"I'm not sure how it works with women, but for men we shift when we want to dominate." I stiffen as a vision of Keith coming toward us replays in my mind, and Brady says, "It can be controlled. Nobody does the bestiality thing."
I hadn't even considered that, and the idea makes me want to cringe. He wiggles a bit behind me. "That's why I bit you when I lost control. It's a way to stop shifting and common for two shifters to do to each other. I'm sorry; I never planned on hurting you."
He drops his head to my shoulder and speaks into my neck. "I'll never lose control with you like that ever again. Watching you change was the scariest thing I've ever done. I thought I'd killed you, Carly, and I wanted to die too."
His voice is shaky, and I turn to look into his eyes. They're glassy with moisture. "Oh, Brady." I kiss the tear that escapes as they fall down my face too.
He finds my mouth and kisses me with desperation, as if I'm the very breath he needs to survive. And I suppose I am, because he feels like mine. I'm struck by the intensity of our connection and fall into it. The need to cry dissipates as his love flows through me.
When we break apart I ask, "Did we form some bond? Did that happen when you changed me?"
"It's from sexual mating. But I wouldn't be surprised if we discover a strong connection of some sort because of what happened. Keith put our mothers on the research, and tomorrow we'll have a meeting to talk it through."
Brady soaps up a washcloth and lifts my arm to wash it. I ask, "Wait, I'm meeting your mother tomorrow?"
Brady smiles at me. "You are, and she's going to love you, don't fret."
"Okay, but I hope I don't embarrass myself and shift in front of her. I'm guessing that's kind of a faux pas." I giggle. "Oh dear, now I'm speaking French."
Brady chuckles. "You're adorable." He twists my shoulders back and washes my back. The water is like silk on my skin.
I inspect the bite on my wrist and see that it's only a faint red outline. "Wow, I do heal fast now. You bit me, and this is all I have to show for the earth-shattering experience it caused? I feel like it should look much worse."
Brady places a hand over my heart. "I think I left the scar here. I hope I can win back your trust some day."
I place my hand over his. "Don't. I'm not thrilled with my new furry features but--" I lift his palm and kiss it. "I trust you with my life."
I turn around and straddle his lap, even though I'm dangerously close to sliding onto his cock. "I love you, Brady Le Roux."
He grabs my face and kisses me with a passion that rolls through me. I pull away panting. "I want you inside me, but what happens if I shift on you during sex?"
"If you feel it happening and can't control it, bite me. It will tamp down the urge."
I smile at him and lift myself over his cock. "Say it, Brady. Say you're mine."
"I'm yours. I love you, Carly Le Roux."
I lower myself slowly and let him fill me up, savoring the sensation of his silky skin inside my channel. I moan in delight. We move slowly at first, but I can't maintain it and find myself pumping faster as he takes me higher.
When I'm on the edge I notice the ache in my hands. I take a deep breath, and it dissipates. Even though every primal cell in me is in ecstasy and I'm lost in the urges written in my DNA, staying human wasn't hard to do. When I come it's a scream, but in my mind I hear a roar.
I continue to ride Brady until his release, and we pant together. Combing my fingers through his damp hair, I say, "I felt like I was going to shift, but it wasn't hard to stop it."
"That's good, but don't ever be afraid to bite me, okay?"
I nod. "Does the biting thing work if you're not turned on?"
Brady chuckles, "Yeah, as teens we give hickeys a whole new meaning."
I playfully suck on his neck, and he groans as his cock twitches inside me. I wonder what it's like to do this as a bear but tuck that thought away. I'm not ready to go there yet. I pull away to look at Brady's face.
Even though I just managed to live through a hell this man created, I love him and can't imagine being without him.
Pushing my wet hair away from my face, he stares into my eyes. "I'm at your command, for now and for always."
I smile. "That's a pretty big promise from an alpha male."
He smiles back. "Don't you realize you've become the alpha’s mate in this clan? You're the only one that can keep me in check. Use your power wisely."
I meet him for a kiss and think. I plan to.
25
Chapter 12
Carly
Cuddling in Brady's arms, I sleep soundly through the night. I wake recalling a dream of running through the forest at an amazing speed and then diving into a roaring stream to catch fish. The dream was so full of joy it gives me hope for actually liking my altered state at some point.