The Bear Project

by Doris O'Connor

  Emmi had smiled, not wishing to explain herself, but the other woman had clearly sensed her unease and had frowned at her.

  Damn those shifter senses.

  "Is everything all right between the father and you?" she'd asked, and Emmi had shaken her head.

  "Not really. He doesn't know about the baby, and he lives on a different continent for starters, and besides I don't believe that mating crap for one minute. He's a fucking bear. They don't mate for life like other animals."

  Emmi had blinked back tears, and Doc Wilson had smiled and handed her a tissue.

  "Whilst this is true, when you're talking about ordinary bears, the father of your baby is a shifter, and a powerful one at that, judging by his scent on you. I can smell the fact you are mated, so, whilst I don't know what happened to make you think he wouldn't care about you, or why he's not with you right now, I can reassure you of one thing. He will come for you."

  Emmi shook her head, as she recalled that conversation now. They all seemed so convinced that he would, yet how could that be? It was beyond frustrating, and no matter how much she'd grilled Maria on her knowledge about Cole Jackson, if that was indeed her Cole, Maria had refused to divulge any more information.

  At least Maria had stopped jumping every time her phone went. Anastasia had been safely delivered of two adorable boys and a girl three days after her visit to Emmi, and Emmi had simply dissolved into a pile of hormonal goo, when she had seen the triplets for the first time yesterday.

  They had to be the most beautiful babies she'd ever seen, and at just over five and half pound each, they were also huge for triplets. Anastasia had managed to have them naturally, and Emmi had felt like crossing her legs at the thought. At least she was only carrying one baby. The thought of giving birth to one was bad enough, let alone three.

  Anastasia had laughed at Emmi as she'd stared at them in wonder and had seemingly voiced those opinions out loud.

  "I won't lie to you and say it doesn't hurt like hell fire, but it's so worth it in the end."

  "They look, well, so, so…."

  "Human?" Anastasia had asked with a wink, and Emmi had wanted the ground to swallow her up.

  "That's because they are. They will shift eventually, but not yet. Some don’t shift until they hit puberty, and in the case of mixed parentage, as it were, they may never shift. I'm told it's a bit of shock to everyone when they first do it, especially when they are very young and do it, but I must admit I can’t wait to see if they'll be panthers or cougars."

  Anastasia was a panther shifter, whereas her men were cougars, as Emmi had learnt.

  "I don't give a hoot what they are," Jake had said and kissed Anastasia whilst Carter had taken the baby girl out of Emmi's arms.

  "I quite agree," Carter had said. "They're ours, and that's all that matters."

  Emmi had left them to it, both sad and hopeful at what was in her own future.

  A door opened and shut, and Emmi stopped breathing. She would recognize that scent anywhere.

  ****

  Cole inhaled slowly and pulled her scent deep into his lungs to calm his agitated bear. Finally, he was within touching distance with her again. When she'd run away like that it had felt as though one of his limbs had been ripped off of him and his heart had been torn in half. He hadn't been able to go after her, as his bear had been chomping at the bit to do. His responsibilities had lain in making sure Creek Fells was made safe.

  Every hour and every day that had passed since she'd left had been agony for man and bear alike. Thanks to his contacts at the council it hadn’t taken him long to track her down. There weren't that many animal conservationists in London called Emmi, and besides the fucker who booked that highly illegal tour through Creek Fells had sung like a canary when confronted with Cole's bear. He smiled grimly recalling the man's fear that meant he'd pissed himself and spilled all he knew. Cole's bear had wanted to rip the man's throat out for putting Emmi and the other humans on that coach trip in danger like that, but all he'd been able to see had been Emmi's face screwed up in disgust at the thought of him killing those rogue Weres.

  So, instead he'd contented himself with roughing the asshole up a bit and had handed him over to the authorities to deal with.

  He should have gone to claim her there and then, but he couldn’t be sure of the reception she'd have given him, and when he'd found out that she was carrying his cub, it had floored him. Cole still wasn't sure how she'd react, not only to his presence here, but also to the fact of who he really was.

  Pregnant women were volatile at the best of times, so he'd thought it wisest to give her time to adjust to her pregnancy. The fact that she hadn't shied away from the other shifters in her life, had in fact actively sought them out, and seemed to enjoy their company had given him hope that she wouldn't just serve him his balls on a platter.

  Sure, he could take her and use their mating bond to his advantage, but he wanted her to come to him willingly, not because she felt she had no choice in the matter. It would kill him to not be a part of her and the baby's life, but if that was her wish, then he would abide by it, and just protect her from afar.

  He took a step closer, and another, until he was so close to her that it took all of his self-control to rein his bear in. His jaws ached with the need to sink his teeth into her soft flesh and to reaffirm their bond. Instead he placed his hands either side of her on the glass on the window, bent his head and inhaled against her rapidly beating pulse point.

  Emmi moaned low in her throat, the sound so damn sexy that his cock threatened to test the endurance of his tailored suit trousers. A shiver went through Emmi's frame, and she turned slowly and pressed her back into the glass in a seeming effort to keep as much distance between them as she could.

  Her eyes widened when she took in his appearance, and she crossed her arms over her chest and balled her hands into fists, even as her heartbeat galloped out of control and her delicious scent increased. Cole breathed a sigh of relief that she still wanted him physically as much as ever, but he wanted her mind, her soul, her submission, her love, and he knew he had to earn that.

  When she finally spoke her voice was barely above a breathy whisper that made his balls tighten in need.

  "You came then? They said you would."

  "I came." He confirmed, desperate to lean in and to brush a kiss across her full lips, yet, still he held himself back.

  They stared at each other. Neither of them moved, not willing to give an inch. It gave him time to truly assess her. Already her pregnancy showed in the fullness of her cheeks and the inner glow that all pregnant women seemed to have. Faint smudges under her eyes told of the tiredness that came with early pregnancy, and his hands itched to cup her breasts. She'd gone up at least a cup size since he last had the pleasure of tasting the heavy globes, and he couldn't stop his bear's possessive growl.

  "Don't, please." Emmi's heartfelt whisper made his gut churn. He stepped back and bunched his hands into fists to stop himself from giving into his desire to crush her to him and kiss her senseless.

  She looked up at him and smiled. The mere ghost of a smile, yet it warmed his soul and his bear calmed. He would have to take it slow with her, but by God he would have her.

  The doors opened again, and the moment was lost.

  "Ah there, you are. Good, good, I see you've met Mr. Jackson. We're very fortunate to have secured him for the Bear Project."

  Emmi's smile grew strained, but she straightened her shoulders and nodded.

  "Indeed, if we're all here, perhaps we can begin."

  Cole had to give it to her. Not once during that long and exhausting meeting that followed did her professional persona slip, and his little Emmi had done her homework. He was here to fill in the gaps. As they hashed out a new strategy to get the resident bears to mate, he was all too aware of the quiet and oh so reassuring heartbeat of his son. Faster than Emmi's and indiscernible to the human ear, it was nonetheless a constant background that made him smile. I
t also reaffirmed what was at stake here, and made his bear whine.

  "Excellent. I'm so glad to have you on board, Cole."

  Emmi's boss smiled at Cole and shook his hand.

  "It's my pleasure to be here, Sir. And I am very much looking forward to working with Emmi." He hid his grin at the way she bristled, and his sensitive hearing picked up her muttered curse loud and clear, even as she fixed another one of those damn fake smiles on her face.

  "If that is all, I need to get back to London. I'm sure one of the others can show Mr. Jackson around."

  It was on the tip of his tongue to insist that it had to be her who showed him around, but something in the tense way she held herself and the beseeching look she threw at him, stopped him. Emmi looked exhausted and wary, so he smiled and nodded.

  "Of course, Emmi. Enjoy your evening, and I'll see in the morning."

  He held onto her hand for a few moments longer than was strictly speaking necessary, and Emmi drew in a sharp breath when he ran his thumb over the back of her hand. He released her, and she ran from the room as though the hounds of hell were after her.

  ****

  Emmi swore under her breath when her car simply spluttered and died. It had been temperamental lately, and she'd meant to take it to the garage, but somehow had never gotten round to it. The last two weeks had her nerves strung so tight, it was a miracle she still functioned at all. Working in such close proximity to Cole had proved to be abject torture. Not because he'd made any moves on her. No, that she could have dealt with. This was far, far worse.

  This constant presence meant she was in permanent state of arousal. If she got any hornier she would disgrace herself. Emmi had taken to carrying spare underwear to work, and judging by the glint in Cole's eyes whenever she came back from freshening up, he knew exactly what he was doing to her. Not that he once overstepped the professional boundaries, but it was there in the heated promise of his amber eyes, in his smile that reached deep inside her heart, and the quiet way he studied her when there was no one else around.

  Back at Creek Fells he had been devastatingly handsome, the bad boy she'd been unable to resist, but here, on her home turf, in his tailored suits and with his professional persona in place he was even more dangerous to her. In Creek Fells she could tell herself that this unreasonable attraction was a byproduct of the situation she had been in.

  This time ‘round she had no excuse. This attraction, this bond they shared just grew stronger with every minute she spent in his company. She found herself looking forward to seeing him every morning, to watch his expertise with the animals and people alike, and with every day that passed she knew she was falling in love with him a little more.

  Emmi thumped her head against the steering wheel and popped the hood of her car up. Not that she had any idea what she'd be looking at under there. Emmi could change a tire and do basic car maintenance, but the inner workings of an engine escaped her.

  A fine drizzle had started, and in no time at all, Emmi was soaked through, and try as she might she couldn't get a signal on her phone.

  Damn it all to hell and back. You'd think in this day and age one could get a bloody mobile phone signal wherever you were, but alas such was not the case.

  She might as well be in the middle of nowhere, not a mere thirty miles or so from London.

  Giving up on trying to get a phone signal, Emmi climbed back into her car and slammed the door shut. She had enough foresight to lock her doors, before she shut her eyes and gave into the demands of her body. She was just so damn tired.

  Chapter Eleven

  Something was wrong. His bear was positively itching to break through his skin, and Cole cursed under his breath. Emmi had left ages ago, but he couldn't shake the feeling that his mate needed him. The interminable round of meetings finally over, Cole took the stairs three at a time. Her faint scent remained and once in the fresh air he took a deep gulp of the dampness surrounding him, but it was useless. The earlier drizzle had turned into a downpour obliterating any trace of her.

  Cole forced himself to wave goodbye to the security guard and cursed the fact he was in England. Whipsnade might be in the countryside, but it was still too close to civilization to allow his bear free rein. Of course that meant that Emmi ought to be safe. His bear huffed at that thought, and Cole smiled grimly. He couldn't get through to her on her phone, which meant she had to be in a spot without reception, and by now she ought to be safely ensconced at home.

  Forcing himself to take it easy, Cole took the country roads at a crawl. With the rain now a sheet of water attacking his windscreen, visibility was dire, and visions of Emmi in a ditch by the road somewhere made his bear whine in distress.

  Where in God's name was she? Cole turned his Range Rover around and took the other route she could have taken. His heart stopped, and his claws ran out when he spotted her little car half on, half off the road, almost hidden by the foliage. He grabbed his waterproof jacket and stopped his car just behind hers, effectively blocking the road. Not that anyone else was around. His imagination went into overdrive seeing her slumped sideways. Her wet hair was plastered to her face, and even through the rain blurred glass he could see the bluish tinge to her full lips. She was altogether too still. Cole yanked on the door handles only to find them locked, and he circled the car and used the punch he kept in his jacket for emergencies and smashed the glass.

  Emmi didn't even flinch, and he reached across to feel for her pulse. A faint, but steady thrum beat under his fingers, and some of his anxiety left him. Clearly she had been caught in the rain storm when her car must have given up on her. The bonnet wasn't shut properly, and she was soaked through and far too cold.

  "Emmi? Sugar, can you hear me?" Cole shook her gently and bit back a grin when Emmi screwed up her nose and tried to slap his hand away. She mumbled something unintelligible in her sleep, and bear and man huffed their relief.

  "Let's you out of here, sugar, shall we? I'll come round and open the door. You'll get wet again, I'm afraid. This weather is foul."

  Emmi's eyes fluttered open, and recognition dawned slowly, until it kicked in with a vengeance and she hastily crossed her arms over her chest.

  Cole's smile deepened at her attempt to cover up. He didn't have the heart to tell her that it was far too late for that. The rain had rendered the material of her sensible work blouse see through, and he'd already had an unimpeded view of her luscious tits. Barely contained by her equally sensible white cotton bra they made his bear practically salivate, but for once his animal seemed in agreement with him, and happy for Cole to set the pace.

  There would be plenty of time to explore those curves later. For now he had to get their mate home and dry. She needed pampering, not hot sex.

  Cole shrugged out of his waterproof and handed it to Emmi. Instantly his shirt was soaked through, and her eyes heated as she ran her gaze over his chest.

  "Here, take this, sugar. It's not much, but it will help until I can get you in my car."

  She took the jacket off him with a grateful smile, and by the time he negotiated the slippery mud underfoot, and rounded her car again, she had zipped the thing all the way up.

  His lips twitched at the defiant look she threw him and the way she kept her eyes firmly trained on his chin. Her increased breathing and the delightful blush that stole into her face gave her away, however. He didn't need his shifter senses to pick up on those signals

  "It's pretty slippery out here, so I'm gonna carry you across to my car, sugar."

  "I don't need carry—argh." She thumped his chest when he picked her up in one easy move and pulled her out of the car.

  Rain pelted down on them, and she buried her head into his chest. The instinctive move gave him a warm glow inside, and he gripped her tighter and once he was out of the mud, covered the distance to his car in a few long strides.

  Emmi helped him to pull the passenger door open, and he slid her on the heated seat and sprinted across to his side. Slamming the door sh
ut he shook his head, causing water to go flying, and Emmi screeched.

  "Sorry, sugar. Here, let me turn the heat up, and we’ll soon be cozy."

  "Thanks." The murmured word hung between them, and he smiled at her.

  "No problem, rescuing damsels in distress is my specialty, don’tcha know. Car broke down?"

  Emmi nodded and stretched her hands out toward the air vents. Thank goodness for efficient air-con. As a shifter Cole didn't feel the cold like a human would, but his wet shirt was uncomfortable and he yanked it over his head.

  "What are you doing?" Emmi asked, and he hid his amusement at the near panic behind hid words.

  "Just getting comfortable, sugar. You ought to be doing the same. Your clothes are soaked, and you've been in them long enough, as it is. I've got a blanket in the back you can change into it and —"

  "You've got to be fucking kidding me. There is no way in hell that I'll get naked in front of you."

  She glared at him, and Cole couldn't help it, he laughed.

  "Sugar, I hate to state the obvious here, but I have seen it all before, and as much as I would love to jump your bones, you're tired and I need to get you home. You need to take care of yourself in your…"

  He let his words trail off, as she tensed and looked at anything but him. They hadn't acknowledged the fact she was pregnant yet. She must know that he could tell, so maybe that's why she hadn't said anything, but it was a huge elephant between them, that they would have to address sooner rather than later, so maybe now was as good a time as any.