Chapter Sixteen – Cassia
Being around Kris was more intoxicating than any wine she had ever tasted.
Perhaps that was why she had told him, with a breathless whisper, that she needed him. It would also explain why it felt as if the world was spinning, like she was teetering on the edge of a precipice, swept away by some invisible force—by fate, as he’d called it.
The same force that had drawn them together, in the most uncanny way, now seemed to be urging her to take the next step forward. And the next.
And who was she to argue with the pull of destiny?
She exhaled, letting the tension in her limbs melt away under Kris’s intense gaze. “So, this…this mate bond,” she whispered, voice catching on the words. She could hardly believe she was saying them, but everything about this felt more vivid, more real than anything in her previous life. “It explains why I feel like this is more than just a rebound relationship. Why I feel…certain.”
The admission left her breathless. She met his eyes and saw the same fierce longing mirrored there. An unspoken promise passed between them, drawing her closer. Before she could second-guess herself, she leaned in, pressing her mouth to his in a slow, intimate kiss. Electricity seemed to spark between them as Kris’s arms encircled her waist, gathering her tight against his chest. She let out a quiet gasp of relief as she leaned into him, and their kiss deepened.
My mate, a voice whispered inside her, a voice she could no longer deny. She pictured the powerful creature he could become and felt the raw, primal magnetism that pulsed beneath his skin.
Suddenly, she pulled back, her breath coming in ragged puffs. She bowed her head, inhaling sharply to gather her nerves. This is happening. She couldn’t stifle the wave of nerves and excitement that swirled in her stomach.
Kris loosened his hold, just enough to see her face. “You all right?” he asked, concern lacing his words.
She nodded, her eyes fluttering closed for a moment before she lifted her gaze to his. “Promise me,” she managed, “promise me this is all real and you’re not…playing some trick on me.”
His eyes shone with earnest emotion, and when he spoke, his voice was low and hoarse. “I promise. I could never lie to you, Cassia. You’re my mate.”
Those final words unlocked something in her, and she pressed her forehead against his, her heart drumming in time with his. Yes. This is real. She kissed him again, slowly, sensuously—pouring every ounce of trust, every fragile piece of her heart into that moment. He answered with a low growl, his arms pulling her closer again, and she knew beyond a doubt that this was not some fleeting indulgence.
Whether it was fate or something else, she didn’t care. All she knew was that it was real, and she trusted it.
And trusted him.
When they finally broke apart, Kris’s eyes were molten, and a rumble of satisfaction vibrated through his chest. The sensation sent a delicious shiver down Cassia’s spine.
“I’ve been waiting my whole life for you,” he murmured. “Even when I didn’t know who you were, I was waiting.”
“I never believed in this kind of thing,” she admitted, leaning into his touch. “The idea that someone could be meant for you...it seemed like a fairy tale.”
“It’s not a fairy tale,” he assured her. “This is real. In some ways more real than anything I have ever experienced in my life.”
“I feel it, too,” she said, then she glanced around the barn. “Did you mean it when you told me you couldn’t lie to me?”
“Yes, it’s true,” Kris said warily. “Unless it’s to protect you.”
“Protect me?” Her eyes narrowed. “From what?”
His brows knitted together as he mulled the question over. She sensed he was choosing his words carefully. “From hurt. Not just physical...”
“You mean you would lie to me if you thought it was for my own good?” she asked, an edge to her voice. If there was one thing she wanted from Kris, if there was one thing she needed to be sure of, it was that she could always trust him to tell her the truth.
“Not exactly,” Kris said. “It’s more like… If something happened and you were in danger…”
“You would lie to protect me.” Cassia nodded slowly, processing this new information.
“Yes,” Kris murmured.
“I understand,” she said, reaching up to touch his cheek. “But I don’t want secrets between us, Kris. Not if we’re...mates.” The word still felt foreign on her tongue, yet strangely right.
He captured her hand in his, pressing a kiss to her palm. “No secrets. But there are some things you should know about being mated to a shifter.” A smile tugged at his lips. “That I was born to make you happy in so many ways.”
Cassia chuckled nervously as heat spread through her body. “Born to make me happy.”
“Uh huh,” Kris’s eyes darkened, a rumble vibrating deep in his chest. “It’s written in our DNA. To protect, to provide, to... please .” The last word came out in a husky whisper that sent a shiver down Cassia’s spine.
“Is that so?” she murmured, her fingers trailing along his jaw. The vineyard, the mountains, and even the barn around them seemed to fade away until there was only Kris—his warmth, his scent, his presence enveloping her.
“A mate bond is sacred,” he continued, his thumb brushing across her lower lip. “It’s not just attraction or compatibility. It’s...deeper. More primal.”
Cassia swallowed, her throat suddenly dry. “Primal?”
“Yes. It’s part of our nature. Bears are protective, possessive even. We’re driven to provide for our mates, to keep them safe, to make them...” He trailed off, his cheeks flushing.
“To make them what?” Cassia pressed, feeling the heat rise to her own face.
“Happy,” he finished, his voice dropping to a husky whisper. “In every possible way.”
The promise in his words sent a flutter through her stomach. She bit her lip, suddenly aware of how close they were standing, of the warmth radiating from his body, of the vineyard stretching around them.
“And what about me?” she asked, fingers tracing the line of his jaw. “What’s my role in all this?”
Kris’s expression softened. “You’re the heart of me. The one who makes me complete.”
Her eyes rested on his lips, and she held her breath as he leaned in closer, his breath warm against her skin. Time seemed to slow as his lips brushed against hers, soft and questioning at first, then more insistent. A low growl rumbled in his chest, and something wild and uninhibited awakened within her. She pressed herself against him, fingers threading through his dark hair, anchoring him to her.
When they finally broke apart, both breathing hard, Cassia felt dizzy with desire.
“I want you...” Kris began, his voice rough with desire.
“I want you, too,” she agreed, not needing him to finish the thought. This wasn’t exactly the day she’d planned. But the tension building between them had been simmering since their first meeting. She could feel it, that inexplicable pull, drawing her closer to him with each passing moment.
“Not here,” Kris murmured against her neck, his warm breath sending shivers down her spine. “Not like this.”
Cassia pulled back slightly, her eyes searching his. “Where, then?”
“Somewhere worthy of you,” he replied. “Our first time together should be special, not rushed in a barn with my brothers possibly walking in at any moment.”
The thought made her cheeks flush deeper. “Good point.”
Kris pressed his forehead against hers, his eyes closed as if he was gathering strength. “You have no idea how hard it is to be responsible right now.”
A small smile played on her lips. “I think I might have some idea,” she whispered, her body still thrumming with desire.
He chuckled, the sound warm and rich. “Come on.” He took her hand and led her outside, but no sooner had they stepped into the sunlight than he stiffened.
“Is everything all right?” she asked, clinging to him.
“You know what I said about my brothers walking past?” he said.
“I do.” Although being so close to Kris made it hard to think straight.
“Well, Finn and Philip are on their way to join us,” Kris said, half-turning to look at her. “We could go into the forest…”
“But if you can sense them, then they can sense us,” she said. “They are shifters, too, aren’t they?”
“They are,” he said.
“Then it would be rude to run off into the forest,” she said. And she meant it even though she could think of nothing more desirable than disappearing into the trees with Kris. “And we’ve got plenty of time, don’t we?” She smiled, linking her fingers with his and giving a reassuring squeeze.
Kris’s eyes softened, his thumb brushing over her knuckles. “All the time in the world,” he agreed, though the heat in his gaze told her he was as reluctant as she was to postpone what had nearly happened in the barn.
“Then I guess we can wait,” she said, her voice hoarse as she added, “but maybe not too long.”
He growled softly, a sound that sent delicious shivers through her. “You’re testing my restraint, Cassia.”
She squeezed his hand. “Maybe that’s my role as your mate. To challenge you.”
The smile he gave her made her heart flip. “Among other things.” He slipped his arm around her waist and pulled her close, so close she could feel his hardness pressed against her stomach.
Unable to resist, she inched her body up and down, pressing tighter against him as she tempted and teased him. He groaned a guttural sound, and closed his eyes, moving his hips in rhythm with her.
But she wasn’t the only one capable of teasing. Kris slid his free hand between their bodies and slipped his fingers between her legs. She gasped as he pinched her sensitive flesh through her pants and then bit down on her bottom lip as he applied more pressure, making her tremble.
“Kris!” she gasped, clinging to him, her head falling back as pleasure coursed through her body. “We can’t...your brothers...”
“They are discussing the vines,” he whispered against her ear as he slipped one finger inside her pants, stroking her through the thin fabric of her underwear. “They’re at least five minutes away.”
“Five minutes,” she echoed breathlessly, her hips moving of their own accord against his skilled touch. It wasn’t enough time for what she truly wanted, but the need building inside her was impossible to ignore.
Kris guided her backward until her shoulders met the rough wooden wall of the barn, hidden from view by the angle of the doorway and a cluster of tall wildflowers. His eyes had darkened to molten chocolate, pupils dilated with desire.
“Trust me,” he murmured, his voice a low rumble that vibrated through her chest. His fingers continued their torturous journey, finding the edge of her underwear and slipping beneath.
Cassia gasped as he touched her bare flesh, her knees nearly buckling at the sensation. She clutched his shoulders, anchoring herself as pleasure spiraled through her body. The mountain air felt cool against her flushed skin, the contrast heightening every sensation.
“Kris,” she whispered, her voice catching as his fingers found a rhythm that made her entire body tremble. “What if they…”
“They won’t know what we’re doing,” he assured her, his breath hot against her ear. “Bear senses are good. I can hear them talking about the east vineyard. About a new kitchen garden for the restaurant. They’re completely distracted.”
They weren’t the only one. Finally, she surrendered to his touch, her head falling back against the barn wall. The risk of discovery only heightened her arousal, sending her pulse racing. His fingers moved with expert precision, finding every sensitive spot as if he’d been touching her for years instead of minutes.
“Look at me,” he commanded softly, and when she did, the intensity in his gaze nearly undid her.
Heat bloomed across her cheeks at his directness, but she couldn’t look away. His fingers circled faster, and she bit her lip to keep from crying out as pleasure coiled tighter and tighter within her.
“That’s it,” he encouraged, his voice a low growl. “Come for me, Cassia.”
The sound of her name on his lips was the final push she needed. Her release crashed over her in waves, her body trembling against his as she clung to his shoulders. Kris captured her mouth with his, swallowing her gasps of pleasure with his kiss, his body pressing firmly against hers as she rode out the waves of her climax.
When she finally came back to herself, breathing hard, she found him watching her with a mixture of tenderness and raw desire that made her heart skip. His fingers withdrew slowly, and he pressed a gentle kiss to her forehead.
“That was...” she began, unable to find words adequate enough.
“Just the beginning,” he promised, his voice rough with restraint. In the distance, voices grew clearer—his brothers approaching. “Later I am going to lay you down and taste you, savor you like the finest wine.”
The promise in his words sent a shiver down her spine, and for a moment, she wondered if her legs would hold her upright. She straightened her clothes with trembling hands, still feeling the aftershocks of pleasure coursing through her body.
Kris stepped back, giving her space to compose herself, though his eyes never left her face. “You’re beautiful,” he murmured. “Especially when you come undone like that.”
Heat rushed to her cheeks. “And you’re...surprisingly skilled,” she replied with a small smile.
“Shifter instincts,” he teased, though his eyes remained dark with unresolved desire. “I can sense exactly what my mate needs.”
The word ‘mate’ sent a flutter through her stomach all over again. Mate. The concept still felt new, yet somehow as ancient as the mountains surrounding them.
“Finn and Philip are almost here,” Kris said, reluctantly putting more distance between them.
As she picked up her notes on the restaurant and the menus, she tried to figure out exactly what she was going to say to the man who was responsible for her being there.
For surely there was nothing she could ever say or do that would ever be enough to thank Finn for bringing her here, to this place, to this moment, to Kris.