Bear Home for Christmas: BBW Holiday Paranormal Bear Shifter Romance (Christmas Bear Shifter Romance Book 1) (5 page)

“In that case, I’m glad you got over your manners today. Not least that you got the opportunity to try a pumpkin spice latte for the first time!”

“Yeah, that was definitely the highlight,” he said, returning her smile. She stared down at her wine glass, spun it around on the table. 

“I don’t normally go crying in cafés, honestly. That was also my first time.”

“I don’t blame you for being upset back there.”

“I do. I’m a big girl now. And I’ve realized that I need to get my shit together, and not go off on random escapades. That’s going to be my new year’s resolution.”  

“Sounds like a good one,” he said, impressed by the determination in her voice.

“Well, it’s long past due. And what about you – what are your resolutions?”

“
Everything
is new for me now,” he said with a grin. “I have to find a new career, a place to live.”
A mate
, he almost said, before he managed to stop himself. 

“And what are you going to do for work now?”

“I haven’t decided 100%, but I think I’m going to make my dad happy and join his family business in forest conservation. I used to be part of the local volunteer fire service too, so I’ll probably put some additional hours into that. I think my leadership skills could be valuable, and it’s good to give something back to the community.” 

“That sounds great,” she said, leaning closer to him. “I think you’re inspiring me to make the career change I’ve secretly craved for a long time.”

“What are you thinking about doing?” She pursed her lips and looked up at the ceiling, very cutely.

“I think I’ve always wanted to help people, but I felt like I didn’t have the right. You know, because I’ve had a few issues in my life.”

“Of course that shouldn’t stop you. What happened to you was terrible, and there was nothing you could do to help it. Compare that with me – I was a stupid kid who
chose
to go smoking marijuana, and I still managed to grow into a responsible adult. The power to change your life lies within you.” She nodded.

“You’re right. I think deep inside, I did know that. I just needed to hear someone else vocalize it.” 

“Everyone needs a little guidance sometimes.”

The food arrived, and it looked and smelled incredible. Granger had to contain his urge to devour it, much to his bear’s disgust. The past five years had been very hard for his bear. At times, he’d been for weeks without shifting, because it was just impossible in the desert, living in exposed spaces with enemy insurgents everywhere. For a bear, this was the equivalent to being bed-bound. And now it knew that he was going home, he could barely contain its instincts. 

“This is amazing,” Noelle said.

“It is,” he agreed.

Some music came on – a Christmas carol.

“Silent night,” she murmured. “I don’t know many carols, but I know that one. “I used to sing it at elementary school.”

“I know it too,” he said, assessing her expression. She looked happy, a little wistful, but not pained. He decided to give voice to the idea that had been occupying him ever since they were in the bus station.

“I’d really like it if you came to spend Christmas with me and my family,” he said. She put her fork down and blinked several times, then her eyes widened.

“Won’t I be intruding on your family reunion?”

“Not at all. I guarantee that you’ll be joining several other waifs and strays. There will definitely, definitely be several people that I don’t know there.”

“Really?”

“Absolutely. I’m sure I’ll walk in and someone will ask me how I know the clan!” she laughed.

“Your family sounds like fun!”

“They are. They’re real relaxed.”

“Are you sure you want me there? You’re not just being nice?”

“Hell no. I’d love for you to be there!” he almost shouted. Her face lit up.

“In that case, I’d love to come!” He had the strongest urge to lean forward and kiss her, but he managed to hold himself in check. Instead, he lifted his glass in a toast.

“To a very merry Christmas,” he said, and they clinked glasses.

“Thank you for everything, Granger,” she said.

“It’s my pleasure, Noelle,” he replied happily.

They ate their fill, even Granger not managing to clear his plate, and then the mood altered subtly in each of them, and they leaned close, chatting constantly. Excitement fizzed through Granger’s veins. He couldn’t wait to take Noelle home and introduce her to his family. His parents had always pushed him and his brother to find a human mate rather than another shifter, and he knew they’d just love Noelle. And maybe, just maybe, amid the fun and comfort of being with his clan, he might be able to seduce her into becoming his mate.

He excused himself to go to the bathroom. When he came back, Noelle was playing with a candle, flicking at the flame.

“Like playing with fire?” he asked. She withdrew her hand, guiltily.

“Sorry, bad habit. I was one of those kids who was always playing chicken on railway lines. Now I restrict myself to avoid being burned by a candle.”

“You were a wayward kid, huh?”

“Yeah, kind of. I had plenty of bad habits.”

“Let me see that finger.” He reached out and took her hand, and as their fingers touched a jolt of electricity seemed to leap between them. Noelle stared at him, obviously as startled as he was. “You’ve singed your nail a little.”

“Uh huh. That’s the point where I usually stop.” He shook his head. “What other stuff did you get up to?” She sighed.

“Gosh. Plenty. For a long time, I was real angry at the world. I used to run around with other disaffected kids from the children’s home. For one thing, I was a Christmas saboteur. I used to steal decorations from outside people’s houses. I was always throwing hard, icy snowballs at windows and people, and I used to kick over snowmen. I really wasn’t very nice.”

“Sounds like very understandable behavior,” he said, but the color had gone from her cheeks.

“Oh my god, I’m sorry. I don’t even know why I told you that stuff. I wouldn’t do anything like that now.” He grinned.

“Of course you wouldn’t. In the same way that I wouldn’t sit in Johnno’s car, getting high with him and Andy. And when Adam and I were kids, we were
horrible
to his girlfriend’s clan. Our families have been sworn enemies for years, and our parents brought us up to be hostile to them. We were always doing pranks, and they’d get revenge on us, and we’d go back and do something else to them.”

“Sounds like the Capulets and the Montagues.” He laughed.

“Yeah, I’m sure my brother and his girl are a regular Romeo and Juliet. Anyway, my point was that stupid shit you do as a kid has no bearing on your life as an adult. As long as you don’t kill someone or something, I think you can always make good.” She nodded.

“Sometimes I feel like I was the person I was supposed to be when I was small, and then I became somebody else for a while. Now, I’m just trying to remember who that person was.” At her words, a wave of tenderness washed over him. More than anything, he wanted to help this fascinating woman to rediscover herself. But he wasn’t about to scare the hell out of her by telling her that. Instead, he took his phone out to distract himself from saying something stupid.

“Speaking of my dear brother – it looks like he’s arrived someplace.”

“Great! So he’s not on his way to New York!”

“Nope! Guess where he is?”

“Umm, Coleman?”

“Right! You’re a good guesser.”

“Ah – if it was Nolan, he’d still be on the bus for another hour.”

“Right. I knew that.” They met each other’s eyes and burst out laughing. “I blame the wine.”

“Uh huh.” His heart warmed with affection. He loved that she was a little snarky, not afraid to make a joke at his expense. “So, what’s the story – has he checked into a hotel?”

“Unfortunately not. He’s just spent $15.68 at a convenience store.”

“Oh.” Her face fell. “Maybe he’s still on his way to a hotel.”

“Mmm. I just hope Coleman has more beds than Northwood and he’s not hiking around in the cold, unable to find anywhere, and freezing that poor girl’s ass off.”

“I’m sure he’ll find somewhere. There must be a reason why he picked such an obscure town. And at the very worst, the Greyhound station stays open all night.”

“You’re right. And this is good news. As long as we set off good and early tomorrow morning, there’s a decent chance we’ll catch him there.”

“That sounds like a smart plan.”

Just then, the server came over with the dessert menus.

“I’m pretty stuffed, but I have a hard time saying no to a crème brûlée,” Granger said. Noelle bit her lip.

“Me too.” He gave her a sly look.

“Shall we go halves?”

“Yes, let’s!”

The waiter brought two spoons when he delivered the dessert a few minutes later. Shyly at first, they each dug in, the small spoons clinking together.

“This is amazing!” Granger proclaimed. “I’ve got a bit of a sweet tooth, and I was dreaming about this when I was lying on my army cot, listening to a sandstorm blowing outside.” She giggled.

“And now you’re eating it, sitting with a strange girl, listening to a snowstorm blowing outside.” He grinned.

“You’re not that strange.”

“Neither are you.” They held each other’s gaze for a long moment.

They finished every delicious mouthful of the dessert, Granger delighting in the evident pleasure that Noelle took from food. He looked at his watch.

“I guess we’d better turn in, to make sure we’re in Coleman in time to apprehend my brother tomorrow, wherever he might be.”

“Sure – so we should leave around 6, I guess?” He sighed.

“I guess so. I thought I’d left inhumanly early starts behind when I left the army, but it doesn’t seem like it. Still, it’s only 10pm now. Enough time for seven hours sleep.”

“Works for me!” she said brightly.

As the server came, Noelle snatched the check and insisted on paying the whole thing. Granger argued, but she was adamant, and eventually, he gave in, knowing that she needed to feel that she was contributing her share and wasn’t just getting a free ride.

They lingered at the table, Granger reluctant to end the meal. It had felt so much like a date, and he was so enchanted by this beautiful woman. He was also nervous about going back up to their room, and spending the night sleeping in close proximity to her. It was becoming harder and harder to conceal his desire for her, and he barely trusted his bear to be be alone with her. But they had to sleep.

At last, they pushed their chairs back and stood up.

Noelle climbed the stairs ahead of Granger on shaky legs. Her heart was hammering at the thought that they were going to sleep in the same room. Her attraction for him was so strong that she felt like she’d been acting weird throughout the meal, cracking stupid jokes and barely able to meet his eyes.
And he’s invited me to his family’s place for Christmas!
Her heart hopped and skipped and jumped every time the thought zipped through her brain. He was the kindest, most generous guy she’d ever met in her life. And he was so charming too. As they’d been talking, he’d made her feel like she was the most interesting girl in the world. Girls must fall at his feet.
But he had to be single, right?
He wouldn’t take me back if he already had a girlfriend waiting to see him.
Unless his girlfriend was so cool and beautiful that she never felt insecure about anything. Yeah, that’s probably what she was like. Statuesque and blonde, with a sunny, generous nature.

At the top of the stairs, she couldn’t remember which direction their room was in.

“Is it left or right here?” she said turning to Granger. As she did, she caught his gaze flicking upward.
Was he just looking at my ass? No. I just imagined it
, she told herself. But still, the thought that he might have been checking her out made her tingle.

“It’s left,” he called with a laugh.

“Room 23 – that’s it,” she muttered.

As they entered the room, she saw that the sofa bed had been made up. She went over and dumped her bag on it.

“No way,” he said. “You’ll be sleeping right over here.” He pointed to the bed.

“But –”

“No buts. I’m serious. You’re taking the bed and that’s it.” She looked at him, knowing that they could argue all night and the end result would be the same.

“I’m just not comfortable taking this huge bed while you sleep on a couch,” she said. “How about we share the bed. I think it’s even two singles combined.” He lifted the comforter.

“I think you might have a point,” he agreed. He was quiet for a moment, and Noelle tensed.
Does he really hate the thought of sharing a bed with me that much?
“Ok, I guess we can share. I’m having my own blankets though. I can tell that you’re the kind of girl who steals them,” he said. She shrugged.

“Whatever you need to feel comfortable,” she replied pertly. He pushed the comforter and blankets onto one side of the bed, then took the set from the sofa bed and dumped them on the other.

“My side,” he proclaimed.

“Well, then I get to use the bathroom first.”

“Deal.”

When Noelle came back from the bathroom, the room felt a lot colder than before.

“It’s freezing!” she exclaimed.

“I was just thinking the same thing.” Granger went over to one of the radiators and touched it. “It’s almost cold.” Noelle touched another one and another.

“Same.” Granger picked up the phone and called down to reception.  

“They’re saying the boiler’s broken. Something to do with the snowstorm.”

“God! That sucks. But at least we’ve got the electric fire,” she said.

“Right. And the blankets should be pretty warm. Hey, you’re shivering. I’ll go in the bathroom now and give you a moment to get ready.”

When Granger had shut the bathroom door, Noelle stood beside the bed rummaging in her duffel bag. She wasn’t one for wearing pajamas, preferring a long t-shirt instead. And it looked like she hadn’t even remembered to bring that with her. She could stay in her jeans, but that would be weird and uncomfortable. She’d just have to sleep in her underwear and t-shirt. She pulled her jeans off quickly, laid them right beside the bed in case she needed to go to the bathroom during the night, and climbed into bed. She peeled her sweater off, which left her in her t-shirt, and then hesitated, trying to decide whether to remove her bra. Her breasts were so big. It seemed kind of indecent to let them loose when she was in bed with him. On the other hand, her bra was unbelievably uncomfortable to sleep in, and always managed to twist around and stab her in the armpits. She lifted her hand to the clasp at the back and unfastened it, feeding the straps through her arms, and lifting the whole thing off. Not knowing what to do with it now, she put it under her pillow.

Just as she was tucking the covers up to her chin, and now shivering violently, Granger came out of the bathroom.

“Wooh, it’s icy in there,” he said. “I’m surprised the water in the taps isn’t freezing!” Noelle stared at him, her mouth falling open. He was wearing a pair of plaid pajama pants. And nothing else. His body was unreal. It was a honed, sculpted mass of muscular perfection. His chest was broad, with strongly defined pecs, and he had rippling, washboard stomach muscles and ridges of muscle that disappeared diagonally into the waistband of his pants. She’d only seen a physique like that in magazines, and she’d never really believed that they existed in real life. His chest was quite hairy, with a dark line of hair wandering past his navel and turning into a sexy treasure trail; and his skin was darkly tanned. She thought about the hours of military training that must have gone into building a body like that, and she was impressed all over again. And turned on.
God,
she was getting aroused just looking at him. He didn’t seem to be aware of her fixated gaze though, as he flipped the covers back and climbed in. He shivered for a little while until the comforter warmed him up.

“Are you warm enough?” he asked, turning onto his side so he was facing her. She turned to face him too. It was an automatic movement, but it felt natural somehow. She picked up the scent of mint mouthwash, and her eyes were drawn like a magnet to his pale-pink, incredibly kissable lips. If they each moved a dozen inches, they’d be kissing. The thought made her breath catch in her throat. She yearned for him to take her in his arms and kiss her, to suffuse her body with his warmth.

“Yes, although I’m sure I can see my breath in the air right now,” she said.

“I’d offer to give you a bear hug to warm you up, but I guess that wouldn’t be appropriate,” he said.
Appropriate. No, not at all,
she thought, imagining being pressed up against the skin of his chest, smelling his smell. She gazed at him wordlessly, too full of emotion to trust herself to reply.

“Sorry, I think I’m a little tipsy,” he said, shaking his head. “There I was trying to be the perfect gentleman, and I go and make a comment like that. I’m such a doofus sometimes.” She grinned. 

“No, you’re not. And I thought it was sweet,” she said, only half truthfully. The ache between her thighs was telling her that it was far more than sweet. Granger’s eyes remained on her face, moving from her eyes to her lips to her hair, as if he was caressing her with his gaze.
Touch me with your hand instead
, she willed him. And slowly, he lifted his hand from his comforter and stroked her cheek with a single finger, before drawing it away again. Time seemed to stand still. She held her breath, feeling her body trembling with desire.

“Granger –” she began, having no idea what she wanted to say.
Hold me, kiss me, take me. Make love to me.

“We should sleep,” he whispered.

“Ok,” she said, suddenly feeling like a deflated balloon. He turned the light out. The room was very dark. Noelle pulled the covers right up to her nose and stared at the blackness. How the hell was she going to sleep now? Had Granger just acted like he wanted her? Her skin still burned from his touch. And she could smell him – a delicious, spicy, masculine scent, like wood smoke and good whisky. Her body thrummed with desire for this incredibly sexy man who was lying within touching distance, half naked.
Was it an innocent gesture or a sexual one?
She reimagined it over and over. It was innocent, most likely. If he’d wanted her, he wouldn’t have left it like that. She listened for signs that he was asleep. His breathing was just audible, with a curious rumbling undertone. Come to think of it, she’d heard that sound earlier, but had dismissed it as ambient noise. But there it was, regular, and oddly comforting. Her eyes began to feel heavy, and, before she knew it, she drifted off to sleep.

Noelle woke in darkness, with the feeling that she hadn’t slept long. And she was freezing. Her nose was icy cold, and even her feet underneath the covers felt numb. She turned from one side to the other, but she couldn’t get warm. She was chilled to the bone.

“What’s wrong?” came Granger’s voice in the darkness.

“I’m a little cold.”

“Me too.” He paused, and she lay still waiting for him to say something else. “We’re going to have to pile all the blankets together. Here –” He rummaged around with his sheets and dumped them on top of her, and then he lifted the edge of hers and slid underneath them. Immediately, she felt the heat of his body radiating across the bed and warming her. He was like a furnace. How could such a warm body ever feel the cold?

“That’s a little better,” he said. “I can feel you shivering though. Do you want to snuggle?” He was right. Despite the additional warmth, she was still freezing cold.

“Yes,” she whispered, and she held herself still, barely daring to breathe as she felt him move across the bed and manoeuver himself against her body. He spooned her, his chest pressing against her back, and his right arm resting across her waist. She stifled a sound. He felt incredible, his skin radiating heat. And his muscles. She sensed them, all around her, keeping her safe in a protective cocoon. She felt his breath on her hair, warm and reassuring. His left arm lay beneath her neck, and his right hand rested on the mattress in front of her. She wished he’d wrap it around her body, but he seemed determined to make his embrace as platonic as possible. His crotch stayed well away from her ass, much to her disappointment.

“How’s that?” he whispered.

“Better. You?”

“Me too. You’re like a furnace,” he said. She giggled.

“I was thinking the same thing about you.”

Antsy and taut with arousal as she was, she somehow drifted off to sleep again, and didn’t wake until the alarm on Granger’s phone was going off.

She woke up abruptly and Granger pulled away from her, but not before she felt something pressing against her ass.
His cock’s hard
, she realized in a daze.
Because he likes me? No, men get those all the time, stupid.

“Morning,” Granger said, his voice soft and husky. She wished that they didn’t have to go anywhere. That he’d come back and snuggle her, then turn her on her back and make love to her for hours. But they had to get up. In the pitch darkness. She pulled her bra out from under the pillow and sneaked it on. Then she climbed into her jeans and went into the bathroom. She turned the shower on immediately, and by the time she got in, the room was bearably warm.

Ten minutes later, she was dressed in clean clothes and brushing out her slightly damp hair.

“Has your brother paid for anything else on his card?” she asked as she came back into the bedroom.

“Nope. And I really don’t know what I’m going to do if I can’t find him when we get to Coleman. I don’t want our mom and dad not having either of us home for Christmas. I guess I’ll give it a few hours, and if we can’t find him by 1pm, say, we’ll have to abandon this wild-goose chase and drive straight home.

“Makes sense,” she said, looking at him with concern, aware how hard it would be for him to give up like that. “How’s the forecast?”

“Right now, it’s pretty good. No more snow predicted until late tonight across the whole region, but it does mean that we can’t afford to wait around in case it comes in a little sooner than expected.”

“Right,” she agreed.

Noelle took a long look around the room as they left. She felt obscurely sad to leave it. The bed looked so inviting, with the covers still thrown back on Granger’s side, where he’d clambered out. They’d shared real intimacy there, and she wondered if it would be the last time that happened.

Downstairs, the reception was deserted. They dropped their key on the desk and left, since the owners already had Granger’s card details.

Noelle sat very still as Granger drove carefully down the mountain slope. The snow was very deep, and he moved at a crawl. She kept her eyes on the misty moon, still high in the sky, and let out a long breath as they were safely on the flat again.

Half an hour later, it began to get light, the sky turning from black to navy blue, and half an hour after that, the dawn started to break. The sky turned dark gray, then pink, and a sliver of bright yellow light began to appear at the horizon, the sun pushing and pushing at the snow-laden clouds, until the pink became orange, and then hazy blue, and all at once, the clouds disappeared, and the sky was clear blue.

“Wow,” they breathed from time to time.

“That’s one of the most spectacular sunrises I’ve ever seen,” Granger said.

“It’s one of the only sunrises I’ve ever seen,” Noelle said with a laugh. “So I’m glad it was such a good one.”

“Not a morning person?”

“Nope,” she said cheerfully.

“I’m not by choice. I’m such a sleepyhead in winter. But that was worth getting up so brutally early for.”