Big Bad Bear by Terry Bolryder Page A

.”
    “I don’t fight so you’ll owe me something in return,” he said.
    “Why do you fight, then?”
    He eyed her quietly. “Because it’s the right thing.” Because I love you. But he couldn’t say that.
    She looked slightly disappointed with his answer, and he wished he could take it back. But then she brightened. “You’re a good man, Zeus.”
    “Thanks,” he said. Her words meant more to him than she could have known.
    Despite how tired he was from the fight, he ached to claim his mate. Ached to hold her after the battle and remind himself of what he’d won, what he’d protected.
    But he needed to save his strength. They might have to fight again soon. He touched her cheek gently, and she flushed and snuggled against his hand, making him melt inside. There would be plenty of time to please his mate later, after he’d ended every man who tried to come between them.
    “I don’t know what it is,” she said. “We barely know each other, but you make me feel more treasured than anyone has in my life.”
    That was because she meant more to him than anyone ever had or would. But it ached that he couldn’t say it yet. Still, he could say some things.
    “You asked why I came into town. I didn’t answer. The truth is I could do most of my business from my computer at home or on my phone. But there was one thing I couldn’t do at home.”
    “Oh yeah?” she asked. “What’s that?”
    “See you,” he admitted.
    Her eyes widened as she tilted her head up at him. “What do you mean? You came to the bar to see me?”
    He nodded.
    “Every time?”
    He nodded again, glad any embarrassment he felt didn’t show. He wasn’t a hardened warrior for nothing.
    “That’s…” She bit her lip and gave him a small smile that heated him down to his toes and made his pants even tighter. “That’s actually really sweet. I always liked seeing you. Unlike some of the rougher guys, you were always so polite. And never let anyone get unruly in the bar.”
    He nodded. “I wanted to make sure everyone stayed in line.”
    “Nice of you to do that for a waitress,” she said.
    “Not a waitress. You.”
    “But why?” she asked. “You want me to believe you just walked in and it was love at first sight?”
    He pressed his lips into a line and considered how to explain it without his bear in the equation. “You’re beautiful and strong. You’re kind and didn’t act afraid of me because of my size. I was always just trying to get up the courage to speak to you.”
    She put a hand to her head and let out a shaky laugh. “I can’t believe this. I couldn’t get up the courage to talk to you either. Something about you just drew me in.”
    He pulled her onto his lap, cradling her against him, feeling secure now that she was safe and in his arms. “I’m glad it was mutual.” At least the attraction. He knew her love for him wouldn’t be instant like his was for her, but it could grow in time, as it did for humans.
    She reached up and ran a hand along his five o’clock shadow, scratching the stubble there that had sprung up in only one day. Zeus blamed his bear.
    “So what should we do next?” she asked. She moved a hand down over his button again, teasing him, and Zeus groaned at the temptation but pulled back, shaking his head.
    “Not tonight,” he said. “We need to rest. And I can’t believe I’m saying this, but I want to take it slow with you.”
    “It’s a little late for that,” she said, giggling.
    “All right, then,” he said. “Let’s do something slow and romantic tonight. What do couples usually do on dates?”
    “Well, they usually go out, but we can’t.”
    “Okay,” he said. “How about I take you to a movie, then?”
    She gave him a puzzled look. “Um, we can’t go out.”
    “Right, but Ares’s home theater is pretty kick ass. We can watch one of those chick flicks women like so much.”
    She shook her head. “Nah, I’m more of a horror movie fan.”
    His eyebrows shot