The woman digs her big fists into the table as she leans forward with a terrifying look on her face. “Excuse me?”
“I was talking to my cousin,” Mandy hisses as she glares back at her.
“Loud enough for me to hear.”
“That’s not fair. You could hear anything with those big old floppy ears hanging off your head.”
Okaaayy.
I’m done.
I squeak out an apology as I scoot out of the booth. All of the waitress’ heated focus is on Mandy, so I’m able to make a quick exit. I hurry down the aisle and burst out of the door into the parking lot.
She always does shit like this.
I’m pissed. At her, at my parents for ditching me, but mostly at myself. Why do I always cave around her? I always revert back to my childhood self where I let big imposing Mandy walk all over me.
She’s always been so gorgeous and it’s always been intimidating, especially since I’m not. She’s got the perfect body and has everyone’s head turning whenever she walks out in the tiny scraps she calls a bikini.
I’m still wearing a one-piece even though I’m nineteen-years-old, but I’m just not comfortable enough to show my not-so-flat stomach in public. My hips are too big and my arms look like they’re preparing for a long winter.
I hate my body. And I hate it even more when Mandy is around.
That’s why I’ve never had sex. How could I take off my shirt in front of a guy? I shudder just thinking about it. Maybe if it was pitch black and he was really drunk. And blind. Even then, I don’t see it happening…
I hear yelling in the diner and I cringe. Mandy is making friends again in her own special way.
I’m not about to get involved, so I stuff my hands into my pockets and hurry around to the side of the diner. The mountains are stunning around here, giving the cute town a gorgeous backdrop that makes you feel so damn tiny and insignificant.
I’m looking up and admiring them when I feel a presence staring at me. My eyes dart down and I gasp when I see a man standing beside a tree watching me.
A naked man.
A very naked man.
He’s enormous with hard muscles for days. Every inch of his beautiful body is meticulously carved with sharp muscular lines and round edges. He has a tattoo on his chest that continues over his broad shoulder and down his thick bicep.
My breath quickens as my eyes dart all over his body. His legs are thicker than mine, but whereas mine are soft, his look rock hard. He looks like he could carry a walrus with ease.
A flutter hits my chest as I drag my eyes down his sculpted abs to the long thick cock hanging between his thighs. The gorgeous sight of it makes me all tingly and sends heat rushing to my core. My body craves it. My mouth waters. My fingers ache.
My pussy is throbbing and getting soaking wet as I stare at it. I can’t take my eyes off of the long pulsing vein snaking down its length.
Something is going seriously wrong with my body because I shouldn’t be getting turned on by a perverted flasher, but I am. Big time. My core clenches as a deep throb of desire makes itself known between my legs.
I’m aching all over as he starts walking forward.
My eyes dart up to his and I get lost in his flawless face. He’s got dark eyes that shine impossibly bright and a short cropped beard that looks so fucking sexy along his powerful jaw.
He doesn’t take his hungry eyes off me as he walks over. His body is flexed tight. His big hands squeezed into fists at his sides.
I glance down one last time (okay maybe not for the last time) at his swinging dick that’s getting thicker and longer as he approaches.
The pull I’m feeling toward him only increases with every step. I want to run forward and leap into his big arms and rest my cheek on his hard tattooed chest, but instead, I root myself to the ground and stare and sweat and try not to freak the fuck out as he approaches me.
It doesn’t work too well. I’m definitely freaking the fuck out.
Chapter Three
Chloe
“What a mega-cunt,” Mandy says as she pops out of nowhere. “That lady was a grade A bit—holy shit!”
I guess she sees him too.
The man doesn’t even look at her as he walks over. His eyes are locked on mine. It’s like neither of us can look away.
“Look at that guy’s dick,” she whispers with a gasp. “It’s almost to his knees!”
I rip my eyes away from him and practically snarl at her like a lioness. “Don’t look at it.” I don’t know where the jealousy comes from, but it comes loud and it comes hard.
There’s a burning in my chest as I stare her down with a heated warning look.
Mandy’s eyes widen as she shrinks back a step. “Jeez, psycho,” she says as she drops her eyes to the ground. “Cock hungry much?”
There’s a pain in my jaw from clenching my teeth so hard, but I forget all about it by the time I turn back to the naked stranger.
The jealousy is gone. It’s replaced by a glowing warmth that’s radiating from my core out to my fingertips and toes. What the hell is happening to me?
“It’s you,” he says in a deep growly voice when he finally arrives in front of me. He’s even bigger up close—at least a foot above me with a body that dwarfs mine.
“And who are you?” Mandy asks in the sing-song voice she always uses when she’s flirting. “I’m Mandy.”
She shoves her hand between us, but he just ignores it. It’s like he can only see me.
He’s ignoring Mandy… I’m starting to really like this guy.
“Okay,” she says, pulling her hand back in annoyance. “Chloe, let’s get away from this pervert.”
She turns to leave, but I don’t follow her. I can’t. I’m mesmerized by his presence. He’s the most gorgeous man I’ve ever seen and his eyes are locking me in place like tractor beams.
“Chloe!” she shouts with a stomp of her foot. “Let’s go!”
“I’m not going,” I say.
She runs up to me and crosses her arms. “What?”
“I said, I’m not going.”
She huffs out a laugh. “You’ve got to be kidding me. You’re going to stay with this naked pervert who’s probably a sex offender and if he isn’t then he will be really damn soon?”
“Mandy,” I say turning to her with a new sense of resolve. “Just… give us a minute.”
She huffs out a breath and rolls her eyes before storming off. “I’m calling the cops,” she says before disappearing around the building.
It’s just the two of us.
I look back up into his eyes and the air charges with a thick heat. It’s making it hard to breathe.
“Where are your clothes?” I ask him after clearing the lump in my throat.
“I lost them,” he says as he stares down at me in awe. “I was looking for you.”
I laugh, but he’s not laughing. He looks as serious as a naked stranger could look.
“What’s your name?”
I shouldn’t tell him, but I can’t stop myself. “Chloe Weaver.”
He smiles and the sight nearly takes out my legs.
“I’m Everett Ridge. Your mate.”
“My what?”
He reaches up and I gasp as he gently strokes my cheek with his rough hand. Tingles start where his hand touches and continues down into my core, lighting it like the fourth of July.
I swallow hard as he cups my cheek and slowly moves his mouth to mine. My chin raises to meet his mouth—I’m no longer in control of my body. It’s all him. He’s making me do this.
Just as our lips are about to touch in the sexiest kiss ever, a deep booming voice barks out and interrupts us.
“What the fuck, Everett!”
We both jerk our heads to the side and my mouth drops open when I see a police car parked on the road. The huge cop behind the wheel has the window down and is glaring at my new friend.
“Is that her?” he asks.
Everett nods. “Yeah, this is her.�
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“Me?” I choke out. Who am I? I mean, I know who I am, but who am I to them? What the heck is going on here?
“You can’t stay out here naked like that,” the cop says as he looks around the street.
Everett’s hand drops to my arm and he grabs it in a possessive hold. It’s not hard enough to hurt, but it’s hard enough to let me know that he’s in charge.
“I’m not leaving her,” he says in a low voice that sends warm shivers racing down my spine.
I step a little closer to him. I don’t want him to leave me. Ever.
I’m not sure where these intense emotions are coming from, but they don’t seem to be leaving. They’re just getting stronger with every delicious whiff of his masculine scent that hits my nose.
Mandy comes back with her phone in her hand and a triumphant smile on her very slapable face. “I called the cops,” she says, waving her phone around. She turns to the cop behind the wheel and points at Everett. “Arrest that man.”
He just ignores her. I’m beginning to love this town.
“I’ll drive you back to the ranch to get some clothes,” the cop says to Everett. “Get in the car.”
My heart flutters as Everett reaches down and scoops me up into his arms. Most men who tried to do this would end up in a chiropractor’s office, but he does it easily. He makes me feel weightless in more ways than one.
I can feel the heat radiating off of his skin and the sound of his heart thundering in his chest sounds like a pounding drum next to my ear. An irresistible urge to close my eyes and rest my head against his chest hits me, but my annoying cousin rips me out of my happy place.
“Excuse me,” Mandy shouts at the cop as Everett carries me to the car. “Are you going to allow this?”
“I’m going to allow this,” I say to her. I don’t know why, but I’ve never felt safer in my life.
“Well,” Mandy says, crossing her arms as her face twists into a pout. “Can I come too?”
“No!” the three of us shout at the same time.
Everett opens the door and gently puts me into the backseat. He climbs in after me and I take a quick glance down at his package as he closes the door. His cock is rock hard and looking even more tempting than it was before. My pussy reacts in a strong way, throbbing and aching to feel its girth.
Doing my best to ignore it, I turn and look straight ahead with my hands in my lap.
The cop quickly drives away, leaving Mandy gobsmacked on the street.
It’s only then that it hits me. I’m in the back of a car with two strange men, one of which is completely naked, and I’m heading to their ranch in the middle of the mountains, which may or may not be full of other women prisoners who were also stupid enough to get in the back seat of the car.
“For god’s sake, Everett,” the cop says as he throws a t-shirt at him. “Cover yourself up.”
Please don’t.
I fight back a sigh of disappointment as Everett drops the shirt over his beautiful cock. I feel a sense of loss flowing through me now that it’s gone.
“Um… Where are we going?” I ask in the tiniest voice imaginable.
“We’re going back to my ranch,” Everett says in a soft voice. “Your new home.”
“My new what?” I ask, feeling my face drop.
“I told you,” he says, looking confused. “We’re mates.”
The radio interrupts us and a woman’s voice comes on through the scratchy speaker. “Hey, Damon. You there?”
Damon grabs the radio and pushes the button. “Hey, baby. I’m here.”
“Mrs. Westfield called. She says her toaster is giving her evil looks again.”
“Shit,” Damon says with a shake of his head.
“Can you go check on her and calm her down?”
“I’ll be right over.”
“Thanks, teddy bear. I’ll be sure to repay you tonight.”
“You want me to go see Mrs. Westfield or come see you?” he growls. “Keep talking like that and you’ll be in handcuffs.”
“Don’t tease me.”
Damon seems to remember that he’s not alone and hangs up the radio.
“I just have to make a stop first,” Damon says while he looks at us through the rearview mirror. “Mrs. Westfield gets a little freaked out by her appliances. I’ll just make her some tea and toast while you guys wait in the car.”
A minute later, he pulls up in front of an old run down house and parks the police cruiser. He turns around with a stern look on his face. “I just washed the car. Don’t make a mess.”
I’m not sure what he means, but he leaves before I can ask him to clarify.
The door slams shut and suddenly we’re all alone once again.
My eyes dart over to the towel and back again. He’s still rock hard.
I shift uncomfortablyin my seat as he turns to me. My body turns to him as well.
How does he keep doing that?
My body has turned against me. It’s a traitor. It’s on Everett’s side now.
His sexy dark eyes are full of possession as he stares down at me like I belong to him.
My body agrees. ‘You’re his,’ it tells me.
The feeling is strong.
And I’m not about to fight it.
It feels way too damn good.
Chapter Four
Chloe
“What do you mean when you keep saying that we’re mates?”
It’s so quiet in the car. Just the heavy sound of our breaths as we stare at each other.
My eyes drop to his lips and I swallow hard.
“Do you know about shifters?”
My eyes dart back up to his. My heart freezes for a few seconds and then starts pounding.
“You’re a shifter?”
His jaw tightens, but he doesn’t say a word. He looks uncomfortable. Nervous. Holy shit, I’m making this guy nervous! What is going on here?
“I’ve—I’ve heard of them, but I’ve never met one before. Are you a… shifter?”
He slowly nods his gorgeous head.
“What kind of animal do you have inside?”
My hand starts moving on its own and begins hovering over his chest as I stare at it in amazement.
He grabs my wrist in a firm grip and places my palm on his left pec. His heart is pounding hard, just like mine is. My breath quickens as another deep throb hits between my legs.
“Grizzly bear.” His voice is low and gritty. It brings up goosebumps all over my body.
A grizzly bear. That suits him perfectly.
Suddenly, his hot skin starts to vibrate a little. A low growl ripples up his throat and sends the throbbing between my legs into high-drive.
“That’s him,” he says as he holds my hand against his hard chest. “He recognizes his mate.”
The heat between my legs is starting to get unbearable. I’m so wet.
He has a wild beast hiding within him and I can’t understate how hot that is. Savage power, carnal intensity, a primitive protectiveness—it’s all radiating off him in waves of heat that fill the air and surround me like a warm cocoon.
Another sexy tremor ripples through his hard chest.
“Do you feel that?” he asks as he leans toward me. His voice is rich, deep, and hypnotizing. I feel my mouth drop open as I nod my head up and down. The heat of his hot breath teasing my skin makes it hard to think straight.
“My bear has never reacted like that to a girl before. You’re the one, Chloe. You’re my honeypot. You’re the one he chose. You’re the one I’m choosing too.”
I swallow hard as I stare at him with my cheeks burning and my whole body tingling.
“I feel pulled to you,” he continues. “We’re meant to be together.”
Oh my God, I feel like I fell into an alternate reality. It feels like I’m in Alice In Wonderland, the porno version.
We’re meant to be together? Is this guy serious? He looks serious. Intensely serious.
“You must feel it?” Everyt
hing about this is crazy, yet, it all feels so natural. Like I belong here with him.
I clear my throat and nod. “I do.”
Is that what I’ve been feeling? Is this why my body is reacting so strongly?
Maybe this is why I saved myself for all of these years. Maybe I was saving myself for this moment, for this man, for my mate.
But come on… how could he be my mate? He’s so freaking hot. It’s intimidating. It’s both terrifying and exciting. I’m waiting for the cameras to come out and for a washed-up movie star to explain how this was all a practical joke.
But there’s nothing. It’s just the two of us. Locked in the small car. Alone.
And the way he’s looking at me… It’s so intense. Possession and ownership pour out of his sexy dark eyes and wrap around me like a comforting blanket. I know I’ll always be protected with him in my life. I’ll always be safe. I’ll always be loved.
I don’t know how, but I just know it. I can feel it deep within my core. Deep within my bones.
It’s weird knowing that you’re meant to be with someone, but not knowing anything about them. We have to get to know each other and I guess we’ll start now.
Say something smart and sexy.
“I like your tattoo, did it hurt? I always wanted to get one, but I’m too much of a chicken. I hate needles. Just the look of them freaks me out. Like once when I was nine, I was getting vaccinated for chicken pox… or was it the flu shot? I don’t remember, anyway so I was sitting there and… yeah, it was definitely the flu shot. I was so nervous, that when the nurse pulled out the needle, I peed my pants.”
I close my eyes and hate myself.
Damn. Epic fail.
“It didn’t hurt,” he says. When I finally force my humiliated eyes open, I see that he’s smiling. He’s watching me in a curious way, like he’s intrigued and delighted by me. “Do you want to touch it?”
I don’t trust my mouth anymore, so I just keep it closed and nod my head.
He drags my hand across his chest to his intricate tattoo. I start feeling breathless as my tingling fingers trace the sexy ink. He pulls my wrist up and my hand slides over his round shoulder. His muscles are so hard and the tight striations under my fingertips are making me lightheaded.
Spread for the Alpha (The Ridge Brothers Bear Shifters Book 2) Page 2