Read I Married a Bear for Free Online Page B

man, this bear – whatever he was – caused me to care about him.
    I couldn't deny it again, and it hurt that I couldn't. My whole mind and soul were rending apart as I wept on his chest, praying he'd wake up.
    I jumped when I heard him groan. I rose and stared carefully, raking my nails along his skin to make sure I'd heard it right.
    Then he moved. He swung his legs over the trunk and planted uneasy feet at the ground, staring at me like he was getting out of bed.
    “James! Are you okay?”
    “Shit. Smarts isn't even half of it. Wish I'd brought a fucking helmet.”
    I laughed, involuntarily throwing my arms around him and giving another squeeze. “I thought you were out of it for good!”
    “Can't take a good bear down with a little knock to the head.” He paused, running his fingers through my hair and listening to the raging rapids behind us. “Let's get the fuck out of here before anything else comes ashore.”
    He wasn't kidding. Another tree skidded to a stop just a couple feet from ours, scattering mud and ice. Wouldn't have been much different than a speeding truck if we were unlucky enough to be on the receiving end.
    “Can you walk?”
    “I made it here, baby. Might not be as sleek and steady as a tiger, but I'll manage.” He groaned and grabbed his head again when he stood up.
    At first, I was concerned. Then I saw him looking me up and down, fixing his bright eyes on my curves.
    Yikes! I hadn't begun to make sense of everything that had happened between us.
    Love, hate, and lust hit me harder than the caribou stampede. I was ready to see him again, but not to deal with his desire – a very deep desire judging by the familiar intensity in his gaze.
    I dropped to the ground and shifted. Better to be covered with fur than bare naked before this sex starved bear.
    James did the same a second later. This time, I let him lead, figuring it would be better to have a powerful bear in front to clear out any new obstacles in the forest. Plus he seemed to know where he was going, or else he was just a damned good actor.
    I followed him, keeping my tiger tame and calm while I trailed behind him.
    In my mind's eye, I saw her hunker on the ground and let out an uneasy growl. She didn't know what to make of the big furry beast we'd entrusted to lead us to safety a second time.
    You and me both, girl, I thought. He's a walking mystery. Even bigger and badder than the wicked curiosity surging in my blood.
    It took half a day to get back to the cabin. It was mid-afternoon. We encountered a few bears along the way, all shifted into grizzly form, curious about the commotion. Anybody out that morning in Denali had probably seen the mountain collapse.
    The bears stayed out of James' way and mine too. At most, they gave me a quick glance, backing off and going the opposite way whenever he looked at them. He flashed his huge, sharp teeth if they waited a second too long to get moving.
    It wasn't too different from the way the tiger hierarchy worked. An Alpha postured constantly to keep up his position and deflect challengers. The bears weren't as civilized as tigers, but I understood the wild message in every razor sharp gaze and subtle snort James made.
    I started to feel anxious when we were almost to his door. Last night's snow hadn't covered up the tracks I'd left on the patio, desperate and long tiger footprints in full flight.
    There's that guilt again, I thought unhappily.
    James became a fine man again and opened the door, waiting for me. I held off on shifting until the last possible second.
    We'd gotten along fine out there in the elements, when our lives were in danger. We both knew how to fight for survival, but I wasn't sure we had the slightest clue how to sit down like good people and sort out yesterday.
    I knew I didn't.
    As soon as I was in the house, a woman once again, the door slammed shut. James looked at me with a bear's eyes, tough and demanding, even though he was very human again.
    And hard too. My