Fated To Her Bear by Harmony Raines Read Free Book Online Page A

His eyes were heavy; he fought them, but at last they closed and he slept. A sleep where she was always in front of him, out of reach. The beautiful jet-black mare, galloping free. His bear couldn’t catch her, couldn’t keep up with her. But when he called her she came back to him, out of choice, her eyes shining with the joy and freedom life had given her. He knew in that moment he could never go back on his word, or else that mare would be gone, replaced by a beast of burden.
    ***
     
    He woke. It was late, he could tell by the angle of the sun on his bedroom window. For a moment he had to gather his thoughts, think about what had happened. Ciara . He lifted himself up on one elbow, expecting to see her gone. He was right; she was no longer in his bed.
    Cursing himself for sleeping so late, he swung his legs out of bed and was up and heading for the door, when it opened in his face. He took a step back. There she was looking all sleep-tousled and sexy. His cock immediately hardened.
    “Hi,” she said shyly.
    “Hi,” he said, pulling her back onto his arms and kissing her in an attempt to break the awkwardness between them.
    “Nice,” she said, “But I have to go. I have rounds to do.”
    “You couldn’t call in sick?” he asked hopefully.
    “Sorry. Anyway, my car is parked along the mountain road. I have to go and collect it or there will be a search party out looking for me.”
    He shrugged on some clothes. “I’ll give you a ride.”
    Yes, he did want to make sure she was safe, but he also wanted to spend every last second of time with her that he could.
     

Chapter Thirteen – Ciara
    “Thank you,” she said, getting into his truck.
    “No problem.” He touched her thigh briefly, sending shockwaves through her body; she had to learn to control her reactions when he was close. “Nothing is a problem. OK?”
    “OK,” she said, feeling a strange lump of emotion welling up in her throat. “If you drop me at my car, I’ll do my rounds and then call back.”
    “That would be amazing. I wasn’t going to ask, didn’t want to pressure you.”
    “Oh, I wasn’t coming back to see you,” she said mischievously, watching the change in his face. “No, really. I am coming back for Minty.”
    “Minty?” Ryan looked confused. “Why are you coming back to look at the old pony?”
    “Because that is why Sapphire is upset. He’s ill. His stomach hurts and she doesn’t know why.”
    “But he eats everything, seems fine.”
    “That is just what she told me, so I am going to come back with my bag and then we’ll see if we can help him.”
    “Does that mean I’ll get to see you as a horse again? You looked magnificent; I would love to see you in the daylight.”
    She smiled wickedly, feeling more alive than she had ever felt. “Only if you show me what you are.”
    “What I am?” He was pulling over next to her car. “What do you think I am?”
    “A bear. Well, that’s what I’m guessing. Bear Bluff, stands to reason that you are mainly bears here. Or was someone having a joke and you’re all squirrels?”
    He laughed and she liked it. “Bears. I will show you later, when you come back.”
    He got out of the truck and he met her round the front. There she pulled him to her. “I will come back, Ryan.”
    She kissed him, her lips firm against his mouth. Damn if she didn’t want him to take her now. Lift her onto the hood of his truck and fuck her out here in the open. Ciara pulled back from him, telling her mare to calm down. There was time for that later, although maybe not the outdoors bit. First, she had to get her act together and make up for lost time.
    “What time shall I expect you?” he asked, watching her unlock her car. He moved to rest his hand on it while she got in.
    “I’m not sure. Late afternoon. Maybe five?”
    “Five would be great. I’ll make dinner.”
    “You cook too?”
    “I am a man of many talents,” he said, leaning forward and kissing her cheek. “Which I am