Doctor Bear: BBW Paranormal Shape Shifter Romance (Bear Bluff Book 2) (5 page)

Beth shook her head. “You are reading too much into it, Daphne. Goodnight. Night Lionel.”

“Goodnight, Beth.”

Beth went over to the bar, feeling a little nervous to be meeting two of Ben’s best friends. She hoped he hadn’t told them how she had behaved earlier. Beth wanted to make a good impression with the townsfolk, and upsetting Ben would not help make that happen.

“Beth. May I introduce Eirik McCormac and his lovely fiancée, Drew?”

“McCormac? Are you related to Freyja?”

“Yes. She’s my cousin.”

Even more reason to make a good impression. “Congratulations on the upcoming wedding.”

“Thanks. Drew is organising everything, really. I’m just there to look good.” He laughed and Drew nudged him in the ribs.

“That’s not fair. You make it sound as if I am bossy.”

“Not at all. Actually, I think it’s my mom who is the bossy one. She had me trying on suits again today, when I swear we had chosen the right one last week.”

“It’s important to her. Men, what do you do with them? Anyway, nice to meet you, Beth. Ben tells us you are new in town.”

“Yes. I moved here for a change of scenery.”

“Any particular reason?”

“No. Not really. I felt stuck in a rut, the job in the Bear Bluff Hospital came up, and when I came for the interview, I found that the mountain air made me feel … I don’t know. Alive. Does that sound strange?” Damn, now they would think she was a raving lunatic.

“No, not at all,” they all chorused.

“In fact I can’t think of a better place to settle down and get married.” Eirik grunted as Drew elbowed him again, only harder this time. “What?”

“It’s time for us to go. Ben wants to get Beth home. And we need to go home and see how our parents are getting on. My dad said they were expecting quite a gathering. We might have to break up the party.”

Beth frowned, confused about Eirik’s and Drew’s parents; it sounded as if they lived together. She decided to ask Ben about it later, if she remembered. Right now, she wanted to leave. She was feeling tired, but she still wanted to explain everything to Ben despite there being no need.

“Shall we go?” he asked.

“Yes. Bye, Drew, bye, Eirik.”

“Bye,” they chorused. Ben kissed Drew on the cheek—this time Beth tried to stop herself being jealous—and then he shook hands with Eirik and patted him on the shoulder.

“I’ll see you tomorrow, Eirik. Bye, Drew.”

Then they were out on the street, the cool night air sobering her up incredibly quickly. All her senses seemed to have switched themselves on and tuned into Ben. She could smell his cologne, her eyes couldn’t help glancing at him, her fingers itched to touch him, and if she wasn’t mistaken, her ears could hear the beat of his heart. Or perhaps it was
her
heart she could hear thumping wildly.

And when he linked his arm through hers, smiling at her with his wonderfully sensuous mouth, she longed to taste his lips.

He tried to keep his body relaxed and not betray how hard it was to stop himself pinning her against the wall and claim her right here, right now. His cock was straining to be released from his pants, his bear straining at the corners of his mind. For a man so good at keeping his emotions under control, this was the hardest thing he had ever done. Each step was torture, because he knew he couldn’t sleep with her tonight; that would betray his earlier words. This meant that when they reached her home, he would have to say good night and leave her alone.

“How long have you lived in Bear Creek?” she asked.

The first question he would have to evade. To say hundreds of years would make her think he was a lunatic who should be struck off as a doctor. So he replied, “All of my life.”

“And you have no intention of ever leaving?”

“No. I love my job, and all of the residents here. There is no other place I would like to be.”

“I can see that. I like it here. Each day I feel more settled.”

“I’m so happy to hear that, Beth. Was it hard to move away from where you lived before?”

He hoped he was being tactful enough, he didn’t directly ask why she had moved here. Instead, he wanted to push her in the direction where she might decide to share her past with him. He needed to know if what Daphne thought was true. Did Beth come here to escape a broken heart? If so, he might have to take things very slowly with her. Just because he could feel the pull of the mating bond did not mean that she could.

She hesitated; he held his breath, the need to know everything about her becoming an obsession. Who had hurt her? Or did she break it off? Was she still in love with another man?

“I was dating a doctor. I thought we were serious. But I was mistaken; when we talked about settling down and getting married, he did not intend to ever do that. Whereas I thought we were going to be engaged. I had told a few close colleagues at work that he had hinted at buying me a ring, which he had,” she insisted, and he could tell it was important that he believed her.

“And he dumped you?”

“Worse. A new receptionist started work in the Heart Department. He was a specialist there. And without even calling it off with me, he started dating her.” She stopped talking, her face turned away from him.

Ben felt her pain, his heart aching for her, as his heart should when his mate was suffering. Yet mixed in with this was selfish happiness. If the doctor had not treated her so badly, she wouldn’t have come to Bear Bluff. His mate would be in the arms of another man. Yet he had to be sympathetic, because he loved her.

“I’m sorry. That must have been tough.”

“It was.” She turned to him, her eyes bright with unshed tears. “I felt such a fool, and it was impossible for me to stay. If he had just been someone I knew, it would not have been so bad. But because we worked in the same hospital, well, you can imagine how the gossips chewed me up. So I left. I’m a coward, I ran away.”

“I don’t think you were a coward at all. And I am glad you came to Bear Bluff. Even if it was for reasons that brought you unhappiness.”

“Thank you for walking me home, Ben. I just wanted to tell you so that you would understand why I behaved the way I did this afternoon. I learned a very valuable lesson from Francis.”

They had reached her apartment. She put her hand in her pocket and pulled out the key. Ben knew this was the moment where he had to give her some idea of his feelings. However, he suspected he knew what she was about to say, and he had to tread very carefully.

“Beth. Not all men are alike.”

She nodded, but looked down at her feet when she said, “I know that.” Then she took a deep breath, lifted her head, and said to him, “It just made me realise that dating a doctor is not a good idea. So that was why I was rude. I hope you understand.”

No! He didn’t understand.

“Beth. One bad experience is not enough for you to write off all doctors.”

She smiled. “I’m not so sure. But you are a good commercial for doctors.”

“So, will you consider coming out to dinner with me?” His hopes were not high.

“Sure. Why not?” She turned from him, putting her key in the lock.

He was confused. “So you trust me enough for me to take you to dinner? I swear I won’t hurt you, Beth. I want a relationship with you, a long-term relationship.” Had he gone too far?

Long-term relationship
. Slowly she turned to face him. “I don’t understand.” That’s what her voice said, but her body was so attuned to his, that she knew she had got it wrong. Their bodies seemed to talk the same language, of attraction and need. He wasn’t gay; she had messed up again. He took a step towards her, his body pressed against hers, and she felt the hardness of his cock pressing against her thigh. Swallowing, her eyes darted up to his and registered the desire there. She had it so, so, wrong again. But still she had to blurt out the words, “I thought you were gay.”

His face dropped, shock registering there. “Gay?” He opened his mouth to speak again, but nothing came out.

“Yes. I thought that the reason you refused the advances of all the women in Bear Bluff and the way you were jealous of Trent, was because you liked men.”

He let out his pent-up breath, to sweep over her, igniting her desire. This was getting seriously out of hand. Her body ached for him. She wanted to lean forward and let her breasts brush against his hard chest, and her lips to kiss along the curve of his jaw.

“Beth. I don’t really know how I gave you that idea. But I’m sorry. I am a red-blooded male who likes women. Well, one particular woman. I don’t date because I was looking for my true love. And when I saw you this morning, I knew it was you.” He stepped back from her, his beautiful face creased into an uncustomary frown. “I know what this sounds like. I know you have been hurt. But I want to tell you I am different.”

“Ben. Don’t. Please. This is not what I want.”

“Isn’t it? I can read your body and it is telling me you feel the same way.”

Her voice was a whisper when she said, “I can’t do this again. I can’t be let down by you. I like it here; I want to stay here in Bear Bluff.”

“I understand. I really do. And there is a way I can prove to you that I am different, that I don’t just want a fling. I want to settle down and have a family, Beth. With you. If I can prove my commitment to you, will you give me a chance?”

It all sounded so scary. How could he prove it to her? But she had to give him a chance, because she yearned for him, for the future he could give her, which had already been cruelly ripped from her in the past by Francis.

“How?”

“Tomorrow. After work. Meet me at the entrance to the hospital. And I’ll show you.”

“Ben,” she said, still wanting to fight the feelings inside her.

“One chance,” he said, leaning in to her.

His lips were so close, she wanted to kiss him. Oh God, her breasts were fit to explode out of her dress. She was so aroused by him. So wet. He took a breath, and she swore he smelt her heat, tasting it on his taste buds. Licking his lips, she knew he was moistening them for their first kiss. He head hammered out its orders to run, but her heartbeat was stronger and her body won.

Ben lifted his hand, stroking her cheek, sending shock waves through her body. Slipping his hand around to the nape of her neck, he stroked her spine with his thumb. Her knees went weak; she leaned back against the door of her apartment. If he asked her to right now, she would open the door and invite him in. If he wanted to take her to bed, she would let him. In the moment his lips finally met hers, she would have let him do whatever he pleased with her body. In that moment, she was lost to him.

His lips pressed against hers, questioning her. Opening them slightly, she let him in. His tongue slid along her lower lip, and teased her into submission. Gently, but oh so firmly, he slid his tongue to meet hers. She had to place her hands on his chest for support, her body going limp with desire. His mouth became firmer, knowing he had conquered her.

She sighed against him, pressing her body forward, wanting to give herself to him. Ben moved his free hand and skimmed it across her breasts, making her nipples harden, eager to be touched and teased by him. Did he want her to beg?

This time his thumb brushed her taut buds more firmly. She gasped, opening her legs, wanting him to touch her there. How could he make her behave like such a wanton woman? This was his charm, he made all the women feel like this. But she was the only one he had allowed himself to touch.

And how she wanted him to touch her.

Reaching behind her, she wrapped her hand around the door handle and let it open. They spilled backwards into her apartment, his strong arms stopping her from hitting the floor. Lifting her, he took her to the sofa, and lay her down. She pulled him down on top of her, feeling like a bitch on heat.

“Make love to me,” she begged, taking his hand and placing it between her heated thighs.

His hand rubbed her there; she opened her legs wider and he groaned with need. “I can’t.”

“Please, I have never wanted anything as much as I want this right now. I don’t want to talk myself out of this.”

“Honey, I can’t. Not yet. I have no protection. And a little cooling-off period might be the right thing for you.” Still his fingers thrummed across her sex, and her throbbing clit.

“Don’t you want me?” she asked, feeling clichéd, but oh-so-needy. What had he done to her? If she didn’t know better she would have thought he had spiked her drink. But her head was clear, it had reached an agreement with her body. The whole of her wanted this.

“More than anything in this world,” he said, kissing and nipping her neck. “But I am not going to fuck you tonight, Beth.” And then his hand reached down and began to pull the hem of her skirt up. “But there are other ways I can please you. I’m going to make you come, Beth. Are you sure that is what you want?”

“Yes,” she gasped as his fingers inched up her thigh. When he reached his prize, she closed her eyes, somehow ashamed that he would know just how wet and eager she was for him. How could she have put Francis off for so long, never consummating their relationship, and yet open her legs for a man she had only met less than twelve hours ago? Because this was right.

A soft sigh escaped her when his fingers finally pushed inside her. Her hips rose, her back arching as he stroked her inner walls. His hands, those gentle, firm hands, made her climb to new heights. His thumb pressed against her clit, stimulating it, while a second finger pushed inside her, stretching her. In and out, he slid, slowly, leisurely. When she opened her eyes, she saw him watching her face, smiling as if enraptured.

His lips met hers. He kissed her fiercely, his fingers probing deeper and then pulling out. “You’re a virgin?”

“Yes,” she whispered. “I’m sorry. Did you think I was experienced?”

“No. I don’t know.”

“I can learn. I won’t disappoint you.”

“You could never disappoint me. And the thought of breaking in your sweet body is going to be one that will stay in my head.”