Read Her Christmas Bear for Free Online

good to be here, she thought. Grabbing a grape from the fruit bowl sitting in the middle of the marble island, she took a seat. Patsy stood on the other side of the counter, preparing dinner.
    Hope never would have thought that her friend would want to be Miss Susie Homemaker. Not that there was anything wrong with that. Oh, who was she kidding, she’d trade her eyeteeth to be in Patsy’s position right now. She had a great job, a beautiful house, and a man who thought she was the best thing since sliced bread if the hot and heavy sexual escapades she’d caught them in was anything to go by.
    But would it last? She thought of Marcus and the promises he had made her—both implied and explicit. Like fucking her until she screamed. The more she thought about it, the more she got on board with that idea.
    Patsy glanced up and wiped her hands on a dishtowel. “Alright, girl, what’s troubling you?”
    “Nothing.” Hope plucked another grape from the bowl and popped it into her mouth.
    Her friend threw her a disbelieving stare. Opening a cabinet above her head, she pulled down a clear container and sat down beside Hope.
    “Now talk.” The container was filled with snack sized chocolate bars. Hope looked at the grapes then at the chocolate. No contest. Reaching inside she pulled out some much needed milk chocolate.
    “I’m nervous about tomorrow.” Tomorrow was her date with Marcus.
    “What’s there to be nervous about? It’s a date.” Patsy took a chocolate treat for herself.
    “I’m just. I don’t know, out of sorts.”
    “Probably because you’re thinking of getting your V-card restamped.”
    Hope coughed, choking on the bite of chocolate she had just taken. “Patsy.”
    The other woman grinned. “What? It’s been like three years since you had a serious relationship and even then I never was truly convinced you had an orgasm with him. You were way too uptight when you were dating him.”
    This time Hope was prepared for her friend’s outlandish comments and didn’t choke as she ate some more chocolate. “So he wasn’t the greatest in bed. Sometimes it’s like that.”
    “Not with a shifter.” Patsy’s grin was downright naughty. Dirty even.
    Hope thought about Marcus taking her to bed. Undressing her, kissing her, stroking her.
    “Thinking about it aren’t you? Thinking about that big, ole bear shifter staking his claim.”
    “No.” She felt her cheeks flush—hell, her whole body got warm. That’s exactly what she’d been thinking. She could even feel his teeth sinking into her skin at the side of her neck.
    “Listen, Hope. You are my best friend ever and I’m telling you this as a friend. Do not run away from this because you’re scared or think you don’t deserve it.” She held up a hand when Hope started to protest. “I know you. I know how that brain of yours is wired. You think because your parents didn’t want you that you don’t deserve love.” She leaned in, making sure Hope was looking at her. “You do. You deserve everything. Happiness, a man to love you, a family. I know you want a family. Let Marcus in. Give the man a chance. That’s all I ask.”
    “But what about this mate thing he keeps talking about?”
    “It’s not a thing. It’s real and it’s wonderful. I know you don’t believe it, but if Marcus is saying you’re his mate, you are in for one glorious courtship, baby. Not to mention a hell of a life.”
    “But—”
    “No buts. Marcus isn’t going to toss you over his shoulder and carry you off to his den and keep you locked up all winter long. He knows no means no. You don’t have anything to fear from him. A shifter would rather cut off his arm than hurt his mate.”
    “Really?” she asked. Never would she admit how titillating she thought the scenario Patsy had described would be.
    “Really.”
    She sighed, knowing her friend was right. What could it hurt to go see Marcus’s Christmas tree farm? Spend the day with him, get to know him. Fear