Tempted by the Bear - Book 1

by V. Vaughn

  He’s not amused and steps back as he asks, “Is this some kind of sorority initiation thing?”

  The need to touch him overwhelms me, and I reach out. But he retreats as if I have a communicable disease. “No. I’ve—” You’ve what, Tori? You can’t tell him you have sex dreams about him. He’ll think you’re a fruit loop. “I’m sorry. I really thought I knew you. But I guess not.”

  “We’ve never met. Now if you’d be so kind as to move out of my way, I need to leave.”

  I take a few steps away from the Jeep. I don’t want him to go, and I grasp at a straw to deter him. “So you must be the boss.”

  The door of the car opens with a groan, and he leans an arm on it as he glances over at me. “Something like that.”

  Desperation sets in, and words I haven’t formed into coherency tumble out of my mouth. “Sweet. You should use me as an intern. I’m a super-smart engineering student and need to line something up for the summer. I’ve got references, and everyone will tell you I’m...” I stop, because his eyes are crinkled up as if he’s about to laugh at me.

  Heat rises to my cheeks, and I shake my head. “I’m so sorry.” I start to walk backward. “I’m just going to—” I step into a pothole and stumble before I fall on my butt. Sharp pain shoots up my spine. “Ouch!”

  The man towers over me. “Are you okay?”

  I gaze into the blue eyes I recall from my dreams. “I think so.”

  He reaches out a hand, and I grab on as he hoists me up with enough strength that he might as well have lifted me. The heat of his fingers burns my chilled skin, and I grip him tight so he won’t let go yet. The oddest sensation surges through me, and I whisper, “Do you feel that?”

  The guy yanks his hand back. “You’re a strange girl.”

  I gasp as our connection breaks and stare down at my palm. I glance back up at him. His eyes are hard as if he’s angry, and adrenaline spikes in me. Like he’s the one that has a right to be mad. I blurt out, “Look. You’re the one invading my dreams like a creeper. So why don’t you just stop and then you’ll never have to see me again? Okay?”

  He tilts his head and squints at me as he bends down to retrieve the backpack I dropped. “Dreams, huh?”

  I yank the bag from him. “Yes, dreams. And those stupid dreams made me get a tattoo. Me. The girl who cries when she gets a splinter got a tattoo. Do you know what that means?”

  “So why aren’t you crying now? That fall had to have hurt more than a splinter.”

  I huff. “Unbelievable. I’m exaggerating. The point is you’re making me crazy, and you think I’m the one who’s strange. Geeze.” I cross my arms and glare at him.

  His face breaks into a smile. “I’m teasing you.”

  “Oh.” I take a deep breath. “So do you know who I am?”

  “No. But I do have an idea what’s going on.”

  Relief washes over me, and I let out a big sigh. “Thank god.”

  He slides into his car, and I actually stomp my foot because I think he’s going to drive off without telling me a thing. “Don’t you dare drive off on me.”

  He pops his head back out of the Jeep with a slip of paper and a pen. He’s smiling when he hands it to me. “Give me your number, and I’ll let you know when I get this all sorted out.”

  I frown. “What, you don’t own a phone?”

  He taunts me. “What, you don’t know how to write?”

  I roll my eyes and scribble my name and number down. “You’re kind of annoying, you know that?”

  Now he smiles. “It’s part of my charm. But don’t worry. You’ll be rid of me soon.”

  My hands are freezing, and after I hand him the note, I shove them in my jacket pockets. “Thanks.”

  The man reaches for his door handle and says, “Goodbye, Tori.”

  “Bye.”

  The Jeep door slams shut, and the engine roars as he turns it on. I step back and watch him back out before turning to walk to my dorm. Sadness wraps around me as if I just said goodbye to a boyfriend who broke up with me. I turn to watch the Jeep as he drives away. When it turns the corner and is no longer visible, I sigh, because he was so much better in my dreams.

  Chapter 18

  Annie

  The waffle iron creaks as I lower the top over the batter I just poured. I turn to the man who has just entered the kitchen. “Keith.” I walk over and hug Brady’s best friend, someone who’s practically a brother to me. I hold him a little longer than is normal, as if I can take some of his pain away with my touch. And because I remember how he did the same for me when my true mate died a few years ago. “I’m glad you’re here.”

  “Thanks. I’ve missed your breakfasts.”

  “Well, dig in, before Brady eats it all.”

  A plate clatters on the table as Mother sets it down and walks over to hug Keith, too. “So good to see you again, dear.”

  When they step apart, Keith says, “Donna, I need you to do something for me.”

  “Of course. What is it?”

  He walks over, and coffee splashes into a mug as he pours. “There’s a young girl at Orono that was called and is dreaming about me. Can you cancel it or something?”

  Almost two years ago, our clan put out a call to bring in women of werebear descent to bear children for us. Mother says, “Oh dear.” Keith’s jaw flexes when Mother sighs, and she continues. “There isn’t any way to cancel the call. Goodness, she has to have been dreaming about you for a while.”

  Sierra places bacon on her plate and lifts a piece up as she says, “Wow. That’s a long time to be having those dreams.”

  Carly’s already at the table with her food and says, “Oh my god. Are you talking about Tori?”

  Keith nods. “You know her?”

  “Yeah, she came in a while back for a tattoo. I expected she’d be back to find out more about her dream guy, but she never returned. I was going to call her to follow up.”

  “So like the rest of you human women, she came here because she was dreaming about her potential mate?” He glances over at Sierra. “How did I get two of you?”

  Sierra came here with Carly to mate with Keith, but their relationship didn’t work out, which was a good thing, because she ended up being Ashton’s true mate. She bumps him with her hip. “You’re just that hot.”

  Keith smiles at her. “I’m also that old. Tori’s a kid.”

  Brady teases, “You’re the older man. I hear that’s sexy for young girls.”

  Carly hits his arm. “Perv.”

  “Exactly.” Keith frowns. “Besides the fact I have no interest in another mate, I sure don’t want to hook up with a child.”

  Silence falls, and I imagine we’re all thinking about his mate Taylor and her tragic death. I jump in to fill the void. “We’ll just have to ask Kimi what to do. This situation is just wrong.” Kimi is our medicine woman and the one that put out the call that made human women of werebear descent start dreaming about eligible Le Roux men. Some of them were more open than others and came to us.

  Sierra says, “She’s a freshman at Orono. I wonder if maybe Tori didn’t do anything about the call for so long because she wasn’t legal?”

  Mother says, “Could be.” She breaks off a piece of blueberry muffin. “Don’t worry Keith, we’ll sort this out.”

  “Thank you.” He sets his plate of food down with a thump and pulls a piece of paper out of his back pocket. “Here’s her number.”

  My mother takes it and reads it before folding it up and setting it down. “I’ll bet one of Delia’s twins would be suitable for her. They’re the youngest in the clan.” Carly chuckles and Mom asks, “What?”

  “You really should consider a career in matchmaking.”

  She smiles over her teacup at us. “I have a gift. Just ask Annie about the polar bear I found.”

  My cheeks flush, and I’m sure my smile looks foolish. “You do get points for that one.”

  Keith says, “I heard Tristan is your true mate. That’s gre
at.” He reaches over and puts his hand over mine. “You deserve this.”

  “Thanks.” I remember how I was sure life was over when Kyle died, and nobody could have ever made me believe someday I’d be giddy in love again. I hope my second chance at lifelong happiness gives Keith hope. He deserves it, too.

  Mother clears her throat to get our attention. Even though when Brady married Carly, Mother stepped down as prima, she still runs our weekly meetings. My sister-in-law is a smart woman, because she figured out that the best way to keep Mother happy and helpful is to let her feel as if she has some control over the family. She says, “That brings us to the most important order of business this morning—the land we’re gifting to the De Rozier clan.”

  Brady says, “The papers are begin drawn up, and the De Roziers will soon own the one thousand acres that surround Crystal Lake.”

  I reach out and touch Brady’s arm. “Thank you.”

  My brother’s face is serious when he says, “I do have one stipulation, though. While I realize the true mate bond should be security enough, I put your name on the deed.”

  I nod as I wonder how Tristan will feel about that. But I suppose if it’s not common knowledge, it shouldn’t matter. We’ll never separate.

  Sierra says, “Hey, I heard about Isabelle’s temper tantrum the other day. That girl’s got issues. Did she ever apologize for it?”

  I answer, “Yes. She went out the next day and cleaned up her mess, but she definitely left a mark.”

  “More like a new trail,” says Carly. She shrugs. “But with a few more trees down, it does give us a direct route to the river.”

  Sierra says, “Still, that’s a pretty severe reaction to your brother sealing a true mate bond.”

  Mother shakes her head. “She’s had a difficult upbringing. Her parents weren’t known to be warm and fuzzy. I think she felt abandoned.”

  I get it. I remember the loss I experienced when Brady and Carly discovered they were true mates. Brady had been the shoulder I leaned on when my husband died. “Then I’ll just have to do what I can to make sure she still gets time with Tristan.”

  “I think anger-management classes might be a better idea,” says Sierra as she rolls her eyes to the sky.

  Ashton says, “Or maybe she needs a more rigorous workout schedule. I could use her as a warrior.”

  Brady’s jaw is tight in alpha mode as he nods. “Train her. But I’m not sure I trust her just yet. Something about that girl is off.”

  “Agreed,” says Carly. “I can’t put my finger on it, but I don’t trust her, either.”

  I think about her almost nightly drunk hook-ups. She’s definitely self-destructive as a reaction to something, and I wonder what it could be. But I know she’s in good hands with Ashton. He used to be a Navy SEAL and has seen things I can’t even imagine. I’ve got no doubt if anyone can get through to Isabelle, it’s Ash.

  I capture his gaze and say, “Help her.”

  He nods in response.

  Chapter 19

  Isabelle

  The Le Roux act as if tearing through the forest in a rage makes me crazy. They have no idea it’s standard learned behavior for a polar bear with a temper. They should be grateful they didn’t know me as a child. It took years for me to learn to control my anger, and I’m proud of myself for not attacking Tristan, or even worse, Annie.

  I stretch my arms over my head, and a lingering soreness is still present in the limb I shattered. Nothing I can’t handle, though. Ashton is across the gym, and I watch him approach me. His legs are the size of tree trunks, and I bet he works out for hours every day.

  I’m glad it’s him, because I still have some resentment I need to work out, and Ian, the guy who runs Kick It, isn’t bear enough for my strength. Even though Ashton isn’t a polar bear, he’s got finesse on his side. He’ll know how to save himself if I get out of control.

  I bounce on my feet to warm up my muscles and recheck my hand wraps. Ashton nods at me, and I say, “Hey.”

  He walks over to a set of shelves and grabs two jump ropes. I reach into the air to grab the one he throws toward me, and the handles are smooth in my hand as I prepare to do what he says. But he doesn’t speak. Instead Ashton starts jumping across from me, so I copy his movements.

  “You don’t talk?”

  A small smile forms on his face.

  “Good. I can do enough for both of us.”

  “If you’re talking, then you’re not working hard enough.” He speeds up and changes his movements.

  Got it, tough guy. I match him step for step, and the slapping of our ropes on the floor is paired perfectly. At the point my eyes begin to burn from sweat dripping into them, I notice Ashton is breathing easily, while I’ve started to pant from the exertion. Damn, I’m impressed. A half hour later, my lungs are screaming from lack of oxygen, and I’m close to passing out. But I’ve never backed down from a challenge, so I keep going.

  Ashton stops and nods toward the large punching bag. He executes a five-movement drill and steps away. “Fifteen minutes.”

  I nod. The no-talking thing is contagious. I’ve only just caught my breath when he says, “Faster.” I blow out a burst of air and pick up my pace. Pain radiates through my hands with each strike, and I’m at the point at which I would stop if I were on my own when Ashton barks out, “Harder.”

  My growl sounds in annoyance, and I punch with more force. Now the agony of impact radiates through my arms, and I let it drive me. Tristan’s face comes to mind, and I imagine hitting his nose as my growl becomes a constant rumble in my throat. You left me. I drive my fist hard, and white-hot agony races to my shoulder. You said you’d always take care of me.

  Ashton’s loud order startles me. “Stop.” I step back and bend over my thighs. Sweat drips on the mat, and I gasp for air as I recover. Blue eyes cut into me as he leans down to get my attention. “Kicks.”

  I stand up and watch his progression. When he steps away, I go in with renewed energy. This time I remember my father. When my foot slaps at the leather bag, the sound brings me back to being a small girl, and my cheek stings with the memory of my father’s hand. I want to laugh, because that was for a minor infraction like being in the same room if he was annoyed.

  I begin to kick harder as I recall the beatings. The ones I learned to take instead of fighting back. But I got my retribution, as any polar bear in my clan would tell you. The girls feared me, while the boys learned to stay out of my way. Only Tristan could get through to me when the rages hit.

  Drops of salty moisture fly as I spin and deliver kicks faster and harder. My breathing is so labored that it sounds as if I’m gasping, and my chest hurts. I pour on all I’ve got, and the bag splits with a loud tear from the impact of a kick. I don’t stop, and each one of my blows pulverizes the stuffing.

  Ashton commands me to stop. He eyes the carnage of the punching bag. His gaze is intense as he says, “We’ll need to order a few more of those.”

  It would be funny if I thought he was cracking a joke. But he’s not, and I nod in reply. He walks us over to the weights, and I catch a glimpse of Ian cleaning up my mess.

  My arms and legs are like jelly, but my rage has subsided. I focus on controlled movements as Ashton takes me through a circuit. Partway through the second round, he leaves me. My brother may have ditched me for Annie, but I’m a survivor. I smile as I formulate my next move.

  Luke.

  Ian approaches me. I glance at the strong, sexy man in front of me. Yup. My rage is definitely gone if I’m thinking about sex. He says, “Ash had to leave for a bit, but he asked me to work on some combinations with you.”

  I smile sweetly. “I’d like that.”

  Ian’s definitely a flirt. “We’re going to work on grace.” He winks at me. “Think lover, not fighter.”

  He’s a strong contrast to Ashton, and I grin back. “Can do.”

  Ian walks me through a combination and asks me to focus on placement and smooth transitions. He says, “I
want to hear the faintest of taps when you make contact with the leather. If it slaps, you’re striking too hard.”

  I dance around the bag and focus on fluidity. Luke’s careful hands come to mind, and I imagine I’m mimicking his touch. My skin flushes with the memory, and I’m grateful I’ve sweat so much that my musk masks the scent of my arousal. Ian calls out praise and direction.

  Once I’ve grasped the grace, Ian instructs me to take it up a notch and use a bit of force. This time I punch and kick with enough power to make noise but not enough that I lose smoothness.

  When Ian calls for a break, I say, “That does feel like dancing. Thanks.”

  “I like to think of fighting like relationships.”

  I shake my head.

  “No,” says Ian. “Seriously. Think about it. It’s more than the sex, it’s the love and caring that goes with it that makes it the love real. Same thing with fighting. You need to mix the power with grace, agility and speed.”

  I nod at him as we make our way to the water cooler. It makes sense. If I want a relationship with Luke, I’m going to need more than great sex. And I’m going to need to give more than that, too. Perhaps it’s time to go after what I need now that Tristan has replaced me as his number one. I take a deep breath and let it out slowly. My anger is gone, and what’s left is an empty shell ready to be filled with more than rage. And maybe Luke Robichaux is the one that can help.

  Chapter 20

  Tori

  Yeah, so my dream guy never called. And he’s still a nightly visitor who makes me look forward to sleep. Now that I’ve seen him in real life, the dreams are even more intense. I swear I can smell him and feel his burning touch. But I can’t live like this forever, so I’ve decided I needed to do something.

  After Googling Bear Mountain Tree Farm, I discovered the headquarters and the lumber mill. Based on the scent of pine that was on the guy, I guess he works at the lumber mill. I would have called to find out, but he never gave me a name. I glance down at the speedometer of my car and ease my foot off the gas pedal, because I’m going way too fast. My stomach flips over as I begin to question my sanity.