Bear Meets Girl
Page 83
Like what?
Anything. Then he added, Anything that doesnt involve your family. Just you.
Oh. Wow. Okay. Uh ... He watched her struggle with that simple request. Um. Finally, after what felt like a really long time, she said, I dont like beetles.
The band?
No. The insect.
You dont like beetles?
Yeah.
Okay.
I think theyre gross.
What about spiders?
Dont mind spiders. They deal with ants and flies.
Im sure beetles serve a purpose.
Dont care.
Okay.
Now youre judging?
Im not judging. You dont like beetles. Thats okay. I dont like lizards.
Whats wrong with lizards?
Youre going to judge me about lizards but I cant judge you about beetles?
When you ask me a lot of personal questions ...
I asked you one.
Why?
What do you mean why?
Why ask me a personal question? Why do you care?
Annoyed that she was clearly annoyed, Crush sat up until his back rested against the headboard, and he pulled her onto his lap, replacing the ice pack on her knee, then wrapping his hands around her waist. I ask you questions because I give a shit. Because despite my best intentions to not get emotionally involved, I like you.
Why didnt you want to get emotionally involved?
Because youre crazy.
Oh. Youve got a point. She looked off and said, I really like Australia.
Okay.
I went once. For vacation, not a job. Hung out with the dingoes.
Full dingoes or
Shifter dingoes. She nodded. They were fun.
She pressed both her hands to his chest, fingers stroking. Maybe we can go out sometime.
What do you mean go out?
You know ... out. She unleashed her claws, kneading his chest. Like a date out.
Crush closed his eyes, his entire body tightening. Lips pressed against his throat, fangs grazed the tendons.
Is that a yes?
Huh?
All that groaning youre doing, I was wondering if that was a yes, lets have an eventual date.
That depends.
On what?
He gripped her shoulders and rolled until she was flat on her back and he was between her legs. The damn ice packlong forgotten.
Am I going as your date or your pretend date?
She brought her hands up, dug her claws into his scalp, scratching him right at the base of his neckwhich felt fucking awesome!
Real date, she promised. But still pretend boyfriend.
Crush grinned. The feline would always be difficult, wouldnt she?
I can live with that.
Good. Now wheres the rest of those condoms?
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
Cella turned over, burrowing closer to Crushek, the sun coming in through the windows annoying her. But the bear tensed beneath her and when he moved, so did she. Both of them pulled their weapons at the same time, hers from under her pillow, aiming it at the foot of the bed.
Cella blinked at the man standing quietly at the end of the bed. Mario?
Morning, Miss Malone.
She nodded. Right. She pressed her hand to Crushs forearm so that hed lower his weapon. Ive gotta go. Im being called in.
Are you going to be okay?
Ill be fine. She kissed him. Ill call you later.
Okay.
She tossed off the covers, but heard the bear growl. She motioned Mario away with a jerk of her head.
Jealous already? she asked after the driver left, teasing just a little.
But Crushs answer was deadly serious. Yes.
She laughed, kissed him again. Later.
Yeah. Be careful.
Crush watched from his window as the Town Car pulled away from the front of his house and turned the corner at the end of his street. After that, he went back to bed to get some actual sleep, loving that Cellas scent was still all over his sheets and him.
But then, an hour later, a new scent filled his room. A scent he didnt much like that had him reaching for his .45. He had his hand around the holster when Chazz brought his fist down on Crushs hand.
Crush roared in pain and anger and, naked, charged his brother, tackling him to the floor. He had him pinned when Gray grabbed him from behind. Crush brought his elbow back, ramming Gray in the throat and his fist in Chazzs mouth again. Then he stood, grabbing both his brothers around their necks and lifting them to their feet. He slammed their heads together, knocking them out, and dropped them.
Now, now.
Crush looked up at the six grizzlies coming through his doorway, one of them the big one from that day in the Group offices. Is that any way for brothers to act?
Cella walked into the Queens office building that housed the KZS offices. And as soon as she stepped inside, her boss latched on to her arm and dragged her toward the elevators.
Anything. Then he added, Anything that doesnt involve your family. Just you.
Oh. Wow. Okay. Uh ... He watched her struggle with that simple request. Um. Finally, after what felt like a really long time, she said, I dont like beetles.
The band?
No. The insect.
You dont like beetles?
Yeah.
Okay.
I think theyre gross.
What about spiders?
Dont mind spiders. They deal with ants and flies.
Im sure beetles serve a purpose.
Dont care.
Okay.
Now youre judging?
Im not judging. You dont like beetles. Thats okay. I dont like lizards.
Whats wrong with lizards?
Youre going to judge me about lizards but I cant judge you about beetles?
When you ask me a lot of personal questions ...
I asked you one.
Why?
What do you mean why?
Why ask me a personal question? Why do you care?
Annoyed that she was clearly annoyed, Crush sat up until his back rested against the headboard, and he pulled her onto his lap, replacing the ice pack on her knee, then wrapping his hands around her waist. I ask you questions because I give a shit. Because despite my best intentions to not get emotionally involved, I like you.
Why didnt you want to get emotionally involved?
Because youre crazy.
Oh. Youve got a point. She looked off and said, I really like Australia.
Okay.
I went once. For vacation, not a job. Hung out with the dingoes.
Full dingoes or
Shifter dingoes. She nodded. They were fun.
She pressed both her hands to his chest, fingers stroking. Maybe we can go out sometime.
What do you mean go out?
You know ... out. She unleashed her claws, kneading his chest. Like a date out.
Crush closed his eyes, his entire body tightening. Lips pressed against his throat, fangs grazed the tendons.
Is that a yes?
Huh?
All that groaning youre doing, I was wondering if that was a yes, lets have an eventual date.
That depends.
On what?
He gripped her shoulders and rolled until she was flat on her back and he was between her legs. The damn ice packlong forgotten.
Am I going as your date or your pretend date?
She brought her hands up, dug her claws into his scalp, scratching him right at the base of his neckwhich felt fucking awesome!
Real date, she promised. But still pretend boyfriend.
Crush grinned. The feline would always be difficult, wouldnt she?
I can live with that.
Good. Now wheres the rest of those condoms?
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
Cella turned over, burrowing closer to Crushek, the sun coming in through the windows annoying her. But the bear tensed beneath her and when he moved, so did she. Both of them pulled their weapons at the same time, hers from under her pillow, aiming it at the foot of the bed.
Cella blinked at the man standing quietly at the end of the bed. Mario?
Morning, Miss Malone.
She nodded. Right. She pressed her hand to Crushs forearm so that hed lower his weapon. Ive gotta go. Im being called in.
Are you going to be okay?
Ill be fine. She kissed him. Ill call you later.
Okay.
She tossed off the covers, but heard the bear growl. She motioned Mario away with a jerk of her head.
Jealous already? she asked after the driver left, teasing just a little.
But Crushs answer was deadly serious. Yes.
She laughed, kissed him again. Later.
Yeah. Be careful.
Crush watched from his window as the Town Car pulled away from the front of his house and turned the corner at the end of his street. After that, he went back to bed to get some actual sleep, loving that Cellas scent was still all over his sheets and him.
But then, an hour later, a new scent filled his room. A scent he didnt much like that had him reaching for his .45. He had his hand around the holster when Chazz brought his fist down on Crushs hand.
Crush roared in pain and anger and, naked, charged his brother, tackling him to the floor. He had him pinned when Gray grabbed him from behind. Crush brought his elbow back, ramming Gray in the throat and his fist in Chazzs mouth again. Then he stood, grabbing both his brothers around their necks and lifting them to their feet. He slammed their heads together, knocking them out, and dropped them.
Now, now.
Crush looked up at the six grizzlies coming through his doorway, one of them the big one from that day in the Group offices. Is that any way for brothers to act?
Cella walked into the Queens office building that housed the KZS offices. And as soon as she stepped inside, her boss latched on to her arm and dragged her toward the elevators.
