Bear's Gold (Erotic Shifter Fairy Tales) Page 5

  “I should probably check on my car.”

  “I’ve already had it towed to Ruxpin’s. He should know something by the time we get into town.”

  “Thanks. I appreciate it.” A strange look crossed her features.

  Shock? Theo wondered. Wasn’t she used to being cared for by the men in her life? Granted she wasn’t his, but there was no way he would allow anyone under his roof to have a need he didn’t fill; protection, safety, sex if she were his mate…anything. “It wasn’t a problem. It’s how we work in Den County. So, what will you have?”

  She glanced at the food on the table.

  “There’s more porridge or I can make you smoked salmon frittata, one of my favorites.”

  “I can just grab some toast and coffee.” She moved away from the dining table and deeper into the kitchen.

  “I’ll take care of it. You’re our guest.” He pointed back to the table. It wasn’t that he was a kitchen hog. He just didn’t want her any closer. In his personal space and making him desire her more than he already did. He thought that last night had just been a passing thing, built up on unexpended hormones from the last three years. However, seeing her this morning was driving his blood into high gear.

  When she found her way to a seat beside Aubrey and across from Bernie, he sighed with relief. “Now, you can’t only eat toast. It won’t hold you after…” He glanced at his sons to ensure she got his message. “Your experience last night.”

  Her face darkened some and she rolled her bottom lip between her teeth. Message received.

  “Then I don’t want to put you through any trouble for me, porridge please.”

  “You sure?” She hadn’t seemed that fond of the common bear-style breakfast.

  When she saw the wide grins on the twins’ faces, she gave a little laugh. “Absolutely.”

  He served her up a bowl of it, as he brought her a cup of coffee, too. He claimed the seat at the other end of the six person table, a seat separating them.

  When she took her first bite of the warm cereal, he watched the grimace on her face.

  “You have to put honey in it,” Aubrey instructed.

  “Lots of honey,” Bernie chimed in eagerly.

  “Okay.” Reaching out to the small honey pot in the center of the table, Riley scooped out the golden sweetener and carefully added it to her bowl without dripping it onto the table. Stirring, she tried it again and smiled.

  “What do you think?” Aubrey asked, eager to hear her approval of his suggestion.

  “Hmm, now it’s just right.”

  The moaning sound of her voice made him recall the last thing that had felt ‘just right’ to him; being inside her.

  The boys laughed.

  “So is it just you three boys here?” Riley was staring deeply into her breakfast as she stirred it idly.

  “Yup.” Aubrey answered first.

  “Just us men.” Bernie beat on his small chest.

  “Good,” was her only response.

  Theo felt a little pissed at her question. Did she really think that he was some kind of horny bear that would have had sex with her if he had a woman?

  When she shyly glanced over at him, he had to remind himself that she didn’t know him at all. She didn’t know Were-bears and how territorial they were, even the females. He pushed his annoyance aside.

  “Papa said you were our guest for today so we couldn’t make a lot of noise when we came down for breakfast.” Bernie picked up his biscuit, shiny and sticky with a honey butter glaze and took a large bite to finish it off.

  “Thank you. I didn’t hear a thing. Otherwise I would not have slept so late.”

  “It’s only nine thirty.”

  “Oh.” She ate another bite. “I’m an up with the sun kind of person. That reminds me. Have you seen my cell phone?”

  “It was in the bathroom on the counter. I put it into your jacket pocket.” Theo continued to sip his coffee and observe her. He knew he should be trying to find other things to occupy his time until she was ready, but he couldn’t think of one.

  She sipped her coffee that he’d already sweetened. Riley didn’t appear to be a black coffee type of drinker.

  “Good. A slightly different taste but mild and a very nice blend. Better than the chain store I get mine from in the morning.”

  “It’s the honey.”

  Setting her mug down, she said, “You guys seem to use honey a lot.”

  He shrugged. “It’s healthier and strengthens the immune system.”

  “Never thought about that. Sugar is more convenient in most restaurants.” She took another drink.

  “How did you get here?” Aubrey finished off his last bit of biscuit.

  He noticed Riley stayed away from the biscuit pan on the table. So many human women counted their calories. Riley was thick around the thighs and ass departments, but he hope she wasn’t one to try and lose weight. He liked her just the way she was built.

  Shaking himself mentally, Theo had to remind himself she wasn’t his to like. After today, she was gone.

  “I drove, but my car had an accident and your father was good enough to let me stay the night.”

  “Are you here for the festival?”Bernie asked.

  “No. I didn’t know anything about it.” Riley took her last bit of cereal and raised her mug.

  “She was just passing through, boys.” Theo rose from the table and started collecting the dishes and carting them to the sink.

  “It’s the First Frost Moon festival!”

  Theo listened to Aubrey babble on about the food, games, and prizes as Theo cleared the counters and quickly washed the dishes.

  “Papa-Bear, Bernie is dipping in the honey.”

  Sure enough, when Theo turned around to glance at his youngest twin, he saw that Bernie was wrist deep in the bowl of honey and by the thick sap dripping from his chin it wasn’t his first dive. “Son, get your hand out of the pot and when you finish licking it off, go wash your hands.”

  “You want me to get a napkin and help him wipe it off?” Riley started to rise from her seat.

  His twins whipped their heads in Riley’s direction and stared at her as if she’d grown four heads and a tail. Every bear cub was raised to respect and appreciate honey. It was never to be wasted. The idea of washing any of it down the sink was practically sacrilege.

  “Thanks, Riley. That’s not necessary.” Theo gave her a small smile. “He can take care of it.”

  And take care of it was what Bernie did; in record time he had his hand licked clean and waved the spotless digits at Riley before he jumped down from his chair and raced to the sink to cleanse them.

  Riley was still eyeing his son in fascination.

  “You ready to head out?” Theo waved Aubrey over so he could wash off his face and hands.

  “Um, yes. Thanks for breakfast.” She stood and carried her mug to the counter beside the sink. “You guys really have a thing for honey.”

  “Of course we do. Everybody in Den County loves honey.” Bernie was doing more playing in the water with his brother.

  Riley leaned over the boy’s heads and set her cup in the empty side of the sink.

  She was close to him now, and even though the sink area was crowded for a moment, it didn’t stop his nose from picking out Riley’s scent. His heart began to beat faster and he could feel his blood begin to race through his veins heating his core. All he wanted was another taste of her, to lick her body until he discovered the source of her sweet and spicy scent once again.

  He hadn’t realized that he’d leaned toward her until Bernie patted his hip, saying, “Papa-Bear, you going to kiss Ms. Riley?”

  “Ewwww.” Aubrey scrunched up his little nose.

  Theo jerked back, breaking the spell. However, he noticed that Riley was squirming a little and rubbing the curve of her neck. He couldn’t really see the area because of the collar of her shirt. But the urge to pull the material away and see how his mark looked on her assailed him. Inst
ead, he turned. “Time to go. Get your sweat shirts on, boys.”

  It was pure chaos for a moment in the laundry room by the back door as the twins donned their matching green pullovers and hustled out the door to greet the chilly day as they raced toward the truck.

  “Your jacket.” He took the small coat from the hook and handed it to her.

  “Thanks. I appreciate all your help.” She dug inside one pocket and pulled out something small, round, and wood, no bigger than a quarter. Taking a moment, she rubbed it with her thumb then put it back then checked her other pocket for her cell phone. He watched her check it to see if it had reception.

  The disappointed look on her face told him everything.

  “You’re welcome. How are you feeling this morning?” He didn’t want pleasantries with her, he wanted to pull her into his arms and hold her warm supple body against him.

  “I’m fine.” Her eyes traced the features of his face then she looked away and sighed. “Last night…I don’t know what came over me. I’m never like that.”

  “Like what?” His hands clenched into fists. He was doing his best to restrain himself from reaching out to her.

  Her soft hazel eyes glanced at him again, this time appearing just a little darker. “So, so…” She floundered as if looking for the right word or was too afraid of voicing it.

  “Hungry?”

  She swallowed and closed her eyes for a moment. “Yes.”

  One simple word that in a strange way told the story of the fierce need that had consumed them both and took them past their comfort zone and into a moment of pure hunger, unadulterated bliss.

  Inhaling deeply, Theo allowed himself to take in her scent and feel her essence soak him internally like an elixir. His bear scratched at his core, telling him to touch her, taste her.

  Opening her eyes, she stared at him, her breathing increased.

  He gestured toward her neck. “About the bite—”

  “It’s fine.” She stepped back from him, bumping into the door before she fumbled with the handle and freeing herself from the small room and dashing into the sun.

  “Fuck.”He shoved the door closed for a moment and allowed himself a full growl. It wasn’t one of pain or anger, but pent up pleasure.

  Through the window, he saw her move closer to his boys who were clamoring into the extended cab, excited and unfazed, as Riley glanced in the direction of the forest. Protective.

  That thought made his heart pound behind his chest. Riley had a natural maternal instinct even for a set of twins that weren't hers. She’d make a good mother.

  Yup, it was time for him to get her into town pronto.

  Chapter Five

  “Hey, Theo!” A big man with broad shoulders and hair that looked like a blend of cinnamon and sugar, came out of the mechanic shop with a shingle hanging between two vehicle bays that read ‘Ruxpin Fill and Fix Shop’ as they pulled up.

  Theo got out first, Riley followed with the boys filing out next.

  She hadn’t seen much of anything but trees as they made the thirty minute drive into town, the boys singing to various songs on the radio. But now she could see a long street with several store fronts and people milling around down the lane.

  “Hi, Mr. Jack!” The twin’s chorus rang out.

  “Ruxpin.” Theo crossed the area to the man and shook hands. “This is Riley. The owner of the car you grabbed for me this morning.”

  “Well, you are a pretty one.” He pulled a rag out of his back pocket and wiped his hand before taking her offered one, then smiled. Instead of shaking it like he did Theo’s, the mechanic bent slightly forward, brought it to his nose and sniffed.

  Arching an eyebrow, she stared from the top of the older man’s head to Theo.

  Theo kept his face a stoic mask. “Come on now, Ruxpin, show some manners to an outsider. What would Leona say if she knew you were sniffing around another woman?”

  “A younger one at that.” The older man chuckled and let her hand go.

  That wasn’t what she thought Theo would have said, but she pushed the awkward moment aside.

  “Nice to meet you, Mr. Ruxpin.”

  “Nope, call me Jack.” He gave her a big friendly grin.

  Riley couldn’t help but return it.

  “How’s the car looking?” Theo gestured toward the trunk of the silver sedan sticking out of the bay.

  “Ah, there’s a few things wrong with it from kissing that tree last night.” Jack led the way into the bay.

  Riley stared at her precious car with the front lifted two feet from the ground. The first car she’d bought on her own and paid for in full. Three years since she owned it out right, now it had seen better days. “Can you fix it?”

  Jack gave her a smile and a wink. “There hasn’t been a car made I can’t fix.”

  “When do you foresee it being done?” Theo asked.

  “See, in that lies the problem. We’re not just talking about it needing four new tires, not just the one that blew out. A new rim, too, mind you. But, a front end, lights and her radiator was cracked real good when it met with that tree.”

  “A few hours…” Riley wasn’t trying to rush the guy, but she really needed to get back on the road and soon. Thank Theo and his sons for their hospitality and gain her sanity back through every mile she was away from the big, intense, and mysterious man.

  “More like days.” Jack frowned, giving her an odd look as if her head wasn’t screwed on tight.

  “Days!” Riley knew her voice was elevated, but she was too shocked to do anything about it at the moment. “Why? I thought you could fix anything. Do you need a hand…I can pitch in. Just tell me what to—”

  Theo reached over and placed his hand on her shoulder. His touch was calming to her and that was something else that was making her feel anxious.

  “What’s the problem, Jack?” He removed his hand.

  Folding his arms over his chest, Jack gave Riley an apologetic look then focused his gaze back to Theo. “The festival. Plain and simple. I can head to the city and pick up most of the things needed. The radiator I’ll have to order. I doubt it can get in overnight and you know what happens to town during this time.”

  Watching, Riley noticed some kind of look being exchanged between Theo and Jack, something she couldn’t put her finger on. “What happens?”

  Theo’s dark eyes captured hers. “The roads leading to town are closed off. No visitors.”

  Running her hands over her head, Riley felt exasperated. Damn small town. This could not be happening. She recalled the boys talking about some event earlier. “Okay, so there’s a First Frost Ball Fes—”

  “First Frost Moon,” Theo corrected.

  “Ball. Moon. I don’t care. I just want my car fixed so I can go.” Riley scrubbed her hands over her face in frustration.

  “Why do you want to leave, Ms. Riley? Don’t you like us?” Aubrey asked.

  “We'll give you more honey.” Bernie chimed in.

  She looked at the two little faces as they stood on the other side of the open hood. Just moments ago, the twins had been staring inside as if they could determine what was wrong with it. “I like you two a lot. It’s just that I was headed to see my family.”

  “Guess they're missing you?” Theo’s husky voice was low, barely audible.

  Glancing at him, she confessed, “Actually, only my brother. I told him I’d be headed to his house. My parents and older sister don’t know I’m coming in.”

  That was the truth. She hadn’t wanted to discuss with her parents about the failings of her relationship with Fred.

  Theo gave one brisk nod.

  “Isn’t there anything you can do?” Riley didn’t attempt to control the pleading in her voice.

  Jack eyed her for a moment then looked at Theo again; finally the older man let out a heavy sigh. “I’ll see what I can do. I’ll put out some feelers through my connections and see what I can come up with.”

  “Oh, thank you.” She crossed th
e concrete floor and gave the old burly man a tight hug.

  “Don’t get all excited yet. I can’t make any promises.”

  “I understand. I don’t need it like new, just drivable.” She stepped away and smiled.

  “If I need to contact you, where can I reach you?”

  “My house.”Theo’s voice was clear and firm.

  Riley glanced at the man who’d showed her unrestrained passion as she’d never experienced. The hair on her body seemed to stand up and the heat she’d been feeling around him last night was simmering once again. She swallowed. “Maybe I can find someone in town that is renting a room.”

  “Doubtful.” Jack tossed that out. “We don’t get many outsiders in Den and we prefer to keep it that way. So we don’t make provisions for them.”

  Nervous, she licked her lips and couldn’t help but see how Theo’s eyes darkened and even showed a tinge of gold as they tracked her movement. A bead of sweat began to roll down between her breasts.

  “Um, I’m not sure if—”

  “It will be fine.”

  Did he just growl? Riley’s breath seized in her throat.

  Theo blinked and looked away as he shoved his hands deep into his back pockets. “Jack. Radio me when it’s done. We have a few things to see about in town.”

  When the beast of a man stormed away with his two boys racing behind him to the truck. Riley sighed. She knew there wasn’t much choice for her in this situation. Glancing at Jack who seemed to be shifting his gaze between Theo's stiff back and her, she gave the older man a weak grin.

  “I need to get at least one suitcase from the trunk.”

  “No, problem.” Jack walked to the rear of the car with her.

  Once she used her key to open the trunk, Jack asked, “Which bag?”

  “The smaller one.” Her back seat and trunk were all filled with suitcases and boxes of her important things. Mostly just her clothes, family pictures, important documents, and a few knickknacks from her travels and that was it. The substance of her twenty-seven years of life fit into the trunk of a car.