Lone Bear: BBW Paranormal Shape Shifter Romance (Bear Mountain Book 1) (2 page)

She finished her shift, locked up the restaurant and stepped outside with her scarf wrapped around her neck. Her coat hung open and after she double checked the door on the building, she huddled inside the covered entryway and buttoned up her coat. With only one button remaining, she stepped out onto the sidewalk in front of the café.

“Hi Katie.”

She jumped and spun around at the voice as fear raced down her spine. The sun had set and the street showed no signs of activity. Randy and his wife had gone home and she’d been the one to lock up. No one would hear her if she screamed.

“Oh, Gage,” she placed her hand on her chest. “You nearly scared me to death. Good evening.”

She turned away from him and started walking toward her apartment.

“Kate! Katie, wait up!”

She stopped and faced him.

“Why were you so frightened?”

She shrugged and couldn’t help but look up and down the street, eying all the dark shadows. She didn’t want to lie to him, but her uneasy feelings toward the sheriff really weren’t any of his business.

“You startled me, that’s all.”

He stared at her with narrowed eyes for several seconds and she had a feeling he knew she’d lied. He didn’t call her on it though.

“I’ll walk you home.”

It wasn’t a question and she wanted his company, so she didn’t object. Without a word, she turned on her heel and started home. He fell into step with her easily.

“Listen, Kate, about earlier—”

“Please don’t.”

“Don’t what?”

“Don’t do whatever it is you’re doing,” she said as she waved her hand between them. “Look, I get it okay. I’m sorry if I made you uncomfortable.”

“I was uncomfortable, but I’m pretty sure it’s not in the way that you think. I didn’t mean to snap at you, and I’m sorry.”

“Apology accepted. Let’s just forget it, okay?”

She could feel his stare, but she refused to look at him. She’d never be able to hide her desire if she did.

“Okay. Would you like to go to the movies with me on Friday night?”

“Um,” she cleared her throat, stopped walking and finally made eye contact. “What?”

“Movies? This Friday? With me?” he smiled, and winked.

Their town theater only played movies that were already available to buy or rent, but it was still fun to watch things on the big screen with a bucket of popcorn.

“Um,” she stalled. “Do you know what’s playing? I don’t do horror.”

“Good, neither do I. I’ll talk to Sam and if it’s something gory, we can hang out at my house instead. Deal?”

Sam and his daughter Samantha, who also went by Sam, owned the movie theater and changed the movie every Friday like the big cities. She found his willingness to change their plans sweet, and she really hoped the man put up something scary. She wanted to see the inside of Gage’s home and spend time with him alone, without the whole town watching.

“Okay.”

They reached her apartment as the first flurries of the season started to fall. He inclined his head toward the top floor.

“Do you want me to walk you up?”

She declined. They could see her door and though she had to walk behind a slab of concrete to get to it, nothing ever happened in Bear Mountain. She’d be safe.

As long as the sheriff keeps his distance.

The uneasy feelings the man ignited must have shown on her face.

“Why don’t you like the sheriff?”

Dammit.
She hadn’t fooled him.

“There isn’t one reason in particular, he hasn’t done anything to me, I just don’t like him.”

“What about the deputy?”

“Dave is okay. I don’t know him that well, but he’s a nice guy. He doesn’t act conceited or deserving like Tom does, and he seems to care about the town. Often times, Tom doesn’t really seem to care what goes on around here, I think he just likes the status of being the sheriff.”

She hadn’t meant to reveal so much, but she trusted him not to share her confidences.

Gage nodded and added, “I feel the same about them both. Something about the sheriff doesn’t seem right, but he keeps getting elected. I don’t understand it.”

“Neither do I. He’s been sheriff since I got here, but I wouldn’t vote for him again. Randy said in the last election he didn’t even have an opponent. It doesn’t make sense.”

“I’m glad you’ve decided to keep your distance. It’s getting colder, so go on up now. I’ll stay here until you get in.” He leaned forward to kiss her cheek and the skin beneath his lips burned from his touch. Little puffs of snow melted upon contact.

“Personally, I hope Sam puts up something really gruesome,” he whispered.

His breath tickled her ear and sent an electric jolt through her system. She gasped breathlessly, but she couldn’t move or speak. Suddenly, she felt like a million degrees, as if she were sweating beneath her scarf and coat.

He’d admitted to wanting her alone. Did he want her, too, or did he want to keep her hidden. She dismissed the latter thought; he wouldn’t have asked her out if he didn’t want her.

“I’ll pick you up at seven. Good night, Katie.”

“Good night.”

Her legs worked as if by rote and she turned and walked up the stairs. Her cheeks flamed when she realized he could see her ass as she climbed, but she pushed her embarrassment out of her mind. She had no idea what happened this afternoon, but she felt certain he wouldn’t have asked her out if he wasn’t interested. She added some extra sway in her hips on the last three stairs and when she looked down at him, he waved and she knew he’d noticed.

She walked the ten seconds behind the concrete slab, and smiled when she spotted him still waiting for her at the bottom of the stairs. She put the key in the lock and waved back before entering the apartment and shutting him outside.

She ripped off her coat and scarf, ran to the bathroom, and stripped off her clothes. The cool water from the shower cooled her heated skin and after several minutes, she could think clearly again.

She had a date with Gage Adams on Friday. Nothing could ruin her week.

Chapter Two

The flurries from two days before disappeared over night and the forecast claimed cold, but clear, skies into the weekend. With only one more day until her date with Gage, Kate’s nerves had returned. She had off every Thursday and the thought of staying home made her crazy. She needed to focus her mind on something else.

After careful inspection of her closet, she deemed her wardrobe unworthy and borrowed her boss’ small economical car for a trip to the nearest mall. The long drive gave her more time to think, which wasn’t good, but once she reached her destination the much needed distraction set in.

Kate walked the mall from end to end and immersed herself in the atmosphere. She enjoyed the new shops as well as her old favorites and had lunch in the newly remodeled food court. Many of the new food chains were new to her, and she sampled her entrée from one and dessert and coffee from another.

With her new jeans and sweater purchased, she decided to head home but before she reached the parking lot, she ducked into the new lingerie shop. Once inside, she felt ridiculous for her spur of the moment decision and turned to leave.

“Hi, can I help you find anything?”

She turned, expecting to find a model thin sales representative with a condescending smile, but instead came face to face with a petite elderly lady who had a friendly disposition. The woman was the epitome of what Kate thought a grandmother would be like, and she swallowed her fear. If things did progress with Gage the way she hoped, she would like to have something sexy to wear for him.

“Do you have anything in here that would fit someone my size?”

“Of course, dear. Right this way.”

An hour later she walked out of the store with a black lace chemise and panty set. Her cheeks burned when she thought about wearing the items for Gage, but the sales woman insisted the combination sheer and lacey set showed off her curves in the best way.

She smiled all the way to the mall exit.

Her smile fell when she pushed through the glass doors. Not only had the sun set and the temperature dropped, but two inches of snow covered the ground. The flakes seemed to have stopped falling, but she knew the unexpected powder, along with the vast dip in temperature, could cause many road hazards and accidents if people weren’t careful. She didn’t drive in snow that often and wasn’t completely confident in her skills.

After careful consideration, she decided to attempt to drive home. The hour ride would be mostly on the highway, and if she needed to stop outside of town, she could leave the car and walk the rest of the way. She glanced down at her fleece lined sweatshirt and winced. If she couldn’t walk it she might have to ask one of her neighbors for a favor, but she’d cross that bridge later. With her decision made, she started the trek home.

Twenty minutes outside of town, she turned onto the less frequented highway that would lead her home and sighed. While the busy freeway had melted most of the snow away, the road into town was still covered and it looked like more snow had fallen closer to home. She maneuvered the road at a snail’s pace until she hit a patch of ice and slid off the main lane toward the shoulder.

She realized her options were slim as she stopped the car and idled near the embankment. She didn’t have a cell-phone, most people in town didn’t, and there were no call boxes on the rural highway. At least twenty miles remained before she got to town, so she couldn’t walk it, but driving it might give send her to an early grave. She could flag down the next commuter, but in this weather, she might freeze before another motorist came by.

When she finished the last thought, she saw a pair huge headlights approaching rapidly in the rearview mirror. She didn’t have time to get out and flag them down, but it didn’t matter. The enormous truck stopped next to her and rolled down the window. She inwardly groaned when she recognized the vehicle and the driver.

“Hi Katherine. Need a lift?” the off-duty sheriff said.

He wore his regular civilian clothes and drove his personal vehicle. While the few people that owned vehicles in Bear Mountain had trucks, she’d always laughed at the size of Tom’s.

Most of the trucks were old, heavy duty work vehicles, but he’d purchased the largest, loudest, shiny new toy around with a king cab and extra tires on the rear wheels. Considering where they lived, and that they could walk almost anywhere, his choice of vehicle was extreme.

She quickly weighed her options again and answered him.

“Yeah, thanks, Tom. That would be great.”

She secured Randy’s car and gathered her purse and packages before she opened his door and climbed the little ladder to get inside the seat. The warmth of the cab was a welcome change to the outside world, but it quickly grew uncomfortable.

“Wow, it’s really warm in here,” she said as she unzipped her fleece.

“Why don’t you take your jacket completely off?”

“No, we’re almost there. It’s too much trouble for such a short drive. Thanks again for giving me a lift.”

“You’re lucky I came along. A young woman like yourself shouldn’t be out alone, especially buying lingerie. You never know what could happen.”

Anger laced his words and fear trickled down her spine. She glanced at him and saw his jaw tighten and his eye twitch.

“How do you know what I bought?” she asked cautiously.

When he looked at her, his face transformed. Rage replaced his usual creepy smile.

“I heard about your date with Gage and I saw you inside that disgusting shop smiling with that old woman.”

“You followed me?”

“Yes, and now I’m going to show you what it’s like to be with a real man, not a lonely recluse. Really, Katherine. I expected more from you.”

He sped past her apartment toward the edge of town that bordered on the National Forest and Gage’s home. The snow started to fall again and he drove them into a crop of trees at the bottom of the mountain. A couple more inches of white fluff and they’d not only be hidden in the dark and trees, but they’d be completely dusted in white; invisible to any random passersby.

He stopped the truck and turned off the ignition.

“I’ve been very patient with you, Katherine, but this has gone on long enough. Now, take off your jacket,” he said as he stared out the windshield.

“No,” she tried to open the door and jump out, but she realized too late that she needed to push in the lock first. Considering the newness of his vehicle, she’d expected everything to be automatic.

He grabbed her jacket by the collar and pulled it toward him, yanking her with it. His strength startled her, but she resisted and held onto the door handle.

“I said, off!” he yelled, his voice filled the cab and rattled her insides. The material gave and ripped at the shoulder, tearing the sleeve down the middle.

“You will learn to listen to me,” he said and slapped her across the face.

The action jarred her and gave him the upper hand. He propelled out of the driver’s seat, and landed on top of her at the same time he released the lever on her seat. His agility amazed her as she fell back and he landed on top of her with a thump. He dug his fingers into her biceps, holding her in place. She pushed at his chest and struggled against him as he forcefully kissed her on the mouth and face when she wouldn’t open her lips for him. He wiggled and moaned against her as she fought him with her hands and legs.

“Get off of me. Let me go,” she screamed, but he didn’t budge.

His body covered her completely but he slipped a hand between them to her neck and ripped her shirt down over her breast. He grabbed her boob with a hand of steel and tears pricked her eyes.

“Stop squirming, you know you want this,” he said as he pulled back to undo his belt.

The action freed up her upper body and she punched him in the nuts. He screamed in agony and tried to grab hold of her hand, but she wrestled free and punched him again. The pain made him pause and she used the moments to unlock the door and push him off her. He quickly regained himself and lunged toward her, but she had the door open and jumped out of the truck. He grabbed her hood and pulled her back, but she propelled herself forward and slammed the heavy door.

She heard his yell of agony and took off running to the only place she knew she’d be safe.

***

Gage ran through the snow in his bear form, leaving a path of plowed powder in his wake. He loved playing in the snow, but because most real bears spent the winter in hibernation, he kept his outings to a minimum in the winter months.

Even though he lived near the National Park, he had to be extra careful. Grizzly bears were a threatened species and when spotted, they were often followed.

He slowed his pace and roamed through the trees surrounding his home until exhaustion set in. In the two days since Kate had agreed to go out with him, his cock had been as hard as a rock and he thought of sex with her nearly every second. He tried to busy his brain with odd jobs and projects around town, but she seeped through his tactics and haunted his every moment. He’d even dreamed about her every night and woken up sweating with his hand around his dick.

For two years he’d kept his need for her in a tiny corner of his mind. He’d been careful not to obsess, to think about every action, and to earn her trust so he didn’t scare her away. It seemed all his hard work had flown out the window when she’d yes.

He sat at the tree line and eyed the road that would lead him back to her. He wanted to run down the road, across town and barge into her apartment. His bear wanted to claim her no matter the cost, but his human side fought the irrational behavior.

As if he conjured her image, Kate came running over the hill toward his home. He could now add hallucinating to his list of odd behavior. His mind had brought Kate to him.

He blinked to clear the vision of her from his sight, but it didn’t help. As she got closer, he spotted her ripped sweater, snow covered knees, and large puffs of white air coming from her mouth. He forgot his bear form and raced out of the tree line as she fell face first into the snow.

His bear let out a roar in mid-stride, but he kept moving until he came to a stop next to her lifeless form.

White puffs of air expelled through his mouth and he grunted as he nudged her side with his snout. When she didn’t move, he pushed harder and rolled her over. Slowly her eyes opened and she raised her hand out as if to touch him before it dropped to her side.

“Gage. Please help me,” she said before her eyes closed again.

He looked down at his paws and realized he raced to her in his bear form and she didn’t freak out. She must be delirious.

After a quick scan of the area, he changed back into his human form and picked up her limp body. His body temperature kept him warm and he barely felt the cold air against his bare chest and feet as he carried her across the expansive snow-covered lawn to his home.

Kate’s clothes were soaking wet and covered in flurries. Her skin felt ice cold and icicles had formed on the hem of her pants and sweater. Her shallow breathing worried him and he doubled his stride as he carried his precious bundle to safety.

He wondered at her ripped sweater, but when he saw her shirt had been ripped as well, white hot rage boiled inside him. Both the bear and the man wanted blood for whoever had dared to touch his mate.

He took her inside his bedroom and set her on the bed. Working as quickly as he could, he removed her shoes and socks, and then ripped off her jeans, sweater and top. A wave of lust raced down his spine when he saw her on his bed in nothing but her panties and bra, but he pushed the feeling aside. He pulled back the covers and placed her between the sheets. Her panties seemed dry, but her bra was soaked, so he turned his head and released her breasts from the confining material. As much as he wanted to look, he didn’t want her wrath, so he pulled the covers up to her chin and tucked them around her.

He ran into the other room, turned on the heater and returned with more blankets to cover her form. When he felt she was warm enough, he went into the living room and started a fire in the fireplace. The blaze rapidly heated the room and he covered the carpet with two more blankets before returning to his room to get her.

Though she still slept, her breathing had deepened enough to resemble something normal and much of his panic subsided. She would be okay. She had to be.

He lifted her and her blankets in his arms and carried her into the living room.

“Gage, what are you doing?” she asked in a tiny voice.

He looked down at her green eyes, thankful she seemed to be returning to normal.

“I’m keeping you warm, honey.”

“Oh…okay,” she smiled and closed her eyes again.

He continued to maneuver her through the room and laid her down in front of the fire. A few blankets needed rearranging, but after he checked them, he settled down behind her and wrapped his arm around her waist over the blankets.

About an hour later, Kate’s soft whisper woke him.

“Gage?”

He hadn’t even realized he’d fallen asleep. Even though she lay buried under a mound of blankets, and he was sweating bullets from the warmth of the room, having her near him felt like heaven. He couldn’t wait to feel her skin against his. The thought of her naked under the blankets hardened his cock again and he desperately tried to think of something to douse his libido.