Bearly Hers: A Paranormal Bear Shifter Romance by Maria Amor

men who’d been robbed. “You want me to steal for you?”
    Mack sneered, looking down her body and back up, settling on her breasts. “Oh, it’s gone past stealing, my love. What do you think they’d pay for one night with you?” Gripping her chin in his hand, he forced her head up and brought his lips inches from hers. “Here’s the thing, Gia. You can work for me willingly, or someone can get hurt until you come around. That’s how it works. Your choice.” His free hand smoothed down her ribs. She recoiled, disgust rising bitter and hot in her throat. Shuffling backward, she tried to spin away from him.
    “Get in the truck.” Mack hissed through clenched teeth.
    Softening her stance as if to comply, she stared at him, chest heaving. It was now or never—hell, she’d never stop fighting. Shifting enough to give herself aim, she brought her knee up, hoping to make contact with his crotch. He moved, and she hit his inner thigh, close enough to his balls that he jerked and released her. Scrambling to grab her again, Mack lost his footing in the slippery dirt, giving her time to cross the road and start to run.
    “Gia!”
    The familiar voice made her heart flip. She turned, taking in Mack rushing after her at the same time Trey ran down the road. Trey’s hands were on his waist, unbuttoning his jeans, shedding them while barely losing his stride. Mack glanced back, did a double take and slid to a stop. In mid-run, Trey began to shift. Tatters of his shirt fluttered behind him, pulling away completely as his head and torso morphed into the bear, his lower half following suit, until, in two blinks, he was barreling down on four legs. A vicious growl ripped the air, making the hair on her arms stand up.
    “You’d better run,” Gia heard herself say with a slow look over to Mack. Hope filled her heart. Trey.
    She’d recited his name a hundred times in her mind in the last few minutes, knowing full well that she wanted him, despite the misunderstandings. Aspen Ridge Ranch is where she wanted to be, forever.
    Mack looked side to side as if he wasn’t sure where to go, then made a beeline for the SUV. Scrambling down the incline, he scooted inside the driver’s side and threw the truck into reverse. Trey slowed, tipping up his brown nose in her direction as if to ask if she was okay. She nodded, heart in her throat. His huge black body turned with streamlined precision, disappearing into the ditch just as Mack hit the gas and started to rock the Tahoe. The tires dug into the wet soil, spinning clumps of mud and grass.
    Gia ran behind the SUV, giving it a wide berth, fearful for Trey. The rain made it hard to see -- a flash of black against a backdrop of vivid green grass, the flash of metal as the truck door flew open. Another booming growl lit the air like thunder. The truck tires suddenly stopped spinning, the vehicle coming to rest.
    “Trey? Trey!”
    Silence save for the rain hitting the pavement and bouncing off leaves. “Trey?” Branches cracked, followed by the sound of grunting… a cry for help and… silence.
    Unable to wait, Gia moved closer but stopped with a start as Trey appeared, dragging Mack’s limp body. Trey plopped the man down on the side of the road, then shook his great body like a dog dislodging water. On instinct, Gia knelt by Mack, gasped to see shallow, red bite marks around his neck as if Trey had gripped him there. She felt for a pulse, looking at the bear beside her.
    Trey shook his head, and she swore he rolled his eyes as if to assure her he wouldn’t kill… even if he’d wanted to. Sure enough, Mack’s pulse beat steadily beneath her fingers.
    Before she could speak, Trey ran down the road away from her. He shifted and disappeared behind a curtain of rain. Hugging herself against the wet and cold, Gia waited, breathing a sigh of relief as he reappeared, clad in his jeans, with his arms outstretched. She ran into them, comforted by his amazing warmth, exactly where she