Blaze (BBW Paranormal Shapeshifter Romance) (The Grizzly Brothers Book 2)

by Terra Wolf

  “Yeah, sure thing, brother,” he said, then followed the loud groans to the bedroom in the back of the cabin. He placed a hand on his stomach as he peeked around the corner, terrified of what he might see.

  Sadie was laying on the bed, her knees bent so high they were practically framing her face. Reagan was on one side of her, speaking softly into her ear, while a short, round woman stood at the bottom of the bed and looked all up in her business.

  Blaze shut his eyes as fast as he could, and asked the room, “Is everything okay? Do you need us to do anything?”

  “Get out,” was the sharp reply.

  To which Blaze replied, “Will do,” then got out.

  Seven

  Reagan

  “You’re doing so good,” Reagan assured Sadie as she wiped the sweat from her brow.

  “Oh my God, whose idea was this?” Sadie whined. “I’m never doing this again… can’t you just get them out already?”

  Reagan bit back a laugh, then glanced down at the midwife to try and get a gauge on what was happening. She’d never been in the room when someone was delivering babies before. Hell, she’d never even been around babies before, but she was over the moon excited that she was about to be an Auntie.

  “I can’t believe you’re going to be a mom,” she said softly as she held Sadie’s hand.

  “I can’t believe Diesel gets to hang out in the living room while I’m doing all the work,” Sadie growled.

  Well, okay then, Reagan thought, wincing when Sadie got a death grip on her hand.

  “I see a head,” the midwife said, and then shit got real.

  The next thirty minutes were a flurry of screams, blood, and babies. Reagan didn’t know how she didn’t pass out, and how her sister managed to be smiling at the babies who were squalling at her on the bed.

  Reagan heard a massive roar, then looked up to see Blaze in the doorway, his face white as a sheet.

  “I hope it’s okay for D to come in now, ‘cause we can’t hold him back any longer,” Blaze said, and seconds later, he was replaced by a very frantic looking Diesel.

  The Midwife pulled the third baby free and said, “Another girl,” and Reagan watched as the biggest smile she’d ever seen transformed Diesel’s face.

  “Two girls and a boy,” Sadie said softly, and the look she gave her husband could only be described as over the moon, bat shit crazy, in love.

  “Just need to get the afterbirth, then we’ll get you cleaned up,” the midwife explained, her words falling on deaf ears. They were all too busy looking at the three squirming little miracles.

  Diesel grabbed the towels and began cleaning the babies, so Reagan pried her throbbing hand out of Sadie’s kung fu grip to go help him out.

  The first baby was cleaned and swaddled and placed into her waiting mother’s arms. Reagan could see the tears in Sadie’s eyes as she held her daughter for the first time, and felt an answering tug deep in her own belly.

  What would it feel like to be Sadie in that moment?

  Once the midwife was done cleaning up, and the babies were being cradled in their happy parents’ arms, Reagan slipped out of the room to give the new family their privacy.

  “How’d it go in there?”

  Reagan looked up to see Hunter looking down at her expectantly. She felt a twinge of unease, but brushed it off.

  “Great. Mom and babies are all fine.”

  “What did they have?” This question came from behind Hunter, so Reagan took the opportunity to brush past him and head toward Blaze to answer him.

  Funnily enough, she felt none of the intense connection or desire when she touched, or talked with Hunter, like she had the night before.

  Reagan wondered about that as she replied, “Two girls and a boy. No names yet, and I’ve never seen Diesel look happier. I didn’t think I’d ever see him smile like he did when Sadie walked down the aisle at their wedding, but the look on his face when he saw his babies just beat it.”

  Blaze’s answering grin did something funny to her insides.

  “I can’t believe they’re parents,” he mused, the grey in his eyes catching in the light.

  “We’re uncles,” Hunter said, his voice filled with awe. “We can teach them how to hunt, fish, pick up strangers at The Ridge.”

  Reagan reached out and slapped Hunter on the arm.

  “Hey, I was just joking,” Hunter grumbled as he rubbed his arm, even though they both knew it didn’t hurt.

  “Those are our nieces and nephew, asshole,” Reagan countered, fighting back a laugh, just like she always did when she was around Hunter.

  It took a moment for that thought to settle, then, confused, Reagan reached up and cupped Hunter’s face.

  He looked at her with confusion and asked, “What are you doing?”

  “Just seeing something,” she muttered, keeping her hand there as she waited for something to happen. A trigger or a spark, something to make her feel the way she had last night.

  But, that didn’t happen. Reagan felt for Hunter just like she always had, with sisterly affection.

  Dread started to fill her as she turned slowly on her heel to face Blaze. The look on his face would have stopped her at any other time, panic, regret, and a hint of something she couldn’t quite put her finger on, but Reagan needed answers.

  She took a step toward him, then paused when Blaze took a step back.

  “Stop,” Reagan ordered, keeping her eyes locked on his face as she stepped closer. Blaze watched her hand warily as it got closer to his face, then closed his eyes when her palm touched his cheek.

  Reagan gasped as an electric current ran through her and her body began to tingle.

  There was no denying the connection, and her body knew it. Her head, on the other hand, was having a hard time catching up.

  “What the hell is going on here?” she asked, dropping her hand and looking from one brother to the other.

  Reagan had the feeling she wasn’t going to like the answer.

  Eight

  Blaze

  Shit, this was not the way he’d wanted this to happen…

  “Reagan,” Blaze began, but was interrupted when Diesel came barreling into the room.

  “What are you guys waiting for? Come see my cubs,” he practically yelled, his face so full of joy it almost hurt to look at him.

  Blaze looked from Diesel to Reagan, unsure of what would get him in the most trouble. Ignoring his brother, or waiting to answer Reagan’s question.

  “Go,” Reagan said softly, giving him an out. Then she narrowed her eyes and added, “I’ll be waiting right here when you’re done.”

  Relieved to have a few more minutes to gather his thoughts, Blaze nodded, then followed behind his brothers to the room where Sadie and the babies were cuddling.

  “Boys, meet Hazel, Jessica, and Isaac,” Sadie said, looking more beautiful than a woman who’d just spent hours in labor delivering three babies should look.

  Blaze reached for one baby, while Hunter cradled another. He had no idea which baby he was holding; he just knew he’d never seen anything more precious.

  They spent some time passing around the babies and making the necessary cooing noises, but after a while realized that Sadie was falling asleep, so they told their brother that they’d give the new family a chance to rest, and be back the next day.

  “Hey Reagan,” Blaze began when he walked back into the living room to see her waiting there, her expression expectant. “Can you give me a ride back to our place?”

  “Yeah,” she replied, not betraying her emotions. “Let me go say goodbye to my sister.”

  “Dude, send out an SOS if she loses it,” Hunter said softly, unable to control his grin.

  “Shut the hell up,” was Blaze’s response, but he couldn’t deny that he was worried. He had no idea what her reaction was going to be, although he was pretty sure that pissed would be at the forefront of her emotions. “I’ll see you later.”

  “I hope so,” his brother jok
ed with a chuckle, then walked out and left him to his fate.

  Blaze tapped his foot and wrung his hands while he waited for Reagan to come back to him. When she finally stepped back out into the room, she simply said, “Let’s go,” and walked toward the door.

  With a painful swallow, Blaze followed behind, careful not to check out her ass on the way out. The last thing he needed to do was get busted for giving her a once over, when there was a serious conversation to be had.

  Still, Reagan did have a stellar ass.

  Blaze folded himself into the car as she walked around to the driver’s side, then waited with bated breath while she started the car.

  Was he supposed to say something, or was she going to start?

  He didn’t know how to proceed, and was terrified that he’d do something to screw things up even more.

  They drove in silence, his heart in his throat, then Blaze realized that they weren’t going to his place, they were going to hers.

  When Reagan parked in front of her cabin, she said, “Come inside,” then got out of the car and walked to her front door without looking back.

  Okay, Blaze thought, recognizing an order when he heard one, then got out of the car.

  Reagan left the door open, so Blaze walked inside, shutting it softly behind him, then stood awkwardly at the door, wondering what his next move should be.

  “So, the night of Sadie’s wedding, that was you, not Hunter.”

  Reagan walked out of the kitchen, a beer in each hand, and gestured toward the sofa. Taking her cue, Blaze walked over and sat down.

  “Yes,” he replied softly, taking the offered beer and saying, “Thanks.”

  “And at the airport,” she added as she sat down in the chair next to the sofa.

  “Yes.”

  “Why didn’t you say anything?”

  “Honestly, I never had the chance,” Blaze admitted, turning so he could face Reagan full on. “At the wedding, I was swept up in the moment, just like you. I didn’t realize you thought I was Hunter until you gave your parting shot and walked off. I was taken totally off guard and froze for a few minutes. By the time I realized I should tell you it was me, you were already gone.”

  Reagan nodded, and he hoped that meant she believed him. When she didn’t say anything, he continued to explain.

  “You left the next day for work, then, when you came back, and we met up in the parking lot, things just kind of spiraled out of control. Before I could say anything, you’d run off. I promised myself I was going to come see you tomorrow, and explain everything, then Sadie went into labor, and…”

  “Yeah, I know,” Reagan said, her tone soft. “I just… can’t believe it. I guess it was really dark both times, and you and your brother look so much alike…” Blaze saw the blush come over her cheeks, and knew she was embarrassed about the entire situation. “I don’t know why I assumed you were Hunter. I’m sorry.”

  “You don’t have to apologize,” Blaze replied, then asked the question that had been plaguing him since the night of the wedding. “Do you… have feelings… for Hunter? Is that why? Did you hope it was him?”

  Reagan shook her head, her eyes on her fingers as she peeled the label off of the beer bottle.

  “No, it wasn’t like that,” she admitted, then looked sheepishly up at him. “To be honest, that night, I was just looking to get laid. Not to sound terrible or anything, but I was feeling a little lost and bereft that my sister had just gotten married and I had no one. I didn’t go looking for Hunter, I was just looking for someone.”

  “I see,” he said, his heart squeezing painfully in his chest.

  “But then,” Reagan began, and Blaze felt his stomach clench in anticipation of her words. “When I saw you last night, it was different. As if some connection had been made, some sort of bond… I don’t know, but when I saw you, and touched you, there was like, a chemical reaction. Do you know what I’m talking about?”

  “I do,” he admitted.

  “And then again tonight, when I touched Hunter, then you, I could tell the difference… by touch,” Reagan’s confused gaze sought his. “Do you know why that is?”

  Blaze put his beer down, then took Reagan’s hand in his, the contact causing a thrill to run through him.

  “Yes,” he replied, then turned her hand and brought her palm to his lips and kissed her softly. “It’s because you’re my mate.”

  Nine

  Reagan

  Her palm tingled where his lips had been, and at his words, Reagan’s entire body began to tingle.

  “What?” she barely whispered.

  “I’ve suspected for some time, but part of me thought maybe it was just a little crush,” Blaze admitted, turning her world upside down. “But after the woods… I knew for certain.”

  It was like everything Reagan had ever wished for had finally come true, yet she wasn’t sure how to process it. Blaze, a man she’d known for years, yet never dated, hooked up with, or even really thought of as anything other than a friend, was telling her that they were mates. That they were fated to be together.

  If not for the actual physical reaction she’d had when touching, Reagan would have thought he’d lost his marbles.

  “You seem to be having an entire conversation in your head,” Blaze said gently. “What are you thinking?”

  “Well,” Reagan began. “It’s overwhelming to be sure, and I can’t believe that we’ve known each other for so long, but never knew until now… Look, you know I’m a believer. I’ve been around enough shifters and their mates to believe. I’ve seen men denied by their mate, and never moved on. And, I’ve seen, first hand with Sadie and Diesel, how two strangers can be fated to be together.”

  “But?” Blaze asked, sensing my hesitation.

  “But… It seems insane to go from being single and on my own one minute, to tied to a mate for the rest of my life.” Reagan saw the fear on Blaze’s face, and knew he was worried at the thought of finally finding his mate, only to have her deny him, and she wanted to assure him that wasn’t what was happening. “I’m not saying I don’t feel what you feel, because I do… All I’m asking for is a little time, and maybe a courtship.” Reagan laughed at the old fashioned word coming out of her mouth, or even the fact that that was what she wanted… But it was.

  “I can do that,” Blaze assured her, a hopeful smile on his lips.

  “I’m not going to lie, this is something I’ve always wanted,” Reagan admitted, turning her hand so that she could squeeze his reassuringly. “To have a man who’ll love me for the rest of his life, who’ll be faithful, and want to have a family… it truly is what I want. But, now that it’s happened, and so suddenly, I’m realizing that I don’t want to fast forward and miss all of the important steps that lead up to the happily ever after.”

  Reagan looked into Blaze’s beautiful eyes, her heart flip-flopping at the realization that his was the face that she’d get to gaze on for the rest of her days.

  “Can you live with that?” she asked him, knowing that even if he said no, she’d happily take him. The thing that worried her, however, was that she’d regret going a little slower than she knew shifters were used to.

  “Absolutely,” Blaze said, then he stood.

  Reagan rose with him, her hand slipping out of his grasp.

  “I’m going to get out of here, let you get some rest,” Blaze told her. “I’ll call you tomorrow. I’d like to take you to dinner tomorrow night, if you’re free.”

  “I’d love that,” Reagan said, relief and exhaustion filling her all at once.

  “Great,” Blaze replied, then leaned down and kissed her softly on the lips.

  It was sweet, with a hint of heat lying underneath, and by the time he broke away and stepped back, Reagan was willing to forget everything she’d just said and jump him.

  Damned chemical reaction…

  “Goodnight, Blaze,” she said as she walked him to the door.

  “Goodnight, Beautiful,” he replied, throwi
ng a smile over his shoulder before walking out into the night.

  Reagan realized that she’d driven him to her house, but when she stepped outside to tell him she’d drop him off, he was already gone.

  She shut and locked her door, mind spinning from everything that had happened over the last few days.

  So much for swearing off shifters, Reagan thought with a smile. Her heart felt light, and hope and excitement filled her for the first time in forever. She couldn’t wait to go on a date with Blaze, and if she was honest, she couldn’t wait to be with him again… sexually. The passion he ignited in her wasn’t like anything she’d imagined.

  As she threw on some pajama pants and a tank top, Reagan wondered if this was how it had felt when Sadie met Diesel. She couldn’t wait to talk to her sister, pick her brain, and tell her everything that had happened.

  But for now, she needed to figure out how to get her brain to settle. As exhausted as Reagan was, she was so revved up after talking with Blaze that she didn’t know how she’d ever calm down enough to fall asleep.

  She tried counting sheep.

  She tried thinking of Sadie that night, and how amazing she’d been in the birthing room, and then with her babies.

  Then she thought about the fact that she now had a mate of her very own, and babies were in her future.

  That really made it hard to sleep.

  Then she thought about Blaze. Reagan replayed every interaction they’d had since meeting, each memory now becoming precious. She thought of his face, his hands, his strong, sturdy body. She thought of the way he was with his brothers, what he looked like when he was smiling at something they’d said, or the way he’d laugh when they were teasing each other.

  The last thought she had before finally slipping off to sleep, was the way his lips had felt against hers, when he’d told her goodnight.

  Ten