River Bear (BBW Paranormal Shapeshifter Romance) (Blue Bear Rescue) by Terra Wolf, Holly Eastman Page A

asked, much more curious than afraid. She’d been blown away the first time she’d seen his polar bear. Awed by the power and size and strength of him. Not once had she been afraid. In fact, she’d spent half the day thinking how cool it would be to be able to change whenever she needed to kick some perp’s ass. Especially after that guy’s comment at the cabin. He hadn’t been scared enough of her. Or at least, not at first. But if she could shift into a polar bear… that would make her job so much easier. And more fun. She smiled to herself.
    “On your shoulder, just here,” Jake said, brushing her shirt aside and touching the tender spot on her shoulder. It would break the skin, leave a scar, and it would let everyone know that you’re mine.”
    She shuddered at the way he said the words. She would be his. If she was being honest, independence aside, she wanted nothing more than to belong to sexy, sweet, Jake River.
    “I trust you, Jake,” she said. Jake’s eyes went wide, and she realized what she really agreed to. “Wow, okay, I mean, that’s really fast, huh? We should obviously slow things down and wait to see how this goes, right?” She tried to laugh it off, but Jake’s gaze was intensely serious.
    “I don’t need to wait. I knew the moment I saw you and shook your hand. But you’re human. I know it works different for you, so I can wait if that’s what you need.”
    “I need you,” she said, and her cheeks heated at how vulnerable it felt to say that out loud. “I can honestly say I’ve never told anyone that before. I try very hard not to need anyone, ever. And mostly, it works. I don’t think I realized how alone that made me until I met you. Now, I can’t imagine going back to a life without you in it. That’s probably too fast or too crazy to say, but I can’t help how I feel. There’s nothing back in the city for me. But there’s everything right here.”
    Jake’s smile spread slowly, and he took her face in his hands. He kissed her gently on the forehead and then her nose and finally her mouth. “I am completely a mess for you, woman. I couldn’t have let you leave if you’d tried. Hearing that… You make me so happy,” he said in her ear. She shivered as his warm breath washed over her.
    “Really? I could have sworn after today, I make you grumpy,” she said, and his shoulders shook with laughter.
    “Well, come inside and I’ll prove it to you,” he said.
    “You talked me into it.” She grinned at him and let him lead her out of the truck and across the lot.
    Jake unlocked the door with his free hand stuck inside her back pocket, and Delilah wiggled her ass extra hard for him as she walked inside. She was still floating a little from their conversation in the truck. Someone like Jake River wanting her was unbelievable. She’d come to town happy to have a gig that paid more than expenses—and now she wasn’t sure she’d ever leave here again.
    Nothing waited for her back in the city, anyway. A loft apartment with bad plumbing and an eviction notice hanging on the front door. Some unpaid parking tickets. Bills. But nothing like what she’d already built here in just a few short days. And she was sure there was no one else in the world like Jake. She’d almost stopped believing love like this existed anymore. But he was real and standing right here. Wanting her.
    The moment she walked into the dark motel room, she knew something was off. “The lamp is out,” she said, doing a quick sweep of the space. She’d gotten distracted with Jake. Carried away. And forgotten to keep an eye peeled for the trouble she’d already known would come. Damn.
    She reached for her knife, but she wasn’t fast enough. Movement caught her on her left and Jake shoved her sideways, yelling for her to get out. Two men came at them. One from behind the bed and the other from the bathroom. The first was Lyle, but the second was a man she’d never seen before. His stubble was thick and