Page 6 of The Bear's Chosen Mate
Since when did alcohol go bad?But the liquid smelled horrible, and it tasted worse.
He upended the bottle into the sink and went for another one.This time he cracked the top more cautiously, taking a tiny sniff.
Bile rose in his throat.He flashed back to being about five years old, forced to eat a plate full of liver and lima beans.
Another bottle down the drain.
James rinsed the sink, then while the water was still running, he grabbed the moveable faucet head and pointed the cold water straight into his mouth, drinking thirstily.That at least, thank goodness, tasted fine.
Only, no matter how much he drank, it seemed his thirst wasn’t quenched.
Kind of like last year,dumbass, his bear nudged him hard.
Shut—
James froze.
The water that had been aimed at his mouth misdirected, spraying all over his face and upper body, drenching the T-shirt he’d pulled on.
It’d taken a while, but it finally sank through his thick skull that this was no ordinary flu bug.
It was the mating fever.
He turned off the tap.Headed to the front door and checked the lock and security system.Each task done methodically and with great concentration before crossing the room to settle on the couch.
Silence fell.He leaned back on the soft leather and stared up at the ceiling.
Mating fever.
The grin that took him was huge and satisfying.Finally.
Finally, he could go after the woman he so desperately wanted to be his.Now she wouldn’t be able to tell him he was simply playing around, not when he made it clear she was every answer to every question that had ever been asked.
If she wanted him a fraction of the amount he wanted her, this would be the beginning of a fan-fucking-tastic forever.
3
Damn bear.
Hours had passed, yet she was still daydreaming about James.
Kaylee had taken a roundabout trip to get outside, grabbing his clothing and tucking the pile away in her truck.Then she did as he’d suggested, snapping pictures around the outside of Borealis Gems before the weather turned.
It was over an hour later before she slipped back into the building and up to the office to track down herotherbest friend.
Amber Myawayan smiled at her from behind the executive assistant’s desk in the main office.Her eyes shone, and she was all but quivering in her seat.
“What’s got you so excited?”Kaylee asked.
“I found another lead on my brother,” the ebony-haired woman told her, shaking a thin slip of paper in the air.Then her lips twisted, and she made a face, a sad sigh escaping before she added the confession.“It’s not a verygoodlead, but it’s better than nothing, and I’ve been waiting such a long time for a break.Maybe I’ll actually find him this time.”
Kaylee stepped toward her friend.Amber’s deep brown eyes were so filled with hope, there was no way she could steal any of her joy.No matter that there had been nothing but dead ends at the end of each of Amber’s searches ever since she had come north two years ago looking for her only remaining family.
“If there’s anything I can do to help, let me know,” Kaylee said with as much enthusiasm as possible.
“I know you don’t want me to be disappointed again, but I have to keep hoping.”Amber leaned toward Kaylee, her long hair falling forward as mischief danced in her eyes.“You have a secret too.Spit it out,” she demanded.
For one panicked moment Kaylee wondered if she’d been talking about James out loud, then realized Amber was referring to the note she’d sent earlier in the day.
