Waking the Bear (Shifter Wars) (11 page)

“Okay.” He held the towel to his face as he watched her scurry down the hall, her blond hair almost reaching her backside. His heart thudded. He’d almost kissed her. She knew it, too.

If he didn’t stop thinking about her like that, he’d lose control. The pull was so damn strong but he would never force Amy to do anything she wasn’t comfortable with.

He wasn’t that kind of bear.

No human male had claimed her yet. Good thing, otherwise Griff would have to rip his head off. His bear growled inside him. Okay, rip his head off and his limbs, too. Maybe she did have a boyfriend back where she came from. The thought sent ice through his veins.

“Here it is.” She came out of the bathroom with a small box. “There aren’t any huge bandages, but I think I can fix you up.”

I bet you can
. “Do you have a boyfriend?”

“What?” Her eyes widened.

“I’m just wondering. Are you dating anyone?”

She put her hands on her hips. “Did that stick to the face knock you out? I don’t see how my relationship status has anything to do with your injury. Do you?”

“Well, no,” Griff mumbled. “I’ve been meaning to ask. Ever since the night you asked me the same question. All’s fair, right? I know you said you had an ex, but what about after him?”

She leaned back, her mouth twisted into a semi-smirk. “No boyfriends and no plans to have one. How’s that?”

Griff flushed, his heart skipping a beat at the news. No boyfriend was great. No plans to have one? He could handle that. “Well... I guess it’s good.”

“Okay.” She laughed a little, her voice a bit shaky. “I think you need to take it easy, cowboy. You have an injury.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“Put the towel down.” She examined his cheek. “The bleeding’s stopped.”

She didn’t know that he’d heal quickly, and by tomorrow, the cut would be barely a scratch. Still, he’d let her treat him and then she could take all the credit for his healing. She’d like that, and shit, it felt good to have her touching him, even in the nurse capacity.

“Look up so I can reach.” She applied antibiotic cream then placed a gauze pad over the wound, holding it into place with two fingers.

Griff tried not to stare at the rise and fall of her breasts, which were positioned right in front of his face. He squeezed his thighs together.
Breasts near my face.
His breath quickened.
Stop thinking about it. Stop.
The situation was about to become embarrassing for them both.

“Sit up.” She held the gauze with one hand and the tape in another. “I don’t have enough hands to do this. Can you hold the gauze?”

He put his fingers up to hold the cloth in place so she could tape it. He checked out her thin nose and high cheekbones and perfect, full lips a few shades darker than her skin tone. Lovely.

His stare caught hers and she looked away. She ripped off pieces of tape and applied them to the gauze and pressed them to his skin.

He winced every time she touched the flaming wound. Healing or not, it hurt like hell. He wanted to ask her about the near-kiss but she didn’t seem to be in the mood at all. Maybe he should try again. His bear was intent on getting a kiss soon.

“You won’t believe what I saw in the woods today,” she said. “I can hardly believe it myself.”

“What?” He watched her face for any sign that she had figured things out.

Her hands shook and her lower lip trembled. He blinked. Part of the reason she was scared was him. He hated that he’d caused her to be afraid.

“A mountain lion.” She pressed down the last piece of tape and stepped back. “And a bear. There, that should do it.”

“Really?” He swallowed hard. Did she know?
Not possible.
“Where?”

“I was sketching down near the creek. I am guessing that’s where you found my sketchbook, so you must’ve come along after the excitement.” She closed the box and set it on the counter. “First, there was a huge mountain lion—scared the hell out of me. It was drinking water out of the stream, then it looked at me like I was lunch, and it started growling and crouching like it was going to leap over the stream. Then, out of nowhere, a giant brown bear rushed out and started fighting with the lion. The lion swiped the bear across the face...”

“And then? What did you do?” Griff balled his hands into fists. He’d forgotten how upset he was at Amy for venturing out into the woods. Right now he had to protect his identity, for her sake as much as his. The less she knew about shifters, the safer she’d be.

“I ran.” She brushed her hair from her face. “I can’t believe they were so near and not afraid of a human. Thankfully neither of them chased me. I’d be dead.”

“Yes, you would.” Griff paused. “You know, I need to file an incident report about what you saw so that we can spread the information that a lion and bear were spotted here.”

“Tell me where to sign. I don’t want anyone else running into them. You didn’t see them?”

He shook his head.

“I could smell them. They were that close.”

“I told you the woods were dangerous and that you shouldn’t be out there alone,” Griff said, trying to tamp down a growl. “You saw two dangerous creatures in one afternoon. I’m not really surprised.”

“I’m okay now.” Amy took a deep breath and Griff could hear the hitch when she inhaled. She was shaken up. “It was daytime and I wasn’t even far from the cabin, so that surprised me. I thought those things came out at night.”

“We’ve had reports of them out twenty-four seven.”

“I would rather have not run into a bear and lion, but I did and I got out alive. Call it lucky or call it fate, but I will take it.”

“I need to bring you one of the park safety booklets, and maybe some bear spray.”

He breathed in her scent and it permeated him to the core. He was responsible for her; she simply didn’t know it yet. “This is my property, so we’ll file the report together, though I didn’t see the bear or lion, just paw prints by the stream.”

“What were you doing out there wandering around? Spying? Why weren’t you looking for firewood near your own cabin?”

If you only knew
. He huffed and fiddled with the bandage. “I’ve cleared most of the dead wood around my place, so I needed to look elsewhere. Thanks for patching me up.”

She leaned against the counter. “What were you doing out there in the woods by yourself? Isn’t that
dangerous
? What if you came across a giant brown bear? What would you do then?”

“I’m a trained park ranger. It’s what I do. I range.”

“No gun? No uniform, either.”

“I’m off duty.”

“Fine.” She flipped her hair over her shoulders. “I’m glad you’re okay.” She studied him a minute, her eyes large. Accessible. “Want me to drive you home? You probably shouldn’t be walking with that nasty cut. I’ll bet it’s giving you one big headache.”

“It was.” He leaned forward. God, his mate was gorgeous.
Made for me.
“I’m feeling better now.” Under the bandage, the cut had started its rapid healing, and he longed to scratch it. “I can walk, but I’d like to sit a few more minutes and maybe get a glass of water.”

“You got it.” She filled a glass from the tap and set it in front of him. “Better hurry before it gets dark outside and the really scary creatures come out. Dragons and trolls and stuff.” She winked at him.

His bear paced.

“Very funny.” He drained the glass in gulps, trying to cool the heat his mate had ignited in him.

“You didn’t seem surprised that I said I saw a bear and a lion. I’ll tell you, it scared the hell out of me. I’ve never been that close to a wild animal, much less two.” Amy refilled his glass at the sink, her back to him. “Why is that?”

He shrugged, even though she couldn’t see him. He studied her figure from behind, the way her curves angled in just the right places. His bear would love to push her up against the sink and hold her in place there. He licked his dry lips. “I told you there were dangerous animals. My ranger buddies and I found a lot of lion tracks out in the forest this winter. Deep Creek has always had bears, but they don’t usually cause a problem.”

“I see.” She shut off the water and set the full glass in front of him. “It just seemed odd to see the two fighting. Is that a normal thing?”

“It isn’t unusual.” He took a sip of his drink. “More territorial than anything, I think. This forest belongs to the bears, and the lions encroach, and it causes trouble.” He set the glass down.

“What makes it the bears’ land, anyway?” She crossed her arms and leaned back. “I mean, why isn’t it the bunnies’ land? Or the squirrels’ land? You’re talking like the animals are people. Do the animals draw up a pact and partition off the land or what? Seems kind of odd, the way you refer to the forest as bears’ land.”

“Yeah, I guess it does sound kinda odd.”

She motioned him. “Come on, let’s sit in the living room and talk for a few minutes until you’re comfortable with walking home. Or, I’m happy to drive you.”

Griff stood, then held the table to steady his movements. If he didn’t know better, he’d say that Evers had poison in his claws. That, or the slice was worse than it looked. “I’ve heard the locals call it the bears’ land,” he said, and walked toward the living room. “I guess I picked it up from them.”

“The forest belongs to all of us.” Amy moved her sketchbook to the coffee table and sat on the couch. “It’s too beautiful for one animal to own it all. Even if that animal is human.”

He smiled. “You know, you’re right.” He sat beside her on the couch, his legs wobbly. “The forest here is some of the most beautiful in the country.”

“It is. I’ve never felt so at home.” She crossed her legs on the sofa and propped on an elbow. “I can see why your family chose to live here.”

Griff studied his hands. “My parents loved the Deep Creek area. I kinda feel like I honor their memory by staying here. Really, where else would I go?” He surprised himself with his frankness. He rarely spoke so openly with people outside the den, yet around Amy, he talked about whatever ran through his mind.

Amy leaned her head back and ran her hands through her hair. “I’m sorry for your loss. It’s tragic.”

Griff traced the line of her silhouette with his eyes. Her forehead, nose, lips, chin, then neck. He’d kiss every inch of her. His bear would devour her in all the right ways.

Now that Elijah knew, it was a matter of when, not if.

“Thank you. It’s been a long time.” He picked at the bandage, trying to scratch the cut. “Tell me more about your family.”

She chewed her lower lip like she was trying to decide whether to tell him the truth or make something up.

“Well? Any serial killers or killer clowns or anyone else exciting?” He hoped his joking would make up for the intrusive question.

She looked away. Still no words.

“I’m sorry. I’ve been rude.” He wanted to reach out to her and comfort her with a touch to the shoulder, but she might take it the wrong way. She’d made it clear she didn’t want a boyfriend and his bear was waiting on his mate.

“No, no, that isn’t it.” She looked up at him and fat tears glistened in her eyes. One rolled down her cheek. “You want the truth? It isn’t pretty.”

“In my experience, it rarely is.” He scooted closer to her then held his head again, his bear fighting to not wipe away her tear. “Of course I want the truth.”

All the teasing and joy left her face. “My parents are alive. They just don’t want me. Never have. My mother lives somewhere in California with the man she married after my father left. She’s had a couple more kids but none want anything to do with me.

“As for my father, well, he was a traveling salesman and he met a lot of people while traveling, if you catch my meaning. The last I heard from him was four years ago when he asked to borrow some money because he’d lost what he had in a bet on some kind of livestock racing.”

His heart ached for the hurt she’d experienced. If he could take it away, he would.
Touch her
. He had to make the connection so she could feel his love. He couldn’t let her suffer.

He put his hand over hers on her leg. Her hand was tiny under his, compact and warm, like it was the night he’d covered it on the water faucet handle. “I’m really sorry,” he said. “I never should’ve brought up family. They are the people we get stuck with from birth, not the people we choose.”

“That’s true.” She sighed. “I don’t know any of my grandparents or extended family. My mom was basically the closest thing I had to a typical family, and even she wasn’t ordinary. Obviously. I don’t know what’s worse, having family you care about murdered or family that doesn’t care, alive.”

“Yeah. I don’t, either. Makes it hard to have a relationship, that’s for sure.” He squeezed her hand. “I do understand. It’s tough growing up without family. I don’t have any cousins or grandparents that I know of.”

“Having no family sucks.”

“Being alone isn’t all that great, either.”

“No.” She shook her head. “It isn’t. Sometimes it’s all you can do to keep from getting hurt again. If you’re alone, no one can hurt you or the ones you care about.”

“Very true.” He shook his head. She was voicing exactly what he’d always felt. But somehow, coming from her mouth, it sounded wrong. Almost selfish. He wanted to tell her that things would be better if shared with a beloved.

“You live alone. You must agree.”

“Maybe I just haven’t found the person I’m supposed to be with.” He swallowed a lump in his throat. His head pounded, his face throbbed and he was exhausted, but there wasn’t anywhere else on earth he’d rather be than sitting with Amy on the couch in his family cabin.

She tensed under his grip. “Do you believe in that stuff?”

“What stuff?”

She looked down and her hair cascaded forward. “Soul mates.”

“I do believe in soul mates. I don’t believe that it’s always possible to be with them when you find them. How about you?”

She kept her head down. “I used to. Now, I’m not sure. I’ve been hurt too many times.”

“By the wrong people. If you’d found the right person, you wouldn’t have gotten hurt.”

Her shoulders sagged.