Page 65 of The Grizzly Situation
“Yeah, I know. Still, they believe in Santa Bear, so why not your answer as to how you can’t shift?”
Uly arched his eyebrows. “Santa Bear?”
I nodded. “It’s a big thing here. Bear shifters from around the country come to celebrate. He brings gifts for the kids and we have a huge festival that lasts for three days, with all kinds of fish, berries, pizzas, beer, soda, wine. If you can imagine it, we’ll have it.”
“That sounds awesome.”
“Next year you’re welcome to come with us.”
“But I thought it was bears only?”
“You’re my mate. You’re the boys’ momma. I think that qualifies you as an honorary bear.”
And then Uly did something that made my bear sit up and take notice. He leaned against me, putting his head on my shoulder.
“I love it here,” he said quietly.
“Like I said, we’d love to have you stay. But there’s also something else I’d like to talk to you about.”
“Oh?”
“What would you think about dating me? I mean, I’d like to see you publicly, let the people get to know you. See the man who I’ve fallen….” Backtrack, idiot! “See the man I’d like to blend my life with. I mean, after all, you’re Momma.”
“Wanna know something? I fell in love with you during our phone calls. You were so kind, so considerate, and you never made me feel stupid, even when I wasn’t on the pills yet.”
I turned my head and kissed his hair, the scent of chocolate and coffee awakening my senses and making me hungry, but not for food. I wanted Uly to be under me, to show him what it means to love a bear and be loved by one.
“Brent, I—no.”
“No?” I asked, my stomach sinking.
“My whole life I’ve overthought things. The pills take an edge off, but when it’s something important, apparently I can still get lost in my thoughts.”
He tilted his head and pursed his lips. I knew what he wanted, and I was happy to give it to him. I tucked a knuckle under his chin, then leaned in and kissed him. It wasn’t as gentle as our first one, but probably wouldn’t be more than PG-13. Uly wrapped his arms around my neck and held on, whimpering as we clung to each other.
Then disaster struck as two eighty pound cubs pounced on us, knocking us backward onto the grass. I was amazed at how gentle they were being with Uly. Their claws could do him serious damage, but they kept them away from the tender flesh.Still, they needed to learn a lesson. I got up and stripped off my clothes, tossing them onto the ground. I noticed Uly staring at me, his mouth open, and his tongue darting out to wet his lips. Then I shifted and roared, the sonorous bellow echoing off the hills and trees. The kids, knowing they were being chastised, made a dash for me, whimpering and tucking their heads against my body.
Then Uly did the most amazing thing. He came over to us and tugged my paw, urging me to lay down. Afterward he took a spot beside me and cuddled the boys while ensuring there was a connection between the two of us. If I was in my human form, I wouldn’t be able to stop the words I wanted to say.
Uly, I love you too.
Chapter Eighteen
ULY
The entire flight back,my stomach was churning. That kiss? Like nothing I’d felt before. It was consuming, it was burning me up, and I wanted to have much more of it. In fact, I wanted to haveallof it. I’d been in love before. That loop-de-loop feeling every time you see the person. The quaking in your boots when they look at you. The swoon and sighs you need to contain so you don’t give yourself away? Yeah. Been there, done that.
But it was different with Brent. The other people I had been in love with? Infatuation at best. Brent? He was the real deal. I could picture something longterm with him. And why? Because it wasn’t just about sex, although seeing him strip out of his clothes a few hours ago? Yeah, that filled my head with some interesting thoughts and the fact they were crystal clear in my mind made me grateful for the pills.
I wonder if Dr. Ross could use my renewed interest in sex as part of his marketing campaign.
As we headed home, I twisted my head around and checked on the boys. They’d played hard, both in bear form and in humanform—and it still awed me to say that—and they were exhausted, each sleeping, Eddie with his finger in his mouth. I turned back to Brent.
“They’re such good kids.”
His cheeks pinked. “Thanks, I won’t disagree.”
“Brent, I?—”
