Private Eye Bear's Mate: Bear Shifter Paranormal Romance by Zoe Chant

Author:Zoe Chant [Chant, Zoe]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2016-12-17T18:30:00+00:00

Chapter Nine

Alison woke up to a rolling, drizzling fog. She fumbled over the covers and checked her phone: six o’clock in the morning. Saturday, she reminded herself, and pulled the comforter over her head. She curled up and pressed her face into the soft, worn fabric of her pillow, trying to breathe in and out slowly. She tried to reach back into her safe, sleepy dreams. Why couldn’t she stay there forever? She didn’t want face reality yet. But Gage’s gorgeous face and heated voice came into her head anyway.

Mate, my mate.

It had taken a long moment for her to understand his words, as hard as he’d just made her come. And then she’d freaked out.

She groaned into her pillow and doubled it up over her head, as if to drown out the unwanted thoughts. It was so embarrassing, all of it, and she barely even understood why. She should be furious at him, like she’d been yesterday, but instead her entire body ached with a horrible combination of arousal and humiliation. She’d loved it, every second of it, up to and maybe even including what he’d said. But she still didn’t understand. Didn’t want to understand. Why did he have to say that?

Afterward, he’d been all apologies, shamefaced, and she didn’t like seeing him that way, either. Something in her rebelled at the idea of Gage ashamed— this strong and capable shifter apologizing for his desire, his need. She wanted him to desire and need her. She knew that.

He’d said... What did he say? “It’s not what you’re thinking. I’d never force you. I’d never follow you. That’s not what a real mate does. A real mate protects. I was trying to protect you, but—”

“But you weren’t going to tell me?” she’d interrupted, pulling her borrowed clothes back on, feeling vulnerable and wrong-footed and angry. “You thought that was what a real partner does? Lies to his—?”

“No! I was going to— I thought over time, you might— my clan might be able to show you that having a mate can be a good thing.” His eyes were dark with pain, his voice quiet and low.

She’d felt shaky still, aroused and betrayed, and the combination infuriated her. “I don’t want a mate,” she’d said. “That’s fine for shifters, but I don’t believe in that kind of thing. I don’t want it.”

His eyes had lowered then, his shoulders bowed. He’d nodded shortly. “All right,” he murmured. “I understand. I made a mistake. I’ll finish this case for you and then I’ll leave you alone.”

Don’t leave me alone, something inside her chest begged, but she shut it down firmly. “Okay,” she’d agreed, subdued.

Now what? Alison wondered, curled under her comforter, rubbing her eyes roughly. How can I ever look at him again? Who is he, really?

Was Gage the calm, kind protector who made her pancakes from scratch? Was he the strong, stunning lover whose growls gave her the most intense orgasms of her life? Or was he a stranger after all, with

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