Read Bear in Love: BBW Paranormal Holiday Shape Shifter Romance (Shadow Bears Book 1) for Free Online Page A

let other aspects of his life go…until she’d moved to Shadow Ridge. He’d fought with himself for two years over his passion for the business, his self-imposed duty to his father, and his personal life. He’d finally figured it out, though, and told her of the changes he’d begun to make at the beginning of the year.
    “I hired Heather, a woman named Cynthia and Chris’ son to run the storefront so I can be behind the scenes. That was the surprise. I want to spend as much time with you as possible. I want to be your bear’s mate and get married so the whole world knows you belong to me. I know I’ve been a horrible mate so far, but if you give me another chance, I promise I’ll make it up to you.”
    “You haven’t been horrible—”
    “Yes, I have. If you had known how much I love you, you would have never doubted my devotion.”
    “You love me? Are you sure?” She hated to sound so insecure, but the last two weeks had been filled with a lot of pain and self-doubt. She needed him to say the words.
    “I do. I love how kind and friendly you are to both the tourists and the members of our community. I love how smart you are, and how patient you’ve been with me all this time. I love watching you walk down the street, confident and smiling, and the way your hair bounces around your shoulders. I love knowing that you’re coming into the store every day to see me, and no one else, and I like that you love my chocolate.”
    “I do, and that will probably never change.”
    He hadn’t said one word about her size, and she needed to know how he felt about her curves. She liked her body, and it was important that her mate like it, too.
    “Good. I’ll love you no matter what, but your curves are sexier than hell and I can’t wait to wrap my arms around you and hold you against me all night long. I can’t do those chaste kisses anymore. I want to rub my hands all over you and feel your cunt flex tight around my dick.”
    Well, that was convincing.
    “I want that, too. I love you, too, Owen.”
    “Wait, there’s something else.”
    He seemed so serious and her elation deflated. The moment was too perfect, too wonderful, too…everything. Now came time for the bombshell.
    How could I be so stupid?
    She closed her eyes and tried to brace herself for his next words. When she opened them, he slid a small, square box across to her side of the table. It was small, light blue and tied with a white ribbon. The beautiful package was easily recognizable and she could barely breathe. Her eyes filled with unshed tears as she stared at the pretty, perfect bow.
    “Until you bear my mark, and we share our vows, I want the world to know you belong to me.”
    It was her turn to shake as she lifted the lid and slid out the blue velvet ring box. Inside sat a platinum gold band with four small, princess cut diamonds across the top. It was exactly the ring she would have picked, if she could have chosen any ring in the world.
    “It’s perfect,” she whispered.
    “So are you. Marry me?”
    “Yes.”
    He stood and took the ring out of the box. He grabbed her left hand and slid it down her ring finger, and then he pulled her out of the chair.
    Her chest slammed into his and he wrapped his arms around her and covered her lips with his.
    Instead of the usual casual, boring peck, Owen claimed her with his mouth. When she gasped, she slid his tongue between her lips and tangled it with her own. His movements were passionate, urgent and demanding and she loved every minute of it. Liquid heat dampened her panties, and she wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him back with equal ardor.
    Suddenly, Owen broke the kiss, bent down and lifted her into his arms. She kept her arms around his neck and held on as he carried her across the threshold and into the bedroom of the suite. She never doubted his strength, or his ability to carry her.
    He set her down next to the bed, grabbed the hem of her sweater and pulled the soft material