Romance: The Bear's Desired Mate: BBW Bear Shifter Romance Standalone ( Shifter Romance, BBW, Werebear) (Spicy Shifters Book 1) (6 page)

6. The Revelation

"So?" Mary Ellen asked as she sipped her coffee. "Are you going to tell me about it?"

Amanda stopped dunking her chips in the tomato sauce and looked up at her friend.

"About what?"

"You and Grayson." Mary Ellen grinned. "Ever since you two started dating you've been going round looking the happiest I've seen you in a long time."

They were sitting in their favourite diner for their weekly catch-up. Mary Ellen was off her mating cycle and was now on the day shift so Amanda had suggested they start up their catch-ups again. It had been something she had missed after Tommy spectacularly ended it with her and she relished their return. Mary Ellen had been equally eager and she was desperate to hear Amanda's progress with her new boyfriend.

Just thinking about Grayson made Amanda smile. It had been three weeks since their first date and their relationship was going from strength to strength. They met on Amanda's lunch breaks and she would often pick him up after he finished work.

She had got some surprised and jealous looks from his female clients when they realized that Grayson was taken. It had given her satisfaction to stride up when a gorgeous blonde trying to drape herself all over her man and kiss him, staking her claim. Grayson hadn't minded, either.

The sex between them was hot and it kept getting hotter. They had made love all over her apartment and his house, trying out all sorts of position. She felt a lot more flexible and the weight was falling off her. In three weeks, she had lost seven pounds already and that was from her workouts in the gym and her private workouts with Grayson in his bed.

She felt good and her self-esteem was picking up. Everything in her life was improving and she loved it.

"It's fantastic, Mary." Amanda sipped at her soda. "Grayson is so sweet and very attentive." She sighed. "Do you know he sends me a single red rose every morning?"

"That is sweet."

"We talk every night when we're not together and when we are..." She stopped and blushed when she realized the direction she was going in. "I won't go into detail."

Mary Ellen smirked.

"I think I can use my imagination." Then she blinked and shut her eyes tight, shaking her head as she slapped the side of her head. "Or rather not. I don't want to combust."

"I thought you'd already gone into heat."

"I meant my brain. It'll melt from the eroticism." Mary Ellen opened her eyes and smiled affectionately at Amanda. "Grayson seems to be good for you."

"He is." Amanda bit her lip. She was bursting to tell someone and she couldn't hold it back any longer. "I'm falling for him, Mary. I didn't think I could fall for someone so quickly but I am."

She was. She was falling for Grayson. She felt comforted and safe when he was around. There was a feeling of content when she lay in his arms. He made her feel like a woman.

"Can you see yourself with him long-term?" Mary Ellen asked.

"Very long-term." Amanda said enthusiastically. Then she added, "If he wants it."

"I'm sure he does." Mary Ellen picked up her coffee. "Grayson is a good man, Amanda. You shouldn't let go of him anytime soon."

For a second Amanda's brain was wanting to know how Mary Ellen knew Grayson since they hadn't actually met yet but she was so wrapped up in her feelings for her lover that she pushed it aside.

"I'm not planning to." She said firmly. "I plan to hold onto him for a very long time."

Mary Ellen's expression was pleased as she raised her coffee cup to her lips.

"That's good."

#

Grayson was flying high that evening. All the way through Amanda's gym session, his blood was pumping and it wasn't from the music and he was on edge, unable to stand still. He kept moving about, his body refusing to let him rest. His bear was bouncing about as well.

Amanda was his mate. He knew it for certain. His bear had known it from the start but it had taken a while for Grayson to catch up. This was the woman he was destined to spend the rest of his life with. And he wanted her in his life, there was no doubt at it.

He loved her. He loved her smile, he loved waking up thinking about her and he loved falling asleep with her in his arms. His bear was also in love with her, calmer now that his human side had finally acknowledged his feelings.

He was going to tell her tonight. He was going to tell her what he was. Only a handful of people knew and he had never told any of his girlfriends. Something about them had told him they didn't deserve to know. But with Amanda, it felt right. She was his other half.

What was making him nervous was Amanda's impending reaction. He didn't know how she would take it. It would be a big shock for her to know she was dating a bear shifter. Grayson hoped that she loved him enough to not care about his shifter side and stay with him.

If that was the case - and Grayson was seriously hoping so - he was going to ask her to marry him. He had the ring in his bag ready for the occasion. Then he would ask if she was prepared to be mated properly.

Nothing would make him happier right now.

The session ended and Grayson turned off the stereo. Then he grabbed Amanda and twirled her round. Amanda laughed and allowed him to kiss her thoroughly when he stopped, Grayson pulling away before it got too heavy.

"That was one workout."

Amanda laughed and looped her arms round his neck.

"I thought I was the one meant to be sweating it out."

Grayson reached down and squeezed her backside. The weight was coming off his woman, her body becoming toned. He loved this part of her just as much as he did when they first met.

"You give me a workout every day." He growled, nipping at her jaw.

Amanda groaned and arched into him, rubbing against his cock.

"I like the 'private' sessions." She whispered into his ear.

"I love those sessions."

Grayson lifted Amanda into his arms, her legs going round his waist. He pushed her up against the wall and kissed her again, thrusting against her pussy and wishing her shorts and panties weren't in the way. Amanda kissed him back for a moment before pulling back with a giggle.

"Steady or we'll get thrown out!"

"No one's going to come in." Grayson was breathing heavily, drunk on his lust. "I've locked the doors. No one can get in."

"Cheeky."

"Just in case."

He kissed her, tangling their tongues together, and kneaded her breast with his hand. Amanda pushed into his palm, her nipple rock-hard. He couldn't wait to get inside her. With great reluctance, Grayson pulled back but didn't put her down.

"How about we take this back to your place? The bed's a lot more comfortable."

"I like the sound of that." Amanda kissed him and let go with her legs, sliding down his body to stand before him. "I'll see you by my car."

She reached down and put her hand over his cock, giving it a squeeze before she stepped away and picked up her bag, bending over at the waist to show her backside stretching against her shorts. Straightening up, she blew him a kiss before entering the locker room.

Grayson groaned and adjusted himself. He wasn't sure he was going to last until he got her home. Maybe they could pull over in a quiet road. They hadn't had sex in the car yet; perhaps they should try it tonight.

He was almost running as he snatched his bag and dashed into the showers.

                            #

Amanda was on cloud nine as she showered and dressed. Her whole body was buzzing. The heavy petting with Grayson a moment before had been so hot she had almost orgasmed just by his touch. He was just addictive and she couldn't get enough to him.

If his hungry look and hard cock had been anything to go by she was going to get the fuck of her life when they got in her bed.

Finger-brushing her hair, she set out into the dark and hurried to her car. Daylight Saving Time had happened the weekend before and it was starting to get darker earlier.

It was also a lot colder and a fog was setting in. Amanda zipped up her jacket and watched her feet on the path. She could get to her car and wait inside for Grayson. She'd text him to know it was foggy outside.

She reached into her bag for her keys and was fumbling to find the fob when she was tackled from the side. She hit the tarmac and cried out as her elbow took the most impact and began to burn. A heavy weight landed on top of her and rolled her onto her back. Then she was grabbed by the throat.

"I told you I wasn't going to let you go."

Tommy. Amanda was beginning to panic. Where was Grayson? She bucked and writhed but Tommy straddled her waist, pinning her down.

"Let me go, Tommy!" It was difficult to get the words out when her windpipe was being constricted.

She could see Tommy as the fog cleared. His hair was a mess, he hadn't shaved in a while and his eyes were wild. She had never seen him like this before.

"I call you and you don't answer. And now I hear you're with another man!" He shook her. "You little slut!"

Amanda was beginning to feel dizzy. Panic was clogging up the air she had left. She knew Tommy had a vicious streak in him but he had never flipped out like this. And he was going to kill her.

She gripped his wrist and pushed, managing to ease the pressure a little on her throat.

"I'm not your property, Tommy." She gasped. "You don't own me."

"You think, Mandy?" Tommy shoved back and clamped tighter on her throat. "You're my girl and no one is going to touch you."

He had tried calling her and Amanda had put a block on his number on all of her phones. He had attempted to see her at work and at home but Amanda had made everyone aware he was not to go anywhere near her. Grayson had tried to persuade her to go to the police and take out a restraining order on Tommy to make her feel safer. Amanda had refused, thinking that Tommy wouldn't really hurt her.

Now she was wishing she had done.

"I don't do what you want in bed and you still want me?" She couldn't believe the ludicrous logic. "You're insane."

"I had you first." Tommy snarled.

He reached into his jacket and took out a gun. Amanda's heart stopped when he pressed the barrel against her head. Tommy's expression could only be described as maniacal. He didn't look like the man she had loved and lived with for two years. He looked like a stranger.

"If I can't have you," Tommy spat, "Nobody can."

Amanda wanted to scream but he was squeezing her windpipe hard. Black spots began to appear in front of her eyes and she could feel herself slipping into unconsciousness. Weakly she tried to fight back but Tommy squeezed harder.

"Amanda!"

Amanda couldn't be sure if she heard Grayson's voice or if it was her imagination. But she felt relief as she lost her strength. He had come for her. She was safe.

With a snarl Tommy shoved her away and stood. Amanda rolled onto her side and gulped as much air as she could into her lungs as he strode away. It felt like her insides were burning and she couldn't get enough oxygen. She retched and closed her eyes, waiting for the world to stop wavering.

She heard a gunshot and her eyes flew open. Then there was a growl that didn't sound human. It sent shivers down her spine. She heard Tommy swear loudly and his gun went off twice more.

Fear gripping her, Amanda raised her head and found herself looking at Tommy squaring off with a bear. It was huge, bigger than she expected a bear to be. Its teeth were as long as her arm, his mouth open wide as he snarled at Tommy.

Tommy was pointing the gun at him but his hand was shaking. Amanda could see he looked terrified. She couldn't blame him; she was scared to move in case the bear turned on her and attacked her.

Tommy screamed and began firing. The bear moved faster than Amanda expected it to and dodged the bullets, leaping at Tommy. It knocked the gun away and batted Tommy round the head with its paw. Tommy was knocked off his feet and into a nearby tree, where he slumped to the ground and didn't move.

Amanda felt the panic intensify as the bear prowled towards Tommy. She had to do something. She had to get away. But she couldn't move. She would be forced to watch this creature tear Tommy apart before it turned on her.

Then the bear suddenly began to change. A strange glow seemed to emanate around it and it began to shrink. Amanda's eyes were wide as she watched the bear change and shift from its huge form into human form. The fur and claws disappeared, the snout and teeth vanished, and a naked Grayson was crouching beside Tommy, two fingers at his throat checking for a pulse.

Amanda felt as though the world had shifted. She couldn't believe it. Grayson was a shifter? And a bear shifter? How had he managed to keep that quiet?

As she stared at Grayson checking Tommy over, things began to fall into place. The tears in her duvets were from his claws. His strength had to be shifter strength. And his eyes...she remembered Mary Ellen's glowing when she was angry or aroused. Grayson's must do the same thing.

He had lied to her.

Grayson stood up and hurried over to her. Amanda couldn't admire his body now. She couldn't drool over his nakedness. She just wanted to get away from him.

"He's unconscious." Grayson was sweating. "I'll call the cops and the paramedics." He crouched beside her, keeping his distance. Somehow he sensed that he couldn't come any closer. "You okay, Amanda?"

Amanda slowly sat up. She felt like she had been kicked in the stomach. Grayson Allen, the man she had fallen in love with, had lied to her.

"You're a shifter."

Grayson had the decency to look embarrassed.

"Erm, yeah. I am."

Now the shock was starting to abate, anger began to replace it. She reached out and slapped him, the sting making her hand tingle.

"Why didn't you tell me, you bastard?"

Grayson touched his fingers to his cheek, surprise in his expression.

"I...I didn't..."

"You didn't want me to be repulsed and run away? Grayson, I know about shifters. My best mate is a wolf shifter, for fuck's sake."

"It's not something I broadcast." Grayson snapped. "I'm not good at trusting people with my...status."

If she hadn't been so angry, Amanda would have understood why he kept it a secret. She would have been grateful for him saving her life. But her heart was involved and it was shattering with the realization that he wasn't who he said he was.

"And you didn't trust me enough to tell me." She said through gritted teeth.

She managed to stand, her legs still a little shaky. Retrieving her bag and her keys, she began to go to her car when Grayson grabbed her arm and swung her round to face him.

"I was going to tell you tonight!"

He looked desperate but Amanda was too enraged to care about him. She slapped his hand away and shoved him in the chest.

"You lied to me." She accused. "You've been lying to me all this time."

"Not intentionally." Grayson protested.

"Because you didn't trust me." Amanda snapped. She jabbed a finger at his bare chest. "I don't care about dating a shifter. I just wish you'd told me up front. It explains a lot of things, though. I should've figured it out at the start."

Grayson looked torn. He reached for her.

"Amanda..."

Amanda stepped out of his reach. She was about to cry and she wasn't going to do it in front of him.

"Keep away from me." She began to shake. This was too much for her. "I'm sorry, Grayson, but I can't be with someone who doesn't trust me."

"But I do trust you!"

Grayson sounded so sure but Amanda saw the indecision in his eyes. And that broke her heart. She shook her head.

"Do you really?"

She turned and ran. She could hear Grayson shouting after her but she kept running. There was no way she would be able to drive in her state and she was sure as hell not asking Grayson for a lift. He could find his own way home.

Tears choking her, Amanda slowed to a hurried walk and fumbled for her phone. She had to get out of there. Grayson's betrayal was shattering everything inside her and she wanted to go somewhere safe and familiar before she broke down. She needed someone safe and familiar.

Hands shaking, she dialled the number of the one person she could trust. Mary Ellen answered on the second ring.

"What's wrong, doll?"

Amanda closed her eyes, tears rolling down her cheeks.

"Come and get me now."