Page 12 of Taken Home By the Grizzly

But maybe she likes rugged guys.

Hot mountain man, she called me, when she thought I couldn’t hear. Guess she’s right. Well, the mountain man part anyway. Tried to clean myself up a little before I went to see her though. Showered, brushed my teeth, trimmed my beard.

I was trying to look civilized. Then I almost screwed it up, because I couldn’t stop staring at her. At those pretty eyes, flashing with stress and frustration. At the sarcastic quirk in her lips. She’s struggling, but not letting it get to her. She hasn’t lost her sense of humor.

I want to take all that stress away from her. Let her know she’s not alone. That I’m here to protect her.

I went around the house, checking if there was an external entrance to the basement, so I could go in and fix the furnace without bothering her. But no. She’ll have to let me in.

When she trusts me.

They’ll be okay tonight. The kids aren’t gonna freeze. Even the little scamp who fell in the river.

But I want them to be warm and comfortable. Especially her. I want to wrap her up in my comforter. Press her up against my big grizzly chest.

Imagine that. Her naked between my sheets.

I’ve never had a woman before. Never thought it could be a part of my life.

Now all I can think about is burying my cock in her and making her mine.

I gaze at the stars, looking deeper and deeper into the galaxies.

Can I really allow myself to believe it’s true—that fate is smiling down on me at last?

Life has often seemed like one hard knock after another. I thought my whole family line was cursed. But is it possible this perfect little human could be my mate?—?

I go still.

What’s that sound? One rusted piece of metal grinding against another one.

A key, turning in a padlock. Then a muttered, “come on.”

Zoe’s voice. It enters my ears like the sweetest music.

I stop breathing, and my beast quits its relentless pacing, and I savor every little sound. Her sighs of frustration. A click as the lock slides open. A mutteredthank goodness.

Maybe she’s gonna drive somewhere. I tamp down on my eagerness, waiting, waiting.

Then I hear her footsteps in the snow, going slow. Downhill.

My beast surges inside me.

She’s coming.

I dash indoors,put my beer away. Brush my teeth fast—make sure my breath smells nice and fresh for her. Then I sit back down on the porch, and wait. My beast is desperate to run to her, of course. Lead her safely through the dark, snowy path. But I’ve got to rein in my animal impulses. It’s real important that I don’t scare her just now. I need her to trust me. To understand that I would never hurt a single hair on her head.

I hear her footsteps,crunch, crunch, crunchingthrough the virgin snow. Then I spot a little beam of light chasing through the forest. She must have brought a torch with her. Smart girl. I hold still, every nerve in my body aching for her. I’ve never wanted to see anything as much as I want to see her right now.

Here she is. Treading cautiously in her winter boots, wrapped up in a coat that looks like a big brown comforter.

Go to her,my beast insists.Snatch her up and carry her into the cabin.

I silence it with a snarl.That’s not how you treat a human female.However much I might want to. However much my cock is straining against my zipper, dying to get between her thighs.

Instead, I let her come to me.

At last, she arrives at the porch, uncertainty showing in those beautiful blue eyes. “I need your help,” she says.

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