Page 83 of Bear Hunt

When he showed them to me after we arrived and were gearing up for the charity run, I may or may not have cried a little. Okay, I did. More than a little.

“Please.” I nod, zipping up my new black leathers with dark green and gold accents.

Taking his time, Bear carefully slides my helmet over my head, and I’m thankful for the braids that Mac taught me yesterday afternoon. With a softness that shouldn’t be possible from such a huge man, Bear tilts my head upward so he can clip together the chinstrap before he places a gentle kiss on the tip of my nose.

“Perfection.” He winks and lifts his own helmet over his head, quickly followed by sliding his gloves on. Everything he does is with precision, but it comes so easily to him, like he’s been doing this forever. Which, I guess he has.

I watch with curious eyes as he lifts one of his thick thighs over the saddle of his bike before gesturing for me to join him.

“Hop on, Baby Girl.” I jump when his voice comes through the helmet, then I hear his low chuckle as he holds out his hand. “I can hear you too.”

“Does that mean I can say something about how sexy you look on your motorcycle and you’ll hear it?” I take his hand and climb on behind him.

“Behave.” The single word is a low growl and with him between my legs, it’s difficult to not literally rub myself against him. I never knew I was such a sexual person, but with Bear, it’s like a never-ending need to be close to him at all times.

“What if I don’t want to?” I giggle when he growls again in response.

“You’re gonna get me into trouble if you keep doing that.” He squeezes my thigh and it sends a jolt straight to my clit.

“I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

His eyes crinkle at the corners before he flips the visor down and I see him shake his head, his helmet moving from side to side in front of me.

The motorcycle engine roars to life beneath us and the atmosphere grows into something almost magical. Bear told me there are a few of the brothers from the Montana chapter of the Sons, plus a couple from the revised New York chapter. They’re bringing up the rear, with the prez, Hoops, up front.

In the middle of the formation, the prospects, Kincaid and Jonesy, both have motorcycles with sidecars decorated to look like Santa sleighs. In one sits Ronald, the owner of the local hardware store. He’s dressed as Santa Claus and I’m pretty sure the white beard is real. He looks amazing. In the other sidecar sits Tori, Ronald’s wife, and she’s dressed as Mrs. Claus with a beautiful thick red coat. The kids are going to love it. If I had ever had the chance to think Santa was real, this would definitely make it more believable to me.

Gryffin is staying behind with Darlene, one of his nannas, the other one being Vanessa, but she hasn’t been seen for days. Not since Shade went missing. The event today almost didn’t happen. Bear told me that Vanessa was the one who insisted it went ahead, though, because she knew it meant everything to the kids in town. It was decided that most of the brothers wouldn’t be staying for the festivities after the ride so they could continue their searches.

The Khaos Khunts are also staying behind, but I can’t say whether I really care what they’re doing because I haven’t met any of them or spoken to them.

Engines rev loudly, echoing through the courtyard of the compound, before the president starts rolling forward and we’re off. Riding past the burned garages by the entrance is a little sad, but Bear assured me the brothers will have it all up and running again in no time. Something about Hoops playing collegebasketball with the guy who declares if the fire was arson or an accident. To avoid an investigation, it was officially stamped as electrical, allowing them to touch their insurance payout. Win win, they said.

My grip is firm around Bear’s waist as we hit the road, and I can’t contain my grin with the pure adrenaline flooding my veins. I know for a fact that Paxton is living his best life closer to the front with Sledge, it’s all he could talk about for the last couple of days. As we near the center of town, I can see the streets lined with people. Many of them are wearing some kind of Christmassy thing on their head, and all of them are grinning.

The speakers on the back of the sidecars are blaring Christmas music over the sound of the engines, making the people we pass dance to the tunes as they whoop and holler. This truly is a sight and feeling I’m going to treasure. Happiness fills the air, spirits are high, and it’s the first time… well, ever, that I’ve been excited about the holiday season.

Eventually, we pull up at the main local park, where stalls with cookies, cakes, and hot drinks are set up surrounding the wooden ‘Santa’s Grotto’ that Ronald’s apprentice built for today. The people who lined the streets followed behind the convoy of motorcycles, and as we all park, the area fills up pretty quickly. Ronald and Tori head off toward the grotto and the way the kids line up outside, ready for their turn, is the cutest thing.

Climbing off the back of the motorcycle, I tilt my head up in front of Bear and allow him to unclip my chinstrap before lifting the helmet off my head. My ears and face are immediately hit with a cold chill and I shiver. It was nice and warm in there.

“‘Thena! That was so cool. When I start school next semester, the other kids are gonna be so jealous. Have you seen Mom yet? Did she see me?” Paxton talks a million miles a minute, but the excitement is palpable in every movement as he steps from sideto side, his wide eyes glimmering with adrenaline as they dart from left to right in his excitement to take it all in at once.

“She’s just over there with Maribel at the hot chocolate stall,” Bear answers before I can, and Paxton is off like a shot toward her.

I watch as he approaches, talking animatedly with his whole body, and his mom’s grin is worthy of a picture. Oooh… I can do that!

“Be right back!”

Bear chuckles, giving my ass a light squeeze before I join Paxton, his mom, Kylie, and Maribel. The hot chocolate stall is self service, where Maribel has provided all the tools for people to grab their own drinks, but she insisted she’d be here to keep an eye on it and top up the boiling water in the large container when needed.

Pulling out my cell, I open the camera app. I don’t warn them before I press the screen to take a couple of photos. There are a few of Paxton and his mom, and some with Maribel too.

“What’re you doing?” Maribel chuckles.

“Documenting a wonderful moment.” I take another picture of just Maribel and we both laugh when I show her the image. It really did catch her at an awkward angle, but I love that.

“Mom…? Mom?!” Paxton’s panicked tone makes me shift my attention to him and my body freezes.

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