Page 14 of A Beary Merry Christmas

Opening the upper corner cabinet, I grabbed my meds. I hated taking them but I was desperate. Downing my doses with a glass of water, I washed my hands at the same time as the cup and put it away, not bothering to dry it.

Abruptly my bear rose up, roaring at me. He’d been nudging me randomly throughout the day, wanting his freedom.

But I refused to give it to him. Not while she was here. I couldn’t risk it.

That didn’t stop him from trying, repeatedly.

I felt the familiar burn in my muscles as he fought to break free. Gripping the edge of the counter, I rebuffed, growling back at him, dominating the unruly animal until he submitted, if only temporarily.

He felt the same as I did. He wasn’t immune to the aches in my body that came with illness, but, for some reason, he wanted to pester me.

Giving one last warning snarl, I shoved away from the counter and headed back to her. I hadn’t expected her to stay the night, but I damn sure wasn’t about to wake her up. Because it would be cruel. And because I was a selfish prick.

I didn’t want to let her go yet. I wanted her for as long as I could have her. And, after today, I was hoping that would be for eternity.

Chapter Eleven

December 20th

Lora

Snuggling deeper into the warm, fuzzy blanket, I breathed easy. I’d never found a more comfortable spot in my bed.

Oh crap!

My eyes flew open as yesterday came rushing back to me. I barely tempered my scream as I saw exactly what I was cuddled against. Anxiety shot through my veins, my heart taking off like a racehorse.

Swallowing hard, I angled my weight on one arm, carefully extracting my other from around the large, brown Grizzly bear.

I took tiny breaths, trying to control my instinctive panic, doing my best not to do anything to awaken the animal. I was almost free when one paw pressed to my upper arm, holding me in place; its claws inadvertently brushed my skin.

Oh, God. My breathing became more labored as I wracked my brain for an escape.

Suddenly, I remembered Stone. Where was he?

Moving only my eyes, I looked around the room, a squeak erupting from me at the sight of his tattered clothes beside me, around the bed, and on the floor, too, I was sure.

My nerves quadrupled. Closing my eyes, I fought to remain calm and collected. But damn if my heart didn’t feel ready to pound through my chest cavity. And my lungs didn’t want to expand normally, fear slithering through every organ.

Something wasn’t adding up, though. Bears injured humans, could kill them from injury, but they didn’t devour them like a meal. We weren’t appealing to them in that way. So where was Stone’s body? The remnants of his clothes were here, but he wasn’t.

Opening my eyes, I weighed my options. In the end, I decided to risk it. In a loud whisper, I called for him. “Stone.”

The bear’s eyes shot open, and I swore it looked directly at me.

I felt my features twist as I attempted to stifle my reaction, to be deathly still.

Abruptly the bear rolled out of bed. The moment he landed on his paws, I leapt to my feet and backed away until…

My jaw slackened, my heart beating faster as I watched in utter shock and horror. It couldn’t be. It can’t-

I gulped for air, my eyes widening as he stood, no longer a bear, but a full fledge, sexy as hell, man. My man. The man I’d spent all day with yesterday, the last three months chatting with, and the night sleeping beside.

I kept gasping for air, but nothing was happening. My lungs refused to work. My heart refused to stop thundering. My pulse created an echo between each rapid heartbeat. My brain couldn’t-

I couldn’t-

I had to be dreaming.

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