RANCHER BEAR’S BABY(79)

I rolled my eyes. “Yeah, it means you get to cheat on your human girlfriend and use the word ‘mate’ to excuse it. I can’t tell you how many times my ex thought he found his mate. Of course, he absolutely had to take each of these so called mates for a test drive.”

A low growl rolled out of his chest and his eyes glowed bright gold. “You were made for me. Your ex sounds like a liar and an asshole. Bears know their mates immediately when they see and smell them. I knew almost instantly that you were meant for me. You smell and taste just like the wild cherries that I’ve loved since I found a tree growing at the back of my family’s property. I’ve never smelled anything sweeter or more enticing than you. I couldn’t possibly be confused by that.”

My chest ached, my heart was stupid enough to enjoy the words he was saying, but my brain had seen and heard it all before. “I’m not meant for you. One, I don’t want to be with another bear shifter. Two, I don’t want to be with someone who cheats on their girlfriend. Three, there is no three.”

“Fine. I’ll call and break it off with her.”

I screamed. Frustration bubbled up in me until I couldn’t handle it. “I need this job! I need to work. I gave up everything I own just to get away from my ex. I’m broke, homeless, and I’ve gained ten pounds since we divorced because all I can afford to eat is ramen. Do you know how much sodium is in ramen? Do you? I want to be able to afford a freaking salad! So, don’t you dare call her and break anything off!”





CHAPTER 6: John




I stared at my mate, wondering what the hell game life had decided to play with me. She was screaming at me, something about ramen noodles. She was also pretty intent on pissing me off by calling me names and mentioning her ex. I wasn’t the jealous type. I just wasn’t. I knew Mandy cheated on me all the time with pretty little Hollywood types, and I didn’t care. But something about hearing my mate talk about her ex set me off. I wanted his name. I wanted to rip him open with my bare hands.

My bear was clawing uneasily under my skin. He was pissed at me for making our mate angry. He was even more possessive than I was feeling right now.

“So, you want me to stay with Mandy?” It was asinine to even toy with the idea of not ending things with Mandy. All the tension I’d been feeling for the past few days was gone. My mate had miraculously found her way in my life against all odds, and I was ready right now to tell Mandy to stay in LA. I cared about her as a person, but whatever I felt for her was vastly overshadowed by the powerful feelings that flowed through me at the sight of Bunny.

Bunny. My mate’s name was Bunny. Who named their kid that?

“Yes. I need this job!”

“So, now you want to keep the job? I thought you were pissed at me because I’d cost you the job?” I made a big show of scratching my head and scrunching my brows. I knew I shouldn’t bait her, but she looked fucking delicious when she screamed. Her chest heaved and it made her breasts sway and jiggle in a way that had my dick straining at my jeans trying to break free.

She didn’t disappoint with her anger. She poked me in the chest and stomped her foot. “I have to keep this job. I’ll be back on my friend’s couch if I don’t. I can’t quit. I’m going to have to stay here, even after what happened.”

I bit my lip and fought a smile. I was being an asshole, but I couldn’t believe the gift fate had placed in my path. I had a mate. She was here. I was overjoyed, no matter the details that needed to be ironed out. “Good. You’re staying with me, then.”

Her cheeks burned and those dark green eyes flashed. “I’m not staying with you.”

“Also, what happened might be a little ominous. Why don’t we just call it what it was? We had amazingly good sex. The best I’ve ever had.”

Her cheeks blushed even darker and the blush traveled down her throat and chest. Her hands fisted and she looked like she wanted to punch me. Her mouth gave her away, though. She chewed on her lower lip, her tongue flicking out to wet it when her teeth released it. “The best?”

I tried to reach for her, but she realized what she’d asked.

“I didn’t mean to ask that. What I meant to say was that it definitely wasn’t the best for me, so there’s no reason to think about it again. We’ll just pretend like it didn’t happen.”

I did catch her that time. I pulled her into my bare chest and let her feel how hard I was for her. I ran my hands down her back and over the curve of her ass. I cupped each cheek in my hands and squeezed. Immediately, I could smell her arousal and I groaned as my dick hardened even more.