Big Sexy Bear by Terry Bolryder Read Free Book Online Page B

time he came back.
    She’d never tried to latch onto a man. And she hadn’t even really missed sex. Being really into books and quiet around most people had meant she didn’t have much before Mac came into her life anyway.
    Then again, she’d been younger then, in her early twenties. She’d been with Mac for nearly three years now, and the latter third of that had been spent on the road, staying with cousins for a few months here or a few months there. And then recently, only staying at motels as absolutely necessary, as Ben seemed to have stepped up his efforts to find her.
    “I’m done swinging,” Mac said. “I’m dizzy.”
    She slowed his swing and helped him out. He climbed down and walked around the small ladder that led to a slide that only came up to her waist. He sat in it, his small hands in his lap, and then looked out with a solemn kind of wisdom that only very small children seem to have.
    “What’s up, bud?” she asked.
    “I like it here,” he said. “But we’re going to have to leave, huh?”
    “I’m afraid so,” she said.
    “Why? Because of the bad men?” he asked.
    She nodded. “Yes, because of the bad men.”
    “Ares can beat all the bad men. He’s this huge!” Mac stretched his arms wide, and Kat fought back a smile.
    “Yes, he is big.”
    “He likes us,” Mac said. “I can tell.”
    Kat had to agree with that. And they both liked him. What was there not to like? She wondered how far he lived from Maude and if he’d come back here tonight at all. It somehow felt safer with him around. That was all.
    She folded her arms. No, that wasn’t all. She wanted to hold him. Wanted to see him. Longed to touch him.
    She wanted to look into those deep, reassuring green eyes and believe everything Mac believed. But she wasn’t a kid anymore. Hadn’t been in a long time.
    Not since her older sister had moved out and gotten in trouble.
    “I think we should stay here,” Mac said, a pout on his pink lips. “I don’t want to go.”
    She frowned and then straddled the slide to lean down and look into his big blue eyes. “Hey, it’s going to be okay,” she said, pulling him into her arms. He tightened his small, skinny arms around her, and she closed her eyes and sank into it.
    “When I’m big, I’m going go scare all the bad men away,” he muttered against her. “I’m going to be bigger like Ares and get them all dead.”
    She winced. Mac had always been verbal, always seemed a little older than he should be. Even when he’d been brought to her as a little, inquisitive two-year-old, he’d looked into her eyes with an expression that said he saw far too much.
    Far more than she’d have liked him to.
    Even now, she knew he saw more than the little swing set and Maude’s cute house.
    He was seeing more road ahead of him, no other little kids to play with. Her heart ached in response.
    “I’m glad the car broke,” Mac said. “I hate it.”
    She nodded. “Me too. But we can stay at least a few more days,” she said.
    “‘Til it’s fixed?” he asked.
    “‘Til it’s fixed.”
    He shook his head and pushed away. She pulled back, and he gestured for her to move so he could go down the slide. When he did, it was the most morose slide she’d ever seen performed. He sat rigid until he hit the grass and then slowly stood, brushing off his pants.
    “I hate this,” he spat out. Then he looked embarrassed and ran toward the house, opening the sliding door, going in, and closing it behind him.
    She sat on the swing, put her hand on her forehead, and wondered what on earth she should do.

----
    T hey were watching a movie together , Mac fast asleep snuggled between Maude and Kat, when the doorbell rang.
    Before either of them could get up to answer, Ares opened the door and came in, still wearing work clothes from what it looked like. Worn jeans and a jacket he took off and hung by the door.
    His powerfully muscled body moved with all grace as he strode into the room, leaned on