Savage Bear: BBW Paranormal Shape Shifter Romance (4 page)

His steady breathing lifted his chest in a calm, steady rhythm, and she slowly outlined the bear claw tattoo that covered his heart. The art suited him, especially because he was a bear shifter, but she didn’t think that was the reason he’d chosen it.

The bear’s paw seemed to rip through the skin, as if escaping from its human confines, and she didn’t miss the fact that it had been done in several shades of gray and black without an ounce of color.

She returned her head to his chest and thought about his other tattoos. The only visible one was the tribal skull on his left forearm, but the other two followed the same theme. His left bicep had an image of the Grimm Reaper laughing while surrounded in flames, and his right showed off a more elegant skull and crossbones encircled by an oval frame.

Both pieces of art were stunning, more so because they had been done using only black and shades of gray, but the implied evil of the images wasn’t lost on her. Jared considered himself evil, unworthy of color for some reason, and the art reflected those views.

She knew he wasn’t perfect, but he was far from evil.

A few fights didn’t equate to evil.

Whatever it was, it was in the past, and she knew he’d never willingly tell her. Could she live with not knowing? Even if he decided to take their relationship to the next level? She didn’t have to think about it, because she already knew the answer. The connection they shared was strong and she believed they were meant to be together.

If he let her, she could handle his past, and help him find a brighter future.

A life with him was nice to think about, but she needed to remember the reality. He’d been honest with her the night before in the parking lot, and she had no right to hope for anything more. They wouldn’t mate, they wouldn’t date and she wasn’t even sure how long he would keep her around once he woke up.

The possibility of him ending it after one night was strong, and she refused to let him go without fulfilling at least one of her other fantasies.

She smoothed her hand over his chest and stomach, enjoying every dip, bump and curve of his eight-pack. She kissed him and then scooted down the bed, careful of the arm anchoring him to her. Once free, she traced his large fingers with her own, and then leaned forward and licked the tribal skull tattoo on his forearm.

She moved lower and wrapped her hand around his semi-hard dick. It swelled in her hand and she looked up to see his dark eyes watching her. He didn’t say a word, and she lowered her head and swirled her tongue around the tip, before teasing him with a chaste kiss.

“Leah…”

He growled her name in warning, but she laughed and ignored him. She moved her hand up and down his length until she was satisfied it had grown fully erect, and then she held onto him with one hand, leaned forward and sucked him into her mouth.

He was big and thick, but she easily moved down the hard flesh until her lips bummed into her hand. She released him slowly, swirling her tongue around the silken rod until she reached his slit, then she licked him and sucked him deep again.

“Fuck, sweetheart, that feels so good.”

Jared placed one hand on her head, but he didn’t try to take control. His trust fueled her desire, and when she felt his cock throb, she moved faster. Allowing a man to come in her mouth wasn’t something she normally did, but Jared was different.

“I’m going to come, sweetheart,” he said, tugging on her hair.

When she didn’t relent, he leaned back on the pillow, and moaned. Seconds later, warm bursts of his essence hit the back of her throat and she swallowed every drop.

She crawled back into the crook of his arm and reclaimed her spot on his chest.

“Thank you,” he said, kissing the top of her head. “When I can move again, it’s your turn.”

A few minutes later, Jared kept his promise, and she knew the whole apartment building heard her screaming his name as she came all over his tongue.

Chapter Four

“Hey,” Jared said, opening the door for Leah.

“Hey yourself,” she said.

She rose up on her toes to give him a kiss hello, and then brushed past him to the kitchen.

“Are you sure store-bought cookies are fine? They know I don’t cook right?”

“Yes, they’re fine. No one cares whether or not you cook.”

“Whoa, that’s a lot of meat.”

“You’re going to lunch with four bear shifters, and one of them is pregnant,” he reminded her. “Not to mention, it’s my secret recipe. That pan is coming home empty.”

“Are you going to tell me what’s in it?” she asked peering around the corner.

“Nope,” he said honestly.

“Aww, you’re no fun,” she said, laughing. “What time do we have to leave?”

“About an hour.”

“Okay, good.”

She walked into the living room holding a pint of ice cream and spoon.

“I really want some of this.”

She kneeled on the couch next to him and then swung her leg over both of his, sitting on his lap and straddling his waist. His hands automatically moved to her ass and pulled her closer.

She dug up a spoon of the strawberry flavored ice cream and slowly sucked it into her mouth.

“Do I get a bite of that?” he asked.

“Maybe,” she said, scooping out another spoonful of the cold treat, “if you spill the beans about your sauce. Tell me, sir, what makes the barbeque in your sauce so barbequey?”

She laughed at her silly mock interview question, and closed her mouth around the new scoop. He placed his hand on the back of her head and pulled her toward him.

“Hmm, sir?” he said, teasing back. “I could get used to that.”

As he expected, she opened her mouth to protest and he covered her lips with his own. His tongue danced with hers and explored the cold strawberry heaven. Her individual flavor mixed with the ice cream made his dick swell, and he released her so they could share another spoonful.

Leah stayed on his lap, sharing her ice cream with scoops and kisses, until the container was completely empty. The quiet moment was intimate and sexy, and he reveled in how well they got along.

It had been a little over a week since he’d approached her table of friends, and they’d been together at least a little bit every day. Leah worked as a restaurant hostess from noon until nine in the evening, and after work she usually met up with her friends at the
Wild Bear
. True to his word, he didn’t approach her table or treat her any different; and true to her word, she didn’t expect him to. Every now and then they would catch the other staring, but she still laughed and danced with her friends, and he still remained brooding and elusive to everyone else.

After his shift was over, they would meet at his apartment and spend the night together. Aside from enjoying each other’s bodies, nothing had changed…except everything. He and Leah didn’t only have sex. They talked—although not about the important stuff—and teased, and enjoyed each other’s company.

The layer of tension that disappeared after their first night together never returned, and though it worried him sometimes, he didn’t dwell on it. No one treated him different, and the respect he’d earned over the years hadn’t diminished. His reputation wasn’t in jeopardy.

Yet!

He silenced the tiny voice of doubt, and watched Leah walk into the kitchen. Her jeans hugged her big, round ass like a second skin and he wanted to peel them off, fill his hands with the soft globes and take her from behind. Without a condom.

Fuck!

“Were you staring at my ass again?”

He looked up to see her leaning against the wall separating the two rooms.

“It’s a fantastic ass,” he said. “I can’t help it.”

“I’ll let you touch it later,” she said, winking. “Now come in here and open your gift.”

“You brought me something?”

“Just a little something,” she said. “Actually, it’s something I thought we could share.”

He walked into the kitchen and she pointed to a small shopping bag with the logo of the local bed and bath store.

“It’s not wrapped,” she said. “I just saw it and thought of you.”

He reached inside the bag and pulled out a cardboard carton holding two coffee mugs. One was blue with a line of white bears circling the base, and the other was white with blue bears.

“Now, I know the bears aren’t brown, but I figured it was okay because some of them are blue. Plus, I like the blue mug best, so you can use the white one. Do you like them?”

Coffee mugs. She’d bought him coffee mugs, and he didn’t think it was because she hated using his disposable foam cups. Although that might be part of it, he had a feeling it was much more. Another layer of tension seemed to slip away, and he almost smiled. The urge was both empowering and suffocating.

What kind of wimp lost it over a couple of mugs? He took a deep breath and steeled his resolve. They weren’t serious, and the fact that she’d given him something didn’t mean anything. She was just a thoughtful person.

He repeated the lies over and over, but he couldn’t be fooled.

“If you don’t like them, I can return them,” she said, quietly. “I didn’t mean to—”

“No,” he said, finally looking up at her. “I don’t want you to return them. I like them very much.”

Her smile didn’t reach her eyes and he knew his reaction had disappointed her. He’d see that fake smile often if they were a mated couple, and the thought both sobered him and confirmed they were doing the right thing.

He never wanted to be the man who took away her joy.

***

Jared took another drink of his beer and listened as everyone around the picnic table erupted in laughter. Leah fit in perfectly with his coworkers, and she seemed to really like Isabelle and Michelle.

Unfortunately, he’d been in a bad mood since they’d left his apartment.

The ride to Lucky’s was quiet, but it lacked the compatibility they usually shared. As he worked the grill, he tried not to dwell on the mugs, or the fact that Leah meant something to him, but he couldn’t help it.

His plan had backfired. Instead of easing his lust and pushing her out of his system, she’d managed to tear down another one of his carefully constructed barriers. The mugs were a nice gesture, but there was a reason he only used disposable plates and cups. He couldn’t risk planting roots…or falling in love.

“Oh my god, Jared, that was the best barbeque I’ve ever had,” Michelle said.

“Dude, as usual, you are the master,” Gabe chimed in.

“Thanks for cooking,” Lucky added. “You’re truly talented.”

“Is there more?” Izzy asked.

Everyone laughed and started to clear the table.

Leah leaned into him and wrapped her arms around his bicep.

“You were right,” she said quietly, “the pan is empty.”

He set his beer down and glared at her, but her smile remained.

“I loved it,” she continued. “Thank you for bringing me.”

“You guys make a great couple,” Michelle said.

“Definitely,” Isabelle agreed.

What the fucking hell?

He knew he’d made a mistake in bringing her. They weren’t a couple.

It was just sex.

Leah smiled, stood and carried their trash to the garbage can. Why didn’t she say anything? Did she believe they were a couple? Is that why she bought the mugs?

“Who wants dessert?” Izzy asked, placing Leah’s cookies and a round chocolate cake on the table.

Suddenly, he couldn’t take the happy anymore.

“We are not a couple,” he yelled as he stood. “We’re not even friends. It’s just sex.”

Two bears growled, and everyone stared at him with anger and contempt before turning their sympathetic gazes on Leah. To her credit, his mate remained calm and didn’t seem the least bit surprised by his outburst.

“Well, I guess that’s my cue to leave,” she said, carefully. One half of her face rose in a nervous smile, but she didn’t cry, yell or run. “It was wonderful meeting you all. Thank you for inviting me into your home.”

“I’ll drive you,” he said.

She nodded once, and he ignored everyone’s stares as he followed her across the lawn and out the wooden gate on the side of the house. Instead of holding open her door, he hopped in the driver’s seat and reached across the bench to lift the lock lever. The layer of tension he’d lost earlier started to return, and he reveled in the familiar feeling.

He was doing the right thing.

Her car was parked on the street, and he pulled up behind it and left the engine running.

“Look, Leah, this has been fun, but—”

“You’ve been in a bad mood all day,” she said, facing him. “Is this because of the mugs?”

Shit!

He hated the way she could read him. It was time to take it up a notch.

“No, it’s because I’m done fucking you,” he said, looking her in the eyes. “It was fun, but it’s time to move on.”

“You’re lying,” she said. “Don’t ruin what we have over something stupid. If the mugs bother you that much, they can go back to the store.”

“It’s not about the mugs,” he roared. “We don’t have anything. It’s just sex.”

“It’s more than that and you know it,” she said. “Jared, I love you. If you’d stop hiding, and recognize your fears, you’d realize you love me, too. That’s why I’m the only one you and your bear can agree on.”

“Don’t be stupid,” he said, his voice hard, “and don’t pretend you know anything about my bear. You don’t love me; you just love fucking the bad boy. It’s fun to tell your friends how you suck my cock and lick my tattoos in exchange for my tongue on your cunt, but that isn’t love, sweetheart, and if you think it is, you have more things to worry about than me dumping you.”

“I guess you’re right,” she said, tightening her hand around the door handle. “Good luck finding someone to replace me.”

She exited his truck and when she slammed the door, he sped away and left her on the curb. His bear roared in protest, but he didn’t go back, and he didn’t go home.

She’d issued a challenge, and he fully intended to prove she meant nothing to him.

***

The following day, Leah greeted Jared and the woman he’d brought into the restaurant with a smile, and led them to their table as if nothing were amiss. His blatant move to prove he didn’t love her was laughable, but it still hurt, especially when she considered how far he would go with the woman to make a point. 

She glanced at her watch and silently swore. She still had to endure his presence for another thirty minutes before she could go home. The time clicked slowly by, and three groups of diners entered the restaurant, causing her to make the trek past his table more than once.

As if she hadn’t been embarrassed enough, the last group contained three rowdy men who decided to negatively comment on her weight.

“Okay, guys,” the ringleader said. “Fatass is going to lead us to our table now.”

“Show us the way, thunder-thighs,” another added.

“That’s too much jiggle with that wiggle,” the third added.

She placed their menus on the table and noticed one of the waitresses alerting her boss to the problem. He was a good man, and he always took care of his staff.

“I don’t usually fuck fatties, but if you pay me a hundred bucks, I’ll pop your cherry.”

The sound of a chair skidding across the hardwood floor echoed around the eatery, and Jared was by her side a second later. The three men looked up and froze, and several other patrons stared at the scene unfolding with rapt attention. Jared was always a formidable sight, but tonight he seemed bigger, and more badass than usual.

“Apologize,” he roared. “Now.”

The three men didn’t move and Jared took a step toward the table. She reached out and gently placed her hand on his chest. He turned his dark gaze on her, and once again she felt his heart beating wildly beneath her hand.

“You would stop me from protecting you?” he growled.

“I’m not yours to protect,” she said, calmly. “Go sit down, Jared. My boss is on the way, and your date looks worried.”

He didn’t listen, but he didn’t engage with the men, either. He waited for her boss to tell them to leave, and then he escorted them to the door and returned to his table.

Fifteen minutes later, her shift was over and she couldn’t get out of the building fast enough. All she wanted to do was go home, turn on the TV and forget about Jared and his date. Unfortunately, the temperamental engine in her car decided to give up completely, and it wouldn’t even make a sound when she turned the key.

She had no choice but to walk home.

As she walked, her mind wandered, and she stopped paying attention to her surroundings. When the huge truck pulled up to the curb and inched along beside her, fear dowsed all her thoughts of Jared until he started yelling at her.