Bear With Me (3 page)

Chapter Three

Bear
yawned as he made his way to his bedroom. On the drive home all he’d thought
about was Hannah and her son. Well actually more Hannah than Sam. She was cute
and curvy, and yes, he reminded himself, she hadn’t thrown herself at him the
minute he’d walked through her café door. Hell, she hadn’t even fluttered her
eyelids or flirted with him.

Bears
loved the chase and loved chasing things. And he’d been in the mood to do some
of that, well, maybe not chase anything but at least run. He’d arranged to go
with Aiden Renner first thing tomorrow morning. He knew the guy was uptight and
on edge about his pending fatherhood. Bear knew why. It wasn’t so much he was
going to be a dad but rather father to a hybrid child, which meant just about
anything could be wrong with it. They had no standards to go on for what would
be normal or if anything should be a warning sign. He knew how the guy felt and
in all honesty, Bear was nervous about being the doctor who would bring the
baby into the world.

Bear
headed to the shower and started to strip off his clothes.
 
Babies.
He’d delivered his fair share of them, but he’d
never really thought seriously enough about settling down and having some of
his own. He’d put himself through medical school, working two jobs to do it
without having to get deep into debt. After that he’d immersed himself in his
career which had left him little time for a social life.

He
reached into the shower stall and turned on the water. He thought of Sam again.
Something was obviously not right with him and Bear had already taken it upon
himself to figure out what and if he could help, even in some small way.

Stripping
off his boxers, he climbed into the stall and let the warm water pulsate
against his chest. It was Hannah he thought of this time. He closed his eyes
for a few seconds and could see her face and the golden locks cascading over
her shoulders.

He
pressed the pump on the soap dispenser and filled his palm with suds. He worked
it over his shoulders, onto his chest, down his belly, and while still thinking
of the gorgeous single mom, his hand glided back and forth over his cock.

Despite
all the women throwing themselves at him, he hadn’t felt the need to jerk off
in what seemed like forever, but Hannah had made him suddenly aware that he
hadn’t had sex in almost a year. He rested his forehead against the tiles in
the stall, seeing her face and her body all while his hand moved at such a fast
speed that his release, his reward, was imminent.

Bear
curled his toes up and then down, crying out as his climax took control of his
body, also shaking it, and making him tingle from head to toe. Damn that had
felt good, but it would feel even better with his dick buried deep inside a
woman.

Hannah.

****

Hannah
closed the book, seeing that Sam had fallen asleep somewhere between the fifth
and sixth chapter. Sometimes she worried that he was maybe too big for a bedtime
story time, but he seemed to come alive as she shared these make believe
stories with him. Something in his eyes always told her he found joy in hearing
her voice and listening to the adventures of the characters on the pages.

Placing
the book on the bookshelf by his bed, she turned back to face him, leaned over,
and kissed him on the cheek. She’d always told herself that she wouldn’t bring
a child into the world because of her own upbringing, but then she’d discovered
she was pregnant and alone. Sam touched his head and his nose twitched, making
her smile. He might not have been planned, but she loved him more than words
could ever describe. They were all one another had in this big sometimes scary
world. She couldn’t think about life without him now, even though some days
were downright tough on both of them.

Hannah
stood, flicked off the light, and tiptoed out of the room. She yawned. It had
been a long day at the café and she was dead on her feet. She’d snuggle down in
her bed and read before turning in for the night.

She
walked to her room and left the door open as she always did just in case Sam
needed her. Most of the time he slept through the night, but sometimes when he
woke, it was almost like he became disorientated about where he was at and
she’d wake up to find him curled up beside her.

Stripping
off, she remembered what she’d witnessed at the café.
Sam and
Bear interacting.
Maybe that’s what her son needed.
A
man around.
However, she’d sworn off those eight years ago, but if it
helped her son maybe she’d have to bite the bullet.

Hannah
got under the blankets, scolding herself for pretending her interest in Bear
was purely for her son’s welfare. She found Bear gorgeous, those big eyes, the
wide shoulders, and those powerful looking legs.

She
was rubbing her clit and hadn’t realized it until she started to feel a
stirring in her pussy. Pulling her hand away, she reprimanded herself for the
second time in the last few minutes.

But
damn, it felt so good. Self-pleasuring and thinking about Bear was doubly
devilish.

She
pulled out her paperback book from the drawer in the cabinet beside the bed and
opened it to the page she’d dog-eared.

Why
she read romances she didn’t know. Things always worked out for the characters
in the books. Prince Charming always seemed to save the day. Hers hadn’t
arrived yet. Maybe he never would.

She
felt her pussy pulling again, luring her to touch her clit again. She’d bought
herself a vibrator last year but had then been too scared to use it just in
case the buzzing noise woke Sam. New noises sometimes scared him and other
times they fascinated so she’d be mortified if he ever found it in her bedside
drawer.

However,
right now this was an itch she had to scratch.
Might as well get it over and done with
.
While continuing to read, she pushed her hand under the covers, her finger
quickly finding her clit again. She rubbed it, trying to read but she could no
longer see words, but Bear’s face on each page.

Sliding
down farther in the bed, Hannah put her mouth around the top of the sheet,
feeling and knowing she was going to come any time now. She didn’t want Sam to
hear her cry out or for Sam to wake thinking something was wrong with her.

She
pressed her butt into the mattress and raised her hips up.

Yes, wow, oh so
good.

Hannah
took a deep breath and relaxed, realizing she’d enjoyed her orgasm even more
than she’d imagined. She hadn’t had sex since the night she’d conceived Sam.
Not that she hadn’t the opportunity,
but after the wild one
night fling that had produced him, she’d decided her best option was to become
celibate.

Hannah
looked up at the ceiling. She’d learned her lesson the hardest way. No more one
night stands and if she ever had sex again, she would make sure he wore a
rubber every time he entered her.

She
was still feeling the wonderful effects of that self-imposed climax. She liked
sex, always had, but would she ever be ready to venture back into the having
sex pool?

Chapter Four

Bear
stretched his hamstrings while he waited for Aiden to arrive. There was a
slight chill to the air but besides that it was the perfect morning for a run.
He turned when he heard the sound of tires on the gravel parking area and saw
Aiden pulling his car into the space next to his own.
 
He smiled when he glanced in the back seat
and saw the car seat already in place for the baby. He and Charlotte were going
to make great parents and in a way he was downright envious of the child
because it was going to be spoiled rotten.

Aiden
got out and walked over to him just as another person pulled their car into the
lot.

“Shit,
means we can’t shift before we run,” said Aiden.

Bear
nodded to the man and a boy who looked like he could be the man’s son as they
too stretched, readying for their run. No one was more disappointed than Bear
about not being able to run in his bear form. After last night’s jerking off
episode he’d felt sexually pent up all night and still ready for a good fuck
when he’d gotten out of bed. He could have called any of the women who had
given him their number and had sex, but that wasn’t how he wanted to scratch
this itch. He wanted Hannah, but that would only be after he wooed and pursued
her in true bear fashion.

“Come
on let’s just run as is,” said Aiden, tapping him on the arm.

They
took off at a steady pace.

“How’s
Charlotte?” asked Bear.

“Tired,
I left her in bed. She’s having trouble sleeping because her stomach’s getting
in the way and she’s always been a belly sleeper.”

“I
don’t think it will be for much longer. When I examined her she looked just
about ready to give birth, so I’m guessing something’s going to happen in the
next couple of days.”

“Everything’s
going to be okay, isn’t it?”

“Sure
it is. She’s in great health and there’s every indication the baby’s fine.”

“I
just keep thinking what if we’ve produced something freakish. What if we can
never take our baby out in public?”

“Aiden,
stop worrying, will you? Enjoy the last few days of her pregnancy. Little One is
going to be beautiful.”

“Little
One,” said Aiden laughing. “Don’t suppose you’d tell me what we’re having?”

“That
would be breaking doctor-patient confidentiality.”

“Okay,
I accept that. Hey, did you hear about Nick Pearson?” asked Aiden as they
picked up speed.

“Nope,
what’s he been up to since he was put back together?”

It
only seemed like yesterday that Bear and Charlotte had patched him up after
he’d been shot.

“He
and Ava drove to Vegas and got hitched in one of those wedding chapels. An
Elvis Presley impersonator married them. He hadn’t said anything and I don’t
think he was going to until I spotted his gold wedding band.”

Bear
laughed at the thought of Nick being married by a guy with a wig and a white
sequined suit. “Shame he ran off because I guessed when he tied the knot it was
going to be one hell of a bachelor party.”

“He
told me they’re having a reception at The Lodge in a few weeks’ time and
everyone’s invited. Maybe that will make up for it, although the strippers are
probably not invited.”

“You
do know that you’ll have to find a babysitter when you go out on the town now,”
Bear reminded him.

“Holy
shit, we will,” said Aiden. “Charlotte’s father said he could always look after
the baby once Charlotte goes back to work so maybe that will extend to evening
sitting too.”

“Does
he know about…?”

“Us,
sure he does. Charlotte broke the news to him after she found out she was
pregnant. He’s such an easy going sort of guy I don’t think he would have cared
if his daughter had married a guy with two heads just as long as that man loves
her and always makes her happy.”

They
turned the corner and the parking lot came back into view. They’d run hard and
finished the complete lap of the lake in record time.
Since
they’d been running someone else had pulled into the parking lot.
It was
Liam Ahern. He’d seen him last month at the star gazing get together. Bear had
heard through the grapevine that the guy could be trouble when he wanted to be.
Rumor was he had issues with Aiden and hoped for everyone’s sake he wasn’t here
to cause any trouble. As they headed across the lot, Liam leaned against the
hood of his car with his arms crossed.

“I
was wondering when he was going to show up. Nick warned me he was gunning for
me. I don’t think I can tolerate him this early in the morning,” Aiden
whispered. “Morning, Liam.
You going
running?”

“No,
I’m here to see you.”

“Have
you met Dr. Bear McWilliams?” asked Aiden.

“I’ve
seen him around, but we haven’t met formally,” said Liam. He put his hand out
to
Bear
who shook it. The guy had an iron like grip. When
Bear pulled away he hoped Liam didn’t see him pulling a face where his fingers
felt like they’d been put through a mangle. That was one strong bear, even for
a Grizzly.

“So
what did you need to see me about,” Aiden asked him.

“You’ve
been ignoring my phone calls and I need to know when we’re going to call a meeting
to discuss elections to appoint the new leader of our group.”

Bear
sensed tension brewing. He thought about leaving but somehow knew Aiden would
need an ally here because things could turn ugly fast.

“As
far as I’m aware we’re not taking a vote. I think most people are happy with
the way things are being run.”

Liam
took one step closer to Aiden. “Happy, do you think people are happy with that
woman who was sniffing around and asking questions?”

Bear
knew he was referring to Ava and that Liam probably hadn’t heard the news that
she’d married Nick in Vegas.

“That
was a close call and that trouble started with you.”

“With me?
How many times
have I warned others to be careful, to think before they speak?” asked Aiden.

“It
has everything to do with it. It all started with you and that doctor woman.”

It
was Aiden’s turn to take a step closer to Liam.

“Her
name is Charlotte not that doctor woman.”

“You
married her and now as the leader, your brother and the others think
it’s
okay to date and marry humans. You are a bad example
for the group, Aiden Renner,” said Liam.

“Am
I really?”

“And
that baby your wife’s carrying, the baby that Dane’s wife’s got in her belly,
well someone’s going to catch on because those babies are going to be freaks.
We’re all at risk because you couldn’t resist fucking a human.”

Bear
could see that Liam had worked himself up into such a frenzy his eyes were
changing color and he was on the verge of shifting. If he or Aiden didn’t calm
him down and soon, things were going to get out of hand and right here in
public.

“Not
here okay,” said Bear pushing him backwards.

“And why ever not?
Come on. The three
of us will shift and let the best bear win,” said Liam.

“Are
you fucking crazy or what? There are humans around and that’s the reason me and
Aiden didn’t shift for our run. You shift now and someone’s going to see you
and that will be our downfall,” said Bear.

He
kept his hands on Liam’s chest. The grizzly’s heart beat against his palms. It
felt like he was pressed against a brick wall and if Liam did start getting
physical it would probably take both him and Aiden to fight him.

“Okay,
maybe not here, not now, but you better call a vote and soon because I’ll do
what I have to keep myself and the others safe. You haven’t heard the last of
this,” said Liam.

He
turned, got in his car, and drove off, smoke coming from all four tires.

“Has
he always been this obnoxious?” asked Bear.

“He
and his brother, Danny always had quick tempers. Danny was killed while he was
driving his motorcycle about seven years ago and I think that made Liam more
bitter because they were very, very close.
 
Danny was pretty wild, loved the ladies, and made my brother Christopher
look like a choir boy.”

“Shame
his brother couldn’t find a good woman like Christopher has.”

“Yeah,
I guess, but the accident wasn’t his fault. Danny was killed by a drunk driver
traveling down the road the wrong way. Hit Danny’s head on. Drunk driver was
human so it didn’t do anything to help Liam’s hatred of them. In fact, we had
to stop him from killing the guy when the case went to trial.”

“So
you think he’ll let this voting thing peter out or what?” asked Bear.

“Probably
not, but I have Charlotte and the baby to focus on, so Liam’s the least of my
worries for now.”

Bear
hoped Liam had a short memory or that something else would also occupy his
time. He looked at his watch. “I have to get to the hospital. Say hi to
Charlotte for me.”

****

Hannah
watched as the school bus turned the corner. She’d enrolled Sam in the special
education program at the local school. He’d screamed and cried the first day
and hung onto her like she was saying goodbye to him forever. She’d had to pry
his hands off her sweater and she’d almost weakened thinking that maybe she
could homeschool him. However, she knew he needed expert help, she had the café
to run, and deep in her heart she knew it was for the best. She’d hoped
attending a new school and having other kids with special needs around him
would somehow snap him out of whatever he had wrong with him. It hadn’t but she
was still holding out for a miracle. Everyone should do that, right?

The
bus slowed up close to the stop and she saw Sam already standing with his bag
slung over his shoulder in his usual hurry to get to the door so he could be
the first one off. That was his ritual, first one to exit the bus.

“Bye,
Sam,” said the driver.

“Can
you say goodbye?” asked Hannah.

He
ignored her request and instead hugged her and buried his face into her belly.
Hannah raised her hand and waved to the driver. “Thank you.”

She
put her arm around Sam’s shoulders as they walked back to toward the café. “Did
you have a good day?” He shook his head as she opened the door to their
apartment and they both went inside. She hoped one day when she asked him that
question she’d see a nod and not a shake of his head. Sam stopped and took
something from his bag and handed it to her.

It
was a charcoal drawing and if she wasn’t mistaken it was Bear and Sam standing
by a river both holding fishing rods. She wasn’t aware he could sketch so well.
Usually when she’d given him paper and crayons he’d lost his temper and
frantically drawn lines all over the page and sometimes on the table too. But
this was identifiable and it was good.

“Is
this for Bear?”

Sam
nodded. “Sam, it’s great. I know he’s going to love it.”

Without
warning, he made a mad dash to his room. Hannah was prepared to hear the door slam
shut as it often did, but instead her son came out carrying his coloring book
and crayons. He sat himself down at the kitchen table and began drawing. Hannah
stood over him as his hand glided furiously over the paper.

It
was another sketch of Bear. This time he was standing alongside a woman who she
was sure was her. Sam looked up at her and then pointed to the paper.

Maybe
she was getting her hopes up too early, but at last she actually saw a human
being inside of her son.
 
He looked up at
her again. Finally a little boy was looking back at her.