Bear-ever Yours (6 page)

H
e was so unbelievably handsome
. Such a complete fantasy come to life, that just hearing Ignus’ name fall from his lips was unbearably painful.

Ignus, a name that had haunted her nights and weekends for as long as she cared to remember of her adult life. And she’d thought she was done with him.

Sky’s blonde hair was swept over his forehead and along his face. His full lips were pursed and his dimple was notably absent as he clutched the phone in his hand. “I’ll deal with him for you.”

“No,” she said, a little too sharply. “Just let it go to voicemail. He doesn’t get access to me anymore.”

Sky’s face tightened. “Let me tell him that then.”

She frowned. “I know you’re going to be my mate, but right now I’m still my own woman. I just quit my job for you, so can I handle my boss on my own?”

He sighed and handed her the phone. “Of course. But you should know that when we’re mated, I’ll be your alpha. That means I’ll handle this kind of thing.”

She ruffled at that. He might know everything about bears. He might be her hot scuba diver who was a walking wet dream of a man and knew what to do to make her scream in bed. But no man, no man ever again would claim complete control of her. “I don’t like the sound of that,” she said.

He came forward to place steady hands on her shoulders, and then used one hand to gently tilt her chin up so her eyes would meet his. His were turning from green to blue, like a kaleidoscope. It was mesmerizing, unlike anything she’d ever seen. “I think you’re misunderstanding. I’m not saying I would control you, or take care of your life when you don’t want me to. I’m saying that it will be my job to protect you from anything that threatens or bothers you. To put your life before my own. To give it for you if necessary. You will be my everything, and I will be your alpha. Is that more clear?”

She nodded, feeling tears sting her eyes again. She sat down on the bed and looked at the phone in her hands. It beeped with a voicemail. “I’ll have to listen to that, in case there’s something pertinent about my job, but I’m not going to do it now.”

“Good,” he said. “Because right now, I’d just like to snuggle.”

She raised an eyebrow in shock. Okay, now he had to be joking. Men didn’t want to just snuggle, did they? The ones she had met were either just interested in sex or food, or just weren’t interested at all. “You’re kidding,” she said.

He looked disgruntled and the adorable dimple twitched in his left cheek as he pushed his sun-streaked hair out of his face. “No. Of course I want to snuggle. We made love earlier. You’re my mate. I’ve been waiting forever to find you. Why wouldn’t I want to hold and touch you as much as I can?”

“Well,” she said, feeling her neck heat with a blush. “I guess I can’t complain about that.”

“Come on,” he said. “Let’s go out on the hammock.”

She couldn’t believe her luck, but she wasn’t going to complain. She loved the idea of snuggling with him, but wondered how comfortable his muscular body would be. He got on first and helped her in against him, tucking her against his side and swinging the hammock lightly with his foot on the ground. His tanned legs were long and it was easy for him to keep them gently rocking.

She loved how big he felt next to her. Loved the scent of the rain on the ocean, the wet look of the sand, the call of the birds. She never wanted to leave this place, and now, if she didn’t want to, she wouldn’t have to. But she did want to learn more about her birth parents, and figure out how to explain all of this to her adopted parents. They meant everything to her. If they didn’t understand…

But she’d help them. And as long as she was happy, they’d be okay.

His hand curled around her waist and gave her a gentle squeeze that made her feel loved. “You okay? You’re quiet over there.”

“Just thinking about how quickly things have changed. Wondering if I’m crazy for running into this so quickly.”

“You’re not,” he said. “Sometimes things just happen that way.”

“But, I mean, I didn’t win this contest by chance. I don’t even remember entering. And didn’t you say your dad had something to do with it?”

He scratched his chin. “You know, I’ve been trying to figure that out. The giveaway is cagey, and then of course, there’s the fact that all three of you ladies are bears, presumably from the same family, based on your scents.”

She sat bolt upright, as much as was possible in the hammock, and he set a soothing hand on her shoulder but it did nothing to calm the storm raging inside her. “What?”

“You didn’t see the resemblance?” he asked. “Only distant cousins maybe. My guess is my dad knew your family or something and pulled some strings.”

“So, tricked us,” she said.

He cocked his head and she traced the line of his firm, masculine jaw with her eyes. “Do you regret it?”

“No,” she said. “Not exactly. It just threw me off guard. But I don’t know why he would trick me.”

Guilt flashed in Sky’s blue eyes, making Leah uneasy. “I don’t either.”

“Then why did you look guilty just now?”

“I just, I want to be honest with you. I don’t want you to feel tricked.”

She swallowed as a knot of fear formed in her stomach. She’d walked into this so easily, she didn’t know what she’d do if he gave her a reason to walk away. “Tell me then.”

“Well,” he said, putting an arm around her again and pulling her against him. His body felt stupidly good and warm and made it hard to think, so it was a good move. But still, her senses were on red alert. “My dad has always been a romantic. And an obsessive matchmaker. It’s part of why we’ve all been focused on other things instead. In rebellion.” He stroked her hair. “Though if I’d known this was the result, I think I’d have searched sooner.”

“But I mean, how would you have found me?”

“Like my dad did, looking through bear bloodlines, making a good guess at a match based on people we’ve known. You have to understand, the bear world is very small. It’s hard for us to reproduce, and it’s hard to find mates with strong blood. Some bears have even mated with humans.”

She wrinkled her nose. “You make that sound like a bad thing.”

“Well, it’s just that, the less pure the blood, the more unlikely the offspring can shift.”

Her heart sank. “I don’t know if mine is pure enough.”

“You can shift, can’t you?”

“Oh, so I’m good then?” But then she had to wonder if that was the reason he wanted her.

“That’s not the only reason I want you, if that’s what you’re thinking,” he said. “You’re my mate. You’re made for me, and me for you.”

“How do you know?” she asked.

He looked out at the ocean and then pointed above it. “How do you know that’s the sky? You just know. And so do I know you’re my mate.”

That was oddly deep, but she found herself still a little caught off guard by the whole set-up. It seemed everyone knew more than she did.

She heard approaching footsteps and looked up to see the captain of the yacht striding toward them. He wore a navy boating blazer and white pants and his blond hair was tied in a neat queue that nonetheless had several strands of bright blond streaming free. He walked over to them, noted them together, and hesitated.

“What is it?” Sky asked, holding her tight and moving slightly in front of her. “What’s wrong?”

“I need to talk to you,” he said, folding his impressive arms. Leah bit her lip nervously. “Family business.”

Sky groaned. “Can it wait?”

The other man narrowed his icy blue gaze. He was tall and just as intimidating as Sky. More so even, because there was a hard set to his features that said he was a man who’d been through something and come out the other side a little sharper. But he was gorgeous, much like his brother.

She bit her lip. She should let him go to his brother, and maybe she could use some time alone too.

To process what Sky had said, or maybe to go ask his father what’d they done. Or even to find the other women an see what they said about being bears.

“Go ahead,” she said. “I could use a nap.”

“It’s nearly night time,” Sky said, checking his watch. “Are you sure?”

She nodded. “I’ll just be inside watching TV or napping. You guys go ahead. Looks like he needs you.”

The tall man with the ponytail straightened, looking slightly offended by the implication, but he didn’t correct her. She turned to go back into the suite and Sky stopped her with a hand on her wrist. “Are you sure? I don’t want to leave you, mate.”

She smiled. “Sometimes we’ll have to take time apart,” she said.

“Promise me you’ll be here when I get back. Stay here, with the doors locked.”

She cocked her head and raised an eyebrow. “Why?”

“I know it sounds silly. I just want you to be safe. It’s a strange island, and you don’t know anyone, and well, I’d just feel better if I knew you were here and safe. I don’t know why, but my internal alarm is going off.”

She bit back a smile. He was cute, so overprotective, but he’d need to get over it just a little if he wanted them to be together. “I’m going to be fine. You go over there with your brother.”

He bristled. “I’m sure he’s fine. Men in our family know how to handle their business. We just like to keep each other apprised.”

“Apprised of what?” she asked.

“Family business.”

Well, that was cryptic, but she let it go.

“All right then, mate,” Sky said, giving her a boyish grin and swiping his blond hair back again. “If you promise to stay here, I’ll go.”

“I’ll try.”

He growled at that, his dimple disappearing. “I don’t like the sound of that.”

“Go,” she said, laughing. “I’ll be fine. Besides, I need some time away from my over-possessive bear.”

“I’m not over-possessive,” he grumbled. “I’m just the right amount of possessive. But fine, woman. I’m going.”

He strode away and she sighed as she admired his fine, wide back and hair that seemed to shimmer even in the waning evening light.

L
eah chuckled
and shut the glass sliding door behind him, doing up the lock. She knew it was a crazy, but a part of her ached at just being apart. Her bear was gaining strength, and she was roaring to take him.

She shook her head and the phone on the bed caught her eye. It was flashing with the voicemail from before. She guessed she should probably listen to it.

Then this would all be over, and she could say she’d done all she could. She’d never loved that job. It had felt like there was something missing, but it paid the bills and she couldn’t think of anything she’d wanted to do. Perhaps that’s why she was so willing to leave her stable, office job behind and fly around the world to this remote island on a giveaway she was sure she hadn’t entered.

Or maybe it was that animal instinct that Sky talked about.

She sighed and sat on the bed. She turned on a lamp because the room was darkening. Outside, she could see Sky pacing the beach with his brother, lost in thought as he listened. She loved that about him. He asked questions and then really listened.

She swiped the phone open, unlocked it and went to the voicemail button. Taking a deep breath and holding it, she pressed it.

“Ms. Maitland. Leah,” the voice began. Ignus was much older than her and his voice was craggy and harsh. “There’s something you don’t understand. I may not always have been the best of employers, but there’s a reason I didn’t want you to go on this vacation. A reason I’ve been texting you.”

Her heart started to pound. This didn’t sound like typical Ignus. Typical Ignus was demanding and obnoxious, but not urgent and concerned.

“You see, the family out there, well, I couldn’t say it without coming right out about things, but they aren’t normal. If you are going against me, I can only guess that you’ve met another alpha. As I am. And you are under his thrall.”

“What the hell?” she muttered aloud to herself. She flipped the phone over and Ignus’ voice got quiet, so she flipped it back.

“All I can say is that they are tricking you. You are valuable, far more than you know. If someone has said they are your mate, then it is all a ploy to get you to do something irrevocable that will benefit them.”

Her eyes flashed to Sky, now putting an arm around his brother. She didn’t believe he’d be trying to trick her into something she’d regret. She’d seen his face when he looked at the sky. And then Ignus said something on the phone that made her catch her breath.

“I know about bears, Leah. I am one.”

Her heart nearly stopped, and only when she put a had up to her chest did she feel it beating. The voicemail cut off, but there was another one.

“I’m a bear, too,” he said. “I had hoped one day to… Well, I guess I went about it the wrong way. But anyway, Leah, come home. Come home, or I’ll come there.”

Her heart thudded into her chest. Come here? He couldn’t. He wouldn’t. Just the flight would be hours and hours. She looked at her watch. It’d been a couple of hours since she called. Ignus was rich, he could be there soon if he wanted.

She looked up at Sky, pacing out on the sand. He’d gotten his stuffy brother to laugh, and they looked like they were wrapping it up.

Ignus was evil. Bad. But now that the voicemail was over and his poison wasn’t echoing in the room, her own doubts surfaced. Sky had said his dad set the whole thing up. He had said that she’d been chosen for her bloodline. What if the whole thing really was a sham?

Had she been stupid? Had she been set up all along? But she felt so right in his arms. She felt so at home. It couldn’t be a sham.

She put her head in her hands, knowing she could go to Sky, tell him her troubles, let him hold her. But right now it just all seemed too much. She needed time to heal from Ignus’ words, to get space from Sky’s touch and romantic words. To just get in touch with herself, and above all, to get some fucking sleep.

She stretched and stumbled to the door. She knew Sky wouldn’t like what she’d have to say, but she’d say it anyway.

“Sky,” she called out.

He jogged over to her. “You ready for some more snuggling?”

Half of her said ‘hell yes’. The other half said, ‘girl, you promised us some alone time and some sleep’. She bit her lip.

“You don’t want to sleep with me tonight,” he said, reading her mind.

“I just. I listened to the voicemail from Ignus, and… I just need some space. It’s a lot to deal with in one day.”

He frowned. “You said you’d stay with me.”

“Yes, but I can’t stay with you every minute of every day.”

“Why not?” he asked, folding his arms and towering over her.

“Because you’re so sexy I can’t think straight, and right now I damn well need to think!” She threw her arms in the air and walked away from him, knowing if he was really her mate, he could forgive her in the morning and they could pick up where they left off. He should understand she needed time. Time she didn’t have as long as he was touching her with those hot, capable hands.

“I’ll see you in the morning then,” he said.

That made her smile. “Definitely. Looking forward to it.” She walked back to him and took his hands. “I’m sorry, Sky. I just need a moment to myself.”

He looked off at the horizon and then back into her eyes. “When you’re ready, we can try bear form again. It’s a really great way to get that alone time.”

“Um, except that you can read my mind.”

“Ah, yes. I forgot.” He scratched his head, adorably tousling the hair. “So I’ll walk you back then?”

“Yes, if you promise not to stay outside my door all night.”

“I promise nothing.”

“Sky…”

“Fine. I want to be your alpha, and if that means taking a few orders, I’ll do it. But don’t disappear on me, okay? I can tell you have doubts, I can see it in your eyes. Just please don’t walk away on me until we figure this out.”

“I won’t,” she said. “I promise.”

He squeezed her hand and walked her to her room. When they were in front of it, he cradled her face in his hands and kissed her gently. “Goodnight, mate. I hope this is our last night apart.”

A part of her sighed at the thought of it. When she let go of reason, of nerves, of doubt, she felt ready to float away into this fantasy. But not right this second. If it was real, it would be real in the morning. But oh, how she would miss holding him tonight.

When he turned to go, she nearly pulled him back, but stopped herself. She needed time to consider Ignus’ words so she knew whatever decision she made, it was of her own accord and not Sky’s persuasion.

“I trust you,” he said. “I hope soon you learn to trust me.”

“I will,” she said. “I do. I just need time.”

He nodded. “I understand.” He swept a thumb over her cheek. “Sweet dreams, mate. Tomorrow, I want to claim you.”

“Tomorrow, I want that too,” she said, knowing deep inside herself that it was true, and that she would probably know it even more firmly in the morning.

She knew it even now as he turned and walked away down the hall. Her bear was angry at her for letting him go. But her human had reached its limit and needed a break.

She had a feeling life would be difficult, trying to negotiate between the two of them.

S
he shut the door
, leaned back against it with a sigh, and found herself looking into two sets of curious female eyes, just like she had when she’d first come.

“Girl,” Kim said, shaking her braids and flashing gorgeous gray eyes at her. “If a man like that knows you’re his mate, you don’t fight that shit.”

Leah swallowed. “You know about that?”

Kim stood and rose to full height, much taller than Leah. “Of course I know, I’m full bear. I know my mate when I see one, and I would expect someone as pure-blooded as a Weston to know his when he sees her.”

“But what if they’re trying to trick me?” Leah asked. “I mean, Sky says females in our species are rare. What if he’s just trying to make me—”

“Girl, I’mma stop you right there,” Kim said, putting up a hand. “Our males just aren’t that sneaky. They just want to mate. Period.”

Mara laughed softly, drawing Leah’s attention to where she was seated near a window, painting a beautiful view of the setting sun. “She’s right, Leah. Generally, you can trust one of our alphas. I’m not saying there aren’t bad seeds, but generally, you’d be able to recognize those ones with your gut.”

Like she had with Ignus. She sighed in relief and plopped on the couch. The room was dimly lit with low burning lamps. Kim sat on the hammock and all three of them just watched the ocean for a moment.

Suddenly, Leah just wanted to run back to her mate and do everything she’d just run away from. But the nervousness welled up in her again and she decided to just stay put. If what they had was real, it would be there tomorrow.

“So how are your weeks going?” she asked the other women.

Mara looked over with a blush on her cheeks and then turned back to her painting. “I don’t know what you mean.”

“Oh come on,” Kim said, sidling up to her. “I figured it out after the first day when we were all assigned activities with a brother. The alpha here is matchmaking, and he lined you up with that hottie in a suit.”

Mara flushed and shook her head. “I don’t know what you mean. I’m not here to look for a mate, and that man is too stiff for me, even if he was.”

“I’d like to get him stiff,” Kim joked.

Mara’s back went ramrod straight and she turned to them, glaring. “Excuse me?”

Kim sent Leah a mischievous grin and went back to teasing Mara. “I mean, I think if you are going to get jealous like that, you should get down to ‘business’, if you know what I mean.”

Mara made a choking noise and then shook her head and tried to go back to painting. “I’ve already gotten down to ‘business’, as you call it. Not that that’s anything of your business. And how are you making out with the hot ship captain?”

Kim fanned her face. “He drives me crazy, in the good way. I drive him crazy, in the bad way. But I think he’s my mate, and I’m not giving up yet.”

Mara laughed. “Well Leah, it looks like you’ve got the best prospects of all of us. A simple man who knows what he wants, and that’s you. What are you waiting for?”

“It still doesn’t make sense,” Leah said. “I mean, I’m a human too, right? And we spend years dating, and then get engaged, and then there’s all this work.”

Kim grinned and Leah swore she saw a fang flash in the low light. “That’s the great thing about shifters, girl. We don’t have to live by those rules. Humans do because they don’t have our instincts.”

“So, why didn’t one of you tell me what I was? Did you know when you met me?”

“I scented you,” Kim said. “But I figured if you didn’t want to talk about it, that was your prerogative. Mara and I already knew about each other from bear reunions. Say, how did you not know?”

“I’m adopted,” Leah said.

“Ah, that makes sense,” Kim replied, walking over to her to crush her in a bear hug.

“Stop, you’ll squeeze the life out of her,” Mara said, coming over to pull her away from Kim only to crush her in a soft hug of her own. “You’re one of us,” she said, running a hand through Leah’s hair in a way that didn’t feel intrusive or disturbing. It’s not that you can’t have your family, but you have two families now.”

“Yeah,” Kim said, joining in a group hug. “And a hot alpha who wants to claim you. I’d get on that ASAP.”

“That’s what he said,” Leah said wearily. “I guess I should have listened.”

“Damn straight,” Kim said. “And now I’m off to find myself an alpha of my own. If ship captain doesn’t want to be it, I’m still gonna get some action on this island.”

Leah frowned. “Be careful,” she said.

“Careful is my middle name!” Kim shouted back. Then she paused at the door, hands on her curvaceous hips. “No wait, I think it’s Edith. I like careful better.” She opened the door and waved to them. “But you two should be a little
less
careful. Don’t let that man slip away, Leah!” Then she was gone, the door slamming behind her.

“She’s like a whirlwind,” Leah muttered to Mara, who was cleaning up. Mara was wearing a swimsuit under a silk wrap and it fluttered behind her as she carried her painting out onto the covered deck to look at it in the setting sun.

A low, masculine voice cleared its throat and both women looked up to see Scott, the suited brother, coming toward them. His gray suit was flapping in the breeze, and his collar was loosened. Even his short blond hair looked tousled and a little undone. He was stunning like his brothers, but right now, he looked ready to grovel at Mara’s feet.

“Can I talk to you?” he said. “There’s something you don’t understand.”

Mara looked at Leah and Leah gave her an encouraging nod. “Go ahead, don’t make my mistake.”

Mara nodded and handed Leah the painting. “Can you put this back inside on the easel?”

“Sure,” Leah said. “You go have fun.” She gave Mara a wink and Mara blushed but walked toward the man who had more than a foot in height on her.

Sadness washed over Leah and she wanted to find Sky. Wanted to take back what she’d said and go find him. She set the painting down on the easel and walked back through the suite. She decided to go knock on his door. There was no answer. A maid came up with towels draped over her arm.

“Can I help you miss?”

“Yes, I was just wondering where Sky went.”

“If he’s not in there, then he’s probably out diving.” Then the maid gave her a kind smile and moved past her to continue down the hall.

Of course he’d gone to the ocean. That was the only other thing he loved, and after being rejected, it probably offered some solace.

She walked slowly back to her room, picked a book up out of her purse, and began to read. Hours later, the other girls weren’t back, and she guessed she was the only one who would be without her mate tonight.

So she clicked off the lamp, tucked herself into bed, and went to sleep.

Hours later, she awoke to a knocking on the door. Her heart leapt. That would be Sky. She skipped out of bed, not caring that she was in her pajamas, and swung the door open wide. She couldn’t wait to tell him that she was ready.