’s hand came up over his and held it to her skin. “No. Don’t say that.”

“But it’s true, babe. I never should have mated with you. Not without you knowing everything. It needs to be free will. You need to—”

“Ryker.” She stopped him. “I want to see your bear. Now.”

It was his time to shiver. She was incredibly sexy when she was commanding. His strong female. His perfect mate. “Absolutely.” In a flash, he hopped up and with his back turned, stripped out of his clothes before stepping out of the clearing, away from where she could see him. One day, he’d let her watch his shift. But not yet.

He was magnificent.

The biggest grizzly she’d ever seen, his presence filled the clearing.

She got to her feet and stepped closer to the massive bear. A shiver ran through her, but she wasn’t scared. Not in the slightest. She reached forward and let her fingers sink into his thick, soft fur. He made a noise that sounded almost like a purr—if bears could purr.

Maybe they could.

Nina laughed a little and pet him again, this time with both hands.

He made the sound again and then without notice, turned and lumbered away.

She felt empty without him, shocked. But a moment later, when Ryker reappeared—naked in his human form, all muscle and sexiness, with his desire for her more than evident—it all made sense.

He walked straight toward her and took her in his arms, kissing her fiercely. “I want you too much.” He murmured the words against her neck as his hands worked at the button of her jeans. He stripped her of her clothes but she didn’t feel anything but heat with his hard, naked body pressed up against her soft curves.

“I can’t believe I ever left you, even for one day.” He dropped his head to her breasts and kissed each of them in turn. “Never again, Nina. I swear to you.”

“I believe you.” Her words came in gasps as he continued to work his magic on her breasts.