Bear Apparent (BBW Shifter Romance) (Stone Claw Clan Book 1) by Jade Woods Read Free Book Online Page B

her presence. A single drop of water dripped off his hair and she leaned in, curious. This close she could see that his body was riddled with faded scars, and she wondered if that scuffle with the other bear was an everyday thing for him.
    Garrett’s eyes suddenly flipped open, and Dahlia took a step backward out of reflex. Her foot tangled on something, and she went flying. She pinched her eyes close in preparation for the pain she knew was coming—
    When her bones didn’t jostle, and her skull didn’t crack, she opened her eyes to find Garrett hovering over her, his strong arms holding her a few feet from the floor. She dug her fingers into his skin, needing the support. “I thought you were hibernating again.”
    “Just concentrating. If a strong enough bond exists between the clan, a psychic connection can be forged. I was feeling for any stress that might indicate my clan being attacked.” As he spoke his eyes dropped, and if Dahlia didn’t know any better, he was staring at her lips.
    Having a hard time breathing, she said, “The food is ready.”
    The man’s eyes flared for an instant as if he liked the way her mouth moved as she spoke. He didn’t release her, nor steady her on her feet, but his grip tightened. His nostrils moved as if he were scenting something delectable.
    “Um? Salmon? Honey? Everything a bear likes? If you let me up, I’ll go get it for you—”
    “You would care for me,” he murmured, his tone dropping, and it stroked her ears like silk.
    She opened her mouth to refute, but her words were cut off as he pressed his lips to her own. She gasped into his mouth, his lips warm and smooth as they slid against her in a whisper thin kiss. The heat of his body soaked deep to her bones, and her lower body clenched—damn, but she was going to need a few hours with her vibrator after this. Garrett let out a deep growl that slowly filled the room. Instead of startling her, it revved her even more, her breasts responding to the sensation of all that hard muscle against them.
    “You’re trembling,” he said against her mouth, his breath brushing across her chin.
    She wanted to tell him he was moving way to fast, but he steadied her on her feet and stepped away. She watched in disbelief as he made for the bathroom, and forced the door into the jamb. Okay… now she felt like crap. If she didn’t know any better, he had regretted kissing her.
     
    ****
     
    Garrett leaned over the bathroom sink, and thrust his fingers through his hair. What am I doing? Linking his mind with that of the clan’s had temporarily slowed his judgement. When he had returned to reality, a beautiful face welcomed him. Dahlia. She had the greenest eyes he’d ever seen, like the color of moss covering the forest floor. And all that curly hair like ribbons of sunshine… Then she had to go and care for him—didn’t she know the surest way to a bear’s heart was through his insatiable stomach? Christ, he knew he was in trouble. He had distanced himself from females, but that didn’t mean he didn’t desire them.
    That must be it! He was just horny, and seeking out the closest thing with tits. The animal inside rumbled grumpily as if it didn’t agree with that conclusion.
    Growling, he ran a hand down his washboard abs, further passed his navel, and to the way too snug crotch of his pants. Yeah… just horny, he told himself. And the easiest way to take care of that…
    Garrett shoved the denim down so that it pooled around his knees, and gripped his cock, the tool hard and aching for relief. He thumbed the glans, spreading the moisture around. He knew it wouldn’t take long, not with images of Dahlia invading his mind.
    He stroked himself slow, from base to tip, wishing it was her hand inching him closer to orgasm. He tried to picture the way her pale skin clashed with the flushed flesh of his dick and how her small, perfect fingers would look wrapped around his girth. The fantasy kicked him into over drive, his