Commander Bear (Bear Shifter Paranormal Romance) (Bear Patrol Book 1) by Scarlett Grove Page B

evidence I need to connect you to the crime already,” he said, dangling the velvet bag of jewels in front of her.
    “That doesn’t prove anything.”
    Rollo pulled the jewels out of the bag, showing her each piece.
    “These are exactly the items that were taken from Caitlin Somerset’s chest at her mansion. I found them on you.”
    “I found them in the forest.”
    “You found them? Is that why you took off running when you heard the siren. And is it why you told me that if you didn’t get them back you were dead?”
    “I just wanted you to think that it was serious. I was scared of going to jail.”
    “Cut the shit, Zoe. I know you’re connected to Ivanov. I know you stole the jewels for him. Just tell me the truth.”
    She sighed and looked away, her mouth pressing into a hard line. How the hell was he going to get through to her? She had to understand that this was all for her own safety. He couldn’t let her go. And he couldn’t let Ivanov hurt her.
    “I’m just trying to protect you.”
    “There’s nothing you can do for me, Rollo,” she said in a low voice as she stared into his eyes.
    “Damn you, woman. Why are you so stubborn?”
    “I’m trying to protect you, Rollo. You and I both know how this ends.”
    “Oh?” he asked, crossing his arms.
    She was talking in circles. He was following her along the way just for the game of it but was already growing tired and wanted to end it.
    “It ends with one or both of us dead,” she hissed.
    “And why would that be?”
    “If you don’t know already, I’m not going to tell you.”
    “You’re obviously afraid that Ivanov is going to hurt you. You have reason to believe that, I’m sure. That’s why I brought you out here. You just have to accept my help.”
    “You can’t free me from what I’ve done. No one can help me. If you care for me even one little bit, you will give me the jewels and let me go, now.”
    “So I can become an accomplice in a crime and allow my one and only mate to run away from me forever?”
    Her face fell. Now, they both knew her plan.
    “This will never work, Rollo,” she said rattling her handcuffs behind her back. “I am a thief and you are a cop.”
    “So you admit you’re a thief,” he said.
    “I admit nothing.”
    Rollo stood from his chair, not able to remember another time he felt more frustrated. He had already spelled it out for her. He knew everything from her connection to Ivanov to the fact that she had stolen the jewels.
    Why was she still holding back? Maybe she didn’t trust him. Maybe she believed that Ivanov had a reach that was wider than his. Rollo wasn’t sure which hurt worse. If he played the sensitive card and gained her trust, she would see him as weak. She wouldn’t believe he couldn’t protect her. If he continued to play it hard, he’d never get her to trust him.
    “I’m going to hunt something for dinner,” he said, pulling his clothes off as he stood in front of her.
    Her mouth dropped as his T-shirt hit the floor. He stepped out of his shoes and yanked down his pants, boxer briefs and all. He stood proud and half hard in front of her, a slight smile on his face. He could smell her need, tight between her legs. He knew she yearned for him to bury himself in her warmth. She flicked her tongue across her lips, and her eyes darted over his body.
    “Do you like what you see?” he asked in a husky voice.
    “I’ve seen better,” she said, not meeting his gaze.
    “Liar,” he growled. “We can already practically read each other’s minds by the scents we give off. You want me as much as I want you, little kitty. Now, sit tight while I get your ass something to eat.”
    Rollo hurried off into the night, shifting in mid stride. He galloped through the clearing and into the wood, smelling the sharp scent of pine needles as they broke under his feet. He bolted through the forest, sniffing out the potential prey who lived there. He smelled the musky scent of a buck, not far down