The Bear’s Surrogate: A Paranormal Romance (Shifter Surrogate Agency Book 2)

by Layla Silver

  I was going to give someone a child.

  The thought calmed me a little. I was going to have a child for someone who really wanted it. Unlike my aunt and uncle, there were people out there who actually wanted children. And I could help at least one of them. This might be a difficult decision, but that alone made it so much easier. I took a deep breath and felt a bit calmer. There was a family somewhere out there that was desperately praying for a child, and I could very well be their answered prayer. And they could be mine.

  I had done the right thing. I had made the right decision, I thought. And I was going to be strong and the best surrogate that I could be. Tomorrow I would even borrow some books from the library and look up some surrogate forums online. There was no reason why I couldn't enjoy this journey, even though I would be doing it all on my own. Yes, I had made the right decision. I wasn't the queen of making good decisions, though. I groaned at the thought of the other thing I had done today.

  In my defense, he had been so nice and funny. Yeah, right, my traitorous mind added, that's the only thing you noticed about him. I tried to convince myself that it had nothing to do with his devastatingly good looks or that gorgeous smile. Or that adorable chin dimple he had. And the way he acted like he was either unaware of his effect on people or just didn't care. To top it all, he had the kindest eyes I had ever seen. There was just something about them that had pulled me in and given me the confidence to carry a conversation with him. And when he had offered to fix my car for me, I had given him my address like the reckless fool that I was.

  Lincoln.

  His name floated in my head for a little bit as I tried to remember if there had been anything threatening about him. Despite his large frame, I hadn't felt at all intimidated when I had been talking to him. That sixth sense of mine that usually went off when something was wrong didn't even beep. It just lay there and purred as Lincoln talked. All in all, he seemed like a pretty good guy and someone I could trust. And I really needed my car to be fixed. Was it too much to hope for that things were starting to look up for me? A part of me had been hoping that he would ask for my number anyway; he was incredibly hot, and I had enjoyed talking to him.

  I didn’t have to work tomorrow, which was a good thing because I needed some time to myself just to rest and process everything. Depending on how fast they found a match for me, my life was about to change drastically. I needed all the time I had left just to enjoy being me. Dr. Carlton had given me some reading material on first pregnancy expectations, and I planned on going through them tomorrow as well. I had a lot to look forward to I supposed, from possible morning sickness to a bigger bust, so I would hold off on the reading till tomorrow when I’d had some much-needed rest.

  My phone vibrated, and there was a cold feeling in my stomach when I reached for my bag. It was my uncle again, and this time, he was telling me that I should really think twice about ignoring him. It always took me a bit of time to remind myself that I was not a little girl anymore, and he couldn’t keep on intimidating me. I had escaped from his house and was now living my life as an independent woman. The positive thinking never worked when I was staring at his name on my screen, though, because the truth was that no matter how far I ran, the man would always have some hold over me.

  George Daniels was not a physically impressive man. He was about five foot eight and probably weighed only as much as he would have drunk that day. No remarkable looks, just our signature Daniels’ brown eyes and dark hair. He was very smart, though, that I knew from experience. My uncle could trick anyone into doing anything, which always amazed me. And he had a mean streak like no other, which showed when he shifted. His Wolf looked like a large rabid dog instead of the other lovely creatures I had seen around the pack, and it scared me to bits. He only had to look at me with his red eyes, then say something carefully constructed to put me in my place, and I cowered. Because I knew he would deliver whatever he promised, and he was smart enough to know which buttons to press.

  That’s why I knew better than to get too comfortable in my new situation. If my uncle ever made up his mind to find me and make my life a living hell, I knew that he would succeed. It was not even a question of whether he would do it; it was a matter of when. I had lived with the man my entire life and knew his ways well; it would be foolish to underestimate him now. Or to think he had somehow changed or mellowed with age. I couldn't have him causing trouble for me now, not when I already had enough on my plate to deal with. I tapped reply on his message tab, then hesitated as I thought of what to write.

  I finally settled on promising him a small sum as soon as I had something, and that I hoped it would be sometime soon. I could only hope that would be enough to get him off my back for a little while.

  Chapter 7 - Lincoln

  I walked out of the clinic, feeling confident about my decision. Elton had been pretty helpful and had explained everything in detail. It hadn't taken me long to sign the papers and agree to have a medical file opened for me with everything they needed. They would use that information to find the ideal surrogate match for me. So I would hear from them in the following week concerning progress on that front.

  They had even given me the option of not meeting the surrogate. I hadn't thought of it before, but the moment Elton had mentioned it, I had agreed to it. I was going through a lot in my life, and I didn't want to add the complication of meeting the surrogate on top of that. How would we even go about that relationship anyway? I didn't even want to think about it. It was better this way, and my Bear was in total agreement.

  I had never smiled at the simplicity that was sunshine until today. I just felt great. There was this inner peace I felt, and I knew that I had made the right decision for me. I had even had a light conversation with a beautiful woman, and she hadn't thought I was weird, which was both a miracle and a welcome surprise. All in all, my day had gone great.

  Speaking of the beautiful woman, I didn't see the harm in going to her place straight away and checking her car out. Perhaps it was something minor after all, and she didn't have to do without her car for long. I wondered if it would be weird for me to show up so soon but then decided the weird part of me offering in the first place was already done with. And since she had seemed okay with it, I might as well do it now. My weirdness be damned. She was getting the better deal of my human form anyway; I could only imagine how she would react if she saw me shift.

  Just the thought of shifting had my Bear stirring beneath my skin. I couldn't believe I was getting excited at the thought of exposing myself to a human that I had just met. Perhaps I had been alone for too long, and this was the effect? But I could always count on my Bear to lead the way. It was the pure part of me that was not corrupted by social norms and expectations, after all. Something was either good or bad, period. And Dakota was definitely good.

  It was settled then. I was going over.

  I checked if I had my toolbox first, which I rarely went anywhere without, but I had to make sure. The new diagnostic tech that Julian had introduced was in there as well, and I felt confident that I would be able to tell what was wrong with Dakota's car quickly. I got into the car and put her address into my phone GPS. It wasn't a long drive to her place which was good because it didn't give me enough time to second-guess myself.

  I dialed her number and couldn't help but smile when she answered hesitantly.

  "Lincoln?"

  We had exchanged numbers, so I knew that she had caller id, which meant her hesitation was just surprise.

  "Should I check?"

  She laughed, and I could almost see her shaking her head.

  "I wasn't expecting your call, honestly," she said.

  "Right now, or ever?" I asked. "Because if it’s ever, then I might have to turn around and leave your parking lot."

  "You’re outside?" she asked, then I heard movement and a loud thud.

  "Is everything alright?" I asked.

  I heard a loud groan then a curse, which made me chuckle. I wo
ndered what she was up to.

  "Umm, it depends. But I'll be done in a minute, okay?"

  "Take your time," I said.

  I got out of my truck then leaned against the door and watched the entrance of the building. It seemed like ages before she finally walked out. She was still wearing what she had on before, a long dress that gave nothing away in terms of her figure. She was slim, that I could tell, but beyond that, I couldn't make out anything else. Her hair was in a messy bun on top of her head, even though it looked like she had tried to tame it a little bit. Her lips seemed to have been glossed up as well. She must have taken slow-motion steps towards me, and I was living for every second of it. Because she was stunning in a way that I wanted to study, understand, write an exam on, and pass.

  "You came," she said with a smile and a wave.

  Not yet, I thought, but keep smiling like that, and I just might.

  The sound coming from her fingers drew my attention, and I realized that she was holding her keys. Oh right, I was here to check her car, not check her out.

  "You gave me no choice. I could never resist a damsel in distress," I said, hoping my smile was teasing and friendly, not predatory.

  Damn it, I was attracted to her, and I couldn't deny it. And my shifter instincts were going haywire because I wanted to indulge in my primal urges, but couldn't.

  "I doubt I have ever been called that before," she laughed.

  "There’s a first time for everything," I said, thinking the same applied to me. My behavior today was shocking, to say the least.

  "Follow me then, and I'll show you what's distressing me."

  I followed her as we walked to where her car was parked. It was a tiny little thing that looked like it could use some love. The mechanic in me jumped at the chance to fix it up; I always loved a good challenge.

  "If you’re looking for a damsel to save, this would be her. She just died on me this morning; I have no idea what crawled up her exhaust and died."

  "Was there any smoke when you started the engine?" I asked, then opened the hood.

  "Nope, nothing seemed out of place. No wonder Wrench thought it might be out of gas," she murmured, rolling her eyes.

  "Wrench?" I asked, remembering overhearing her say that name.

  "The mechanic who wants to put my soul in a bottle," she said.

  "Oh, him. Well, I won't insult you by even thinking that could be the case. But I'll be checking everything. Maybe there's an airlock or something."

  "Thanks. Do you need me to stay and hand you the spanner or something?" she asked, then blushed and licked her lips nervously.

  It drew my attention to her lips, and I groaned internally. I shook my head, turning down her offer for help.

  "No, thanks, you'll just distract me," I winked, letting her know I meant well.

  "From damsel to distraction, I’ve never been more female," she replied with a laugh.

  "You don't have a man up there reminding you every day?" I asked, nodding towards the direction of her apartment.

  I was fishing for information, and I knew it. But I couldn't help it, and it was too late to take it back now.

  "No, just me," she said, looking me in the eye and making the air between us thick with many things we left unsaid.

  "Shame," I said, swallowing my excitement at the news.

  She smirked. "Don't feel bad for me yet; things are definitely looking ... up." She stressed the last word with a quick glance at my crotch before walking away.

  I looked down at myself and saw the very visible bulge I was spotting, then palmed myself. Damn it; I was too old for this. I couldn't help but chuckle, though, as I watched Dakota walk away. She was quite something.

  "Oh, I forgot these," she shouted as she stopped and turned.

  I caught the keys that she threw in my direction, and I shook my head at the knowing smile she sent my way. This was going to be the most interesting job I had ever done, and I wasn't even getting paid. I walked back to my car and took everything I needed, then put my work suit jacket on. I quickly located the source of the problem on Dakota's car and was able to fix it without a problem.

  I was hot and sweaty by the time I was done, but her car was fixed, and I was certain it wouldn't give her problems anymore. It was a difficult task trying to fit inside the tiny car to test drive it, but somehow I managed to do it. I looked ridiculous as I squeezed inside adjusting the seat as much as I could. I smiled when the engine responded beautifully as I turned the key, happy that at least she wouldn't have to worry about it anymore. And I was satisfied that she would be safe. After running another test and checking if everything was in its rightful place, I locked her car and walked back to my own.

  It was dark by now. I put back my tools and took off my greasy work suit jacket; not that it did much to make me presentable. My t-shirt was damp with sweat, and my hair was all over the place. Any other day and I wouldn't have cared, but for some reason today, I cared what the woman up there thought of me. I was about to call Dakota to ask what apartment she was in, but then I noticed that her keys had a tag written '1C' on them. It wasn't the safest keychain to have; what if she dropped it in the parking lot and someone opened her apartment? Not that it was any of my concern, I reminded myself as I walked to her place. I got to the door labeled 1C and knocked softly. Dakota opened after a few seconds and let me in, taking the keys that I held out in my hand.

  "I rescued the damsel," I said.

  Dakota's face lit up. "You did?"

  "I'm sure she won't give you any problems anymore, but you might need to invest in some new parts sooner rather than later," I replied.

  "Thank you," she said, coming to wrap her arms around me for a quick second. "I can't explain how much this means to me, really."

  I scratched the back of my head awkwardly, not knowing what to do. So I just smiled and nodded. The silence stretched for a second too long, and I got distracted by her increasing heartbeat.

  Dakota wet her lips nervously, and I wanted to growl. I wanted to kiss along her jaw softly to delay the inevitable destination that was those sweet, plump lips. And then I would tease the corner of her mouth until she screamed in frustration. Only then would I take her mouth, slowly and gently, and with any luck, I would be able to do it for hours.

  I blinked and realized that we were closer than before and that her breathing matched mine. We were both on the same page, and we wanted this badly. So why was I wasting time imagining when I could be experiencing it in reality. My Bear was pacing with anticipation already, demanding that I seal the deal and put us both out of our misery. I clenched my fists and almost winced as my claws dug into my skin. It would heal almost immediately, which was good because I couldn't afford to let Dakota see me like that. Barely in control. Which is what I was on the verge of becoming because my Bear was subtly telling me that if I didn't do something, then he would.

  "Lincoln?" Dakota said as she searched my eyes for something, permission, maybe?

  "Yes?" I whispered, closing the remaining space between us. Even air couldn't pass between us now.

  "Please," she whispered.

  I wanted to tell her that she never had to beg me for anything; I was more than happy to give her everything. But I couldn't. Because I wasn't sure how much of me I could give. But at this moment, right here and now, I could give her this. My hand touched her neck gently, but my mouth crashed on hers with urgency. We had wasted enough time already, and I needed her like I needed my next breath. I wasn't sure how much of my human side was in control anymore, and I didn't care. All I cared about was her kiss, and she gave it to me.

  Dakota's mouth was as soft as I had imagined, and her lips tasted of something sweet like grapes. And just like that, I had a new favorite fruit.

  Chapter 8 - Dakota

  I knew from the moment he kissed me that I wouldn't be able to stop. Lincoln kissed me the exact same way that I kissed him, like he was desperate for it. There was some invisible force that was pulling us together bec
ause I couldn't have pushed him away if I tried. We were as close as two people could be, and still, it didn't feel close enough.

  Lincoln's mouth fit mine like it was made for it, and I made a sound of protest when he drew away. He only smiled and started to kiss my neck, sucking so hard that I was sure it would leave a mark. Why did that excite me so much? I had no idea, but suddenly I felt the need to mark him too, but he was wearing too many clothes. When my hands went to the hem of his shirt so that I could pull it up, Lincoln stopped and stepped back a little to look at me.

  There was a look in his eyes that stopped me in my tracks, and I worried that I was moving too fast for him. It seemed for the first time that I was the confident one, and I knew exactly what I wanted. Even though he had been pretty confident earlier, I wondered if maybe I should ask if he was okay with all of this.

  "I want whatever you want," he said before I could form the words to ask.

  I smiled and felt my face heat up. "Can you read minds too?"

  The corner of his mouth came up in a deadly smirk, and I all but melted. He was something to behold, and I wanted to enjoy every part of him.

  "Just yours," he said smoothly, closing the small space he had created between us a minute before.

  "Oh yeah? And what am I thinking?" I asked, playing along.

  "You’re thinking that you really want me to take my shirt off," he said, giving me a teasing kiss at the corner of my mouth before lifting his hands.

  I laughed and helped him take the t-shirt off.

  "What else am I thinking?" I said, taking in the sight that was before me.