Chapter 40
“You don’t have to come with me, my mate.” Briggs squeezed her hand as they made their way through the trees toward the river, the snow crunching under their feet.
“I want to.” Cece smiled at him. “It’s not too cold today, and it feeds my polar bear appreciation to watch you swim.”
He laughed. “Waking up this morning to a polar bear wasn’t enough?”
The same rush of excitement from this morning washed over her. “Can I just say that was the coolest thing ever? How many people can say they woke up to a polar bear sleeping next to them?”
“Not many humans, that’s for sure,” Briggs said.
She grinned at him. “Does that happen a lot? You shifting in your sleep?”
“Not really,” he said. “I think it depends on the shifter. Dad says that Mom shifts nearly every night while she sleeps.”
“I guess I know why you have custom-made, heavy-duty beds now,” she said.
He laughed again. “Better to pay extra for a custom-made one than to keep breaking normal beds.”
“Good point,” she said.
They were at the river now, and Briggs scanned the river before saying, “I thought Dad might be here swimming. He usually swims around this time, but I guess he swam earlier.”
He boosted her onto the large, flat rock that overlooked the river.
She sat there whenever she watched him swim, and she reminded herself, for about the third time, to bring a blanket next time to sit on.
Briggs cut his swimming time a bit shorter when she accompanied him, but her ass was still frozen by the time he was finished.
Before he could step back, she wrapped her legs around his waist and pulled him in close, pressing soft kisses against his mouth. “Enjoy your swim, honey.”
“Thanks, baby.” He stepped away and stripped off his clothes.
Cece was bundled up in a winter jacket, thick sweatpants, and a knitted hat and mittens, but anticipating his swim, Briggs had walked to the river in just his winter boots, a t-shirt, and sweatpants.
She admired his naked ass as he walked to the river’s edge and watched with eager anticipation as he shifted to his polar bear. She smiled when he returned to her, rubbing his big head against her legs, and she scratched around his ears and under his chin before kissing his wide forehead.
He chuffed to her and returned to the river, wading to the middle before diving under the water.
Polar bears could hold their breath for nearly three minutes underwater, but she didn’t fully relax until he popped back up nearly twenty feet away, thanks to the swift current.
He dove back under the water, and when he reappeared, he was close to her rock again.
A tree growing at the water’s edge had a nest of branches that had grown until they were submerged in the water, and when he dove under the water next to them, she grinned.
After watching him do that every time he went for a swim, she’d asked him why.
He’d explained that his bear loved using the branches underwater to scratch his back.
As Briggs swam, Cece checked her text messages, replying to both Kinsley and Maisie before scrolling to her contacts and studying her grandfather’s name.
She wanted to reach out to him, but right now…
right now she was enjoying what felt like a perfect bubble of happiness.
Being here in Alaska with Briggs, meeting his family, and the community he loved so much, was exactly what she needed.
She would contact her grandfather once she was home.
Briggs’s parents’ anniversary party was in two days, and the day after that, she and Briggs would return home.
She felt no excitement over returning to Ashdale, which was a little worrisome, but what could she do about it?
Sure, it was weird that after only a week and a half, Briggs’s home here in Wellington felt more like home to her than her own house ever had, but it couldn’t be helped.
She loved it here, and maybe that was because of how obvious her mate’s love for it was, or because Alaska was more beautiful than she could ever have imagined, or because it was easier to feel connected to her magic and to Mother Earth.
Whatever it was, this place, this community, had made her feel whole again, and she would forever be grateful.
And, she smiled to herself, she was confident Briggs would be more than happy to bring her back here any chance they got.
She closed her eyes, listening to the soft call of the trees around her.
It no longer frightened her. Despite how sweet the sound was, she wasn’t worried she would disappear into the woods and never return.
The trees’ call and their promise of bliss were not enough to convince her to leave her mate.
The pine trees rising behind the rock sighed and whispered, their branches slowly reaching toward her until they brushed her back with light caresses. She smiled and waved her hand, the green light glowing from her fingertips, and the branches retreated.
Fifteen minutes later, Briggs finished his swim and emerged from the water.
He shifted to his human form and walked toward her.
Lust rocketed through her body as she studied his nakedness.
Water dripped and slid its way down his wide chest and flat stomach, some catching on his abs, others sliding past to his treasure trail.
She stared greedily at his thick cock, her magic humming to life in her veins.
Briggs made a soft growl, his cock hardening under his gaze until it jutted out proudly from his body.
When he reached her spot on the rock, she tugged off her hat and her mittens before she reached out and pulled him close.
She wrapped her legs around his hips again, not caring how wet and cold he was, only that she needed his touch. Needed her mate.
As his cock pressed against her pussy, she realized that the rock was the perfect height for Briggs to fuck her. She traced her fingers down his wet back as Briggs smiled at her. “I’m getting you wet, my mate.”
“Yes,” she said. “You are.”
He inhaled deeply, a low growl rumbling from his chest, before he dipped his head and kissed her hard, angling his mouth over hers and sliding his tongue into her mouth.
She returned his kiss, her hands sliding down his back to grip his ass and pull him tight against her.
She rubbed herself against his erection, moaning softly as her magic hummed in her veins and images of vast green forests ran through her head.
Briggs cupped her breast, growling his displeasure at the thickness of her winter jacket, before he yanked down the zipper and slid his hand inside. He pushed his hand under her shirt and cupped her bare breast.
“No bra, my mate?” he said.
“Figured I don’t really need one out here in the wilderness,” she said with a cheeky grin.
He plucked at her nipple with his fingers, making her gasp and her back arch. She squeezed her hand between them, skating her fingers down the length of his dick before wrapping her hand around him and stroking firmly.
He groaned and growled, one hand sliding into her hair to pull her head back so he could nip her throat. “Keep doing that, and I’ll fuck you right here on this rock, baby.”
“Yes,” she breathed. “I want that.”
He tugged on her nipple before kissing her. “We can’t. You’ll freeze to death.”
“You’ll keep me warm,” she said, running her thumb over the head of his cock. “Please, Briggs.”
“Baby…” he hesitated, clearly torn between giving her what she wanted and making the sensible choice.
Cece stroked him faster, pressing kisses along his thick neck. Her desire to fuck Briggs right here by the river had become an unrelenting pull from her magic. It wanted her to take her mate here in the forest, where the energy of the natural world surrounded them.
“I need this,” she whispered into his ear. “I need you. Give me what I want, my love.”
She gave his cock a long, slow pull, and he groaned. “Whatever you want, my mate.”
They kissed again as Briggs slid his hand inside her leggings and panties. She spread her legs even wider, moaning his name as he cupped her pussy and rubbed her clit. Fresh magic hit her veins, and the call of the trees grew louder.
“You’re so wet for me,” Briggs said with another low growl. “My mate wants to be fucked.”
“Yes,” she breathed. She let go of Briggs and unzipped her jacket, shrugging out of it and barely feeling the cold air against her bare arms.
Briggs lifted her with one arm and helped her spread her jacket on the rock. She shoved her pants and underwear down her legs, giggling when Briggs hoisted her higher, and she dangled above the rock.
“Having a super strong boyfriend comes in really handy,” she said with another giggle as Briggs set her down on the rock and yanked off her pants and underwear before setting them on the rock beside her.
He grabbed her hips and pulled her forward, his cock seeking her warmth with unerring accuracy, the blunt head sliding into her and sending a burst of magic through her veins.
“Oh God,” she moaned as he pushed forward relentlessly, that thick cock threatening to split her open, but fuck, it felt so good, so perfect, that she didn’t care.
She breathed his name when he bottomed out in her. The rush of magic was so strong that for a moment she could only clutch at his shoulders as she worked to adjust to both his size and the hot pulse of magic.
“Fuck,” Briggs groaned. He met her gaze, and she stared in fascination at the ring of green around his irises. “Your magic, baby… it’s so…”
She smiled at him before squeezing her pussy around his thick length. “It’s so much stronger outside, isn’t it, my love?”
He nodded before making two hard thrusts that sent pleasure rushing over her.
She moaned, her head falling back so she could stare at the sky as she wrapped her legs and arms around her mate. “Fuck me, Briggs.”
He growled and braced one big hand on the rock before fucking her hard and fast. She clung to him, lust and magic twisting together in her body as the trees called to her and the energy of Mother Earth wrapped around her and Briggs.
The pleasure grew within her, every part of her attuned to Briggs and their perfect connection. He growled her name, his fangs dropping and white hair appearing on his jaw, and she cupped his face, kissing him hard as her pleasure reached its peak and she came hard around Briggs’s cock.
Bright magic flared to life within her, more powerful than anything she’d ever felt before, and she shook and shuddered around Briggs as he moaned her name, his big body stiffened against her, and hot warmth flooded her insides.
Another hit of pure magic and as it rushed over her, filling her with its glorious green light, she wondered for a moment if it would be even possible to contain this much magic or if it would simply tear her body apart.
She collapsed against Briggs, her body vibrating and his harsh pants blowing her hair into her face.
Her magic buzzed and pulsed within her, and the trees were a siren call that was nearly impossible to ignore. She was brimming with magic, her body glowing with bright green light, as she breathed in the crisp air before staring at the trees that surrounded them.
“My mate.” Briggs’s voice was slow and drugged, and she dragged her gaze from the trees, a small gasp escaping her mouth.
“Briggs?” She cupped his face. “Are you okay?”
He blinked at her. “Yes, why?”
“Your eyes are completely green,” she said.
“So are yours,” he said. “Holy shit, I feel so fucking good right now, little witch. Your magic is awesome.”
She laughed, and he grinned before lifting his hand.
He waved it back and forth, and she watched the glittery green light trail from each fingertip before she raised her hand.
They held them palm to palm a few inches apart, and she gasped when the glittery light from their fingers stretched across the open space to meet and intertwine.
Another pulse of magic throbbed through her veins, and Briggs made a low groan, his softening cock twitching inside of her before it hardened again.
“Fuck,” he muttered, resting his forehead against hers. “You feel so good around me, little witch.”
“Fuck me again,” she said.
“I think the top of my head might blow off if I take in any more of your magic,” he said.
She laughed and pressed a kiss against his mouth. “Truthfully, I’m also starting to freeze even with your warm body.”
He rubbed her bare thighs, frowning at the goosebumps he could feel, before easing out of her. “Let’s get you home, my mate.”
“Yes, let’s,” she said. “We can fuck in the shower.”
He grinned. “You think you need more magic in you right now?”
“I need more dick in me,” she said.
That made him laugh hard, and they quickly dressed before he took her hand. “I’ll fuck you in the shower if you promise to make that delicious chicken rice meal for dinner tonight.”
“Bartering sex for food, huh?” she said.
“Do we have a deal?” he asked.
“Deal,” she said.
His smug look made her laugh. “Joke’s on you because I was planning on making that tonight anyway.”
He grinned and bent his head to kiss her. “In that case, maybe…”
He stopped, raising his head to sniff the air, his whole body tensing before he said, “Little witch, run!”
“What?”
He turned, his big body swelling and his clothes tearing from his body.
“Run!” he roared.
Cece screamed when bright blue light surrounded them, and she and Briggs were torn apart. She flew through the air, her body landing in the soft snow with a thud that snapped her teeth together with a hard click.
She scrambled to her feet, screaming Briggs’s name before another blast of magic, this one bright red, sent her flying backward to slam into a thick pine tree.
Pain rocketing through her body, she stared wide-eyed at the blond woman wearing the red cloak standing before her.
With madness in her cold blue eyes and a ball of flames hovering above her hands, her grandmother said, “My son is dead because of you,” and threw the ball of fire into Cece’s face.