Mountain Bear: BBW Bear Shifter Romance (Bear Haven Book 1) (9 page)

A roar broke out through the forest, and Shane’s head snapped up. “Mav.”

“What?” she asked. Then she put a hand up to her face. “Wait, is he a bear too? I feel faint.” She shook her head. “No, I have to stay strong for Harmony.”

Wyatt came running back toward them from a nearby barn. He was pulling on clothes now, buttoning a shirt over jeans. “He’s not there anymore, dammit.”

“What?” Shane asked, tension straining his voice. “Who?”

Wyatt ran a hand through his hair. “Dwayne.”

“That crazy guy who attacked Ruby at the bar?”

Wyatt groaned. “Yes. His cat has been out of control ever since the women came to town, so he’s been quarantined in the barn until he could learn to behave.”

Another loud roar sounded through the clearing, seeming to shake the ground.

“Now that I think about it, that could be your brother handling it now,” Wyatt said thoughtfully. He gestured to the Jeep. “Go. Take the east trail. It leads straight to your place.”

Shane nodded and headed for the Jeep. Bonnie and Jesse climbed inside as well. Bonnie seemed dazed and confused, but none the worse for wear.

“Did you hear anything?” Ruby asked her friend.

“Just fighting,” Bonnie said. “Why did they cover my eyes? Was it violent?”

“Um, yes,” Ruby said.

“Did Shane cover yours?”

“Buckle up,” Ruby said, changing the subject as she locked eyes uncertainly with Jesse. “We’re going to get Harmony.”

“McAllister?” Wyatt called out, giving a wave.

“Yeah?” Shane replied, pulling out and turning around.

“Good luck,” he said.

“I’ll need it.” then Shane tore off, leaving a cloud of dust forming behind them.

S
hane’s heart
was still beating a mile a minute. He didn’t know if it was the fight or the fact that his mate hadn’t said anything to him since she’d been infuriated by finding out he needed to marry someone to keep his land.

Or since she’d found out he was a bear.

He didn’t know if that made things worse or better, but at least all secrets were out.

He’d have to wait to find out how she felt about it once this was over and they had Harmony back.

However, if that was Maverick’s roar, then whoever had taken Harmony was in big trouble. Mav might be the wildest, the most likely to get himself in trouble, but he also was the least tolerant of anyone harming a female or someone weaker, and his bear was the strongest of all of them.

They tore through the forest, lurching over the dirt path that joined their ranch to Wyatt’s. He’d have to thank Wyatt later for pointing them in the right direction and wishing them luck.

Wyatt was right. Shane knew him better than that. Their old family friend would never have resorted to kidnapping females, no matter what was at stake or what bad blood stood between them.

He kept his mind on Wyatt so he didn’t have to think about what would happen when he was finally alone with his mate.

What if she wanted to leave him? It just wasn’t possible. He had to make her understand.

He glanced at her in the rearview mirror, but she was quiet, giving nothing away in her expression except concern for her friend.

Well, he’d fought for her and won. That felt good.

They made a sharp turn that led them deeper into the forest and then screeched to a halt when he saw two men fighting in the clearing up ahead. One of them naked.

He turned away and covered Ruby’s eyes.

“Was that—”

“Mav,” Shane responded, hoping Jesse was covering Bonnie’s eyes.

“He’s naked!” Bonnie exclaimed with a squeak. Well, obviously not. Then again, Jesse was probably caught off guard as well. It was more probable to see Mav as a bear than as a human, at least when fighting.

“Keep your eyes closed,” Shane told Ruby. “I’m going to find Harmony.”

He jumped out of the Jeep and looked around the brush, finally finding her huddled against a tree, looking slightly rumpled but okay. He reached out for her, and she jumped into his arms.

He rubbed her back soothingly, knowing she was Ruby’s friend and this was okay because it was just for comfort. At least he hoped so.

He helped her stand, and when she stumbled, he swept her up and carried her to the Jeep and put her in the driver’s seat next to Ruby.

“Oh, Ruby!” Harmony said, throwing her arms around her friend. “I’ve had the worst morning. First I was kidnapped. Then when I came to, that awful hick was trying to take off my clothes, so I screamed. The next thing I know, this giant bear is barreling down on us, scaring the shit out of the man on top of me and roaring at him, giving me a chance to escape…”

Shane looked out to the clearing to make sure Mav could handle himself. Sure enough, his little brother was landing hit after powerful hit on the awful shifter who’d dared kidnap someone under their care. Good thing Maverick had been close enough to sense something was going on.

If he hadn’t been there… Shane shook his head, unable to entertain the thought. He was going to have a talk with Wyatt about his hiring processes when this was over. Right after they locked up this deranged shifter.

This went against every rule of their world. Females had the right to choose. Males could fight, but females would decide in the end.

Mav ended the fight with a powerful right hook that sent the man spinning off his feet to land on the ground with a dusty thud, a poof of dirt rising at his head.

Mav brushed off his hands and spit vindictively on the man on the ground. Not exactly good sportsmanship, but someone who’d threatened a female didn’t deserve sportsmanship anymore.

“And then the weirdest thing happened,” Harmony said. “I was hiding, and the bear disappeared, running into the bushes. And then like a second later, Mav came running out, naked. He took out the guy right before he could catch me again.” She choked back a hysterical laugh that sounded like a sob. “Only Mav would start a fight completely naked! And what was he doing out here?” Then she began to cry, with Ruby’s arms tight around her. “Thank goodness he was there. Though, I think you guys would have been over here soon.”

“I can’t say I’m sorry enough,” Shane said, his voice low, his heart full of failure. He hadn’t even been able to protect his mate’s friend. Maybe this land wasn’t safe for them after all.

“Stop it,” Harmony said. “It’s not your fault. Random bad things can happen wherever you are. I’m just glad you all cared enough to come after me.”

“Stop it,” Ruby said. “Of course we would.”

“I think these guys are good to have around,” Harmony said. “If something like this had happened in New York, people would have looked the other way.”

“Sometimes that’s true, yeah,” Ruby said. “Though they aren’t all bad.”

“In New York, there wouldn’t be woods to hide in. Dammit, how was I ever thinking I could keep a mate out here?” Shane said, rubbing his hair.

“What are you talking about?” Ruby said. “You love it here.”

He looked over at her. Already, she was so precious to him. “I love you more than I love this land. And I never thought that was possible.”

Harmony wrinkled her nose and looked between them, then got out of the driver’s seat and climbed in back with Bonnie and Jesse.

“I’mma go back here where I’m safe from you two.”

Shane grinned and turned to his mate. “So you aren’t mad?”

“No,” Ruby said. “Don’t give up the land. We can be more careful from now on.”

Shane nodded, nuzzling her hand on his cheek. “Whatever you want. It was never about the land… I just—”

“Ahem.” They were interrupted by a loud throat clearing, and Shane groaned as he looked up and saw Maverick standing there naked with folded arms. “I guess since you’re wearing my spare change of clothes, I’m running back naked?”

“Nah,” Jesse said. “You can ride in the back.” He put up the tailgate, laughing, and Maverick grumbled but got in.

“Some thanks I get for kicking ass. Naked.”

“I got a rescue and a view!” Harmony joked, and the whole car laughed, glad everything had turned out fine. They drove back to the main lodge, Maverick grumbling about the bumps the entire way.

Shane couldn’t wait to drop the others off and get them settled so he could go finish everything with his mate. Now that he knew she was fine with everything about him, he could finally take her all the way.

She could be his tonight.

W
hen everyone was changed
and back to normal, they had a late lunch together.

Ruby couldn’t wait to be with Shane, but first she wanted to make sure her friends were feeling safe and happy and share a good meal with them.

Fanny’s fresh cornbread and chili set the perfect mood for a warm time. Even Maverick seemed to be behaving.

A sudden kiss on the cheek from Harmony as thank you had set the big, gruff man blushing, and now there was a palpable energy in the air between them.

Wouldn’t that be a ride,
Ruby thought. But she was just glad Harmony was back to her usual self.

Bonnie and Jesse weren’t acting as cold to each other either. Ruby wondered if someone should tell him Bonnie had a fiancé, but then she figured Seth wasn’t really worth mentioning.

As the dinner wrapped up, there was a quiet chemistry between her and Shane.

She didn’t know exactly how mad she should be about the ranch thing, but she did know he'd fought for her and been concerned for her friend. And after the shock of it all, she realized he could need to marry for the ranch but still fall in love with the right person.

Sure, it sounded a little too good to believe. But then again, after seeing a man change into a giant bear, she didn’t really know what to believe anymore.

Shane looked at his watch and stood to excuse them. Judging by the teasing glint in her friends’ eyes, it was a surprise to no one that they were leaving.

“Don’t worry,” Mav said. “We got your friends this time. We won’t let anything happen to them.”

“You better not,” Ruby said, waggling a finger at them as Shane led her away from the group.

The hot afternoon sun bore down on them as they walked out to Shane’s cabin. Somehow this walk felt different than ever before.

Shane stopped in the middle of the clearing, under some tall trees that cast shadows on them, protecting them from the sun.

He pulled her in against him, keeping her close and shaded.

“That’s what I want to be for you,” he said. “I want to shield you from everything. Forever.” He kissed her hair, and she stayed silent. “You saw what I am. I was originally just looking for someone to be with to keep the land. I wasn’t expecting my mate to show up in town, with help from my idiot brother.”

He wrapped his arms around her waist and put her head against his shoulder. She happily leaned in. They felt so sheltered there. So alone, with just the rustling of the leaves and the mountain wind swirling by as company.

“Anyway, those of us with animals inside us, shifters as we're called, we can know our mates when we first see them. That’s why I asked if you believed in love at first sight. I knew you were human and I had to take it slow. But I knew from the moment I saw you, land or not, I had to have you.” He got on his knees in front of her and took her hand. “Will you have me?”

She frowned down at him and pulled him up to standing. “Get up here and kiss me,” she said. “And I’ll think about it.”

He smiled against her lips as he took her mouth in a deep kiss, melding them together.

When he pulled back, she took his hand and led him over to his cabin.

“Now, let’s get this dust off.”

“So you’re really okay with me being a bear shifter? And the thing with the land?” he asked dubiously as he followed her inside.

“Of course,” she said. “I mean, a guy could have darker secrets. And if you say it’s not about the land, I believe you. And as for the other thing, I think it would be harder to accept if I hadn’t seen you actually change into a bear in front of me. And maybe I would have been afraid, except I saw you only defended me. You were never a danger to me.”

He nodded. “I could never hurt you.”

“Thank you,” she said.

“So did you think about it?” he asked, folding his arms and closing the door behind them. “Being my mate?”

She pursed her lips. “Maybe you should explain to me exactly what this mate thing is.”

“It’s just forever,” he said. “It’s marriage and so much more. It means you’re bound to me and me to you. It’s why the minute I met you, the land was the last thing on my mind. I never thought I’d meet a woman like you. But I’m utterly in love. I love you, Ruby. Please be mine.”

She grinned ear to ear, feeling happiness well up inside her. “All right, you silly mountain bear. Get over here and take me.”

He barked a laugh as he swept her off her feet.

“Hey,” she said as they walked toward the master suite. “Just what does this mating thing entail?”

He whispered it in her ear.

“What are we waiting for?” She whooped. “Let’s get it done.”

“Want to do it in the tub?” he asked. “I’m all dusty.”

She nodded. “Sure, if I can get in first and you do a strip tease for me to make everything up to me.”

He set her down in front of the bed and narrowed his eyes at her. “I thought you forgave me.”

“I did,” she said. “But I’m not above using your delay in telling the truth to get what I want. And what I want right now is you naked, slowly.”

“All right,” he said. “I’ll make it up to you. After you tell me you love me.”

He backed her into the bed, and she sat down on it with a thump. She looked up into his gorgeous green eyes and felt honest feelings she could express to him.

Love had been a touchy word for her. She’d thought she loved Bill. But this was different, even though none of it had happened how it should have.

But one thing she was sure of—she loved Shane. And they would work the rest out. And she’d learn to love the mountains.

“I love you,” she said, noting his slight smile, and he leaned down to take her lips in a kiss that felt more like a promise.

“I love you too,” he murmured, tickling her mouth. “Now let’s go take that bath.”

“Hell yeah.”

S
hane put
Ruby down gingerly in the large tub, then began to run the water. She leaned back, enjoying the feeling of the warmth slowly creeping up her skin, and then raised an eyebrow at Shane.

“So are you going to make it up to me or not?” she teased, her entire body tensed with anticipation. 

“Always,” Shane said with a grin as he looked her over once more, sending shivers down her back, then slowly pulling off the rugged flannel shirt he wore. Button by button, he revealed more of that perfect chest of his, and Ruby felt longing building in her, both to touch him and to be touched by him.

After a moment, his shirt was off, revealing his tanned, rippling abs and muscled arms. He then undid his leather belt, pulling it off in one smooth motion, then undid the button of his Levis, followed by the zipper. 

Ruby suppressed a gulp, trying to not give him the satisfaction of such an obvious response to his body.

He let his pants drop to the floor and stepped out of them. His thighs and calves were just as perfect as his upper half, and in her mind, she could imagine feeling those thighs pressing onto her as he filled her with his thick cock and thrust into her again and again.

By now, the tub was half full already, and the wetness around her only accentuated the desire she could feel pooling inside.

With one last flick, Shane’s boxer briefs dropped to the ground, and Ruby felt herself flush with desire at the sight of him bared before her. So much man, so much raw power, all hers.

“Were you hoping for something like this when you first saw that dating profile?” Shane asked, watching her intently in the tub, lust burning in his beautiful green eyes.