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Waking the Bear

Ruby Shae

About This Book

After suffering the ultimate humiliation at her cousin’s wedding, Audrey Harris leaves her old life behind, and drives until she reaches Grayslake, Georgia. Faced with staying put, or heading north, she decides to stay. Unfortunately, the atmosphere at the B&B where she’s staying isn’t conducive to her plan to give up men, and soon, she ends up at the local bar looking for an ego boost.

Bear shifter, Tad Mitchell, knows first-hand what it feels like to be betrayed by a lover, and he has the physical scars to prove it. Once a romantic, he gave up on women five years ago when his ex-girlfriend threw him away like garbage. When his fated mate walks into his brother’s bar, he easily rebuffs her advances until he’s forced to do the right thing.

Now that Tad has Audrey in his home, he can’t get rid of the sassy, curvy beauty, and the worst part is, he’s not even sure he wants to. No, he definitely wants to, but she’s so stubborn. And sexy. And smart…and he really does need an office manager. When Audrey’s life is on the line, Tad has to decide whether or not to live in the past, or to claim his mate and embrace the future.

Waking the Bear

By Ruby Shae

Chapter One

Audrey Harris walked into the small dive bar on the edge of town, and took a deep breath. Old school rock music, powered by a colorful jukebox in the corner, blared out of the speakers, and easily drowned out the lively voices of the patrons. There were maybe fifty people in the place, mostly men, and the building already looked like it had reached its maximum capacity.

The swish of the door caused a few people to look her way, but her insignificant arrival didn’t garner more than a few curious glances, and she forced one foot in front of the other until she made it to the bar. Only one other person sat at the “L” shaped counter, and the other dozen vacant seats were at odds with the rest of the room.

Audrey took a seat on the short side of the “L,” and smiled when the bartender approached.

“Evening,” he said. “What can I get you?”

He was tall and muscular, with dark brown hair and brown eyes, and he wore a smile a mile wide, but she wasn’t fooled by his friendly persona. She had no doubts that the man handled all of the disputes in his bar, and anyone who attempted to cross him instantly regretted it.

Normally, she stayed away from alcohol—she couldn’t stand the taste of it, and losing full control of her senses had never appealed—but tonight wasn’t about being normal, and she needed a little bit of liquid courage.

Hell, she deserved it.

“I’ll have a Long Island Iced Tea.”

He studied her for a second, as if somehow knowing she’d never ordered the drink before, and then he nodded once and started crafting the concoction.

“You got it.”

Audrey shook off the bartender’s censure and looked around the room.

A pool table sat in the back of the rectangular shaped building, close to the jukebox, and several round, hi-top tables lined the walls and randomly filled in the rest of the floor. Though there were several stools to accompany each table, most were shoved as far as possible under the wood, and nearly everyone stood.

Oh snap!

The bartender wasn’t the only muscular hottie in the place. The room was a sea of broad shoulders, flat eight-pack abs, and firm, grab-worthy asses. She’d definitely hit the jackpot when she’d decided to stop in Grayslake, Georgia.

Not that she’d come looking for a man. In reality, she was through with men, but after nearly two weeks of relentless self-doubt, she desperately needed an ego boost. Even if it was for only one night. Hell, she didn’t even need a whole night. A couple of hours would do the trick.

“Here you go, honey,” the bartender said, placing her drink on a cocktail napkin. “That will be seven even.”

“Thank you,” she said. She pulled a ten-dollar bill out of the front pocket of her jeans, and handed it to him. “Keep the change.”

She rarely carried cash, but she’d spent the afternoon preparing for the evening, and a visit to the ATM had been one of the things on her list. Being new in town, she’d doubted any place would let her rack up a tab, and she didn’t want the added responsibility of remembering to settle one, anyway.

Other things on her list had included a long drive to the closest mall for a cell-phone case that would hold her identification and a credit card, just in case, and a cute top to go with her favorite pair of snug, ass-hugging jeans.

The ones her ex hated.

They had been the first thing to land in her suitcase when she’d decided to start packing, and though the move had seemed childish and petty, the deed had made her feel good at a time when everything else didn’t.

Overnight, she’d gone from a strong, confident woman who’d had it all, to an ugly duckling worth nothing now that she didn’t have a man. Her best friend, Kaylee, was the only one who’d remained by her side, but the massive change of opinion in not only herself, but in everyone else around her, had been the catalyst for her escape.

She refused to live the rest of her life as a victim.

The bartender nodded, moved down the bar to say something to the only other person sitting at the counter, and then moved down further to help a customer who approached the end of the “L” from the vicinity of the pool table.

The sitting man watched the bartender walk away, and then focused his hard, dark brown eyes on her.

Holy hell!

Time seemed to stand still as they studied each other, and she had no idea whether or not he liked what he saw, but she was ready to spread her legs and beg him to fuck her. Her pussy fluttered, as if readying itself for him, and she pressed her thighs together in an effort to dull the sudden, desperate need radiating from her core.

Like the other men, his shoulders were broad, but unlike the others, his t-shirt stretched across his torso, showcasing his firm chest, and the sleeves strained around his biceps. She couldn’t see his abs yet, but she knew they were flat, and she couldn’t wait to drag her fingers over his taut skin.

Hard, sharp angles lined a face that held no expression as he studied her, and the fact that he didn’t smile only added to his appeal. His neck was thick, his hands were big, and though he remained on the stool, she knew he would tower over her five-foot, nine-inch frame.

Liquid heat soaked her panties as she realized he could easily lift her plus-sized body, and fuck her against the wall like she’d always wanted. Her ex had only been a couple of inches taller than her, and he’d seriously lacked the upper body strength to lift his own weight, let alone hers. In fact, if she were being completely honest, she’d never met a man strong enough to carry all of her extra curves.

A thread of self-doubt tried to wiggle its way past her decision to find a man for the night, but she quickly burned it. Even though she’d never been taken against the wall, there had been a few men before her ex, and they’d all loved her body. If Mister Perfect wasn’t interested, she’d find someone else who was.

She picked up her drink, and as if on cue, the man broke their connection and focused on the wall behind the bar as he took a drink from the longneck bottle sitting on the counter in front of him.

Audrey sipped her straw in one continuous drink until she’d downed half the glass. Warmth spread through her body from the inside out, and she was grateful for the airy, cap-sleeved top she wore. The flowy material accentuated her curves, but it didn’t weigh her down and stick to her skin like many, heavier fabrics did.

The “tea” tasted like pure alcohol, but holding the drink bolstered her confidence, and she took a deep breath and slid off the bar stool.

It’s now or never!

It had been a long time since she’d approached a man, but she wasn’t an amateur. She’d made the first move many times before—with mostly favorable results—and she could do it again.

She plastered on what she hoped was a sexy, confident smile, and followed the bar until she reached the vacant seat next to the object of her desire. Then she boldly claimed the seat for her own.

Mister Perfect turned his dark gaze on her again, and another gush of liquid heat escaped from her core. As it did before, his dark, intense expression remained neutral, and her pussy clenched in frantic need. The seam of her jeans pressed against her clit, and she fought the urge to move her hips and allow the friction to ease the overwhelming ache that nearly consumed her.

“I’m not interested.”

He faced forward, returning his attention to the wall behind the bar, and took another drink of his beer. Shocked at his immediate dismissal, she stared at his profile dumbly, until his words fully registered.

The blow cut deeper than it should have, especially coming from a stranger, and her cheeks heated. The words of her ex tried to surface, the ones that ultimately ended their relationship, but she pushed them down and turned toward the rowdy crowd.

Mister Perfect might not want her, but someone would, and one rejection wouldn’t cause her to go into hiding.

Luckily, someone approached her within seconds. He wasn’t the best looking guy in the place, but he wasn’t an ogre, and she really wanted to escape the stool she currently occupied.

“Hey, babe,” he said. “You are looking hot in those jeans. Why don’t you come over and hang out with me and my friends?”

He pointed to a group of guys surrounding a nearby table, and she eagerly agreed.

“I’d love too.”

“Great. How about another drink?”

“I’d love that, too.”

She placed her empty glass on the counter, and sauntered over to the group with an extra swing in her hips. The guy stayed behind to order her drink, and his friends welcomed her with contagious enthusiasm.

Within minutes, she had another drink in her hand, and the rapt attention of five sexy men. It didn’t matter that none of them excited her like the guy at the counter had…she wasn’t looking for anything permanent, and he was obviously an asshole.

***

“Be nice.”

Fuck you!

Tad Mitchell glared as he watched Declan stroll to the end of the bar without a care in the world. The bartender was too damn observant, and while it was a necessity when single-handedly running a bar in a town full of shifters, it was even more annoying when the man was your all-knowing older brother.

Tad wanted to beat the shit out of his sibling, but he knew it was his own damn fault. When the curvy beauty walked into the bar, her scent hit him like a Mack truck, and he’d been too stunned to hide his emotions.

Or his physical reaction.

Fuck.

Five years.

It had been five years since the betrayal of his ex, Cindy, and he hadn’t felt anything for another woman since. Suddenly, in a matter of minutes, his dick was rock hard, and he was ready to throw out all of his convictions and give the newcomer every—and any—thing she desired.

No way in hell.

Women, especially human women, couldn’t be trusted, and he’d be damned if he ever let one get close to him again. The fact that his throbbing dick seemed to ache for her didn’t mean anything, and if he couldn’t find relief with his hand, then he would find someone willing in the next town over.

A wave of nausea swept over him, and he immediately nixed the idea of touching another woman. At least that much hadn’t changed.

He’d tried a few stomach turning one-night stands about a year after Cindy’s betrayal, but he’d learned pretty quick that he wasn’t ready to touch another woman, and once he bared his chest, they weren’t ready to touch him.

He briefly considered taking off his shirt, and ending their mutual attraction right now, but he knew Declan would have a fit and he wasn’t in the mood. It had nothing to do with the fact that he didn’t want to see the familiar look of revulsion on her face. He could douse her interest without seeing that look, and then each of them could go their separate ways.

He schooled his features, and forced himself to look at her.

Big—huge—mistake.

Her brown eyes locked with his, and a wave of emotions swamped him. If there had been any doubt in his mind, in that moment he knew.

Mate!

Everything he’d ever wanted stared back at him, and it took every ounce of will power he possessed to stay seated and not show any emotion. Her blond hair was parted on the side, and it fell in layered waves to her shoulders. If she had on make-up, he couldn’t tell, and he was mesmerized by her natural beauty.

He’d noticed her painted on jeans when she’d entered the building, and he desperately wanted to palm the large globes of her ass, and leave a trail of kisses down the inside of her thick, gorgeous thighs. The sexy top she wore accented her large, generous breasts, but it didn’t hide the soft, lush curves of her belly.

The scent of her arousal wrapped around him, and he desperately wanted to rip off her clothes and sink his thick cock into her warmth. Against the wall, on the pool table, across the bar…the possibilities in the bar alone were endless, and the onslaught of emotions gave him the will to look away.

Mate or not, he couldn’t give in. He’d had strong feelings for his ex, too, enough that he’d planned to marry her, and look how well that ended. He glanced down at the scars peeking through the sleeve on his right arm and steeled his resolve.

He took a drink of his beer, waited for her to fully claim the seat next to him, and then ended it before it started.

“I’m not interested.”

He immediately regretted the words, and he took another drink of his beer in an effort to keep his mouth shut. He’d said what he’d needed to say, and despite how it made him feel, he was holding his ground.

She stared at him for a full minute before turning away, and he was both grateful and devastated when another man approached her. 

“Hey, babe,” the man said, and Tad silently cursed. Her new admirer was a first-class prick named Clint with only one thing on his mind. “You are looking hot in those jeans. Why don’t you come over and hang out with me and my friends?”

“I’d love too.”

His mate’s eager response caused some of his regret and jealousy to dissipate.

“Great. How about another drink?”

“I’d love that, too.”

She placed her empty glass on the counter, and walked away without another word. Judging from Clint’s predatory stare, she’d worked her hips hard, and Tad felt his canines elongate. If she were his, no one would be watching her walk away except him.

But she wasn’t his, and Clint could do any damn thing he wanted.

“Damn, that girl is fine,” Clint said, turning back toward the bar.

Tad ignored him.

He wasn’t mad at Clint, not really. He’d wanted to be rid of his mate, and he was. Problem solved. If it wasn’t Clint, then it would be someone else, and he was reminded of why he stayed away from women.

You pushed her away, dumbass!

He silenced the annoying voice in his head, finished his beer, and called over Declan to say goodbye. Unfortunately, instead of leaving, he ordered another drink.

***

An hour later, Tad took another drink of his third beer, and closed his eyes as the cool liquid slid down his throat. Another peel of laughter—her laughter—erupted from the nearby table, and waves of possession and rage washed over him.

Damn it!

He should’ve left when he had the chance.

Declan watched him knowingly, and he forced himself to remain still even though every instinct shouted at him to claim her.

“So that’s it?” Declan asked. “You’re just going to sit there?”

“Yep,” Tad replied, still staring at the wall.

“She’s had four Long Island Iced Teas, and she’s getting really touchy.”

“Not my problem.”

“But you want her to be,” Declan said. “Whether you want to admit it or not, you want her to be your problem. If you didn’t, you would have left a long time ago. Are you really going to let her go home with that dickhead Clint?”

“I don’t care either way,” Tad shrugged, stiffly. “I don’t want or need a mate.”

Shit!

As soon as the words left his mouth, he realized his mistake.

“No one is talking about a mate—” If the situation wasn’t so fucked up, Declan’s shock would have been laughable. He voiced his next question cautiously. “She’s your mate?”

“Yep,” Tad replied. “Apparently the universe hasn’t fucked with me enough.”

“I think it’s fantastic,” Declan said. “You’ve been alone for too long.”

Her laughter floated across the room again, and Tad stood abruptly. He recognized an inexperienced drinker when he saw one, and even though he didn’t want a mate, he couldn’t leave her with Clint when she was clearly drunk.

“It’s a fucking nightmare.”

He turned away without another word, and walked toward the group that included his mate. All of the men, except for Clint, gave him a wide berth.

“What do you want, Mitchell?” Clint asked.

Tad ignored him, and focused on his mate.

“It’s time to go.”

“I’m not ready yet,” she sassed back.

“Don’t care,” he said.

He bent down, grabbed her thighs, and lifted her over his shoulder.

“Well, okay then,” she giggled.

“What the hell do you think you’re doing, Mitchell?” Clint barked.

“It’s none of your business, Clint,” Declan warned.

Grateful his brother had his back, Tad turned and headed toward the door with an arm firmly clamped around his mate’s thick thighs. She laughed the entire time, swinging her arms behind him like a rag doll.

“You’re amazing,” she babbled. “I’ve never met a man who could lift me over his shoulder. Where are we going? I like your ass! Can I grab it?”

Luckily, they’d already reached the parking lot.

Before he could answer, she grabbed his flesh in both hands and he nearly came in his pants. Holding her was a challenge, and he couldn’t handle her roaming hands, too.

His free hand came down on her ass, but her reaction was the opposite of what he expected. Instead of feeling chastised, she squealed in delight, and his knees nearly buckled from the scent of her arousal.

“Oooo… I’ve never been spanked before. Hit me again, bad boy.”

Her laughter belied the serious tone of her request, but his mind zeroed in on the most important thing. She was begging him to spank her.

Fucking hell!

When he didn’t immediately comply, she started wiggling her ass.

“Stop squirming,” he barked, purposefully keeping his hands to himself. If he smelled her arousal again, he might not make it to his truck. “I’m not going to spank you again.”

“Awww… You’re no fun,” she pouted.

His noncompliance seemed to knock the fight out of her, and they reached his vehicle without another word. He opened the door, placed her on the seat, and reached around her to fasten the seatbelt.

“You’re pretty,” she said quietly, smelling his hair, “and you smell good, too.”

He smiled at her, thankful sleep seemed to be taking over.

“Thank you,” he said. “I think you’re pretty, too.”

“Liar,” she whispered, closing her eyes. “You’re not interested.”

She half-heartedly raised her arms to make air quotes with her fingers, and passed out after one quote.

Tad made sure all her limbs were completely inside the cab, and closed the door.

He couldn’t deny that it felt good to hold her in his arms, but that didn’t matter. He’d rescued her because it was the right thing to do, nothing more, and in the morning he would send her on her way.

He didn’t want a mate. Period.

Chapter Two

Audrey woke up and squinted at the bright light streaming through the crack in the curtain. Her room in the Bed and Breakfast was meant for a couple who rose before the sun, and she didn’t qualify. Pain shot through her skull, and she grabbed an extra pillow to cover her face, closed her eyes, and turned away from the light.

She inhaled deeply, hoping the lavender fragrance of the fabric softener would soothe the ache in her head, and stiffened. The not-so-subtle difference in the scent of the bedding caused her to open her eyes and survey the room.

Not the Bed and Breakfast.

Shit!

She sat up quickly, and fought off a wave of nausea as she took in the simple décor. Dark brown wood framed a matching dresser, headboard, and nightstand, and dark, midnight blue bedding covered the half of the bed she hadn’t slept in. The sight of the folded over comforter, blanket and extra pillows provided some comfort, but she breathed an audible sigh of relief when she realized her clothes were still intact.

The ankle boots she’d worn the night before were placed neatly by the door, side-by-side, and her cell-phone, car keys and cash waited for her on the nightstand next to a bottle of water and a container of ibuprofen.

The seal on the water hadn’t been broken, and she swallowed three of the pills before she had a chance to talk herself out of it. Whomever owned the room had obviously tried to help, and she desperately needed her headache to go away.

And coffee.

Maybe she would find some when she could walk without feeling like her head was about to explode.

Where the hell am I?

She downed the entire bottle of water, and tried to think as the medicine worked its magic. She remembered going to the bar and approaching the hottie at the counter, getting shot down, and then joining a group of boorish guys.

Please don’t let me be with the ringleader.

Hell, she should have left when Mister Perfect rejected her, but she’d been too proud to walk out, and later, she’d been too drunk. A couple of the guys were tolerable, but they weren’t the ones plying her with drinks and trying to get into her pants. As the night wore on, drunk Audrey became touchy Audrey, and the more aggressive men had started to get the wrong idea.

Another quick assessment of her clothes calmed her fears, and the rest of the night slowly started to come back.

Mister Perfect showed up to rescue her, she refused, and he threw her over his shoulder like she didn’t weigh anything at all. Remembering his strength excited her, until she remembered grabbing his ass, begging him to spank her, and calling him pretty. She buried her heated face in the nearby pillow, and silently screamed.

Thanks a lot, universe!

Great! She was in Mister Perfect’s home. Why did he have to be the one to help?

Maybe he’s married. Maybe that’s why he rejected you.

The thought gave her hope, but deep down, she knew better. Her luck hadn’t been that great lately, and doing the walk of shame in front of her rescuer seemed appropriately consistent with recent events in her life.

There was a reason she’d sworn off men, and this was a perfect example.

Time to face the music!

She had to face him sooner or later, so she might as well get it over with.

She grabbed her belongings off the nightstand and refilled her pockets, then she slid her feet into the ankle boots and zipped the short closures. Another deep breath fortified her nerves, and she slowly opened the door and stepped into the hall.

The familiar smell of coffee made her smile, but she had other things to take care of first, and she found the restroom quickly. She splashed cold water on her face, untangled her hair the best she could, and brushed her teeth with her finger. It wasn’t her usual minty fresh, but it worked in a pinch.

Audrey followed the coffee fragrance down the stairs, and through the large, spacious first floor, until she arrived in the kitchen. She’d expected to see Mister Perfect waiting for her, reading the paper or something, but the house seemed to be vacant.

She glanced around, located the coffee machine, and helped herself to a mug.

The dark wood in the kitchen matched the bedroom furniture, the bathroom cabinets, and what she’d seen of the rest of the house, and the midnight blue dishes were consistent of the bedding, towels and living room accents.

A sugar jar on the counter held packets of sweetener, and she found milk and cream in the nearly empty fridge. She leaned against the counter, slowly sipped the warm, soothing liquid, and listened to the faint sounds of metal clanking against cement.

When she reached the bottom of the mug and still found herself alone, she peeked out the kitchen window and found the source of the noise.

An auto-repair shop stood about twenty yards away.

***

Audrey left the house, and walked across the dirt separating the two buildings. There were no paths, no driveways, and basically no direct indication of how she should get to the front door of the shop, so she made her own way.

The area surrounding the two buildings was heavily forested, and she saw no signs of civilization except for the two-lane, black asphalt road carefully hidden between the trees.

She turned in a circle to quickly take in her surroundings, and got her first glimpse of the house. The large, two-story structure stood proud among the greenery, and except for the repair shop, the place was surrounded by nature. The seclusion of the residence held appeal, and she couldn’t help but envy the owner.

She continued to the repair shop, and though there were no marked spaces, two cars were neatly lined up next to the entrance. The attention to detail reminded her of the way she’d found her boots neatly placed next to the bedroom door, and she smiled. It seemed Mister Perfect had more than good looks going for him.

Audrey put her hand on the handle of the glass door, braced herself, and glanced inside the shop. She fully expected to come face-to-face with her rescuer, but like the house, the place seemed vacant.

A small foyer held four space-saving, but comfortable-looking chairs, but they were all empty, and so was the spot behind the counter. As she pulled on the door, the Help Wanted sign in the window caught her eye, and she briefly wondered what it was for. She hadn’t started looking for a job yet, but she would need to find one soon, and she had no problems working for someone who found her completely uninteresting.

The sound of metal on concrete had steadily become louder as she made her way to the shop, and an extra loud clank sounded when she stepped inside. The familiar smells of motor oil and grease teased her nose, but the odors weren’t pungent, unlike other repair places.

Behind the counter, an open door led to what looked like a storage room, and to the left, an invisible wall led to two repair bays. The rolling doors were located in the back of the building, and they were both raised, letting in both light and fresh air.

One of the vehicles sat completely unattended, but she could hear someone working under the hood of the other.

“Hello?”

Another loud clank echoed around the building, followed by a whispered curse, and then Mister Perfect stepped into her view, wiping his hands on an already greasy towel.

He wore a surprisingly white t-shirt with three tiny holes near his belly button, loose, faded, well-worn jeans, and black steel-toed boots. His dark brown hair looked lighter with the sun behind him, but his dark eyes were exactly how she’d remembered them.

Fucking hell!

Deep down, she’d honestly hoped her memory had been better than the real thing, or that she’d somehow created this perfect person in her mind because she’d been so desperate for validation. Having random sex with a stranger hotter than her ex would have given back some of her shaky confidence.

Except every man in Grayslake was hotter than her ex, and she hadn’t wanted to sleep with anyone except him. Her pussy throbbed, and she leaned forward on the counter so he couldn’t see her press her thighs together.

Even though he regarded her with obvious frustration, she still wanted him, which was probably the best reason to try and stick around. There was absolutely no chance of anything happening between them, and she could resume her initial plan to give up men.

“Hello,” he called back.

His annoyed stare was a bit unnerving, but she chose it ignore it. Hopefully, he wouldn’t hold last night against her.

“Thank you for rescuing me last night, and for the water and the meds. And the coffee. I had a cup, I hope that’s okay. I’m sorry about grabbing your ass, and…,” she nervously waved her hand around in front of her, “the other stuff.”

Oh hell, she was babbling like an idiot. Wonderful.

“You’re welcome,” he said, simply. “Your car is parked next to the house on the other side of my truck.”

She glanced back toward the house, and nodded as she wrapped her mind around his thoughtfulness. He’d used the truck to drive her home, so he must have gone back for her vehicle.

“You went back for my car?”

“Yeah.”

“Thank you.”

“I didn’t do it for you,” he admitted. “I have a lot of work to do, and I don’t have time to stop and play chauffer because some stranger decided to drink too much.”

Audrey knew the words were meant to be insulting, but they were also the truth.

“You’re right,” she nodded, “you don’t, but I still appreciate your efforts.”

“Okay,” he cleared his throat. “When you exit the driveway, turn left and follow the road all the way down until you hit Main Street. It’s not too far, but all the trees might make it feel like you’re going the wrong way. You’re not. Once you hit Main Street, everything should start to look familiar.”

“I know Main Street,” she agreed. “I’ve eaten at the diner a couple of times.”

“Good,” he called over his shoulder as he turned back toward the car he’d been working on. “Drive safe.”

A clear dismissal. Too bad she didn’t care.

“What’s the Help Wanted sign for?”

He visibly froze, and then slowly faced her again, but he wasn’t happy.

“Office manager. I need someone to man the counter, answer the phones, and do some simple bookkeeping.”

“I can do that. I’ve been running the front office in my dad’s medical practice for years, and I also have a certificate in accounting.”

“I don’t think it’s a good idea.”

“Why not?” she asked. “You need help, and I need a job. I could use a room to rent, too. Do you live in that big house all by yourself?”

“I do.”

“Care to rent me a room? I’m staying at the Bed and Breakfast, and seeing couples and their crap everywhere is driving me insane. I only stopped there because I couldn’t find a hotel in this town, and I was sick of driving.”

***

She wanted a job, and a room?

What. The. Fuck?

Tad was literally living a nightmare, and he saw no end in sight.

After he’d driven her back to his place the night before, he found himself doing unspeakable things like taking off her shoes, placing water and meds on the nightstand, and driving back to the bar so Declan could help him return with her car.

His brother had worn a damned knowing smile the entire time, but to his credit, the man stayed quiet and willingly helped without offering unwanted advice or criticism.

Tad told himself he was helping so she could leave sooner, but he also wanted her to feel comfortable and safe in his home, and that had everything to do with him and nothing to do with the fact that his house and business were off the beaten path.

The realization had been a reality check, and he’d quickly devised a plan to get rid of her as soon as possible.

It had almost worked, too.

Damn that Help Wanted sign!

Why hadn’t he thought to take it down?

Tad racked his brain for any viable reason—besides, I don’t want you here—not to hire her, or let her rent a room, but he knew it was a waste of time. All she had to do was ask, and she could have whatever she wanted, but she didn’t have to know that. Honestly, he never wanted her to know that, so he tried the only tactic he could think of.

“I do need help, but you’re clearly attracted to me, and I don’t think becoming your boss is a good idea. Aside from the fact that I’m not interested in you, I don’t want a relationship now or in the future. I could do anything to give you the wrong impression, and I just don’t have the time to constantly monitor my behavior.”

Anger rolled off of her in waves, but he smelled her rage, rather than saw it. On the outside, she remained calm, and he couldn’t help but be impressed.

“I’m not attracted to you—”

“Oh really? You changed your mind overnight?”

He hated being so blunt, but he wanted to give her a reason to leave.

“Fine,” she spat, “you’re gorgeous. I doubt there’s a woman in the world who isn’t attracted to you, however, I understand you don’t feel the same about me, and I can be a professional. Besides, I’m not looking for a relationship either. In fact, I’m done with men for a long time.”

“And last night was…?”

“A mistake. I was feeling sorry for myself, and went looking for an ego boost. Obviously, it wasn’t a well thought out plan, and I blame the stupid B&B. You saw first-hand why I have to get out of there.”

He felt one half of his face try to give in and smile, but he fought the urge. He knew plenty of women who weren’t attracted to him, but he only cared what she thought, and hearing her praise made his cock swell. Soon, he’d have to take off his shirt and accept her aversion, but not yet.

Something she’d said earlier bothered him, and he needed to know what she was running from. Especially if she was going to be living with him.

Fuck me!

“Why did you come to Grayslake? What are you running from?”

She stared at him for a full minute before responding.

“I caught my fiancé cheating on me at my cousin’s wedding two weeks ago. I’m from a small town in California, and almost everyone in town had been invited to the wedding, and those that weren’t came anyway. My fiancé was the best man, and I was one of the bridesmaids. During the reception, his microphone switched on as he was going down on one of the out-of-town guests in a storage closet.

“Hearing her wasn’t the worst part, though. The worst part was listening to him describe, in detail, how repulsive he found my body, and then admitting how many times he’d cheated on me. To her credit, the woman hadn’t known he was engaged, and she left the room as soon as she found out, but the damage was already done.

“He immediately apologized, of course, but I couldn’t forgive him. Unfortunately, everyone else could, and overnight, in their eyes, I went from a confident woman who had it all, to a pitiful ugly duckling. The only person who stayed on my side, was my best friend, Kaylee, but she wasn’t enough of a reason to stay.

“He works in my father’s office, too, so I not only had to see him every day, but I had to endure the looks of pity and backhanded comments about my weight from well-meaning family and friends. I only lasted a week before I jumped in my car and headed east, and after a week of driving, it was either stop here, head north, or drive into the Atlantic, so I opted to stop.”

Tad wanted to hunt down her ex and beat the shit out of him, but he knew he couldn’t. Not only would his act of revenge be confusing, it would ultimately contradict his lies about not being attracted to her.

“You said he works for your dad. Is that why he stayed with you? To advance in the company or something? And why didn’t your dad fire him?”

“That’s the funny thing,” she laughed. “My ex said he stayed with me because he thought it would give him a better chance at becoming a partner, and taking over the practice one day, but he didn’t need me. My dad loves him. Always has. Hell, he introduced us, and I doubt my ex could do anything to get himself fired.”

“That fucking sucks.”

The words seemed inadequate, but they were the best he could come up with. He knew what it was like to be betrayed by a lover, and though her wounds weren’t life threatening, she’d still faced public humiliation and censure.

Just like he had.

“Yeah, it does,” she agreed. “So, how about that job?”

He was starting to like her. Not because fate said he had to, but because of her. Sassy, confident and brave, were the things that stood out the most, and he knew hiring her was dangerous for both his head and his heart.

“You can have the job,” he said, “and I’ll let you have the room you stayed in last night, rent free. When do you want to start?”

“How about tomorrow?” she asked. “Today I’d like to check out of the B&B, and do a little grocery shopping. Your fridge was pretty bare, so let me know if you need anything, and I’ll get your list, too.”

“I usually just eat at the diner,” he said, walking toward her. “But thanks. If we’re going to be living together, then I guess we should be on a name basis.”

He’d left out the traditional first-name designator in an effort to make her smile, and he was instantly rewarded. The giggle that erupted from her lips was at odds with their previous tense conversation, and he was thankful for the counter separating them.

“Hi, I’m Tad Mitchell,” he said, sticking out his right hand.

He glanced down at the grease stains, and started to pull back, but she grabbed his palm firmly. An electric shock raced down his spine, and he wanted to pull her up, and take her on the counter.

“I’m Audrey Harris.”

Her arousal filled the room, wrapping itself around him, and his bear went wild.

On the verge of shifting, he immediately dropped her hand, and backed away, but he could feel his canines extending, and he was sure his eyes had already changed.

“Whoa,” she said, inspecting her hand. “You shocked me.”

He couldn’t tell by looking if her reaction was good or bad, but the scent of her arousal intensified and nearly knocked him on his ass.

“Sorry about that. It must be from the tools,” he lied.

Thankfully, she didn’t question him.

“Yeah,” she said, slowly lowering her hand to her side. “I’m going to go now.”

She turned and left without another word, and Tad was both delighted and disappointed to see her go.

Chapter Three

One week later…

“So you’re just…living with some stranger in the woods?”

Audrey rolled her eyes, and flipped another page in the foodie magazine she’d picked up in the grocery store nearly a week ago. The last time she’d talked to her best friend, Kaylee, it had been her first day working for Tad, and she’d promised to call the woman back later.

She hadn’t.

It wasn’t that she didn’t trust Kaylee, or that she didn’t want to talk to her friend, it was the fact that she’d wanted to keep Tad to herself just a little bit longer. Once she told her friend about him, he would essentially be up for grabs, and even though he’d made his feelings about her perfectly clear, she hadn’t been ready to share.

After three days of messages ranging from slightly distressed to borderline threatening, Audrey gave in and called her friend.

“God, it sounds horrible when you put it like that,” Audrey laughed. “I’m renting a room from my employer, nothing more.”

“Yeah, but you said he lives in the middle of the forest.”

“The whole town is in the middle of the forest,” she defended, “and it’s surrounded by a bunch of mountains, too.”

“You’re being weird,” Kaylee said. “I can’t help it if I’m worried about you. You went through a major trauma, and then took off a week later without a word—”

“I texted you,” Audrey reminded her.

“A text is not words,” Kaylee shot back. “By the time I got the text, you’d been gone for hours. I’m just trying to make sure you’re okay.”

“You’re right, I’m sorry,” Audrey said. “To answer your question, yes, I’m living with a stranger in the woods, but we’re not completely secluded. His repair shop is next door, and he has a solid clientele. His schedule is booked nearly every day, and during work hours, people are constantly coming and going. I’ve met a lot of people in the short time I’ve been here.”

“So where exactly are you?”

“Don’t tell anyone, but I’m in Grayslake, Georgia.”

“Oh my god, Audrey,” Kaylee squealed. “You drove to Georgia by yourself?”

“Yep,” she said, proudly.

“Wow, I’m impressed, but Georgia is so far away.”

“It’s not that far,” Audrey assured her. “If you fly, it’s only five hours.”

“You’re never coming back here are you?”

“No, I’m not.”

Saying the words out loud made them both pause, but Audrey wasn’t surprised by her decision. Many would see her leaving home as running, but she was glad she left. She liked Grayslake, and even if working for Tad didn’t pan out, she wasn’t going anywhere else.

“I guess I need to apply for a new credit card,” Kaylee said.

“A new credit card?”

“Yeah,” her friend laughed. “If I’m going to be a Frequent Flyer, I want my miles.”

Audrey’s laughter joined Kaylee’s and they didn’t stop until their sides hurt.

“So, tell me about the guy. Is he sexy?”

“Sexy doesn’t even begin to describe him, Lee,” Audrey said.

She folded over a page in the magazine, and glanced around the shop. Tad had left to run an errand nearly an hour ago, and though she didn’t see his truck in front of the house, she needed to verify he hadn’t parked in the back and slipped in when she wasn’t paying attention. 

“Oh man, you like him,” Kaylee declared. “Does he know? Does he like you, too? Do you think you’re on the rebound? Tell me everything.”

“Unfortunately, he knows.”

Audrey took a deep breath, and everything came pouring out.

The depressing B&B, the night she met Tad and how he’d initially rejected her and then ended up saving her a couple of hours later, how the next day she’d convinced him to hire her and rent her a room, and how he mostly kept his distance except when food was involved.

She was pretty sure he only ate dinner with her because it saved him a trip into town for a hot and ready meal, but his reasons didn’t matter. Most of the meals she made would provide too many leftovers for one person, and sharing with him made her feel good. The fact that they usually talked through the meal was an added bonus.

Kaylee listened attentively through all of it, but Audrey knew what her friend deemed most important.

“He’s tall, Lee,” Audrey started. “Really tall. I think he’s about six-feet, five-inches, and he has the most gorgeous, dark brown eyes. His hair is also dark brown, and he’s heavily muscled without looking bulky. I haven’t seen him with his shirt off yet, but I’m willing to bet he has eight-pack abs.”

“You haven’t seen him with his shirt off?” Kaylee asked. “How is that possible?”

“I know right?” she laughed. “I’m pretty sure he’s hiding from me so I don’t get, quote, the wrong impression, and think he’s changed his mind about me or something.”

“Oh please,” Kaylee said, drawing out the “E” until she was out of breath. “Does he think you’ll swoon all over his flat abs and demand a relationship?”

“Apparently,” Audrey said, deadpan. “Or maybe I’ll pass out from his sheer awesomeness.”

Their laughter filled the line again, and they didn’t stop until she saw a customer park their car in front of the building.

“I have to go, Lee,” Audrey said. “A customer just pulled in.”

“Is he sexy?”

“I can’t tell, yet, he’s still in his car, but I’m willing to bet he is,” she smiled. “Most of the men here are.”

“Really?” Kaylee asked. “Maybe I need to plan a trip there immediately.”

“Don’t pack your bags, yet,” Audrey laughed. “I still need some time.”

“I know, silly,” her friend chastised. “I was just teasing.”

“Later gater.”

“Later.”

Audrey hadn’t been lying when she’d said she needed time. Unfortunately, it was time to get over her boss, not her ex. The one question she hadn’t answered was whether or not she thought her feelings for Tad were some sort of rebound, but the answer was a resounding no.

She honestly hadn’t thought about her ex since she’d arrived in Grayslake, and that had been three days before she’d met Tad. The truth of the matter was, her ex was an ass, and she was lucky to be rid of him.

Unfortunately, she was drawn to Tad like a moth to a flame, and she wasn’t introducing him to anyone until her feelings disappeared or considerably weakened.

She’d never survive if Tad fell in love with her super-amazing best friend.

***

“Hey babe,” Clint said. “I heard a rumor that you were working out here, and I had to come see for myself.”

After hanging up with Kaylee, Audrey hid her phone and magazine under the counter, and glanced back through the open bays when she heard the familiar rumble of Tad’s truck pull into the driveway. Behind him, his brother’s truck rumbled, too, and both had a full bed of what looked like parts and supplies.

Audrey had officially met Declan her first day on the job. She’d been embarrassed when the bar owner had first walked into the shop, but when she found out he was Tad’s brother, she’d been mortified.

Luckily, Declan seemed to approve of her working for his brother, and he never mentioned what she was now referring to as the Long Island Iced Tea incident.

“Hey Clint,” Audrey said. “The rumors are true. How can I help you today?”

She knew he didn’t have an appointment, and she was pretty sure he didn’t want one. Dread filled her as she waited for his next words. She could handle Clint, she’d met plenty of men like him before, but she didn’t enjoy fending off losers.

“How about you meet me at the bar, and we can pick up where we left off the last time?”

“No thanks,” she said simply.

“Why not? I know you’re not fucking that loser Tad, and a woman like you has got to want to get laid every now and then. I’ll make it good for you, babe, I swear.”

Oh hell no!

“A woman like me?” she asked. “What does that mean?”

“Come on, babe,” he replied. “We both know why you were out that night, and I like a girl with a lot of extra padding. More cushion for the pushin’, you know what I mean?”

“Listen up, ass—”

Tad moved so quick, she didn’t even know it was him until he had Clint pinned against the glass windows in the lobby.

“You don’t talk to her like that again,” Tad growled. “Ever. Do you understand me?”

“Fuck you, Tad,” Clint snarled. “You need to mind your own business.”

“You’re on my property, and she’s my employee. That makes it my business,” Tad said. “Apologize. Now.”

When Clint didn’t comply, Tad pulled him forward and slammed him against the glass. A tiny crack splintered across the entire window, but Tad didn’t release his hold on the man.

Audrey glanced at Declan, and when he didn’t move to help his brother, she rounded the counter and placed her hand on Tad’s bicep.

“Tad,” she whispered. “Let him go.”

He turned to look at her, and his dark brown eyes looked like solid black orbs. She knew his eyes changed when he was angry, but she’d never been this close to him before. Instead of being afraid, she wanted him even more.

“He was rude to you,” Tad said. “I’m not letting him go until he apologizes.”

“I don’t want or need his apology,” she explained. “He’s not worth it.”

He stared at her for a full minute before he pushed Clint toward the door and released him.

“Get off my property, and don’t come back.”

“Your loss, babe,” Clint said to her. “You’ll regret this later.”

“I seriously doubt that,” she snapped.

As the three of them looked on, Clint left the building, got into his car and drove away.

Once he was gone, Tad rounded on her.

***

“Why did you stop me?” he yelled. “Don’t you think I can protect you?”

Tad knew he sounded irrational, but he didn’t care. The scent coming off of Clint had been pure malice, and his first instinct had been to protect his mate at all costs.

The engine he and Declan were carrying nearly hit the floor when they’d walked into the bay and heard Clint propositioning his mate. Declan’s calm voice had been the only thing stopping him from wasting thousands of dollars, and as soon as they set the hulking piece of metal on the ground, he flew across the shop. Declan followed, but the man knew his help wasn’t needed.

“What? Don’t be ridiculous,” Audrey yelled back. “I had everything under control.”

“That doesn’t matter,” he barked. “You should have called me.”

Even as he said the words, he knew she was right.

“Why?” she snapped. “I can take care of myself.”

“Because,” he growled. “You’re my ma—…employee.”

“And it wasn’t work related,” she countered.

Neither one of them budged, and time seemed to stand still as they faced off.

“Okay, guys, that’s enough.”

Declan stepped between them and placed a hand on Tad’s chest, pushing slightly. It wasn’t forceful enough to move him, but he took a step back anyway.

“It’s over. It’s been a long day, and we still have some work to do,” Declan continued. “Audrey, would you mind going into the house and bringing out something cold to drink for everyone? Tad and I are going to get back to unloading the trucks.”

“Sure.”

She took a deep breath, gave Declan a small half-smile, and walked around the two men. When she got to the door, she stopped and looked back at them.

“For the record,” she said, quietly. “I’ve never once thought that you couldn’t protect me…I just didn’t think that you wanted too.”

She left without another word, and Declan turned on him.

“You have to tell her.”

“No, I don’t,” Tad argued. “I have everything under control.”

“Right,” Declan said, inspecting the cracked glass. “Because this is control. You’re lucky she stopped you, or you would have pushed Clint through this window. It will hold for now if we reinforce it, but any more pressure and it’s going to shatter. Kind of like you.”

“I’m fine,” he said. “I don’t need a mate.”

“You’re a liar,” Declan scolded.

“Whatever, man,” Tad said, walking toward the open bays. “Let’s get the trucks unloaded.”

“Look, I know Cindy’s betrayal hurt—”

“Hurt?” Tad yelled. He turned on his heel and pulled his shirt up so Declan could see his scars. “You know this shit hurt? You don’t have a fucking clue! The poison consumed all of my senses. It twisted everything, and I literally wanted to die. You know what kept me moving? What, exactly, made it possible for me to survive and make it to the clan compound? It wasn’t you, or mom and dad, or work, or anything else. It was revenge. I knew she wouldn’t be punished unless I lived. I gave her everything, Dec. Everything! And she threw it all away like garbage. She threw me away like a piece of garbage.”

Declan grabbed him by the nape of the neck and pulled him in for a hug.

“It’s been five years, bro. It’s time to let it go.”

“I don’t know how,” Tad said, pulling away.

“Start by taking off your shirt. Let Audrey see all of you, and when she doesn’t run away screaming, tell her the truth.”

Tad sighed, but he refused to ask the question that had been nagging him since he first laid eyes on his mate.

What if she does run away screaming?

“I’ll think about it,” he finally offered.

He knew Declan had a point, but letting go of any kind of betrayal was hard, and he wasn’t the same man he was five years ago. Could he start over and be the kind of mate Audrey needed, or would he forever be stuck in the past?

It’s time to let it go…

His brother’s words echoed through his mind again the moment Audrey walked back into the shop. Instead of coming in the front door, she’d walked around the back, and entered through one of the open bays. Her hands were wrapped around the handles of a wooden tray that held a pitcher of lemonade, and three ice filled glasses.

“I made lemonade,” Audrey said, looking back and forth between the two of them. “I hope it didn’t take too long.”

“Thank you, Audrey,” Declan said.

He picked up the pitcher and dumped the entire contents over Tad’s head.

“What the fuck, Dec?” Tad bellowed.

“Declan!” Audrey screamed. “What are you doing?”

She put the tray down, and grabbed a couple clean rags out of the cabinet.

“You’re welcome,” Declan whispered. “Call me tomorrow.”

His brother left the garage without another word, and a minute later, they watched his truck roar out of the driveway.

***

“Oh my god,” Audrey said. “What was that about?”

She used one of the towels to brush away the excess liquid from his chest, and then she grabbed his shoulder and pulled, indicating he should bend down. He followed her commands without a word, and she dried off his hair, face and neck.

“That was Declan being an ass.”

“I hope you’re planning some sort of revenge,” she laughed. “I squeezed those lemons by hand.”

Tad laughed, and for the first time in years, it felt good. Something inside of him snapped, and he reached for the hem of his shirt and pulled it over his head.

Audrey stepped closer with the towel and patted his damp skin while taking in the hideous recessed lines shredding the right side of his chest and shoulder.

Her arousal slammed into him even stronger than when they’d shaken hands, and he swayed from the scent of it. She grabbed onto his damaged bicep, and helped steady him, and that’s when he noticed her rage. It was buried deep under her desire, but there was no denying she was angry.

“What happened?” she asked, examining the marks.

“You’re not the only one betrayed by a lover.”

Her head jerked up, and her eyes met his.

“Is she dead?”

Shock filled him, but his face remained a blank mask.

“Yes.”

“Good,” she said, looking at his chest again. “You know you don’t have to hide, right?”

“Most people, especially women, don’t like looking at them.”

“Fuck them,” she seethed. “I may not know the details, but I know that you’re a warrior. You survived the unthinkable, and that’s something to be proud of. The right woman won’t care. Hell, she’ll probably think they’re sexy.”

Declan had said similar words many times, but they hadn’t meant anything until now. His brother had been right about his mate…not only had she stuck around, but she seemed to like his scars.

“That’s what Dec said,” he whispered.

“Smart man,” she mumbled back.

“Yeah.”

Her acceptance ignited feelings he hadn’t felt in years, and the onslaught nearly crippled him. The idea of kissing her warred with sending her packing, and he had to get away so he could think with a clear head.

“It’s been a really long day, and thanks to Declan, I’m really sticky,” he said. “I’m just going to turn in for the night. Do you mind closing the bays and locking up for me?”

“Not at all,” she said. “What about the stuff in the truck?”

“Leave it. I’ll take care of it in the morning.”

“Okay,” she said, taking a step back. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“See you.”

Tad left the shop, and made a beeline for the house. His cock had been swollen since she’d touched him with the towels, and he needed a cold shower more than his next breath.

What you need is to go back and get Audrey!

Maybe, but he’d have to settle for the shower.

The thought of claiming his mate—and letting the past go—still scared the shit out of him.

Chapter Four

Tad ducked his head under the ice cold water, and rinsed out all of the shampoo.

When he’d made it to the house, he’d taken the stairs to the master bedroom two at a time, and stripped out of the rest of his clothes in record time. The sweet smell of the lemonade surrounded him as he’d made a pile on the floor, and thoughts of Audrey filled his mind. 

Hell, who was he kidding.

She’d been on his mind since she’d walked into Declan’s bar almost two weeks ago. Though he tried to keep his distance, she was addicting, and he found himself thinking about her more often than not.

It was one of the reasons he’d started joining her for dinner.

Aside from the fact that her cooking saved him a nightly trip to the diner, and filled the house with amazing, delicious aromas, he’d claimed to accept her nightly invitations based on convenience, but his intentions had been purely selfish. He’d just wanted to get to know her better.

Admitting the truth was hard, but necessary, if he ever wanted to take Declan’s advice and let the past go. Somewhere down deep, buried beneath all of the pain and heartache of long ago, was the desire for a mate.

It was one of the reasons he’d tried so hard with Cindy. Since finding a fated mate was rare, he’d decided to build a life with his ex. It would have worked, too, if she hadn’t been a shifter hating psycho.

Warnings blared in his head, but they were unfounded.

Nothing had given anyone the impression Cindy was anything other than a loving woman. Hell, his Itan had even accepted her into the clan before their mating, and the ruler’s brothers had easily agreed to his decision. If the Abrams’ family couldn’t smell her innate disloyalty, then how could he?

The answer was simple. He couldn’t.

No one could.

His ex was like a needle in a haystack, and he was the one poor soul out of millions who got pricked. The odds of it happening again, especially with a fated mate, were nearly impossible. If he wanted to be happy—truly, unequivocally happy—then he had to accept Audrey into his heart.

If she agreed to be his mate, she wouldn’t betray him.

After twenty minutes in the arctic-like water, his overheated skin had finally begun to cool, but his cock remained in a semi-hard state. Semi-hard he could do. In fact, anything other than rock hard and throbbing was a welcome relief.

He dried off, and climbed into bed completely naked. The soft cotton sheets felt good on his skin, and he welcomed the way the top sheet seemed to mold against his body.

He heard Audrey moving around in the kitchen, and his bear urged him to get up and join her for dinner. He couldn’t. Not tonight. He needed figure out his next step, and he couldn’t do that sitting across from her.

What if she was sitting on your lap?

And he was rock hard again.

His cock swelled, making the fabric around him tighter, and he wanted to moan from the light teasing sensation. The soft, but firm, hold was how he imagined Audrey would explore him when she wanted to play, and he slid his palm down his covered dick and gently fingered his balls.

He wrapped his other hand around the thick covered shaft, and tightened his grip. He moved his hand slowly at first, exploring every inch of his flesh from the thick base to the large mushroom head, but it wasn’t long before he needed more.

His hands slipped under the sheet and he encircled the hard rod with both hands. One hand tightened around the thick base, and the other pumped up and down the shaft until Tad felt the familiar tingling at the base of his spine.

His dick throbbed in his hand, ready to explode, and another image of Audrey—on her knees with her mouth around his cock—appeared in his mind. The sight pushed him over the edge, and he tightened his grip and pumped harder until warm jets of come landed on his chest.

Exhausted and content, he used the sheet to clean himself up, and then placed it in the pile of clothes he’d started in the bathroom. He pulled a pair of plaid pajama bottoms out of his drawer, carefully donned the soft garment, and laid back down on the bed.

He fell asleep as soon as his head hit the pillow.

***

Audrey knocked on Tad’s door again, and when he didn’t answer for the third time that morning, she slowly turned the knob and inched the wood open.

“Tad,” she called through the crack. “It’s Audrey. Is everything okay?”

When she was again met with silence, she daringly peeked through the crack and saw his still form on the bed. A trickle of alarm raced down her back, and she briefly wondered if she should call Declan.

And say what, exactly?

Yeah, probably not a good idea to call unless there was something to call about. Even though she wouldn’t call herself his roommate, they were friends, sort of, and they shared the same house. Not only that, they worked together. If something wasn’t right, she should be able to handle it. At least at first.

She took a few steps into the room, and glanced around. The space was twice the size of hers, and like most master suites, it had its own built in bathroom. Another step forward revealed a long, duel sink vanity, but she couldn’t see anything else from her position.

Like the rest of the house, all of the furniture was designed in dark brown wood, and the same midnight blue color scheme accented his window, chairs and bedding. It was obvious the same decorator filled the entire home, but Tad’s room had one noticeable difference. Everything was bigger.

He slept on a raised king size bed in the center of the room, and there were two nightstands, one on each side of the bed, instead of one. There were also two tall dressers, and two overstuffed, high-backed reading chairs with a small bistro-style accent table sitting between them.

One of the dressers had three alarm clocks on top, and the monotonous clicking of three separate second hands was the only sound that filled the room. She glanced at Tad again, and when she didn’t see his chest rise and fall, she raised her voice and said his name louder.

He didn’t budge.

Audrey rushed to his side, and placed her fingers on his wrist. She willed her own heart to stop beating wildly so she could hear Tad’s, and at first her body refused to comply. She forced herself to control her breathing, and on the third try she felt a faint, steady heartbeat.

He was alive, but the fact that she could barely detect his pulse still worried her.

“Tad,” she said, nudging his arm. “Tad, wake up.”

One corner of his mouth rose in a half-smile, but otherwise he didn’t move. The smile gave her hope, and she allowed herself to really look at him for the first time since she’d walked into the room.

He slept on the right side of the bed, and the comforter and blanket were folded over on the left half, along with a few throw pillows, the same way they had been the first time she’d spent the night in his guest room.

He laid flat on his back with both arms resting by his sides, and he was bare except for a pair of thin, plaid pajama bottoms. She could see his swollen cock tenting the pants, and the image gave a whole new definition to the phrase, morning wood. It also confirmed whether or not he was as large as he seemed.

All she could say was yes…yes, he was.

She’d also been right about his abs. Eight-pack abs surrounded his belly button, but his bared chest is what held her attention. Smooth taut skin stretched over firm gorgeous pecs, thick wide shoulders, and powerful, heavily defined biceps.

Audrey sat on the edge of the bed, and leaned in to get a better look at his scars. Her heart ached at the sight. Not for the fact that he’d been scarred, they didn’t bother her, but for the pain he’d must have endured when receiving them. He’d said a lover betrayed him, but she had no clue what could leave behind marks like that.

Four six-inch lines swiped across his right pectoral, and then five long lines trailed from his neck to the bottom of his bicep on the same side. The indentions weren’t that deep, but the skin surrounding the grooves was raised and jagged.

The space between each line reminded her of the space between her fingers, and she held her hand in the air over the marks, and winced. The two were nearly a perfect match. Whoever hurt him had used their hands as a weapon.

She called his name again, and when he didn’t answer, she took a deep breath and traced the lines on his pectoral with her finger. The jagged looking skin was bumpy, but surprisingly smooth, and she moved her finger to the long lines starting at his neck to compare.

They felt the same.

When she finished the last line, Tad opened his eyes and smiled at her.

“Hey, sweetheart.”

He placed his hand on the nape of her neck, and pulled her down for a kiss.

Audrey knew he wasn’t fully awake, the fact that he’d called her sweetheart proved it, but she didn’t pull away. Instead, she braced her hand on the mattress, and followed his lead. 

His lips brushed across hers in a soft but firm caress, and her heart melted at the tenderness in his touch. He kissed her again, softly, and then slid his tongue over the seam of her lips, seeking access. She opened her mouth a fraction, and he thrust his tongue inside, fisting her hair, and pulling her closer.

She opened her mouth fully, allowing him total access, and eagerly meeting him stroke for stroke. Her skin tingled, and sparks flew from every nerve ending and raced straight to her core. Her pussy clenched, and liquid heat soaked her panties.

“You’re too far away,” he said, in between kisses. He moved his hand from her hair to her ass, and tried to pull her on top of him. “And you have too many clothes on.”

She wanted to crawl on top of him more than she wanted her next breath, but he’d mistaken her for someone else, and things had already gone too far.

“Tad, it’s Audrey,” she said, carefully.

She watched his smile slowly sink into a frown, and his obvious disappointment was devastating.

“Audrey?” He’d said her name in the form of a question, but she knew he didn’t expect an answer. He glanced around the room, and then met her eyes again. “What’s wrong? What are you doing in here?”

“You didn’t answer when I knocked on the door, and you’ve already missed three appointments this morning. Luckily, they were all drop-offs. Are you okay?”

“What time is it?”

“A little after ten.”

“Shit! I must have forgot to set my alarms,” he said, sitting up.

The rapid movement forced her to stand, and she backed up a couple of steps as he swung his legs over the side of the bed.

“Sorry about that,” he said, standing. “I’ll be down in twenty minutes.”

He raced into the master bathroom, and closed and locked the door.

Chapter Five

Audrey cringed as another wrench hit the floor of the garage. It had been three hours since the kiss, and Tad hadn’t spoken one word to her.

After he disappeared into the bathroom, she’d left his room, returned to the shop, and continued working. He’d arrived twenty minutes later, just like he’d promised, but his anger was a tangible thing that surrounded him like a protective bubble.

He marched into the lobby, glanced at the schedule, and then proceeded to do the repairs in order by appointment time. After each job was finished, he placed the paperwork on the counter next to her, and moved onto the next car.

When she’d first started working there, it hadn’t taken her long to decipher his nearly unreadable code, but he usually made sure she didn’t have any questions before he took off. Apparently, things had changed, and it was all her fault.

God, why did she have to kiss him!

Another loud clank echoed through the building, and she sighed.

They needed to talk, but until that happened, she was taking the rest of the day off.

She closed the computer program she was working in, and then shut down her computer and cleaned off the desk. There were no more appointments scheduled for the day, but even if there were, she would still leave. Tad had been running the shop without a manger before she started working there, and he could do it again. Today, though, he would only have to deal with taking payments and giving people their keys.

She walked into the repair side of the shop, and stood in the open bay opposite the one he was working in.

“The last appointment for the day just dropped off, and I’m going to call it a day,” she said.

“Fine.” He kept working, and didn’t so much as glance in her direction.

“All of the paperwork for the other cars is in the filing system on the counter, and you already know how to take payments.”

“Yes,” he grunted. “I’m pretty sure I can handle it. Believe it or not, I have done this before.”

“Whatever,” she rolled her eyes. “I’ll be back in time to make dinner.”

“If you stay here, you’ll be eating alone,” he said. “I have plans.”

If you stay here…

“Tad…,” she sighed. “Don’t you think we should talk about what happened?”

He growled and stopped working, but he still didn’t look at her.

“No, I don’t,” he said, his voice firm. “Right now I’m trying to decide if I should even let you continue working here.”

Tears pricked her eyes, but she blinked them away.

“Don’t strain yourself,” she retorted. “I’ll move my stuff out tonight.”

He looked up and glared at her. 

“Fine!” he barked.

“Fine!”

Audrey stomped out of the bay, past the house, and into the tree line. She continued the hard and jerky pace until her anger dissolved into sorrow.

She didn’t want to leave her job, or find a new place to live, but none of that mattered compared to Tad’s opinion of her. He’d told her in the beginning that he didn’t want to be her boss because of her feelings, and she’d sworn she could control herself. Unfortunately, she’d lied.

That look though…

She hadn’t gone into his room for the purpose of kissing him. In fact, the thought had never crossed her mind. Okay…it had crossed her mind, but not in that moment. She’d only invaded his privacy because she’d been worried about him.

He was never late for work, and when he hadn’t woken up to her voice, her mind had wandered. His shallow breathing hadn’t helped matters, either, but it was the smile on his face when he did finally wake that had captivated her. She’d wanted him to look at her like that since she first saw him in Declan’s bar.

And she’d wanted to kiss him for just as long.

It was a stupid mistake, but she was wrong, and she needed to apologize.

After she made amends, she’d pack her bags and head back to the B&B, and then tomorrow she’d start looking for another job. Hopefully, Tad wouldn’t tell anyone about her indiscretion.

With a plan in place, she started to turn around, but stopped when she heard the sound of a snapping twig. Suddenly, she realized how quiet the forest was, and fear raced down her spine. She slowly turned back, and saw Clint leaning against a tree less than ten feet away.

“Well, well, well,” he said, pulling a toothpick out of his mouth, and throwing it on the forest floor. “Today must be my lucky day.”

“Not now, Clint,” she said, “I’m really not in the mood.”

His answering laugh was maniacal.

“Do you really think I care, babe?” he asked, flashing a feral smile. “Remember how I said you would regret blowing me off one day? Well, today is the day.”

“What are you going to do, force me to like you?”

She had a feeling he had worse things on his mind, but she refused to say the words and give him any ideas.

“No,” he laughed again. “Something much, much worse.”

One second Clint stood before her, and the next he was replaced by a giant, full-grown grizzly bear. His roar filled the forest, and though she knew not to run from bears, he was no ordinary bear.

Audrey turned on her heal and ran.

She knew she didn’t stand a chance against the bear, but she wasn’t about to stick around and be his next meal, or whatever other sick things Clint had planned. The thought that he should have caught up to her by now skittered through her mind, and she knew he was just toying with her.

When he was ready to catch her, he would.

Branches and twigs on the forest floor whipped at her legs, and she lost her balance on several slippery rocks, but she kept moving without looking back. When she heard the grunts of the bear running behind her, she let out a scream as she broke through the tree-line behind the house.

Tad raced toward her and grabbed her biceps.

“What happened?” he barked.

“Clint! Bear!” she said, trying to catch her breath. “He’s after me.”

“Don’t be afraid, but I need you to listen to me very carefully,” Tad said. “Go into the shop and call Declan. Tell him I need Enforcers on the North Ridge, and then stay inside and wait for me. Do you understand?”

When she didn’t answer right away, he placed both hands on her cheeks and forced her to look at him.

“Audrey, sweetheart, do you understand me?”

She nodded, and he released her.

“Good, now go!”

Tad shifted into an even larger bear than the one chasing her, and then he ran off in the direction she’d just come from.

Tad is a bear, too!

What the hell? Was everyone in this town a bear?

She didn’t have time to think about what that meant right now. Even if he was a bear, Tad was protecting her against Clint, and he’d asked for her help. She ran inside the shop, and pressed the button on the office phone that would speed-dial Declan.

“So soon?” Declan said when he answered. “I really didn’t think I would hear from you for a couple more days.”

“Declan?” she said. “It’s Audrey.”

“Audrey?” he asked, his teasing gone. “Sorry about that. Is everything okay?”

“Clint turned into a bear. He was chasing me, and then Tad turned into a bear and went after him. He told me to tell you he needs Enforcers on the North Ridge.”

“Hold on, but don’t hang up, okay?”

Tears welled up in her eyes, and she nodded because she didn’t trust herself to speak.

“Audrey, honey, I need you to say something. Don’t hang up, okay?” 

“Okay,” she said, her voice wobbly.

She could hear Declan talking, but his voice sounded far away, and she couldn’t make out the words.

“Okay, I’m back. Audrey, are you there?”

“Yes, I’m here,” she said as tears slipped down her face.

“Are you injured? Do you need medical attention?”

“N…no,” she forced out. “I just have some scrapes. Nothing serious.”

“Good. I’m on my way. I’ll be there in five minutes, so just sit tight and wait for me, okay?”

“Okay,” she agreed, wiping her eyes.

Just sit tight! Duh! Where the hell would she go?

Bears were popping up everywhere, and she didn’t know the good ones from the bad, although it stood to reason that good men were also good bears, and vice versa. At least she hoped that was the case because she’d already worked out that Declan was a bear, too, and she hadn’t been the least bit afraid of Tad.

She hadn’t cried because she was afraid.

She’d cried because she’d fallen in love with a bear, and he didn’t love her back.

***

Tad tightened another bolt too tight, and ruined yet another part.

Damn bolt! Damn Plastic! Damn stupid kiss! Fuck!

Why did he have to kiss her? Why did she have to kiss him back?

It had been three hours since the kiss, and so far, he’d broken something on every car he’d touched. At this rate, he wouldn’t have any parts left in his storeroom for the rest of the week, and he and Declan would have to make another run to his supplier a few towns over.

Damn Declan!

If he hadn’t taken his brother’s advice and let Audrey see his scars, then he wouldn’t have gone to bed hard and aching for her, and he wouldn’t have mistakenly kissed her when he woke to find her nearly in his arms.

A band tightened around his heart as he remembered waking up to her beautiful face. She was gorgeous, but there was more to her than beauty, and she made him feel things that he hadn’t felt in a long time. He’d had something like it with Cindy, but with Audrey, it was…more.

She was the one woman in the world made especially for him, and upon finding her in his room, he’d desperately wanted to claim her. When she’d pulled away, her rejection reminded him of why he didn’t want—or need—a mate, and anger and resentment took root.

He’d let it fester for twenty minutes while he’d gotten ready for work, and when he saw her in the shop, it intensified.

So much that he’d said things he didn’t mean.

He didn’t want to eat dinner alone, and he definitely didn’t want her to move out. Instead, he wanted to pick her up the way he’d done in Declan’s bar, carry her up to his room, and finish what they’d started earlier.

Except she didn’t want him.

Fuck!

Tad grabbed a clean rag, and walked out of the bay. He hated flaking out on work, especially when people were depending on him, but he couldn’t do any more today. Audrey was a constant distraction in his mind, and he needed time to mourn over her rejection.

Somehow, when he hadn’t been paying attention, he’d fallen hard for his mate. The funny thing was, he could have sworn she’d fallen for him, too. Not because of the night they’d met, but because of the little things they’d shared over the past two weeks, and the way she’d been so responsive toward his scars.

Based on all that, her reaction to his kiss didn’t add up.

He took a deep breath and replayed the morning in his mind.

She’d allowed him to pull her close, and followed his lead stroke for stroke. In fact, she’d encouraged him to go deeper, and didn’t pull away until he’d tried to pull her on top of him. Then he’d acted like an ass by pretending not to be fully awake.

Fucking idiot!

He’d gone to bed wanting her, ready to accept her into his heart, but he’d never voiced his feelings, so how the hell would she know he’d changed his mind? The look on her face after their kiss hadn’t been rejection, it was heartache. She’d willingly kissed him, and he’d pushed her away when she’d reminded him of her name.

Oh, hell no!

He needed to man up and be the man—and bear—she deserved.

Suddenly, a blood-curdling scream filled the air, and Audrey burst out of the tree-line behind the house. As she came barreling down the hill, a familiar something inside him shattered, and any lingering doubts or reluctance to claim his mate vanished.

The past was gone, dead and buried, and he was looking toward the future.

Their future.

He raced toward Audrey, and grabbed her biceps. 

“What happened?” he barked.

“Clint! Bear!” she said, trying to catch her breath. “He’s after me.”

“Don’t be afraid, but I need you to listen to me very carefully,” Tad said. “Go into the shop and call Declan. Tell him I need Enforcers on the North Ridge, and then stay inside and wait for me. Do you understand?”

When she didn’t answer right away, he placed both hands on her cheeks and forced her to look at him.

“Audrey, sweetheart, do you understand me?”

She nodded, and he released her.

“Good, now go!”

He shifted into his bear, and raced toward the tree-line.

Tad picked up Clint’s foul scent easily, and he ran in the direction of the felon. Humans weren’t supposed to know about the existence of shifters unless they were mated to one of them, but Clint didn’t know Audrey was his mate. That meant he’d shown himself for the purpose of forcing a mating, or forcing her demise. Both were illegal and punishable by death.

Tad followed Clint’s scent to a secluded cave about a mile from the house, but when he approached the opening, the other bear attacked him from above. Luckily, Tad had been expecting the trick, and dodged the first swipe of Clint’s claws.

They wrestled on the forest floor, and Tad managed to dodge all of Clint’s swings except one. Luckily, the attack had been weak, and he’d barely broken the skin. Tad, on the other hand, struck hard and fast, seeking vengeance for his mate. By the time the Enforcers arrived, Clint had passed out from the assault.

Once his rival was in the custody of the Enforcers, he ran back home.

Back to his mate.

***

Tad shifted outside his shop, and breathed a sigh of relief when he saw Declan’s truck. It meant Audrey had followed his directions, and hopefully his brother had been able to keep her calm while they waited for him to return.

He glanced down at his shirt and realized it was covered in blood. It was his enemies’ blood, but he didn’t want to worry his mate, so he pulled the garment over his head and dropped it in the garbage can. She’d already seen him shirtless, and he knew he had nothing to hide.

He walked into the open bay, and saw both Audrey and Declan standing at the counter talking. She looked relaxed, but as soon as she saw him, she ran over and jumped on him, wrapping her arms around his neck and her legs around his waist. He slid his hands under her ass, and he nuzzled her neck.

“Are you okay?” she asked. “I was so worried.”

“I’m fine,” he said, “but we don’t have a lot of time, and we need to talk.”

He carried her to the counter, and nodded at Declan.

“I’ll wait outside.”

“What’s going on? Declan wouldn’t tell me anything.”

“I love you,” he blurted. “I know you probably have about a zillion questions, but we’re short on time, so I have to talk now and you have to listen. I love you. I’ve loved you almost from day one, but I was resisting it because of these scars.”

She opened her mouth to say something, but he put his finger up to her lips.

“My ex used a flesh-eating poison called Carvrix, or Carve for short, and left me for dead. Luckily, she didn’t cut near deep enough, but after that, I swore off women. Until you. Not every shifter has one, but you’re my fated mate, Audrey. That means that you’re the one woman in the world made especially for me.

“I’ve been fighting my feelings for you since that night in the bar, and I knew it was you in my bed this morning. I didn’t get angry because of the kiss, I got angry because it stopped. I went to bed last night with every intention of talking to you today, but things haven’t been going exactly as planned.”

Her giggle made him smile, and he continued.

“The problem we now face is the fate of your life. Our Itan, the clan leader, is on his way, and we need a plan. Humans can’t know about shifters unless they’re married to one, so you need to either mate with me, or another bear, within twenty-four hours.”

“Or what?” she asked.

“Or be killed.”

Tad turned to see Ty Abrams, the town sheriff, and leader of the bear clan, standing a few feet away with Declan by his side. He briefly wondered why his brother hadn’t warned him about the Itan’s arrival, but he quickly pushed the thought aside. He had more important things to worry about.

He turned back to Audrey, and placed his hands on her waist.

“Don’t be afraid” he whispered.

She nodded, and he lifted her off the counter, letting her slide down his body until her feet touched the floor.

“Itan,” Tad said. “This is Audrey Harris.”

“It’s nice to meet you, Audrey,” Ty said. “I wish it was under better circumstances. I heard Tad explaining your options, but I’ll repeat them so there’s no misunderstanding. You can stay here and mate with Tad, or, if you want to meet other bears, you can come with me to the clan compound. You’ll have twenty-four hours to choose a willing mate, but if no choice is made, then you’ll be eliminated.”

“I understand,” she said, speaking directly to Ty. “If he honestly wants to marry me, I’d like to stay with Tad.”

“Hell yes!”

Tad’s holler filled the room, and Declan and Ty laughed.

“I love you, too,” she declared, quietly.

He picked her up and threw her over his shoulder, and then tossed his keys to Declan.

“Close up for me, Dec.”

“No problem, bro,” Declan laughed. “Have fun.”

“Oh my god… Tad, put me down.”

She’d tried to sound firm, but her giggles revealed otherwise.

“Not a chance, sweetheart,” he laughed.

“Thank you, Itan,” he said, nodding once out of respect.

“You’re welcome, Tad,” Ty said. “It’s good to see you smiling again.”

“It feels good, too.”

And it honestly did.

Chapter Six

Audrey laughed as Tad practically ran to the house, and took the stairs two at a time. Dangling upside down like a sack of potatoes wasn’t her ideal way of travel, but Tad’s enthusiasm was contagious, and she couldn’t stop laughing.

“You have a nice ass,” she said, rubbing her palms over his round, perfect globes.

“So do you,” he said, smacking her bottom. “Careful, sweetheart. You keep touching me like that and we won’t make it to the bedroom.”

“Hmmm…” she teased. “That might be fun for next time.”

Seconds later, he burst through the door to the master bedroom, and carried her into the attached bathroom. She’d seen the duel vanity when she’d peeked in earlier, but what she hadn’t seen was a large, roomy shower with two shower heads, and a Jacuzzi style sunken tub.

Consistent with the rest of the house, blue tile accented the room and gave it a comfortable spa-like feeling. Not that it needed it. Any room with a sunken tub big enough for more than one person was automatically her favorite room in the house.

“It’s beautiful in here.”

“I’m glad you think so,” he said. “I want to take a shower and wash off all the dirt and…stuff from my fight with Clint. The fact that I’ve touched you as much as I have already is driving me crazy.”

“Why don’t we shower together?”

“If we do that, our first time will be up against that shower wall. I can’t see you naked and not touch you.”

Yes! Please!

He’d just suggested her ultimate fantasy, but she knew he wasn’t serious.

“Okay, I’ll just wait on the bed.”

She moved to step around him, but he grabbed her arm, and stopped her retreat.

“Do you want the shower?” he asked. “Because I have no problem with that.”

She nodded, and he turned her back toward him.

“We can do whatever you want, sweetheart,” he said. “I just didn’t want you to think I couldn’t control my animal side, or something. If I had my way, I would have taken you on the counter in the shop.”

She smiled, and suddenly realized she’d never be able to hide anything from him.

“Okay, we’re doing that next,” he said. “Or if not next, very soon. I’m fine with christening the whole damn shop, the house and some parts of the forest, too.”

“Do you think it will work?” she asked, afraid to voice her fears. She knew he could lift her, but could he hold her up long enough for sex?

“Do I think sex will work?” he asked, obviously confused.

“No,” she said, clearing her throat. “Sex against the wall.”

“Oh,” he smiled. “Of course, why wouldn’t it?”

“Well, I’m not small, and I’ve never met any man who could manage my weight for something like that.”

“I think you’ve been hanging around the wrong men,” he growled.

“That might be true.”

“Get undressed, sweetheart,” he said, unbuttoning his jeans.

Audrey watched him shed his pants like a deer caught in a headlight. Like the rest of him, his legs were heavily corded with muscle, and she found everything about him sexy…including his feet. His thick, hard cock bobbed against his abs, and she couldn’t wait to be filled by him.

He turned on the water, and she studied his hard ass, until he disappeared behind the partition separating the shower from the tub.

She grabbed the hem of her shirt, and then hesitated as her ex’s hateful words about her body floated through her mind. He’d told a town full of people she was disgusting. What if Tad felt the same way? Would he send her to the clan compound to find another bear to mate with? What if no one wanted her? Would she be put to death because she was too ugly?

Tad stepped out of the spray, and walked across the tile floor to stand in front of her. He was dripping wet from head to toe, and big drops of water merged to form puddles on the floor.

He grabbed the hem of her t-shirt, and pulled the garment up her waist, forcing her to raise her arms so he could remove it completely. He threw the shirt on the floor, and reached around her back to undo her bra. He pulled the lace down her arms carefully, and then added it to the pile her shirt had formed.

He moved his hands to the button on her shorts, and then he linked his thumbs in the bands of both her shorts and panties, and pushed both down her legs. When the fabric hit the floor, he helped free her completely from the items, and added them to the pile.

She could feel his breath on her skin as he slowly stood, and then again when he leaned in for a scorching hot kiss. It was better than their first kiss because neither wondered what the other wanted, and by the time they separated, they were both breathing heavy.

Tad grabbed a towel from a cabinet hidden in the wall, and spread it out over the puddles covering the floor. He led her back into the shower, grabbed the soap, and proceeded to caress every imperfect inch of her skin.

“You are so beautiful,” he said, palming her breasts.

He gently flicked his thumbs over her nipples, and she grabbed the partition in an effort to stay upright. When he reached her generous belly, she forced herself not to flinch as he smoothed his hands over every hill and valley.

“Mmm…all mine,” he said, kissing her belly button.

He moved lower, and when he slid his hand between her legs, fire raced to her core from every nerve ending. She opened her stance, silently begging for more, but he continued caressing her legs all the way down to her toes.

When she didn’t think she could take any more teasing, he lifted one of the massaging shower heads out of its holder, and rinsed the soap off of every part of her body. When he reached the aching bundle of nerves between her legs, he turned the dial on the massager, and then held the pulsing water directly over her clit.

She spread her legs even further apart, and he slid a finger into her pussy. Her answering moan was met with another finger, and then another.

Audrey let go of the partition, grabbed her heavy, sensitive breasts, and started rolling her hard nipples between her thumbs and forefingers. Her moans echoed around the room, and her pussy throbbed wildly around his fingers.

“Tad, please,” she begged. “I’m going to come.”

He pulled his fingers out of her cunt, and dropped the shower head. She didn’t have time to mourn the loss of his touch, because he lifted her up against the wall, and slammed his cock deep in one powerful thrust.

The cry she made didn’t sound human, and he immediately stilled.

“Are you okay?” he worried.

“Hell, yes,” she sighed. “Fuck me, Tad.”

He held her up easily as he moved his dick in and out of her pussy, and Audrey lost count of how many times she came. Multiple orgasms had never been something she’d been able to experience, but she wasn’t about to complain.

Tad reached between them, pressed his thumb against her pussy, and she felt his cock start to throb. He moved his hips faster, until both of their cries filled the air, and then he sank his canines into the juncture between her neck and shoulder. His bite sent another orgasm spiraling through her, and he stayed buried deep inside her core as she came again.

They stayed joined together until their breathing resembled something normal, and then Tad shut off the water, and carried her to the bed.

She’d found out from Declan that bear shifters had a strong urge to hibernate, which explained all of Tad’s alarm clocks, so she wasn’t surprised when he fell asleep almost as soon as his head hit the pillow.

Audrey was exhausted, too, but sleep came slower for her.

Probably because she was making a mental list of all the fun, sexy things she could do to try and wake her bear.

It was a long list, but luckily, she had a lifetime to get through it.

The End

About the Author

I’m a USA Today Bestselling Author of sizzling, sexy, shifter romance.

Until I find my own tall, muscle bound, alpha shifter…I’ll keep writing about them.

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Discover the series that inspired the More Than Mated KindleWorld!

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Visit Celia at www.celiakyle.com!

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Small town girl Kacie has always known there was something odd about Lizards Lick, but she doesn't expect that oddity to almost claim her life or land her in the arms of her long-term crush; hot veteran Dean. Okay, he's nuts but she can't argue with that, not with a body like his or when he's whispering things like 'fated' and 'destiny'. Even if he does claim to be a werebear...

She's his mate, but she's human. He's so screwed...

Leader of the Lizard Lick bear clan, Dean is between a rock and a hard place. His fated mate is human but he daren't claim her. The elitist asshats in the clan would have kittens. But when an attack brings her over into the bear world, he's out of time and out of options. Even worse, the town has an rogue bear problem and internal clan politics that put Kacie in the crossfire.

Forced to fight battles on all fronts, Dean must bear up or risk losing her forever...

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Un-Bear-able Love

by K. Collins

Lily Love is running—from her father—from her future husband—from her life. When a message flashes across her computer screen claiming open season in Grayslake, she takes her only chance to experience life before her father drags her back to Montana to bear an heir for the clan. Once in Grayslake, her quest for anonymity vanishes when she’s forced to register at the sheriff’s office as a guest. It’s there she meets Eli Silver. Big, tall, and grumbly, Eli prickles her senses in ways she can’t explain.

Werebear Eli Silver lives alone in the woods. After a painful betrayal, he’s sworn off love for good and is happiest when it’s just him and his bees. Or so he thinks, until a curvy, beautiful woman walks into his life and stings him right in the heart. Every roaring cell of his body wants to claim Lily, there’s only one problem—she’s not willing to commit.

With the past swarming around them, can Eli and Lily dig deep to find the courage their love requires? Find out in Unbearable Love.

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Dirty Lion Bastard

by Renee George

Curvy tiger shifter Scottie Monroe, along with her mom and Aunt Tig, own the Pitch & Paw Bar and Motel--a neutral safe haven for shifters passing through the territories and want to avoid conflicts. Scottie has a hard fast rule. No hooking up with the customers, but that was before tall, dark, and flirty Shane Largos walked through her door.

Shane, a lion shifter, has travelled to Georgia to find the man who walked out on his human mother after getting her pregnant, leaving her with a bastard shifter son, and no pride to protect either of them. Shane plans to challenge his father, as is his right, even if it means he’ll probably be killed.

From the moment Shane meets Scottie, his animal and human side want her more than he wants air to breathe. A lie of omission leads to a night of scorching passion, but when Scottie discovers Shane’s real purpose for coming to Georgia, she is determined to save him from himself, even if it means putting herself in harms way.

Can Shane’s love for Scottie overshadow his long standing anger? Or is hate and revenge stronger than a shifter’s instinct to claim his mate.

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UnBearable Secrets

by Terra Wolf

Family drama and bear politics has driven Olivia Bradwick on a vacation to Grayslake. Finally, she can enjoy some peace and quiet, or so she thinks. When the handyman at the local B&B stumbles into her bathroom, she realizes he might be the escape she came looking for. But Sam isn’t as innocent as his seems and Olivia must decide if she can trust him at all.

Sam Hunter is running. He’s left home and all of his Louisiana comforts behind for a life of solitude. He truly believes it’s the only way to not end up like his blood thirsty father. But when a cute little werebear shows up at the B&B he can’t help but fall for her. He knows that if he claims her though, it’ll ruin everything.

Olivia and Sam both have skeletons in their closets. Together they must decide if they can overcome their past to be together in this Romeo and Juliet-esque landscape.