They held impressive rifles in their hands, aiming at Jeremy as he walked out.
“Let her go, Spencer.” Jeremy snarled.
Spencer’s face contorted into a black grin, sneering, “No, I don’t think I will. See, my father may be dead now, but I still have connections. I can still make money doing what I do best, and with that rack?”
He added, turning to look at Emily with a starving expression.
Emily shivered. “She’ll sell really well.”
“Your connections are gone, Spencer.” Jeremy hissed.
“My team made sure of that. You think I’m here alone? Think again. We’ve been working for years against your people, working in the dark and making sure you had nothing to go to after everything went down. It’s over.”
“You think a guy like me can’t meet new degenerates?” Spencer laughed.
“So long as this world spins, buddy, there will always be a client to sell to. So after I put a bullet in your head, I’m going to take my time with her. I’m going to enjoy her for myself fairly well—if you haven’t already… and after that? I’m going to sell her for a pretty penny.”
“Like hell you will!”
They heard, and when they turned around, Emily let out a shout.
Something bright whizzed past her ear, landing with a thud against her captor. The man released her immediately and when Emily turned around she saw a dagger protruding from the man’s head.
Screaming, Emily scrambled away, before turning to see the source of the newest danger.
The other men beside Spencer had similar knives in their skulls, and when Emily looked up, she saw her mother, bleeding and gasping but angry.
“YOU BITCH!” Spencer roared, pulling out a pistol from his back pocket and firing at her.
Emily screamed, seeing her mother grip to her shoulder before collapsing backward.
Jeremy was moving like lightning, and when Emily looked she saw his body begin to shift and change. At first, she was convinced it was a trick of the light, but it was undeniable.
Jeremy was changing.
In seconds, the man she had grown to love had turned into a large beast, letting out a deafening roar at Spencer. Emily’s step-brother let out a shocked yelp, falling backwards as the Bear lunged for him.
In a moment, she heard Spencer scream, heard him shout for his life before his screams ended without warning.
The bear huffed and growled, pushing away from the fallen man’s body before shifting once more. Emily stared, frozen, when she saw the bear shift back into the shape of Jeremy.
He hurried toward Lisa, his hand clutching to the wound at his side before arriving to her mother’s fallen body.
“Chief!” He exclaimed.
“Chief! Come on!”
The reminder that her mother was wounded snapped Emily into action and she was running towards where Jeremy was holding to the woman’s body.
Emily let out a sob of relief when she arrived, seeing her mother staring above in a dazed expression.
“Jeremy,” Lisa murmured.
“You didn’t… shift did you?”
“Yeah, Chief.” Jeremy admitted. Emily’s head spun.
“Sorry… but it was the only way I could get an advantage over Spencer.”
“Is he…?” Lisa asked, trailing off.
Jeremy nodded, his mouth covered in blood.
“Thank god.”
When Lisa glanced down and saw Emily, the younger woman made a motion to reach for her mother, but didn’t dare approach after what she had seen, what she had heard.
“Emily,” Lisa breathed.
“Are you alright?”
“She’s fine, Chief.” Jeremy said.
“Where’s the team?”
“They should be on their way soon,” Lisa explained, wincing as she held to her shoulder, blood staining her fingers.
“I’m fine. But we’ve got to get going.”
“Mom…” Emily croaked out, half sobbing.
“Is it over? Are we safe now?”
Lisa smiled at her daughter, “Yes. It’s over.”
When Jeremy glanced up at her, Emily couldn’t help but pause to take a breath. Yes… the worst was over… but not this.
Chapter 7
Lisa Abernathy survived the bullet wound, and long after the team had been debriefed was Emily finally face to face with Jeremy. It had been several weeks since the events that happened in the forest, and Emily couldn’t help but stay silent even after Jeremy appeared at her door.
Emily had moved into her mother’s apartment on the basis that she would watch over her mother and get more information that had been missed out.
Emily had demanded to know more about Jeremy’s situation, why he had been able to change into an animal, and why they had kept quiet about it.
All Lisa had said was that there had been an experimental trial in the military that had been used in secret to strengthen soldiers. Instead, it had a side effect… but Lisa said the rest was for Jeremy to explain.
Sure enough, he appeared and Emily had been torn between jumping in his arms and slamming the door in his face. So, she let him in, allowed him to sit across from her and waited for him to speak.
“I was a volunteer,” Jeremy began, his eyes downcast.
“For a new development in the military. We were told it would be a medicinal trial that would help us heal faster from wounds, be stronger than our opponents, be less susceptible to disease… I had been a private at the time, fresh out of Military school. The experiments had been long and many of my comrades had died… I had been given a specific dose that would test my abilities to sustain it… instead it gave me the ability to transform into an animal… a beast. I was told I would need to sacrifice everything for my job… for my country. So I took it. I didn’t realize they meant I needed to sacrifice my humanity as well.”
“Eventually, the project was canceled and they threatened to kill me—because I had such an ability that couldn’t be tested safely. Until your mom appeared. She and the Director, insisted to take me on in the FBI, saved my life.”
“They said that I would be allowed to live so long as I made sure to be monitored. For years, I’ve lived under their care, and I’ve been able to control this ability more and more. It’s because of your mom that I’m alive and well.”
“What none of us expected was that I would also experience more… pronounced urges because of my other nature. When I met you, I liked you… I still like you… but when you kissed me… I realized how much I needed you. How much I desired to have you… claim you.”
“ You were so willing, and I had never experienced such a level of desire before… so I wasn’t able to stop. I don’t want to anyway… because I truly do care about you, Em. I want to be with you, but if you don’t want to be with me, just say the word and I’ll leave.”
“Of course I want to be with you, jackass.” Emily cut in, surprising him.
“You think after saving my life not once but twice I could ever forget you? I want you too.”
“Emily,” Jeremy breathed. Emily shook her head before standing up to him and taking hold of his hand.
“Come on,” Emily said.
“Wait… you’re not mad at me?” Jeremy sputtered.
Emily rolled her eyes, “Of course I am. I’m pissed the hell off. But I also know you’re going to make it up to me, and you’re going to do it right.”
Jeremy stared at her, flabbergasted, before he suddenly moved and pressed his mouth hot on hers.
“Oh god, Emily,” he laughed against her mouth.
“I thought you were going to hate me forever.”
“Don’t tempt me,” she snapped, but returned his kisses with equal fervor.
Swiftly, Emily led Jeremy into her room, their clothes flying behind them the more their fingers touched skin to skin. There was an honest happiness beginning to rise within Emily’s chest as Jeremy kissed her, made her want to hold on to him and never let him go.
As
he entered her, the two let out shared sighs of relief… of home.
And as he pumped into her and she rocked back into him, Emily realized what this happiness was.
“I love you,” She gasped in his ear, moaning hard as he caressed her breasts.
“I love you.”
“I love you too,” Jeremy replied, thrusting into her a little faster, a little deeper. His movements were not frantic now, but deliberate, drawing out pleasured hums and mewls from her throat until she was clamping down on him and begging him to keep going.
Together, they came hard around one another and as Emily pressed kisses to her lover, she noticed how his underwear hung over the doorknob of her bedroom… and she found she much preferred regular doorknobs over obnoxious ones any day.
***
The Playbear’s Offer
Ashley Hunter
Copyright 2015 by Ashley Hunter
All rights reserved.
No part of this publication may be reproduced
in any way whatsoever, without written permission
from the author, except in case of brief
quotations embodied in critical reviews
and articles.
This is a work of fiction. Any resemblance to any
person, living or dead, is purely coincidental.
First edition, 2015
Chapter 1
Rosalina’s cell phone rang.
That alone was enough to make her suspicious. Her family had no money, and she could only afford the most basic cell phone plan. Fortunately, it came with unlimited texting, but very limited minutes. Everyone knew not to call her.
When she picked up the ringing cell and checked the display, it said the name of her county, but nothing else. Her first instinct was to ignore it, and she set the phone back down.
But what if it was some kind of an emergency? Now afraid it that she was missing the call, she snatched up the phone.
“Hello?”
“Rosalina Carvey?” a woman asked on the other end.
“Speaking.”
“I’m calling to inform you that your father has had a cardiac arrest.”
“Oh my God,” Rosalina said, covering her mouth.
“He’s alive, but we need you to come down and fill out some paperwork. Is your father allergic to any medications?”
“Not that I know of, no.” She knew he’d been sick, but she had no idea it’d gotten so bad. Shortness of breath, chest pains, dizziness. She’d always assumed it was just exhaustion because he worked so hard.
How could she have been so blind?
“I’ll be right there,” she said as she stood from the table and went to get her things.
The nurse gave her the room number to ask for. The next four hours were spent filling out paperwork at the county hospital, speaking with doctors and nurses.
As much as she wanted to stay by her father’s bedside in case he woke up, she couldn’t. He worked for the richest family in the city as their chef. Rosalina was studying to be a chef as well, having won a scholarship to the local culinary academy.
Occasionally, she would take over shifts for her father, as his health would prevent him from making it in. The family was understanding and allowed her to take over, despite the fact they were a bit callous in the way they treated him and his health.
As it was his health insurance that would barely cover his current stay, and if it went longer than a few days, the bill would quickly grow to astronomical heights. If he lost his job during that time, she didn’t know what they would do.
After heading home and gathering her things, she headed over to the Florence house to take over the rest of her father’s shift. It would be rough balancing work and her studies, but she could manage it for a little bit.
Her father was a tough man. There wasn’t a doubt in her mind that he’d pull through and be on his feet in no time.
He had to.
Mrs. Florence had been very kind when Rosalina showed up, and showed real concern about how her father was doing. Apparently, he’d lost consciousness in their kitchen, and had to be rushed to the hospital.
Rosalina did her best to stay positive, and explained she’d be taking over for him while he was in the hospital.
That night, as she cleaned up after cooking them dinner, Reginald, the Florence’s son, came home from wherever he’d been that day.
The man was ridiculous. In his early thirties, he still lived at home with his parents. Of course, it wasn’t like there wasn’t room. The place was a literal mansion.
When Rosalina was a child, she used to get lost walking the halls. Even now she wasn’t familiar enough with the house to wander it with total confidence.
Reginald was a womanizer if there ever was one, and had tried time and again to get into her pants. At first Rosalina had been young and naïve, flattered by the attention of such an extremely handsome man. Once she realized all he wanted was to claim her as yet another conquest of his, she refused to acknowledge his existence.
Now, after all these years, she watched him go through girl after girl. It was like they were tissues and he had allergies.
Psh, allergic to commitment, more like.
There was a distinct bitterness shared between them. In fact, he was the reason she was still a virgin. After the close call she’d had with him, Rosalina had become quite protective of her maidenhood.
She quickly grew wise to the ways of men, and she decided that she was more valuable than just getting off. Any guy could come along and claim she and all her curves were beautiful, but it took a real man to accept her refusal to have sex before she was ready.
So far, no one had been man enough to step to the plate and wait to swing.
“You cooked tonight, huh?” Reginald asked, walking to the fridge.
“Your parents seemed to enjoy it,” she said defensively, knowing an insult was incoming.
“Uh huh, I’ll have to watch out for hair in the leftovers.”
Rosalina sighed and rolled her eyes.
“I don’t know why you won’t think of some new material. It’s really getting old.”
Reginald closed the crisper drawer and pushed the refrigerator door closed with his hip.
Taking a large bite out of an apple he said, “Yeah? Then stop putting hair in my food.”
“I haven’t yet. Not me or my father. We take precautions.”
“Tell that to the hair …”
“That hair you found was blonde!” Rosalina grabbed up a handful of her own long chocolate locks.
“What does this look like to you? Huh? I have my father’s hair.”
“Bleached by all of the chemicals you put in the food.”
Rosalina grunted in frustration and let it drop, going back to straightening up. There was no point in arguing it any further.
He was just doing it to get a rise out of her anyway. After she refused to respond to his prodding, he eventually left her to her work.
Chapter 2
The next day Rosalina did a quick check on her father’s condition, which hadn’t improved, and then back to the mansion to fix breakfast.
It was as she was studying just before lunch that her phone rang again. It was the nurse again. Rosalina’s father was getting worse, and the procedures to fix what was happening would cost more than she and her father both made in three years.
What was worse was that if they didn’t perform the surgeries now, they’d lose him. The choice to authorize the hospital to do whatever they had to was an easy one, but as soon as Rosalina hung up the call, she cried.
The sense of overwhelming terror at how much everything would cost crashed over her in a torrential wave of anguish. Even if they were able to save him, what sort of life would he be living?
With the hospital bills, and school, not to mention all of their living costs, she just couldn’t do it on her own. She’d have to drop out of school, which was for certain.
There was just no way she could pay for it as
well as everything else. That means she’d never advance in her career. It would never get better. This would not only end her life, but make whatever time her father had left miserable. He’d be filled with guilt at ruining her chances at building a better life for herself.
All through her childhood he apologized for their situation and pushed her to excel in everything she did. No matter what, he would see that she lived a better life than the one he could provide for her.
Now things were about to get worse.
“Making a tuna sandwich isn’t that complicated, is it?” Reginald asked from the doorway.
Rosalina was so startled by the sound of his whiny, arrogant voice that she screamed.
Reginald cried out himself and put a hand to his chest.
“Good God woman, it wasn’t that hard of a question was it? Or do you have something against tuna?”
“Not now,” she said, keeping her face down. If he saw her tears, there was no doubt he’d dig his hooks in and drag her all around the emotional landscape.
When she heard him laugh, she knew it was too late.
“Oh my God, are you crying?”
“Go away, Reggie.”
“Hah! You are. You’re actually crying. What was it this time, huh? The latest episode of…”
The sentence trailed off as he saw her clutching her phone so tightly that the plastic casing squeaked under the pressure.
“Hospital?”
Rosalina glanced up to him, giving him her hardest glare, and then looked back down at the coffee table she’d been studying on, and nodded.
Reginald flopped onto the large reclining chair across from her, one leg dangling over the arm. As if toying with her, he reached one long finger out to pivot her book so that he could glance at it, then pushed it back into place.
“He gonna pull through?”
He asked it as casually as he could, like he couldn’t care any less, but there was a definite note of concern in the question. Somehow, that surprised her more than anything else he’d done in the last seven years.
“Maybe,” she said, but her lip began to quiver and she didn’t trust she could get out any more words without breaking down again.
Romance: Bearilicious: BBW Paranormal Bear Shifter Romance Collection (Werebear, Bear Shifter, BBW Paranormal Romance) Page 22