Bears of Burden Complete Series Box Set

by Candace Ayers

  I laughed again and shrugged. “I don’t like to draw attention to myself, but I like to feel sexy. Even if it’s obvious that I’m not. My own mate can’t stand me enough to pop my cherry.”

  Allie’s anger came raging back and she poked her finger into the top of the desk while she spoke. “He treats you terribly. He’s such a douchebag to you. It never would’ve occurred to me that he was your mate. What the hell is wrong with that man? I’m going to beat him senseless.”

  Georgia nodded. “I agree. We won’t kill him, but we’ll fuck him up. No one gets away with hurting our resident freaky librarian BFF.”

  I pushed her shoulder, making her tumble onto her butt. “Shut up.”

  She laughed and caught sight of the book hidden under my desk. “Adventures in Anal?”

  I nodded. “It’s a good read. It would be helpful for you, I bet.”

  She tucked it under her arm and grinned. “Wyatt thanks you.”

  Allie stood up. “You can’t just sit in here pouting all day. You need to get out and do something fun. Close this place up.”

  “I can’t. It’s never been closed on a day that wasn’t pre-scheduled.”

  Georgia waved her new book in my face. “I’m willing to bet it’s never been used as a naughty book exchange, either.”

  Allie paused. “That’s a good idea, actually. A naughty book club.”

  I felt the first smidge of excitement since Hutch had walked away the night before. I loved reading and recommending books to other women. I liked the idea that I could help them spice up their love lives and have more fun. “Do you think women here would come to that sort of thing?”

  They both laughed, loudly. Allie nodded finally. “The women in this town have to deal with the sex drives of shifter men. Everyone would come.”

  I stood up and grabbed my bag. “Okay. Let’s do it,” the new Veronica was all about skipping work today and starting some sort of dirty book exchange club. “I know a girl back home that sells sex toys. Maybe we can bring something like that in, too. Right now, anyone in Burden who wants one has to either drive to Dallas or order it online. Lord knows online ordering is a mistake waiting to happen. It’s impossible to judge actual sizes online.” Allie and Georgia were frozen, both staring open-mouthed at me. “What?”

  They looked at one another. Allie snorted, and Georgia burst into peals of laughter. “Then it’s a plan,” Allie said, taking my arm. “Now, come on. We’re going to show you a good time today. We also have to plan how we’re going to pay Hutch back.”

  Allie looked at Georgia and then at me. “He has to pay.”

  I bit my lip and then nodded. “Okay.”

  12

  Hutch

  Sterling strolled into the garage and paused when he saw me. “Jesus, Hutch. You look like shit, man. You should get more sleep.”

  I cut my eyes in his direction and growled.

  Byron, a guy who’d worked for me for years, popped his head up from the engine of a Mustang and shook his head at Sterling. “Dude, don’t poke the bear here. Get out if you’re going to make him any grumpier than he already is.”

  “Fuck off.” I slammed the wrench I was using down and crossed my arms over my chest. “Did you come around for something other than giving me beauty tips?”

  My little brother had always been able to push my buttons and that moment was no exception. “You’re a real mean son of a bitch, aren’t you?”

  I roared. “If one more fucking person calls me mean I’m going to lose my shit! Byron, get back to work! Sterling, get the fuck out of here!”

  Byron’s head disappeared but Sterling stayed where he was. “Going to lose your shit? What’s your deal, man?”

  I grabbed a rag and wiped my hands on it. “You got something else to say?”

  He rolled his eyes. “Yeah, actually, I do. I thought you might like to know that I saw Ronnie, Allie, and Georgia all racing out of town in your truck. Ronnie was behind the wheel, looking hot as hell.”

  I felt my blood pressure soar and my eye start to twitch. “What?”

  Sterling’s grin was a shit-eating one. “I said I thought you might like to know that I saw Ronnie driving your truck like a bat out of hell with Allie and Georgia riding next to her, and she looked hot as fuck. Talk about a sexy librarian, damn.”

  My eye twitch got worse and I felt my body heat with anger. “Don’t call her hot.”

  “That’s what you’re pissed about?”

  “No! Fuck! How’d she get my truck?”

  Sterling shrugged. “No clue. You didn’t loan it to them? You going after her?”

  I looked around the shop and swore. “I can’t. This place is swamped.”

  “Let me help out. I’ll work while you chase them down.”

  Normally, I’d never agree. My shop was my responsibility. My truck wasn’t easy to handle, though, and the idea of Veronica losing control of the big machine and flipping it had my blood turning ice cold. She could get herself hurt… or killed.

  “Fine. Ask Byron what all needs done. I’ll be back.”

  I ran out of the shop and hopped on my bike. I revved the engine and then sped off in the direction Sterling said they’d gone. There was one road out of town. I hoped they weren’t going too fast for me to catch them.

  I wasn’t ready to face her yet. I didn’t know what to do or say to her. I wanted her, damn what red-blooded man wouldn’t, but she and I were so completely mis-matched. She was smart, one of those brainy girls. I didn’t even think a dumb-ass like me could make her happy. If she knew that we were mates and what that meant to a shifter, and that I’d been rejecting her for over a year, none of that would matter anyway, she’d never agree to be with me.

  I pushed everything from my head and focused on the road. I had to find her. Before she wrapped my truck around a tree.

  13

  Veronica

  I should’ve felt bad for tricking Hutch like we did, but I just couldn’t. As soon as Sterling saw us and ran off to tell his big brother, the way we’d planned, we turned around and I drove the truck right back to his house. Then, we went to the Georgia’s new place and spent an hour trying on the clothes she’d had shipped from her home on the East coast.

  When we were all dressed up, we settled around on her and Wyatt’s couch and drank margaritas while reading erotic novels we’d picked up from my house.

  “The man is this book is so hot. He’s pushy and bossy in bed, but doesn’t impose on the rest of her life with that shit. So hot.”

  I looked over at Georgia and made a face. “The guy in my book is so hot to me because he actually wants the woman.”

  Allie snorted and then made her face serious. “Sorry. He’s going to come around, and then he’ll be sorry for ever messing things up with you.”

  I crossed my legs and rested the book on my knee. “I don’t know. He hasn’t in over a year. I have my doubts he will suddenly have a change of heart.”

  Georgia wagged her finger at me. “He hasn’t had you in his face. You made it easy for the coward by hiding from him. He’s destined for you. He can only fight it for so long.”

  “Destined? Well, destiny was drunk when he or she put us together. The man can’t stand me.”

  “I doubt that. He’s obviously got some issues. Hutch always seemed so serious. When he’s with the guys, it’s like he pretends to be all light-hearted and fun, but I’ve noticed that when they’re not looking, he loses the smile sometimes. Maybe he just needs a hug or something. Not that I’m excusing his behavior. He still has to pay. But, after he pays, maybe he could use a hug from you.” Georgia shrugged. “That or a kick to the nuts.”

  I didn’t like the thought of him being sad. It fit him, though. The times I’d spotted him moving around, he always looked focused and intense. I chalked it up to him being busy, but maybe he was sad.

  I bit my lip. “Maybe we shouldn’t mess with him too much.”

  Allie patted my leg. “Have another margarita. You cle
arly need it if you’re already forgetting how shitty he’s been to you. He’s got to suffer a little bit, Ronnie.”

  I thought of the plan we’d concocted. “You really think this is going to work?”

  She nodded. “It’ll work.”

  I took another long drink and laughed. “If it doesn’t, I’m going to feel so stupid.”

  Georgia lifted her head from where it’d been buried in her book. “God, this sex scene is crazy. I wish Wyatt was here.”

  Allie faked a gag. “Don’t give me any details, please.”

  Georgia gasped. “You made Ronnie detail what she did with Hutch earlier!”

  “It was the first time she’d ever ridden a guy’s face. I needed to hear what she thought!”

  I felt my body tingle at the memory and groaned. “Let’s not talk about that anymore, just in case this plan fails.”

  They rolled their eyes and went back to their books. I picked mine up and pretended to read, but all I could think about was the fact that I’d left my romantic life in the hands of two women who both tended to venture a little too far off the deep end.

  14

  Hutch

  I was going to kill her. Veronica was as good as dead.

  I parked my bike behind my truck and growled. It was close to midnight. I’d missed an entire day of work chasing her, or so I thought, around the state. I’d gone all the way to Dallas and back trying to find her. I’d been worried the entire time, until I got a call from Sterling asking why I hadn’t come back to the shop after I found my truck.

  She’d been fucking with me. Had me running around like a chicken with its head cut off. I was past feeling remorse for running out on her the night before. I wanted to turn her over my knee again and spank her ass raw. Only, she’d probably like that.

  I jerked on the truck door and swore like a madman when it didn’t budge. I never locked my truck, and always left the keys in the visor, two habits that would change now, after Veronica’s cute little trick. I looked in and saw the keys sitting on the seat next to a piece of paper with a little smiley face drawn on it.

  I cursed even louder and hopped back on my bike. I was going to find her and teach her a lesson about fucking with me.

  I drove straight to her house and when I didn’t find her at home, headed to the bar. I was still in the worn jeans and grease-stained white T-shirt I’d worn to work that morning. I was tired from being on my bike all day and I knew I probably looked like nothing short of a lunatic as I stormed into The Cave, but I was long past caring.

  What I found managed to raise my blood pressure even more.

  Veronica was sitting in my chair at my table. Not just sitting in my chair, but sitting on some poor fucker’s lap in my chair. Poor, because I was about to rearrange his goddamned face.

  Sterling, Sam, and Thorn were sitting at a table next to ours, looking sour and worried. Allie and Georgia and a few other women were also at the table with Veronica, all looking smug.

  Veronica had too much skin showing. She was all legs and cleavage. The white dress she wore was tiny and parts of it seemed to be missing. Her short hair was shiny and silky looking and the asshole she was sitting on was touching it.

  I released a deafening roar before I knew what I was doing and stomped towards the asshole. His head snapped in my direction and he looked up at Veronica. Whatever she said had him scrambling out from under her and out the back door of the bar.

  I was torn between chasing him and ripping each of his fucking limbs off and scooping Veronica up so she couldn’t cause me anymore grief. I settled on her.

  She’d resettled in the chair and looked perfectly relaxed. Her legs were crossed towards me and I could almost see her panties, the dress was so short. My dick hardened and I couldn’t focus on anything else in the room. Everything around us faded as I zeroed in on her.

  “Well, hey there, Hutch. You look like you could use a cold beer. Long day?”

  She was teasing me. Teasing.

  Without hesitating, I grabbed her around the waist and tossed her over my shoulder. I covered her ass with my hand and turned to leave. Thorn was standing in my path, a pissed look on his face. I countered with a look of my own. “Not right fucking now.”

  He glared at me, but in the end, he could see I was in no mood to be fucked with. “We’re going to be having a long talk later, brother.”

  I kicked the bar door open and carried her through it, without a fight from her. She actually seemed to be laughing. “You’re a pain in my ass, woman.”

  Her hands cupped my ass and squeezed. “You ran my date off.”

  I dropped her next to my bike and glowered down at her. “You had a fucking date? After last night?”

  She faked a yawn. “Last night? What was last night?”

  I climbed on my bike and scooted back slightly so I could drag her on. I positioned her in front of me and then started the bike. “Reach back and hold onto me.”

  She lifted her hands in the air and then brought them down around my neck. Arching her back, she looked at me over her shoulder and bit her lip. “That man had plans to help me out with a certain problem I’m having. You ruined them.”

  My voice was just a growl as I spoke. “What problem?”

  She giggled. “A private one. Take me home and I’ll tell you all about it.”

  I looked down at her exposed neck and the thought actually crossed my mind—just mark her. Give her a claiming mark and put myself out of my back and forth misery. I couldn’t do it, though.

  Angry as hell, I tightened my thighs around her and took off. I meant to drive to her house, but somehow I ended up in front of mine, parking behind my truck again. I’d never brought a woman home to my place, but there we were.

  Veronica waited for me to climb off and then seductively swung her leg over the handlebars like she’d been a stripper her whole life. The move got to me. It made me a little crazy, actually. One minute, she was sliding off my bike, and the next, she was over my shoulder again.

  “I can walk, you know. Also, this isn’t my house. I thought you were going to take me home.”

  I growled at her and swatted her ass. The smell of her arousal immediately hit me and I stumbled. “I took you here.”

  She trailed her fingers up my back, as high as she could go, and then raked back down. “Are you kidnapping me, Hutch?”

  I carried her straight to my bedroom and tossed her onto the bed. I didn’t know what the fuck I was doing. I was past the point of reasoning. My bear was calling half of the shots and my dick was calling the rest. “Do you feel kidnapped, V?”

  She purred and turned over so she could crawl up the bed on her hands and knees. Her ass swayed seductively and my mind blanked. She looked back at me over her shoulder and bit her lip. “Maybe you should tie me up. It’d feel more genuine that way. Then I’d really have something to write about in my diary.”

  Fuck, I had to unzip my pants. My dick was trying to punch its way through my jeans and it was getting painful. Something about knowing how innocent and inexperienced she really was, and hearing the dirty shit that was coming out of her mouth made me hot. I doubted she even knew how far she was pushing me.

  She went up on her knees and pouted at me. “Help a girl with her zipper, would you? I want to get more comfortable.”

  I stayed where I was. It wasn’t a good idea to get closer. “You looked pretty comfortable in that dress at the bar.”

  She grinned. “That’s because I had a comfortable lap to sit on.”

  That was it, I was pushed too far. I closed the distance and crushed my lips to hers in a bruising kiss. I locked her short hair around my fist and held her close to me. From that close, my senses were overrun with her. Her taste, her smell, her softness, it all worked together to break through my last shreds of resistance and carry me past the point of no return. A man was only so strong.

  15

  Veronica

  Poking the bear had been the girls’ idea and I was going to
shower them with gifts when I got out of Hutch’s house. I kissed him back, fighting for dominance because I knew in his current state, it would goad him even farther. I wanted him to stop fighting whatever he was fighting and just give in to fate. If it required me to play a little dirty, I could do that.

  His grip on my hair tightened and he pulled my head back, exposing my throat. His teeth and beard left scratchy red marks as he slid his mouth down it, ending with a long swirl of his tongue in the hollow at the base. “Did he kiss you?”

  He hadn’t. I could barely stand to sit on the guy’s lap, but Hutch didn’t need to know that. “Who?”

  “The fucker at The Cave. Did he kiss you?” he growled.

  “Kiss me where?”

  He growled again, and worked the zipper at the back of my dress. I hoped he didn’t rip this one, too. “Anywhere. Did he kiss you anywhere?”

  I giggled and shrugged. “Don’t remember.”

  Hutch sank his teeth into my shoulder, through the dress, and then trailed bites and kisses down my arm as he pulled the strap down. “I’ll kill him.”

  A thrill went down my back and I pushed at his chest. “You don’t have any claim on me.”

  He moved the other strap down and covered my chest in heated, open-mouthed kisses. He opened his mouth and tried to take as much of my breast in as he could, only to slide his mouth off nipping and clamping his lips over my nipple sucking hard. “You’re covered in my marks. Your skin is red from my teeth. Your mouth is red from my kiss. Your hot little pussy is probably still sore from me. Your body is covered in my scent. It’s me you want buried between those sweet thighs. It’s me you want. I know it is. That’s a pretty big fucking claim, I’d say.”

  Lord help me, but I loved when he talked dirty. Maybe I was a freak. “What a claim,” I teased, “It’ll all fade. I could find another guy next weekend. He’d have no clue that you’d ever been where you are now. And maybe he’ll be able to have sex with me.”