Page 21 of Goldie's Grumpy Grizzly
Rae’s delicate fingers tug at my arm. “Don’t be rude, Cole.”
It’s her touch that does it. I finally snap, turning and towering over her. One glance at my face has her stepping back uncertainly, but I grab her hand and tug her closer.
“We need to talk.” The words come out like a snarl as I scoop her up in my arms and ignore her squeak of protest as I cart her right past my mom’s bewildered face and head outside.
Chapter Nine
Rae
“What are you doing? Put me down!” I cry, resisting the urge to kick my feet and pummel his back with my fists like a petulant child. Not that it would do any actual harm. His back is strong and firm, and my God, why do I want to run my hands over every inch of muscle on his body?
I squirm, which only earns me a quick, stinging smack on the ass.
“You did not just do that.” My cheeks burn, even as the rest of my traitorous body flushes hot.
“I did. And I’ll do it again if you keep it up.”
Irritable and testy, I wiggle again, willing him to put me down, but his bare hand only lands harder and higher on my rounded ass. A squeal ekes out of me as I jerk against the sting and moisture floods the juncture of my thighs.
“I warned you.” His voice is choked, and I wonder if he can scent what kind of effect he’s having on me.
How humiliating.
“Stop that,” he growls. “Or I just might drop you, right on your pretty little head.”
I still, blowing out a breath and focus on the rapidly diminishing view of the lodge as he continues carrying me like a sack of flour. “Stop what? I’m not doing anything apart from trying to regain my legs.”
“Sure.” His hold on my thighs tightens, his fingers slipping further up my thighs, ever closer to the lace edging of my panties.
My face burns as I think about how close those thick fingers of his are to my sweet spot and how good they felt stretching me. I try to focus on his long strides and the crunch of his boots against the dried leaves and sticks underfoot.
There’s an easy motion and sway to his movement, and he must be so strong because I know I’m not a light woman, but he doesn’t sound like he’s struggling for breath or anything. In fact, he hasn’t even broken out in a sweat despite the warmer temperature and dwindling daylight.
“Well, I can see that you’ve made remarkable progress healing from our little run-in. You’re hardly limping at all now.”
“Yes, I seem to have rebounded quicker than expected.”
I can’t see his face, but I know by his tone that he’s frowning. Why would that puzzle him? Didn’t he say that his bear shifter gifts include accelerated healing?
“You know what, this is fine. I’m just making a note of all this for my book. I’m sure I can work in a scene where Bruno goes primal and throws his mate over his shoulder while dragging her deep into the forest for his own purposes.”
That earns me a growl, and I clamp down on my bottom lip. Maybe ruffling this guy’s fur just might get me somewhere.
“Of course, in my book, that would be for the purpose of some good old-fashioned sexy times. But I can’t even begin to think why you’re carrying me off when I’m meant to be having a nice home-cooked meal right now. I mean, you literally interrupted a business meeting your mom scheduled with me.”
“You’ve got a year to figure out the details of the event.” Cole sets me down and pins me between the hard planes of his body and the rough bark of a gnarled, ancient tree. “I’ve got less time than that to figure out the business between us. Especially if my brother’s going to wind me up by flirting with you. What, exactly, do you know about mates?”
“I…” My voice drops off as I glimpse the intensity etched in his face and the banked heat burning in his eyes. He’s so close, my every breath makes my breasts brush up against his chest and draws more of that fresh pine scent of him into my nostrils. His mouth is a firm, flat line, and I ache to trace it with my fingertips.
But no.
Last night, he’d said it was a mistake telling me about our connection. Now that I’ve had time to come to terms with the idea and get over the initial shock, it’s kind of thrilling to know I’m fated to be with this man.
“Everything you told me last night, and the stuff I’ve read online. I don’t know how it all works exactly, but it’s like the shifter equivalent of love at first sight or something. But deeper than that, and with guaranteed happily ever afters. Or, so they say. What did you mean when you said you’re bound to me?”
“I’m bound to you, heart and soul, mind and body. You will always have my undying devotion and loyalty. It means I’d die before I let anything happen to you.” He waits a beat, looking off into the distance. “And one’s mate will forever be a weakness that can be exploited or targeted by one’s enemies.”
“Well, naturally, anything one loves can be used as a weapon to hurt them.”
