Aaron: Mating Fever (Rocked by the Bear Book 4) (7 page)

I
have
no idea how I did on my final exams, because I struggled to focus on my last days of studying. I hope that somehow my brain managed to take over, because my body was in a constant state of craving Aaron. Between our classes, Aaron and I spent as much time touching each other as we could. But today I can’t lie around in my mate’s bed. I have a fundraiser tonight and must oversee the setup to make sure everything happens smoothly.

My pencil taps against my clipboard as I scan the ice arena. Special flooring is being installed over the ice to allow for the stage and extra seating to be set up. Bangs echo as boards are dropped into place, and I notice two guys standing and laughing about something. They’re not working, and I scowl, because time is money. I begin to walk over to speak to them when someone calls out my name, and I turn in the direction of the sound. It’s a freshman girl I assigned to work with the concessions people, and I sigh. She’s a bit of a control freak, and my guess is she’s got a problem with how one of the systems works.

I grin as I think about how well I get it. Only, lately I’m giving up control in certain parts of my life and have discovered the world doesn’t end when you let someone else call the shots. My insides tingle a little as a recent memory of Aaron telling me what to do flashes in my mind.
Oh yeah.
Letting someone else take the reins definitely has benefits. But beyond our physical relationship, Aaron is teaching me that being spontaneous has a place in my life too. And I know that our future will be filled with excursions that make my heart race with more than the fear of the unknown. It will race with the beat of our song, which can be erratic as well as calm.

By the time the band arrives to set up I’ve put out a few small fires and had to use my powers of coercion on a number of individuals in order to be ready. Now I just have to get Second Sound through their light and sound checks and then I can take a break to regroup before the concert starts. As I approach the locker room where they’re getting ready Cherri comes out holding a T-shirt. She grins at me as we get closer.

She clutches the shirt to her chest and glances up at the sky as she sighs. “Aaron has got to be the sweetest guy ever.”

I flash back to the way she used to taunt me when Nick left me for her, and I frown as the heat of jealousy burns in my stomach.
What a bitch.
“Really?”

She touches her lips and says, “You really missed out. That man can kiss.”

What?
Bile rises in my throat.
Oh god.
He wouldn’t. But that’s what I thought about Nick too.

My hands begin to shake as Cherri walks by me and says, “Better luck next time, Olivia.”

No.
This can’t be happening again. My feet stomp as I make way into the locker room. The stale scent of sweat makes me shudder a bit as anger courses through my veins. I search for Aaron, and when I find him he comes toward me with a smile.

I glare at him as I say, “You just couldn’t help yourself around her, could you?”

“What are you talking about?”

Why do men think that if they pretend things didn’t happen they’re actually going to get out of it? I spit out, “Cherri.”

Aaron frowns as he steps closer. “What about her?”

I step back and shake my head. “Don’t you dare lie to me!”

“Lie? No.” He shakes his head and turns away from me.

His arm is firm in my fingers when I grab it and say, “Don’t walk away from me!”

He shakes my hand off and turns to me with a snarl that shows his fangs before they quickly retract. I’ve never seen Aaron mad, and if I weren’t so angry it might scare me. He says, “I’m not going to explain myself, because I did nothing wrong.” His words sting, and I open my mouth to reply when he says, “I deserve your trust, Olivia. If you can’t give it to me, then we aren’t going to work.”

I snap back, “I knew it was only a matter of time before you hurt me.”

Aaron glares at me with bear flashing in his eyes. “Can you even hear yourself? You’re inventing an argument. I won’t live a life of one crisis after another.”

I gasp as I struggle to comprehend how this became my fault. “I’m
not
about drama.”

Aaron takes a deep breath and rakes a hand through his hair. “Right now you most definitely are. Think about what you just accused me of. I’ve got a sound check.”

He brushes by me, and I stand still in shock.
Am I wrong?
I do trust Aaron, and I can’t believe I let Cherri get the best of me again. I’m Aaron’s true mate, and there’s no way Cherri can steal him away from me. My stomach knots as my anger fades. Aaron was mad. He didn’t act like he was guilty, and I grimace as I realize my mistake.

Now the heat that burns in my cheeks is shame because I was a complete jerk to Aaron. I recall the way he growled at me, but most importantly, I think about how he said I was creating drama. I can’t make a scene in front of the band to straighten this out. I’ll have to wait until they’re done.

Unfortunately, I get pulled into a power issue that requires my attention so the lighting will work right for the concert. By the time I finish, the crowd is cheering, and the stomping of their feet as they chant out for the band to play vibrates through me. I’ve got to get up on stage and introduce Second Sound before I have a riot on my hands. I make my way to the stage and climb on it to gaze out at the full arena of people. I close my eyes and take a second to gain composure before I make my way to the microphone to give my speech.

I had planned on thanking the band and giving a little information about the charity the event is for, but the crowd couldn’t care less, so I make it short and sweet. “Help me welcome Second Sound!”

The band jogs onto the stage, and I move down to my VIP seat next to Courtney, in the front row. She grins at me and says, “Killer seats. I’m going to stay your best friend for one more day.”

I don’t have a chance to tell her I might need her strong shoulder before Adrian yells out to the crowd, and the band begins to play. Shame still smolders in my stomach, but I let myself enjoy the concert.

Before the last, song Adrian takes a moment to thank our sorority for asking them to play, and gives a little information about the children’s education charity. He says, “On behalf of Second Sound I’d also like to match the money made tonight. But on one condition.” He glances over at me as a spotlight swings my way and makes me blink from brightness. Heat rushes through me as I recall the last time I bartered for A Phi. Adrian says, “Tonight wouldn’t have happened without Olivia Dalton, and I’d like her to come join us on the stage.”

Courtney squeals as the crowd cheers, and a few voices chant my name. My feet thud up the stairs, and my hands are damp with sweat as I approach a smiling Adrian. Aaron joins him, and I gaze at my mate to notice he’s holding the drum I played the first day we met. I want to run to him and tell him I’m sorry. I give him a look that I hope conveys what I feel.

Adrian says, “Olivia knows the backbone to every successful child is a good education. And we know the backbone to every good song is a steady beat.” Aaron hands me the drum, and I gaze into his eyes. He nods at me once with an expression I can’t read. I follow him to sit on a stool next to his drum kit.

I whisper, “Aaron. I’m so sorry.”

My heart sinks when he ignores me and counts out the beat at the tempo I should play. I take a deep breath and begin to tap on the drum. Aaron joins me, and the band begins to play. It’s the song Aleck was writing the first day Aaron and I spent together. I gaze over at my mate, but he’s focused on playing and doesn’t notice me, so I look out at the crowd to discover it’s hard to see much with the lights, although I imagine it might be easier from the front of the stage.

When the song ends, I stand up and bow when Adrian makes me. Aaron is watching me, and pain grips my heart in a vice. Even if we really are over, I have to tell him how I feel. Before I walk away I say, “I do trust you, and I’m so sorry.”

He winks at me and says, “You’re damn sexy when you get mad.”

I melt in relief before I return to my seat. But I don’t think I got off that easy. Even if Aaron lets me, I won’t. I can’t. I’m going to spend the rest of my life with him, and trust between us is something that should never falter. Like the steady beat of my drum, I know that my true mate’s love is nothing I’ll ever have to question.

F
ive months later
....

“
A
aron
,” I say as I stumble behind him. He’s pulling me by my hand down the stairs of our new home. I just woke up, and I’m wearing nothing but his T-shirt that I managed to slip over my head before he got impatient and grabbed my hand. I huff as anger begins to build. “I’m not fit for the public. Stop.”

The kitchen tile is cold under my feet as he says, “Nobody’s going to see you, Olivia.”

I relax, because he’s right. Our house is on acres of wooded land on the coast. “Fine.” I glance longingly at the coffee maker as we walk by it. “But please tell me what’s so important that I don’t get coffee.”

We step out the front door, and I gasp when I see what he was so eager to show me. A big purple bow is sitting on top of a shiny new black-and-silver motorcycle. I cover my mouth with my hand as I walk toward the bike. The metal is cool under my fingers as I drag them along the frame.

“Happy Birthday!”

I turn to Aaron and say, “I don’t know how to drive it.”

“I’ll teach you.” Aaron tugs on one of my curls as he says, “You’ll pick it up in no time.”

I slide my hand along the leather seat as a cool breeze that would have made the human me cold swirls around my legs. “You’re crazy. I’m going to crash this thing the first time I try.”

“Olivia. You will not.”

I gaze at my true mate as the briny smell of ocean air fills my nose. Even if I do crash, I now have the ability to heal at amazing speeds. “But this is still insane.” One of our favorite things to do when Aaron’s home is to get on his bike and ride for hours. I’ve fallen in love with the freedom of the road so close under my feet and the wind rushing by me. I step toward Aaron and place my hand on his chest as I tease, “I’m not the kind of girl that has a motorcycle.”

He places his hands on my hips and lifts me up, and I wrap my legs around his waist. He says, “And you don’t date guys like me.”

I shake my head as I lock my arms around his neck and squirm against his belly. “No, I don’t.” His hair is soft in my fingers as I rake them through it. “Just look at this wild hair.”

“And the tattoos,” says Aaron. His voice gets gravelly. “Never date a guy covered in ink.”

I yank on the neck of his shirt and peer down. “Yeah.” I bite my lip as his scent wafts up and spikes my desire to make my insides quiver. “So dangerous.”

Aaron’s breath on my neck makes a shiver run down my spine as he leans in close and nips at me before he says, “I hear they bite.”

“Thank god for that.” Becoming a werebear was one of the best decisions of my life. Everything about my new state is amazing. Running and swimming as a bear is another one of my new favorite things. I unlock my legs and let them drop to the ground with a soft thud. Turning toward the bike, I walk to it and climb on the seat to hold the handles. I glance over my shoulder at Aaron. “Before I turn this on, I should probably take it”--I pause to scan his body with my eyes and say--“for a test ride.”

“Jesus.” Aaron’s hands are on his elastic-waist shorts, and he tugs them down as he walks toward me. “Why haven’t we explored this fantasy of yours before?”

I raise my eyebrows at him and pat the seat behind me. “Climb on and hold tight.”

I put my feet on the foot pegs to lift up, and Aaron slides his fingers over my moist sex. He groans as he guides himself into me, and I lower so he’ll fill me. He hisses and says, “So good, baby.”

“Um-hmm.” I moan as I begin to move, and Aaron’s hands grip my hips as he rocks with me. This position is putting pressure on the right spots, and I say, “This is going to be fast.”

“It’s your birthday. I’ll make you come more than once.”

I chuckle, because I always get more than one orgasm with my bad-boy mate. My movements speed up as I get closer, and my thighs burn as my muscles support my weight. I cry out when my climax hits, and in the midst of it my mate’s hot seed explodes against my channel walls.

I sink back against him to rest my legs and tilt my head to the side to give him better access when he kisses my neck. He whispers, “Happy Birthday, Olivia.”

I sigh. “I like my present.”

“Me too. If I’d known what your idea of a test ride was, I’d have gotten it for you sooner.”

I rotate my hips against him, and tiny aftershocks make me shudder as I say, “I wonder if I should test out your bike next.”

Aaron lifts me off his lap and climbs off my new motorcycle. “I’ll be ready by the time we get there.” He winks at me as he takes my hand to lead the way. “Trust me.”

I walk quickly to keep up. Trust is never going to be a problem for me now that I’m a werebear. Once I changed, my love for Aaron was magnified to a level I never could have known as a human, and I understand that death would be easier than cheating on your true mate. I say, “I do.”

When we get to the garage where his bike is parked Aaron turns and takes my face in his hands. “I’m going to love celebrating this day with you each year, Olivia, because it’s the day when you were born to be with me.”

“Oh, Aaron. I love you so much sometimes it hurts.”

Aaron leans in for a kiss. “Me too. It hurts so good, doesn’t it?”

I nod and lose myself in our true mate connection when his lips meet mine. I recall how I wasn’t willing to take a chance on Aaron because I was afraid he’d break my heart. But I was given the complete opposite with a forever love that can never die.