Bear in Trouble: BBW Paranormal Holiday Shape Shifter Romance (Shadow Bears Book 2) Read online

  Bear in Trouble

  (Shadow Bears, Book 2)

  Ruby Shae

  Bear in Trouble

  (Shadow Bears, Book 2)

  Copyright 2015 by Ruby Shae

  All rights reserved. Except for use in any review, the reproduction or utilization of this work, in whole or in part, in any form by any electronic, mechanical or other means now known or hereafter invented, is forbidden without the written permission of the author.

  The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. Criminal copyright infringement (including infringement without monetary gain) is investigated by the FBI and is punishable by up to 5 years in federal prison and a fine of $ 250,000.

  Please purchase only authorized electronic editions and do not participate in, or encourage, the electronic piracy of copyrighted materials. Your support of the author’s rights is appreciated.

  This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the products of the author’s imagination or used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

  About This Book

  Caleb Montgomery has been in love with his roommate forever, but has kept silent out of fear. He’d agreed to a sexual relationship, in the hopes that she’d change her mind, but she never did. On the eve of Valentine’s Day, he decides he can no longer live in silence, and plans to tell her the truth on the day of love.

  Tall, curvy, Marianne Harris has always known she wasn’t Caleb’s type, but when he offered her a friend’s with benefits relationship, she couldn’t say no. The approach of Valentine’s Day reminds her of how they met, and what her fate will be when Caleb finds the one.

  When Caleb finds out Marianne contacted the Matchmaker for a date, anger and jealousy replace his fear and he lets her go without a fight. Marianne knows she must take drastic measures, or she’ll never be able to move on, but her heart aches for her bear. When two bears who love each other keep silent, the Matchmaker steps in and helps a bear in trouble.

  Bear in Trouble

  (Shadow Bears, Book 2)

  By Ruby Shae

  Chapter One

  Caleb Montgomery stared at the ceiling, gritted his teeth, and looked at the clock again. It read almost two in the morning and he cursed. His roommate, Marianne, had gone to an Anti-Valentine’s Day party and he’d expected her back hours ago.

  Sometime over the past year, he’d become so dependent on her being in his bed, that he couldn’t sleep without her curvy body plastered against his. Though they lived in his two bedroom home, she rarely slept in her own bed, and he never wanted her to again.

  A little over a year ago, Marianne found her boyfriend fucking a stranger at a house party of one of their mutual friends. He’d been at the party, and the noises coming from the bathroom had been heard by everyone at least once. It became a joke to see who would come out of the room, and a small crowd had gathered to see who had put on the show of a lifetime.

  He hadn’t cared who would emerge, and sat in the kitchen munching on appetizers when Marianne ran down the stairs with tears streaming down her face. She’d grabbed her coat and purse, intent on rushing out into the night, but he’d stopped her and offered to drive her home.

  As they’d left the party, he’d looked back to see her boyfriend kissing the woman he’d been with in the hallway as the crowd cheered them on once again.

  That night had changed both his and Marianne’s lives, and neither one of them had stayed friends with anyone in that crowd.

  Instead of taking her back to the place she’d shared with her boyfriend, he took her to his home and they stayed up most of the night talking. He’d known then that he wanted more than friendship with her, but her wound was raw and she was too vulnerable, so he didn’t mention his attraction when he offered her his spare room.

  His sister had vacated it several months before when she’d accepted a job in Shadow Ridge, a neighboring town nearly four hours away.

  Six months after Marianne moved in, they spent their first Valentine’s Day together, and shared their first kiss. He still remembered it like it was yesterday.

  They’d both wanted to avoid seeing happy couples everywhere, and decided to remain home and stay up all night watching movies. Sometime during the night, they’d fallen asleep, and woken in each other’s arms. When they came face to face, it felt like they’d been together for years. They’d both leaned in and met in the middle.

  When her lips touched his, it was as if he’d been struck by lightning.

  He’d been certain she was his mate, and eagerly kissed her a second time, but disappointment flared when she pushed him away. They were friends, nothing more, and she didn’t want to complicate things with a relationship. In an effort to oblige her concerns, and hopefully change her mind over time, he’d suggested they become friends with benefits.

  Marianne had reluctantly agreed, and they’d been sharing a bed ever since.

  If it hadn’t been for their agreement, he would have marked her that first night and never looked back. Instead, he’d been living a year in turmoil.

  He loved her.

  He’d known it since their first kiss, and probably before that, if he were being completely honest. He’d felt connected to her since that night at the party, and the only reason he hadn’t acted then was because of the pain she’d been through.

  He’d wanted to tell her the truth almost since the beginning, but fear had stopped him. If she didn’t feel the same, she would move out and end their arrangement. He couldn’t stand to lose her, but he wanted more.

  He wanted everything.

  What does she want?

  If he only knew. Things would be easier if he could decipher her feelings, and know for sure how she felt, but Marianne masked her emotions too well. He’d seen her do it with her family and friends, especially after her last breakup, and he knew she did it to him, too. One minute, he’d be positive she loved him, and the next, she was rolling out of bed and resuming the friend role.

  He glanced at the clock again, and growled.

  He couldn’t live another year like this. Tomorrow night, Valentine’s Day, he would confess his feelings. If she left him, then at least he could say he’d manned up and told her the truth. With the decision made, a sense of peace filled him, and he closed his eyes.

  A second later, he heard the key in the door and opened them again.

  Marianne leaned against the doorjamb to his room and smiled.

  She was above average height for both bear shifters and humans, and at five feet, eleven inches tall, she was only three inches shorter than him. Unlike most men, he liked tall women, and though she wasn’t totally comfortable with her curves, they only added to his desire. Her tall, curvy frame made his dick hard just looking at her. Her long black hair was as dark as his, and her blue eyes were dark like sapphires. He’d never met another woman who compared to her beauty. The fact that she was a black bear shifter, too, made her perfect.

  “Did you have fun?” he asked.

  “Yes. CeCe is crazy. She had new games and one of them involved a treasure hunt in our bear forms. I won this bracelet,” she held out her arm and shook her wrist around. Tiny bells made a tinkling sound, and it reminded him of what a fairy might sound like.

  “Are you coming to bed?”

  “Yeah, in a minute. I just need to change my clothes.”

  “Good, because I need to feel you next to me,” he confessed.

 
“I’m really tired.”

  She took it the wrong way, but he decided to go with it. If she did leave, he wanted to make love to her one last time.

  “Don’t worry, baby. I’ll do all the work.”

  “I bet you will,” she laughed, and walked down the hall toward her room.

  ***

  Marianne Harris walked into her bedroom and stripped out of her clothes.

  Her friend CeCe threw an Anti-Valentine’s Day party every year, sometime around the holiday, and this year it had been the Saturday night before. Party goers consisted of both mated and single women, which turned the party into an elaborate girl’s night out event, instead of a true shunning of the holiday.

  Earlier in the evening, when she’d looked around at all of the women laughing and having a good time, she’d realized she needed to make some changes in her life. Tomorrow would mark the one year anniversary of her and Caleb’s sexual relationship, and it was time to move on.

  One year ago, they’d accidentally kissed and it turned her world upside down. There had been a spark, and she’d never felt one with any other man. She’d been convinced they were mates, and had been hurt when Caleb suggested they remain friends with benefits. She’d reluctantly agreed, hopeful he would change his mind, but he never did.

  She spent nearly every night in his room, and it was as if they were already mated except he hadn’t said the words, or marked her. Instead, he’d become complacent and relied on her to always be there, waiting with her legs open.

  He’d never been crude about it, or put her down in any way, but she knew he wouldn’t settle down with someone who looked like her. Men wanted small, petite, beautiful, blond women, not curvy, dark-haired Amazons.

  What would happen when he did meet the one? She’d be out on the street with a broken heart. She’d known that feeling before, and never wanted to experience it again.

  It was time to move out…and move on.

  She donned a simple cotton nightshirt, and headed back to Caleb’s room.

  An invisible band tightened around her heart when she realized tonight would be the last time they ever made love. She’d dreamed so often for more, it was hard to appear normal when her heart ached. She blinked away the tears and crawled into bed next to him.

  He scrutinized her face, and pushed a lock of her long hair behind her ear.

  “What’s wrong?” he asked, his forehead wrinkled with worry.

  “Nothing,” she said. “It’s past my bedtime.”

  “Well, then let’s get this show on the road.”

  He moved down between her legs and pushed her nightshirt up. He groaned when her uncovered, shaved pussy came into view.

  “No panties?” he asked.

  “I didn’t see the point,” she shrugged.

  “Did you wear panties to the party?” he asked, all humor gone from his voice.

  He sounded possessive, dominant, and angry all rolled into one. She loved it when he used that voice, and she felt her lower lips quiver and become moist.

  “Maybe,” she answered playfully.

  His face hardened, and then he pushed her legs open.

  “Yes or no?”

  “Hmmm… Let me think.”

  He leaned forward and licked her. His tongue started at her wet opening and then slid up to her clit. When he found the hardened nub, the sucked it into his mouth and flicked it with the tip of his tongue.

  Marianne screamed his name, and he did the same action again. She pulled on his hair, desperate to keep him in one place, but he maneuvered around her pussy easily. Over and over he repeated the controlled movements, until she was on the verge of orgasm. Her whole body tingled and she shoved her pelvis in his face, only to have him pull away.

  Her pussy contracted repeatedly, trying to latch onto him, and her essence flowed freely.

  “Caleb,” she begged. “I’m so close. Please don’t stop.”

  “I’ll give you what you want after you answer the question,” he said in that same demanding voice.

  She grabbed her breasts, still covered by her nightshirt, and squeezed them hard. She rubbed her hard nipples roughly with her palms, and felt as if she was going to explode. She didn’t want to come without him. Not this time.

  “What question? What are you talking about? Caleb, please!”

  “Did you wear panties to the party?”

  “What? Yes, of course I did.”

  “Good,” he said and slammed his dick into her cunt.

  She screamed something akin to a wounded animal and Caleb pounded into her harder. He balanced on his hands and moved in and out of her with lightning speed. She could only hold onto his shoulders and enjoy the ride.

  “Touch yourself, baby doll,” he commanded.

  God, she loved it when he called her that. It was mostly in the bedroom, but sometimes he let it slip when they were in public. She’d always liked the feeling of belonging to him. She followed his directions and slid her fingers between them. When she found her clit, she pressed hard on the nub. His movements moved her hand back and forth, and the resulting friction pushed her over the edge.

  Her scream and his loud moan filled the room, and echoed around them in the darkness. He leaned down and kissed her gently on the lips and it was the same as it had been all those months ago. Sparks flew and electricity seemed to race along her skin, bursting out of her fingers and toes.

  “I…,” he drifted off and hope flared until he continued, “That was amazing.”

  He pulled out and lay down beside her, and she turned toward him and pressed her body against his. He closed his arms around her, as if to keep her safe.

  “Yes, it was,” she whispered, sleepily. “Thank you.”

  “Huh?” he asked.

  “Good night,” she said, and kissed him on the chest.

  “Good night, baby doll.”

  She smiled at the endearment, and drifted off to sleep.

  Chapter Two

  Caleb looked down at Marianne and smiled. He would never get tired of watching her, another indication she was meant to be his. He’d woken up a few minutes earlier, and after a quick glance at the clock, decided he didn’t need to wake her for another ten minutes.

  Her soft breathing tickled his chest, and his arm felt sore from its folded position under his pillow, but seeing her in his bed, with her long hair fanned out against his pillow, still did something to him even though he’d seen the image hundreds of times.

  Her eyelids blinked open and she frowned until she glanced up and saw him looking down at her. Like all the other times she’d hidden her emotions, the mask was back in place, but her smile was weak. He decided to ignore it. For now.

  Later, when he had more time, he would find out the truth.

  “Good morning, baby doll.”

  “Good morning,” she said. “What time is it?”

  “It’s almost twelve. What some coffee?”

  “Yes, please.”

  He kissed the top of her head, rolled out of bed, and walked into the kitchen while shaking out his arm. He heard her get up, and a few minutes later she joined him and pulled two mugs out of the cabinet.

  She cleared her throat three times before she spoke.

  “I need to talk to you about something,” she said, tentatively.

  “I have something I’d like to discuss with you, too, but it will have to wait until tonight. I have to meet Fiona for lunch soon. Would you like to join us?”

  “No, I can’t. I have some things I need to do around here, and tonight… Tonight I have a date.”

  “You have a date?” he asked, incredulous.

  “Yes, is that so hard to believe?” she snapped.

  “Yes, no, I mean… You have a date?” He couldn’t believe it. He’d waited over a year to tell her his feelings, and she was going out with someone else. On Valentine’s Day.

  “Yes, I do. Don’t act so surprised. Lots of men think I’m worth more than a quick fuck.”

  “Hey.” She tri
ed to walk past him, but he grabbed her arm and looked down into her deep blue eyes. “That’s not fair, and you know that’s not what I meant. I’m just surprised you’re going out tonight. It’s Valentine’s Day.”

  “Yes, I know and I’m tired of spending it alone.”

  Her words shocked him. He let go of her and moved to the coffee pot. She didn’t rush out of the room like he thought she would, instead, she faced him.

  “Caleb…I—”

  “Don’t worry about it. I understand what you mean. So, who is this guy?”

  “I’m not sure. The Matchmaker is setting it up.”

  The Matchmaker!

  “You called the Matchmaker instead of spending the night with me?”

  The Matchmaker was an old she-bear who lived in the woods on the outskirts of town. For a fee, she would provide a date for an evening. Usually, her matches ended in nothing more than a lovely night out, but every once in a while, they turned into more.

  “Truthfully, you hadn’t discussed your plans with me and I didn’t want to be alone. Enlisting the Matchmaker’s help seemed like a good idea.”

  It made sense. He hadn’t had the guts to speak up, and now she was going on a date with another man. Even though most dates ended with a handshake, she’d probably find the love of her life and he’d never see her again. Irrational anger and jealousy raced over his skin and he had to get away from her, otherwise he’d chain her to the bed and never let her leave the house again.

  “You’re right. I hope it goes well for you,” he said in his best, supportive voice. “I have to get ready to leave. I’ll see you later.”

  He placed his cup in the sink and strode into his bedroom with deliberate, calm footsteps. He wanted to stomp across the room, and slam the door, but if he acted like a jealous boyfriend, she’d know the true depth of his feelings.

  Instead, he opted for calm, cool and collected.

  He could do this.

  ***