Her Christmas Bear by Marie Mason Read Free Book Online

dated was scum rose up inside her. The instincts she had ignored. This time they were telling her that Marcus was an honorable man—an honorable shifter. She wanted this one evening. Wanted to explore this shiver of attraction she felt toward him.
    “It’s just pizza and a salad, Hope.”
    Just pizza and a salad the big bear said. That ranked right up there with famous last lines like ‘come into my parlor’.
    “I’ll be the perfect gentleman. I’d just like to spend some time with you, if you’ll let me.”
    It wasn’t him she was afraid of, but herself. She gave into temptation anyway and prayed she wouldn’t regret it. “I’d like that, Marcus. I’d like that very much.”
    Marcus wanted to roar with satisfaction when Hope agreed to his dinner invitation. He’d sensed the hesitation in her and played it low-keyed, just a pizza between acquaintances. What he really wanted to do was pick her up and carry her to his bedroom and not come out until spring.
    His bear agreed with the man wholeheartedly.
    Marcus, unlike his two bear friends, was not going to deny his mate. Far from it.
    “Okay, then. Let’s go on up to the house.”
    Still cautious about her health, he’d made sure they’d explored the area closest to the cabin. He’d loved watching her eyes widen in appreciation and the red that had bloomed on her cheeks from the cold. Next time, he’d get out the snow mobile and take her up the mountain.  They could stay out longer and he could show her more of his operation. He was proud of what he’d accomplished. Proud that he had solid assets to provide for his mate and cubs.
    Cubs.
    He stole a sideways glance at her, her voluptuous figure almost lost beneath the thick snow parka she wore. He could picture her walking beside him next Christmas, her stomach swollen with his child.
    His cock hardened thinking of putting a cub inside her. She’d be so wet, so tight…
    “Thank you.” He stood and pulled her to her feet and down the steps. He stopped at the bottom, turning toward her. He bent his head slowly, giving her time to move away if she wanted to. She didn’t. A sharp surge of desire welled up inside him, shaking him with its intensity. Instead of pulling away, she stepped closer, until their bodies were pressed together as close as they could get with the thick layers of clothing between them. She lifted her head to meet his. An answering fire burned in the depths of her green eyes. The hopeful, expectant memories of the afternoon seemed to spin around them, binding them tightly together.
    Hope gripped the fabric of Marcus’s shirt to anchor herself down. When she saw the tautness of his face, read the almost hesitant look in his eyes, she stood on tiptoes and pressed her lips against his. She’d expected him to take over the kiss, his mouth to be hot and fierce, his tongue thrusting and rough, despite the soft snow drifting down and the cold beginning to blow around them. Instead, he stayed still, allowing her to control the kiss. Her tongue slid tentatively against his but quickly retreated. She had never initiated a kiss before, except for a quick peck on the cheek when she said goodnight to a date she had no intention of ever seeing again.
    The thought of never seeing Marcus again, of never being in his arms again, made her whimper.
    “Easy, baby,” he pulled her closer allowing his lips to deepen the kiss, coaxing her to yield so he could explore her with tender strokes of his tongues. Her knees wobbled, threatening to buckle and her fingers loosened their hold on his shirt, only to tangle in his hair.
    The kiss heated, deepened, as her hunger fed his. They stood there, in the falling snow, kissing, exploring… falling in love?
    Finally, he pulled away, his chest heaving with his passion. She was relieved to see it wasn’t all one sided.
    “Let’s get going.”
    As they walked back to his house, his hand held hers and his thumb brushed across her knuckles. It was a simple touch,