Page 8 of Snowed in with the Bear Shifter
Oh, but he did. She didn’t seem to realize that he wanted to know about every aspect of her life, from the shampoo that made her hair smell so amazing to a comprehensive list of everything that pissed her off.Start small, Roarke,he told himself.She doesn’t need to know that you’re completely and utterly obsessed with her. That would only freak her out.
“Whine away,” he said, striving to keep his tone light and airy. “We’ve got beer, popcorn, and explosions. They pair well with annoyances.”
With a snort, she finished off her beer. “If you’re going to listen to me bitching, we’ll both need another drink.”
Before he could offer to get it, she disappeared into the kitchen and returned before her spot got cold, handing him a fresh drink. His pulse sped up as she snuggled back against him under the big blanket with a sigh.
Reaching up to tap her bottle against his, she said, “Early this morning, I went into the shop and found my Solstice-slash-Christmas tree denuded.”
He tried to be supportive and not to laugh at the utter disgust and irritation in her voice. “‘Denuded?’”
“Stripped it bare of its fairy lights, all its ornaments, and even the star I’d put at the top. Stupid, sanctimonious relatives.” She growled and shoved some more popcorn into her mouth. “They didn’t used to be this bad. But in the last few years, they’ve gotten almost unbearable. Now, they’ve got all these old-fashioned ideas about how to be a ‘true witch’, ridiculous rulesabout what we can and can’t do, how we need to celebrate the high holidays.”
The more she talked, the more animated she became. It was fascinating. “Rules that don’t include any sort of modern decoration, I’m guessing.”
“Yep,” she said, her hands flailing. “It’s ridiculous. The cool thing about the craft is that it’s malleable, flexible. It allows us the opportunity to better work with what we’ve got.”
“Why do you think they changed so much?”
She shrugged, her body sliding against his. “Maybe they got involved in a cult or something. My aunt and cousins have always been followers, desperate to be a part of the big, fancy covens but never invited.”
“And you?”
“Nah. For one, Stonyburn doesn’t have enough practitioners for a full coven, and for two, I’ve never been much of a joiner. My magic isn’t very strong or splashy, but it’s perfect for small healing spells and to give my products an added bit of oomph,” she said, her ponytail sliding over his chest as she shook her head. “I’m happiest making products to sell in my shop than trying to do any big workings, but that’s not good enough for them. And I loved my Christmas-themed tree and my fairy lights. But they had a shit-fit when they saw it.” She huffed and then went on a rant about ossified witches with giant sticks up their asses who didn’t respect others’ boundaries or seasonal choices and who always had to get their way even when they were completely in the wrong.
He let her rampage on about her visiting family, making appropriate noises and wholeheartedly agreeing with the awfulness of people he’d never met and would prefer never to meet.
At last, she ran out of steam. “Anyway, I had to get out of there before I said or did something I’d regret.” She let out a little huff and drank the rest of her beer. “Thanks for listening.”
“Anytime, El.”All the time.
She gave him a look through her lashes, plucked his empty from his fingers, and set both bottles on the table. Then she straddled his thighs and brushed her lips over his.
7
ROARKE
Instinctively, his hands went to her hips. “El,” he growled.
She pulled back slightly and grinned. “What?” She booped his nose playfully. “You don’t like me kissing you?”
“No, it’s not that.” Never that. He’d dreamed of kissing her for years, and even that brief butterfly kiss was more than he could have imagined. His fingers tightened on her waist.
“Then what?”
How could he tell her he was afraid? He knew how large and intimidating he was, how he could clear a room with a growl and a swipe of his paws. And he was a Marine who’d seen some bad shit, dammit. But she still scared the hell out of him. His mate was not only a savvy business owner but also gorgeous, capable, and a free spirit. What did she need with a big lug of a bear who preferred his solitude?
Framing his face with her hands, she said, “It’s just kissing, Roar. Nothing more.” Her lips grazed over his. “It’s just… I’ve wanted to kiss you since before dinner.”
“I’ve wanted to kiss you since high school,” he said quietly. “Did you know that?”
A small smile flashed across her face. “I suspected. But you were so quiet and shy back then. I didn’t want to embarrass you by saying anything.” Her thumbs stroked the heavy scruff on his chin. “Do you still want to kiss me?”
With each gentle touch, his cock stiffened until it pressed painfully against the zipper of his jeans. He knew she could feel it, too, because she gave a little wiggle, a sparkle in her eyes.
“I think you do want to kiss me,” she whispered, kissing the tip of his nose. “But I think you’re afraid. Do I scare you, Roar?”
A growl worked its way up from his chest. “No,” he lied.
