Big Bad Bear by Terry Bolryder Page B

up. “Really?”
    She nodded. “Come on. I’ll help you pick a really good one. And don’t worry. If you get scared, I’ll comfort you.” She laughed and helped him up.
    “All right,” he said, leading the way to the basement. “As long as you stay here with me and protect me,” he teased.
    She laughed, and he couldn’t resist swatting her on the butt as she went down the stairs ahead of him.
    A horror movie would be perfect. Carly would be disappointed though, because nothing in the movies could ever scare Zeus. Only one thing in the world could, and that was her being in danger. And Zeus would never let that happen.
    They settled into the comfy recliners and he put an arm up for her to snuggle under, and they picked out a new zombie movie that Carly hadn’t seen.
    With his phone close so he’d hear any alarm, Zeus allowed himself to relax with his mate.

10
    W hen the movie ended , Carly was too comfortable cuddling with Zeus and didn’t want to move. But it was late, and Zeus said he wanted to call Ares and check up on how things were going, so he walked her up to a bedroom across from his, made sure she was comfortable, and then went back to his room.
    She hugged a pillow and lay back on the bed. The curtains were closed, but there wouldn’t be any beautiful view outside anyway. Not from Ares’s concrete fortress.
    Still, she was having fun here, as long as it was with Zeus. She still had warm fuzzies from what he’d said about coming to the bar just to see her. It wasn’t any promise of a future, but it meant he’d thought of her before. Like she’d thought of him. That he’d been interested even before they’d been thrown together in this Devils situation.
    She still didn’t know what the future held exactly, but she liked the way it was headed.
    She liked the way Zeus looked at her, with that intense, possessive gaze.
    Her old boyfriend hadn’t even been willing to face debt for her, yet this man had faced gunfire.
    She heard Zeus finish his call and opened her door to find him pacing the hall. His square, masculine features were tensed slightly, as if he were thinking something over.
    “Is everything okay?” she asked.
    He looked so handsome in a flannel shirt that outlined his broad shoulders and perfectly cut pecs. The sleeves were rolled up, baring muscular arms that she longed to put her hands all over. And his abs…
    Her mouth watered.
    She wanted this man like she’d never wanted anyone, and it seemed like a hunger that would never cease.
    But he’d already said no for tonight.
    His eyes met hers as he tucked the phone away in his pants.
    “Everything’s fine,” he said. “They’re searching the woods, just like we want them to. They can search for days up there. It’s dark and easy to get lost in.”
    She nodded. But somehow she knew she’d never get lost up there with Zeus. She could see it being a home for them.
    Home. That was an odd word. She’d wanted to stay in Bearstone Village and pay her debts, but she’d never thought of this place as home. Now she was starting to think of Zeus as home. But was she just a silly girl getting carried away by the first man to be truly good to her?
    Was Zeus planning for this to end when she wasn’t in danger any longer? She didn’t think so, but she’d been abandoned before, and she hadn’t seen that coming either.
    Still, she wouldn’t think the worst about Zeus when he’d been nothing but kind to her.
    She went to him and curled her arms around his waist. Every moment with him was precious, and with the danger facing them, who knew what would happen in the next hours or days? Carly wanted to live life to the fullest, wanted to take everything Zeus had to offer while things were still good.
    And her body ached to feel him again.
    “Zeus?” she asked. “Are you sure we can’t do anything tonight?” Her hand found his tight butt and gave a squeeze, and he groaned as he rested his lips on her hair in a soft kiss.
    “I