Bearllionaire(53)

“Ever since you asked me to accept the bear and the billionaire. I can’t help it. It sort of goes together.”

“Except it’s impossible to say,” he retorted. “Okay, got that out of your system? Good. Never say that abomination again.”

“Bearllionaire?” she joked, running a hand down his abs. “Why not? Bearllionaire, bearllionaire, bearllionaire.”

She giggled when he growled and flipped her over, pinning her hands over her head. No matter how big he was, he couldn’t threaten her. Not now that she knew her grizzly was more of a teddy bear. Unless someone threatened her, that is.

“Say it again. I dare you,” he said.

She bit her lip and a smile quirked the corner of her mouth. “Bear—”

He cut her off with a swift kiss and then proceeded to make her forget anything about the word bearllionaire.

Except it was an excellent way to rile him up in a most delicious way.

And luckily, it seemed she’d have forever to do that.





Epilogue





Three Months Later

It was a snowy, frozen day in spring when Janna and Ryder completed the mate claiming.

Janna’s friends were finally accepting that she really was doubling down on this whirlwind romance and marrying Ryder. And her family, though doubtful, didn’t affect Janna’s excitement for the future.

She wore white, like a wedding dress, because she’d wanted to look beautiful for Ryder on this most special day. The last few months had just justified her in her decision to be with him. Each day was more wonderful. That didn’t mean there were never disagreements, but that was okay between two people who were committed to staying together and who knew the overall relationship was more important than any one issue.

More than anything, Janna knew she was happier than she’d ever been before. Ryder had said the same, on occasion. Though he still tended to be stuffy and shy when overwhelmed with emotion. It worked for him in business and was a hard habit to break.

But every once in while, he could be mushy, vulnerable, in a way that melted her heart.

She wore a white faux fur coat that was thick and kept her wool dress warm. And thick white boots lined with lamb’s wool. When Ryder approached, in his bear form, huge and magnificent but with that familiar look in his eyes that made her heart melt, she sighed and walked forward.

“This is so stupid,” Riley said, putting a hand to his forehead. “How can anyone know they’ll be able to do this forever?”

Ryan quietly stuck out an arm and shoved Riley off the top of the mountain while they were waiting.

Riley’s shout turned into a snarl, and a few moments later, he came huffing over the ridge in bear form. “What’d you do that for, asshole?”

“You’re ruining their special moment,” Ryan said. “And the scenery.”

“Mph,” Riley said. “I mean, I get Janna is awesome. One of a kind. But I’m never going to understand wanting just one woman when you can have dozens.”

Ryan shook his head in disgust, but Ryder threw back his head and laughed.

“You’ll know it when it happens to you,” he said, taking another step closer to his mate so she could complete the ceremony. He loved that she looked at him with love. That she wasn’t afraid of his bear. Wasn’t intimidated by his success nor affected by it.

She truly accepted him for him, just as he’d accepted and wanted her from the moment he met her. And in a few moments, it’d be complete for forever.

“That’ll never happen to me,” Riley retorted.

If his brother would just shut up. “Does Ryan need to push you down the ledge again?” Ryder growled.

Riley snapped his mouth shut. “No.”

So watched by his brothers, one in bear form, one in human, they completed the ritual. Janna walked forward to his bear, whispered words as she caressed his face, and placed a kiss at the side of his face. His cheek.

In doing this, she was accepting his bear. Warmth soared through him even as a cold mountain breeze swept over the scene. After this, they would mate, as humans, somewhere private, and they’d be sealed together for life.

But more than anything, Ryder felt more accepted than he’d ever felt in his life, and as Janna pulled back and looked at him with sparkling eyes, he knew he’d found a happiness that he’d protect forever.

“I love you,” he said, transforming to his human form as his brother placed a blanket around him.

“I love you, too,” she said.

“Forever.”

“Forever.”

Riley coughed, and Ryan cleared his throat, and Ryder sent them both a glare that said they should get lost.

Five minutes later, two large grizzlies could be seen running helter skelter down the mountain.