Read Online Wilde Bear (BBW Paranormal Shapeshifter Romance) (Blue Bear Rescue) by Terra Wolf, Holly Eastman - Free Book Online
Authors: Terra Wolf, Holly Eastman
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Laurel out by the hand. He’d never met a more infuriating woman, of that he was sure. But despite her penchant for arguing and calling him out, he couldn’t escape her. Even when they were apart, she was all he saw. He’d close his eyes, and there she was. Waiting for him to put the past in the past. To stop being afraid to choose someone, even if it meant sometimes putting them first.
It was getting easier, though. The more time he spent with her, the more clearly he could see his future. His crew, his job saving people, and Laurel. His life could be a balance. He could do all of those things and still love Laurel the way she deserved. One day very soon, he’d find a way to tell her that. To make her believe it and let her give him a chance at it. She wouldn’t make it easy on him, though.
He already knew what he wanted. He wanted her. But if these past few days were any indication, it was going to be an all-out fight to get her.
Chapter 9
M ack’s Brewery was loud and full of locals by the time Laurel pulled up with Xavier. He found a parking spot in the rear of the lot, away from the other cars and patrons. She cast him a quick look when he didn’t move to get out and found him frowning at her in the twilight. His chiseled jaw and toned arms were taut as he studied her. She was struck again at how beautiful he really was. And nothing like the rumors claimed. Wild, yes, but not in the way they said. Xavier’s emotions ran wild, and he did everything he could to keep that part of himself locked away. She knew because she did the same.
But now, seeing the concern in his eyes only made her want to reassure him, even if it meant letting her walls down. Baring herself was getting easier and easier with him.
“What is it?” she asked.
“You tell me,” he said. “You’ve been quiet and distant since we left the Lodge.”
“Your bear wants a mate,” she said, her voice low. But it didn’t help lessen the impact. The words felt huge and loud at any volume.
“It does,” he said simply, but she knew it was anything but simple. “Does it frighten you to know that?”
“Yes,” she admitted. “But only because my animal wants the same.” She watched the delight register in his eyes and then fade again as a shadow passed over. Just as she’d expected. “You’re still hiding something from me.”
He stared out the windshield with a faraway look, at the trees that bordered the lot. She wondered if he was even seeing the bar full of happy hour customers in front of them or if he’d gone somewhere else entirely. She’d seen that expression on him enough by now to know whatever the memory was, and it haunted him.
“You know I used to party a lot,” he said, and she was too surprised he was actually sharing to say a word. She wasn’t sure if he saw her nod, but he went on anyway. “All the rumors are true. Hell, the truth is probably worse. I drank a lot, and I was always the one suggesting a bonfire in the middle of the drought, a midnight swim in dark water, drag racing in an ice storm.”
He chuckled darkly and shook his head. “I always guessed one of my dumb dares would do me in, but in the end, she was just a girl. And I was just a guy wanting what every guy wants.”
She reached for him and laid her hand over his lap. “Xavier, you don’t have to—”
He laid a hand over hers and looked over. “I need to,” he said, and the exposed cut of his words made her heart ache for him.
“She and I were out by the lake one night, too far from any tower for proper reception. I’d begun working for Search and Rescue the summer before so I knew the drill. I was on call. I should never have driven up that far, but she was ready, and I was far too willing and distracted. Hormones. Anyway, a call came in. A brutal ice storm on the peaks the day prior and the melt on such a warm day had caused a slide. A woman was trapped. When Dad couldn’t reach me, he went up alone. He never made it
It was getting easier, though. The more time he spent with her, the more clearly he could see his future. His crew, his job saving people, and Laurel. His life could be a balance. He could do all of those things and still love Laurel the way she deserved. One day very soon, he’d find a way to tell her that. To make her believe it and let her give him a chance at it. She wouldn’t make it easy on him, though.
He already knew what he wanted. He wanted her. But if these past few days were any indication, it was going to be an all-out fight to get her.
Chapter 9
M ack’s Brewery was loud and full of locals by the time Laurel pulled up with Xavier. He found a parking spot in the rear of the lot, away from the other cars and patrons. She cast him a quick look when he didn’t move to get out and found him frowning at her in the twilight. His chiseled jaw and toned arms were taut as he studied her. She was struck again at how beautiful he really was. And nothing like the rumors claimed. Wild, yes, but not in the way they said. Xavier’s emotions ran wild, and he did everything he could to keep that part of himself locked away. She knew because she did the same.
But now, seeing the concern in his eyes only made her want to reassure him, even if it meant letting her walls down. Baring herself was getting easier and easier with him.
“What is it?” she asked.
“You tell me,” he said. “You’ve been quiet and distant since we left the Lodge.”
“Your bear wants a mate,” she said, her voice low. But it didn’t help lessen the impact. The words felt huge and loud at any volume.
“It does,” he said simply, but she knew it was anything but simple. “Does it frighten you to know that?”
“Yes,” she admitted. “But only because my animal wants the same.” She watched the delight register in his eyes and then fade again as a shadow passed over. Just as she’d expected. “You’re still hiding something from me.”
He stared out the windshield with a faraway look, at the trees that bordered the lot. She wondered if he was even seeing the bar full of happy hour customers in front of them or if he’d gone somewhere else entirely. She’d seen that expression on him enough by now to know whatever the memory was, and it haunted him.
“You know I used to party a lot,” he said, and she was too surprised he was actually sharing to say a word. She wasn’t sure if he saw her nod, but he went on anyway. “All the rumors are true. Hell, the truth is probably worse. I drank a lot, and I was always the one suggesting a bonfire in the middle of the drought, a midnight swim in dark water, drag racing in an ice storm.”
He chuckled darkly and shook his head. “I always guessed one of my dumb dares would do me in, but in the end, she was just a girl. And I was just a guy wanting what every guy wants.”
She reached for him and laid her hand over his lap. “Xavier, you don’t have to—”
He laid a hand over hers and looked over. “I need to,” he said, and the exposed cut of his words made her heart ache for him.
“She and I were out by the lake one night, too far from any tower for proper reception. I’d begun working for Search and Rescue the summer before so I knew the drill. I was on call. I should never have driven up that far, but she was ready, and I was far too willing and distracted. Hormones. Anyway, a call came in. A brutal ice storm on the peaks the day prior and the melt on such a warm day had caused a slide. A woman was trapped. When Dad couldn’t reach me, he went up alone. He never made it
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