“The only reason you’d want a smart girlfriend is to have her do your homework,” Lucas said under his breath.
Delia held back a laugh, Zach smiled slightly, and Sabrina took the stony-faced route.
“Come on, man. You didn’t make a move all semester,” David threw up his hands, now in frustration. “I should be able to ask her out if you aren’t going to do anything. You aren’t the only one who should be allowed to add such a viable woman to the clan!”
“You know what, I’m nineteen years old. I’m not looking to get pregnant and pop out kids any time soon,” Sabrina said. “If you want to date me, fine. If you turn into a bear or whatever, weird, but fine. Well, I mean, that’s actually really weird, but I can find a way to deal with it. But I’m not just a breeder. If that’s what you both were looking for, I’m not interested. Keep your bear clan to yourself.”
“That’s not what it is,” Lucas finally spoke up. “Though David legitimately says the wrong thing all the time, I can tell he cares for you as a person. I also very much care for you, but David is the one who is fun and exciting. If you are willing to forgive us, I hope you can at least give him a chance. And maybe you and I can remain friends.”
David grinned, “What he said. We’re sorry.”
Sabrina shook her head, “I think you guys can go now. We’ve established I’m not dead.”
“Was that all you guys wanted to say?” Zach said, seemingly ushering them on to say something else.
“I can see why you’d be angry if you hear from someone else about the clan and how we do like to get married to um… ensure the clan survives,” Lucas said. “And, well, it incredibly crazy to think men turn into bears.”
“You can say that again,” Delia said.
“But, it’s our lives. I’m sorry we brought you into it. You are an… amazing girl though. And we both wish you all the best.”
David nodded in agreement.
Zach gave a sobering look, “David, anything you have to say.”
“I think Lucas said it all, Zach,” David responded.
“Dave, do you want to apologize like a feeling human being?”
“I already said sorry. I’m sorry for wanting to impregnate her. I said that.”
“Yeah, you guys can go. You’re annoying me now,” Delia said, standing up. “Get out.”
David shrugged and stood to leave. Lucas stood as well, opened his mouth to speak, but decided to say nothing, and followed his brother out.
Zach and Delia shared a look as Sabrina stood staring ahead blankly.
“Did that make you feel better?” Zach asked.
“Not really,” Sabrina answered.
“Well, I mean, if you’re going to pick one of them, David seems like the best choice,” Delia shrugged. Zach and Sabrina gave her a look. “I’m kidding. He’s abysmal.”
“I’m going to go back to bed,” Sabrina said, moving back upstairs.
Delia and Zach shrugged to each other, then took their place on the couch.
VIII.
Delia started attending her classes again, though she avoided the Bogart brothers. David seemed to have moved on fine, though he’d text her sometimes, seemingly after a party or a few drinks.
She mostly ignored him. As for Lucas, a few times she caught him looking her way sadly, but he’d look away.
The more she thought about it, the more she realized the twins didn’t really do anything wrong. David earnestly was kind of a jerk, while Lucas was shy and perhaps a bit socially inept.
It came down to that they both wanted to date her in the hopes she would be the one who’d want to join their clan and help to keep it alive. Though she still didn’t understand the clan dynamics - and it did still sound crazy - she decided to forgive them and let the anger go.
Especially with Lucas. She found herself thinking of him and their date more often than not. She hoped they could hang out again and really get to know each other. Maybe he would even kiss her the second time around.
One night as she worked in the library late, she felt someone approach. She had her headphones in to avoid talking to anyone, but she felt she should look up to see the intruder to her homework time: Lucas Bogart.
“Hi,” he waved awkwardly. “I saw you over here as I was headed out, so I figured I’d say um… hi.”
“Hi,” she responded, removing her headphones. “Working here late?”
“Yeah, I was tutoring some guys from the clan. I assume you’re working late as well?”
“Just catching up with the homework I missed.”
“I see. Well, I’ll leave you to it.”
“I’m almost done actually. Do you think you may want to escort me home?”
He half smiled, “I think I could do that. You live on my way home.”
“Cool. Let me just finish this mini essay.”
He sat down across from her and pulled out a book, seemingly for one of his own classes. She’d seen him reading and highlighting in it in Chemistry. She finished, and they left together - although Lucas then wanted to finish his chapter.
They spoke little as they walked - though a few times their hands brushed, and Sabrina felt her body surge as it had when they danced. They walked slowly, leisurely, taking in each moment.
He stood away from her as he had on their date, “Well, I’m glad you made it home safely.”
“Yes, thank you,” she answered, again hoping he’d kiss her (though now it may be perceived as untoward.)
He looked thoughtful for a moment, readjusted his glasses, and then looked up at her, “I’ve missed you.”
“Do you um… want to come in?” she asked, not sure what else to say.
“Sure.”
She entered quietly, hoping Delia wasn’t home. As she entered, she noticed Delia and Zach asleep on the couch, wrapped in each other’s arms as some action movie played.
Sabrina gestured for Lucas to follow her up the stairs to her room. She entered before him, but before she could turn on the light, he pulled her in for a kiss.
As they kissed, she felt as though they were the only two people in the world, that time had stopped for them somehow. She turned her body to close the door while still trying to stay connected to him, but nearly fell back. He caught her, closing the door with his open hand.
For such a kind, meek boy, he kissed with such passion. As he kissed her harder, tenderly moving his tongue into her mouth, she tugged at his shirt.
They both started to undress, moving to her bed haphazardly while still trying to stay connected. They came up for breath as she slid onto the bed, and he slid on top of her.
“Condom?” she asked before kissing him again.
“I might have one in my wallet,” he breathed, his voice husky and uncontrolled.
She heard him shuffling on the floor where his pants were. After a few moments, he appeared again, finding what he was looking for.
“Are you sure you want to do this?” he asked
“Yes,” she nodded, though she figured he couldn’t see her nod in the dark.
He kissed her again before shifting his weight on top of her and entered. As they moved together, the crisis seemed to be behind them. They didn’t think about David or the needs of the clan - they only thought of each other and the movements of their own bodies.
In the morning, she opened her eyes, the sun illuminating her room. She wondered for a moment if it had all been a dream, but as she moved slightly, he rolled over and held her, snuggling into her shoulder. She smiled, intertwining her fingers with his.
Perhaps, she thought, college had started just as perfectly as she always hoped.
The End.
BONUS PREVIEW OF “THE SHEIKH BEAR” BY ASHLEY HUNTER
Chapter 1
Elle Roberts wasn’t what you’d call a supremely confident woman. Granted, she was comfortable with her looks, she was comfortable with herself—but she wasn’t exactly the type to put herself out there.
She lived her life in a s
mall town growing up. The same people during elementary school became the people she knew throughout high school.
She had one boyfriend, a sweet guy who loved art more than anything; it just took her some time to realize that the list that included ‘anything’ also included her.
So when he told her he was going to a college far off to pursue his dream as an artist, she was broken hearted when he said he’d be going alone.
Still, she didn’t want to appear pushy or clingy and so when he broke it off, Elle smiled, gave him a warm hug, and wished him luck. Not long after he left did she finally decide to leave that small town herself.
There were too many eyes that knew about her relationship, too many people who talked about how it was ‘such a shame’ and ‘they looked so cute together.’ So when her Uncle offered her a place to stay in the city, Elle sort of made a mad-dash decision and left.
If one could die from culture shock, Elle would have been six feet under after her first couple of weeks within that concrete jungle. People went about their business without caring about her, cars and taxis zoomed back and forth in an endless chase of clients and destinations and the only thing that Elle could truly register after a few nights of restless sleep; the city was loud.
“Are you sure you wouldn’t like to come home?”
Her mother had asked her one late night after Elle had called, eyes clogged with tears and nose raw from wiping with tissues.
“I was talking to Maria, she said that Alex would be visiting in the fall.”
Alex… The name alone made Elle’s chest ache but she was already shaking her head at the idea.
“I’m staying, mom. I don’t want to see him.”
“I don’t like the idea of you being out there on your own, even if your Uncle said you’d be taken care of in that penthouse. It’s dangerous.”
“Yeah, but…” Elle had said before she peered out the window of her new bedroom.
The lights below were astounding, as if she had been launched into space to live among a galaxy of stars.
“I like it here. I’ll be fine.”
“I’ll be fine…”
The words sounded somewhat droll now that Elle found herself in a large and very expensive looking lobby. Everything about the place looked immaculate, down to the marble tile, the rugs, and the furniture placed exquisitely all around. Elle had never felt so out of place in all her life.
Her cousin, one of her Uncle’s daughters, had recommended her to work there after they helped her update her resume.
Carla had pursed her lips at the document, blue eyes skimming Elle’s life work before smiling and giving her a nod.
“You’ve got quite a lot of experience, cousin.” Carla had said and Elle had beamed up at her happily.
“I’m sure you’ll be able to fit in nicely.”
Sure enough, just a week later (after a month in the city), Elle found herself in her best interview attire in one of the most high-class places she had ever seen.
The woman sitting in the reception desk had eyed her up and down once before directing her to a seat and with a professional smile that consisted of nearly blinding white teeth, told Elle to wait to be called on.
She had been waiting for nearly fifteen minutes and could feel her nerves continue to bite and chew and gnaw at her stomach. Glancing down at herself, Elle frowned. This was the best skirt she had, but it was old and it had a couple of stains on it that had been hard to remove.
Even her shirt and jacket, while she had believed were stylish, looked drab compared to the outfit worn by the woman in reception—and to her growing mortification—the other women and men that walked in and out of the lobby.
They all looked like models. Fresh off the cover of some fashion magazine!
And yet there she was, sitting in ill-fitted clothing, several sizes bigger than the toothpick-slim women walking around, and with her mess of wild brown curls pinned down to a half-knot in the back of her head.
Fifteen minutes became twenty and Elle snuck a glance at the nearest clock.
What was taking so long? Was she being tested? Was she being watched right now?
“Just be yourself, okay?” Carla had informed her earlier that week.
“It’s a secretary position and so you’ll be expected to behave naturally. Your employer is actually one of our biggest clients, but don’t feel pressured, he’s really not that bad.”
“He sounds like a big deal…” Elle had laughed nervously.
“He’s a Sheikh from Dubai, and the guy is really well off. His family’s business has been in liaison with ours for a long time, so I have no doubt that you’ll do well.”
“Elle Roberts?”
Elle shot off from her seat, more out of alarm than intention and when she searched for the source of the voice she was suddenly under the sharp scrutiny of an extremely well dressed silver-blonde woman.
This woman was all angles and impressionable colors. A blouse of deep vermilion swathed over her pale skin and shimmered beneath the light of the chandeliers above.
Black pencil skirt hugged her legs and enhanced her features and no doubt those were ‘chimmy choos’ (or whatever they were called) gracing her feet. Elle felt so ridiculously underdressed.
The woman noticed. With a pointed look at her skirt, the woman fixed her an unimpressed glare before turning with her chin.
“This way.”
Elle followed quickly, nearly stumbling over her heels as she struggled to catch up to the woman’s strut.
“We’ve looked over your resume,” the woman spoke without warning.
“Oh! Uh…”
“Impressive work, considering. Of course, we did expect someone… different. Your credentials are more than enough to get you hired.” The woman said, never slowing down her pace as she led Elle down a hallway that was just crawling with unbelievably good-looking people.
“Now, the Sheikh will be waiting for you to assist in a few small errands, more to gauge how much you can take at once. He’ll be expecting his coffee as well as his first ‘rules’ of the day. You’ll be speaking with Avani—the Sheikh’s first secretary and she’ll be giving you a rundown as well as your training of what you need to do, so save your questions for her.”
“You should know that while you are here, you need to maintain a certain standard of appearance,” she said this as she shot Elle a look of thinly veiled disdain.
“The Sheikh is a very important figure in business and his secretary should look the part.”
“Oh, of course…” Elle muttered, cheeks burning.
“I’ll have you know that you’re not the first woman who’s walked in here expecting a simple job. The Sheikh’s already fired his five previous secretaries, after Avani, of course.”
Elle blinked curiously as they took another turn down a hallway.
“Wait… what happened to Avani?”
“Ugh, she went and got herself married and now she’s pregnant.” The woman sighed as though the whole situation was a huge inconvenience.
Elle was nearly baffled at the reaction.
“Which was a huge deal considering since the Sheikh has been giving all other women a hard time. But he’s absolutely gorgeous so you should count your lucky stars or something.”
“Uh…” Elle was at a loss for words.
“Sorry, I never got your name?”
“Alliana.” The woman said, “But you won’t need to remember it, since we’ll probably never see each other again. Here we are.”
She paused for a moment after they arrived to a long set of double doors of a deep mahogany.
“Avani is inside and waiting for you, so do as your told and maybe you’ll be lucky. Ta’.”
And just like that Alliana was sauntering off, expensive heels clacking away. Elle watched her disappear down a hallway before glancing back at the door.
With a sigh, she leaned over and lifted a hand to knock before she changed her mind and grasped the fine sterling handle.
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With a turn and push, Elle made her way inside the room and nearly gasped when she beheld her surroundings. The office was beautifully done and since it was near the top of the building, immense glass windows became the walls near the far end.
The view outside was spectacular, and the light of the day glanced off from the surrounding buildings made it look all the more enchanting. Before Elle could find herself entranced, her green eyes managed to fall over the only person sitting in the suite.
Elle had been told she would meet Avani, but the figure lying on the white couch adjacent to the windows was certainly not Avani, but a very well dressed man.
He was covered in a fine suit of a beautiful shade of cream and burgundy trim. He had an arm over his eyes so Elle couldn’t see his face clearly, but he looked to be at ease. Long legs resting over the white cushions, and his broad chest was moving gently, he looked like he was napping.
Elle took in a cautionary breath, uncertain on what to do. Her first instinct was to turn around and leave, cursing herself for not having knocked earlier.
To her surprise, Elle wasn’t given an opportunity.
“Are you going to just stand there all day or are you going to come here?” The man spoke, not moving an inch aside from speaking. His voice was an attractive baritone with a lilt to his words that reminded Elle of a British accent, yet he rolled his tongue over some of the words pleasantly.
Elle was spurred forward, taking a few steps deeper into the suite before she was standing a respectful distance from the couch.
Finally, he lifted his arm from his eyes, thick brows arching as he beheld her.
“And you are?”
“Elle Roberts…?” Elle began, trying not to squirm visibly.
“I’m starting as the new secretary for the Sheikh Zayn Ab…Ab…”
“Zayn Abd al Malik,” he replied, his tongue rolling over the name with almost lazy precision.
“Starting as his secretary and you can’t even say your employer’s name?”
Elle flushed pink, “I’ll be sure to say it properly when I meet him.”
Romance: Bears Seeking Bride: Double Trouble: A BBW Paranormal Shape Shifter Romance Standalone Page 3