Idle Bear: BBW Paranormal Shape Shifter Romance (Bear Mountain Book 4) Read online

  “Thank you, doctor,” she said. She wondered what Aaron thought of being volunteered to be her nurse maid.

  The doctor left the room and she glanced at the clock. She had a little over eight hours before she could go home. Suddenly, she remembered the bed and breakfast.

  Aaron pulled a chair next to her bed and sat down facing her.

  “I’m so glad you get to go home today,” he stated simply.

  She wanted to send him away, but she needed answers first.

  “How long have I been here?”

  “Two days.”

  “And three days with the hunters?”

  “Yes.”

  “What happened to them?”

  “They set that old mining cabin on fire, but got trapped inside and burned to the ground right along with it.”

  She knew he lied, but she didn’t press him. He probably did it to spare her the gory details of the real events, and to protect himself and whoever had helped him find her.

  “Who were you with when you found me?”

  “Seth. The sheriff, Dave, Seth and the Garrison twins had been searching for you for three days. When I got back and found out how long you’d been gone, I attacked Gage. Luckily, he talked me down and we made a new plan. Part of that involved me searching for you, and Seth acted as my back-up.”

  “Thank you for helping them. Do you know if anyone checked in on the bed and breakfast?”

  “Yeah. Actually, that’s how they found out you were missing. A guest came to the sheriff’s office to complain that they couldn’t find you and needed to check-out. Sam and Darcy have been cleaning the rooms, and Dave and Gage have been handling the money. No one took any new bookings though. We were unsure of the process and didn’t want to overbook.”

  “Meaning you didn’t know if you’d find me alive.”

  “Yes,” he said, honestly.

  She studied her hands as she thought about her time in captivity. Her wrists had started to scab, but she could still feel the tight rope cutting into her skin and her arm burned when she thought about her attacker pushing his knife through her skin.

  The skin around her mouth felt raw, and she remembered seeing scabs around her lips when she leaned against the counter in the bathroom. Time would heal her wounds, both physical and emotional, but she felt confident she would overcome them.

  Now seemed like a good time to start.

  “Thank you for staying with me. I’m sure that cot wasn’t very comfortable, but you don’t need to worry. I’ll hire someone to help me with the bed and breakfast, and any heavy lifting,” she smiled, remembering the doctor’s words. “I’ll be as good as new in no time. You don’t need to stick around any longer.”

  “Sara, I came back for you. I’m not going anywhere.”

  “What are you talking about?”

  “You’re my mate, honey. The one woman in the world created just for me and my bear. I knew it almost from the moment I first saw you in the sheriff’s office, and though I didn’t want to believe it, I couldn’t deny how much I wanted you. I know I said some mean things, but when my bear took control and shifted to protect you, I freaked.”

  “You called me a slut tried to make me feel ashamed of myself for having sex with anyone before you,” she accused.

  “I know. I only said those things to push you away. I hadn’t shifted in nearly one hundred years and the bear was fighting for control to shift again. I thought if I got away from you, I’d get some of the control back, but it didn’t work. Once he got his way, he wouldn’t let me shift back until I came to terms with who and what I am.”

  “You have a beautiful gift. Why haven’t you shifted in so long?”

  “I fell in love with a woman, and I was prepared to spend the rest of my life with her. We could have had a happy life, but I knew from the start something was missing. When I told her about my bear, I figured out what it was. She ran from our tent, shouting and screaming my secret to the whole camp. Everyone, including men I’d called friends and comrades, chased me. I vowed in that moment to never show anyone my bear again.”

  “Oh, Aaron. I’m so sorry that happened.” She wanted to be angry, but the pain and anguish on his face softened her heart.

  “When I think about it now,” he shook his head, “I realize how ridiculous I’d been. I did love her, but she wasn’t my mate. She never provoked anything close to the feelings I have for you.”

  “Maybe you only think I’m your mate because it’s been so long since you’ve shifted. You might meet someone better in another hundred years. Will you live that long?”

  “Yes, I’ll live that long, but that’s not how it works. I’m immortal, honey, and I can’t die. I can be injured, and feel pain, but I can’t be killed. The mate mark won’t turn you into a bear, but it will give you the gift of immortality. Once I mark you, we’ll be together forever. You’ll always be mine and I’ll always be yours. No one else will matter.”

  “Will I be able to have children?”

  “Yes,” he laughed. “The process to mark you involves biting your neck while I come inside you without protection. Newly mated bears are extremely fertile and your chance of becoming pregnant is nearly one hundred percent. The fact that Darcy and Sam aren’t carrying yet is surprising.”

  He offered her an instant family, something she’d always wanted, but would she make him happy? He talked about mating, but he never mentioned marriage or whether or not he wanted kids, only that she would have them. What if he freaked out again and left her to raise the little bears alone? She’d be alone for eternity, not just the rest of her regular lifespan.

  Aaron watched as she processed the information, and she knew he was waiting for some kind of response. She didn’t know what to say, so she said the only thing that stuck in her mind.

  “That’s a big decision. It seems I have a lot to think about.”

  Chapter Eight

  Aaron watched as the backpacker hit on his woman. Both the man and the bear bristled as Sara laughed at a lame joke while she finished checking-in the guy’s group.

  It had been two weeks since he brought her home from the hospital. She’d allowed him to stay, but they’d exchanged nothing more than a nightly platonic kiss before bed. He wanted more, but he kept his distance to give her the space and time she needed to heal.

  In order to keep his agreement with his bear, and to help Sara become accustomed to his animal, he routinely shifted on their daily walk through the National Park. She hadn’t admitted her fear to him, but she’d been apprehensive to walk among the trees again. Every day he watched her regain more confidence, and he hoped he had something to do with it. Man or bear, he would always protect her.

  After another fit of giggles, the man at the counter touched her hand and invited her to dinner.

  No way in hell!

  Aaron put down the drill he’d been using in the kitchen and walked up behind Sara. He pressed his body against hers and encircled his arms around her waist. He didn’t try to hide his erection, or his possession. The man took a step back and cleared his throat, regret evident on his face.

  Good. At least he isn’t stupid.

  “Are you almost finished, honey?” Aaron asked. “I know I’m starving.”

  “Yeah, I’m almost done,” she replied nonchalantly over her shoulder.

  “Sorry dude,” the backpacker said, “I didn’t know she was taken.”

  “Don’t worry about it, son,” Aaron replied. “I know she’s hard to resist.”

  The younger man grabbed his key and his bag and raced for the door.

  “Thanks for your help, Sara. See you later.”

  “Bye,” Aaron said before she could respond.

  When the room was clear, she pushed his arms off of her and crossed the room to lock the door. She turned back toward him, her anger evident.

  “What the hell was that?” she spat.

  “That’s what I’d like to know,” he said in the same irritated tone.

  �
�What are you talking about?”

  “Why are you flirting with guests right in front of me?”

  “What do you care? You don’t want me anymore, so why don’t you just leave me alone?” her voice cracked on the last word, and she ran upstairs and slammed the bedroom door.

  What the hell?

  Aaron had no idea what just happened, but he was about to find out. He took the stairs two at a time and burst through the bedroom door. He heard the wood split from the force of his thrust, but he didn’t care.

  Sara sat on the edge of the bed, sobbing into a pillow. Her tear stained face nearly did him in, but he kept his feet planted where they were. He needed answers.

  “What makes you think I don’t want you anymore?” he roared.

  “You’ve done nothing more than kiss me goodnight for the past two weeks. It’s obvious you’ve changed your mind about me. You don’t owe me any explanations, but I wish you would leave so I can get on with my life.”

  “I haven’t changed my mind,” his voiced softened, and he took a step closer to her. “You said you needed to think about your options. I was giving you time to heal and make a decision.”

  “But…,” she trailed off, contemplating his words.

  “Didn’t you feel my cock resting against your ass not five minutes ago? Do you think I walk around hard as a rock for anyone but you? You’re my mate, honey. That will never change.”

  “I thought—”

  “Yeah, I know what you thought,” he said, and kneeled on the floor in front of her.

  He reached in his pocket and pulled out a light blue velvet box. Her breath caught as he flipped the lid and revealed a one carat, princess cut diamond with a platinum gold band. He grabbed her left hand with his and laced their fingers together.

  “Sara Henley, will you do me the honor of becoming my wife and my mate?” he asked.

  Tears streamed down her face and she squeezed his hand and nodded.

  “You have to say the words, honey. I need to hear you say it.”

  “Yes,” she said between the tears. “Yes, I will marry you and become your mate.”

  “It’s about time,” he said as he slid the ring down her finger.

  He stood, pulling her with him, and planted his lips on hers. He’d been waiting two weeks to kiss her properly, and it was far from a chaste, platonic brush of their lips. With one hand on the nape of her neck, and the other around her waist, he held her soft body against his hard one as he possessed her mouth.

  When he forced his tongue past her lips, she didn’t hesitate to open wider for him. She met every brush of his tongue with the same urgency, and his cock throbbed with the need to sink deep inside her pussy.

  His hands slid under her sweater and caressed her silky skin. She moaned when he brushed his thumbs along the underside of her breasts, and broke the kiss long enough to whip the sweater over her head. He undid her bra and they let it fall to the floor between them.

  He caressed her nipples with his thumbs and she pulled on his t-shirt. He took the hint and removed it. He let it drop to the floor and when he started unfastening his pants, Sara followed with her own. Seconds later they stood in front of each other naked.

  “I need you now,” he said. “Get on the bed, honey.”

  She followed his directions and lay on her back with her legs spread wide. He could see liquid heat glistening the opening to her pussy and he didn’t have to touch her to know she was ready for him.

  “Look how wet you are, honey. I can’t wait to feel you come around my cock.”

  “No teasing,” she pouted.

  “Get on your hands and knees.”

  Again, she immediately followed his directions. He crawled on the bed behind her and rubbed his hand over the globes of her ass. She moaned and he raised his hand up and spanked her hard.

  Smack!

  “What was that for?” she said, breathlessly.

  “That was for making me wait two weeks to have you.”

  He rubbed her ass again and shoved two fingers into her soaking wet pussy. He moved the digits in and out slowly, enjoying her moans and whimpers. When he felt her pussy tighten around his fingers, he removed his hand and spanked her ass again.

  Smack!

  “Aaron,” she gasped, and tightened her fists on the bedspread.

  “That was for flirting with that boy in front of me,” he said, shoving his two fingers back inside her. Her essence coated his fingers and dripped down her thighs as he continued to move in and out, slow and steady.

  When her pussy started to throb again, he pulled his fingers out and spanked her again.

  Smack!

  “I love seeing my handprint on your ass,” he said, rubbing the sting away. “That one was for me.”

  “Aaron…please,” she begged, pushing into his hand.

  “Please what, honey?”

  “Please fuck me,” she moaned.

  He thrust his cock into her warm, wet pussy and Sara screamed his name.

  He pounded into her relentlessly, her tight pussy a perfect fit. When she came around his cock, he didn’t slow down for a second. He continued to thrust in and out as she moaned and cried out his name. When he felt her second orgasm approaching, he leaned over her and slid his teeth across the juncture between her neck and shoulder.

  The caress evoked a whole new set of sounds from her mouth, and he couldn’t hold back any longer. He extended his canines and sank them into her neck at the same time he released his seed deep inside her warmth. Sara wailed in pain and then pleasure as another orgasm rocked through her body.

  He licked the bite and she collapsed on the bed below him. He lay down next to her and pulled her back against his front.

  For the first time in his life, everything felt in balance.

  Epilogue

  Two weeks later…

  Sara smiled as she walked home from the doctor’s office.

  She’d made an appointment to check-up on the wounds from her abduction, but she also asked for a pregnancy test. She hadn’t known the exact cause, but she somehow felt different.

  The doctor checked all of her wounds and scars, except for the mate mark. She’d learned from Aaron that the mark was only visible to bears, and it would identify her as the mate of a shifter, and which one, by scent. She’d also learned that it was highly erogenous, something Aaron liked to tease her with often.

  Right after the doctor gave her a clean bill of health, recommending she return to her normal duties, the results of her test came in and he slapped on the limitations again.

  Aaron had said the chance of a pregnancy was nearly one hundred percent, but she’d been afraid to raise false hopes with a home pregnancy test. She knew her body, and she should have known better.

  She was pregnant.

  She couldn’t wait to share the news with Aaron. They’d become much closer over the last two weeks, and she wasn’t afraid of his reaction. She knew he longed for a family as much as she did.

  She walked in the door and saw Aaron behind the counter, trying to get rid of an admirer. The woman grabbed his hand a couple of times, but he pulled away in irritation and continued the check-in process.

  “I’ve stayed here several times,” the woman said, “and I’ve never seen you before. Did you buy this place from that chubby girl?”

  Aaron visibly stiffened and opened his mouth to defend her, but she saved him the trouble. She approached the table and wrapped her arms around his waist.

  “No, he married me for it,” Sara said, looking up at him. “Isn’t that right, babe?”

  Aaron relaxed and kissed her on the head.

  “That’s right, honey,” he said.

  “Oh, I…well…are we done yet? This…check-in process…needs to be…streamlined,” the woman stuttered.

  “Just sign here,” Aaron said, his irritation palpable.

  “Thank you,” the woman said. She scooped up her key in a dramatic fashion and walked out of the building.

 
“You’re amazing,” Aaron said, wrapping his arms around her.

  “No, you are,” she said. “Guess what?”

  “You’re pregnant?” he asked, his face hopeful.

  She wasn’t fooled.

  “You knew!”

  “Yes, I’ve known for three days. I could feel their energies the night after they were conceived.”

  “Their energies?”

  “Yes, their…its twins!”

  “Are you sure?” she bounced.

  “Positive. Bears usually give birth to twins, so it makes sense.”

  “Oh, thank you! This is the best surprise.” She squeezed his waist harder, and kissed his chest.

  “No, thank you,” he said, hugging her back. “You’re giving me everything I’ve ever wanted.”

  “I could say the same for you,” she said, beaming up at him.

  He leaned down and kissed her gently on the lips.

  She kissed him back, thankful for forever.

  The End

  From the Author

  Thank you for purchasing this book. Your support allows me to continue doing a job I love every day. If you liked this story, please consider leaving a review so more people can find and enjoy my books.

  Hugs,

  Ruby Shae

  About the Author

  I write sizzling, sexy, shifter romance. Until I find my own tall, muscle bound, alpha shifter…I’ll keep writing about them. Visit my website to learn more about my books (and me!)

  www.rubyshae.com

  Also by Ruby Shae

  Bear Mountain

  (Stand-Alone Romance Novellas)

  Lone Bear (Book 1)

  Brother Bear (Book 2)

  Double Bear (Book 3)

  Idle Bear (Book 4)

  Lost Bear (Book 5)

  North Pole

  (Stand-Alone Holiday Romance Novellas)

  Jingle Bear (Book 1)

  Silent Bear (Book 2)