The Island Of Bears: A BBW Paranormal Romance

by Amira Rain

  I sputtered briefly, outraged. “You are! You’re holding me against my will!”

  “Am I? How so? The way the situation seems to me, I’m simply resting on my back with you on top of me. I am resting quite comfortably and enjoyably, I might add. But as far as holding you against your will, I haven’t even had my arms around you for at least twenty seconds or so now. You have been completely free to get up. And yet, you haven’t sprang up and off me yet, as if you’re not entirely uncomfortable, and you’re certainly not yelling your head off like I imagine a woman might be if she truly felt threatened.”

  I realized instantly he was right on all counts, and my face flamed. Aware and embarrassed that butterflies had developed in my stomach just from the feel of my body being pressed against his, I couldn’t even think of what to say.

  With his full lips twitching with amusement, he cocked one dark brow at me. “Who’s the freak now?”

  Heart pounding, I gasped with outrage and indignation. “You are! Still you. You’re still a son of a freak. You’re a jerk. You’re a... A jerk face, a—”

  “And yet, you’re still not making any move to get up and off me. Even though you’ve been free to do so for at least a minute. Makes me think you might be enjoying our post-tackle positioning as much as I am.”

  I gasped again, though this time, only partly in anger and indignation. But mostly, I was horrified. I was horrified because he was right. I was enjoying our positioning, at least a bit. I was a woman, after all, and a fairly hot-blooded, passionate one at that. And he was the kind of man who’d make women fan their faces after he walked by.

  I could tell just how much he was beginning to enjoy our positioning. The lower front of my body was pressed against some sort of bulge that seemed to be growing much firmer by the second, and I could tell this bulge wasn’t my purse. To my dismay, I couldn’t deny that the feeling of this growing hardness against me was making the butterflies in my stomach riot. I couldn’t deny that I liked the feeling, welcomed it.

  However, I snorted, trying to make him think his assertion that I liked our positioning was absolutely wrong. “I only haven’t gotten up yet because I’d like not to be knocked down again. I’ve honestly just been waiting for the rangers to show up.”

  Again, like he had the first time I’d mentioned the rangers, the man frowned. “We really do need to talk. I want to ask you some questions.”

  Conscious that I was still on top of him, I quickly moved off and onto my knees, then pulled myself up to stand, straightening my dress and purse. “Oh, I bet you do want to ask me some questions. Here’s my answer to the first. No, I will not press charges against you, as long as you immediately point me in the direction of the museum and then leave me alone.”

  The man pulled himself up to stand as well, still frowning, and fixed me with his light blue eyes. “That actually wasn’t my first question. But first, maybe I should introduce myself. My name is Holden Grant.”

  “Well, thanks for that, Holden, because now I know exactly who to tell the rangers to be on the lookout for. I’ll tell them to be on the lookout for a... A freak named Holden Grant.”

  He cracked a half-smile, the effect unexpectedly turning my insides to jelly. “I thought I was a ‘son of a freak.’”

  “Well, you’re both.”

  He snorted, still smiling. “All right.” He looked at me for a long moment, grin fading. “But in all seriousness, I have to tell you that you’re not going to see any island rangers around here. You’re a long, long way from home. And despite the fact that I stopped you from running headlong into your own death today, you’re still in a great deal of danger.”

  *

  I still didn’t trust him. I didn’t exactly feel like he was going to murder me or otherwise harm me, either. Although, I wasn’t a hundred percent sure about that.

  In response to what he’d said, I folded my arms across my chest and stared him down. “I think the only danger I’m around is you. Because any man who’d tackle a woman to keep her from running away can’t be up to any good.”

  He scoffed, raising his dark brows. “If you recall, I did that only to protect you. And even then, only after repeated pleading, warning, and trying to restrain you while you were upright.”

  “‘Unlawful imprisonment’ is what I believe the police would call that. Legally, it’d also probably be considered kidnapping as well. And I’m sure the police would consider it assault, too, just for another thing.”

  “Well, you won’t find any police around here. I’m more or less the police. I’m the law.”

  Now it was my turn to scoff, and I did, trying to express as much scornful doubt as I could muster. “I beg your pardon?”

  “I’m the chief around these parts. I lead a community of a few hundred people not too far from here.”

  I scoffed again, wondering just what king of a game he was playing. “Well, that’s awfully funny, since I know for a fact, that any kind of habitation isn’t allowed anywhere on Ellis Island. I suppose maybe the rangers and the tour guides might get to stay on the island during the busy tourist season, but that’s it. No permanent dwellings or habitation are allowed. That was one of the very first things I learned on the museum tour today.”

  While some sort of tropical birds shrieked in the distance, Holden frowned the hardest he had yet. “Did you by any chance encounter any kind of a stone fountain during your time on the island today?”

  I hesitated before responding, wondering if I should tell the truth or not, and wondered what he was getting at. “Well... Yes. I did come across a fountain. I wanted to take a look at it closer, so I cleared some of the debris away, and water gurgled up, and I dipped a few fingers in it. Right before I blacked out, or was attacked or something. And probably likely attacked. You wouldn’t happen to know anything about that, would you?”

  With his brows furrowed, Holden shook his head. “No. You weren’t attacked.”

  “And you know this for sure because...?”

  “Because I know exactly what happened to you. But I think it’s going to come as quite a shock, so maybe we should find a place to sit down first.”

  “I don’t think so. I’m heading back to the museum right now. So if you want to tell me what you think happened to me, you’ve got about five seconds to do it.”

  Holden drew his brows even closer together. “I don’t even know your name. And I feel like I should, before I deliver such serious news to you.”

  Again, I hesitated in responding, unsure of just what exactly this guy’s game was. “My name is Haley Miller. And now please go ahead and tell me whatever it is you want to tell me before I head back to the museum.”

  “You can’t go back to the museum.”

  “Oh, yeah? You have plans to tackle me again?”

  “If you have plans to take off running toward Black Lake again, then yes, and like last time, it will be to protect you. But the possibility of me tackling you again isn’t the reason you can’t go back to the museum.”

  “Then, what is?”

  Holden searched my face for a long moment before responding. “You can’t go back to this museum because you’re not on Ellis Island anymore. You’re on Black Lake Island now. You’re very, very far from home.”

  “All right. I don’t know what the hell kind of game you’re playing, here, but it’s not funny. Not in the least. I want you to point me in the direction of the museum and then let me be on my way.”

  “I can’t do that, because like I said, you’re not on Ellis Island anymore.”

  “Right. I’m on... What did you say it was called again? ‘Black Lake Island?’”

  “Yes. And it was very fortunate that I happened to be taking a hike through the jungle and saw you when I did, because you were heading straight toward Black Lake itself, and straight toward—”

  “Danger. I know. You said.”

  “This isn’t any kind of joke, Haley. There’s much about this island you don’t know, and that’s puttin
g it very lightly. The lake is a dangerous place where creatures called the Gray Forms live. If you were to have gotten any closer to it—”

  “Tell me, Holden, do you do a lot of drugs?”

  Although his exceedingly healthy physique showed no outward signs of addiction, the things he was saying were giving me some strong suspicions. However, he didn’t even dignify my question with a response.

  With a shaft of bright sunlight filtering through the treetops making his lightly tanned skin seem to glow, he ran his strong, long-fingered hands over his face, sighing, before looking at me again. “The best I can figure, you ‘fell’ through the fountain, which is a portal that I use to go from this island to Ellis Island, then from there on to the city, then back home through the fountain portal again.

  I thought it was well-hidden enough that no one would ever discover it. And if they did, I didn’t think anyone would ever be curious enough to clear away the debris and try to make the water flow. And if anyone ever did that, I didn’t think they’d ever reach into the water. I should have known it’d happen eventually.” Sighing again, he paused. “No small wonder you were oblivious about the lake. This is a whole new world for you.”

  I really didn’t know what to say. Suddenly, I was profoundly tired. I was so far beyond bewildered and confused that I’d almost circled back around to not being either of those things. Though honestly, not quite. But at any rate, the events of the day, from Gary, to apparently fainting or being knocked out, to everything that had happened with Holden and everything that was happening with him currently, had led me to feel absolutely bone-weary.

  I didn’t know what to think anymore. Thinking was starting to feel like an exercise in futility, because no matter what I thought, nothing was making any sense. Anything making sense was beginning to feel impossible.

  Falling into my bed at home was something I wanted so much to do. My tiny little shoebox-sized apartment in Manhattan was now seeming like a dream, like a palace of respite. I just wanted to go there. I just wanted to get inside, lock the door, go to bed, and wake up with the world seeming normal. I’d never visit Ellis Island again, that was for certain.

  Sighing, I looked at Holden. “I’m just done with all this. I’m just done. I’m confused, and I’m tired, and I just want to go home. I’m going back to the museum now; I know I’ll find it eventually. The island’s not that big. Please... I beg of you... Whatever your game is, just please don’t follow me. Just please leave me alone.”

  With that, I turned from him and began ambling down the path in the same direction I’d been running. Immediately, I heard his voice behind me.

  “Not so fast, you little freak.”

  I whirled around, balling my fists. “Excuse me?”

  Holden’s eyes twinkled, and when he spoke, his voice held a hint of amusement as well. “I thought that would perk you up a bit.”

  “Go to hell.”

  I turned and began walking down the sandy, stony, sun-dappled path again, but within seconds, Holden stopped me with a hand on my shoulder. “Look, Haley. I know you are probably scared and confused, and very, very understandably so. I’m sure you’re in a state of shock. But I can’t let you go. Like I said, I’m the chief in these parts, and I can’t let you just walk straight into danger on my watch.”

  Fuming again, I shrugged his hand off my shoulder. “What you are is a liar. You’re just trying to scare me or trick me for whatever stupid reason I can’t even imagine. You’re not a chief; you’re just a liar.”

  “Are you sure about that? Are you absolutely positive?”

  I didn’t respond. For some reason, I couldn’t.

  Holden continued in a low, quiet voice, his expression resembling one of sincerity and concern. “Are you sure that I’m just a liar? Or have you noticed things about this island that might indicate that what I’m saying is true. Have you noticed the tropical birds and all the palm trees in this jungle? I know they don’t have any parrots and palms on Ellis Island. Also, when I first saw you, I caught a glimpse of you trying to use your phone, but it didn’t seem like it was working. If you were still on Ellis Island, don’t you think it would be? Don’t you think you’d be getting at least some reception?”

  I suddenly wanted to run from Holden again. I wanted to run from him until my legs gave out beneath me. But I knew by now that he’d catch me. So instead, I just glared.

  “I think you’ve drugged me or something. You gave me some kind of crazy drug that’s altered my perception of reality. That’s why I’m hearing tropical birds and seeing palms. I’m probably high as a kite right now from whatever you gave me. Because everyone knows that people don’t just ‘fall’ into ‘portals’ and end up in completely different geographic locations. Obviously. But you wanted me to think this is what’s happened to me, which makes you a complete sicko. It makes you a person who should be locked up for life. And actually, I’ve changed my mind about pressing charges against you. Now I’m going to. I’m going to tell the police all about Holden Grant and how he drugged me and tried to make me believe all sorts of crazy things as some sort of a sick game.”

  With his expression still radiating something that resembled genuine concern, which just baffled me further, Holden shook his head. “I’m sorry, but I can’t let you walk away. I can’t leave you here. I have to take you back to my village with me, for your own safety.”

  “Oh, right. Like you actually care about—”

  “I do. And if I leave you alone out here tonight, you’ll die. You’ll be killed. And it’s only ten minutes or so from early evening right now, so we should be off. You can either walk with me, or I’ll toss you over my shoulder. Your choice, but we are going.”

  “If you dare lay a single finger on me, I will bite you, and I will claw you, and I will beat you to a bloody pulp.”

  “Well... You can try.”

  “Don’t you even dare. If you so much as—”

  “I’m sorry, Haley, but this is to save your life. I think later on, you’ll understand.”

  “If you think I’m voluntarily walking with you anywhere, then you’re crazier than—”

  “So you’ve made your decision, then. Over my shoulder it is. Up you go, now.”

  “I swear to God, Holden, if you even... Oh! Hey!”

  As he’d said he would, he’d scooped me up and tossed me over his shoulder. Like some sort of a caveman.

  I immediately began beating my fists on his back with all my might. “How dare you! How—”

  “You might as well settle in and get comfortable up there, because my village is close, but not that close. We’ll have a bit of a walk.”

  “If you don’t put me down in exactly three seconds—”

  “Well, I’m not going to, so threaten away. Threaten me all you like.”

  Enraged, I began pounding on his back again with renewed force, yelling more threats.

  However, all my pounding seemed to have zero effect. Holden just kept striding along, not even flinching, as if my fists were those of a baby. Despite the fact that I was slamming them into the muscular ridges of his back with all my might.

  Now I was really mad. I decided to switch gears and do something guaranteed to make him howl in pain and put me down. I pressed my mouth against his back, took a bit of his skin in my mouth, and began biting down. I didn’t intend to draw blood or cause any permanent damage; I just wanted to hurt him badly enough to let him know I meant business.

  After all, I figured a person had a right to defend themselves when being physically restrained against their will. However, before I’d tightened my jaws even a millimeter, I was startled into a gasp, releasing Holden’s skin, by the feel of a fairly sharp, swift swat on my upturned rear.

  “No biting, Haley. You can pound on my back all you want, but I have to draw the line somewhere. I guess I have to draw the line at possibly making me bleed.”

  The swat he’d given me really hadn’t hurt that badly, but for some reason, the faint sting it left o
n one of my rear cheeks, combined with the cumulative stress of the day, suddenly made my eyes fill with tears.

  I fell silent briefly before speaking again. “Holden, you’re a... a...”

  Brain completely fried, I couldn’t even think of what he was anymore.

  “A son of a freak? Yes... I know. I’m also probably a jerk face, too. And I guess I really can be sometimes. I’m sorry for that little swat. Though to be fair, I just wanted to get your attention and make you stop what you were doing before I felt you removing chunks of my flesh with your teeth, which might have made me drop you, which might have led to you getting hurt.”

  Staring down at the sandy trail below, I sniffed a few tears into my nose. “I wasn’t even going to really bite you, though. I wasn’t even going to break the skin. I just wanted to make you put me down.”

  At that moment, a warm breeze rippled through the trees, ruffling the skirt of my sundress as well. And that’s when I realized something. That’s when I felt something. The skirt of my sundress was hiked up a bit, revealing the backs of my thighs, and from what it felt like, half of my rear as well. Somewhat awkwardly, being that I was slung over a man’s back like a sack of potatoes, I reached a hand back and pulled my skirt down to cover my legs as best I could.

  Holden heaved a sigh. “What a shame you did that. I was so enjoying the view.”

  I didn’t respond. I just sniffled some more. I’d found that with the arrival of my tears, all the fight had just kind of suddenly left me.

  Holden strode alone without speaking for several moments, then came to a stop. In one quick but gentle movement, he lifted me from his shoulder and cradled me in his arms, like a baby. “I don’t want to put you down, because I don’t want you to run off with darkness falling soon, and I also don’t want you to hurt your bare feet walking on the rocks. But how about if I just carry you like this the rest of the way to my village? Might be more comfortable for you.”

  I was far too exhausted to protest. Despite the fact that I still thought this man was abducting me, I actually nodded in agreement. Then, while the sun began setting, painting the sky in brilliant shades of pink and orange, and while Holden began walking with long, purposeful strides again, I put my head on his chiseled chest and closed my eyes. Completely spent from stress and numerous rushes of adrenaline, I was out like a light in under a minute.