Protected by the Bear Read online

  Another knock on the door, but this time it was a man.

  “Hi, Chloe, I’m Aiden Renner, Charlotte’s husband.”

  Chloe put her hand out and shook his.

  “We’ll leave you two to talk business, but we’ll be seeing you around soon, I’m sure,” said Maisey.

  “Thank you for the pass and for these baby clothes.”

  Aiden waited until they’d left then pulled up a chair and took out a folder with some forms inside. “I’m sure Ash mentioned I’d be by to sort out all the paperwork you’ll need.”

  “And no one’s ever been caught doing this?” asked Chloe. She hated to think maybe she was digging herself in deeper.

  “It’s going to be fine. Nothing to worry about. Now have you decided on a name?”

  “I’d like to keep Chloe.”

  “I wouldn’t advise it. We can call you that, but for the record, I’d go with something different.”

  “How about Julie Abbott?”

  “Julie Abbott it is.”

  Julie Abbott had been the girl that had bullied her in junior high. Wouldn’t she be shocked to think the overweight girl she’d heckled and humiliated had chosen her to become her namesake?

  ****

  “It’s perfect, really it is,” said Chloe.

  Ash didn’t know where Chloe had lived before she’d arrived in Montana, but he guessed living above the Starlight Café in Hannah’s former apartment wasn’t a step up. Hannah hadn’t lived there for six months and had only recently converted it back to the storage area for the café. Ash had asked Liam to rent Chloe his newly remodeled house that backed onto his property that had once belonged to his brother Danny and had been revamped by his soon-to-be wife, Lucy. However, someone had beaten them to it, so Hannah had suggested her old apartment until Chloe got on her feet.

  “I know it’s cold out today, but maybe you should open a window or two,” suggested Ash. The air was stale and with lingering smells of food that had been cooked in the kitchen directly underneath the living room.

  “It’s going to be fine. And I even have a job,” said Chloe.

  That was the first he’d heard about it.

  “One of Hannah’s waitresses left suddenly, so I said I could fill in and even help out in the kitchen. I used to work in a fast food restaurant when I was in high school. Best thing is I’ll be able to keep my eye on Sophie, too. Hannah said I can take her downstairs in her carrier while I work.”

  Ash smiled. He’d never seen someone so excited and enthusiastic about a waitressing job before. Guess that’s what he liked so much about Chloe.

  “What are you smiling at?” she asked him.

  “You, because you seem so happy.”

  “I guess I am. My baby girl’s coming home from the hospital tomorrow and it’s like I have this wonderful extended family taking care of us. I have you to thank for that.”

  What she did next took him by complete surprise. She went onto her tiptoes, angled her face up to his, and kissed him on the lips.

  He took in her scent. She smelled of perfume and of being human, and he found it a tantalizing combination that sent his bear libido into high gear. His cock responded by turning hard within seconds, his balls pulled, and every nerve ending in his body went on alert.

  Ash wasn’t sure if she’d push him away, slap him, and tell him she thought it was too good to be true. That he had ulterior motives for helping her, but he slid his arms around her, holding her to his body, grinding his oversized bear frame into hers, and tickling her lower lip with his tongue.

  It felt like she was melting into him. Her suddenly tense body relaxed and she opened her mouth for him. Her breath was cool and minty as the kiss grew deeper and more urgent.

  He hadn’t had sex, hadn’t wanted to have sex since…

  Since he’d first laid eyes on Chloe when he’d found her at the back of the plane wreck.

  He was a man of needs, strong sexual needs like any grizzly his age, but the only person he now envisioned getting horizontal with was Chloe. But not right now. He was a doctor. He knew it was best for women to wait for a certain amount of time before they got sexually active again. Okay, it wasn’t written in stone, but he knew best. He could wait just a little bit longer.

  Ash pulled away. They stood looking at one another.

  “This is sort of awkward,” said Chloe. “Should one of us say something?”

  “You just have,” said Ash.

  Chloe smiled. “I don’t have a lot of experience with men and kissing and…”

  “Sex?” he asked pulling up her chin so she could look him in the eyes.

  “Although the guys at school did say I was good for one thing and that was giving them a good hand job.”

  Ash squeezed his thighs together. The thought of Chloe’s hands on his cock almost made him come.

  “Hello, you up there, Chloe?”

  It was Hannah. His cousin-in-law had just ruined things.

  “Yes, I’m in the living room with Ash,” said Chloe.

  Soon Hannah was standing at the top of the stairs with some pink drapes with teddy bears adorning them in her hand. “I saw these on sale and thought they’d be perfect for Sophie’s nursery,” she said.

  “You’ll have to let me pay for them,” said Chloe, taking them from her.

  “No, that’s fine. It’s my house warming gift to you and Sophie.”

  “I think we should continue with the bear theme for her room,” said Chloe.

  “How about I help Chloe hang these and you can go down and visit with Sam? He’s writing his best man’s speech for Liam’s wedding,” Hannah said to Ash.

  “Okay, and Chloe, I’ll pick you up around noon and give you a ride to and from the hospital to pick up Sophie.”

  “Sounds great, and thanks again.”

  Chloe and Hannah headed into the bedroom and Ash made his way downstairs and into the café where Sam was sitting with a pen in his hand and a legal pad in front of him.

  “Hi, Sam,” said Ash, sliding into the chair opposite him. “How’s the speech coming along?”

  “Not very good,” said Sam, crossing out some lines he’d already written.

  “You want some help?”

  “Sure.” Sam slid the pad over to him.

  “Let’s see what you have so far.”

  “Uncle Liam is great. He lets me ride in the cars he fixes and sometimes I fix them, too. If you’re wondering why he’s my uncle it’s because his brother Danny was my dad. My dad died and Uncle Liam was sad, but then he found out about me and he’s not so sad any more. He’s also happy because he found Lucy. She’s pretty, but not as pretty as my mom.”

  “Sam, I think you should cross out that last piece. It’s Lucy’s big day and she has to be the prettiest woman in the world,” said Ash.

  “Okay,” said Sam, handing Ash the pen.

  Ash struck through the words. “So what else would you like the guests to know about Liam?”

  “He’s one cool grizzly bear.”

  “You can’t mention that either just in case some humans overhear you.”

  “Oh yeah, it’s a secret.”

  “How about mentioning that you go out to eat with him and Lucy every week and you wish them a long and happy marriage?”

  “All right. And now I need to know where I can find strippers and hookers.”

  Ash almost choked on the cola he was drinking. The liquid flew out of his mouth and landed on his jeans. He dabbed at it. “You’re way too young to be even using words like that.”

  “But I read it on the Internet. It’s Uncle Liam’s last chance to look at other women before he has to spend his life with Lucy.”

  “I’m sure your uncle will enjoy just a guy’s get-together okay.”

  Sam shrugged. “If he has a bad time, don’t blame me.”

  Ash laughed and ruffled Sam’s hair. Bear was so lucky to have this kid as his stepson. Lucky to have Hannah, too.

  He heard Chloe and Hannah laughin
g upstairs. Chloe and Sophie. They’d be a ready- made family, too. Nope, he was getting way, way ahead of himself.

  ****

  Chloe’s hands shook as Bear handed her Sophie. She was all her responsibility now. Her warm body pressed again Chloe’s, she smelled like Chloe had always thought a baby would.

  “If you have any questions, I’m only a phone call away,” said Bear.

  “Me too,” said Ash, holding the baby carrier for her.

  “She’s doing great, but Ash has promised to look in on her every day,” said Bear.

  She looked at Ash and he smiled at her.

  “You’re part of a huge family, so if you need anything, need a babysitter, I know someone will help you out.”

  “You want to carry Sophie or put her in the carrier?” asked Ash.

  “Can I carry her until we get to the car?”

  “Sure.”

  Both Bear and Ash began to walk along with her. She wrapped the blanket around Sophie’s tiny head. She even saw more hair beginning to grow. Tomorrow would have been her due date. In a way, she was glad she’d given birth with Bear, Ash, and Charlotte helping her. Even if it hadn’t been under the best conditions.

  “Have you made an appointment for your own check-up?” Bear asked her.

  “Yes, this Friday. Is it okay if I bring Sophie along, too?”

  “Absolutely. One of the nurses or even Charlotte can watch her for you.”

  Bear opened the door for them. Ash stepped ahead of her and took if from him.

  “I’ll probably be seeing you around when I stop by the Starlight Café.”

  She kissed Bear on the cheek. “Thank you.”

  He waved to her as she crossed the parking lot. Ash unlocked the door and put the car seat into place.

  “You want me to put her in there?”

  “Yeah, I’d better watch how you do it. I guess a car’s the next thing I need to think about.”

  Ash took Sophie from her. He had big hands, but he was so gentle with Sophie as he set her inside the carrier and secured the straps across her tiny body. “Snug as a bug,” he said, closing the door. He opened the passenger door for her and she got in. He walked around to the other side, slid in, and then started the ignition. “If you’re thinking about a car, why don’t I take you to see Liam? He fixes old cars and he might give you a good deal.”

  “I might have to wait a bit longer until I’ve built up some savings.”

  “I can lend the money to you.”

  “I couldn’t let you do that.”

  “Why?”

  “Because you’ve done enough for me.”

  “That’s what friends are for. And it would be a loan, if that makes you feel any better.”

  “Okay, I’ll see what he has on offer.”

  “I can take you there tomorrow if you want?”

  “I’m working the lunchtime shift, so it would have to be late afternoon or early evening.”

  “Perfect. I finish my shift at five and I’ll come straight over. And I hope you’re not going to forget about your studies. You want to be a vet, right?”

  Chloe nodded.

  “There’s the University of Montana in Missoula, but I’m guessing you could take some classes at one of the local colleges and transfer your credits. Or you could even take some online.”

  “That’s a great idea. I guess I need a laptop too.”

  “I’m betting someone has one they’re not using. I’ll ask around.”

  Ash pulled into the parking lot at the back of the Starlight Café. This was it. She was about to begin her life as single mother.

  “I’m nervous all of a sudden,” said Chloe, finding herself almost glued to the car seat.

  Ash turned off the ignition and turned to face her. He put his hand on hers and squeezed it. “It’s perfectly understandable. You’ve made a big decision, but you’ve made the right one. You are going to give that little girl a wonderful life.”

  Chloe nodded. He was right, but still her hands shook.

  “All new moms are scared at first. I’ll be a phone call away. I’m going to stop by and check on her every day.”

  “I know, I know, but what if I do something wrong? I mean, they talk about instinct, but I’m not her real mother.”

  “A doctor might have implanted her into you, but it’s your body that grew and nurtured her. Right now, your brain’s saying ‘I’ve given birth and have a baby to take care of, and this is what I do.’”

  He made it all sound so easy. If only he could stay with her all the time.

  “Let’s get Sophie into her new home and see how she likes her crib.”

  Ash had Sophie out of the car and settled in her new room in no time. He knew what he was doing, but she didn’t.

  Please stay, please stay.

  She realized that maybe she didn’t just want him to stay to help with Sophie, but instead, she was getting used to having him around her. She liked him a lot. But as he’d said in the car, they were friends.

  Sophie began crying and Chloe rushed over to the crib, seeing her kicking her feet.

  “It’s okay, don’t panic,” said Ash. “I’m sure it’s not the crib she’s reacting to.”

  “She needs feeding. I can tell by the way my nipples feel.”

  He was right, most of it was pure instinct.

  Chloe lifted Sophie out, sat on the rocking chair Hannah had found at a garage sale, lifted her sweater, and pushed down her bra. She offered her nipple to Sophie and the baby began to suck.

  “You were right, I do know…” She looked up at Ash. If she wasn’t mistaken, he was blushing again. “Did you want a drink? I mean, I put some soda in the fridge?” she asked him.

  “Sounds good to me. You want one?”

  “Sure.”

  He left the room like his butt was on fire.

  ****

  Ash opened the fridge, took out a can of soda, and first of all, rolled it his forehead and then across his crotch. Neither was helping cool him down or take away his erection.

  He was a doctor and he saw women’s breasts all the time, but there was something about Chloe’s that made him go wild. Made him blush. Made him super hard.

  He heard her coming into the kitchen and he quickly took the can away from his balls and pretended he was about to open it. He looked at Chloe. Her breast was still exposed, its nipple glistening slightly where she’d just fed Sophie.

  “She’s fast asleep,” she said, stepping toward him.

  Did she realize she hadn’t covered herself up again?

  He lifted his hand as she came inches from him. He was going to have to do it. A bear could only be good for so long and then they had to give into temptation. It was in their nature and DNA. He touched her breast and caressed her nipple, feeling it harden between his thumb and middle finger. It was the best one he’d ever touched, so soft, so…

  So not helping his erection. Before he realized it, she had her hand on the front of his jeans, unzipping the fly, tugging it over his cock. They looked one another in the eye, neither of them venturing to say anything, leaving it clearly to body language, urges, and needs. Her hand was cold as it slid inside his boxers, finding his cock in seconds.

  He pulled on her nipple as she began a slow and steady stroke of his dick.

  Ash remembered that she’d told him she gave pretty good hand jobs. She hadn’t been bragging. Her fingers played him like he was a piano, her middle finger tickling the underside of his shaft.

  Didn’t she know how dangerous that was? A bear could go crazy having that part of his cock stimulated in such a way. He dug his feet into the ground, with his toes almost going through the soles of his shoes.

  Damn and fuck, she was good. He had to let go of her nipple out of fear of hurting her. He was pretty darn close to coming and, wow, was he going to come. It might be somewhat embarrassing for him. He might even do a bear growl.

  His eyes were turning and he felt them shifting more into his bear half. He hoped he wo
uldn’t scare her.

  She touched his balls. Human women usually didn’t touch those for some reason. He put his hand on the fridge door, rolled his head back, cried out, and came big time.

  He panted. He had to shift and then run because he needed to fuck her and she’d just given birth and this wasn’t in his plans and…

  His mind was rambling.

  “I gotta go,” was all he managed to say.

  Chapter Nine

  Had she made a huge mistake? She’d embarrassed Ash, and she’d also embarrassed herself. Chloe swiped away the tear with the back of her hand.

  She’d never been post-natal before, so she didn’t know if all women’s hormones were in a crazy mode that made them sexually aggressive like she’d been in the kitchen, or what.

  It wasn’t just that she was in a heightened sexual state per se, she knew it was being around Ash that was causing it. She wouldn’t have done that to any other man.

  And now she’d driven him away. He’d taken off like the kitchen was on fire. The tires of his car had screeched as he’d gone down the road. Would she even see him again? Maybe if she did, he’d bring a chaperone. How stupid of her. He could have been a friend. Someone to hang out with until she got to know other people.

  Chloe looked out the window. The wind had picked up, leaves were swirling around, and she suddenly felt all alone. She missed home. Missed her parents.

  ****

  Ash hadn’t been for a run as his bear half in over a week. It was long overdue. Flecks of snow were beginning to make their way through the thick branches overhead. The wind had picked up since he’d begun running. It ruffled his fur, making him appreciate the thickness that surrounded his body. He stopped by a tree and looked out at Flathead Lake. So beautiful. Ideal place to bring a picnic when the temperature was higher.

  Ash thought of Chloe. Her, him, and baby Sophie all sitting on a blanket eating salmon and bread with a thick layer of honey on it. Chloe dripping it into his mouth.

  He licked his lips. He should have been stronger when she’d entered the kitchen. However, with her breast and its gorgeous pink nipple on display, what bear could resist that? All bears loved breasts. Well, they loved pussies, too, but that was beside the point.