Brash Bear: BBW Bear Shifter Paranormal Romance (BRIDES fur BEARS Book 3) by Natalie Kristen Read Free Book Online

frivolous,
untrustworthy and unstable. No, don't even try to deny it. You do
think that. In fact, you believe that. You think the worst of me
without even trying to get to know me. Why, Bella? You refuse to
give me a chance, so I think I deserve to know why I am being
condemned! I've done nothing wrong. Wanting you isn't wrong.”
    His chest was rising and
falling with his heavy breathing. His hot breath fell on Bella's
cheek and his muscles were taut and throbbing. Caging her in with
his powerful arms, Joshua kept his intense, piercing gaze locked on
her, allowing her to see the storm of emotions swirling in the depths
of his glowing, dark eyes.
    The electricity between them
crackled as he pressed closer to her. The veins were bulging from
his neck and his jaw was tightly clenched. She was trembling
slightly but her eyes never left his. They stared deeply,
searchingly, hauntingly into each other's eyes, looking right into
each other's heart and soul.
    “Josh...” she
whispered, struggling to breathe.
    She looked up at his stark,
handsome face and read the raw hunger, pain and anger in every line
of his face and body. He didn't hide his emotions from her and he
didn't mince and sugarcoat his words. He thought she was a fucking
coward, and he told her so. Not in those exact words, but well, she
got the message.
    Bella pressed her back
against the wall and clenched her fists. “My ex...” she
began in a quavering voice. “He was irresponsible and
immature. He lied to me, cheated me...and he hurt me.”
    Joshua didn't move but his
gaze softened as he listened to her. As she told him all about
herself and her past, he stroked her arm soothingly, encouragingly.
He was glad to see no shame and sadness in her eyes as she opened up
to him. Instead, she seemed relieved to have unburdened herself to
him.
    Joshua remained silent for a
long while after she finished. Finally, his huge hands cupped her
face and he pressed his forehead to hers.
    “I think you know this
already, but I'll just say it again. I. Am. Not. Your. Ex.”
    Bella exhaled a sigh. “Yes.
I know.”
    “Good. Just checking.”
    The corners of his lips
curved but the smile didn't reach his eyes.
    He didn't release her. He
stared into her eyes and for a moment, it seemed no one even
breathed.
    Joshua waited for a few
pounding heartbeats, but when she made no move to push him away, he
pressed his mouth to hers in a hungry, passionate kiss.
    Bella moaned softly and
reached up to cling to his strong shoulders. Joshua ran his tongue
over her lips, coaxing her to open up for him.
    Once he felt her melting
against him, his kiss softened and became slow and sensuous. His
tongue tangled with hers and he took his time to taste her
thoroughly.
    She warmed to his kiss and
returned his ardor and passion. Spearing her fingers through his
hair, she pressed herself to his hard, powerful body. Time seemed to
stand still and the world narrowed to just the two of them.
    With a ragged breath, Joshua
finally pulled away. “You...are amazing, Bella,” he said
hoarsely.
    Before he could change his
mind, Joshua stalked to the front door and opened it. “I'll
stay in my car,” he said in a low growl. “I'll make sure
you're safe.”
    She looked confused and hurt
as she started after him. Did she think he was rejecting her?
    “I want you, Bella,”
he said. “Never doubt that. But I won't push you. I am sure
about you, Bella. But I want you to be sure about us.”
    With that, he stepped out and
pulled the door firmly shut behind him.

CHAPTER
EIGHTEEN

    Bella walked out of the
library and squinted against the late afternoon sun. She worked the
morning shift, so there was still plenty of sunlight when she got off
work. She made her way home briskly and stopped momentarily when her
little house came into view.
    Along with the view of her
house came the jaw-dropping, tantalizing view of three hunky
shirtless men doing various repairs to her house.
    Once she had given Beck's
Builders