Mending the Bear (9 page)

Chapter
Thirteen

Shifting while a captive audience was
watching was never easy, but if Eve wanted proof, then proof was what she was
going to get. Chloe had called to say that Eve would meet him in the same spot
where she’d stumbled upon him and Ash. He paced up and down, finally seeing her
car heading his way. She got out and walked toward him, neither of them saying
a word for the first few seconds.

“You know I’m only here to see how you’re
going to get out of his hole you’ve dug yourself into,” she finally said.

“You are going to be surprised. In fact,
you’re going to eat humble pie.”

“Really, well, I hope you have some
whipping cream to serve with it.”

Ian began to strip off his clothes. Eve
stood watching him with her arms crossed over her chest. Her foot tapping
impatiently. Shit, she was even more gorgeous when she was angry, which she
clearly was right now. He slipped off his boxers and yes, he had an erection.
He’d picked up the scent of her irritation and it was in fact, turning him on.

She glanced down at his crotch. “Thinking
about Ash, maybe?”

“No, baby, just thinking about you and
what you’re going to have to do to me to make up for your stupid behavior.”

“Well, let’s see you transform into a big
bad bear and then we’ll talk.”

“Big bad bear, okay goldilocks, wait to
have your socks blown off with this.”

He relaxed his muscles as he always did
right before he shifted, but nothing was happening. He wasn’t getting the usual
feeling he did just prior to a shift. He relaxed some more, hoping that
something was happening but no, he was still in his man form.

“I knew it,” Eve said. She turned and was
about to leave.

“No, don’t go. It’s because I’ve never
shifted in front of a human before. That’s what’s wrong.”

“Have you ever thought about writing books?
Because boy you can tell some tales.”

“Give me a chance will you? Either turn
the other way or I’ll go behind a tree and do it.”

“Don’t bother, because I am about to turn
the other way. Turning to walk toward my car, then I’m going to get in, drive
away, and hopefully never set eyes on you again.”

He’d show her.

As she turned away, he relaxed again,
slowly feeling his feet and hands turning into paws, his fur pushing through
his skin. He went down on all fours. He was a bear again and he was going to go
greet Eve.

He pounded up behind her, nudging her leg
with his front paw.

“Very funny, Ian, now go away.”

He nudged her again, making her turn
around. She stepped back and put both her hands over her mouth.

“It is you, isn’t it? Can you talk? No,
that’s a stupid question.”

Ian put his paw up to her leg, hoping she
realized he wanted her to touch him. She ran her fingers through his fur and
then stroked his head. He looked her straight in the eye. If she didn’t already
known it was him, hopefully she’d know by his eyes. She stroked him some more,
but then he’d had enough. He wanted to shift back because they needed to talk. He
hoped she’d stuck around while he ran back and quickly shifted into his man
form. He pulled on his jeans and ran over to her.

“I know you’re in shock, but I hope I’ve
proved that I was not playing around with Ash or anyone else for that matter,
behind your back. I’m a one on one bear and I don’t stray.”

She put her hand on the side of his face.
“I’m so sorry I hit you. Sorry I mistrusted you. Sorry I called you a lair.
What can I do to make it up to you?”

He smiled. He had exactly the right
punishment in mind. Yeah, right now he had her right where he wanted her.

Chapter
Fourteen

“I will do anything else to make it up to
you, but not this. I just can’t do it.”

“You won’t know if you like it till you
try it. You just slid your leg over and then we go for a ride.”

“I hate motorbikes.”

“How many have you been on?” Ian asked.

“None.”

“Then I rest my case.”

She had to do this because she’d so
wronged him, but bikes scared the hell out of her.

“Okay, but only for the shortest of rides,
and then payment is repaid. Does that sound like a deal?”

“I guess it will have to be. Now get on
behind me and hold on tight, because baby, you’re in for the ride of your
life.”

“That’s what I’m scared about.”

Ian got on, reeved up the bike, and she
slid on behind him, holding onto him like he was going to blow away. A tiny
scream escaped from her mouth as he pulled away and soon they were on the main
road. The wind whipped through his hair, sending the bear earring swinging at
full speed. He reeved again and this time the wind blew into her face, almost
taking her breath away. Yikes, they were going to be killed. Helmets, they had
to stop and put on helmets.

“Do you have your eyes closed?” he shouted
above the noise of the bike and road.

“Yes, how did you know?” she called back.

“I know you pretty well by now.”

He went faster, forcing her hold him
tighter. She rested her cheek on the dead center of the bear emblem on the back
of his jacket, knowing now why he was so fascinated with those furry creatures.
She opened one eye and looked at the wind causing his earring twirl, making it
look like the bear was dancing.

“Enjoying yourself yet?” he asked.

“No.”

“You will.”

He picked up more speed and they went
around the corner with her holding on like her life depended on it.

“You said a short ride,” she shouted, now
finding it hard to hear a thing as the road noise got louder.

“Short ride to me is at least an hour.”

An hour, holy shit, they’d have to peel
her off of his back by then.

Ian put the bike into top gear and Eve
found the courage to actually look where they were heading. The canyon to their
left looked so pretty. He was heading up to the spot where she could see all of
Kalispell. Chloe had told her she and Ash often drove up here on date nights
while her parents babysat Sophie. She’d mentioned that it was especially pretty
at night with all the sparking lights. And stars … she could see the stars this
far from town.

“Hang on, baby, because we are going to do
some real riding now.”

They moved like they were flying. They
were
flying. At least she was. Or was
she only dreaming that she was on the back of the motorbike that belonged to a
man who could turn into a bear?

Ian gave one more acceleration as they got
farther up to the mountain. The air was thinner and fresher, and Kalispell now
looked like tiny and many miles away. He pulled the bike into an opening in the
wooded area and switched off the ignition.

“Okay, baby, you can let go now,” he said.

She hadn’t realized her fingers were still
buried in his body, the skin still white where she gripped so hard. She let go
of him and he slid off the bike, quickly offering her his hand to help her off.

“So what did you think? And I want your
honest opinion. Remember you still have some things to make up for.”

She wasn’t going to lie. While the first
part of the journey had been the most fearful of her life, the second half, and
the climb up into this canyon overlook, had been the best ride ever.

“Okay, I liked it.”

He raised his eyebrows.

“I like it a lot,” she added.

“That’s what I wanted to hear. It’s what I
needed to hear. I couldn’t be with a woman who didn’t like my bike as much as
she did me.”

He pulled her in close, the earring
swinging less fiercely now, but nevertheless swaying. She reached up and
touched it. “I think I might get myself one of these,” she said.

He didn’t say anything, didn’t comment,
but simply removed one of her earrings, took off his own and then slipped it
into her ear.

“I thought you loved that thing,” she
said.

“I do, but I’m going to let you wear it
until I get one made for you. One of the bear shifters makes jewelry.”

“Anything you guys don’t do?” she asked as
they wrapped their arms around one another.

“Um, let me think … nope, we have just
about every profession and skill covered now.”

“The private hospital. It’s for shifters
right?”

He nodded. “It was Charlotte’s idea after
she married Aiden.”

“So she’s not a bear?”

“Human just like you,” he said, tapping
her on the butt.

“And there are other human wives… I mean,
is Hannah?”

“Hannah’s human, so are Lily, Lucy,
Melanie … I could go on and on.”

“And no one knows about you guys?”

He shook his head. “You’ve got to promise
you’ll keep it a secret, too.”

“Who’s going to believe it?”

“Which reminds me. You still owe me for
doubting my word.”

“The ride here wasn’t punishment enough?” Eve
asked.

“No, it has to be something I’d get great
pleasure from.”

She smiled. “I can only begin to imagine what
that’s going to be.”

“I have this fantasy. Have since the first
time I saw you. I want to take you while you’re bent over my bike.”

“Really?”

“Absolutely.”

“Guess I can’t say no. I mean seeing how I
wronged you. How about I take in the view while you have your wicked way with
me?”

He kissed her and then stepped away from
her.

“Is that the reason you headed up to this
remote part of town so no one would you see you having your way with me?”

“It might be. Now turn around and enjoy
the view while I go to work.”

Eve turned to face the bike and view. The
sun was beginning to set and a few lights in Kalispell were beginning to be
switched on.

Ian un-popped the button on her jeans and
slowly pulled them down her thighs. Next he tugged at her panties and soon they
sat around her ankles.

“Lift your feet so I can get rid of
anything that’s going to impede you opening wide for me,” he said.

She closed her eyes, knowing what he was
going to do soon. A stream of her juices slid down her leg, anticipating his
cock being deep inside her.

“Open wide baby,” he said.

She widened her stance, feeling him running
his lips up and down her legs, the stubble on his face, rough but exciting every
single nerve ending in her body. His hands traced the same path his mouth just
had. He leaned her over, allowing her butt to rise in the air. Eve rested her
forearms on the seat of the bike, seeing more lights being to twinkle in
Kalispell.

His fingers brushed her folds, back and
forth from her clit to her anus, teasing her, making her groan, making her
cream with anticipation. She heard the familiar sound of him opening the condom
package, and then slowly, inch by inch, he was inside her.

“Remember to enjoy the view,” he whispered
as he began a steady thrust.

She leaned over some more, feeling him
thrust deeper. Her nails slid over the leather seat of the bike. She’d have to
make sure she didn’t mar it when she came. With Ian she had a tendency to get
carried away. He drove harder and then stopped, and, as always, let his cock do
all the work of thrilling her and bringing her to her first climax.

She made sure it was her finger pads and
not nails digging into the leather as she groaned, and her toes curled downward
into the ground. He began moving his hips again. She moaned and he grunted as
their bodies smacked into one another.

The lights were everywhere now. Was it
real or were the non-stop orgasms causing her to see so many pretty flashes of
blues, pinks, and greens?

She grabbed the entire seat of his bike,
held on as the best climax of her life washed over her. Within seconds, Ian was
calling her name and filling her with a warmth that spread quickly throughout
her pussy.

He kissed the back of her neck.

“I love you,” he said.

“What did you say?” she asked. Thinking
that maybe she had post-sex hearing loss or perhaps she was dreaming the whole
thing about him being a bear who’d just told her that he loved her.

“I said I love you.” He pulled out her and
she turned round to face him.

“I love you, too,” she said.

Chapter
Fifteen

They’d spent their first all night
together. Eve was snuggled into his shoulder. She had a smile on her face.
Probably because he’d told her he loved her. It had taken him years to get to
that point with Joanne. With Eve, it had just glided over his tongue and out of
his mouth.

He pushed a stray hair away from her mouth
and was tempted to lean over and kiss her. She turned, causing the blanket to
fall from her chest. Her breasts were so inviting, those ruby red nipples
called his name. Sucking them would wake her and he wanted to do that in
another way.

He got out of bed, making sure he was as
quiet as he could be. He went to the bottom of the bed and got under the
covers, gently parting her legs. She moved slightly, but didn’t wake. He
sneaked farther up the bed, finding her mound and positioning himself between
her thighs. He put his head down and began to flick her clit with his tongue.
Her legs twitched.

“Ian, is that you?” she asked.

He stopped flicking so he could respond.
“Of course it is. How many other guys do this for you?”

“None. I mean no one’s ever given me oral
sex.”

“You’re joking, right?”

“No, I’m a virgin in the oral sex
department.”

His cock twitched just thinking about her
being a virgin. “Geez, a shifter woman demands this at least once a week or
there is all hell to pay.”

He threw the bedclothes to one side and
went back to work, this time, snaking his tongue into her pussy.

He held her thighs as she bucked against
him. He glanced up to see her touching her nipples. That was so damn hot. He
got back to fucking her with his tongue, feeling her muscles spasm, and tasting
and smelling her arousal. Shit, he was going to come and he hated to waste it.
The nightstand. He made a dash for it, tore open the condom, and sheathed
himself in record time.

“Sorry about the urgency, baby, but you’re
too damn hot for this bear.”

He rammed his cock inside her, thrust a
few times, and then gave a bear growl as he found the sweetest release. He
pulled out and she rolled into his body.

 
“I’ve
been meaning to talk to you about something,” he said. “It’s our monthly
shifter viewing tonight. We gather to do some stargazing and try and find where
our planet was before it’d got hit. I’d be very honored if you’d accompany me.
I mean that is if you’d feel comfortable with the being around my whole group.”

 
“Sure,
I’d love to.”

“We meet for drinks and some of the
shifters BBQ before the viewing. I guess we can go by bike now you’re okay with
it. Aiden said he and Charlotte would pick up Charlie. He leads the viewing and
knows exactly what part of the sky to look at.”

“How did he get those scars?” Eve said.

“He got badly burned saving people the
night we crashed here,” Ian said.

“Is that when your parents were both
killed?” Eve asked him.

“We never knew what happened to Dad. He
was out running when the asteroid hit. We found Mom here a few days later, but
she was already gone. My baby brother was only two and Charlie got him to
safety with a whole bunch of others. He’s our hero.”

“I’d love to come along and meet everyone,
which reminds me, Ally and Kent are dropping by the office this morning. She
wants to see what I’ve done with the place.”

****

Eve could see that Ally was fighting back
some tears as she walked back to the area that Eve had recently overhauled to
be the space for housing the pets that were recovering from surgery.

“I like all the animal paintings you’ve
put on the wall. And the cute—”

Eve didn’t have to ask her what was wrong
and why she’d suddenly stopped talking. She knew Ally’s water had broken as it
gushed down the legs of her maternity pants.

“You okay?” Eve asked her.

“It’s too early. The baby.”

Ally had lost all her color, so Eve
grabbed a chair and sat her down. “Are you having contractions?”

Ally nodded. “Could you go get Kent and
call Bear?”

“Sure, you just wait there and I’ll be
right back.”

Eve rushed out to the reception area where
Kent was talking to Chloe.

“It’s Ally, her water just broke.”

Kent didn’t say a word, but rushed to the
back offices.

“Could you call Bear and tell him that
Ally’s in labor and I guess Kent will be driving her to the hospital?” Eve told
Chloe.

“Sure thing.”

Eve walked back to see Ally doubled over.
Kent looked up at Eve. “She said she feels like she’s going to have the baby
any minute,” Kent said.

“Ally, I’m not a doctor, but how about we
lie you down and I’ll take a look? Chloe’s told Bear you’ll be heading to the
hospital.”

“I won’t make it,” Ally said.

“Honey, you let Eve take a look at you,”
Kent said.

Kent and Eve lifted Ally up onto the couch
in Eve’s office and while Ally raised her butt, Kent and Eve eased her jeans
and panties from her legs.

Ally cried out, “Hurry, I’m having
contractions, don’t let anything happen to the baby.”

“Honey, nothing’s going to happen, you’re
fine,” Kent said.

Eve checked her and it was true, the
baby’s head was already crowning.

“Good news is you’re going to have a quick
labor,” Eve said. “Bad news is you won’t make it to the hospital.”

“Can you deliver our baby?” Kent asked.

“I’ve only ever brought puppies and
kittens into the world. Oh yeah, and a foal while I was in vet school.”

Chloe chose that moment to knock on the
door. “Bear’s ready and waiting.”

“Could you call him back and tell him
Ally’s having the baby so he should get here ASAP?” said Eve.

“Really?” Chloe asked.

“Yes, and after you’ve done that could you
come in and help me?”

Ally cried out again.

“Honey, nice deep breaths like we’ve
practiced,” Kent said.

“Okay, Ally, on the next contraction I
want you to push,” Eve said.

Chloe returned and she and Kent got either
side of Ally and held her hands.

Ally took a deep breath and pushed as
tears ran down her face. “No one told me it was going to hurt so
bad
,” she cried.

“
It’s
okay, Ally,
it’s over before you know it and then you have a beautiful baby to hold,” Chloe
said.

Eve saw the baby’s head slowing emerging
as Ally pushed again.

“You are doing great,” Eve said.

Kent wiped her brow and then kissed her
head. “I love you so much, honey, just breathe and then push.”

Ally pushed again and then took a rest.

Eve couldn’t believe she was delivering a
baby. One that was half human, half wolf, right? Well at least she could put
wolf delivery on her list of credentials now.

“Okay, push,” Eve said.

Ally cried out and gave one long hard push
and the baby fell into Eve’s waiting hands.

“It’s a boy,” Eve said.

Both Ally and Kent burst into tears and
held one another. Eve put the baby on Ally’s belly and tied off the cord just
as Bear stepped into the room.

“Looks like I wasn’t needed after all,” he
said. “You ever thought about becoming a doctor?”

Eve stood. She did feel sort of pleased
with herself. And the baby boy was so beautiful. Was it natural to cry at the
birth of a child? She stood aside while Bear checked on Ally and then had Kent
cut the cord.

“He’s doing just fine,” Bear said.

“Thanks to Eve,” Kent said, blowing her a
kiss. “Maybe we should make her his Spirit Guardian.”

“Would you do us the honor?” asked Ally.

She wasn’t quite sure what it involved,
but she couldn’t refuse them.

“I’d be happy to.”

****

Ian wondered what was going through Eve’s
mind as he introduced her to everyone as they went through the buffet line at
the stargazing gathering. He wondered how he’d feel if he was the human and
she’d revealed all that he had. She’d had quite the day, delivering Ally and
Kent’s baby and being asked to be a Spirit Guardian. He’d not even been asked
before. He knew she didn’t realize the significance of such a duty, but she’d
learn. Aiden arrived with Charlie who waved to everyone.

“You remember Aiden,” Ian said.

“I sure do,” Eve said.

“Where’s Charlotte and
Bridgit
?”
asked Ian.

“
Bridgit’s
been
sick all day so Charlotte said she’d stay home and look after her. I think
she’s running a fever and picked up something at the playschool.”

“Okay, everyone, if we could gather around
and tonight’s perfect for some stargazing,” announced Trent who was overseeing
this month’s event.

Ian looked up into the sky. It was true
because he couldn’t remember the last time he’d seen the sky this clear with
not a cloud in sight.

“Let’s start with announcements for the
group. If you want to line up here and tell us your news for the month.”

Ian had some to share and he hoped Eve
didn’t mind.

He stood and listened as a few announced
their engagements, the birth of Kent and Ally’s baby was next on the agenda and
everyone learned his name was David Samuel. Ian was next up.

“I’d like to take his opportunity to
introduce someone new, yes, another human to our fold. It’s Dr. Eve Barclay,
many of you already know her as the new vet in town and the person who
delivered another new member of our group.”

“Welcome Eve,” everyone said at the same
time. She nodded.

He stepped down and next up was Bear and
Sam. He put his hands on his step son’s shoulders.

“I know lots of you have been asking where
Hannah is tonight and we’ve just said she was busy with the restaurant, but
that’s not true. Sam and I were holding off so we could make our announcement
now. Okay Sam, what’s going to happen in about six months from now?”

“I’m getting either a brother or a sister,”
Sam said.

Ian clapped along with everyone else.

“She’s had some morning and evening
sickness, so I’ve made her rest up for a while and hence the reason she’s not
here tonight. But she sends her love and hopes to see you soon.”

****

Eve checked her e-mails and saw that Ally
and Kent had sent her two photos of the baby. He was the cutest thing she’d ever
seen. A tear ran down her face. A baby was the reason that she and her ex had
split. She’d wanted to start a family, but he’d been adamant he didn’t want any
children. How could someone keep something like that from a spouse for so long?

She turned to look at Ian lying next to
her. They loved one another and this was her second chance. She’d seen the way
he’d looked at the children at the stargazing event and how attentive he’d been
to
Bridgit
and Sophie. She snuggled into him.

“I want to have a baby,” she said.

He turned over and looked at her.

That hadn’t come out quite like she’d
planned.

“Where did that come from?” he asked her.

“It just slipped out, but it’s something I
really want.”

Ian turned over onto his back, suddenly
looking up at the ceiling.

She sensed they weren’t on the same page
and her heart sank.

“You want children, don’t you?” she asked.

She’d had this same conversation about two
years ago and it was almost like déjà vu.

“I think I do, but not right now. I’m not
ready for the commitment of a family.”

He turned and looked at her. Tears were
already running down her face.

“Does this make any difference to us? I
want to be honest with you because I don’t want the same thing to happen to us
as it did with Joanne and me.”

“How long do you think it will be before
you’re ready for that commitment?” she asked him.

“I don’t know. I’m not the type to put
something as important as that on a schedule.”

She had a career now, had a new man who
loved her and she loved him, but she wanted a child. If she hadn’t then she and
Nick wouldn’t have gone their separate ways. She was back where she’d started.

“I’d really like to get pregnant in the
next year. I know I’m not into the clicking biological clock stage yet, but I
don’t want my age to be a factor in my ability to have a family.”

He took a deep breath. “Eve, I’m sorry I
can’t say that I’d be ready to father a baby that soon.”

She didn’t say another word, but got up
and walked out of the bedroom, into the bathroom, sat on the side of the tub
and cried.