Ash (Mystic Mountain #4)

Chapter 10

Suzannah was starting to feel like her life was finally becoming hers.

After the second batch of honey bread nearly gave her fits, she decided to do something she'd Tim Gun say on Project Runway over and over... She 'Made it Work.'

Tackling her third batch, she divided the bread into rolls.

Then she sat there, perched on a stool, she watched through the glass panel as the dough baked and turned a beautiful golden brown.

And when she opened the oven door and the scent of honey deliciousness reached her nose, she wanted to bathe in the scent. Or make candles with it and burn it all around her house.

Even Hetty, who had stepped outside to visit, swung the door open and popped her head in. "Is that it? Is that success I smell?"

People came in off of the street from the smell alone and even thought the rolls were too hot to eat at that moment, people were begging to buy them.

So, they left with their hands cradled around napkins, their rolls cupped inside of them.

They were sold out before the rolls were ready to eat, but not completely sold out.

Suzannah had kept back a half a pan in the back of the bakery.

She sat with Hetty as her partner, oh, it felt so good to think that, ate her first honey bread roll with a look of heavenly joy on her face.

"My dear girl," Hetty opened her eyes and Suzannah saw them sparkling with joy, "I do believe that my dear friend Betty sent you to me from the great beyond."

Suzannah looked up at the wall where Hetty had hung the last photo of the two together.

There was some resemblance between her and her great aunt, but not much.

She would never be able to say that she had known her aunt or spent any real time with her, but there was something about being in the bakery, being in her home... She felt like she was getting to know her little by little and everything she found, she liked.

"I hope," she swallowed and her voice cracked a little, "I hope that you'll feel that way a month from now... a year from-"

Suddenly she couldn't breathe.

Hetty had her arms around her, squeezing her tight.

"I won't change my mind, Suzannah. Even though you didn't come into my life because we planned it, I believe you're here because you were meant to be here."

There was a settled feeling inside of her chest. A warmth that she'd felt the moment she met Aaron and Celeste. It had been a tiny spark then. Then she'd met Ash and she felt it catch fire. But she'd seen fires that had sputtered out at that moment. Candles with flames that sputtered out and died just when they'd started to glow.

This warmth was different.

Ash's touches and his kisses had kept that flame burning, building.

Now, sitting there in Raisin' Cakes, spending time with a woman who was her partner in a business? A woman who considered her to be a benefit and... a joy?

Well that little fire was building and it felt like she could warm herself with it. It's flames dancing inside her soul.

Tears spilled onto her cheeks and Hetty was suddenly wiping at her cheeks with her sleeves and the corner of her apron. "Don't cry, sweetheart. Please don't cry. I'm so sorry I made you cry."

"No... No. I'm not crying because I'm sad."

Hetty's hands slowed and Suzannah saw her kind and gentle face through the remnants of her tears. "What is it, sweetheart?"

Suzannah blinked back the tears that threatened to fall anew. "You." She smiled. "This place. Feeling like I have a purpose. A... a skill! I left my old job because it was killing me. Dealing with unhappy people who seemed to live to make other people unhappy. I walked away from that, taking a chance that this was going to be my home."

"And you've found it?" Hetty's voice was higher than it had been. There was a brightness to it that sounded a little too bright. And her smile looked like it might falter at any moment.

"Yes." Suzannah enjoyed watching as Hetty's smile softened and her whole face transformed with joy. "I think I've found my home. No, I know I've found my home."

Hetty's smile changed again. This time it looked more impish than sweet. "And that home... will it be here behind the bakery? Or up on the mountain where Ash lives?"

Suzannah paused, her heart stuttering in her chest.

She hadn't thought about that.

So far, she'd only seen him at her house, but the night before, when she'd gone to sleep by herself, she hadn't really thought about where he'd gone.

What would she do when they were mated?

She started to worry, but she heard something in her head.

No, it wasn't Ash's bear, although she wondered if his bear might give her similar advice. It was Alice's voice instead. 'It's not about the place. It's about the people who are there.'

Suzannah felt a smile settle on her lips. "We'll figure it out, Hetty. We'll figure it out... together."

And that fire she felt in her soul? The flames climbed higher, making her feel warm and loved.

Yes, she was home.

Home in Mystic Mountain.

A sh arrived at the bakery at closing time, a handful of flowers held in his hand.

It hadn't been his plan, but as he walked down the mountain from his home, he would see flowers growing along the path. Each one reminded him of the beauty of his home. A beauty that he wanted to share with Suzannah.

As he collected them, he'd hear his mother's voice in his head. She would walk with him, gathering flowers for their table, and she'd tell him their names as they went when he was young. As he'd grown, she'd ask him to say their names. Some of his best memories were of those quiet times with his mother.

Memories that he could share with Suzannah and perhaps she could share them with their cubs... their children if they were blessed to have them.

The delicate spikes of foamflower that looked like little bursts of color. Bishop's cap with it's tiny white flowers along a stem. There were the purplish petals of the blue phlox, each of the five notched at the fullest part of the curve like he'd seen pictures of dogwood blooms. The yellow trout-lily where the name alone would be enough to make mother and son laugh.

He'd left behind the white blossoms of the wild strawberry plants because he hoped to share some of their deliciousness with her when they bore fruit, but he did add the red and yellow columbine and the pink wild geraniums.

He'd hoped for some iris flowers to add to the bunch, but they weren't blooming yet.

Soon enough they would show their pretty faces, and he'd get to share more of his home with her.

Home.

After the ladies had left, he'd gone into his parents' bedroom and stood in the doorway looking over the room.

When they passed on, he hadn't taken their room.

It felt wrong to move in. It felt like doing so would be erasing them from the house.

And his life.

But as he stood there, looking over the bed with its familiar quilts.

Their wardrobe, where their coats and clothing were folded away in the drawers was still full.

He stepped into the room and moved to the bed, brushing his fingertips over the carved headboard that his father had made for his mate. Two slumbering bears were carved with the walls of stone carved in relief around them.

Curled up at their side, there was a single cub.

His mother had once explained that his father, Anton, had left part of the headboard unfinished when he'd carved it at first.

After he'd been born, his father had added a cub tucked in beside them.

He knew there was another slab of wood cut from the same felled tree in the shed. His father had pointed it out once in his singular gruff way.

Anton had never been a father who played games with his son, or even toys. But when he felt like his son might be able to hold carving tools, he'd begun to teach him.

It hadn't been an easy road. Ash could still remember the way he'd cut himself, sometimes deeper than he'd carved the wood, but that's when his bear came in handy.

His father's bear was there to help teach his bear to help heal and even to protect against the dangers that youthful exuberance could cause.

Ash was already designing the headboard for his bed with Suzannah.

He had no skill at drawing, but he could carve the images in his head onto the wood.

His bear puffed with pride inside of him.

Standing on the back step, he smoothed his hand over his shirt hoping that he looked presentable.

And he did.

He hoped.

When Hetty opened the back door, she gave him a smile. "That shirt looks new, Ash Thomas. Are you... going courting?"

His bear chuffed and shook with laughter.

Ash stood up taller and gave her a nod. "Yes, ma'am. Is Suzannah here?"

Hetty gave him a wink and turned back into the room, cupping her hand around her mouth. "Sweetheart? Your beau is here."

Ash heard her before he saw her.

He heard her heart beat faster and the quick steps across the linoleum flooring.

And he heard the quick intake of breath before she appeared in the doorway.

That's when he saw her beauty standing there, her eyes sparkling with joy, and her heart beating sure and true in time with his own.

"Hello, beautiful." He held out the bouquet that he'd picked for her. "I brought you flowers."

Hetty sighed.

Suzannah blushed.

And his bear pushed him forward.

Ash stumbled forward a little, grumbling at his beast.

Before he could ask him why he'd been so rude, Suzannah gave him the answer.

She brought a napkin covered plate out from behind her back and held it out to him. "I made you honey bread rolls."

Yes. Smell that.

His bear was slavering and begging to be released, but he calmed himself when Ash reminded the oversized pooh bear that Suzannah was still getting used to the idea of shapeshifting.

Taste . His bear smacked his lips and slobbered through their link.

Suzannah gave Hetty a kiss on her cheek and stepped outside.

When she reached the ground beside him, Suzannah leaned in for a kiss and he gladly gave her one. Then she moved her hands and the full, unadulterated scent of honey and bread reached him.

He lowered his chin and watched with rapt attention as he pulled a roll from the cluster in the tin she was holding.

Steam seemed to rise from the warm puff of bread, but even if it was too hot to eat, he'd gladly suffer through the burning pain to taste it, especially from her perfect fingers.

He made to move to take it in hand. He leaned forward and she held the roll steady in her hand as he took a bite.

And there it was.

One of his favorite memories of his childhood brought back in the best possible way.

In the hands of his mate.

She made him his favorite treat and earned a bigger part of his heart along with it.

T hey'd both offered to stay and close up with Hetty, but her partner had reminded her that they'd done most of the cleaning and prep for the next day earlier. All that was left was a wipe down of the surfaces and locking the door.

She'd sent Suzannah on her way with Ash walking beside her.

Ash walked her back to her house and stood beside her at her door as she fumbled with her keys. His nose and lips trailed over her skin right where he said he'd have to bite her to mark her body and seal their bond.

He barely touched her, but it built up the fire that had been burning inside her, bringing it almost to the point of burning her with its flames.

"Open the door, mate ."

She shivered at the touch of his breath against her neck. Her breasts swelled and her nipples tightened. He put his free hand on her hip and the weight of it rolled the elastic of her panties just the littlest bit, but that simple sensation made her wet.

"I... I can't concentrate."

She swore she felt him smile even though she couldn't see the expression on his face.

She felt his larger form and his heat pressing against her back and instead of spurring her along to get them inside her home, she flattened her hand against the door, her keys trapped between. Suzannah pushed back against him and gasped when she felt the heavy proof of his arousal pressing against her backside and the head resting against her lower back.

"Ash?"

His body froze against her, the only sign that he was still present was the twitch of his cock against her.

He was holding his breath.

She knew the sensation because she was close to it herself.

He was holding back. For her.

"Ash. I want to be your mate."

She felt him breathe again. Felt the surge of air into his body.

"You will, Suzannah." He leaned in and pressed a kiss to the back of her head, so very gently. "When you're ready."

Her whole body felt like she was shivering and burning at the same time.

It had to be because of how near he was.

How hungry she sensed they both were.

"I'm ready now, Ash. I-"

She knew how close she was to his bear in that moment when his hand shot out and the door swung inward, tilting awkwardly on its hinges.

"Where?"

Suzannah swore she could hear his bear's voice mingling with his own, but it wasn't in her head. It was coming from his throat.

His bear was as close as she'd ever felt it and yet she knew he... they would never hurt her.

"Love you..."

Again, she heard them both in Ash's voice.

Suzannah tried to turn around, but he had her trapped between his body and the door frame.

She looked up over her shoulder at him. "Here," her voice shook, "love me here."

He lifted her up as he moved them inside, the tin of rolls fell to the floor and she tried to reach for it, but he growled, "Leave it."

"But I wanted you to eat it."

He laid her down on the floor, her back against a rag rug that cushioned her, "I have other things I want to eat."

"Oh," she whispered as he took her dress in his hands, looking down at her for permission, "please."

His eyes were dark and Suzannah stared back.

"That's my bear, Suzannah." She only heard Ash in his voice, but she recognized that what was looking back at her wasn't. "He wanted to see you the way I'm going to see you. To... love you. Flesh to flesh."

She shivered, her nipples already pebbled and tight.

"Please, Ash. I want you against my skin."

Her dress tore like paper in his hands and she heard his growl as she lifted her hands and opened the front of her bra.

He looked at her breasts and she didn't worry that he would be disappointed. His gaze was open and a mix of his gaze and his bear's. She had no idea how that was possible, but when he reached down and grasped the elastic edge of her panties, he was once again all Ash. He stripped her panties off and tossed them behind his shoulder.

She wondered if they would find it on the lawn the next morning, but that was the last thought she had because Ash reached down to take her hips in his hands and fixed his mouth on her sex.

He made her see stars as he arched and pressed against him, her hands finding him again and again until his tongue and the delightful suction of his mouth made her see stars.

She turned her head and saw that the flowers from his wildflower bouquet were now strewn on the floor around her. There was likely a blossom or two crushed beneath her body, but she didn't want to stop and free them from under her. She reached for him. "Come to me, Ash. Make me yours."

He smiled as he shed his clothing. "You're already mine."

"Yes, yes..." she agreed as he stood and stripped his pants from his body, "make me your mate."

With the candy-colored sky behind him, she could see mostly the silhouette of his body.

But when he knelt down between her legs, she saw more of him, including his thick erection and the naked need in his eyes.

She wanted that.

Wanted him.

No, she corrected herself.

She wanted them.

Ash and his bear would always be hers and she would always be theirs.

He knelt down and drew her up so that she straddled his thighs and from there, he filled his hands with her hips and then her backside.

He lifted her high enough that he could put his mouth on her breast, taking her nipple into his mouth.

She gasped and gripped his shoulders with her hands.

He rolled her nipple between his teeth, danced his tongue around it moments later, and then sucked her deep.

She was already wet and dripping between her legs, but as his mouth took her other breast into its warm, wet hold, she felt his cock press against her sex and she came apart again from just that touch.

As her body rode her orgasm, her hands holding onto him for dear life, Ash lowered her down, stretching her open. The lower she went, his mouth climbed. His lips between her breasts. His tongue glancing across her collar bone. And just before her thighs met his, she felt his lips along the underside of her jaw.

She'd never felt so full, so alive before.

He took her lips for a soul-searing kiss, tangling his tongue with hers, sharing her taste.

Honey, his bear spoke to her while Ash's mouth was busy stoking the fire in them both, you taste like honey on our tongue .

It felt like she was being possessed and loved by both of them.

It was almost too much for her to comprehend.

Almost.

And then he upped the stakes.

He held her with his hands as he began to stroke himself inside of her. She felt him, deep and thick, sliding in and out of her body, his cock driving her higher and higher as they both fought for their release together.

This, she knew, was what she'd been waiting for.

"We've been waiting for you, too." He smiled down at her. "And now that we have you, we'll never let you go."

Ash drove into her, deeper... higher.

She found herself floating and still tied to him as the sounds of their flesh meeting again and again only heightened her pleasure.

And then it happened.

Her world ended and began in the same moment as her body squeezed around him and released. She felt his orgasm mingling with hers as he dropped his head, wrapped his mouth around the flesh at the base of her throat.

Her last coherent thought was mind-numbing joy and then he sank his teeth into her skin.

A sh woke to the sensation of her hands moving over his flesh, her fingertips tracing lines along his skin.

His bear had never been so happy before, urging him to hold her closer, to protect her from the world.

He had no arguments.

None at all.

He wanted more.

His bear filled his head with all sorts of ideas on what they could do to please her, but he knew that her body would be tender enough. He wanted to give her time and his bear agreed.

Her comfort and safety the most important thing in the world to them.

That's why when they heard the snap of a twig in the trees surrounding her yard, Ash was up on his feet, putting his body in the doorway between their mate and any possible danger.

Suzannah was almost asleep behind them and he was planning to scoop her up and tuck her in bed, but he had to see what was outside first.

Ash took a step out and lifted his nose to the air.

Strangely, he couldn't scent anything in the air.

Nothing.

He narrowed his eyes, sending a question to his bear, but the beast had no answers for him.

Why not?

Ash couldn't help how surly he was at the moment. He wanted answers.

Shouldn't you know?

I've never claimed our mate before, human. Have you?

His bear scoffed at the silence. See?

So Ash stepped outside, moving his feet across the grass, searching for something out of the ordinary in the trees.

His bear wanted out, knowing that he might be better suited for this kind of a search, but Ash didn't want to let him out yet. They had no idea when she might wake up and if she did, she might be afraid of his bear.

He didn't want to chance that.

So, his bear sat back and watched from the back seat.

He was nearly half way across the grass when he saw it.

The danger to his mate.

It was a man.

He could smell the evil coming off of him.

Whatever had dulled his senses after his mating, it had gone away and now he stood happily between his mate and the man.

Tear him apart, his bear urged.

He wanted to, but-

"Ash?"

He turned and saw Suzannah stepping out of the house, her dress wrapped around her body, held together with her hands.

"Stay back, Suzannah."

Her eyes widened as she looked beyond him. His senses were fully awake again and he could smell her fear as well as the anger from the man.

"What are you doing here?"

Ash turned to look at the man and saw his mouth snarl.

"I came to find you and give you what you need."

Ash felt her tremble and turned look at her.

Suzannah's face was as white as a ghost. "I don't want you."

"You don't know what you want," he took a step forward and Ash had to force his bear to stay back.

"I make the effort to find you and I see you whore yourself for this man."

Suzannah covered her mouth with one hand and part of her dress gaped open.

Ash snarled at the man. "You keep your eyes off of her!"

The man couldn't see his death staring him in the eyes.

Instead, he took a step toward their mate and Ash was barely keeping a hold on himself. He didn't want to terrify his mate anymore than she already was, but that might become an impossible task.

"I'll look at her all I want, you fucking imbecile." The man reached behind him and Ash moved, ignoring logic or thought.

Ash grabbed his mate and pulled her against his larger form.

The sharp report of a gun reached him at the same that he felt pain bite into his back.

Ash took Suzannah down to the ground to protect her and the moment he was sure that she hadn't been struck by a bullet he stood.

Another bullet tore through his flesh, but it didn't stop him.

Ash was on the man before he could pull the trigger again.

He grabbed the man, twisting and wrenching the gun from his grip, tossing it to the side.

As his blood poured from his wounds, Ash reached out, took the man's head in his hands and gave it a twist.

The snap he felt and heard was music to his ears.

And when he looked in the man's eyes, Ash saw nothing but death.

Good.

That's when Ash dropped to his knees and pitched forward onto the grass beside the man.

Ash! Oh, god, Ash!

He was turned onto his back and looked up into Suzannah's face.

That's when he realized that he'd heard her voice in his head, not from her mouth.

"What... How... How do I stop the bleeding?" Suzannah was sobbing over his body. "Ash! How do I help you?"

He looked up at her, basking in the sunlight of her beauty. "Love you, mate."

"No," she glared at him. "That sounds like goodbye and you're not saying goodbye to me, Ash Thomas!"

"Don't..." He managed the words, slowly. "Don't want to scare you."

"What?"

He could tell she was angry, but he felt like he was fading away and couldn't understand why either.

Tell me.

He smiled when he heard her voice in his head.

He was so proud of his mate.

Tell me how to save him. How to save you, too!

Ash was too tired to answer.

She's not asking you, fool. His bear was the angriest he'd ever been. She's asking me.

Help me save you.

He doesn't want to scare you by shifting.

She shook her head, her grip tightening on his body. Will that save him?

Shifting will let us heal.

Then do it!

Ash saw the light darkening.

His bear was the only clear thing in his head.

Humans, he scoffed.

A sh awoke in bed.

No.

He opened his eyes and could only see the heightened color of the room around him.

He wasn't human.

Not at that moment.

No, he was a bear.

I am a bear .

That's when he felt it.

Suzannah's hands on him.

On his fur.

He turned his head and saw his mate, sleeping with her head against his massive shoulder.

I'm alive.

We are alive , his bear reminded him, because our mate is not as squeamish as you think she is .

Ash sighed and shook his head.

Stop, his bear groused at him, you might make me dizzy .

They both knew that wasn't going to happen. They were both made of stronger stuff.

You owe our life to me, human .

Ash wanted to fight him on it, but it was true.

I was trying to protect her.

You were a human. You were bound to mess up sometime, but now that we know she loves us as a bear just as much as she loves us as a, his bear sighed, man, we can avoid nearly dying in the future?

I'd do anything for her.

His bear chuffed. We, human. We would do anything for her.

And they did.