She flushed. She knew he was just being protective because it was his duty, but it was hard not to take it personally when a man was caring like that.
Just for a moment, she pictured what it would be like to have that protective man forever.
She couldn’t even imagine how wonderful that would be. And how terrifying. Because if she ever came to trust a man like that and he abandoned her, like Corey had, she didn’t know how she’d survive it a second time.
Her hand tightened on Riker’s arm, and he looked down at her with raised eyebrows.
Even his eyebrows were pretty. She took a moment to look over his jaw, shaded by stubble, with a gentle cleft that was just more masculine. The straight nose that was slightly crooked at the top like maybe it had been broken a long time ago. Why hadn’t she noticed that before?
They reached his truck, passing several groups of shifters on the way, who merely gave a friendly wave, and he opened the door for her and helped her in.
It was very lifted, and as she buckled her seatbelt, she laughed at the fact that it would be hard to get in on her own.
“What’s so funny?”
“Your truck,” she said. “It makes me feel short.”
“You are short,” he said, giving her a grin.
Straight, white teeth flashed, but the overall look was slightly predatory, and she felt her pulse speed up again.
Hot or not, this man was half animal.
She eyed his nose. “So have you ever been in a brawl?”
He shook his head. “Well, not the Bear Canyon Brawl, if that’s what you mean. There’s no rule against us entering, but I think it would be frowned on. Conflict of interest.”
“So you just put this on every year, but you don’t participate.”
“Right,” he said.
“What do you get out of it?” she asked.
“It’s tradition,” he said. “My father oversaw it, and his father, going back generations. People need it.”
“Do they?” she asked. “Because it seems pretty brutal and outdated.”
“Maybe our way of life is outdated,” he said, tilting his head as they took a turn. His hand was draped over the wheel, his muscular arm relaxed as he drove. “But that doesn’t mean it’s not worth preserving. And besides, who am I to be the one to stop it?”
She sighed. “I don’t know. It just doesn’t seem like you like it.”
They pulled up in front of a little cabin with a sign hanging over the door. The windows were lit, and she could see tables inside.
“We’re here,” he said, getting out and coming around to open her door.
She nearly stumbled as she got out, and he caught her in his arms, righting her easily, making her feel small and safe and heated all at the same time.
As he helped her stand, she didn’t want him to let go.
“I…” She trailed off, staring into his eyes.
He took her hand and pulled her up the steps to the restaurant. “Come on. Let’s order so we can get back before it’s too late.”
She nodded and let him pull her into the restaurant, heart pounding, palms sweating.
Too late? Maybe for her it already was.
Riker eyed his date curiously. She’d been acting weird since they got out of the truck. No, even before that.
He could tell she was attracted to him. That was normal for human women. She’d be attracted to any shifter, more so one that was kind to her. Protected her.
And protecting her was easy. Natural.
She looked beautiful tonight, her curly red hair soft and natural and down around her face and shoulders. She wore a dark-pink sweater that zipped up to just below her boobs and a tank top that gave just the hint of soft cleavage. Her skin was creamy and pale, dotted with freckles, and it had the charming habit of sometimes going pink whenever she caught him staring.
As the waiter came and took their order, he found himself captivated by the movement of her mouth as she spoke, the gesturing of her small hands as she asked about the specials, her captivating smile as the waiter, male, made a joke.
Jealousy instantly rippled through him, but he pushed it aside. She was his to protect, not his in general, and no human waiter posed a threat.
He was calm by the time she turned back to him, resting her cheeks in her palms and giving him a calm smile.
“I like it up here,” she said. “Secluded. Is this part of Bear Canyon, the town?”
He nodded. “Just on the outskirts.”
“So when you aren’t doing the Brawl, do you live in town?”
He nodded again. “I have a house there. Easier to keep an eye on things.” He also owned a good deal of most of the businesses since his family had settled the town and owned the land.
“Must get lonely,” she said quietly.
He thought about it. “Maybe,” he said. “I definitely don’t get pretty dates very often.” Damn, he sounded awkward. “Like you I mean.” Even worse, more awkward.
She gave him a warm smile that made him feel at ease again, and they talked until dinner came. As they ate, they talked about nursing, how she’d gotten into it, what she liked about it, and how she’d quit.
He tried not to show his anger at her ex, who was clearly the controlling type of jerk that broke a woman’s dreams for his own selfish reasons.
But she seemed like the type who wouldn’t let a man do that to her, so what had happened?
“Uh-oh,” she said, raising an eyebrow. “What is it?”
He loved the shape of her green eyes, slightly tilted at the corners. Her small nose. The little dent in her top lip, too small for his thumb to fit there. “What do you mean?”
“You’re looking at me with that judge-y face again.”
“Judge-y?”
“Stern,” she said, pointing to her brows as she pushed them down. “All angry and intense and Neanderthal-y.”
“I guess I just don’t get why you let that jerk drag you down,” he said. “You had something you loved, and as you proved today, you have no problem telling someone to shove it when you want to do something right.”
She sighed. “It’s easier to fight back when it’s for someone else. Their needs come first. But when it’s someone you love and they’re asking something that seems reasonable…”
“And that’s reasonable?” he asked. “Making you give up your dreams?”
“My job,” she said. “Don’t mix them up.”
“Your dream job,” he said.
“I liked nursing,” she said. “But my dream was finding the right man and settling down.” She rested her cheek in her hand again. “Maybe that was my problem.”
“No,” he said. “But for future reference, if a guy wants you to give up your career for him, maybe make sure he proposes first.”
She sat up a bit, narrowing her eyes. “Oh?”
Uh-oh. Tricky waters. He swallowed. “I mean, that makes it less likely that you’re going to give up everything for someone who leaves you high and dry, right?”
She glared. “So it’s my fault?”
“No,” he said quickly. “I don’t know. I’m screwing this up. I’m just sorry that happened to you, and if it were me, I’d never take away something you loved. I’d make sure there was a way for you to do it, no matter what.”
She eyed him. “So if you find a woman and you want to settle down with her, you wouldn’t bring her here?”
He blanked at that, rubbing the slight growth of beard he really needed to take care of. He found it itchy but also found it made him a bit more intimidating to the other shifters than when he was clean-shaven. “I guess that’s why I never planned on settling down,” he said. “No woman would want to be here.”
She looked around. “I don’t know. I think it’s pretty beautiful. If my perception wasn’t colored by being dumped here, I might think it’s a nice place to stay.”
His heart felt funny. “So you wouldn’t now?”
Her lashes lowered and then lifted, and
her gaze was inquisitive. “Why do you ask?”
Good question. Why was he asking? This couldn’t go anywhere good. “Finish up,” he said. “It’s getting late, and I have to get up for fights tomorrow.”
She sighed, pushing her hair back to reveal a perfect, white little ear that was begging for him to put his teeth on it.
Every time he noticed a new part of her body, he seemed to be thinking of what he could do with it.
He’d never been so tied up by a female before. Given, he didn’t interact with many. Just a few that worked in town, most of whom he’d grown up with. They didn’t get new people often, and most women weren’t eager to eke out a living in such a remote place. They wanted family, community, and he didn’t blame them.
It did get kind of lonely up here.
“You’re a mystery; you know that, Riker?” she asked as they stood to leave the restaurant and he extended an arm for her to take.
“I am?”
“Yes,” she said as they walked out onto the soft, bark-strewn gravel that made up the parking lot. She looked up at the full moon, bright and high above the tall evergreens all around them and sighed.
“How so?”
“I just feel like there’s something always pent up in there,” she said, not taking her eyes off the moon. “Something waiting to burst out. Like you’ve been waiting for something.”
For you, something inside him said.
His throat went tight and dry.
She turned to him with a smile and gestured for them to keep walking. In the moonlight, she seemed to glow.
Her body was luscious, from her softly rounded shoulders to her long, curvy arms to her generous breasts, feminine belly, and wide, kissable hips. She was all femininity, and it was too dangerous for her to be in this town.
He wanted to just wrap her up and protect her from everything. Even the gaze of the moon.
She seemed to sense something was bothering him and walked closer. His entire body tensed as she came into his bubble. She stopped directly in front of him and looked up.
“There’s something between us, right?” she asked quietly.
He didn’t know what to say. He kept his body rigid, aware of their size difference, wanting to protect her from everything, including himself.
She ran a hand up his arm. He’d never felt anything so good in the whole world. She watched his reaction, and her lips curved. “You want me.”
He nodded tightly.
“You can have me,” she said.
He shook his head. “That’s not a good idea.”
She stepped back, hurt. “Why not?”
“Because it’s like you said. I can’t bring someone up here. And bear shifters don’t mess around. I’m not doing that.”
“Not even if we could at least enjoy something between us and see where it went?”
He shook his head again. “It’s not a good idea.” Even if his body was thrumming from the want of it.
She let out a disappointed breath and stepped back a bit, wrapping her hands around her body. When she looked up at him with flashing, disappointed eyes, it tore at his heart. “Not even a kiss?” she asked.
He took a step forward, heart rate escalating. “It would be a bad idea.”
She put her hands on his arms. Moonlight streamed over her, making her look like some sort of fairy. Like a fairy, she’d just appeared in his life. Like a fairy, she was causing all sorts of mischief.
And all he could think was he was glad she’d come.
Her hands moved up to his biceps, touching, impressed. She reached up to trace over his nose, the slight bump left there by his father.
Before he knew it, she was in his arms, right up against him. “If you haven’t been in the Brawl, how did you get this?” she asked. “Sorry if that’s rude.”
“No, it’s fine,” he said. “I’ve been in brawls. Just not the official Brawl.”
“With who?” she asked. “How did this happen? Another shifter?”
He nodded. “I don’t want to talk about it. Not all brawls are for sport.” And not all scars were physical.
“Sorry,” she said, leaning her head on his chest. “I just want to know more about you. I don’t even know why.”
“I know the feeling,” he said, praying for restraint as he put his arm on her back, hoping to comfort her. Or give whatever she needed.
“I feel so safe with you,” she said. “You’d never hurt me.”
“Of course,” he said gruffly. “But you really should stop this.”
She stepped back with a sigh. “You aren’t going to give in, are you?”
“I don’t want to hurt you,” he said. He didn’t want to get hurt.
Sure, she might want a taste of a shifter, but when it was over, she’d go back to civilization, to the life she should have had if her douchebag ex hadn’t interfered. If he let himself get involved with her, he’d be the one left brokenhearted in the woods.
And she had every right to leave.
“All right,” she said, putting a hand through his arm. “Let’s go back.”
A part of him ached with what could have been, what it would have been like to take her in his arms.
Kiss her.
It echoed through him so when they reached the truck, he couldn’t resist turning her and pressing her lightly against the cab, pinning her hands with his as his lips came down to take hers.
She let out a gasp that was caught in the kiss and then melted in his arms, letting him hold her against the truck. Her lips were warm, soft, tasting slightly of cinnamon. Her scent was fresh, floral, a hint of musk.
Her arms were soft. Everything was soft compared to his hardness. Everything was small compared to his size. He’d never felt more of a man than when he was kissing this woman.
He’d never wanted a moment like this not to end.
When he pulled away, his whole body burning from the restraint he had to use not to keep going, he saw she was equally affected. Flushed, lips parted and damp, eyes slightly glazed.
There was something between them all right. An attraction so hot it could burn them both to the ground.
“Let’s go,” he said in a husky voice. He opened her door and helped her in and then walked around to his side.
Just a few more days. He reassured himself as he got in. He could hold on that long, right?
6
Two days later, Ana didn’t think she could hold on much longer. Riker had been avoiding her since the kiss the other night, but it was all she could think about.
He’d been so powerful, tender, and an exquisite kisser. For just that moment, he hadn’t been holding back, and she’d felt everything about it. Felt like she was seeing into his soul.
He was such a lonely person. When they were alone, she could feel it. When he was working with his brothers, he seemed good at hiding it. Business gave him a way to distract from the fact that he was basically alone most of the year.
But she knew that was the problem. He wasn’t going to leave this place, and he didn’t seem keen on getting anyone to stay with him.
Sometimes it made her even angrier about what Corey had done to her, leaving her there in the woods. Because the more time she spent with Riker, letting him show her around the town, eating dinner with him and his brothers at night, letting her into his world, the more she was falling for a man who was determined not to let her.
Speaking of Corey, she realized she really shouldn’t wait any longer to take down the campsite they’d set up together. She hadn’t wanted to think about it, look at it, but it was a nice tent, and there was some nice equipment there. No sense throwing it all away just because she hated her ex.
Riker had agreed to take her out to do that, and she was just waiting for him to come back from the last fight before lunch so they could have a break to go do it.
She checked her watch, a sporty blue one with a rubber wristband that she’d bought specifically for the trip, and sighed. He was late.
&nbs
p; She opened the front door, knowing he wouldn’t approve, and shielded her eyes as she looked out in the glaring sun to see if he was coming.
She saw a couple shifters talking not far from the house. They waved in a friendly way, and she waved back, thinking, from her experience, most of them weren’t as bad as Riker made them out to be.
He was oddly possessive, refusing to let her come to the fights, even with him there to watch her. He and his brothers took turns spending time with her most of the day, and she was coming to really enjoy all of them.
Rock, with his off-kilter sense of humor and ability to say whatever he was thinking without filtering it first. Ryland with his shy, intellectual manner and semi-obvious crush on her. Both were good brothers to Riker, whether he noticed or not.
There was an odd feeling between them, and though they all acted lighthearted and focused on business, she could tell there was something about them all being together in this place that had them all out of sorts.
It made sense since two of them had moved away and only came back as needed. So why had Riker stayed?
She saw a pair of broad shoulders shimmering in the sunlight as their owner came closer. Blond hair, that cocky, self-sure bearing that made everyone else question themselves. Tight jeans on lean hips. Work boots on big feet.
And as he got closer, a handsome face with a wicked, crooked grin.
Her heart forgot to beat.
“You ready to go?” he asked, wiping a sheen of sweat from his tanned forehead. “I’m sorry. The fight went late.”
“Who won?” she asked. She’d been following the fights on her own, placing her own bets against Riker and the others.
“Francis,” he said. “But barely.”
“Yes,” she said, following him as they headed along the tree line toward the forest. “Francis can’t lose! We believe in you, Francis.”
He grinned down at her. Was it just her or was he smiling more lately? “You’re silly.”
“Someone has to be. This whole thing is silly. A bunch of bears fighting in the mountains over nothing.”
“Over money,” he corrected.
“Hmph,” she said. “Over nothing.”
Sheltered by the Bear (Trapped in Bear Canyon Book 1) Page 5