Grizzly - Bundle Parts 1-3 (11 page)

Philip nodded, acknowledging her predicament. I reached out to caress the top of her hand, offering comfort.

“I’m sure he thinks he can win this lawsuit. That’s where I come in, I want to help. I want to offer up my testimony that he has had a pattern of verbally abusing those who are overweight. I think my story will carry some merit and I wanted to offer it up to you. I want to stand up to him one last time, indirectly. He’s a social figurehead and should know better. Its time he learns his lesson.”

Cass studied his face and I could tell she was considering his offer. I stayed quiet, offering my support silently.

“Tell ya what, I’ll talk with my attorney. I’ll share with him what you’ve brought to the table today and if he thinks it’s a good idea, then I’ll follow suit on his advice. I can’t make any guarantees, but I very much appreciate you coming forward.”

“That’s good enough for me and all I can ask for.” Philip said than stood up. “I leave you two in peace for now.” He slid his own biz card in Cass’s direction. “Take care.”

We watched him walk away. When Cass turned to look at me, she shook her head in utter disbelief, shocked at what had just occurred.

“Can you even believe?” She said.

“No, and if I hadn’t been here as a witness, I might not have ever believed you myself. But I’m glad he showed up. Goes to show, once a bully, always a bully.”

She nodded a look of disgust on her face, “Can you imagine making fun of your own child like that? Humiliating him? Poor guy…”

We both fell back into a calm and productive lull, each getting back to our work. At some point, Cass’s phone buzzed a few times and each time she looked at it, a small smile crept to her face.

Curious, I asked, “What gives?”

“What gives what?” She parroted, feigning innocence.

“Who’s sending you messages that are making you smile? Cuz I know they’re not coming from me.” I asked gently.

She bit her lip as if hesitant to answer. “Can’t a gal keep a few secrets? You might not like the answer…”

I already knew, it was Officer Rotan. Or Jason, as we’d come to know him better. We’d run into one another again and had played more pool. To my surprise, he’d been very chivalrous, saying he’d figured out that Cass was interested in me and that he would stay outta the way and not get involved.

Which made me wonder, why was he texting her then?

I arched my eyebrows, leaving it open ended for her to answer. Praying inwardly that it would be the right answer.

“I thought it might be nice if we all played a game of pool again. Only this time, no drama. What do you think?” She said, a look on her face that made me wonder what she was really up to.

“Is that what you really want? A game of pool?” I couldn’t help myself, jealously surging up.

Her face fell and she looked down at her lap, “I’m sorry Abe. I’ll let him know.” Her thumbs fumbled quickly with her phone as she began to text a reply.

“You like him, don’t you?” I asked, this time with the neutral acceptance I needed to have so she didn’t feel so ashamed.

She looked at me intently, a very serious look on her face, as if she wanted to share something important.

“Okay, here goes. Just gonna say it. Get it out there. Not gonna lie… Have you ever thought about having a threesome? You know, sex with two women?” She whispered, mindful that we were in a public locale.

Stunned, I nodded. This was one of the things I like about my Cass. She just said it like it was, got it out there. She didn’t do a whole lot of ‘
dancing around the subject
’. As it was, we were making our way to sex – taking our time enjoying one another. Which, much to my surprise, I was appreciating more than most men would care to have guessed. We were both taking our sweet ass time with the carnal buffet of one another. Given her very creative imagination, I was enjoying it more than I dared admit.

“Of course I have, I’m a man.”

“Have you ever had one? A threesome?” She asked, her eyes aflame with desire.

Instantly, I knew I was busted. I might not be the most sexually adventurous man in the world, although that was changing daily with Cass’s carnal appetite. I had indeed had a threesome. Three times in fact, long ago, with my wife and one of her lesbian friends. We’d been snowed in for a week up near the
Rocky Mountains
and between boredom setting in and too much liquor available, things just sorta took a turn towards the sexual and naughty.

I nodded, “Yes, I have. It was a while ago. Guilty as charged.”

“Ain’t nothing to be ashamed of. I just think its human nature to experience new things. That’s all it is, Abe. All of my life, I’ve wondered what that would be like. To have a threesome, with two men.” She said, a very appealing flush rising on her features.

Said like that, I realized I was maybe being too protective and jealous. If that was all it was, then so be it.

I’d allow her a threesome. Or maybe it was the other way around. Cuz I was beginning to realize that this was one rodeo I wasn’t in charge of. And interestingly, I kinda dug it. Might be nice to be with a strong woman who enjoyed calling the shots. She was so naturally strong, herself and in command. It wasn’t in a bitchy way, either. Just calm and collected. At ease and natural. In a sweet, kind, loving and gentle way where she almost didn’t even realize she was doing it.

And that was when it hit me.

Cass was an Alpha.

An Alpha female.

Which were rare. Very rare. So rare that the Bear clan had a very strict policy about what a male shifter need do if he found one. It didn’t matter if they were shifter or human. Just that they were, in fact, an Alpha.

Grasping that this was why I was so compelled to come to the East Coast and Boston to find my mate, it now made sense why I’d been haunted my entire life by her presence. Time had been doing its dance, waiting. Allowing for us to be at an age range where we could be compatible. To be with one another.

Because the truth of it was this.

An Alpha female belongs to no one, and I mean no one, but herself. She’s as true to a living Earth goddess type as there ever was and ever will be. She chooses her consorts, her mates, her
pack. Just like a queen bee.

Cass wasn’t just my mate. She was my Alpha. I was Beta to her Alpha, as a first mate. As a primary mate.

Which meant only one thing… There would be other mates.

Oh the irony.

Chapter Thirteen

(( 13 ))

CASSIDY

The look on Abe’s face said it all. I was worried I’d taken it too far. Sharing with him that I had a fantasy of being part of a threesome. Which was hilarious in retrospect as we’d yet to seal the deal between the two of us, so to speak. I was enjoying the sweet pace we’d created and wasn’t so sure how much longer I could hold out, myself.

Why was I bringing this up already? That’s right… I’m a torrid flirt and Jason keeps pinging me with texts…

He seemed dumbfounded and had gone quiet. Which worried me. Had I taken it too far too soon? Maybe sharing my interest in Jason had been really stupid? I was just flirting…

Or was I?

Shit!

Either way, I needed to salvage things between us before things got out of hand.

“I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have brought it up…” I murmured sheepishly, sucking in a deep breath. “Forgive me for even bringing it up.”

Wherever Abe had momentarily disappeared into his mind, he quickly returned, appearing both intrigued and amazed.

“Cass, answer me truthfully, have you always been predisposed to being attracted to more than one man at a time?”

I almost swallowed my tongue. Just about every sane woman on the planet was screaming in my head,
do not answer that question!

But I wasn’t like most women on the planet and that was something I’d long ago figured out. Besides, Abe had given me no reason to doubt that he wouldn’t take me and all my craziness in stride.

I nodded gently, “Yes, actually… Does that bother you?”

He studied my face and a very incongruous grin spread across his face. He shook his head back and forth as if he were in amazement.

“Cassidy, you’re a remarkable woman and you don’t even know the main reason why yet. This is absolutely mind-boggling…”

Now it was my turn to be confused.
What in the world was he talking about? What did he mean?

“What?” I said, my turn to be dumbfounded.

He leaned across the table and reached for my hand. His eyes held me in a powerful gaze. “Cassidy, I have something very important to share with you, but I need to sorta feel you out, so to speak. See if you’re ready for it.”

I blushed and grinned, “Good grief Abe. We’ve done a lot of that! I think you already have?!” I said, perhaps a bit too loudly, as a few
Starbucks
patrons glanced up from their laptops and eReaders to send a chastising look for the interruption and semi-provocative comment.

It’s not a library!
I wanted to say…

“Not what I mean, Cass. I’m talking psychologically. Not literally. Although I’d prefer to discuss the literal…”

“Shhhh!” I said, blushing furiously.

Abe chuckled and before I knew it, we were both in fits of laughter. At this rate, I was worried that one of the baristas was going to ask us to leave.

Once we gained our composure, I felt that tenderness welling up in my heart about him. How I was falling in love with him… Which made me wonder, how could I be falling in love with Abe and still have attraction and feelings for another man?

What was wrong with me?!

Suddenly, the look on Abe’s face changed. It softened and there was a depth of comprehension to it that was profound.

“It’s because you’re an Alpha, Cass. You’re an Alpha female.” He said softly.

I was stunned, shocked and horrified. But I was going to play it cool.
Had he just read my mind?! And what did he mean, I’m an Alpha female?

“What are you talking about?” I asked. “And how did you do that?”

“Do what?” Abe said matter-of-factly, as if reading my mind was no big deal.

“Okay, wait a minute. You just said I’m an Alpha female, as if you’d read my mind,” I said, leaning in towards him. “Don’t deny it.”

Abe leaned forward, gave me a sweet little kiss on the lips and gently head-butted me. “Because I did and yes, that is the reason why. You’re an Alpha female. Do you know what that is or what it even means?”

At that point, I went stupid. Abe could read my mind. He could hear my thoughts. He knew everything! I felt like passing out and jumping out of my seat all at the same time.

“An Alpha? What are you talking about? I thought we were talking about threesomes…”

He leaned back in his chair, shaking his head back and forth in amusement. “We are… but to get to that, I need to explain the Alpha piece.”

“And the mind-reading part?”

“That too… It’s all tied together. Only a primary mate could read your mind, your thoughts. Until today, I didn’t have access…”

Primary mate?!
Boy, this shifter stuff was getting very interesting…

My world was going wobbly and suddenly everything was too much. Things started to spin a bit and the next thing I knew, it was all going dark. I was blacking out…

* * *

When I came to, Abe and a barista were crouched around me. I’d never slipped through a
black tunnel
before and was completely disoriented. I heard them talking to me, but not much registered. Just the sound of concerned mumbling.

At some point, I was able to sit up and then once I was sitting, I started to feel better. My world was spinning a little, but slowly I felt better. All the while, Abe kept a watchful eye over me.

“What happened?” I asked Abe, when I felt I could coherently talk.

“You passed out.”

“Oh wow… I did?”

“Yes, you did. Have you ever passed out before?” He asked, concern etched on his handsome face. The face I was falling in love with.

I shook my head slowly, “No, never.” I murmured.

“Let’s just focus on getting you home. We’ll talk about everything later. It’s a lot to take in. I should have been wiser and timed this convo better and in a better place. My bad.”

“Okay…” I said, a bit weakly.

He went about gathering up our belongings. Once he had everything in place, he offered up his arm to help me steadily exit the coffee shop. I got the sense that if he could have done so, without much unwanted attention and scrutiny, he would have picked me up bodily and simply carried me home. Hoisted me over his strong shoulders. Which was a nice thought since I wasn’t in the habit of thinking any man could carry me. But perhaps I was misjudging Abe’s strength. He was a shifter after-all.

Once we were finally safely to my place, he helped me to my sofa and I laid down.

Comfortable, I couldn’t help but dive back into the whole mind-reading and Alpha female thing. I was too curious to let that go.

“So, you can mind-read?” I asked.

He assessed me cautiously, “You sure you’re up for this? Considering you just passed out in a
Starbucks
…”

“Yes, I’m thinking that was a one-time event. System overload. I’m in a safe place and if I pass out again, then we will go to the Doctor, ok? But I don’t think anything is wrong with me or that it will happen again. I was just very surprised.” I said softly, eager to hear what he had to say.

“Alrighty then, Cass. Just let me know if it gets to be too over-your-head, k?” He said gingerly.

“I’m okay, Abe. I write shifter novels, remember?”

“Okay, here goes nothing.” He said, pausing to assess me. “So, yes, I can mind-read. But its selective. Meaning, I can’t just mind-read whomever I want. It’s mostly with other bear shifters and well… mates.”

“Mates.” I said, repeating him.

“Yes, mates.”

It settled in on me, what he was sharing. That a bond significant enough had developed between us that the paranormal laws were allowing him to read my mind because I was his mate. I sat there, chewing on it for what must have been a good minute or so. Silence hung in the air between us and the fullness of what was being revealed settled in. It was both exciting and terrifying.