Tempted by the Bear - Complete (24 page)

T
ori - My relationship
with Keith just got complicated. Apparently there was a lot more than age keeping us apart. I have werebear heritage that makes me someone Keith should avoid at all costs, but the true mate bond has a funny way of trumping all.

A
nnie
- If it’s not one thing, then it’s another when it comes to the woman that will be my mother-in-law. Helga comes with her own set of rules, and I’m only beginning to understand what that means for the safety of my family.

T
ori

F
inally
. Someone’s going to explain the significance of the bear in my dreams. I’m at Keith’s house for dinner on our first date, and boy, what a date it’s been. After months of him refusing to get involved because of our ten-year age difference, he’s changed his tune. We’ve just had our first kiss and said the L word. When this guy makes a decision to do something, he doesn’t mess around.

The steaks are still sizzling when Keith brings them inside from the grill, and the aroma of beef makes my stomach growl loudly enough that he flashes me a toothy smile. I’ve already placed baked potatoes on the plates, and the salad is on the table.

He sets a filet on each of the dishes I hold out and says, “I’m glad you’re hungry. It means you’ll like my cooking even if it’s sub-par.”

“Somehow I don’t buy that you haven’t mastered grilling yet. Don’t guys start practicing that in college?”

“We don’t actually learn anything. It’s just an excuse to drink beer and play with fire.” Chairs scrape on his tile floor as we settle in to eat.

“I knew it.” I slice into my steak as if it’s butter, and juice oozes out when I do. The color is the deep red of medium-rare, and salty flavor coats my tongue when I place the bite in my mouth. After I swallow, I say, “Delicious.” I cut another piece but stop when I notice Keith watching me. I feel as if I’m the odd one, and I ask, “You were going to tell me about bears.”

Keith’s brow furrows for a second before he says, “Tori, your visions are real.”

I have potato in my mouth, and the buttery flavor seems to have been replaced by dirt. Keith’s knife thuds hard on his plate when he cuts his steak.

I swallow the lump of food in my mouth, and it sticks in my throat before it hits my stomach. “Visions? Am I psychic?”

Keith is holding a bite of meat midair, and he glances at it as if wondering how it got there. He snatches it off with his teeth, and I watch his powerful jaw work at chewing before he says, “Kind of. You’re seeing things that are going to happen in our future.”

Heat rises to my cheeks, because he’s basically saying we’re going to have sex. Awesome sex. But I frown when I remember the bear. The animal is never violent in my dreams, but he’s also too close for comfort. “Please tell me all of it doesn’t come true.”

Keith’s eyes widen, and I think he might be having a male pride issue, so I add, “I’m talking about the bear.”

He grins at me. “I knew that.” Oh my god. They never outgrow that insecurity? I roll my eyes at him. His smile disappears, and he says, “The bear is real. But like in the dreams, you have no reason to be afraid of it.”

I think of the beautiful cultivated forest behind his house. “Are you the bear whisperer or something?”

Keith reaches for my hand. His warmth wards off my chill. “I am the bear.”

I snort as I shake my head. “You’re the bear? That doesn’t make any sense.”

“I’m a werebear. We’re similar to werewolves in the fact that we shift between the two states.”

“Seriously.”

“Seriously. And you were called here to be my mate.”

“Whoa.” I sit back, pull my hand from his, and cross my arms as I study the man before me who claims to be a werebear. There’s a whole world of believers for werewolves, and I suppose, like aliens, it’s possible. But I’ve never heard about werebears. “How do I know what you’re saying is true? Can you show me?”

“Do you want to see me as a bear?”

I shake my head quickly. “I was hoping for something not so scary.”

Keith places his hands on the table, and silverware rattles against the plates. “How about this?”

I watch as hair begins to poke out, and his fingers shrink back as long claws grow out. My voice is breathy as I say, “Oh, god.” I gaze up at him to notice he’s got fangs coming out of his mouth, and his eyes aren’t quite right. I flinch back, and he returns to human almost as quickly. I say, “That was creepy.”

“Sorry.”

I wince at my careless comment. “No. Not you. It’s just weird to think of you as a bear, that’s all.”

“It’s okay,” he says. “I know this will take some getting used to.”

Yeah, it will. I scan the body of the man in front of me, looking for features that should have tipped me off, but I don’t see any. “So my dreams brought me here to be with you, a werebear. Why?”

“Because my clan needs women to be able to continue. An ancient curse has made all of ours barren. A new spell was cast to call all fertile women with werebear heritage to come to Maine.”

I recall when Carly gave me my tattoo she told me she’d moved here from California, and that she and Sierra had been called too. I thought she was a bit of a fruit loop and didn’t think anything of it. “I have werebear heritage?”

“Yes, one of your parents is a werebear.”

My father.
Or as my sisters and I refer to him, the one who shall not be named, since my mother refused to tell us about him. I thought it was because we had a wonderful dad who adopted us when we were very young, and Mom told us we disgraced him by wanting to know about the man who had never been part of our lives. But now I wonder if that was really why.

“Wow. That answers a few questions.” I poke at my salad as I process that I have bear in my genes. “So can I do the werebear thing too?”

“No. Not unless you’re changed.”

I grin at the absurdity and ask, “Let me guess. You have to bite me?”

Keith nods, and I say, “Yeah, well, that’s not going to happen. I cry over splinters, remember?”

“I know. I won’t ask you to do anything you don’t want to do.”

I think of my mother and wonder how she got involved with a werebear. We’re going to have a long conversation soon. But then I look at the gorgeous man across from me, and I get why she might not have cared either. Keith just told me he’s not human, and instead of running, I want to know if he growls when he comes. I shake my head at myself and recall how Carly and Sierra told me once I got the tattoo I wouldn’t be able to resist the call. I reach down to my hip and rub at the rough denim that covers my throbbing mark. They got that right.

T
ori

N
ot much keeps
me from eating, and even though I’m trying to come to terms with the fact that I’m in love with a werebear, I manage to finish dinner. I peppered Keith with questions about the mundane, like “Do your clothes really rip to shreds when you shift?” I was a little disappointed to hear they undress first. How normal. But the burning question in my mind is: What happens to me now? I’m afraid to find out.

My mug of coffee is hot in my hands, and the scent of flavored creamer floats to my nose as I say, “So. Pretty big night for us, huh?” I give myself a mental eye-roll. Before Keith told me he was a bear, I thought tonight was only going to be about our first time having sex. Now it’s about a lot more.

Keith nods at me as he stands up from the dinner table. “Let’s go get more comfortable.”

As he leads the way to the living room, my mind imagines he means “get naked.” His powerful body is big, and I can’t help but picture him as a bear. The bear in my dreams. I sink into the plush cushions of the sectional couch while leaving a bit of distance between us.

I say, “So, earlier you said there are hundreds of you. I know Carly and Sierra are werebears, but is there anyone else I know?”

“You probably know quite a few. Most of us go to Orono instead of far away for college. Delta is a werebear frat.”

Jax.
The guy who I met at a Delta party and tried to like as a boyfriend all these months while I fantasized about Keith instead. I flash back to when he and Keith met the day of my final presentation. No wonder they got all growly. And it makes sense that the biggest guys on campus belong to that fraternity. I also think about the fact that Carly, Sierra, and I are big women. A lot of girls at Orono are tall too.
Lucy.

Keith is watching me, and I bet he just saw me figure it out when I ask, “Lucy?”

He nods.
Oh my god! Lucy?
But why was she so against me getting my tattoo? I’d think you’d want your roommate to be in on your secret. I guess I’ll find out soon enough.

Keith says, “Her new boyfriend, too. Only he’s not from our kingdom. He’s actually a polar bear.”

I raise my eyebrows. “A polar bear.” This is getting weirder by the minute, and I ask, “Kingdom?”

“Yes. In Maine we have a kingdom that is made up of three clans. The Le Roux, which is where Carly, Sierra, and I are from. Then there’s the Robichaux, which is Lucy’s clan, and the Veilleux.” A low rumble comes from Keith before he adds, “Jax’s clan.”

I grin at his jealousy as I swallow a mouthful of coffee. “So werebears are all over the world?”

“Pretty much.” He leans toward me, and I do too, as if he’s reeling me in.

“And humans just go about their business with no clue?”

Keith smiles. “Pretty much.”

I imagine what would happen if the werebears were exposed. I don’t think it would go over well. “You’re trusting me with a pretty big secret.”

“I am.” Now Keith slides over close enough to touch my leg. The heat of him practically sears my thigh as my body welcomes it. He says, “But I’m not worried. I know you care about me and Lucy. I don’t think you’d do anything to endanger us.”

I lean toward the coffee table to set down my drink, and when I sit back, I shift toward Keith. We’re now only inches apart. “But how did you know I wouldn’t run screaming?”

“I didn’t.” Keith combs my hair away from my face with his fingers, and the contact starts a low hum of lust in my belly. “But you have werebear in you, and I think the spirit of the bear gives you courage.”

I snort. “Courageous, I’m not.” I reach up and hold on to his hand, which has now lowered to cup the side of my face.

Keith moves toward me, and our lips are practically touching when he says, “You wouldn’t still be here if you weren’t.” He kisses me, and it’s like electricity zings through my body, because every part of me feels alive with my desire. I move from his mouth to kiss my way down his neck. His scent floods my senses as I taste his skin. Keith grabs my shoulders and pushes me away to stand up.

He steps back from the couch and takes a deep breath as he closes his eyes. I ask, “What’s wrong?”

His gaze is intense when he opens his eyes to answer, “As badly as I want to be with you, I don’t think we should move too quickly. I think you need time to process what being with me means.”

Great. He’s letting good sense be a cock block. “You mean there’s more than the fact that you’re a werebear?”

“Yes. Once we have sex, you aren’t going to be able to resist me.”

I don’t hide my skepticism, and Keith gives me what must be the mirror image of my smirk before he says, “I don’t think I’m that amazing. What I mean is that our bond will make you think I am. And things will get difficult.”

I’m about rip off his clothes in my own version of shifting, and he thinks it could get worse? “You realize telling me something like this only makes me want sex with you more, right?” I step toward him, and the cotton of his T-shirt is warm in my hand when I clutch it. “I have ways to convince you.”

He grins as he grabs my hand and pulls it off his chest. “You don’t need any tricks. But I’m serious. You need to have time to figure out if being with me is what you really want.”

“Keith, you can shift into a bear when you want. The idea that you can protect me from just about anything is pretty sexy. What else is there to process?”

His face falls for a second, and when his smile comes back, it appears strained. “Right. And now I’m going to protect you from yourself.” He waggles his eyebrows at me. “If you think you can keep from jumping me, we can watch a movie. Or I can take you home.”

I recall that Lucy invited Sven over and wanted privacy. At least she’s getting frisky. I sigh. “I’ll be good. But popcorn better be involved.”

“That can be arranged.” Keith tosses the remote at me, and I catch it without breaking our gaze as he says, “You find us a movie, and I’ll go make our snacks.”

The TV snaps on when I push a button, and I glance down at my hand on the remote. I imagine claws coming out of my fingers like I witnessed on Keith earlier tonight. An involuntary shudder runs through me.
My real father is a werebear.
Oh my god.
He might even live around here. Keith’s right. I have a lot to process.

L
ucy

T
he swish of
our elevator door wakes me, and Tori’s footsteps thud softly as she walks in. I hope she’s up for girl talk, because I’m dying to share my amazing night. I gaze over at Sven sound asleep in my bed. I just had sex for the first time with my true mate. The euphoria I feel can’t even be described. I long to kiss him, but if I woke Sven up, that would lead to things I’m not quite ready for my human roommate to hear.

My sheets barely rustle as I slide out from under them slowly. I snag my robe from the hook on the back of my door, and it’s cool against my skin as I put it on. When I let myself out as quietly as I can, I notice the kitchen light is on, and I make my way toward it. Tori has the fridge open and is bathed in stark white light as she glances up at me to ask, “How was your night?”

I hug myself as a silly grin covers my face. “Amazing. How about yours?”

She has the filtered-water pitcher in her hand, and liquid gurgles in her glass as she pours. “Interesting. But I’ll tell you later.” She holds up the jug. “Want some?” I nod, and she says, “I want to hear about what you did. Please tell me you got some.”

“Oh yeah.” A cup thumps on the counter when she sets it down, and I sigh. “What didn’t we do?”

“Wow.” Tori slides the glass over to me. “You’ve got that dreamy in-love look on your face.”

“Because I am.” Tori frowns, and I wonder if she thinks I’m moving too fast. I suppose to a human I am, so I add, “I think it was love at first sight.”

“Ah.” Her glass is at her mouth, and she takes a drink.

I ask, “So what happened with you?”

Tori’s eyes get big. “I learned something pretty huge, Luce, and I’m a little surprised you were able to keep it a secret.”

She knows.
“The growly thing.”

She rolls her eyes at me. “Yeah, the growly thing. I can’t believe I didn’t know. Keith told me he’s a werebear, you are, Jax is, and that one of my parents must be.”

I’m not sure how I expected her to act, but her calmness surprises me. “So, how are you doing with that?”

“Okay, I guess. I mean, I still have so many questions.” Tori twirls her glass around on the countertop.

“Ask away. You know I’ll tell you anything.”

“Okay.” She fiddles with her necklace and asks, “Have you ever had sex with a human?”

“Nope. Why?”

“Keith told me our connection would make it harder for me to resist him.” She flushes a little before she says, “I just wondered if werebears have special powers over humans.”

I grin at her. “If you want to know if they’re good at sex, they are. But no, no special powers. Although the mate bond is pretty strong. Just don’t let him bite you.”

“Bite me?” She huffs. “That’s not going to happen. You know how I bad I am with pain.”

I chuckle, remembering her story of how she cried when she got her tattoo. And for days, she was a baby about how much it hurt. “Yeah. But if you plan to be with Keith for very long, you’ll have to consider it.”

“Why?”

“Because the call was put in place to provide the Le Roux with werebear children, and you need to be one to give them what they want.”

Uh-oh.
Tori’s eyes are big, and I think she’s officially freaking out now. I reach over and touch her arm. “Hey. You don’t have to do anything you don’t want to do. I’ll make sure of it.”

“Keith said that too. It’s just—” She sighs and looks up at the ceiling for a second before she locks her eyes on me. “I’m in love with him, Luce. And it’s the kind that makes me think I couldn’t live without him.”

She has been obsessed with Keith for months.
Could they be true mates?
“Then let your relationship happen. You can deal with the biting thing later. I wouldn’t worry about it.”
Because I’ll do it for you.
It’s not the bite part I’m concerned about though, it’s the change. I heard when a human goes through it, they wish they were dead. I have no idea how Tori would deal with that.

But I also think she needs to become a werebear to be safe. If Patricia Veilleux has her eye on Tori, Tori is going to need all the protection she can get. Being a weak human is not a good thing.

She says, “Yeah, well, right now my biggest problem with Keith is getting him to sleep with me. He gave me some lame line about processing what he is.” She raises her eyebrows at me. “Doesn’t he understand the sex drive of a college girl?” Tori chuckles.

Sven’s deep voice makes me turn when he says, “Don’t you like sleep?”

Tori mutters, “Oh, my.”

My mate is completely nude, and his cock is at half mast. It’s pretty impressive. Sven scratches at his head, which is the wildest display of sex hair I’ve ever seen. I step in front of him to block Tori’s view as I turn to her. He yanks at my waist and presses his erection into me. When he nuzzles my neck, my insides melt.

Tori lifts her hand in a wave. “I’m just going to go to bed now.” She gives me a wink as she walks by.

Sven doesn’t stop kissing me, and his hand slips into the opening of my robe and between my legs. He lets out a low growl. “You’re ready for more. Should I take you over the counter?”

I turn around to face him and say, “Tori’s human. We should probably go to my room to be polite.”

“Polite? I don’t know why you care what they think.”

It occurs to me that the Veilleux have the same sentiments about humans, and my fear for Tori grows. “She’s my best friend, Sven. I don’t expect you to understand, just respect it.”

He reaches down for my thighs and lifts me up so I’ll wrap my legs around his waist. He begins to walk as he says, “I’d do anything for you, Little Bear.”

I whisper in his ear. “Then take me to my room. I have a few ideas.” And I push away thoughts of Tori’s safety as I take care of my own needs.