by Michelle Fox
“Based on a single art print, you’ve put my ancestors’ land into redevelopment and married off the locals?”
“That’s how my mind works. Is it crass? I’m just daydreaming.”
“It’s good to dream. There’s nothing wrong with that.” The thought clicked that he wasn’t the only MacBrun male to walk away from a gathering without a mate. Far from it. In fact, enforced bachelorhood had become the bane of his generation. “You keep mentioning brides and grooms. Are all the Five-Star properties geared to the wedding industry?”
“I didn’t even realize until you said it, but Five-Star is focused purely on hospitality. They have no real presence in the wedding industry. This idea would probably sound risky to them. If it happened, I’d have to make the proposal on my own. But, there is no way I could raise that sort of capital, so forget it.”
“Andi, if I contacted some relations of mine, would you like the opportunity to pitch your idea? They have funds to invest. No guarantees, but I’m almost certain they would give you a fair listen.”
She beamed. “You honestly think it’s a good idea?”
“I do, for a number of reasons.” The MacBruns had been steadily dwindling in number. In the modern world, there was no polite way to say to a woman, “May I bite you and turn you into a she-bear?” Ancient clan rules prevented any sort of casual exposure to outsiders. But if adventurous women voluntarily entered MacBrun territory and saw the MacBrun men at their best doing what they’d been bred for, riding horseback, working a forge, wielding a claymore, then nature might take its course.
“Mac, if you could introduce me to the right people to make a pitch to, I would be so grateful.” She lifted her mug of tea in a toast. “To a possible partnership.”
He tilted his raised mug toward her. “I’ll drink to that.”
“How soon can you contact your relatives?”
No way in hell did he expect to introduce voluptuous Andi to his heartsick male family members before the bite wore off and he had a chance to gauge if Andi had any real interest in him. “My goodness, you move fast. I’m not sure. The first month or so of spring thaw brings a crowd to Sierra Portal. I’ll be too busy. It would have to be early summer.”
She sighed. “You’re right. I won’t pressure you.” Setting the mug down on the counter, she glanced out the window. “Pretty moon tonight.”
“We call a skinny crescent like that a bear-claw moon.”
“Really? Who does?”
“The MacBruns. Brun means bear.”
“I knew that, but I didn’t make the conscious connection. See? It’s another synchronicity. Somebody once told me Brunell means brown bear in Gaelic. Isn’t that funny? Do you think the bear that rescued me today is my guardian angel? Maybe my mother sent the bear?”
“Who knows? Life is full of mysteries.” Tonight’s biggest mystery remained how he could resist scooping Andi into his arms and carrying her to his bed. He wanted to kiss her lips until desire made her soft in his arms, and caress every inch of her satiny skin. She was perfect for him. His bear had chosen well. But she was a strong woman. Once she discovered what the bite of the bear fully meant, would she react with rage, feel manipulated, even hate him? Such things had happened to others in the clan. In the past, unwilling she-bears had rebelled, run away, and, most painful of all, fled to another’s bed. He needed her consent and silently hoped there would be no more provocative comments tonight and no further she-bear behavior. If it happened, he was sure to lose his mind.
She wandered toward a doorjamb. “I’ve got one of those devilish little itches between my shoulder blades.” Pressing her back to the frame she rubbed up and down. “Ah. There it is.” Bending and straightening her knees, she groaned. “Feels great. Is there a tree out back I could scratch against?”
“Andi, don’t!”
“I’m sorry. I’m being weird again, aren’t I?”
He covered his face with his palm and fought the impulse to stare. “I meant, don’t go outside. It’s too dark to walk on a muddy hillside.”
“I just can’t stop making a fool of myself, can I? I wish I knew why I keep doing this nonsense.” She glanced at the clock on the kitchen wall. “Oh well. It’s a quarter to nine,” she mumbled. “Almost your bedtime. Let’s call it a day. I think I should sleep on the couch. You wouldn’t have an extra toothbrush would you?”
“I do have an extra toothbrush, still in its package.”
“I’m going to brush my teeth and stop saying stupid things.”
He got up to fetch the toothbrush. “Can I tell you something?”
Her gaze tracked him across the cabin. “Sure.”
Searching the bathroom medicine cabinet, he found the unopened toothbrush and set it on the edge of the sink. “I’ve loved having your company tonight.”
“Thank you, Mac. You’ve been a great host.”
“I was thinking, if the deal on the Bluebell Motor Lodge goes through, maybe you could visit me this summer?”
She flashed a flirty smile. “It might happen. So could the Tor MacBrun proposal. We might be seeing a lot of each other in the near future.” She walked past him, all the while looking into his eyes, the sparkle of interest in her gaze unmistakable. “Excuse me. I’m going to brush my teeth.” The door shut and the faucet ran.
He moaned. “Now what?”
“Did you say something?” she called out.
“No.” He made himself busy locating two extra blankets in the closet, and tossed them onto the couch and froze. Did he want Andi on his couch when she could be a warm, soft companion in his bed? The image of her tumbling onto his sheets and her silky hair fanning across his pillow filled his mind. It had been so long. His cock rose. “Stop throbbing!” He willed himself to relax.
She turned off the faucet. “Okay, that time I’m pretty sure you said something.”
“I’m all right.” He fished for a rational excuse. “I stubbed my toe.”
“And you ordered your toe to ‘stop throbbing?’ That’s wishful thinking. You’re starting to sound as kooky as me.” She exited the bathroom. Walking a slow circle around his living area, she stopped in front of a bookcase. Tilting her head, she scanned the titles. “You like to read?”
“This is a lonely job. It’s a necessity.”
“There’s a lot of variety here. History, political thrillers, Stephen King—I could not read anything of King’s at bedtime. I’d be awake all night. Wait. What’s this? A History of Clan MacBrun.” She reached for the battered leather volume.
He hurried over to stop her. “It’s very old. Don’t open it. The binding might crack.”
“Sorry.” With care, she slid the book back into place. “I hoped to learn a little something about Tor MacBrun.”
Without doubt, she’d learn too much. The book contained a partial registry of bear knights and the women they’d taken as wives.
She headed toward the couch and spread a blanket over the cushions. “You must be exhausted. I suppose I should say goodnight and let you go to bed.”
He gulped a ragged breath. “We should try to get some sleep.”
Arching her back, she stretched her arms above her head and yawned. The deep V of the pajama neckline revealed lots of cleavage. “It’s going to be very hard.”
“What’s going to be hard?” A touch of guilt crept into his voice.
“Hard to sleep.”
“Oh.” He sighed. “But try.”
She rolled her shoulders. “My muscles are so tense. I couldn’t talk you into a back rub, could I?”
Every fiber of his lust-starved body screamed, Yes. He fought the impulse to pounce and pin her beneath him on the couch. The impatient bear within growled in protest, wanting him to take decisive action. Feeling conflicted, he didn’t make a move.
Lowering her gaze, she frowned. “You’re right. I can see you’re tired. I shouldn’t have asked. I’m being a nuisance, aren’t I?”
A long night of temptation lay ahead. Having And
i so near would be difficult enough. Hearing her make provocative comments and veiled invitations as his self-control wore paper-thin could be disastrous. At least if she were asleep, he could police himself. What he’d done to her wasn’t fair, and he mustn’t take advantage. For all he knew, under normal circumstances, she might be a reserved person who wouldn’t flirt or make suggestive comments to someone she’d just met. This could be the bite talking, and he had to take ownership of that.
Wrapping a blanket around herself, Andi lay on the couch. “Good-night.”
“Good-night.” Who was he kidding? Sleep wouldn’t arrive anytime soon. He went into the bathroom to brush his teeth. Squeezing a bit of minty paste onto the bristles, he realized his cock just wouldn’t go down. It pressed hard against the snug fabric of his jeans. He scrubbed his teeth vigorously, creating a mouthful of foam that made him look like a rabid animal. His cock rose higher. “Damn.” The bear warned him, this would be his constant state until he claimed Andi as his mate. He stared at his reflection. The face in the mirror appeared harried and a wee bit wild-eyed. It did not bode well. “This isn’t the twelfth century. We don’t bite strangers and turn them into mates against their will. Got it?”
“Mac, did you say something?” she called.
“I’m just talking to myself.” He turned on the faucet and rinsed the brush. Her hearing had possibly been amplified by the bite. Too bad. That meant he couldn’t risk unsnapping his pants, taking hold of his shaft, and giving himself a few vigorous strokes to take the edge off. In his current mindset, he’d probably grunt like the territorial bull bear he was, or shout her name. How embarrassing would that be?
“Can I ask you a personal question?”
He braced his hands on the sink. “Ask.” His voice cracked.
“Do you think you could fall asleep with a light on?”
“I suppose so.”
“Great. I’d like to stay up a while and read. Maybe a book will help me relax? I’m feeling all wound up.”
“Go ahead.” He gazed at his reflection in the mirror and gave himself a much-needed pep talk. Andi is an ideal woman. She’s worth the trouble and the wait. Don’t move too fast and blow it. Let her come back to you in one month’s time and see if that sexy spark is still twinkling in her eyes. If not, it wasn’t meant to be.
“I’m sorry to bother you again, but did you say my name? I could swear you said my name.”
“No, sweetheart, I didn’t say anything.” Damn it! Gripping the edge of the sink, he winced. He’d called her sweetheart. It just flew out of his mouth. Now he looked foolish.
“You called me sweetheart and it didn’t sound the least bit sarcastic. I like it.”
“You’re not my sweetheart. I didn’t mean to say it. I don’t want to sound weird.”
“Actually, now you sound rude.”
“Andi, I apologize. I’m not used to company.”
“No one’s called me sweetheart in a long time. I didn’t think it was weird. I thought it was nice. We’ll let it go, okay?”
“Okay.” Deciding, for safety’s sake, he had better sleep in a pair of buttoned jeans, he tugged his T-shirt over his head. Bare chested, he opened the bathroom door and made a dash for the bed. The final steps were taken at a sprint.
At the last second, she glanced at him. “Wow. What a chest. You really keep yourself in great shape. I should probably go to the gym someday. Nah, maybe not.”
Throwing the covers aside, he leaped into the bed and drew the sheets over his head. “Good-night!”
She laughed. “Don’t worry, I’ll stay on the couch with my book. I promise I won’t take my top off and parade around like you just did.”
A hearty laugh rumbled out of him. “What book did you choose?”
“A musty old Tom Clancy thriller. I’m pretty sure I read this one on a plane years ago. I don’t know how long it will hold my attention.”
He peered over the top of the sheet. “Isn’t it supposed to put you to sleep?”
“I’ve reread the dust jacket twice and forgotten it. So, yes, I’ll probably hit the snooze button immediately.”
“Sweet dreams.”
“Have fun counting sheep.”
For several minutes, he stared at the underside of the sheet, which hovered above his face like a tent. It got stuffy fast. The down comforter trapped in all his body heat. He wondered if Andi would be warm enough, or if he should get up now and put another log in the stove? He thought it better to stay put.
Beyond the partition, he heard her get up and walk around the living area. A book was set back on the shelf with a quiet scrape. Apparently, Tom Clancy and his Cold War plotlines couldn’t hold her interest after all. She moved a few books around before returning to the couch. The swoosh of the comforter being lifted and patted into place was followed by a deep sigh as she settled.
He wished to God he weren’t so tuned in to every tiny thing she did. His hypersensitive nose couldn’t ignore the enticing scent of her warm skin. He wanted her so badly it hurt. It took all his self-control to not toss the comforter aside and invite her to join him in bed. Shifting uncomfortably on the mattress, he adjusted his balls. His cock just wouldn’t take a hint and call it a day. If he survived with his personal ethics intact, this would be the longest night of his life.
Minutes dragged. Time passed. By some miracle brought on by genuine exhaustion, he drifted off.
He woke up to a soft hand brushing his cheek.
“Mac?” Andi whispered. “Are you awake?”
The mattress flexed. A warm body stretched out beside him. The tangy scent of female arousal teased his senses. His cock stirred as his eyes bolted open in alarm. “What?”
He grabbed his pillow from beneath his head and held it awkwardly in front of his erection. “Is something wrong?” Scrambling upright, he scooted away from her and leaned against the headboard.
The lights were out and the moon had set. Andi’s dark silhouette claimed half the bed. “I did something I shouldn’t have done. I scared myself, and now I can’t sleep. Can I stay next to you for a few minutes?”
“What did you do?” He hunched over the pillow.
“I started reading Stephen King’s Cujo. I know I shouldn’t have. It’s good. You can get sucked in fast. Before I knew it, I was wide-awake, listening for the sounds of a rabid animal creeping up behind me, and then it really did get crazy. I started hearing things outside the cabin. Snuffling noises. Digging. Tiny footsteps crunching leaves.” She shuddered. “I stopped reading and turned out the lights, but the noises got louder. Finally, I couldn’t take it anymore.”
A gentle laugh crossed his lips. “You were reading Cujo? Does this have anything to do with being bitten by the bear?”
“Oh, gosh, I didn’t even think of that.”
He hoped he sounded reassuring. “Andi, I’m pretty sure you won’t get rabies and everything is going to be okay. Those footsteps outside the cabin are a troop of raccoons that show up every now and then to ransack my greenhouse. A big mean one has developed a taste for tomatoes.”
A quiet laugh bubbled out of her. “I should have known it was something like that. I just couldn’t shake the creepy feeling something was wrong.”
“You should try to get some sleep.”
Rising onto her elbow, she brushed a lock of hair from her face. “Can I tell you something?”
Having her so close racked his nerves. He clutched the pillow harder. “Sure.”
“It might sound a little nutty.” She groaned. “Maybe I shouldn’t say anything? Oh, what the hell, I’ll just tell you. I keep feeling like I’m a bear—a real bear. I know what you’re thinking, just because I was bitten by a bear, now I’m being dramatic. But wait. If I close my eyes, I can see the world through a bear’s eyes. It’s sort of fun. I can easily imagine I’ve got this big, strong body and I’m moving around on four huge paws. It’s a good feeling. Like nothing can stop me.”
“Wow.” He had no idea what to say.
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br /> She touched the bandage on her throat. “It’s hard to put into words, but I feel like the bear chose me for something special. Does that sound crazy?”
“Not at all. You are something special.”
“Thank you, Mac.” She gazed at him with a wisp of expectation on her face.
He sensed she waited for an invitation to remain in his bed. She wanted him and God knew how much he desired her. He whiffed the warm notes of sexual arousal beneath the sharper scent of fearful excitement. It would be so easy to draw her against his chest, kiss her sweet mouth, nip her throat, and then shred the damn pajamas to pieces. But that sort of activity would lead straight to trouble’s door. In his current overwrought state, the touch of bare skin on skin would quickly escalate. Abandonment would lead to penetration. Penetration would lead to a full-blown claim bite. A claim bite would lead to: You bastard! What the fuck have you done to me? His hands trembled. “You better go back to the couch and cover up before you catch cold.”
“Now?” she squeaked. Disappointment flooded her face.
“Try to get a little sleep.” He glanced out the window. On the eastern ridge, the night sky had lightened to cobalt blue. “It will be morning soon.”
With a hand on her heart, she rose from the mattress, looking perplexed, if not downright peeved. Taking slogging steps, she returned to the couch and threw herself down with a soft thud.
Now he felt like a prick. He’d left her hurt and confused, and she hadn’t misread anything. He liked her a lot. “Liked” wasn’t the word he was looking for. “Over the moon enthusiastic” was a better description. What was more, for once, his no-nonsense bear instincts cut past the chaotic jumble of human doubts and insecurities and just blurted the truth—his future lay with her. The bold assertion arrived in his heart as undeniable fact. He’d just been struck by the fabled cosmic yahoo. Others had alluded to how great it felt to find one’s fated mate, but hearing about it didn’t carry the same chilling thrill as feeling it seep into the marrow of his bones and knowing saucy Miss Andi Brunell could be his companion, lover, and the mother of his future children. Now all he needed to do was treat her fairly until his bite wore off and see if she felt the same.