Billionbear and Pair of Bears Boxed Set: BBW and Menage Bear Shifter Romance (2 page)

Stroud shot a furious look at Owen, then shook his head and sat back down. Owen didn’t miss the relief in Raina’s eyes.

The auctioneer banged his gavel. “Sold! One date with Miss Raina Williams, to Owen Maguire for one million dollars!”

Owen’s bear rumbled his pleasure at the victory. Soon he would meet his mate.

He hoped she wasn’t afraid of bears.

***

R
aina stood frozen in the middle of the stage, unable to believe what had just happened. The most stunning man she’d seen in her entire life had just paid one million dollars for a date with her. With
her
!

The auctioneer cleared his throat. “Show’s over, everyone. Thank you very much for your participation. Mr. Maguire, please go to the office to discuss your donation— I know that our program director would like to thank you in person. Everyone else, please come to the lobby to mingle and meet your dates, if you were lucky enough to win one.”

Raina watched as a well-dressed, middle-aged woman went up to Owen Maguire and gestured toward an office. That had to be the program director.

“I’ll meet you in the lobby,” Owen called to Raina, and gave her a wink before he stepped into the office. His deep voice sent delicious shivers down her spine.

Raina walked into the lobby in a daze. Why had the billionaire bid on
her
? He must be genuinely devoted to charity, she decided. He’d probably already earmarked the million dollars as his donation, and had simply waited until the final auction to bid it. His bid had everything to do with feeding the homeless, and nothing to do with her.

The lobby was filled with well-dressed people, drinking flutes of champagne and chatting. They all stared at Raina as she entered.

“It’s the million-dollar bachelorette!” someone called, and others applauded.

Raina blushed. Dates with the other bachelorettes had gone for anywhere from five hundred to five thousand dollars. Whatever Owen Maguire’s reasons, he’d spent an enormous amount of money on her.

“May I get you a drink?” The voice belonged to the other man who’d bid on her— Austin Stroud, the wealthy lawyer.

Austin was tall and handsome, though nowhere near as tall or as handsome as Owen. But the way he looked at her set her nerves on edge. She’d felt the same way when he’d bid on her. There was something greedy in his gaze.

“No, thank you,” Raina said politely, hoping he’d take the hint and leave.

He didn’t. Instead, he stood there and deliberately looked her over, his gaze lingering on her breasts. Uncomfortable, she crossed her arms over them.

“What, because I didn’t win the auction?” Austin asked. “Do I really need to pay to get a date with you?”

“No, of course not.”

“Then I’ll get you a glass of champagne.”

Irritated, Raina said, “I don’t want your champagne.”

“So you do only give the time of day to men who have to pay you to date them.”

Raina hadn’t even spoken to Owen, but she didn’t like what Austin was implying about him— or about her. “Owen Maguire hardly has to pay women to date him. And none of that money goes to me.”

“Of course,” said Austin smoothly. “In that case, why not have a date with me first? My car’s right outside.”

He reached for her elbow. She took a step back, disliking him intensely. In less than a minute, he’d stared at her breasts, tried to manipulate her into dating him, and implied that Owen was a loser and she was a gold-digger.

In a tone that didn’t allow for argument, she said, “No, thank you.”

“Don’t play hard to get,” Austin said.

“I’m not playing.” Raina raised her voice, hoping that making a scene in public would make him back off. “I said no, and I meant no!”

“Just one—” Austin began, then broke off, looking past Raina.

“You heard the lady.” Owen’s voice boomed out from behind her. She spun around. He stood tall and protective behind her, looming over both her and Austin. “She said no.”

“But—”

“Get lost.” Owen’s voice lowered in a snarl that made Raina’s hair stand on end. She wasn’t at all surprised when Austin hurriedly walked away. But once Austin was out of the room, Owen turned to her and said in surprisingly gentle tones, “Are you all right?”

“I’m fine,” Raina replied. “All he did was pester me for a date. Thanks for rescuing me.”

She’d seen how handsome Owen was, but it had been from across a room, with the bright stage lights dazzling her eyes. Now she got a clear look at him for the first time.

He was one of the tallest men she’d ever seen— probably 6’4” or 5”— but muscular and well-proportioned. He looked big and strong, not gawky. His broad chest was like a sheltering wall, his arms bulging with tempting muscle. And his arms weren’t the only thing that bulged. As Raina’s gaze strayed downward, she saw a distinct lump in the front of his expensive pants.

Of course he’d be big everywhere,
she thought.

Embarrassed, she jerked her gaze upward. The strong features of Owen’s handsome face had looked fierce when he’d scared off Austin, but now his lips were parted in a smile. His black hair looked appealingly soft, not stiff with hair gel. But his most stunning feature was his eyes. They were true green, dark and pure as a forest. She’d never seen eyes like that in her life. They were like pools she could fall into.

“It was my pleasure,” said Owen. Raina loved the sound of his deep, manly voice. “But Raina, I have to ask... Did you actually want to be in that bachelorette auction?”

“No, my best friend talked me into it. She has chicken pox, so I’m taking her place.” Raina saw disappointment creep into Owen’s face. Did he think she didn’t want to go out with him? Hurriedly, she said, “But now I’m glad! You gave a million dollars to feed hungry, homeless people. That’s wonderful!”

“That was my pleasure too. And speaking of pleasure...” Owen took Raina’s hand. She jumped at the contact; it was as if a spark of electricity had leaped from his hand to hers. A wave of desire broke over her, at nothing more than the warm touch of his strong fingers. “Would you like to have dinner with me tonight?”

“Of course I would!”

Raina agreed without thought. There was nothing in the world she wanted more than to spend more time with the sexy billionaire who’d bid one million dollars for her, gazing into those deep green eyes of his and listening to his deep voice. Then she wondered if
he
really wanted to go out with her, or if he was just living up to the agreement he’d made at the auction.

“I mean,” she stammered, “If you want to...”

“Raina.” Owen stroked the back of her hand with his thumb, rubbing in little circles. It was such a tiny movement, but it made her shiver with desire. She could feel her nipples stiffening within their satin cups, and prayed that he wouldn’t notice. “I would love to. And just to be clear, all I paid for is your company at dinner. And that’s all I’m asking for.”

“I know,” Raina said.

A hot blush crept up her face. That was all that the sort of man she’d want to date ever wanted from her. Company, friendship, and maybe advice on how they should approach the skinny women they had their eye on. It was only creeps like Austin who lusted after her body. How could she have ever imagined that a man like Owen would want anything more from her than conversation?

Well, there
was
his thumb on her hand. But it was just a thumb. A very sexy thumb! But nothing more.

“Then let’s go,” Owen said.

And, to Raina’s amazement, she found herself walking out of the lobby, arm in arm with the billionaire. She couldn’t feel her feet hitting the ground. It was as if she was walking on air.

He escorted her to the parking lot, where the valet brought him his car, a black Range Rover.

Owen noticed her surprise as it pulled up. “Expecting something different?”

“A limousine,” Raina admitted, as Owen opened the door for her. “With a chauffeur.”

Owen settled into the driver’s seat. “I like driving.”

“Or a sports car.”

“They’re tiny,” Owen said with a laugh. “I couldn’t fit into one.”

Raina looked him over again. Even the big seat of the Range Rover looked small with him sitting in it. Her thoughts strayed again to that bulge in his pants. She’d never been with a man as big as Owen looked to be. What would it be like, to have such a huge cock filling her...?

She had to stop thinking about his cock. It wasn’t like she’d ever get to see it, or touch it, or have anything else to do with it. Though, she thought with a private grin, it would undoubtedly star in her fantasies for the next ten years.

“Besides,” Owen went on, “I need to take it off-road. I have a cabin in the woods, where I like to stay and hike. Soak up some nature. It’s beautiful out there.”

“That sounds nice,” Raina sighed. Another thing she’d never get to see.

“Do you like hiking?”

“I love it.” Self-conscious, she added, “I know I don’t look like I exercise, but—”

“Why would you say that?” Owen asked, looking sincerely baffled. “I can see that you’re strong. And fit. And beautiful.”

Raina stared at him. No one ever said she looked strong and fit. But it was true. She did exercise, when she could find the time. But nobody ever looked past her soft plumpness to see her strength. And nobody but Madison ever called her beautiful. Flustered, she didn’t reply.

“You should come hiking with me some time,” Owen said, after an awkward silence. “You’d enjoy it.
I’d
enjoy it.”

Raina tried to simultaneously not stare at Owen while also examining his face to see if he was coming on to her or just being friendly. It was impossible. She caught a quick glimpse of his deep green eyes, then hastily dropped her gaze.

Another silence fell. She could feel Owen’s presence next to her, radiating warmth. A flutter of nervous desire made her stomach quiver. Was the billionaire really flirting with her? Was she getting mixed messages because he was trying not to scare her by coming on too strong? Or did she just want him so much that she was imagining things?

He pulled up in front of a restaurant, gave the keys to a valet, and opened the door for Raina. Not only that, but he took her elbow to help her down. Men never did that sort of thing for her: opening car doors, or defending her from creeps. He’d been so protective of her, even though he hadn’t yet exchanged a single word with her. She liked that. It made her feel warm and safe.

She smiled. “You’re a real gentleman.”

“Sometimes.” His voice lowered, giving that simple word a heady sexual promise. Before Raina could think she’d imagined it, he added, “I have a wild side, too.”

His words made Raina imagine all sorts of things, in a split second: Owen naked, his muscular body gleaming with sweat. Having sex with Owen outdoors. Having sex with Owen up against the wall. Owen’s huge cock filling her...

She threw caution to the winds. “So do I.”

His strong fingers tightened on her elbow as he escorted her into the restaurant. “Tell me about it.”

“You first,” Raina said, as they sat at a table with a beautiful ocean view. The restaurant was elegant but not intimidating. The table was set with crystal wine glasses, but also with ordinary silverware rather than the twelve forks she’d briefly imagined as she walked in. “What’s the wildest thing you’ve ever done?”

Owen hesitated long enough that she couldn’t resist teasing him.

“Are you making something up to impress me?” Raina inquired.

“No, no,” he protested. “It’s just... How about this. I’ll tell you
one
of the wildest things I’ve done. It just won’t be
the
wildest. I need to save something for later.”

So he thinks there’ll be a later,
Raina thought. She hoped he was right.

A waiter handed them drink menus before Owen could begin his story. Raina lost herself in delighted contemplation of the fanciest-sounding cocktails she’d ever encountered, from a Strawberry Tarragon Flip to a Grapefruit Rickey.

“A Scotch and soda,” Owen ordered.

With a giggle, Raina told the waiter, “I’d like a Lavender Bee’s Knees.”

Owen chuckled, but she could see that he was laughing with her, not at her. “What
is
that? Other than the girliest drink in existence— not that there’s anything wrong with that.”

With great dignity, the waiter replied, “Bombay Sapphire East gin, pressed basil, clover honey syrup, and lavender bitters.”

As the waiter left, Owen said, “I didn’t know there was such a thing as lavender bitters. I wonder what it tastes like.”

“Got me. But I don’t get that many chances to be girly, so I had to try it. I have to wear a uniform at work. It...”
It makes me look fat and ugly
, she thought. “It’s not very flattering. I stand there in my brown apron, ringing up groceries, and imagine girly things.”

“What’s your girliest fantasy?” Owen spoke lightly, but he obviously wanted to know.

Normally Raina would have changed the subject, but she felt sure that he wouldn’t laugh at her. And she so rarely met men who were genuinely interested in her, let alone her girliest fantasies, that she threw caution to the winds and told him.

“I never knew my biological parents. I spent my entire childhood in a series of foster homes.” Raina looked Owen right in the eyes as she told him, mentally daring him to pity her.

He spoke with sympathy, not pity. “That must have been tough.”

Raina nodded, not wanting to dwell on it. “Anyway, I imagine that I’m actually a princess who got kidnapped and then abandoned because of some scheme by someone trying to inherit the throne. I imagine that the king and queen have been trying to track me down this entire time, and finally they find me. And their royal messenger comes to the supermarket and says, ‘Your highness! At last we have found you!’”

Owen smiled. “And then they take you back to the palace?”

“To the beautiful palace in some tiny European country. And they throw a ball in my honor. I wear a gorgeous gown and diamonds, and princes come and beg to dance with me.” Blushing a little, she said, “I know, it’s so girly. But you asked!”