Bad Bear Redemption (Bad Boy Bear Shifters Book 3)

by Liv Brywood

  “You can’t blackmail me into marrying you,” he whispered against her lips.

  “I think I just did.”

  As he pulled out of the driveway, Dusty couldn’t believe how much she trusted him. It had been years since she’d ridden anywhere in a vehicle. He pulled onto the highway and stayed under the speed limit as he headed toward town where the jewelry store waited—along with their future.

  15

  As Laurie slipped her hand into Dusty’s, they crossed Main Street and entered a small jewelry store. Laurie couldn’t believe she was about to pick out her engagement ring. Their relationship had been on hold for more than a decade, but things were finally starting to happen. Although it wasn’t the perfect proposal, she didn’t care. As long as they ended up together, that was all that mattered.

  He’d gonna put a ring on it, her bear cried out happily. It gently nudged her heart with its muzzle. I always knew this would happen because he’s our mate.

  “Yes, he is.”

  Her bear had been right all along. They were meant to be together. The accident had put their entire relationship on hold for years, but nothing could keep them apart. She’d never let Dusty go again. They had a second chance at happiness, and she planned on taking full advantage of it.

  Diamonds sparkled from various cases inside the store. She walked along one side of a case marked “engagement rings.” There were square cuts, cushion cuts, princess cuts, so many options that she couldn’t even begin to choose one.

  “Pick anything you want,” Dusty said.

  A salesperson heard him and came running around the corner.

  “Hello, sir. How can I help you today?”

  “We’re looking for an engagement ring,” Dusty said confidently.

  “There are many options to choose from. What’s your budget?”

  “It’s pretty open. Nothing too crazy, but I have a lot saved up.”

  “Excellent.” The sales person turned to Laurie. “What styles do you like? Modern, classic?”

  “I like filigree. It’s so delicate and beautiful.”

  “We have several options over here. Can I get you some coffee or water while you look?”

  “I’m good,” she said.

  “I’ll take a water,” Dusty said.

  While the salesman left to get water, Laurie leaned over the case. There were several gorgeous filigree engagement rings.

  “Do you want white gold, yellow gold, platinum?” The salesman asked as he returned. He handed the water to Dusty. “We can order any of these styles in any metal you want.”

  “I like white gold,” Laurie said. “This looks like a princess ring.”

  “Which one?” Dusty asked.

  “That one.” She pointed. The salesman pulled the tray out. “Oh, it’s gorgeous.”

  She let Dusty slide the ring onto her finger. A round, brilliant-cut diamond sparkled in the center. Delicate curved designs swirled out along the sides of the ring.

  “Can I have this one?” she asked.

  “Do you want to try any others on?” Dusty asked.

  “No. This is perfect.”

  “Then it’s yours.”

  The salesman smiled and wrote up the bill. Laurie gasped when she caught a glimpse of the price, but Dusty didn’t bat an eye.

  After he’d paid for the ring, they double checked the sizing on it. It was perfect. She could wear it out if she wanted, but Dusty insisted on taking it home in a black velvet box.

  “I want to make a proper proposal,” he said.

  She laughed and hugged him. He kissed her so passionately that she left the store blushing.

  As he drove, she noticed they were leaving town. He drove up the mountain and half an hour later, they were parked in front of Angelo’s. It was still before noon, and there wasn’t a single car in the parking lot.

  “I’m sorry. I had to improvise,” he said with a sheepish smile. “I hadn’t really planned any on any of this. Well, I was working on something, just not for today.”

  “If you want to wait…”

  “Hell no! I don’t want to wait another second.”

  They got out of the car. She took his hand. They climbed the stone stairs that led to the restaurant. It was closed, but Dusty went around the building and found a flight of stairs that led up to the deserted balcony.

  He led her toward the edge of the balcony. She took a deep breath and rested both hands on the rail. There wasn’t a single cloud in the sky. Bright sunlight caressed her face. The fresh alpine scent invigorated her senses.

  “It’s only my second time here, but I love this place,” she said.

  She turned to face Dusty. She found him down on one knee with the velvet box in his hands. He popped it open to reveal her perfect engagement ring. Sunlight refracted off its polished surface. She brought both her hands up to her mouth.

  “It’s really happening.”

  “Yeah, it’s happening.” Dusty nodded. “It should have happened a long time ago, but we’re here now.”

  “Yes, we are,” she whispered.

  “I know things haven’t been easy for us. You went through a lot. I went through a lot. I didn’t think we’d ever get a second chance, but here we are. I want to make up for all the lost time, and I want to be the man you’ve always wanted me to be. Nothing in this world would make me happier than to have you as my wife, so... will you marry me?”

  “Yes! A thousand times yes,” she cried out.

  She held out her trembling hand. Dusty slipped the ring onto her finger. She didn’t even wait for him to get up. Throwing her arms around his shoulders, she jumped on top of him. Dusty fell back against the deck. He laughed as she straddled him.

  They kissed and kissed until they were both breathless. His hands rested on her hips before sliding up. He cupped her breasts through her shirt. She had entirely too much clothing on, but they were in a public place. According to the sign on the door, the restaurant didn’t open until 5 p.m. So technically, they had time.

  “We shouldn’t,” she whispered.

  “We shouldn’t what?”

  “Do it here,” she said in a low whisper.

  “No one’s around. We’re alone. It’s just the two of us.”

  She desperately wanted him inside her, but it was crazy. A few days ago, she hadn’t even been able to make love unless it was completely dark. Now, she was ready to make love in broad daylight. That’s how much she wanted him. It wasn’t even a want—it was a need.

  “Anyone could see us,” she murmured.

  “Let them see.”

  She bit the edge of her lip. A naughty smile spread across her face. Making love to him outside would be like ripping off the Band-Aid. She wouldn’t be self-conscious anymore. For the first time in years, she felt beautiful and brave. She was ready to let go of every last ounce of fear.

  As she began unbuttoning her shirt, Dusty’s eyes went wide. His gaze swept up from her lacy pink bra to her face. A look of pure wonder was quickly replaced by desire.

  When she dropped her shirt, he growled. It was a low, sexy sound that awakened her bear. The beast growled in response, a mating call.

  “I hope we don’t shift.” She flashed a wicked grin.

  “I feel like a teenager again.”

  “Me too, and I love it.”

  She gazed into his eyes and dragged her teeth across her bottom lip. She swooped down to kiss him. She parted his lips with the tip of her tongue and deepened the kiss.

  Laying one hand on his chest, she slid her other hand down until it met his belt. She slid back to gain better access. As she pulled at the buckle, he stripped his shirt off. It joined the growing pile of clothes. His pants came next, then hers.

  Wearing only panties and a bra, she leaned over him. Her hair brushed his chest, making his nipples pebble. She needed him, and nothing in the world could stop her from making love to him. Maybe if the cops came, she’d stop, but nothing else.

  She let out a giggle.


  “What?” he asked, an amused smile on his face.

  “What if we get busted?”

  “By the cops?”

  “Yeah, with handcuffs and stuff.”

  “Handcuffs?” He waggled his eyebrows. “Now we’re talkin’.”

  “Are you secretly a dirty bear?” she teased.

  “Filthy.”

  She laughed as he flipped her onto her back. He stripped her bra and panties, leaving her completely naked and exposed. She didn’t move to cover her scars. She lay still as his gaze meandered across her body.

  “Thank you,” he murmured as he spread kisses over her breasts.

  “For what?”

  “For letting me love you.”

  As he dipped to lavish her neck and chest with kisses, she sighed and ran her fingers down his back. She kneaded the hard muscles, reveling in his wild masculinity. She wanted to touch every part of him, so she reached down and shucked his boxers.

  Naked, pressed body to body, they lay together for several seconds.

  She couldn’t wait much longer. She wrapped her fingers around his cock and then started stroking him slowly, the warmth of his thickness seeping onto her skin. Heat spread throughout her entire body.

  “I don’t know what you’ve done to me, but I’m crazy about you,” he growled. “You’re mine.”

  “I’ll always be yours. Make me yours right now.”

  He nudged her thighs apart. He reached between them to stroke her wet slit until she writhed and begged him to make love to her.

  As he slid the length of his cock deep inside her pussy, she shivered. Sparks of pleasure radiated out to fill her with pure joy. This is exactly where she belonged, with him.

  The hypnotic thrust of his hips rocked her closer to the brink of orgasm. She waited, holding back until she heard the telltale hitch of his breath. He was close, and she was ready.

  “Come with me,” she whispered.

  “Oh, God.”

  The tumbled into ecstasy together, merging to become one heart filled with everlasting love. To seal their mating, Dusty bit the edge of her throat. She came even harder as his energy flooded into her. The bond between them was inevitable, and their past no longer mattered. All they cared about was building an amazing future together.

  She lay in the circle of his arms. There was something ethereal and dreamlike to the afterglow of making love to him.

  Eventually, she propped up on one elbow to look down at him.

  “Are you ready to get out of here?”

  “I was really counting on those handcuffs for later.”

  She laughed and let him pull her to her feet. After they dressed, he led her down the steps toward the car. Dusty drove toward home.

  “I can’t wait to tell Mason.” She had the window down and her arm hanging out. She loved feeling the breeze whip through her fingers.

  “He’s been dropping not so subtle clues that he wants us to be together. Personally, I think he just wants a live-in tutor to help him with his homework.”

  “Stop it.” She laughed, playfully slapping his arm.

  “Seriously, you’ve made both of us so happy. I couldn’t do this without you.”

  “Do what?”

  “Raise Mason. I need you.”

  “You have me.”

  “I might need your help with something else too.”

  “Anything.”

  “Mason doesn’t know he’s a shifter.”

  “You’re kidding.”

  “Nope. I guess his mom never got around to giving him the talk.”

  “Oh, boy.”

  “Yep.”

  “We should tell him sooner than later,” she said. “If he shifts… He’s 13, right?”

  “Yeah.”

  “We should tell him tonight.”

  “Okay.”

  She laced her fingers into his free hand. She wanted him to know that she was there for him for life. Talking to Mason about being a shifter was certainly going to be interesting, but there wasn’t anything they couldn’t accomplish as long as they were together.

  16

  Dusty’s tried to sit still at the kitchen table while his bear hopped around in his chest. The beast couldn’t wait to meet Mason’s bear, but they weren’t anywhere near that point yet. They hadn’t had the talk yet. They’d been home for an hour, but Mason couldn’t stop talking about the wedding. He was overjoyed.

  “I’m going to be the best man,” Mason declared. “And we’re going to wear tuxedos. And Laurie, I’m going to help you pick out a dress.”

  “Um, she might want to go with friends instead,” Dusty said. He glanced at Laurie, but she was so busy studying the way the light hit her ring that she didn’t notice. “Right, hon?”

  “Huh?” She looked up from the ring and grinned. “Anything you want.”

  “I know today was a bit of a shock,” he said to Mason. “But we have something else we need to tell you.”

  Laurie sat up straighter. She smiled at Dusty. It was all the encouragement he needed to keep going.

  “It’s pretty important,” he said.

  “Is she pregnant already? Am I going to have a brother?” Mason jumped out of his chair. “This is the best day ever!”

  “No, she’s not pregnant. At least, I don’t think she is.” Dusty glanced at her. She grinned mischievously.

  “Not yet,” she said.

  “What else could it be?” Mason asked. His eyebrows scrunched together. “We’re not still moving, are we?”

  “No, we’re staying right here,” Dusty said.

  “So what’s the big deal then?”

  Dusty didn’t even know where to begin, so when Laurie started speaking, a huge rush of relief flowed through him.

  “When you get to be a certain age, your body starts to change,” she said.

  “I already know about sex stuff,” Mason grumbled.

  “Oh.” Laurie’s cheeks turned pink. “This isn’t really sex stuff though.”

  “O-kay.”

  “There are bears in the woods,” she said.

  “A lot of bears in town too,” Dusty added.

  “I know, take bear spray into the forest. It’s cool. I’ve run into bears out there, but they never mess with me,” Mason said.

  “Right. Well, some people are special,” Dusty said. “People like us.”

  “Special how?”

  “We can transform into bears.” Dusty just blurted it out because he couldn’t figure out a better way to break the news to his nephew.

  “Bears?” Mason smirked and looked at Laurie. She looked nervous, so Mason’s smile dropped. “Like, a real bear?”

  “Yes.”

  “No way,” Mason said.

  “It’s true,” Laurie said. “We could show you.”

  “Oh, I don’t think—”

  “Okay,” Mason said.

  “Right now?” Dusty asked Laurie.

  “It’s now or never.” Laurie pushed back from the table. “It’ll be perfectly safe. You know our bears.”

  “Right.” Dusty got to his feet. He was a bit shaky, but otherwise okay. They might as well show Mason so that he wouldn’t question the truth.

  They went into the backyard.

  “We, uh, have to get naked,” Dusty said.

  “Gross!” Mason turned his back. “Let me know when I should look.”

  “He can’t see the transformation if he’s not looking,” Laurie whispered.

  “But seeing us naked might be far more traumatizing that seeing our bears.”

  “Good point.”

  “Let’s do this,” he said.

  They quickly stripped.

  “Count to five then turn around,” Dusty said.

  “Five…”

  As Dusty started to shift, Mason’s countdown continued.

  “Four…”

  “Three…”

  Laurie was already mid-shift. She let out a yelp of pain. Mason turned around. His jaw dropped.

  “Holy shi
t,” he whispered.

  Dusty made a mental note to have Mason put another penny in the swear jar. He finished shifting and dropped to all fours. He took a step toward Mason, who took a step back.

  “What the fu—”

  Dusty growled his disapproval. Sure, it was shocking, but that didn’t mean Mason could turn into a truck driver.

  “Are you going to eat me?” Mason asked. His eyes were like saucers.

  Dusty shook his huge bear head from side to side.

  “Good. Can I pet you? It? You? Can you even hear me?”

  Dusty shook his head yes.

  “This is so crazy.” Mason slowly walked toward Dusty. Laurie stood in bear form next to him. “She’s not going to eat me either, right?”

  Laurie’s bear chuffed as if it were laughing. This brought a smile to Mason’s face.

  “This is super cool.” Mason pet Dusty’s bear, then pet Laurie’s bear. “How do I do it? I want to be a bear!”

  Dusty shifted back and quickly donned his clothes.

  “We could try to have you shift, but you might not be able to do it yet. Usually it happens in your teenage years, but you’re only thirteen.”

  “Let me try anyway.”

  “Okay.” Dusty glanced at Laurie. She turned her furry back on them to give Mason some privacy.

  Dusty worked with Mason several times. He wasn’t sure he’d be able to get Mason to shift, and then suddenly, he did. Mason transformed into a smaller, light brown bear.

  Mason’s bear roared, then it jumped and spun around to look behind it. Dusty laughed and shifted into his bear form to join Mason and Laurie.

  Together, they walked into the forest. Laurie and Dusty showed Mason how to chase squirrels and where to find the river for fishing. Dusty even showed him how to catch his first fish, which they ate raw by the banks of the river.

  They played until the sun hung low in the sky.

  When it was finally time to return home, Dusty lumbered along with Laurie and Mason flanking him. This was his family now. They were his to protect and to nurture, and to love. He couldn’t wait to raise Mason and spend the rest of his life with Laurie. He’d truly been given a second chance at life, and he was going to make it count.