Her Enemy Protector Bear by Cynthia Wilde
Chapter 22
The demon lay unmoving among a pile of his minions. It was over. The demon had fought to the end, and they would all have the scars to prove it. But it was over. The dragon, wolves, and bears had conquered, this time. Aurora and her magic had guaranteed that whatever was left of that demon was banished far from any mortal realm. Nick felt weary, more tired than he’d ever been in his life.
Nick sat up and looked around. Everyone was moving about. It looked like no one of his team was seriously injured. Mostly, they were just tired, exhausted from the fight. Cleanup would be laborious, but that wasn't what Nick was worried about now. He had to get back to Zoe and Devon. They would still be in the chamber waiting, not knowing what happened to everyone. He stood up and found the pile of his clothing torn to shreds. He'd shifted back to man, and now he was naked. Great time to forget your charm, Nick. There’d been no time. No one around him cared, but he wasn't sure how he would get back to Zoe without any clothing on. He couldn't just show up like this; there were kids down there too. He shook his head. All the kids there had shifters or fairies as parents. It probably would take more than one naked dad to shock them. The scraps of fabric were useless, but he was able to grab some items that lay about the aftermath and at least cover all the important parts.
He found himself looking into the cages of trapped and unhappy cats. He knew the Fae would have their hands full doing their best to heal them all and bring them back into the light. The fight would have had a different outcome if it weren't for Zoe's treats. This has got to be a first.
Aurora walked over to him. "Are you okay?"
"Yeah," said Nick. "My clothes aren't, though. I need to get back to Zoe and Devon."
"Ah. I know," said Aurora. "I'll go to the fairy glen and ask one of the girls to bring back some clothing from your booth. You do have an extra set in there, right?"
"I should, and I'd appreciate that, thanks," said Nick, staring at the cages of rather unhappy looking kittys. With the demon destroyed they already seemed calmer he realized. He wondered if the others had realized it yet. "What are we going to do with them?"
"I'll try some magic," she said. "But actually it looks like they are already coming out of some sort of trance or something. Ya know I think they’ll be okay."
"Zoe will be happy to hear it," he said, running his hands through his hair. "What about the body?" he asked.
"We burn it," she said matter-of-factly. "The last time Rafe, Alec, and I killed a demon, it went back into its hole. This time, I’ve banished it as far as I know how. I might have even destroyed it. That might be a better thing, I don't know." Then she looked at Nick, placing her hand on his shoulder. "I'm so glad you joined us. We couldn't have done this without you, and Zoe, of course. Give her my best."
"I will," said Nick.
Just as he was about to head in they both heard a plaintiff meow coming from behind. From under a pile of brush a little orange cat emerged, looking very confused and very hungry. “Meoow!”
Aurora laughed. “Well this must be Furdi.
Nick instinctively backed away and prepared to shift again.
“No need to be worried,” Aurora quickly said as she extended a hand to the frightened kitty. “The monster is gone. I would be able to detect anything but light.” This is the original Furdinand, I believe his name is. Innocent of all.”
Nick didn’t look convinced, “Well if you say so, but will take some doing for me to let him in my bed after this.” He laughed.
"Now, about those clothes?"
"Of course," she smiled.
And don’t worry, I will handle the cats.
* * *
Nick donneda shiny black and orange trimmed pair of pumpkin pants, along with a white ruffled shirt and a matching doublet. The doublet was overkill in Nick's opinion, but he wore it anyway. It was one of the outfits Zoe repaired for him, and he was proud of her skill. As it turned out, he had run through his entire stock of mundane clothing, and Aurora's helper grabbed what she could find. He was not ungrateful. In fact, he felt like it was a fitting outfit for the occasion, if slightly ridiculous, but it just wasn't as comfortable as an old pair of jeans and a t-shirt.
When he finally made it to the old tree, Zoe and Devon were waiting for him. Everyone else had left to go home with their families, leaving Zoe and Devon on their own until he returned. Nick apologized for being so late, but the look of happiness and relief that flooded both of their faces when he entered the salt-covered room made him feel more loved than he'd ever felt in his entire life.
Zoe ran to him, jumping into his arms and kissing his face all over. Devon waited his turn with the distinct look of mortification on his face that a kid gets when he's in the same room when his parents kiss.
"I'm so glad you are okay," said Zoe, hugging him tightly to her. "When I saw you enter into the fight with that thing, I was so scared I'd never see you again. You are unbelievably fierce as your bear, I can’t say I’m not intimidated, but my god, you are fierce." She squeezed him tighter. She pulled back, “Wait. Did you talk to me in my head back then?” Nick looked at her seriously, and nodded. “Oh my god,” She laughed. “There is just so much to talk about, but I just can’t believe how glad I am that you are okay, that you here!”
"Well, I'm here now," he said, holding her to him, just as tightly. "We are all safe now. It’s completely over."
Zoe smiled and stepped back to allow Devon to give Nick a hug.
"Does this mean we don't have to leave?" asked Devon, looking up at the two of them. There was hope in his eyes.
"We aren't leaving," she answered, getting down to Devon's level and taking his hand. "Devon, even if things don’t work out with Nick, we are not leaving. This place? Its magic is special. We are incredibly lucky that we have gotten to see this world and I’m not going to give it up. Now, I believe that anything is possible."
“And things with me and your mother? They are working out just fine,” Nick added firmly. Zoe smiled up at him and tucked herself into his arms again.
Devon threw himself into his mother's arms. Nick wrapped them both in a big bear hug.
When they all separated, they laughed. It eased all the tension and worry that had built up during the crisis. Nick took both Zoe's and Devon's hands in his and led them out of the treehouse. As they walked together, back to the festival grounds, the sun started making its final descent along the horizon. The day began with anxiety and fear. but ended with calm and peace.
Nick suddenly realized that these two people were the most important in his life. They were his family now. The hole in his heart was now filled with love. Love for his son, love for Zoe, love for Devon, and love for the life that the three of them would create together.
* * *
Nick layin his king-sized bed as he watched Zoe sleep next to him; she looked so beautiful in the moonlight as it shone on her hair. Some nights as they shared the large bed, he had to pinch himself in a reminder that this wasn't some dream that he would wake from and find her gone; this was real. She was his love and his mate for life.
He didn't want to wake her, but he couldn't keep his hands to himself. He stroked her face gently. He only meant to touch and connect with her, but it turned into something more the minute she stirred and opened her stunning green eyes.
"Nick," she said dreamily. "I love you." Then she rolled over, pulling the covers away, revealing her nakedness.
He cupped his hands on her sweet ass, gently rubbing the rounded cheeks with his fingers. She wriggled closer to him as he trailed the tips of his fingers up and down her back from her shoulders to her bottom; he felt her shiver, then she moaned, pushing herself into his touch.
His bear's need to have her grew along with his arousal, as his cock stood at full attention. Nick pressed his length between her ass cheeks, moving up and down, as Zoe moaned, her hands clutching at her pillow. With her back pressed to his chest, he reached around and cupped her breasts in his hands, massaging them and teasing her already hardened nipples.
By this time, Zoe was awake, moving up and down with his rhythm, urging him to possess her.
Nick dipped his finger into her hot wet pussy; she was slick and ready. He slipped into her quickly, stroking her tight softness with his rock-hard shaft.
She gasped with pleasure, moaning and moving as they rocked up and down together.
Their pace was slow and steady at first; Nick enjoyed how close he felt to her as she surrounded him to the very hilt of his cock, but then her moans grew more urgent, and her hand reached behind her to grab him, her fingers digging into his flesh.
He plunged into her faster and faster, going deeper and deeper, gripping her breasts in his hands for leverage, feeling them jiggle with every thrust as she clenched around him, her muscles straining and stiffening with the advent of her orgasm. Finally, crying out with pleasure, the wave of pulsating energy claimed her with spasms of pure joy.
Nick felt the familiar tingling in his back as his own climax gripped him with the throes of passion, and with one final hard thrust his hot seed streamed into her as his bear roared with complete satisfaction.
As their breathing slowed and their bodies cooled, Nick kissed Zoe's hair, holding her close like the precious gift that she was to him. As he drifted off to sleep, feeling more content than he ever did in his entire life, he thought about how close he'd come to losing her, and vowed that never again would he allow her to slip away from him. He would be her protector, her lover, and her mate for the rest of their lives.