Free August: Mating Fever (Bears of Kodiak Book 2) by Selene Charles Page A

it raged outside, she heard his words as clearly as the sweet sound of bells on a Sunday morning.
    “It’s you, Jack. Only you.”
    With an inarticulate cry, she jumped into his arms. Burying her face in his neck, she sobbed with relief and joy. “I was leaving,” she whimpered in between kisses.
    His big palm rubbed her back up and down. “I know, baby. I know.”
    “I thought it wasn’t me, Auggie. I thought—”
    Leaning back just a little so he could look her in the eyes, he said, “It’s always been you, Jackson Rose, from the first moment I laid eyes on you. And I should have known that immediately. I couldn’t have felt for you as I did if my grizzly hadn’t already approved.”
    Her jaw trembled. She didn’t know what to say to that. She wasn’t typically a blubbering, crying mess, but she’d just spent the past month in absolute misery, thinking she’d lost him forever.
    He kissed her. And the kiss... it was everything.
    She felt his love, his undying devotion to her, and this time, she even felt the rub of his soul animal hug up against her own.
    Jackson had what she’d always wanted. “I love you, you ugly grizzly.”
    He choked on his laughter. “I never thought I’d get to hear you say that to me again.”
    “You’re really sick if you actually like being called ugly.”
    Together, they laughed at their nonsense, saying without words just how much they loved one another.
    Without even realizing she’d done it, she had somehow wrapped her body around his. Her arms wound around his neck, and her legs hooked tightly around his waist. Turning, he walked them both back to her cabin.
    In Alaska, most homes remained furnished even if no one lived in them. Good thing too because there was a bed for them to lie on instead of a cold, hard floor.
    Finding her room with ease—which wasn’t hard, considering there was only one bedroom in the place—he laid her gently on the bed. With the tender consideration of a lover, he helped her peel off her wet, soggy clothes.
    In moments, she was as naked as he was.
    Jackson opened her arms to him, and he fell into them willingly.
    This time, there was nothing but love. Their sex was soft, almost prayerful, a worship of bodies.
    When he slipped inside of her wet heat, she moaned in ecstasy, orgasming instantly. And then he was pushing inside of her, and she came again and again and again, full with the knowledge that this glorious, powerful male was all hers, forever.
    He kissed her. His tongue whispered words of praise as he suckled and nipped at hers. He tasted of berries, of the earth.
    Earth and water—that’s what they were. One could not exist wholly without the other. Water brought life and nourishment. The earth created a haven, a place to grow and be safe. He was the yin to her yang, her perfect other half.
    Sirens weren’t made to want what she did—an eternal companion.
    August was a lover who would guard her most valuable treasure, her heart, with the same care and utmost devotion with which she would guard his.
    She knew the gods hadn’t created her wrong when she’d been born wanting more. She simply was who she was. Jackson could have survived without love, but she never would have been complete until she’d found it.
    August shuddered his release and moaned as he placed his forehead gently on her left shoulder blade, content to continue kissing and nibbling on her skin.
    “Love you.” He feathered the words on her flesh with the press of his lips.
    And this time, she didn’t fear that anything would take that love away from her. Smiling, so happy she thought she might burst from it, she toyed with the tips of his much longer hair.
    This man, this reserved, calm man, was all hers. It was almost too much for her to believe.
    “Love you more,” she whispered.
    “Oh no.” He looked at her, deadly serious. “Not possible. I’m pretty sure I didn’t give my grizzly a chance to want anyone else, Jack. I forced you on him. I fought for