Bearly Healed: Pacific Northwest Bears: (Shifter Romance)

by Moxie North

  Cassie watched as he didn’t react at all to what she said. So she continued, “I’m a tattooed little freak, and I like junk food and bad TV. In fact, in my spare time, that’s all I do. I sit around eating crap and watching crap. Sounds sexy doesn’t it?”

  Cass knew she sounded rude, worse she was being self-deprecating, and it was pitiful. But this man, this man deserved more than her. He was handsome, fit as hell, and wasn’t a loser. He had a house and a job and responsibilities. He deserved a Sally homemaker type. Someone who would meet him after a long day with fresh baked bread and a foot rub. That was not Cassie. Not even close.

  “Well, as long as you are sitting in my lap, eating junk food and watching TV, then I’ll be fine with that,” Cash remarked. He liked the idea of her sitting with him. He could keep her warm, pet her and cherish her. Nothing about that seemed bad.

  “And what would I do out here in the boonies? Any local tattoo parlors need a militant receptionist?”

  “You can work for one of the family businesses, or you can stay home. I have plenty of money; you don’t have to work if you don’t want to. If you want to go to school or take classes, you can do that. If you want to start a knitting club or volunteer, you can. You can do anything you want. From this moment on, I take care of you. I keep a roof over your head. I keep food in your belly, clothes on your back and ample funds for tattoos if you want to add to your collection.” This really was simple. He hoped if he kept laying it out, she’d see it too.

  “So, what, I’d be a mooch?” She looked at him like he was clearly out of touch with reality.

  “No, Cassie, you’d be mine. I take care of what is mine,” he said with a low growl.

  Chapter 17

  “Don’t you growl at me, Cash Rochon. You don’t get to be frustrated. I’m the one that gets to be pissy and confused. I get to panic and be overwhelmed. You have to take it. Because you understand this, and I don’t!” Cassie shouted at him. Her frustration and anger at the situation was making her start to cry. She always cried when she got mad. It was one of those horrible girl things she couldn’t control.

  Shit, she didn’t want to cry. She wanted to be tough and tell him off. Make him go away and let her stew. She needed to call Effie and have a serious fucking girl talk.

  A tear escaped and slid down her cheek. Cash let out a growl and placed a kiss over the tear on her face.

  “Baby, don’t cry. You aren’t allowed to cry,” he said near her ear.

  “Don’t call me baby. You don’t know me. You’d be better off calling me bitch,” she said, trying not to hiccup.

  “That will never happen,” he said quietly, placing a kiss just below her ear.

  Cass gave a shiver. She liked her neck being kissed, always had. Most guys didn’t take the time, wasn’t one of the two areas they were focused on to get what they want.

  “Like that do you?” he purred into her neck, giving her an open mouth kiss on her throat. He sucked hard in the hope of marking her as his. At least temporarily.

  Cassie couldn’t help the low moan that came out of her. The first strong suck on her neck had her womb clenching, and her pussy was drenched. She could feel her breasts swelling. Her neck was totally her ON switch.

  “That’s my sprite. Do you know how sexy you are? Do you want to know all the things I want to do to you?” Cash asked, licking a line up her throat.

  “Fucking hell, no I do not. You have to stop. We can’t do this,” she whimpered.

  “Why not? I’m your mate. You’re mine. This is the least we should be doing,” Cash said, kissing up along her jaw and placing a hot kiss on her mouth. Cash loved that her mouth opened immediately under his. She wanted his kiss, his touch. Cash just had to convince her brain what her body already knew.

  Cassie wasn’t thinking clearly. She really couldn’t with his mouth on her. But pushing him away? That didn’t seem possible either. How in the world was she ever going to get the upper hand with this behemoth?

  “Cash, I thought we were supposed to be talking,” Cassie mumbled against his lips.

  She heard him sigh and pull back. He tried to tuck her short hair over her ear again. It wasn’t going to stay, so he’d better get used to that move she thought.

  No! Damn it, she had to stop thinking like that. There wasn’t going to be a later or a future.

  “What do you want to talk about?” he asked, brushing his lips over her forehead, down over her scar, placing soft kisses on it.

  Cassie sucked in a breath when she realized where his kisses were heading.

  “Please don’t,” she gasped.

  “Sorry, Sprite, this scar is part of you. That means it’s mine to kiss better,” Cash told her. Now that he knew who she was, her scar wasn’t even noticeable to him or his bear. It was microscopic compared to the rest of her beauty.

  Cass’s heart stopped at the thought. He was kissing her scar, was that sick? Was it sweet?

  “It’s not going to get better,” she whispered.

  “Of course, it will. All your scars will fade. I hope to make your life so happy and comfy that you won’t ever worry about some little scars again.”

  Cassie’s anger shot up. “Little scars?” she said giving him a push away. When Cash moved out of her space, she reached for the bottom of her shirt and pulled it up, exposing the six-inch scar running down the middle of her stomach. This scar was wider than the one on her face, not having been treated by the plastic surgeon.

  Cash looked down at the angry mark. It was horrible to think of his mate split open, her organs exposed, her life hanging in the balance.

  “Baby girl,” he said softly. He leaned down and even though a pair of hands hit his shoulders and tried to push him away, he wasn’t deterred. He kissed every inch of that red puckered line. His bear was furious in his head, hating the pain that came with that mark.

  Cash let his head fall to her stomach after he’d traced the length of her scar. “Sprite, I will do everything in my power to ensure you are never hurt again. I know that sounds impossible, but I will wrap you in bubble wrap if I have to.”

  Cassie saw this giant man trying to take her pain away with kisses. Promising her something that was impossible. Nobody could keep you from getting hurt. Shit happened.

  “You can’t promise that. Nobody can. Everyone gets hurt,” Cassie said. She looked into his eyes, trying to show him that she wasn’t playing him. He was wearing every emotion in his eyes, and Cassie felt like it was her responsibility to protect him from the disaster that was her.

  “No, Cass, not everyone. I’ve never been hurt. I’m one lucky bastard. I have a great life, a job I love and now have found my mate. My bear is beyond the moon right now. I can’t wait for you to meet him.”

  Shit, Cassie forgot about the whole giant bear thing. “What kind of bear are you? I’m guessing there are kinds? I mean not everyone can be the same. Or maybe they are. What was that little one?” Cassie remembered it was brown and fuzzy.

  “Maizy is a brown bear. Oddly Mallory, her twin, is a black bear. Odd since they are twins, but the fates match us with the animal soul that matches us the best. Sometimes it’s obvious why two souls were linked. I’m a big guy. Maybe that’s why they matched me with a grizzly.”

  Cassie’s widened. She’d seen a nature show with grizzly bears. They were catching fish in a stream. They were tall and had huge claws.

  “Holy shit, those things are huge. Like fucking car huge!” she screeched.

  “Hey, I’m not as big as a car. More like a big boulder or… well, there isn’t really anything to compare to since most people use a bear as the thing they are comparing something to,” Cash explained.

  “Hmm, makes sense,” Cassie said thoughtfully. She couldn’t let him get to her. He was sneaky with all the kissing and talking.

  Cassie chewed her lip while looking at him, and then looked out the window. Edward had moved her bedroom around while she was getting her hair dyed this morning. The bed was pushed agains
t the wall now, and an overstuffed chair sat by the window. She could see the light was getting low in the sky, the twinkle of twilight on the horizon.

  She needed an out, some way to get him to take some time. Realize maybe he jumped the gun on this. Maybe his bear made a mistake?

  “Can you give me a few? I, uh, need to use the restroom.” She figured that would give her some privacy. She was sort of wrong.

  Cash stood up and scooped her into his arms gently, making sure her knee brace and leg were supported. “Tell me if this isn’t comfortable.”

  “It’s totally not comfortable! You can’t just pick people up, Cash! Put me down. I have my crutches. I can get around just fine, thank you,” she said, slapping at his firm, muscled chest. Shit, that was sexy.

  “You don’t need crutches if I’m here. Me carrying you, there is less chance of a fall. Besides you weigh as much as a kitten,” he said with a laugh. He loved having her in his arms. He could feel even as small as she was, her body was still curvy, or would be once she’d gained some weight.

  His bear immediately conjured up an image of her round with his child. Him sitting with her in his lap and feeding her until she was round and glowing.

  “I need to walk for my exercise. The PT said so. You don’t want to derail my recovery do you?” Cassie knew it was kinda of a low blow, but she was desperate.

  “I’ll be attending all of your PT from now on so I can learn how to help you with your exercises when he isn’t here. We’ll be doing them every day to get you better,” he said like it was a done deal. Cash turned and started walking to the door.

  “Do you have to duck through doors?” she asked, sidetracked as they got close to the door.

  “Often,” he answered with a chuckle.

  Cash pulled open the door, and Cassie caught a glimpse outside to the great room. She saw Connie, Edward, Wyatt, and Jinger all with their heads turned their direction. Cassie ducked her head into Cash’s chest. This was so not what she needed.

  “Shit,” she whispered.

  “I got you. This is all going to be okay,” Cash assured her.

  Cassie sooo did not believe him. This was a disaster of epic proportions. And she didn’t think she was being the least bit dramatic.

  Cash set her down onto the floor next to the toilet.

  Cassie didn’t even give him a chance. “Cash Rochon, you go outside and away from the door. There are some things in this world that are private. And this is one of them. Go,” she said pointing to the door.

  Cash kissed her on the tip of the nose and said, “I’ll go. But I can hear everything anyway. I’ll only stand on the other side of the hallway because I’ll be in here in half a second if you fall or need help.”

  “Good, super, now go. Scram, shoo, adios,” she continued as he walked to the door and closed it behind him.

  Chapter 18

  Cash walked into the hallway and didn’t just step across from the door. He moved down so he was leaning against the wall that led into the great room. He could see Connie and Edward sitting with Wyatt and Jinger. Cage was in the kitchen and came around to stand with his arms crossed looking at Cash.

  The air was silent, and Cash let it be. He didn’t need to explain himself. Everyone in the room knew the circumstances of what had transpired. He was waiting for them to tell him that she wasn’t ready or that he should back off. Cash was daring them with his eyes to give him any advice on how to handle his mate.

  Cage was the first one to say something. He walked up to Cash and offered a hand. Cash grabbed it and shook it.

  “You’ve got your work cut out for you man. But I have faith you’ve got this handled,” he said giving his hand a pump.

  Cash was shocked. He figured his Alpha would be all over him. It wasn’t like he could help who he was mated to, but that didn’t stop people from giving their two cents.

  “No warnings, no lists of things I should or should not do?” Cash asked incredulously.

  “No man, the fates gave you to her for a reason. She must need you more than anyone else in the world. If anyone can keep her safe, it’s you,” Cage said. His bear was close to the surface to show Cash that he was on board too.

  “Thank you for that,” Cash said, truly humbled by his Alpha’s faith in him. It meant a lot to him and his bear.

  “I put a call in to Dax. They are flying out. There was no way to stop them. Effie was on a tear and with her so close to her due date, he didn’t want her freaking out from afar. Better she be here with Cassie. Dax thinks she could have the baby here, and it would be better with Mom and Kenzi here for her,” Cage explained.

  “Makes sense. Cassie will like knowing Effie is on her way,” Cash said.

  “How is she taking it, dear?” Connie asked from behind Cage.

  Cash looked around his alpha to see the worried look on his Aunt’s face. “Guess,” Cash said.

  “I thought so.” Connie sighed.

  “I’m sorry Maizy scared her, Cash. She feels really bad, don’t you Maizy?” Jinger asked her daughter sitting in her lap. Maizy just clapped her hands and blew Cash a raspberry.

  Cash let out a chuckle. “I think her bear knows more than we do,” he said. He could have sworn he saw the little girl wink.

  “When is Dax getting here?” Cash asked.

  “He was going to arrange things tonight and tell Effie in the morning, so sometime around noon would be my guess,” Cage replied.

  Turning his head towards the hallway, he looked back at Connie and Edward. “Cassie’s done. I’m gonna be spending the night if that is okay with you.”

  “As long as it’s okay with Cassie,” Edward replied. He was giving Cash a hard look too. Cash understood and gave him a nod back.

  Giving a chin lift to the rest of the room, he made his way back to the bathroom. The door opened, and Cash took in a hobbling Cassie. She was holding onto the door frame for dear life. He let out a low growl to alert her that he did not like her walking unassisted.

  Cassie gave a very unladylike snort. “Like that scares me, you big bully.”

  Cash didn’t say anything. He just scooped her gently back into his arms and walked her back to the bedroom. Cassie was smart this time and didn’t look into the room with the curious eyes.

  He kicked the door closed behind them, and when Cassie expected him to lay her on the bed, he surprised her by turning and sitting down on her bed with her still in his arms.

  “What the…” she started.

  “Shh, I need to hold you. We need to hold you,” he explained to her.

  “I don’t get it. I feel like I’ve taken too many meds. I’m tired and freaked way the hell out, Cash,” she admitted. Her brief time alone in the bathroom made her head spin. It was all too much in too little an amount of time.

  Cassie knew enough about shifters that the whole mating things was pretty much beyond their control. Effie once told her that Dax admitted after they had been together that he loved her from the moment he saw her. Like truly loved her. Cassie couldn’t fathom that. You didn’t fall in love at first sight.

  Sure you made snap decisions on whether you’d take a guy home from a bar. You made snap decisions to get a tattoo. But you couldn’t fall in love at the drop of a hat. Love took time and sacrifice. At least that’s what she’d always assumed. She’d never been in love. Of that, she was sure. Not even close.

  That wasn’t exactly true, she admitted to herself. She loved Effie. She’d die for Effie; take a bullet for her. If she didn’t have her best friend, she knew she would wither and die. Or worse end up like her mother. And yes, ending up like her mother was worse than death. That was a life that she hadn’t completely removed herself from, but she wasn’t actively seeking. Thanks in large part to her bestie and her bestie’s mate.

  Now she was sitting on the lap of a man that dwarfed her by probably weighing triple what she did and had to be at least two feet taller than her. By the bulge of his erection underneath her, she knew for sure that part wou
ld never work out.

  She was trying to think while she sat rigidly on his lap. But the soft firm stroking down her back by a big warm hand was clouding her brain.

  “Stop rubbing me, Mr. Handsy,” she groused though there wasn’t a lot of force behind the demand.

  “No.”

  The rubbing continued.

  “You can’t just say “No.” Someone says stop touching them, common decency says you stop,” Cassie scoffed.

  “No.”

  The rubbing continued.

  “Seriously, bossy britches. You need to go out there and deal with the rest of your nosy family and let me take a pill and pass out for a while.” Cassie was starting to think it was an excellent idea.

  “Are you in pain?” Cash asked, worried that moving her around had hurt her.

  “Just in my ass,” she murmured. Then she felt the shake of his laughter under her. She totally didn’t want to admit she found him funny. Bossy, but funny.

  “So, do you have your clothes special made by a team of tiny squirrel shifters or is there a local big and tall store just for the Rochon family?” Cassie figured if he wasn’t going to leave her alone she’d use her patented obnoxious Cassie routine to get what she wanted.

  “I manage just fine. There is an internet connection even out in the woods,” Cash said, still chuckling.

  “So there are squirrel shifters, interesting,” she said clucking her tongue.

  “Not that I’m aware of, Sprite,” he answered. He didn’t care what she wanted to talk about. Hell, she could sit and curse him until she was blue in the face. As long as he had her on his lap and in his arms, he and his bear didn’t give a shit.

  “Is your mom bowlegged?” she continued.

  “Excuse me?” Cash was caught off guard by that one.

  “You had to fucking wreck her when you were born. I wanna know if she’s recovered. How the hell does somebody give birth to a bear as big as you?”