Bear Mine for Christmas: BBW Holiday Paranormal Bear Shifter Romance (Christmas Bear Shifter Romance Book 2) by Ariana Hawkes Read Free Book Online Page B

fact that we were able to help is enough for us.”
    They walked back inside the cabin together. It was now toasty warm. He had a wild urge to kiss Madison, to strip her and himself and mate on the floor for hours, in the light of the fire. Their eyes met and they held each other’s gaze for a long moment.
    “Oh, sorry, I should go outside while you shift,” she said with a nervous laugh, breaking through the silence.
    “Uh, I guess so.” She stepped outside, moving slowly – unwillingly? he wondered. He took his clothes off and put them back in the backpack, then he shifted quickly.
    Outside, he handed the backpack to her, using his teeth, and she put it on, before climbing onto his back, more confidently than before.
    She lay down flat and clung on tight, enabling him to move quickly. The snow was heavy, making visibility poor, and the vicious wind stung his sensitive nose. The journey only took 20 minutes or so, but it couldn’t be over fast enough. He was eager to get back and make sure that everyone was ok.

Chapter Five
     
    “Thank God – we made it!” Madison exclaimed as Brock brought her off the mountain and into the town. Now he was glad that it was still snowing heavily and there was no-one outside to see them. Still, he clung to the shadows, in case people happened to be looking out of their windows.
    He brought her up to Karen’s garage door, and she slipped off his back and pulled the handle. The door slid up and they ran inside, closing it firmly behind them. The connecting door to the kitchen was open, and at the sound of their arrival Karen poked her head through.
    “Nice of you to stop by,” she said, then ran over to Madison and enveloped her in a hug. “Thank you so much.” Her voice cracked as she burst into tears, and she clung onto Madison for a long time. Then she stepped back. “And thank you so much,” she said to Brock a little awkwardly, as if unsure how to address a bear.
    “We should probably leave him alone to shift,” Madison said, guiding her sister back into the kitchen.
    The kitchen was full of people, all drinking steaming cups of tea. Sophia and Marina were on a small sofa, wrapped in thick blankets; Elsbeth was sitting on a chair, with Abbey standing next to her, an arm around her shoulder, and Grayson and Riley were leaning against the counter, chatting to everyone. The guys were wearing dressing gowns, and Madison was reminded that everyone’s clothes were still in her backpack.
    “Auntie Madison!” Abbey yelled when she saw her, running up and wrapping her arms around her in a fierce hug.
    “Darling! I’m so glad you’re ok!” Elsbeth exclaimed, and Madison went over and kissed her.
    “How was the journey down the mountain?” Madison said, turning to Sophia and Marina.
    “It was sooo exciting!” they said at the same time. Madison laughed.
    “I would’ve thought you’d be too cold to appreciate it,” she said.
    “Nuh-uh!” Marina said, her eyes like saucers.
    “Just remember what we talked about – as a mark of gratitude for us rescuing your asses – you’re not going to tell anyone that we’ve got pet bears,” Grayson said with a wink.
    “We won’t mention it to anybody, cross my heart,” Sophia said, looking chastened.
    “And how about those boyfriends of yours?”
    “They’re not our boyfriends,” both girls said, faces screwed up in disgust. “And we never want to talk to them again.”
    “Probably wise, if that’s their idea of showing you a good time,” Riley said, and they giggled, cheeks pinking. He was really handsome and charming, and Madison could see why Karen was drawn to him. But for her, no-one compared to Brock. The way he’d dealt with the entire situation – his calm, logical and clearheaded attitude – had made her like him even more. And there had been something incredibly intense about riding on his back, being close to him, which wasn’t diminished by the fact he’d been in his bear form. They’d also had