by Anya Nowlan
“Yeah? But what does that have to do with anything?” Kimberley asked, her lips pressed thin.
“I got it in my head that everything that I’d been feeling for you, all of that love and desire and need, was just the hormones. I kept reading about it, how young shifters tell someone that they’re their mate and the shifter is completely convinced about it, but then it turns out not to be true and it’s the mate that suffers.
“I didn’t want that to happen to you. I couldn’t… I couldn’t bear the thought of hurting you like that, and in the end, I made it worse by taking that way than if I’d done anything else.”
His voice cracked now and Cannon squeezed her hands tighter in his grasp, his heart pounding in his chest. It was deafening.
“It sounds so stupid now, because essentially the moment I texted you I knew it was wrong. That I was lying to myself. That’s why I couldn’t face you. I fucking knew I was doing the wrong thing and still I convinced myself.
“The shit you saw in the tabloids, the blogs? I was doing anything and everything I could to put you out of my head, but I was never with any of those women. My agent made it look like I was screwing my way through the country but I haven’t touched anyone since you. I was depressed, my bear was pissed off at me, and the only thing that felt right was being on the ice.”
He averted his eyes, shaking his head. The memories of that time gnawed at him. It had taken years to scrape himself up from the bottom of the barrel and actually become some semblance of a man he could be proud of. But it was never the same, not without her.
“I’m not saying this to get you back. Spirits know, I want that more than anything, but above all, you deserved an explanation. I don’t think I did this right but Kimberley, Kimmy, please know… you are and always will be my mate. No other woman can come close, or ever will.
“Every fucking goal I’ve made has been for you. Every injury I took was in your name. I know it probably doesn’t matter to you and it doesn’t change anything, but I wanted you to know. I love you. I always will.”
Cannon held onto her hands for a moment longer, looking into those gorgeous, deep green eyes before he let go of them. There was shock there and when she breathed in, it sounded like the breaths didn’t go quite as far as they should have. He could feel the way she trembled and it broke his heart yet again to have brought her pain. But those things had to be said.
“I’ll let you go now,” he said, his voice barely over a whisper.
All he wanted was to kiss her one more time, but he’d already done too much to ruin her life. He didn’t need to add another insult to injury.
Cannon began to turn away from her, but Kimberley clasped her hands around his wrists and pulled him back with a yank that was far stronger than he’d expected from the curvy beauty. He looked back, surprised, to find tears rolling down her cheeks.
“Do you mean it?”
“Mean what?”
“The… the... all of it…”
“Every fucking word,” he growled, his eyes flashing dark brown for a moment as the bear rose up in him.
Kimberley stared at him, her expression blank and unreadable, but then threw herself into his arms and automatically he embraced her. It felt amazing having her against him again like that, with his heart thrumming wildly in his chest and his hands shaking as he stroked her hair, burying his face into her shoulder. She smelled divine.
“You’re such a fucking asshole,” she sobbed, clinging to him.
“That’s what I’m saying,” he agreed without a fight, allowing himself a small grin.
Kimberley pulled back, and though her face was splotchy with tears and she was shivering all over, she’d never been more beautiful to him.
“You have a lot to make up for, Cannon Wright,” she said sternly.
“And I plan on devoting every day of my life to do that, if you’ll let me,” he replied, his tone somber again.
She bit her lip and it drove him wild to see that little vulnerability. Though Kimberley’s eyes still shined, a spark of mischief returned to them now, along with a tiny grin playing on her lips. It didn’t matter how cold it was outside, that smile alone could keep him warm for years to come.
“You’ve used up almost all of your chances, Pucky. It’s now or never.”
“It’s going to be now then,” he said with a growl, pulling her in for a kiss that seemed like it would never end.
Every day from then on, he’d be working his ass off to be the kind of man she deserved. He’d hurt her once and it had ruined years and years for both of them. Cannon Wright was a changed man and his mate had given him a second chance he would not squander again.
So maybe sometimes a little bit of trickery was exactly what was needed.
EPILOGUE
Kimberley
9 months later…
“I’m telling you, you should change the name,” Kimberley said with a mocking sigh, leaning on Cannon’s shoulders as she peeked over his back at what he was doing.
With the surest, most careful of hands, Cannon was writing their wedding invitations. This huge, hulking werebear, a guy who could crunch jaws and break faces with one punch, getting his calligraphy on like it was nobody’s business. Kimberley shook her head in amazement and amusement, something she’d done a fair few times by now.
“I’m not lobbying to change the name of the whole goddamn hockey team just because you think it would look better on a wedding invite,” Cannon said with an exasperated sigh, sounding far more dramatic than she knew he felt.
“Why not? You named it the last time,” she teased, leaning forward to nip at his ear playfully with her teeth.
“I voiced a dumb opinion and it got up to the big boss. Not my fault my guys can’t keep their mouths shut,” he grumbled, adding the last dot to the last sentence, before he lifted the carefully chosen card and blew on it gently.
Kimberley grinned, topping her love-nibble off with a kiss before pulling back from him a little. Despite her loud, adamant and heartfelt objections on the matter originally, she’d found herself quickly falling in love with not only Cannon but his town and everything about his new life as well. After her first stay ran its course, she’d gone back home for maybe three weeks before she’d returned to Shifter Grove with bigger suitcases and an extended plan in mind.
A few weeks had turned into a few months and when the Shifter Grove Shovelers offered her a job as the head of PR for the team, she’d quit so fast it’d made her head spin. A few weeks after that, Cannon’s cabin in the woods got finished and they could move in together in earnest, without having to duck and weave around Heath – who admittedly wasn’t doing so bad as of late, but that’s another story in its entirety.
“I can’t believe we’re getting to this point, though,” Kimberley said with a dreamy sigh, standing upright.
“What point is that? Blissful happiness?” Cannon asked with a sly smile.
Kimberley was about to answer when two strong arms grabbed for her and pulled her down on his lap, cuddled closely against his strong, firm body. She laughed, dropping her head on his shoulder and snuggling up close, curling her legs up to her chest. Cannon fell back on the chair in a comfortable recline, making sure that they didn’t accidentally kick anything off the table. Far too much ink and careful craftsmanship had gone into those invites already!
“Yes. Well, you know. Girl meets boy, girl loves boy, boy turns out to be a horrific asshole…”
“Boy works hard to win girl back, girl is swept off her feet, girl turns out to be useless at the fine craft of handwritten invitations…”
Kimberley bumped him in the chest for that, grinding her knuckles in enough to make him grumble but not enough to hurt him. They’d inflicted enough pain on each other over the years of separation to be very thoroughly done with that part of their lives. Cannon’s hand rested on her knee, tracing some pattern on it dreamily.
“Hey, I’m from the digital age, okay? If we had it my way we would have se
nt online invitations. So much easier to handle the RSVPs!”
“I think you’ve been in PR for too long, Kimmy. There’s a fine, delicate balance to what we do here, you know. It has to be just right,” he said with a chuckle, kissing the top of her head.
“I thought I was the bride here,” she grumbled playfully, reaching up to peck him on the neck.
“You are, I’m just pointing you in the right direction,” Cannon said resolutely. “Tulips for the centerpieces… I don’t even…”
“This again!?” Kimberley gasped, a wide smile on her lips as she twisted herself around on his lap to straddle him. “Do you really want to start talking about the centerpieces again!?”
“What, you want to wrestle for it?” he asked with a quirked brow, obviously more than ready to go a few rounds with her.
“Don’t you have practice coming up?” she asked, settling in so she was rubbing up against his bulge, a knowing smirk on her lips.
“I’m sure Coach will understand. I’m a man in love, after all,” he said, the makings of a growl entering into his voice.
“Uh-huh,” she mocked, leaning in a little so her lips were inches from his. “Because that excuse worked so well yesterday.”
“Well I guess I just have to be fast then,” he said with a huff, before their lips crushed together for one maddening, lingering kiss.
When Cannon pulled away, Kimberley’s eyes were hazy with need. She found herself being thrown over his shoulder as he stood up from the chair, making her gasp. He smacked her lightly on the ass, his arm looped around her long legs as he carried her straight towards the bedroom.
“You’re never fast!” she protested half-heartedly.
“Take it up with management,” Cannon replied blithely.
Kimberley grinned. Perks of loving a man like Cannon – things were never boring!
Don’t miss the excerpt for the second book in the series, Bear No Loss, on the next page!
Bear No Loss
Want more? Pick up one of Anya’s other Shifter Grove series:
Bear the Burn – First Book of Firebear Brides
Make Him Purr – First Book of Shifter Grove Brides
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BEAR NO LOSS EXCERPT
Her nails scraped against his scalp, curling around his blond hair, and he didn’t mind it one bit. Everything about this woman so far had been just right. From how she’d gotten so cutely flustered when he’d bought her a drink down at the bar in downtown Cheyenne, to how she’d blushed when he told her she was beautiful, to how she became this moaning little wildcat when he had two fingers up her pussy and his lips on her pale, blemish-free skin.
His kind of woman, through and through. A lady in the street and the exact opposite in bed.
I should come to Cheyenne more often, he thought almost languidly as she jolted upright, her body tensing and her eyes wild as he thrust two fingers inside of her again, twisting them and watching with warm amusement as her eyes rolled back in her head in response to it.
“Don’t… stop…” she hissed, her hands clutching at the sheets now and her skin dappled with sweat.
He could feel her pulsing around his fingers and there wasn’t a force on Earth that could have made him stop. Hovering over her on his knees, on top of her frilly, flowery covers, with her pleasure completely controlled by his fingertips, was exactly where Memphis Corley wanted to be. It was made better by the fact that she had no idea who he was.
“I don’t intend to, sugar,” he said, his voice a deep, languid murmur—a gift of his Southern upbringing. “Not before you cum for me again.”
This book is out now:
Bear No Loss
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WANT MORE?
Bear My Baby
Bear My Baby is a full-size novel and the first of a 4-book series, Shifter Squad Six.
She never knew danger, but now she can't get enough of the bear it follows...
Cassie Campton's lived a calm, settled life. Working for an eccentric billionaire, she's given plenty of time for the things she enjoys in life. Surprisingly enough, that makes a person complacent. So, when the man she's devoted years to suddenly draws her into an explosive chase, complete with bloodthirsty villains and the distinct possibility of death, Cassie can't help but wonder if she's gotten in way over her head. But when the commando sent to save you is as hot and as infuriating as hers is, does it really matter?
Connor McLaughlin is a werebear with a past, and not much in terms of future. Head of Shifter Squad Six, he's a gun for hire, a soldier of fortune. Every job's the same, except for this one. He didn't think he could ever love again, but one look at Cassie and the tough as nails ex-SEAL finds himself stumbling over his feet and words. They only have one night together and after that, Connor's never the same, for better or for worse.
Brought together by fate once more, Connor has to save his woman, maybe the world, and most heartwrenchingly, his cub he knew nothing about. Can Cassie and Connor overcome the lies between them and have a future together, or are they doomed to fail?
Billionaire Dragon’s Bride
This is a full-sized novel and the start of a 3-book series, Treasure Vale Dragons.
He's blazing hot and this dragon won't take no for an answer.
Devon Bluewing is a billionaire playboy like no other. Cocky, strong and sexy as hell, he's used to getting anything and anyone he wants. But when it comes a time to step up and stand as the head of his family, and the dragon council of Treasure Lane, Devon is met with an inexplicable problem. He needs a mate or his whole legacy could be in jeopardy. Now, that doesn't work at all for the fire-breathing bad boy, who's used to getting his own way.
Gemma Teeley can't stand injustice. She's sassy, smart as a whip and always ready to fight for what is right. So when the newest Bluewing heir decides to wrack up the taxes on her hometown, Gemma isn't about to stand for it. But what she doesn't know is that her fight against traditions might just get her into a whole lot of steamy trouble! The curvy, headstrong woman has all the fire of Devon, and when he gives her an ultimatum, they're both in for more than they bargained for.
Even if she'll play along, it doesn't mean that she'll make it easy on him. But it isn't just Devon whose making decisions for Gemma, and soon it becomes very clear that it's not only Gemma's pride that's in danger of getting burned...
Montana Wild Bears: Books 1-4 Bundle
Want to read more about Ryder and his struggle as an Alpha?
Strong, scorching-hot werebear Alphas and their sassy, curvy mates - could it get any steamier?!
The Montana Wild Bears series follows two werebear clans during the most difficult conflict of their lives, sparing nothing and no one in it's path. How can these determined, powerful Alphas keep their clans safe while also finding their fated mates? And will their mates allow them into their hearts, even when all odds stand against them?
Find out in these hot stand-alone books, each following one Alpha couple through the war between the clans. Expect some twists and turns and plenty of steam!
If you want your shifters hard, loving and dripping with testosterone and your heroines capable, smart and saucy, this might be just the boxed set for you!
The anthology includes the following books:
Find Her Bear - Book 1
Wanting Her Bear - Book 2
Saving Her Bear - Book 3
Needing Her Bear - Book 4
Sassy Shifter Brides: The Complete Series
What a shifter really needs is a good mate!
Shifter Grove only attracts the kind of shifters who are looking for something better... Something different. When Warren, Rake, Deacon and the Warfang decide t
o build a new life, they knew it wouldn't be easy. But it would be worth it. Still, hard work and making a better future for the buff, burly and completely Alpha shifters isn't quite enough for the men. Ever shifter knows that a home isn't perfect without the right woman and that's exactly what all of them need!
SassyDate is here to help! Each of the Alpha shifters will find a mate that's as if made for him... Just sometimes it isn't all sunshine and roses.
If you like your shifters hot, growly and determined and your women sassy, bbw and opinionated, this is the boxed set for you! You can find all five of the Sassy Shifter Brides books in this anthology and none of them will leave you disappointed!
The box set includes:
Hearts Laid Bear
No More Lion
Bear the Cold
Roar for Her
The Wolves' Bride
Smutty Shifter Shorts: Books 1-5 Bundle
5 hot, sizzling shapeshifter shorts sure to make you need a cold shower!
The Smutty Shifter Shorts series is all about bringing the naughtiest, sexiest werewolves right to you! Each story is a standalone short, but three of them can be read as a series.
If you want your werewolves growly, determined and hungry for more and your women curvy and sassy, this is just the boxed set for you! Expect some twists and turns and plenty of steam!
This anthology of bestselling shifter shorts includes the following books:
The Mate
The Chase
Outcast's Claim
Outcast's Pride
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Anya Nowlan loves sex and writing about it. The sexier and naughtier the better. She mostly writes paranormal and fantasy erotic shorts, focusing on shifters and their lucky mates. Her stories are bite-sized, just what you need to soothe that craving for brave women and growly alphas with a big side-order of smutty sex.