Jared: Mating Fever (Rocked by the Bear Book 5) by V. Vaughn Read Free Book Online

get.”
    I gaze up into Jared’s eyes as he hovers over me. My heart swells when I notice the love he feels for me on his face, and I nod. I stare in amazement as my mate opens his mouth and long fangs begin to extend. Ice runs through my veins as my heart begins to beat faster, and the blood rushing pounds in my ears. I gasp, and Olivia squeezes my hand as she says, “I know, honey. I know.”
    I think I scream before Jared even punctures my skin with his teeth, and for a fleeting second I’m proud of myself for not stopping him. But when the sharp pain of his bite mixes with the molten-hot burn that races through my body, I wish I had. At first my stomach clenches as if I’m going to vomit, but it quickly morphs into agony I can’t believe I’m able to bear. Every cell in my body is experiencing the blinding intensity of what’s happening, and it surprises me when I notice my hands hurt even more. I glance down to see claws poke out where my fingers used to be. The prickling I feel all over my skin from fur growing makes me imagine I’m being attacked by millions of red ants, only I’m sure that would hurt less.
    At the point I’m positive I can’t take any more, something in my leg snaps, and white-hot torture makes me scream loud enough that my ears ring. That’s when stars float before my eyes, and I fade into the sweet release of unconsciousness. Throughout the night, I wake for brief moments only to experience the kind of pain that makes me pray to pass out again. The faces of Jared, Olivia, and Jax waver in front of me as their words of encouragement are blocked out by cries I can’t control. Finally blackness takes over.
    The first thing I notice when I wake is that I can hear birds chirping, and I lift my head to glance around the room, because I’m sure they managed to come through the window. My gaze doesn’t travel too far before amazement takes over, and I stare at the painting I did of Jared that hangs on the wall. I recall the day I took the picture, and my artwork floods me with the same emotions I felt when I snapped the image. My eyesight now is so incredible that I can see the tiniest brushstrokes, and a rush of love brings tears to my eyes when I realize that I’ve been his since the first time I saw him.
    “Hey. You’re awake,” says Jared. He’s whispering, and the volume is as if he’s speaking normally. I turn to him, and he scowls when he sees the tears rolling down my cheeks. He asks, “Are you in pain?”
    I shake my head. “No. Everything is so much more. And I know this sounds crazy, but I’m crying because I was thinking about how much I love you.”
    Metal clangs as Jared begins to remove my restraints. He leans down to kiss me quickly and asks, “Was that too loud?”
    I smile at him. “No. You’re fine.” I sit up, and my muscles ache as if I’ve been beaten up. I groan as I rub my wrists.
    Jared asks, “What can I get you?”
    The door to his room swishes against the carpet as Olivia pushes it open and says, “One hot bath coming up.”
    “That sounds glorious, but don’t make the water too hot. Everything is so—intense.”
    Olivia calls out from the bathroom as water begins to thunder in the tub. “I remember. Wait until you eat. You’re going to spend the next few days having foodgasms.” She chuckles as I swing my legs over the bed to stand. Even the texture of the sheets rubbing against my skin as I move is noticeable.
    I take a moment before I rise, and Jared holds out a hand for me as he says, “Welcome to my world.”
    I let him pull me up and gaze into the green eyes that are now more vibrant, as if I can see the life behind them. I inhale his scent that floods me with the warmth of our love, and I think I’m beginning to get it. Even my ability to be happy has been multiplied. A grin covers my face as I say, “I’m so glad to be here.”

9
    I moan in pleasure as I hold a bite of smoked salmon in my mouth and savor the flavor. “Oh my God,