Lost Bear Read online

  His offer was akin to admitting he wanted her as much as she wanted him. The declaration only made her want him more, but it was also the reason she had to decline. For her plan to work, she needed to have a place to go and get away from him when necessary.

  “Thank you, Dave,” Emma said, “but I think I’ll check out the five star hotel. I haven’t been in my human form in a long time, and I’d like to pamper myself a bit.”

  “Well, I had to offer,” he said, tense after her refusal. “Especially since you’ve been hanging around outside for the last two days.”

  Everyone laughed and his shoulders relaxed a bit.

  She admired his gumption, and she wanted to stay with him, but she needed time to be a girl again before she moved in with a man. She needed to shave her legs, soak in a hot bubble bath, dance around the room naked and paint her toenails.

  Her hair was always big and wild, with an occasional strand flying around haphazardly, but she could only imagine what the rest of her looked like. She glanced down to her jeans and t-shirt and grimaced. Dirt laced the hem of her pants and her t-shirt was worn, faded and dirty. How could she have entered his house looking the way she did?

  Embarrassment rose to the surface and she stood, effectively silencing everyone in the room.

  “I’m sorry, but I’m really tired. I’d like to go now, if that’s okay.”

  “I have to get Katie home to rest, too,” Gage said. “We’ll drive you down to the hotel, Emma, and let you get situated.”

  “Thank you,” she said, “and thank you, Dave. For the burger, and well…everything.”

  He followed them to the door, and held it open as they all filed out.

  “You’re welcome,” he said. “I’ll see you soon.”

  His voice held something more than a command, it held determination. Her time away from him was limited. She knew he’d come for her sooner than later.

  Chapter Four

  Dave stormed into the sheriff’s office and hastily crossed the room when he saw the sheriff sitting behind his desk. He placed his palms on the wood and leaned over, hovering over the man. If he had been anyone else, his threat would have been immediately acknowledged and returned, but Gage didn’t even flinch. His actions proved their relationship went beyond that of mere coworkers.

  “Your cousin is avoiding me,” he huffed.

  “Really?” Gage laughed.

  “Yeah, really. Did you tell her not to go out with me?”

  “What? No,” Gage said, all teasing gone from his voice. “Why would you think that?”

  “I don’t know,” Dave said. He sat down at his desk and sighed. “Maybe because I’m not a bear, or you don’t think I’m good enough for her.”

  “Emma’s parents are both bears, and so are mine, but shifters usually mate with humans, and I’m mated to a human, so that’s not an issue. Whether or not you’re good enough is for her to decide, but I’d be happy to have you as her mate.”

  His friend’s easy acceptance pushed away some of his anger, but his frustration lingered.

  “Mate? I can’t even get her to go out with me,” Dave said.

  “She won’t go out with you?”

  “No, she’s been avoiding me like the plague for two days. Yesterday I went to the hotel to invite her to dinner and she wouldn’t even open the door. Today, I called to ask her for lunch and she said she’s having lunch with you. When I offered dinner instead, she said she had plans for the evening.”

  “I don’t know about yesterday, but she does have plans today. Katie invited her over for lunch, and then they’re going shopping. I’m sure she wants to get some stuff of her own; she’s been borrowing from Kate since she shifted back.”

  “Yeah, that makes sense,” he sighed. “I guess I overreacted. I just thought…,” he trailed off.

  “Thought what?”

  “I thought she was into to me, too. When our hands touched, it was…never mind. I don’t want to talk to you about this. It doesn’t help that I made a fool out of myself on Wednesday night, and everyone knows it. I think I put too much stock in an already stressful situation.”

  “I think you need to give her some time,” Gage said knowingly. “She said she wanted to pamper herself, and she probably needs some time alone in her human form. I’m almost positive she wanted to accept your offer, but the reason she stayed a bear so long might have something to do with it. I’ll let her give you the details, but I will say that she hasn’t seen a whole lot of good from any of the men she’s dated.”

  “That’s probably because she’s only dated assholes.”

  “We know that, but I don’t think she does,” Gage said. “Do you still want to go to the city tomorrow night?”

  “Hell no! Right now, all I want to do is take Emma out to dinner.”

  “How about giving her a ride home?”

  “Huh?” Dave asked.

  “Why don’t I invite her to dinner tomorrow night? We can have a barbeque, let her meet everyone, and then work it so you have to drive her home. I’ll send everyone home early, and,” he waved his hand between them, “you know, I won’t be able to do it because Kate will need me or something. Then you come in and save the day. You’ll have a few minutes alone with her, and that’s when you ask her out. I have a feeling she won’t be able to say no once you’re face to face.”

  “That might work.”

  “It might, and even if it doesn’t, you can talk to her during dinner. You’ll get to spend time with her, and get to know her better, too.”

  “Okay, let’s do it. Do I need to bring anything?”

  “No, just your charming self,” Gage said, then laughed hard and loud.

  “Very funny, asshole.”

  “I thought so,” he said, a smug expression on his face.

  Dave shook his head and proceeded to continue the report he’d been working on earlier. He’d already made his morning rounds, but the paperwork he’d put off for the past few days still waited.

  He pushed Emma from his mind, even when Gage left for lunch with her and Kate, but hope drove him to work diligently to rid his desk of paperwork. If he could convince Emma to go out with him, he didn’t want any reasons to stay at work longer than necessary.

  When it was time for his evening rounds, the only things left on his desk were his empty basket, computer and nameplate. Gage came back from his afternoon errands and stopped in his tracks.

  “Whoa, you weren’t kidding.”

  “What are you talking about?” Dave asked.

  Gage glanced back and forth between their two desks and laughed.

  “You’ve got it bad.”

  “Whatever,” Dave said. He tried to play it cool, but from the look on Gage’s face, he hadn’t succeeded.

  Dammit!

  “I’ll see you tomorrow,” he said, defeated.

  “Come over at six,” Gage said, “and don’t be late. Emma already agreed to come.”

  He was sure Gage hadn’t meant to put dirty thoughts in his head, but for the whole drive home, all he could think about was Emma coming around his cock, and screaming out his name as he pleasured her in every way imaginable.

  He pulled into his driveway, shut off the engine, and groaned when he thought about the long night ahead of him.

  ***

  Emma briskly walked down the dimly lit streets until she reached Dave’s home. All of the lights were off and she hesitated before racing up the driveway and hiding under the overhang in front of his door.

  She’d been in hell the last two days, and after refusing his dinner and lunch invites, she’d stayed away from him as long as possible. She wanted him, and he seemed to want her in return, but she’d tried to prolong the inevitable and now she was sneaking around like a thief in the night.

  Lunch with Kate and Gage had been pleasant. She’d missed her cousin, and his mate was perfect. Their obvious love for each other threatened to resurrect buried dreams from the past, and she’d had to fight hard not to allow herself
to wish for a love like theirs. She refused to raise her hopes, only to fall victim to a cheating man. Again.

  Men couldn’t be trusted, and sooner or later they all cheated. She thought about Gage and realized maybe all was too broad a term, but then justified it by claiming him an oddity.

  Gage had invited her to a barbeque the following day, and mentioned Dave would be there as well. Spending the night making small talk and dancing around what they both obviously wanted seemed ridiculous.

  After a long drive into the city, followed by a surprisingly successful shopping trip, she’d decided to save them both a lot of awkward moments and break the ice with Dave tonight.

  If he went along with her plan, they could ease some of the sexual energy surrounding them and enjoy the barbeque rather than thinking about sex all night. Granted, she’d probably still think about it, but it would be easier to face him knowing she’d be able to touch him later with no strings attached.

  If he goes along with your plan!

  She pushed the doubts out of her mind and took a deep breath. She’d never admit the truth out loud, but Dave was her mate. He was the one man on earth made especially for her. The chances of him not wanting her were slim, and besides, what man turned down free sex with no commitment? He’d have to be crazy to decline her offer.

  Mate or not, sooner or later he would find someone better, and when he did, she would have the memories of their perfect time together. They would carry her through the many long and lonely years ahead.

  She let out the breath she’d been holding and rang the doorbell.

  Minutes passed and she raised her hand to ring the bell again when she heard movement on the other side of the door.

  “Emma?”

  He turned the lock, opened the door and pulled her inside.

  “What’s wrong? What are you doing here?” he asked as he pushed her behind him.

  He scanned the area in front of his home, and then closed the door, shutting them inside.

  “Is everything okay?”

  He stood before her wearing only his well-worn jeans. He’d left the top button undone and she could see a thin trail of hair leading down below the zipper. His bare, muscular chest flexed as he waited for her answer and her pussy ached to be filled by him. She adjusted her stance and pressed her thighs together, but it didn’t quench her need.

  “I had to see you,” she said. He stood close enough for her to touch and she couldn’t think straight. The words she’d rehearsed on the way over died in her throat.

  “Why? What’s wrong? Are you in danger?” he fired off the questions as if he were interrogating a criminal. His natural need to protect filtered through his every word.

  “No, I’m fine. I’m sorry it’s so late, but I really wanted to see you. Tonight,” she said.

  “Why are you out of breath?”

  Because you’re standing too close and I want to touch you all over.

  “I walked from the hotel.”

  “You walked here? Alone? At this time of night?”

  “It’s Bear Mountain. I think it’s safe.”

  “If you thought that, you wouldn’t be out of breath. Why did you want to see me?”

  “I have a proposition that couldn’t wait.”

  He raised an eyebrow at her, no doubt on to her reason for showing up on his doorstep after midnight, but he didn’t say a word and motioned for her to precede him into the living room.

  “Do you want something to drink?”

  “Water would be great,” she said, her throat suddenly dry. She’d practiced her speech, but she hadn’t really thought about delivering it to his face. Now that she had him where she wanted him, panic threatened to consume her.

  What if she’d made a mistake and misread his intentions? What if he laughed in her face when she voiced the suggestion? She stood, ready to retrace her steps to the door when he reentered the room carrying a bottle of water.

  “Going somewhere?”

  “No,” she cleared her throat, “just stretching my legs.” She turned the cap on the bottle and gulped down a few swallows of the cold, clear liquid. The cool drink pushed away some of the warmth that had started to spread up her chest, neck and ears, and she sat back down, the courage to voice her needs restored.

  “I’m sorry to bother you, but as I said, I have a plan—”

  “You’re not bothering me,” he interrupted. “I’ve been thinking about you all day, and I’m happy to see you again, especially here in my home. What’s the plan?”

  “Well, I like you, and I think you like me, too—”

  “I do.”

  “But relationships never work out, so I’d like us to be friends with benefits.”

  “You want us to be fuck buddies?” he asked, his features hard. He seemed mad, almost insulted by her proposition, but she didn’t understand why.

  “I wouldn’t say it like that, but yes.”

  “So we agree that we share this amazing connection, but instead of giving a real relationship a go, you just want to be friends.”

  “Friends that have sex. I don’t really see the problem. Most men would be happy to have this kind of relationship.”

  “I’m not most men.”

  “So your answer is no?”

  “I didn’t say that,” he interjected, “but what happens if one of us decides they want more?”

  “Don’t worry. By the time you’re ready to move on, I will be happy to let you go.”

  “So I’m not your mate?” he asked.

  He almost seemed disappointed, but then she remembered he knew about her shifting abilities and the perks of being mated to a shifter.

  Shifters were immortal. They could be seriously injured, and feel pain, but they couldn’t die. When a shifter found his or her mate, their bite, combined with orgasm during unprotected sex, granted the mate the gift of eternal life.

  He’d surprised her when he asked about being her mate, but she couldn’t tell the truth. He’d want immortality, and then leave her when the next pretty girl came to town.

  “No, you’re not,” she lied.

  He studied her for several minutes, and she nearly cracked under his scrutiny. She wished she had the power to read minds, because she desperately wanted to know his thoughts. She had a feeling he knew about her lie, and the realization made him more dangerous.

  If she wasn’t careful, her plan had the power to ruin her.

  “Okay, so how does this work? Can we go out on dates? Hang out whenever we want? Or are we only allowed to see each other in the bedroom?”

  His face remained stoic, but she answered his questions with hope.

  “We’re friends, so we can hang out whenever we want, with the added bonus of sex whenever we want.”

  “That sounds like a girlfriend, boyfriend relationship to me,” he stated.

  “The difference is that when you—or either of us—finds someone new, the sex ends with no hard feelings. We’re just satisfying each other until the right person comes along. In the end, nobody gets hurt, and everybody wins.”

  “Somehow I doubt that,” he said. “I’d prefer to call you my girlfriend, but if this is what you want, then I’m willing to give it a try. I hope you’ll change your mind though, and give us a chance at something more.”

  “I won’t change my mind, so if you think I will then maybe this is a mistake. You’re not my mate, and I won’t mark you. I don’t care how much you beg me to.”

  “Ouch. Okay, so it’s noted that we’re not mates, and we’re only scratching an itch until someone better comes along.”

  “Exactly.”

  “Great,” he said, his voice deadpan. She stared at him, unsure if he was in agreement or about to throw her out. His next words proved men only wanted one thing, and they’d take it under any circumstances.

  “When do we start?”

  Chapter Five

  Dave nearly had a heart attack when Emma showed up on his doorstep. The clock had read thirty minutes after mid
night, and the sight of her through the peep hole had sent his heart racing into overdrive.

  When the prospect of danger had been removed, he rejoiced in her coming to see him. It meant that she felt their connection, too, and wanted to move things forward. His elation was soon replaced by anger, and painful rejection, when she admitted the details of her plan.

  He didn’t know much about her past, but the fact that she assumed he would leave her pissed him off. He only agreed to her harebrained, friends with benefits idea, because he believed she felt more for him than she was willing to admit.

  As she spoke, he concocted his own version of the plan. If they could do anything friends could do, including hang out whenever they wanted, and go on dates, then he would do those things as often as possible. He would try to woo her, and hopefully she would open up to him in the process and accept that all men aren’t like her ex. Or exes. He had a feeling the damage had been done by more than one man.

  “Great. When do we start?” he asked.

  Her smile didn’t reach her eyes, and he had the feeling he’d somehow disappointed her, but she jumped to her feet and asked the location of his bedroom. He told her the general location, and then followed her down the hallway.

  The jeans and sweater she wore looked new, probably the result of her earlier shopping trip, and he watched the way the material hugged her curves as she walked down the hall. He liked the fact that she had a bit of meat on her bones, and he couldn’t wait to sink into her warmth.

  She paused and looked back to question him before going into his bedroom, but when he nodded, she entered the space as if she owned it. She walked right up to the bed and started to pull off her sweater.

  He stilled her hands on her waist, and saw the apprehension she’d hidden from him. She wasn’t as confident as she appeared. He added another side note to his plan. He wanted her to know, without a doubt, how much he wanted her over any other woman.

  “We don’t have to rush,” he said, and then he placed his lips on top of hers.

  Emma eagerly accepted his touch, and just as it had in the forest, his skin tingled and the air cracked between them. When she opened her lips and met his tongue with hers, it seemed as if everything around them disappeared.