Page 12

Chapter Eleven

Lora

Snuggling deeper into the warm, fuzzy blanket, I breathed easy. I’d never found a more comfortable spot in my bed.

Oh crap!

My eyes flew open as yesterday came rushing back to me. I barely tempered my scream as I saw exactly what I was cuddled against. Anxiety shot through my veins, my heart taking off like a racehorse.

Swallowing hard, I angled my weight on one arm, carefully extracting my other from around the large, brown Grizzly bear.

I took tiny breaths, trying to control my instinctive panic, doing my best not to do anything to awaken the animal. I was almost free when one paw pressed to my upper arm, holding me in place; its claws inadvertently brushed my skin.

Oh, God. My breathing became more labored as I wracked my brain for an escape.

Suddenly, I remembered Stone. Where was he?

Moving only my eyes, I looked around the room, a squeak erupting from me at the sight of his tattered clothes beside me, around the bed, and on the floor, too, I was sure.

My nerves quadrupled. Closing my eyes, I fought to remain calm and collected. But damn if my heart didn’t feel ready to pound through my chest cavity. And my lungs didn’t want to expand normally, fear slithering through every organ.

Something wasn’t adding up, though. Bears injured humans, could kill them from injury, but they didn’t devour them like a meal. We weren’t appealing to them in that way. So where was Stone’s body? The remnants of his clothes were here, but he wasn’t.

Opening my eyes, I weighed my options. In the end, I decided to risk it. In a loud whisper, I called for him. “Stone.”

The bear’s eyes shot open, and I swore it looked directly at me.

I felt my features twist as I attempted to stifle my reaction, to be deathly still.

Abruptly the bear rolled out of bed. The moment he landed on his paws, I leapt to my feet and backed away until…

My jaw slackened, my heart beating faster as I watched in utter shock and horror. It couldn’t be. It can’t-

I gulped for air, my eyes widening as he stood, no longer a bear, but a full fledge, sexy as hell, man. My man. The man I’d spent all day with yesterday, the last three months chatting with, and the night sleeping beside.

I kept gasping for air, but nothing was happening. My lungs refused to work. My heart refused to stop thundering. My pulse created an echo between each rapid heartbeat. My brain couldn’t-

I couldn’t-

I had to be dreaming.

The room began to spin as I stumbled forward, seeking leverage, something to help hold me up, but everything blurred before me. I was certain I would collapse at any second.

But then I felt him. He hoisted me into his arms effortlessly. He cradled me to him.

Ironically, the very person I was afraid of moments ago was the very person making me feel safe and protected now. He was the one who had my heartbeat regulating and my lungs operating properly. One part of him stirred my soul; the other soothed it; the perfect simulation of man and beast.

A thousand questions flew through my mind, and yet, I found myself content to simply let him hold me. For now. Until I was no longer shaking. Until I was confident enough to face him, to ask him.

How could I be equally frightened and comforted by him? How could I be equally horrified and mesmerized by him? How could he be man and bear? How on Earth did a relationship with someone like him work?

Burying my face in his chest, I inhaled him. He smelled of sandalwood, musk and pine with a hint of cinnamon. Knowing both sides of him, his scents suited him perfectly, a combo of nature and warmth.

He held me until I told him to. He remained steady, his muscles never sputtering beneath the weight of me, until I asked him to set me down.

His heartbeat in my ear as he clung to me reassured me of one important thing: he had feelings.

This was a big secret, one that probably unnerved him as much as it did me at some point.

Running his fingers gently along my cheek, he drew my gaze to him. His brows furrowed ever so slightly in concern. “Let me put some shorts on and then we can talk about whatever you want.” His voice was the softest it’d ever been, albeit still a bit hoarse from being sick.

Silently, I shook my head in agreement. As he turned towards the dresser, I saw the tattoo covering seventy percent of his back.

It was the same bear that was on his business, the same bear he also was, or had inside him.

I wasn’t certain of the correct terminology.

The artist did a good job. It was striking, commanding one’s attention, attention to the wings of muscle across his broad back, down to his narrow waist and then further to his buns of steel. He was exquisitely built.

And he was a bear. Dear God.

Slipping into the bathroom, I heard him blow his nose and wash his hands before returning to me, dressed in a pair of athletic shorts.

Truly looking at his build for the first time, studying his well defined abs, wide chest, puffed pectorals and burly biceps, I couldn’t help but compare him to a bear, to a ferocious beast…

that was the most comfortable creature to sleep on, that didn’t harm me, despite being beside me for who knew how long, that, in the wild, sought food, not battles with humans.

Oh, God. Was I actually rationalizing this? Was I actually accepting this?

Staring at him, seeing the fear in his depths, my heart cracked at the edges.

I knew nothing about him in this new context, but somehow, I knew he didn’t choose to be this way.

Who would? He could never be his real self with anyone who wasn’t like him, or that he didn’t trust completely without hesitation or doubt.

Looking at it like that, my heart only further splintered. It single-handedly proved his feelings for me were real, in every way. He genuinely cared. He truly wanted me. He…he just gave me what no other man had: complete confidence in him.

Closing the distance between us, I cupped his face, stretched up on my tiptoes and captured his lips, morning breath, unkempt hair and all.

His arms came around me like a vise, hauling me against his hardness. He took control of the caress, turned my unexpected kiss into a flaming exchange complete with tongues and teeth. He had heat flickering in my womb, desire multiplying within me. He had-

An erection the size of Texas.

Good, God. My pussy pulsated, anticipation welling within me. Arching slightly, I pressed deeper into him, rocked my hips against him, letting him know he wasn’t alone.

Abruptly, he broke away from my lips, gasping for air. “Fuck, babe.” The way he looked at me could set every tree in the forest around us ablaze. He tightened his grip on me, grunting in frustration.

Releasing me, he took a few steps, putting distance between us.

Rolling his shoulders, grabbing the back of his neck with his and squeezing it, he peered at me, passion still flickering in his depths.

He groaned, closing his eyes and dropping his head.

He took a deep breath before he opened his eyes and looked directly at me.

“It’s not the most romantic thing to say, but I want to fuck the shit out of you so damned bad. ”

My heart beat wildly in my chest. Longing pumped through my veins, coiling in my core.

My breasts tingled. The way he bit his bottom lip as he took my curves in had me feeling like the sexiest woman alive at the moment.

I never ceased to feel special, to feel wanted, sought after, appreciated, with him.

He made me feel like I was worth any cost.

Including his health and my own.

Crap. I really didn’t think a few minutes ago. I acted on impulse; I reacted to my emotions. And now I was probably going to get sick. The funny part? I didn’t even care. He was worth it. That kiss was worth it.

But sex required energy, stamina, and a certain degree of healthiness that he didn’t have today, human or bear.

“When you’re better.” I had to ignore my body’s cry of disappointment. I wanted what he had, every hard inch of it. A shudder worked through me, had me struggling to be the responsible one for once.

Cracking his neck, he shook his head in understanding.

Stalking to his dresser, he plucked out a white Beast Mode tee.

“I need some more layers between us if-” He grunted.

“Fuck, babe.” He jerked the shirt on before reaching into his drawer and grabbing another one.

Turning, he set it on the sturdy bed. “Put this on and I’ll clean your jacket. ”

“Clean it?” I frowned, peering down, inspecting it. Sure enough, a thin layer of brown and white hair dusted the front of it.

He cleared his throat. “Sorry, beautiful. My bear is…messy.” He gave me a sheepish grin.

“Does he have a name?” I carefully removed the hoodie, grateful I always wore a tank beneath it, and passed it to him.

His brows shot up. “Damn, you’re sexy.” He shook himself, taking the outerwear and refocusing. “A name?” He frowned. “I never thought to give him one.”

Picking the shirt up off of the bed, I checked the size: men’s 2XL.

It would probably hug my hips but would work.

Yanking it on over my head and giving it a tug, I left it sitting above my ass in the back so it draped forward in the front, offering a more comfortable fit.

“You should. Even if you’re the same, your form is different, so he’s still separate from you, kind of his own person.

” I shrugged, trying to ensure he knew it wasn’t a scold or a command.

“He scared the shit out of you, yet you’re standing up for him?” He smirked, a glitter of something I’d never seen in his depths. “I see why he likes you.”

“So he is separate from you?” I felt my features twist as I tried to understand an obviously complex situation.

“Yes.” Nodding his head towards the door, he expelled a small breath. “Let’s go out to the living room. I don’t trust myself in here with you, especially with you wearing one of my shirts. It looks too damned good on you.”

A laugh bubbled in my chest. “You slept beside me for hours in this room.”

Placing a hand on my lower back, he ushered me out. “That was before you kissed me. You set the beast free, beautiful, and I’m not referring to my bear.”

I bit back a smile, giddiness I hadn’t felt since my elementary school days present. “Got it.”

He hung back for a moment, causing me to pause mid-step and look back at him. A wolfish grin split his face. “Yes, you do got it, babe.”

My smile broke through, heat brushing my cheeks. “You’re incorrigible.”

Closing the distance, he planted a kiss on my cheek. “Only with you.”

“What are you with everyone else?”

A gleam of mischief appeared in his depths. “An ornery bear.”

“Somehow, I don’t buy that.” I pursed my lips, taking in his disheveled beauty. His five o’clock shadow had become more pronounced, adding to his sex appeal.

His expression grew solemn. “One of these days, you’ll see that you’re different, in a good way.” He veered off towards the kitchen. “Are you hungry, beautiful? What do you want to do today?”

I watched as he pulled a lint roller out and proceeded to painstakingly clean every hair off of my hoodie. “You wouldn’t stay in bed all day if I left, would you?” I already knew the answer to that. It was cute and irritating at the same time.

Glancing up at me, he stopped working on my top for a moment. “I don’t make promises I can’t keep.”

Narrowing my gape, I considered him. “You, sir, are trouble.”

“With a capital ‘T’.” He winked at me, resuming his hair removal.

“I need to call Sharon and let her know I’m okay, but then, I guess I can spend another day lounging around with you.

Someone has to keep you down.” I didn’t want to lie around all day, but, at the same time, I wasn’t ready to leave him.

And that was how I knew I needed to. Not wanting to be away from him meant I’d formed an attachment.

It meant my feelings were growing, had grown in less than twenty-four hours.

In less than a day, I didn’t want to say good-bye. In less than a day, I didn’t want to imagine life without him. In less than a day, his home was beginning to feel like my own. In less than a day, his arms had become the home I wanted to seek at the end of each day.

Less than a day.

I could only fathom how I would feel a hundred days from now.

He was so much more than I expected. He was a bear for crying out loud. Nonetheless, he was a bear I could easily see myself falling in love with.

And that was the scariest, most harrowing yet breathtaking piece of it all: knowing I could come to care for him more than I have anyone else on this Earth.

Halting, he stared across the space at me. “I understand if you want to go, babe.” He set down the lint roller. “I can take you to your car.” He didn’t bother disguising the hurt in his voice.

Once again, we felt the same way about leaving each other.

“There’s no place I’d rather be right now. But I will have to go home later. I work tomorrow.” Walking around the sofa, I sat down, Indian style.

Picking up my cell phone, I opened the settings. “Do you have Wi-Fi?”

He laughed. “I only live in the woods, beautiful. Of course I have Wi-Fi.”

“Good. Then I can iMessage Sharon.” I typed in the password as he gave it and waited for my phone to connect.

The moment it linked, notifications began to pop up on my screen, including a solid ten from my best friend.

I quickly sent her a text giving her just enough information to hold her off until tonight.

I already knew she would be on my doorstep later with a bottle of wine, wanting all of the details.

And I was right. Only she had two bottles of wine instead of one.