Bear Fate: A Billionaire Oil Bearons Romance (Bear Fursuits Book 8)
Page 1
Table of Contents
COPYRIGHT
BOOKS BY ISADORA MONTROSE
SEXY SNEAK PEEK
A NOTE TO THE READER
BEAR FATE
CHAPTER ONE
CHAPTER TWO
CHAPTER THREE
CHAPTER FOUR
CHAPTER FIVE
CHAPTER SIX
CHAPTER SEVEN
CHAPTER EIGHT
CHAPTER NINE
CHAPTER TEN
CHAPTER ELEVEN
CHAPTER TWELVE
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
CHAPTER SIXEEN
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
CHAPTER NINETEEN
CHAPTER TWENTY
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
CHAPTER THIRTY
CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE
CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO
CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE
CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR
CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE
CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX
CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN
CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT
CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE
CHAPTER FORTY
CHAPTER FORTY-ONE
CHAPTER FORTY-TWO
CHAPTER FORTY-THREE
CHAPTER FORTY-FOUR
CHAPTER FORTY-FIVE
Table of Contents
COPYRIGHT
BOOKS BY ISADORA MONTROSE
SEXY SNEAK PEEK
A NOTE TO THE READER
BEAR FATE
CHAPTER ONE
CHAPTER TWO
CHAPTER THREE
CHAPTER FOUR
CHAPTER FIVE
CHAPTER SIX
CHAPTER SEVEN
CHAPTER EIGHT
CHAPTER NINE
CHAPTER TEN
CHAPTER ELEVEN
CHAPTER TWELVE
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
CHAPTER SIXEEN
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
CHAPTER NINETEEN
CHAPTER TWENTY
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
CHAPTER THIRTY
CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE
CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO
CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE
CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR
CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE
CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX
CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN
CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT
CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE
CHAPTER FORTY
CHAPTER FORTY-ONE
CHAPTER FORTY-TWO
CHAPTER FORTY-THREE
CHAPTER FORTY-FOUR
CHAPTER FORTY-FIVE
CHAPTER FORTY-SIX
CHAPTER FORTY-SEVEN
CHAPTER FORTY-EIGHT
CHAPTER FORTY-NINE
CHAPTER FIFTY
CHAPTER FIFTY-ONE
CHAPTER FIFTY-TWO
CHAPTER FIFTY-THREE
CHAPTER FIFTY-FOUR
CHAPTER FIFTY-FIVE
CHAPTER FIFTY-SIX
CHAPTER FIFTY-SEVEN
CHAPTER FIFTY-EIGHT
CHAPTER FIFTY-NINE
CHAPTER SIXTY
CHAPTER SIXTY-ONE
CHAPTER SIXTY-TWO
CHAPTER SIXTY-THREE
EPILOGUE
BEAR SIN PREVIEW
BEAR SIN: CHAPTER ONE
BEAR SIN: CHAPTER TWO
BEAR SIN: CHAPTER THREE
PHOENIX ALIGHT PREVIEW
PHOENIX ALIGHT: CHAPTER ONE
PHOENIX ALIGHT: CHAPTER TWO
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
ALSO BY ISADORA MONTROSE
Bear Fate ©Copyright Isadora Montrose 2017
Cover Art by Resplendent Media ©Copyright 2017
Bear Sin Preview ©Copyright Isadora Montrose 2017
Phoenix Alight Preview ©Copyright Isadora Montrose 2017
This is a work of fiction. All characters, places and events are from the author’s imagination and should not be confused with fact. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, events or places is purely coincidental.
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any material form, whether by printing, photocopying, scanning or otherwise without the written permission of the author, Isadora Montrose.
Warning: This book contains sexually explicit content which is only suitable for mature readers.
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Books by Isadora Montrose
Bear Necessities
Bear Possibilities
Bear Affinities
Bear Infinities
Bear Fursuits Books 1-4 Bundle
Bear Cubs for Christmas (available only in Bear Fursuits Books 1-4 Bundle)
Bearly Begun
Bearly Enough
Bearly Ever
Bearly Forever
Bearly Beloved
Bear Skin: A Billionaire Oil Bearons Romance
Dragon’s Treasure
Dragon’s Successor
Brides for the Bachelor Bears Books 0-4 Bundle
Bearly a Bride (available only in Brides for the Bachelor Bears)
Dragon’s Pleasure
Bear Pause: A Billionaire Oil Bearons Romance
Dragon’s Christmas Captive
Dragon’s Possession
Phoenix Aglow
Phoenix Ablaze
Phoenix Aflame
Billionaire Dragon Lords Books 1-3 Bundle
Dragon’s Confession
Bear Sin: A Billionaire Oil Bearons Romance
Phoenix Alight
Amazon Author Page: https://amazon.com/author/isadoramontrose
SEXY SNEAK PEEK
Amber~
“Willie and I were high school sweethearts. We were going to get married when I graduated.” Her voice faded.
“And,” Lance prompted.
“Willie enlisted the week after his graduation. He was a Marine like you.”
“Hmm.”
“He never made it back from his first tour.” She couldn’t help the sob that emerged with the words. “He was just nineteen.”
Lance rocked her against his chest. “Hush,” he said as if she were a child. “Never mind.” He kissed the top of her head. His arms comforted her.
“I’m sorry.” She spoke into his shirt. “It’s just so sad. He never got to grow up.”
“And what about your feelings? Are you still carrying a torch for that boy?” His voice was a little rough.
She owed him the truth. “I don’t think so. It’s been five years. But I always thought he was my one and only.”
Lance stroked her from nape to waist and gave her another comforting hug. “Five years isn’t so long.”
“It feels like forever.”
“Hmm.”
“At first I felt cheated of our future. And then I was sad because I missed him.”
“And now?” His drawl was
so soft she had to strain to hear.
“I don’t know. I still feel sorrow when I think of him, but it’s more muted. As though I have forgotten him,” she confessed.
“You’ll never do that. But time has a way of taking the edge off grief.” He gave her another squeeze.
“I feel like I have already forgotten Willie. Look at me kissing you.”
Lance went rigid. “You haven’t dated since you lost your high school sweetheart?”
“Nope.” She spoke to his shirt snaps.
“Hmm.” A long pause while he petted her back. “Maybe we both deserve a second chance at love.”
She tipped her head back. “Do you think you could love me?”
“As easy as falling off a log. What about you? I’m not the man I was, and I never will be again. And I’m years older than your Willie. Years older than you.” His voice was flat. He expected rejection.
Amber could feel her face heating. She suddenly felt shy, but she put some starch in her spine. A modern woman shouldn’t be a shrinking violet. And Lance didn’t deserve coyness. “I’d like to try.”
“Sounds like a plan, sweet thing.” His drawl turned ‘thing’ into ‘thang’.
His happiness made her as swiftly joyful as she had been melancholy before.
“Shall we seal our deal with a kiss?” He bent his head and covered her mouth with his.
His taste was more familiar this time, but just as exciting. And as before lightning sparked between them. She wondered if he would think she was promising more than she intended, but his restraint was just as marked as before. It was her response that was different. She felt free to indulge her bear as she never had before. In fact, come to think, she seemed to have a whole new bear. A randy brazen wench of a bear.
Lance seemed to enjoy her hotly aroused bear for he clucked with masculine appreciation before angling his mouth so that their tongues could duel. Her world dwindled to the fiery union of their lips and tongues. Part of her was still concerned that he would think this was the prelude to bed, but the other larger part wanted to learn what pleased this man most.
She suckled his bottom lip and tugged it between her teeth for a playful nip. He growled and reciprocated, letting her feel the barest edge of his teeth as he pulled away to kiss her neck. He nibbled his way to her earlobe and engulfed it with his hot mouth.
He grazed the lobe with his teeth before blowing on it. Her heart beat faster. He blew again, while his fingers teased the other lobe. Her whole body tightened with anticipation. She grabbed his arms and held on for dear life. He responded by tracing the rim of her ear with his tongue and then drying it with his breath. Her breath hitched and her stomach clenched.
The more aroused she became, the more subtle and teasing his kisses and caresses became. Not that he was unaffected by his play. His breath rocked his chest and his face was damp. He left her ear and laved the base of her throat, lapping at her skin while her breasts peaked and her pussy throbbed. She was on the brink when he set her six inches away.
“Wow!” His tone was heartfelt.
Amber heaved a long restless sigh of her own and opened her eyes. Lance rested his hot face against her hair. “I’d better go home,” he panted.
She brushed his face with shaking fingers. Beneath her fingertips he stiffened. The skin of his jaw was closely shaven, but there were patches where it was rough and pitted. Scar tissue.
“Do you mind?” His voice was humble.
“Only that you were hurt.” She kissed him on the damaged skin, as tenderly as she knew how.
He relaxed fractionally. Again his mouth sought hers as if she were water in the desert. His hands became busy stroking and kneading her back. She had never thought of her back as an erogenous zone, but she felt like purring from the pleasure of his fondling. To her embarrassment she heard her own husky moans start up again.
Note to the Reader
Welcome to the intense, romantic, military world of my Bear Shifters. All the books share a common universe in which Bear Shifters and their Fated Mates are part of the Pacific Northwest and the paranormal is normal. Sizzling romance, adventure, and a happy ending. Join me for a mini-vacation with my bears.
Bear Fate is the latest book in the series. Enjoy!
To connect with me, send an email to: isadora@isadoramontrose.com or sign up for my newsletter at isadoramontros.com/newletter for notification of upcoming works and new releases.
There is a complete list of my books at the end of this book, after the preview chapters.
Hope my world rocks yours!
Isadora
BEAR FATE
A BILLIONAIRE OIL BEARONS ROMANCE
BOOK 8
BEAR FURSUITS
by
Isadora Montrose
CHAPTER ONE
February
Lance~
The air was hot, dusty, choking. There was pervasive smell of human waste that caught at the back of the throat. It was dark, but he knew that Ferris was on his right, and Ricardo was two paces back to his left. When the explosion came, it lit up the drab, pockmarked landscape. He flew into a million pieces. And rained down on the ground on top of the scattered body parts of his buddies.
Lance Prescott came awake to the thin stream of pure, cold air from his bedroom window. He had left it open a quarter inch at the bottom. Clean, sweet-smelling Colorado winter air blew into his room and replaced the memory of Iraq. He was wet. His short hair was soaked with sweat. His sheets were damp. And he smelled of funk and fear.
It had happened enough times that he had a ritual. He stood under a hot shower and soaped himself until he felt clean. The smell of shit from his nightmare dissipated. His body stopped shaking, and his heart rate settled back to a steady beat. He dressed himself in his work clothes. There was no point trying to go back to bed. He knew he wouldn’t sleep, and if he lay in bed thinking, his anxiety would return. Better to go up to the stables and clean tack than relive the past. You couldn’t alter the past. You couldn’t control the future. But anyone could handle the present.
He stripped his sodden bedding off the mattress, and bundled it into the washing machine. A little hot water and soap would get rid of some of the stench of death that clung to the sheets. He located his bottle of Falkirk Twelve-Year-Old in the cupboard and poured a small shot. He put the bourbon back on the shelf and closed the cupboard door. That too was part of the ritual. He added a splash of water from the tap. Took that first warming sip. Funny how he sweated and yet was cold clear through.
There was nothing on the television at three in the morning – nothing that he wanted to watch. But he forced himself to listen to a succession of elderly persons claiming that their arthritis symptoms had been entirely relieved by a device obtainable for the low, low price of $399 divided into three equal payments. Tax, shipping, and handling extra.
By the time he had finished his bourbon, it was almost time for morning stables. There was nothing in his fridge that he wanted to eat. But he made coffee, and drank a cup while he looked out the kitchen window at the frozen creek. It was lonely out there, and very beautiful. When he had first come to Success, Colorado, he hadn’t thought that he would find the ragged, rolling plains of the Double B as beautiful as the gentle hills of Tennessee. But after seven years, he didn’t think that there was a lovelier spot in all the US of A.
The winter sky was still pitch black, it wouldn’t start to get light for hours. Snow lay everywhere. It reflected the fading moonlight and he could see surprisingly far. He followed the grayish outline of a small bear wandering down by the creek. He wasn’t particularly worried, out here so close to the open range, wild animals were not particularly unusual.
The Double B Ranch was troubled by the occasional loss of calves and elderly cows to cougars, wolves, bears, and even the odd coyote, but his boss Laura Bascom considered that an inevitable part of the cost of ranching. Still, it was unusual to see a black bear so close to the stables and the houses, although this on
e seemed to be merely exploring.
He had a soft spot for American blacks anyway. Ever since he had made his buddy Enright* as a bear shifter, way back when they were both Privates First Class, he had been drawn to them. Of course, he had been living a long time with Enright’s tomfool idea of a joke. Not that there was much of his tattoo left. The Iraqi IED had made sure of that. But it was a memory of a happier, more innocent time.
As he sipped his coffee, he kept an eye on the little bear. Carlos and Rosa Diegos’ house was not far from his. And the new stable hand, Amber Dupré, lived behind him in a small cabin on the Diegos’ property. He figured Amber was too savvy to leave her garbage outside her back door to attract critters. But he didn’t know that for a fact. Hadn’t told her so. It would do no harm to keep his eye on the bear.
The bear slid down the steep snowy bank to the frozen surface of the stream. Landed on its back and spun out. Then it clambered up and did it all over again. It was having fun. It was probably no more than a half-grown bear cub. Just old enough to have been kicked out of its mother’s orbit so she could have another litter. And just inexperienced enough to play near human habitation.
The bear continued its game, but eventually, it came to grief. It slid down the bank on its belly, landed on its paws, did a somersault and went right through the ice. Lance didn’t know if there was anything he should do. He didn’t want to think of the bear freezing, or drowning, but rescuing a frightened wild animal was a dangerous proposition. He decided to wait and see what would happen.
What happened was that the bear broke out of the ice with its powerful front limbs, and scrambled up the bank. It shook itself vigorously. Water sprayed into arcs of droplets that froze and fell, pitting the snow all around the bear.
He watched as the bear wandered a little further down the creek to where the ice was solid. He didn’t worry until it crossed to the side of the stream where the houses were. He moved from the kitchen, to the living room, and then to his own bedroom. The bear was moving through the trees at a good clip, galloping straight for Amber’s little cabin.
He grabbed his shotgun and loaded it. Shoved his feet into boots. It was cold enough that he took the time to put on his parka and gloves. He would do Amber no good if his hands were too cold to fire his weapon. He jogged out of his back door, and moved as quickly as he could through the two feet of snow towards Amber’s cabin. The bear was at her back door rattling it.