“Why did you sleep with Leif last night?” Stig demanded.
Fiona snatched her camera off him. “Because I wanted to,” she snapped. “I like him, just as I like you and Kirk.”
Some of his anger lifted, and he cocked his head, gaze watchful. “Would you spend tonight with me?”
She listened to the shivers of anticipation in her gut and the rush of her pulse rate. A heady sense of excitement filled her, and she ignored her stern inner prude who warned her she owned the tramp label.
“Yes,” she blurted before she second-guessed herself. “There’s something wrong with me. I’m attracted to all of you.” She studied her fingernails while she waited for his reaction. He’d tell her she wasn’t normal.
She was sick…
“What about Arve and Josef?”
Not what she’d guessed he’d say.
Normally she would’ve told him to mind his business. She would’ve told him he was crazy. Good girls didn’t sleep around, and especially bed hop between brothers. But something in his intense gaze made her tell the truth.
“It’s not right,” she said slowly. “But you give me courage, a sense of well-being. You treat me with respect. When I see you… You’re so big and strong and plain gorgeous. What woman in her right mind wouldn’t want to kiss and touch? I see the way your brothers look at me, and it makes me feel beautiful.” She sent a smile in his direction and suspected that it held more than a trace of irony. “It’s a simple jump to sex after that.”
“Thank you for being honest, honey pie. From my end, you’re strong and sexy. I adore your curves and your attitude, the fact you were willing to pitch in and help us load the sleds. There is nothing about you I don’t like.”
“I read romance novels,” she blurted.
“When we get a quiet moment, you can read one to me,” he said and winked at her. “I’ll consider it research.”
“Um, okay,” she whispered, stunned by his easy acceptance.
The growls and roars continued, growing louder.
Fiona glanced at the locked bedroom door. “Will Kirk and Leif be all right?”
“Ma won’t kill them,” Stig said. “But she’ll bang them around and try to knock sense into them.”
“She doesn’t approve of humans or is it me?”
“She wants us to go out on the ice with the rest of the pack this winter. It’s a time when marriages and alliances are formed. She can’t understand why my brothers and I prefer to live in the human world and indulge in trade.”
“Why do you stay in Churchill?”
“We like the people. We love the town. The old ways aren’t always the best, and to be truthful, the women Ma wants us to make matches with are plain scary. I don’t want to spend the rest of my life arguing and fighting with my mate as to who is in charge. I want a woman to love. A partnership with give and take. I’d like my woman to comfort me when I need it, and I’d do the same with her when she requires support. I don’t want a political arrangement. I want love and respect and companionship.”
Passion rang in every word and touched a chord in Fiona.
“T-that’s what I want. That’s what I’ve always wanted. I thought I had it with Robert but…” She trailed off with a shrug.
“See, we’re not that different. Polar bears and humans. Ma doesn’t get that.”
“You turn into a bear as well?”
“I can.” He sounded wary this time.
“Will you show me?”
“My otherness doesn’t frighten you?”
The booming growls ceased without warning.
Stig frowned. “We should stay here for longer. Kirk and Leif will inform us when it’s safe to come out.”
“I’m not frightened of you. I can see that being alone with your mother might be problematic, but she shouldn’t have called me a slut,” she added fiercely.
“Don’t listen to her. You’re not, and my brothers and I don’t think of you in that way.”
His sincerity blazed through his words, and Fiona nodded, although privately, she worried. This situation she found herself in rated weird on so many levels. It needed consideration.
“Please show me your bear. I truly want to see.”
“If you scream and go girlie on me, I’ll spank you.”
“Huh! Leif threatened to do that if I misbehaved. Robert got rough enough with me at the end. I don’t need physical threats.”
Stig’s blue eyes took on a gleam. He strolled closer until he filled her personal space. “When Leif and I threaten spanking, it’s not physical abuse we have in mind. Neither of us would ever hurt you. We’d sooner gnaw off our right front paws.” He cupped her face in his big hands and kissed her. “Do you promise to sleep in my bedroom tonight?”
“I promise,” she whispered.
“And if I invited Kirk to sleep with us?”
“Oh,” she breathed as the idea of the two brothers touching her at the same time filled her mind. She’d read one or two books with that arrangement, the stories heating her so much she’d whipped out her vibrator. Another instant of Robert’s absences. She shoved her ex from her mind and returned to Kirk and Stig.
Phew, was it hot in here?
His nostrils flared. “You like the idea.”
“Um, yes. Good guess?”
“We have an excellent sense of smell. You’re aroused right now.”
“Your mother could… She knew… Oh, dear.”
“You have a delicious scent. It’s rich with a whiff of floral. And we’ve rubbed bear all over you too.”
“I smell of polar bear?”
“Yes.” He kissed her again, this time unhurried. He traced the seam of her mouth, and she opened to him with a moan. When he lifted his head, they were both breathing fast. “We’d better not take this any further. Not with Ma loitering.”
“Later,” she promised. “Please show me your bear.”
He took a step back. Concentration settled on his features and sparkles of light surrounded his muscular body.
Fiona stared, wincing at the cracking and sucking sounds. That bit—not so sexy. Wait. He hadn’t taken off his clothes. How did that work? She’d have to ask later.
The disturbance down in the warehouse started again. Fiona pulled a face and prayed Leif and Kirk didn’t get hurt.
Stig made a chuffing sound and settled on all fours. He peered at her, his blue eyes holding the same humanity they had during their prior interactions. Mesmerized, she eyed his off-white fur—a sort of vanilla color—his small neat ears. The tip of his black nose. Oh, his stubby tail was cute.
“Wow,” she whispered. “You’re so big. Your paws are three times the size of my hands. And your claws! They look wicked. Can I pet you?”
Stig edged closer, his gaze watchful as if he expected her to react badly to his shift. If only he understood her past. Stories of shapeshifters and romance had helped her survive dark days. Her mother’s death due to cancer. The disappointment of her marriage. While she figured romance novels and reality didn’t align, this discovery fascinated and intrigued her.
She sank her fingers into his fur. Thick and wiry but soft underneath, she luxuriated in the textures and wild green smell of him. She leaned against his shoulder and continued to stroke him. His muscles quivered beneath her touch, and he groaned. She grinned at the sound.
He was a big teddy bear.
“Can I take your photo?”
He made a chuffing sound, and she guessed he’d assented because he posed when she picked up her camera.
“You’re bigger in your bear form,” she said. “I’m dainty in comparison.”
He chuffed again and ambled closer. She ran her hand over his shoulder and he nudged her carefully. His tongue darted out to lick her hand, and she giggled.
“That tickles. Let me take my photos. Do the locals realize they have bears in their midst?”
Stig nodded.
“Okay. We’ll talk later. I have so many questions.”
Stig grunted and posed for her while she clicked away. A huge yawn took her by surprise.
Stig wandered over to his big bed and crawled onto it, expectation in his gaze.
“Good idea,” she said. “I could manage a nap.” She removed her boots and crawled onto the bed with Stig. She curled up against his back and sighed. He smelled the same in bear form as he did in human.
This adventure stuff sure took a toll on a woman.
Look at the Polar Bears
Ma stepped back and shifted without warning. Kirk paused an instant, not willing to give ground or acknowledge his aches and pains. Showing vulnerability to their mother never ended well.
“That human must go. Admit you’re playing with her and send her on her way.” She straightened her jacket and strolled from the warehouse, her nose in the air like an imperious queen.
Hell no. Kirk refused to let Fiona leave, and he suspected Stig would be of a similar mind. How they would continue with all of his brothers wanting her, he had no idea. All he knew was that his bear wanted her with a desperation that had allowed him to fight his mother and not back down. Leif had fought at his side, and although they were both bloody, neither of them bore broken limbs. This rated as a success since her ferocity told him she’d intended pain and temporary suffering. To teach a lesson.
They’d never stood up to her like this before. A first, and he enjoyed standing beside his big brother. They might have different fathers, but that meant nothing to him or his brothers because they had each other’s backs. Besides, from what he understood, Ma had been difficult and unwilling to let any male tell her what to do or how to act. With that in their backgrounds, was it any wonder they valued family above all else?
At his side, Leif shifted. Kirk paused until he was certain their mother wasn’t lingering outside to reappear and take advantage during the vulnerable time of shifting.
Kirk transformed next. “How much damage control will we need to do with Fiona?”
Leif sighed. “I’m not sure. With any luck, Ma will head out on the ice today. Most of the pack has already left. She knows we won’t attend the gathering. We’d refused to go before Fiona’s arrival.”
“She assumes we’re playing with Fiona, and that Fiona will return to her regular life once her week tour is up.” When Kirk pictured Fiona, he imagined them together in a future of fun and laughter and her softness. If he let himself, he could imagine children, although he wouldn’t mention that to Leif. It would only scare him.
“Ma doesn’t understand us. She never has.” Leif sighed again, a heavy one of reluctance. “Let’s go upstairs and face the damage. Seeing us transform into bears might have done what Ma is hoping. Fiona might turn her back on us.”
“True,” Kirk said. They hadn’t known Fiona long enough to learn her strength of character. She’d seemed a strong woman, but he’d been wrong before.
At the top of the stairs, Leif entered the master code and the lock clicked. He opened the door and entered.
Kirk tested his senses. “They’re in Runt’s room.”
“Good,” Leif said. “Runt wasn’t taking any chances with Ma going berserk.”
Kirk strode down the corridor to Runt’s room. “Locked.”
Leif plugged in the master code and the lock released. He hesitated a second before opening the door.
Kirk sucked in a quick breath and glanced at Leif. His face remained impassive as they surveyed Fiona wrapped around Runt in his bear form. Runt opened his mouth in a version of a bear smile, and Kirk relaxed. Approval shone in Leif, and they backed from the room, neither wishing to awaken Fiona.
“You say Arve claimed her,” Leif murmured as they returned to the den.
“Yes. His vocab reduced to one word. Mine. What will we do, Leif? I want her. You want her. Hell, we all want her.”
“Apart from Ma. She’d prefer Fiona to leave.”
Claws clicked on the floor, and Runt prowled into the family room. He shifted and scanned them closely. “You’re still standing. Only a little blood. That’s unexpected.”
Kirk glanced down at his arm. A lucky swipe from Ma had shredded his sleeve and drawn blood. He’d scarcely noticed. He straightened his limb, experienced a slight pull and shrugged. Not too bad at all. “How is Fiona?”
“Full of questions.” Runt wrinkled his nose in amusement. “And she took photos before she decided she could take a nap. She promised to sleep in my bedroom tonight.”
Kirk snarled.
“You’re invited,” Runt said. “Fiona said that was fine. You and me.”
The satisfaction in his youngest brother drew an unwilling smile from Kirk. He’d received an invitation from Fiona, and the welcome pleased him.
“That was sneaky,” Leif snapped.
“Pot. Kettle,” Runt said in a level voice. “You whisked her away last night without worrying about us or our wishes.”
Kirk waited for his oldest brother to pull rank, but to his surprise, Leif scowled instead.
“As long as Fiona is happy with the arrangement,” Leif said, albeit unwillingly.
“I asked her, and she agreed,” Runt reiterated. “There was no coercion involved.”
“We’d better get the fruit and vegetables to our temporary store,” Leif said. “Who will stay with Fiona?”
“She won’t want to remain here,” Kirk said with certainty. “One of us needs to deliver the dog food, which would leave her alone.”
“I’ll do the delivery to Wapusk Kennels,” Leif said after a pause. “Why don’t you take Fiona to town with you? Set up shop and once we’ve run out of customers, we can take her on a tour of the town. I’ll join you as soon as I get the dog food delivered.”
“Deal.” Runt hesitated. “Why don’t you wake her, Kirk?”
Kirk beamed. A chance to kiss her. “Thanks.”
Leif flinched, his head drooping a fraction. “We need to talk about Fiona. As soon as Josef and Arve arrive back in Churchill. Somehow, we need to come to an understanding without any in fighting between us. Dissent in our ranks would please Ma.”
“I’ve been thinking about this,” Stig said. “We’re all intending to take turns driving to and from Gillam. We’re seldom in the same place. If Fiona is agreeable, we could share her. I mean if we’re in agreement that she’s the one our bears want.”
“What about children?” Leif asked. “I couldn’t… If she died because of one of us making her pregnant…”
Leif’s sorrow floated on the air, its sharp piquancy discernable to Kirk. Leif had fallen for a human woman—a local Inuit—ten years ago. She’d died in child birth, and his brother blamed himself for her death.
“Leif, the doctors said it was a breech birth, and it took too long to get her medical help. You could do nothing more to help her,” Stig said. “No one predicted the storm. It came out of nowhere. Everyone accepts it was a tragic accident—apart from you. Besides, you’re getting in front of yourself, worrying about stuff that might never happen. Fiona might decide she can’t accept our dual nature or having Ma as part of her kin. Jealousy might put a stop to our plans. A dozen things could happen. Right now, we need to take each day one at a time.”
“Big speech, little bro,” Kirk said. “He’s right though. I’m going to wake Fiona.”
He left his oldest and youngest brothers discussing the next run to Gillam and how to boost orders. Kirk hastened his steps, eager to see Fiona. As he neared the bed, her eyes popped open. She offered him a gentle smile.
“Have I slept for long? I only meant to catnap.” Then she noticed his shredded sleeve. She bolted upright, her blue eyes wide. “Are you hurt?”
“Ma got in a lucky blow,” Kirk said with a shrug.
“What kind of mother attacks their children?” she mumbled, her fingers busily checking the rip in his sleeve.
“It’s the polar bear way,” Kirk said. “She wasn’t trying to hurt us. She intended to make a point, but she didn’t expect us to stand up to her.”
Fiona stood. “Take off your jacket. I want to see.”
“We heal quickly,” he explained.
“I want to see,” she repeated in a firm voice.
“You want me to take off my clothes.”
She paused, her blue gaze flickering down his body and back up. A wave of charming color burst into her cheeks. “Enough about me. Don’t shifters need to take their clothes off before they shift?”
Kirk stripped off his jacket, glanced at his shirt and took that off too. He’d need to change before he drove into town anyway. “Polar bears always shift with their clothes. As far as I know, it has always been that way. The tundra can be a barren place. Not many hidey-holes for personal belongings. I like to think we keep our clothes for practical purposes.”
Fiona traced the angry scratches on his forearm with a fingertip. Kirk’s breath caught at her gentle touch. “There is no blood.”
“There was,” he said, dragging in her scent. Her skin and hair reeked of polar bear. She smelled like family. A sense of contentment filled him until he remembered Fiona intended to leave Churchill at the end of her vacation. “I came to tell you that Runt and I are taking the fruit and vegetables to town. We’re going to set up our temporary shop. Would you like to come with us?”
“Yes,” she said immediately.
“Leif is delivering the dog food, then he’ll drive into town too. If it’s okay with you, we’ll take you for a tour this afternoon.”
“Perfect. I want to take lots of photos. Will I see more polar bears?”
“Hopefully not in town,” Kirk said. “The only bears you’ll see in town are wild bears, and they can be dangerous. If you’re on your own, keep your wits about you and scan your surroundings. The locals don’t lock their doors or vehicles, so if you see a bear, seek shelter. Don’t try to run.”
Fiona nodded. “Is there a problem with humans and your people?”
“We have an uneasy truce. There is an unwritten rule that we only shift in our homes or out in the wild. On the tundra or out on the ice. The rest of the time we keep our human shapes.”
“Is it okay to ask questions?”
Fiona's Mates_A Paranormal Reverse Harem Romance Page 9
