Stranded With Her Bear: BBW Paranormal Shape Shifter Romance (Bear Bluff Clan Book 3) (3 page)

He knew she might be mad to wake up in his arms again, but frankly, at this moment, he didn’t care. She was his, and while he did not intend to press her for sex, the need to be next to her overtook the rest of his good nature. She owed him an explanation; he also persuaded himself that only by lying by her side could he make sure she didn’t try to run again.

Although he knew she wasn’t that stupid. But it gave him enough of an excuse, so that when his arm draped over her body, stroking her stomach and itching to go much lower, he managed to appease his conscience.

She woke some hours later, certain it was daytime; the light outside the cab had changed. For a time she simply lay still, he was near her again. She didn’t think he was awake, but if he was, she didn’t want to disturb the peace and serenity that rested over them.

During this time, she went over what her options were. Stay with him, or run. Or maybe ask him for a ride to civilisation of some kind. Anywhere where she could start again. Where no one knew her freakish secret. Perhaps he knew someone who would sell her some fake ID, then she could really disappear. Only she had no money.

Willow let out a long sigh. How had things become so complicated? Raised as an ordinary girl, with ordinary parents, she had been the kind of child who was invisible. Not enough or cute enough to make people look at her twice. Until she had started to behave differently to the other girls her age. Subtle things at first, like her love of stalking other kids in the long grass as a child. Although it was her pouncing on them rather than the stalking that drew unwanted attention.

Then in her teenage years, things had spun a little out of control. Her parents’ love had almost evaporated, replaced by a resignation that their strange daughter would never fit in. However, things had come to a terrible conclusion when she got into a catfight with another girl. It wasn’t her fault: a group of girls had called her a freak, stolen her bag and her phone. Willow just wanted them back, and one girl had set on her, pulling her hair. She had to fight back, knowing it would never end unless she stuck up for herself.

It was the end of her relationship with her parents; they had broken the news to her that she was adopted. A shock at first, Willow had then begun to fit together all the ways she was different from them, and there were so many ways. Ranging from their looks, to their interests, and to their very natures. How could she have ever thought she belonged to them?

In some ways, the news made things easier and she had left her childhood home. She had dreamt of running into her real parents, hoping that they had been searching for her, to explain who she was, what she was. A little like a fairy tale. But that had never happened, and then she had found out just how different she was.

Willow still held onto the hope there someone out there knew what had happened to her. Someone who even shared the same genes as her. Because this had to be a genetic mutation, right?

In her pocket, her phone vibrated against her hip. It made her jump; she thought it was long dead, or at least there would be no reception here. Reluctantly, knowing she should ignore it, but unable to, she drew it from her pocket.

It was from Ollie. Of course it was. It simply said, “Watch your back. I’m hunting you, freak.”

A sob erupted from her before she could stop it. Trent moved behind her, his hand tightening around her. She tried to shuffle forward, moving away from him, but he pulled her back against him.

“What’s wrong?” he asked, his breath soft against her ear, sending tremors of desire through her body, to mix with her despair.

“Nothing,” she said, but he pulled her back against him, and she knew he wasn’t going to let this go. “It’s just a text. It’s stupid.”

“Show me.” His voice was a command.

“No,” she said firmly, refusing to let another man bully her. But more than anything, she didn’t want to have to explain everything to him. Because to tell him the truth was impossible, and she was fed up of telling lies.

“I want to help you. I know you are running from something.”

“You can’t help me.”

“No, I can’t,” he said, stroking her skin, as if she were a cat that needed calming. “Not if you don’t tell me what’s wrong.”

“I can’t tell you.” She pulled away from him, but there was nowhere to go. Not unless she went outside, and that was too risky. She had no idea where she was, and even if she did, the snow was probably deep enough that she would just disappear into it. Maybe that was for the best.

“Willow. I want to help you.” He hesitated and she could feel him searching for the right words to say. “I believe you ended up in the back of my truck for a reason.”

She looked at him, trying to read his expression. Did he feel what she felt? Was it possible that he was the same as her? That he could understand her. She shook her head. “That’s nonsense. I ended up in your truck because it was the only vehicle at the gas station.

“And you don’t think it could be anything other than a coincidence? You don’t think that fate put me there, right when you needed me?” His voice was so mesmerising, she wanted to believe him, to believe that everything that had happened was for a reason, not just to ruin her life.

“I don’t believe in fate.” Her words were flat. It was the truth; she couldn’t simply believe that a tail had spontaneously appeared out of her ass so Ollie would hound her out of town, just so she could come here and meet Trent.

Then she got it. Or rather, got him. This was his big pick-up line.
Fate wanted us to meet. So now, you just take your clothes off and let me screw you in my cab while we wait for the snow to clear.

“Listen, I know it’s hard to get your head round. But you’re like me. Different … am I right?”

“Yes. I am different, but unlike you, I don’t use it as a line to get a woman into bed. That is what this is, isn’t it?”

He laughed, “Oh, honey. I don’t need to use any lines to get women into my bed. They come around begging.”

Feeling like she had made a fool of herself—after all, why would he want a woman like her?—she pulled away from him, noting the wrench in her gut as she did so. “I think I’m going to go and see if there’s any way to walk back to the gas station.”

He grabbed her, pulling her back to him and covering her with his body. Her heart rate quickened, and she could feel her cat prowling around her mind, itching to be set free. If he did anything to hurt her, she would let her panther out. The big black cat would scratch his eyes out.

“Listen, Willow. You are going to need to confide in someone. I know enough about women to see when one is in trouble. And you are in trouble.”

She struggled underneath him. “Let me go! It’s none of your business.”

“Like hell it is!” He took her hands as she tried to scratch him with her nails and pinned them above her head, making her feel completely helpless. “You know there is something between us.”

“Let me go. You’re a madman. All this talk about fate, it’s bullshit.”

“You don’t believe that. I can see it in your eyes. Now let me help you.”

“I don’t need a knight in shining armour. So get off me.” She tried to raise a leg to kick him, but he shifted his weight. She was helpless, her breath coming in short sobs as she gave in to her tears. “Please let me go.”

And then he released her, sitting up and helping her to do the same. “Look, I’m not a patient man, not when it comes to the safety of people who are … important to me.”

“You don’t know me,” she said, trying to control her tears. She hated looking this weak in front of anyone. It would lead him to thinking he could take advantage of her.

“You’re wrong. I know exactly who you are,” he said cryptically. Then his head snapped up. “We have company.”

Fear entered her eyes. Was it Ollie? No. There was no way he could have found her here. She looked at Trent, who instantly put his hand out to touch her, to comfort her. But he stopped short when she flinched away.

“Stay here. I won’t let anyone come in and hurt you.” He held her gaze, and she believed him when he said the words, “I promise.”

She slipped past him, her body brushing his. They both froze at the contact, and for a moment she thought he was going to kiss her. She found it was something she wanted more than all the world. His lips on hers, his hands on her bare flesh. Something had changed within her, and she wasn’t sure whether she welcomed it or not. But all she did know was that he was right. There was something between them. Whether it was just lust, or whether it went deeper, she didn’t know.

But her panther was purring right now. Happy and content to have him near, to have him protect her. Would she ever learn to understand the creature who lurked within her?

Trent knew who was coming; his bear enhanced his senses, even when he was in his human form. He also knew he didn’t want any of the cougars seeing Willow, not until she knew she was his. And only his.

He opened the cab door, quickly checking she was out of view before he jumped out into the snow. It had drifted against the wheels of his truck. However, when he walked around to the other side; he found it was not as deep.

Along the road, he could see the low forms of five cougars coming his way. For any man who didn’t have a dual side, this would have been the time to run. For Trent, they posed no threat, so he walked, or rather waded, through the drifts and went to meet them.

“Trent,” one of the cougars said as he transformed into a human.

“Marv. I didn’t expect a welcoming committee.”

“In town, we could see the sun reflecting off the roof of your truck, so we figured you must be stuck.”

“And here I am. I thought I could make it, but it was not to be.”

“That’s why we came. Either we can help you free your rig, or we can use snowmobiles to ferry the goods up to the town. Without those supplies, we are going to go short. This snow came early and without much warning.”

“And I’m late,” said Trent.

“I wasn’t going to mention that. But since you did … we were expecting you early yesterday. Or at least we were expecting Taylor.”

“Nature called. Or should I say fate,” Trent said, shaking his head.

Marv laughed. “Well, whatever next. A young cub like Taylor finding his special mate when an old bear like you is still all alone.” Marv’s eyes slid past Trent to the truck. “Or is there something you need to tell me?”

Trent unconsciously pulled his shoulders back, making Marvin grin. How the hell had the old cougar known? “Nothing to tell yet, Marv.”

“Ah, so is this why the delivery was delayed?”

“Not exactly, but might have been a contributing factor. No one told me these things can make you act out of character.”

“Oh, things are only just getting started, my friend. Do you know how many women are going to be crying into their pillows tonight? They were hoping you would be stranded up here in Cougar country for a few days.”

“I might well be, but I’m a one-woman man now,” Trent said, casting a look at his truck. “Anyway. Let’s see what we can do. Help me scrape the snow away. Will your guys help too?” He glanced at the four big cats flanking their leader.

“Sure will. We reckon you have a good supply of vodka in the back of your rig. That’s what we need to chase the winter chill away.” The other cougars transformed and headed toward the truck. “That and a good woman in your bed,” Marv added with a wink.

“Funny, Marv. Funny.” Trent turned back to the truck, feeling the invisible thread between him and Willow pulling him back to her. It sure was easier to go to her than it was to leave her. Would that ever change? Would he live his whole life feeling as if he had a part of him missing when she wasn’t near?

Voices outside. For a long moment, she was scared, not just for her own safety but that of Trent. What if Ollie had found her? Yet when the voices drew nearer, she heard the friendly tones and knew they were friends of Trent’s. She began to relax.

At last, in these few minutes alone, she had time to evaluate her feelings. Lying back and staring at the ceiling, she let her mind wander. What were these feelings she had for Trent? They were out of the blue. Love at first sight had never been a thing she believed in, but he did. What did he call it?
A bond.

Along with that, she also had the intense feeling that he knew what she was. Or at least knew there was another part of her. A part she didn’t understand. But he did. Was that what he meant about fate bringing them together? No. Look at the guy, he was the kind of man who women fell into bed with, and he was just trying to get some kind of payback from her for her stowing away in his truck. He had spun her a line to make her feel something for him. Something that wasn’t real.

That was the decision she came to. Whatever it was between them wasn’t real. Each of them had their own reason for wanting the other. Hers was one that revolved around wanting to feel safe, to feel secure. His was just about a bit of entertainment on a cold night.

Her heart lurched suddenly. The door of the cab flung open and in climbed Trent. The shock of him being near left her breathless once more. But despite the way he affected her body and mind, she stuck to her conclusion. Nothing good could come from this. Nothing good at all.

“Right. We’ve cleared some of the snow from the tires. I think if I take it real slow, we might get up to town. It’s not as deep as I thought. If this doesn’t work then they will send down some snowmobiles. Or maybe the snow plough, but Marv isn’t sure if the thing even starts up anymore.”

“He doesn’t know?” she asked, surprised. In such a remote place as this, she thought they would be more prepared for winter.

“No. They haven’t had to clear the road for years. Usually they are stocked up with enough food and other supplies to wait the snow out.”

“And why isn’t that the case this time?”

“Snow came early, we came late,” he answered matter-of-factly. He quickly pulled the shades back, allowing the bright light to fill the cab. She had to squint and half cover her eyes as the sun reflected off the snow. Around them, the day was warming and a thaw was setting in, which threatened a different set of problems. If they didn’t move the truck now, when the sun went down later, the melting snow would freeze, leaving them stranded again. Trent turned the key in the ignition. Despite a slight complaint from the cold engine, it sparked into life. Trent grinned and she found herself retuning his smile.