She walked around to the front of the animal, braver now that she knew this was nothing more than a dream brought on by lack of sleep and her fertile imagination. “You’re not real. None of this is.”
The bear seemed disgruntled. He stepped away from her and stood on his two hind legs, growling at the night air. Kellsie looked way, way up. She swallowed a lump of fear in spite of herself. He might be a figment of her imagination but he was an impressive one. He had to weigh well in excess of a thousand pounds, probably a lot more. He was magnificent and scary as hell.
He came back down on all fours and the ground around her shook with the force. He kept his gaze on her as he began to shift again. Too bad they couldn’t do something this convincing in the movies. If the director seemed open to her suggestions, maybe she’d share her dream with him. The bear swiftly disappeared, replaced by the man. Fur receded, bones cracked and reshaped. In the blink of an eye, Marko was back. This transformation was even quicker than the original one.
Kellsie blinked as he strode to her side. Somehow he was wearing leather pants, for which she was eternally grateful. She didn’t think she could handle a naked Marko on top of the shock of the bear. Although, she knew that a naked Marko would have a much greater effect on her. As it was, having him stand next to her was making every nerve ending in her body tingle.
“So you think this is a dream. That I’m a dream.”
She nodded. There was no other rational explanation. “Yes.”
He struck hard and fast, scooping her into his arms. He didn’t speak as he turned and started back up the hill, moving swiftly and easily through the dark.
“Umm, the movie set is back that way.” Kellsie tried to ignore the way her breast pressed against his chest and the hard press of his arm muscles beneath her back and thighs.
“What does it matter if this is nothing more than a dream?” he countered.
She thought about it for a moment. He was right. It didn’t matter. Relaxing now that she’d figured everything out, she looped her arms around his neck. “So where are you taking me?”
“Back to the cave.”
Kellsie should have been afraid, should have fought and kicked and found a way back to the carnival. That’s what any smart woman would do. But now that she knew it was nothing more than a very vivid dream she wasn’t the least bit afraid. In fact, she was enjoying being carried in Marko’s arms. That was another reason she was certain this was a dream. No man could carry her this far and up such a steep hill. Marko wasn’t even breathing hard.
“That was a neat trick changing into the bear.” She’d really enjoyed that.
His muscles tightened beneath and around her. He didn’t say anything, but she’d sensed she’d hurt him somehow and that hadn’t been her intention at all.
She patted his chest. His amazing chest, she corrected herself. It was nothing but bands of muscle. “The bear was incredible.” Just remembering the sheer size and strength of the creature left her with a feeling of awe.
“You think so?”
“Oh, yes. I’ve never even imagined anything quite so magnificent.” She paused, confused. “Although, I must have imagined it if I was able to dream it.” Damn, it was all so confusing.
Marko carried her up a rocky path and into the cave. He stopped just inside the opening and released his hold on her legs. The moon was shining right down on them like a spotlight. She peered up into his face, trying to gauge his mood. “Thanks for the ride,” she teased, trying to make him smile.
His expression remained stern and forbidding. Kellsie tried to take a step back, but he still had one arm around her shoulders and pulled her toward him until her breasts were touching his chest. Her nipples puckered and strained to get closer. She no longer felt the cold, not with the heat rolling off his large body.
Her panties were damp and she knew her sex was swollen and moist. A pulsing ache grew deep within her core. Kellsie wanted him. This dream man had done what no other man had done for years—he’d made her want him. But that only made sense since he was a figment of her imagination.
He brushed a lock of her hair away from her face. “Kellsie,” he began. Suddenly, she didn’t want to talk, didn’t want to hear what he had to say. She wanted him. Nothing else mattered. She had no idea how much longer she’d sleep. The last time they’d met in a dream she’d been afraid and pulled back, ending the encounter before it really started.
Not this time.
This time she wanted it all. Wanted to slide her body over his, feel his weight on top of her as he thrust his hard cock into her body. There was no doubt he wanted her, if the solid erection pressed against her stomach was anything to gauge by. She could feel the heat and the pulse of his shaft through her shirt and it sent an answering bolt of need firing through her.
She didn’t want words. And really, what kind of promises could a fantasy man make? This could be the last time she ever dreamed of him.
Kellsie reached down and grabbed the hem of her shirt and dragged it over her head. Marko stilled. She sensed every part of him was alert and ready to pounce. She shivered at the intensity in his gaze.
“I want you.” Reaching behind her back, she unhooked her bra. A quick shimmy and the straps fell down her arms. The wisp of material was caught between them.
Marko picked it up and held it to his nose. He inhaled, dragging in her scent. Kellsie was momentarily embarrassed, knowing it had to smell more like sweat than her bodywash.
He rubbed the material against his cheek. The action was incredibly sensual. She could almost imagine they were her breasts he was touching. Her nipples ached and she leaned inward to rub them against his hair-roughened chest.
Marko groaned and tossed her bra aside. He caught her face between his two massive hands, framing it. “Are you sure?”
Wow, a dream man with a sense of honor. She smiled. “Yes, I’m sure.” And she was. She ached for him in a way she never had for any man. He might not be real, but in this world, in this dream, he was real enough.
She’d worry about her growing obsession with a fantasy when she woke. For now, she wanted to simply enjoy the sensations coursing through her.
Marko leaned down, his long hair brushing the sides of her face as he touched his mouth to hers. It was a brief caress, a whisper. But it made her toes curl in her sneakers. Warmth spread throughout her as he let his hands slide down her neck and arms. One hand settled on the small of her back, urging her even closer. The other came to rest on her left breast.
Kellsie didn’t even try to suppress her moan of pleasure as Marko cupped her breast. He palmed it, weighing it in his hand. His thumb brushed her turgid nipple, sending a blast of heat straight to her sex.
She squirmed, pushing her breast closer.
“Beautiful,” he whispered. His lips skimmed over her cheeks, nose and forehead. He nipped lightly at her chin and nibbled along her jawline.
She tunneled her fingers into his hair and tugged his mouth back to hers. “Kiss me,” she ordered. Not giving him time to act, she plastered her lips against his. His mouth was firm yet gentle as he tasted her bottom lip and then the top one. She gasped, her lips parting, and his tongue snuck inside.
Heat exploded through her like a fire burning out of control. He tasted so damn good she knew she’d never get enough. He was addictive. And, for tonight, he was hers.
She rubbed her tongue over his. The hand at the base of her spine shifted to the back of her head. He kissed her as though she was the only woman who could satisfy the hunger in him. It was a heady feeling.