Page 11 of Caught Bear Handed (Sawtooth Security #3)

Chapter Nine

Kayla

I’d hired Sawtooth Security to keep me safe from a potential stalker. They’d uncovered an international crime and trafficking ring.

Their services had proved to be thorough, but still, they didn’t include protecting me from my own damn libido.

If Beau’s phone hadn’t started buzzing with notifications from his boss, there was no telling what would’ve happened out there.

I’d been ready, willing, and committed to kissing my twenty-eight-year-old bodyguard.

I had to stop making judgments about his age, like his being eleven years younger than me compromised his ability to do his job when in fact it was an asset.

He brought a fresh perspective to things, and he was quick, strong, and ready to pounce…

Which also made it increasingly hard to share this tiny cabin with him.

I was making myself crazy with this. Beau had been nothing but kind and easy to spend time with. He was a good guy with infectious energy.

None of this is helping your cause , my wolf pointed out as I turned the shower on full blast.

She was right—I couldn’t hold Beau’s best qualities against him. He was helping make a difficult situation extremely bearable. I snickered at the pun as I stripped off my sweaty, dusty clothes and stepped under the hot spray. My aching muscles thanked me on contact.

But when I closed my eyes, the heat changed from the warm wet spray to the memory of that sexy bear on the brink of kissing me.

Sparks fired inside me, starting between my legs and running through my limbs like a firecracker display. The responsible thing to do would’ve been to open my eyes, reach for the shampoo, and forget about this ridiculous fantasy.

But I was alone, and it was a fantasy—harmless like a set crush, right? Just like a set crush, we were in close proximity almost twenty-four-seven.

Your set crush has never tried to kiss you in the first week of the season, my wolf reminded me.

Opening my eyes just enough to reach for the body wash, I drenched the mesh puff with its citrusy goodness. My teeth scraped my bottom lip as I closed my eyes again, imagining that a giant, muscular bear had stepped behind the curtain and taken the puff from my hand.

After years of playing professional make believe, my imagination was the most finely honed muscle in my body.

I shuddered at the thought of Beau’s naked body—those broad shoulders, that muscular chest and six-pack covered in dark hair.

The taper of his waist and the pronounced Adonis belt.

And of course, his hard cock standing at attention, ready to serve.

The puff fell to the shower floor as if Beau had discarded it himself, instead choosing to lather up his big, rough hands and put them directly on my body.

I shuddered on contact—my hands were just starting to form calluses after an afternoon in Millie’s saddle.

I leaned against the tile, slowly moving my hands over my body like I was being touched by bear shifter for the first time.

My nipples pebbled in anticipation, and my skin heated like it was actually under Beau’s gaze as he rubbed his thumb over each nub, watching it tighten until it was almost painful.

My head fell back and my mouth opened. Thank the moon I caught the moan before it escaped my throat. It surely would have echoed—sending the real bear running to make sure the bad guys hadn’t somehow gotten in here.

My pussy throbbed at the thought of him catching me with my hand between my legs, pretending it was his.

My clit pulsed as I rubbed it—the bear would have no problem finding the sweet spot.

I went harder, faster, pushing the limits until sensation rocketed through my veins.

Muscles turned to jelly, and I pressed my lips together, my climax coming out in a frenzied hum.

I opened my eyes, bewildered and oh so frustrated that I was alone. That I could never make that fantasy come true. My legs were shaky as I picked up the discarded puff and attempted to finish my shower like I hadn’t just made myself come by pretending my bodyguard was here with me.

If I was going to get through the rest of this assignment, confinement, whatever we were calling it, I would have to draw on every acting skill I’d ever learned. I had to act like Beau’s very existence didn’t have such an overwhelming effect on me.

He was probably out there, working on some hardcore covert undercover strategy with Barrett and Bellamy while I was ringing my own bell.

I shut off the water, wrung out my hair, and grabbed a towel.

Chances were good that I might have some information that would help them solve whatever they were working on, the bad guys could be apprehended, and we could all get back to our regularly scripted lives.

Is that really what you want? my wolf asked.

It would’ve been easy to pretend Beau was the one rubbing this fluffy towel all over my naked, wet body, but I had to face some real facts.

I loved my life—I fully acknowledged how lucky and privileged I was to be able to live so many people’s—including my own—dream of being an actress on a long-running show.

But it came with a price. I had a hard time connecting to people outside the industry, and usually was eager to get back to work because I didn’t know how to relax.

But with Beau, I had no choice but to face those demons and find out what happened when I actually had to be Kayla. He made me feel safe, seen, and desired.

There was no changing the fact that the last time we were face to face, he’d been about to kiss me.

All was quiet when I slipped out of the bathroom. I took a quick peek into the living room and found only Gigi holding court, in the middle of what looked like a satisfying nap.

No sign of Beau anywhere. My animal sensed he was close. She also sensed there wasn’t any reason for my heart to be pounding, so I played it cool and headed to my bedroom to get myself together.

It was far too easy to picture his body tangled in my sheets…

I needed a hobby, effective immediately. Something that occupied my mind more than the massive puzzle that I was still piecing together. Something to look forward to, I thought as I clipped the top of my hair so I could start to dry it. I heated up the curling iron and put on makeup.

There was no way we were going anywhere, but this would help me get into character. More importantly, separate fantasy from reality. Because the minute I walked out that door, my fantasy was going to be my reality.

Instead of getting dressed up, I put on a T-shirt and a super comfy pair of joggers.

Stalling, I went online for a minute, but it wasn’t very satisfying when I was forbidden from connecting with my friends. I checked The Wolf’s Moon site, but it just made my heart hurt. I missed my life so much.

But if you were still there, you would’ve never met Beau , my wolf reminded me.

And now, I was afraid to face him because there was no script to follow. No team of writers to fix my mistakes. The last time I’d attempted dating I got myself into this mess.

Everything happens for a reason . My wolf refused to see this as a bad thing.

It would all be a lot easier if I didn’t want to jump the bear’s bones.

“You can do this,” I said to myself in the mirror and threw my shoulders back before heading into the living area.

Gigi greeted me in the hallway. I crouched down to give her some scritches. We might not have been exactly the same, but we seemed to share an unspoken language. She pushed against me, like I would do to show affection in my wolf form, and dropped a soggy Rudolf on my bare foot.

“Oh, someone’s got a new bestie.” That deep voice resonated deep inside me, and those muscles I’d made sing with just the thought of the man it belonged to vibrated in appreciation.

“You sound jealous,” I teased, but kept my gaze on Gigi, reminding myself of my latest role. I would deserve an award for this rendition of Kayla, the woman who did not have a massive crush on her bodyguard.

“Nah, I’m cool with sharing Gigi,” he said. “And I like seeing her comfortable with other shifters. A lot of people are scared of her, and she picks up on it. But as you know, she’s just a big marshmallow.”

“I’m not people,” I said in a funny voice, talking more to Gigi than the man who’d brought us together. “She knows we’ve got some very important things in common, right, Gigi?”

The whole back end of her body wagged in response.

“I’d love to see her reaction if you shifted,” Beau offered.

“Do you want to run together?” I asked Gigi, widening my eyes. Then for the first time since I’d come out of my bedroom, I cautioned a look at my bodyguard bear. “What does she do when you shift?”

“Fuck, you look incredible,” he said softly, following it with a quick headshake. “Sorry. Well, not really. It’s true.”

Heat blossomed on my cheeks and in some other places. My new role was being put to the test immediately. “Don’t be. I always appreciate a compliment. I might have overcompensated for feeling dusty after our ride earlier.”

Beau’s lips curled into a grin that promised nothing but sinful things. “You’re making me think I need to up my game. But I didn’t pack anything but T-shirts and shorts.”

“Your game is just fine.” I laughed as I rose from my petting position. Gigi pawed my leg in protest. “And I’m wearing sweatpants. Did you cook again? It smells amazing in here.”

His dark eyes lit up. “I did. I had a craving and ordered the makings of cheesesteak sandwiches. Probably should’ve asked if you were good with that. I’m used to cooking for a bunch of guys. I kept the mushrooms, peppers, and onion separate in case you wanted to modify.”

“Hell no. I’ll take it all.” I inhaled deeply. “Smells like garlic too.”

He shrugged. “The guys at the station like it on garlic bread.”

It was on the tip of my tongue to say marry me , but that was definitely not part of my imaginary script. “That sounds delicious. And I’m starving.”

“Good, because it’s ready.” He turned and headed into the kitchen.

My mouth was watering not only from the aromas of the food, but also the sight of my delectable chef. I pulled up one of the high barstools on the other side of island and watched him in his element.

He took the garlic bread out of the oven, topped it with cheese, meat, and the veg, open faced, and put it back into the oven.

“Just need to melt the cheese,” he explained.

“Is there anything you can’t do?” I asked.

His Adam’s apple bobbed as he swallowed. “I’m sure there are a few things. But I like to challenge myself. What do you do when you have to play a character with traits you’re unfamiliar with?”

“I haven’t been anyone major but Regina for so long I think she is me at this point.

My guest spots are a little more one-dimensional, since it’s only a few scenes.

” I laughed, but then I gasped. “I didn’t even ask you what Barrett wanted.

I assume everything’s okay, since you’re making this epic dinner. ”

Beau didn’t like to be bored, which I knew was a coping mechanism for being afraid of what happened when things slowed down…

“No huge developments.” He gripped the edge of the island. “Bellamy was able to hack into some of the financials of the ring.”

“Badass.”

“Totally. Here’s the thing—and not sure how they came to this conclusion, but they think you’re the only one who didn’t bend to their demands.”

My lips parted. “Oh.”

“Yeah,” he said sharply. “And they don’t think they’ll be content to take no for an answer.”

I nodded, pretending my entire body hadn’t just gone numb with fear. “What does that mean for us?”