Bear's Heart: BBW Paranormal Shifter Romance (Bear Heat Book 5) (11 page)

BOOK: Bear's Heart: BBW Paranormal Shifter Romance (Bear Heat Book 5)
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She found herself draped over
Dylan's long, solid body, her head on his chest.

Dylan kissed her forehead as
she looked up at him.

“Hey,” he said
softly.

She smiled. “Hey.”

They lay in silence as she
stretched out comfortably beside him. She found that she wasn't at
all self-conscious about her naked, curvy body with Dylan. With her
ex-boyfriends, she'd always yanked the covers up to cover herself
after sex. Some of her exes had made disparaging remarks about her
weight, her big girl size. They had no qualms using her big girl
body for sex but they never made her feel good. It was all about
them, their needs, their ego, their pleasure. They never made her
feel special and beautiful. Instead, after sleeping with them, she
usually felt ashamed.

Being was Dylan was totally
different. For the first time, she realized that she was truly happy
and comfortable. She also felt very possessive and territorial.

Jade propped herself up on
one elbow and stared down at his handsome face. She touched her
shoulder and felt the tender spot where he had bitten her.

“You marked me, didn't
you?” she said.

Dylan traced the mark on her
shoulder and smiled. “Yes.”

“How do I mark you?”

“Huh?” He looked
surprised at her question.

“I want to mark you. I
don't want other females flirting with you and seducing you,”
Jade said stubbornly.

Dylan's amber eyes widened a
fraction. “Oh Jade,” he said, laughing as he hugged her.
“No female will dare come near me. They know I'm well and
truly mated. Your mating scent is all over me. And a mated male has
eyes only for his mate.”

Jade pursed her lips. “You
are a very attractive male...”

“To you.” He
touched the tip of her nose playfully. “I hope. You're the
only one I want to attract.”

Jade smiled and looked
thoughtful. Then her eyes narrowed. “I want us to get
married,” she said firmly. “I don't need a big, lavish
wedding, but I want a wedding band on your finger.”

“That's the sexiest
thing you've said to me,” Dylan said with a grin and a growl.
“We'll go choose the bands later. But first...I want to enjoy
my mate again. Your possessiveness is turning me on. I'm going to
have you again.”

She squealed with he grabbed
her and rolled her onto her back. Stretching her arms over her head,
Dylan entered her smoothly and she sighed with bliss. “I'll
have you forever, Jade. I love you,” Dylan whispered as he
took her so tenderly and lovingly.

Jade wrapped her arms and
legs around him and raised her lips to his. Their mating was a
sensual, loving, beautiful experience.

Their bodies were truly made
for each other, and she knew they would need and want each other
always.

“I love you, Dylan,”
she whispered.

Forever.

CHAPTER
TWENTY-EIGHT

Dylan watched Jade laugh and
joke with the Black Bears as she bustled around Curry Corner. The
Black Bears were always trooping down to Curry Corner for long
lunches, dinners and celebrations. The cozy little restaurant was
owned by Prisha, Caleb's mate. It seemed the Black Bears just
couldn't get enough of Prisha's famous Devil's Curry.

Jade came down to Curry
Corner at least thrice a week to help Prisha in her restaurant.
Prisha wanted to offer her a permanent position, but Jade declined.
Curry Corner was a small restaurant, and while business was good,
overheads were still high. “You have to keep your expenses
low,” Jade told Prisha. “Paying me a salary will just
eat into your profits. I'm happy to just help out as and when I
can.”

Dylan was glad to see that
Jade had grown really close to his clan members. She would
frequently drop by the office with freshly baked cakes and pastries.
Jade could bake really well and she seemed to enjoy experimenting in
their kitchen and creating all kinds of delicious, beautiful cakes.

Tonight, Curry Corner was
closed. At least that was what the sign at the door said. Closed
for a private function, the sign declared.

Inside the restaurant, a
party was in full swing.

This was a farewell party for
two of their members. Aidan and Mason were leaving the Black Bears
Group to return to their hometown. Their grandmother had summoned
them home, and it seemed that Gramma's word was law for the Gray
bears. Aidan and Mason Gray had traveled to the city from their
little town and happily gotten jobs at the Black Bears Group some
years back.

Well, time really flies when
you're having fun.

According to Mason, their
Gramma had agreed to let them have their fun and freedom for a few
years. But it seemed Gramma Gray had decided that their time was up.
They were to go home and fulfill their family obligations. When
Ethan asked them what those family obligations were, the two brothers
had shrugged and scratched their heads. “We'll have to ask
Tristan when we get home,” Aidan had sputtered at last,
referring to their eldest brother.

Well, family was family. And
when family called, you answered. If Aidan and Mason Gray had to go
home, then the Black Bears would send them off in style.

Prisha and Jade came out of
the kitchen, bearing a big cake with the logo of the Black Bears
Group in the middle. The logo featured a ferocious black bear
rearing up on its hind legs with the city skyline in the background.
The two blazing candles on the cake had been shaped into names: Aidan
and Mason.

They placed the huge cake
carefully on the table and stepped back. As the clan complimented
Prisha and Jade on the cake, Prisha shook her head and laughed. “Oh,
I had no hand in this. Jade baked this all by herself. I'm hopeless
with cakes! I'm only good with curries.”

“Wow, Jade, this is
amazing! Yum!” Aidan and Mason gushed, grinning at her and
salivating all over the cake.

“This seriously looks
too good to eat. I don't think I can bear to eat it!” Thor
said.

“Speak for yourself,”
Baxter scoffed. “I'm definitely eating the cake. It looks
super yummy!”

The whole clan gathered
around the table. Aidan and Mason stood in front of the cake, and
looked round at all the smiling faces. They had been with the Black
Bears Group for a few short years, but they had made some deep, solid
friendships. Aidan and Mason were Gray Bears, but Ethan had made it
clear when they joined the Group that they were part of the Black
Bears clan. Not officially, but in every way that mattered. The
Black Bears would always have their backs. “If you ever need
us, just give us a shout,” Ethan and Caleb told them. “The
Black Bears will always come for you.”

The Black Bears pressed in
closer and pounded the two brothers on their backs. “Once a
Black Bear, always a Black Bear!” someone yelled. The clan
took up the cheer and amidst the thunderous shouts and whoops, Aidan
and Mason blew out the candles and cut the cake together.

Mason looked up and rubbed
the corner of his eye with a knuckle. “I...I just got
something in my eye.”

The Black Bears smiled, but
nobody teased Mason. Aidan started cutting up the cake and handing
the slices out.

Dylan went to Jade holding
two slices of cake. He handed her one and took a bite. “God,
this cake is amazing!” He took another mouthful and stared at
her. “You have some serious talent, Jade.”

She blushed as she nibbled at
her slice. “I just bake for fun,” she answered. “But,
you know, I've been thinking...”

Before she could finish, Luke
came up to them and smirked. “My sister bakes the best cakes
in the world! Oh, you're wearing that spider hair clip, Jade!”

Jade touched the clip in her
hair and smiled. “Yeah. You gave it to me, remember?”

“Yeah. But...it was so
long ago! I didn't think you still had it,” Luke said, looking
both touched and embarrassed.

“I've been keeping it,
and I thought I should take it out and wear it. It suits me,”
she said simply.

“Have you ever thought
of opening your own bakery, Jade?” Caleb asked. Caleb was
sitting at a nearby table, feeding his daughter small mouthfuls of
cake. The little girl giggled happily and smeared more buttercream
over her face.

Prisha wiped the girl's mouth
with a napkin and tut-tutted at her daughter, “Kala! You eat
like a bear!”

“She
is
a bear,”
Caleb answered with obvious delight and pride.

“Well...as a matter of
fact, I did make some enquiries,” Jade began shyly, answering
Caleb's question. “And it so happens that the shop space next
to Curry Corner will be vacated soon. The owners of the flower shop
are going to retire.”

“Oh yes, Mr and Mrs
Toma mentioned it to me. They even suggested that I take over the
space and expand Curry Corner, but I told them I wouldn't be able to
cope. This is the right size for my restaurant,” Prisha chimed
in.

“So I was thinking,”
Jade went on slowly. “...that maybe I can open a small bakery
just here, right next to Prisha's restaurant. We can...”

Prisha clapped excitedly.
“Oh! That's a brilliant idea! Yes, yes you should, Jade!
Absolutely!”

Dylan smiled at Jade. “I'll
put down the deposit for the rent tomorrow.”

“Oh, I can afford...”
Jade began.

He put a finger to her lips
to silence her. “Let me do it. I'm so excited about your
bakery too, but I can't bake, so let me do something for you, okay?”

She took his hand and nodded,
her eyes shining.

“Have you thought of a
name?”

“Jade's Totally Awesome
Cakes!” someone suggested.

“How about...Cake
Corner?” Lindy said, bouncing her daughter on her hip.

“Curry Corner, and Cake
Corner! You gals are going to be the dynamic duo!” Cora and
Aubrey cheered.

Jade broke into a grin. “I
love that name. Cake Corner.” She squeezed Dylan's hand and
whispered, “Oh gosh! I'm really going to open my very own
bakery. This is a dream come true!”

Everyone began chattering
non-stop, coming up with all sorts of ideas for the bakery.

Jade felt strong arms
circling her waist as Dylan embraced her and kissed her hair. “Wow!
Everyone's really excited about Cake Corner. It looks like the clan
isn't content with just the security business. The Black Bears are
interested in the bakery business as well,” he said with a
wink.

Jade laughed. The clan was
super supportive, and even Aidan and Mason who were leaving for their
hometown early the next morning, had pledged their unwavering support
for her new business.

“We'll be calling to
order our cakes,” they told her. “We want to be your
very first customers!”

Jade nodded and went to hug
the brothers. “I'll miss you,” she told them.

Dylan went to shake hands
with them, but they pulled their team leader into a big bear hug.
“Once a Black Bear, always a Black Bear,” they chorused.

Jade watched Aidan and Mason
join the rest of the clan in a rowdy sing-a-long session. “For
he's a jolly good Black Bear...” was belted out with gusto as
frothing beer mugs were raised.

Jade held Dylan's hand and
linked her other arm through Luke's. Her brother grinned at her and
said, “What a party, eh?”

Jade nodded. It was supposed
to be a farewell party, but it had turned into a celebratory party
for her new business.

With endings came new
beginnings.

The future lay ahead, and it
was a future brimming with hope and promise.

She had a loving family, a
strong clan and an exciting new business.

Jade made a mental note to
send Aidan and Mason the first cake she baked once Cake Corner
opened.

The Gray brothers were going
home to a new life. They were leaving the city, but they would
always be in the hearts of the Black Bears.

It wasn't just a mantra. It
was the truth.

Once a Black Bear, Always a
Black Bear.

~
End
~

About the Author

Natalie Kristen is a writer
who enjoys mixing the sweet with the spicy, the light with the dark,
the possibilities with the unimaginable. She enjoys exploring
paranormal and dystopian worlds, deep desires and inspiring romances.
She is hopelessly addicted to coffee, chocolate, reading and
writing. She loves to hear from readers so please feel free to
follow her on Twitter and Facebook, or visit her blog for the latest
news and updates.

Facebook:

www.facebook.com/NatalieKristenBooks

Blog:

nataliekristen.blogspot.com

Twitter:

@NatKristenBooks

BOOK: Bear's Heart: BBW Paranormal Shifter Romance (Bear Heat Book 5)
7.95Mb size Format: txt, pdf, ePub
ads

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