The Bear's Mate

by Vanessa Devereaux

  ****

  A heavy truck running its engine outside the window woke Charlotte. She squinted and then opened her eyes. Damn, she hadn’t set her alarm. She’d be late for work again. She sat up and put her legs over the side of the bed. Ouch, her pussy was tender, but at least she knew what had caused it. She smiled remembering Aiden. She saw a piece of folded paper on the nightstand with her name on it. She picked it up and read it-

  Charlotte thanks for a lovely evening and the best sex I’ve ever had. Didn’t want to wake you but I had to be at work at 7:00 a.m. hope you don’t mind me just leaving like this. Let’s do the same thing again…soon-Aiden.

  She grinned and folded the paper back in half. Yeah, it had been the best sex of her life too. She stood, feeling her pussy throb, its inner walls chaffed and sore, but she didn’t mind one little bit. Charlotte walked into the bathroom and turned on the light. Her skin looked great this morning. There was a certain glow to her face. Yeah, she’d been too long without sex, but what a comeback it had been.

  ****

  He should never have taken Christopher to the clinic, and they wouldn’t be in this dilemma.

  He tapped the steering wheel as he sat in his car in the parking lot of the hospital, wondering how he could get in there unnoticed and take the vial of blood. On the other hand, if he hadn’t taken Christopher to the clinic he would never have met Charlotte. Would never have experienced a night like they’d just shared. He grew hard just thinking about her legs spread before him and him sliding into her hot, wet slit. Sex with her had been a hundred times better than with a fellow shifter. He was already scared that he might be hooked.

  Aiden took a swig of soda and glanced at the hospital again. He had to do something and do it fast. The only thing he could think of right now was to shift into his bear half and run amok inside, find the lab, and cause havoc in there while casually knocking over the vial or stealing it. Sure he knew the consequences. Wildlife control would be called. He’d get darted, rounded up, shipped out to God knows where, but at least he would have gotten rid of the evidence and it would all be over.

  Getting out of the car, he closed his eyes. Sometimes keeping the bear under control was hard, but if he just relaxed and thought about the job at hand, he could get this over and done with as soon as possible.

  ****

  Charlotte sang under her breath while setting a Styrofoam cup filled with coffee and a glazed donut on a napkin down beside Ginny.

  “Wow, someone sounds happy today,” said Ginny.

  “Yeah, I had one hell of a night with the hunky guy I told you about yesterday.”

  Charlotte hung up her raincoat.

  “You slept with him?”

  Charlotte wasn’t usually the kiss and tell type, but after last night she needed to tell someone that she’d met Mr. Wonderful.

  “Wow and on a first date.”

  “He took me to this romantic restaurant, and we danced. And he made it feel like we’d known one another for years. And there was just something about him I couldn’t resist.”

  “Someone sounds like someone’s in love.”

  Charlotte swung around to face Ginny while slipping on her lab coat. “What makes you say that?”

  “You’ve made an exception to one of your rules. When anyone does that it often means the person they’re making the exception for is different…special. Plus, you had a certain sparkle in your eyes when you told me.”

  Charlotte glanced in the mirror, had there been? Ginny was a smart lady, but surely she was reading too much into this.

  “So are you going to see him again?”

  Good question.

  “He left a note saying we should do it again, but you know guys, sometimes they say that and it means diddly squat.”

  The phone ringing and Ginny taking the call interrupted their conversation. Charlotte picked up the mail and took it towards her office. Would he call her again? And if so, when?

  ****

  He hated it when women screamed, but he couldn’t blame them when a large bear was roaming the corridors. He stood on his hind legs and looked as menacing as he could so everyone would get out his way. One man fell over, so Aiden gave him chance to get back onto his feet before he headed his way.

  Lab, lab…had to be around here someplace. He had to hurry because he was sure someone had already alerted the wildlife guys.

  Hurrying along, he accidently knocked over a few carts that stood in the hallway. Guess corridors weren’t built for bears. A sign for the lab shot into view. He was close. He glanced inside and saw the place was empty. Obviously they’d heard the commotion and the fact that a bear had strolled into the hospital.

  He pushed his way through the narrow doorway. The smell of chemicals was overwhelming to him. He put his paw up to his nose and scanned the area. Like trying to find a needle in a haystack because vials of blood were everywhere.

  Shit, now what did he do?

  Run amok. It’s what bears were supposed to do, right? He felt guilty that maybe patients’ blood work was going to get messed up, but he had no other choice.

  He swiped at all the vials with his paws, the smell of blood almost burning his nostrils.

  The things he had to do for the group.

  “He’s in the lab, you got the dart gun?”

  He recognized the voice. It was Sam who he worked with. Shit, that guy always shot the animals right in the butt.

  Aiden gave a final swipe with his paw and turned around to see Sam and Todd, who he also worked with standing in the door way with a gun at the ready.

  “Shit, he’s a big one. You think one shot will be enough?”

  More than enough or I’ll be out for days.

  “One should be fine. Just make sure you don’t miss because he looks as pissed as hell.”

  He had to make this look real, so he turned and tried to run. He felt the dart hit him, not on the shoulder where he always aimed on the animal, but right in the butt.

  “Okay big guy, nice and easy there.”

  Aiden felt himself getting lightheaded and then he slumped to the ground.

  “You think we should put a radio collar on him?”

  Shit, no, the last one took forever to get off someone from the group.

  “Yeah, maybe we should just to see where he goes. And let’s rehome way, way out.”

  Aiden felt his eyes getting heavy. Shit, he’d have to hitch a ride back to town.

  ****

  Charlotte hadn’t heard from Aiden in two days. She’d tried not to think about it and blamed herself for getting her hopes up this time around. He seemed to be different from the guys she’d been with, but now she realized she’d set herself up for yet another disappoint in the men department.

  She had to call his brother about coming in and getting more blood drawn because of the incident at the lab two days ago. The hospital had even made the national news because of the bear who’d simply strolled in there. The security cameras had caught everything, and they’d put it on TV. She was just thankful she hadn’t been in there at the time because he looked like a big guy who wasn’t in the best of moods.

  She hoped that Christopher realized she was calling about the damaged blood sample and not because she was checking up on his brother or wanting to know if he was ever going to call her again. About to pick up the phone, she stopped and put it back in its cradle.

  Truth was she did want to know if Aiden had any intention of seeing her again.

  ****

  “You’ve got to see this.”

  Aiden rubbed his head. He’d had what felt like a bad hangover for the last few days. And his butt, well, he didn’t want to think about it because it was even too sore for him to sit for longer than a few minutes.

  “Are you coming to see this or not?” called Christopher.

  His baby brother found the whole thing very amusing, and if he was watching another TV show with footage of him being darted, he was going to put his foot through the screen.
>
  As he walked into the living room, Christopher had his laptop open.

  “Someone’s loaded the whole thing onto YouTube.”

  Oh great. Just what I need.

  “He got you dead center in the ass.”

  Aiden was about to sit down but then remembered he needed a cushion under his butt. The radio collar had taken hours for them to get off, and they’d left him way out near Whitefish.

  “At least we don’t have to worry about the blood anymore, but we’ll always have this video as a reminder,” said Christopher.

  “If you ever get into trouble like that again, you’re on your own.”

  He rested his head back. He so wanted to see Charlotte again, but he was scared to. He’d felt something for her the other night, and for him it wasn’t just because they’d had great sex. He felt connected with someone. Something he hadn’t felt since his parents had died. He sensed she’d be good for him but what was the point of getting involved? She’d have to find out the truth one day, and by then he could be deeply involved with her. If she couldn’t deal with what he was, then she’d walk away, and he’d be a lonely bear shifter all over again.

  The phone ringing jarred him out of that thought. Christopher picked it up on the fourth ring.

  “Hi Dr. Delaney.”

  Aiden’s heart beat faster just hearing him mention her name. He pricked up his ears, now he could even hear her voice over the line, and it made the blood pulse through his veins. He wanted her. He had no reason to get her into bed this time around, but that didn’t matter. He wanted to be with her, to take her out, kiss her, and most of all, make love to her.

  ****

  Charlotte wasn’t making much progress with convincing Christopher that he needed to come into the clinic so she could draw another vial of blood. He’d side-stepped the issue and finally he’d handed the phone over to Aiden.

  “Charlotte.”

  Just hearing him say her name made her legs go weak and every inch of skin tingle.

  “How are you doing?” he asked.

  “I’m good. How about you?”

  “Really good.”

  “I don’t know if you saw the news, but the strangest thing happened. A bear got into the hospital lab and ran amok smashing and knocking over the vials. Christopher’s blood sample was one of them. I called to see if he could come back in for another sample to be drawn.”

  “Yes, it was my wildlife department that picked up the bear. They’re getting closer and closer to towns and cities now. First time I’ve heard of one in a hospital though.”

  “Your brother doesn’t seem to think he needs a blood test, but I think it would be smart seeing how he had a human bite.”

  “It makes sense, but he’s fine, really he is. The bite and knife wound are healed, and if I thought he was in any danger I’d drag him to you for that test.”

  Charlotte believed he would do just that. “Okay, I’ll let it go for now, but if he does show any strange symptoms you know I’m here for him.”

  And for you too.

  “I promise you I’ll keep my eye on him.”

  She didn’t have any reason to keep him on the phone, damn it.

  “Charlotte.”

  “Yes.”

  “Would you like to out to dinner again?”

  She pumped the air with her fist. He did really want to see her again.

  “I’d love to, but I have to go and see my dad. Then I was going to get a take-out and watch a movie. Either of those things appeal to you?”

  “They sound perfect. How about I buy the take-out, you select the movie, and I’ll meet you at your place?”

  “How would you like to come and meet my father…I mean I don’t want you to think I’m asking you to do and because of the other night and I think that we’re a…”

  Oh God, what had she just said? What had she just implied? Guys didn’t like clingy. That had been super clingy.

  “Forget that I said that, and I’ll just meet you at my place around seven.”

  “I didn’t think you were implying anything and yes, I’d love to meet your dad.”

  “Great, shall we say about 5:30 p.m. at the clinic? That is if guys and their brothers don’t drop by.”

  He laughed. “I’ll stop by early and make sure I lock the door.”

  ****

  Charlotte noticed the nurses faces brighten up when they saw Aiden heading along the corridor of the rehab center. He was a head turner for sure. He’d been kind enough to bring along a stack of magazines for her dad who was eating dinner when they got to his room.

  “Hi Dad. I brought someone along to meet you tonight. Aiden Renner, this is my father, Mike Delaney.”

  “I’m pleased to meet you, sir. I thought you might like to read some of these magazines. Charlotte mentioned you like fishing.”

  He’d remembered, and she’d only mentioned it in passing while they’d been at the restaurant. Her father smiled and put out his hand to Aiden.

  “Man with a firm handshake, always a good sign,” he said to Charlotte. “And a man carrying fishing magazines, a keeper.” He winked at her. “And you young man will not call me sir, but Mike.

  Aiden sat down on the bed. “You a fisherman too?” asked her dad.

  “I sure am. My brother as well.”

  “When I get these two legs working again, how about the three of us take my boat out on Flathead Lake and see what we can catch?”

  “We’ll plan on doing that.”

  “I have to tell you about the monster trout I caught last year….”

  Charlotte sat down, already feeling out of the conversation. Her dad and Aiden had hit it off immediately, which was a good thing, but now she felt like the third person on a date with a couple madly in love.

  They flipped through the magazines and talked non-stop about fishing lures. She yawned.

  “So you work in wildlife management?” asked her dad.

  “Yes, maybe I can take you out on one of the jobs.”

  “Hey, what did you think about that bear just strolling into the hospital like that?”

  “Guess it smelled some food and in it went,” said Aiden.

  “Dangerous things though. I had a friend who was mauled by one. The pepper spray he was carrying saved him from having his leg ripped off.”

  “As long as you know how to handle them, they’re just like teddy bears.”

  Charlotte looked at her watch. She didn’t mean to make it obvious that she was anxious for her date with Aiden, but her dad must have seen her.

  “Now you two have better things to do with your evening, so off you go and leave me to enjoy the rest of my supper and these magazines.”

  “You sure, Dad?”

  He waved his hand. “You spend too much time with me anyway. Maybe Aiden will take you out fishing one of these days. Nice to have met you.”

  “Same here,” said Aiden. “And I’ll keep a date open for our fishing trip.”

  “Looking forward to it.”

  Aiden held open the door for Charlotte as they headed outside.

  “Your dad seems like a great man. A bit like my father.”

  “He’s the best,” said Charlotte.

  “So what sort of food are you in the mood for?”

  ****

  Aiden headed into Charlotte’s living room with the boxes of food while she went to the kitchen to get plates and napkins. This room had a cozy feel to it; subdued lighting, and it was tastefully decorated with throw rugs and snuggly blankets on the couch. Had he just thought of something as snuggly? He smiled. It had been obvious to him that Charlotte and her father were close, and that family meant a lot to her. He liked that in a woman. He’d been close to his parents and still to this day missed them. He closed his eyes remembering the day his mother had been killed and baby Christopher crying in her arms where she’d tried to protect him. He wanted to cry for her, for their home, millions of miles away that as each day passed, became obvious they’d never see again. He wipe
d away a tear when he noticed Charlotte heading his way.

  He sat the boxes of food on the table and then sat as Charlotte walked in with a bottle of wine, two glasses, and some napkins. She sat on the floor by his legs, opened the boxes, and they took turns spearing the chicken and vegetables with the chopsticks the restaurant had provided.

  “So did you do anything interesting at work today?” she asked him as she speared a large piece of broccoli.

  “Just lots of paperwork. How about you?”

  “Had a run of patients this afternoon. Oh and one went into labor while she was there.”

  “You deliver the baby?” asked Aiden leaning back on the couch.

  “No, I called 911, and the baby was born an hour later in the hospital.”

  “I hope she named it after you.”

  “I hope not because it was a boy.”

  Aiden laughed before taking a sip of wine.

  “And I don’t know if you’ve heard, but there’s a flu going around. It’s not the strain they were expecting so hence the flu shot isn’t much use this.”

  Aiden shook his head. He hadn’t heard about it. Not that they had to worry because none of the shifters had ever caught anything since they’d arrived here.

  “You look miles away,” said Charlotte before she slipped a piece of chicken into her mouth. Even eating looked sexy on Charlotte.

  “I was just thinking.”

  He looked at her. He needed to touch her again. He ran his hand down the side of her face.

  “Did you mean what you said to my dad about going fishing with him or were you just being polite?”

  “I’m taking him fishing. I guess I want to get to know the man who gave the world the prettiest girl around.” He flicked a stray hair from her eye and looked at her.

  The blouse she’d changed into since she’d gotten back to the house was slightly transparent so he could see her bra and its white lace topping her breasts. She leaned over and kissed him. He tasted the wine she’d just sipped. Charlotte pulled away, and they looked at one another for what seemed like forever.

  “I don’t want my coming here tonight to be just about sex,” said Aiden.

  He had true feelings for her and sensed this was the beginning of something special. Shit, this really was treading into dangerous territory. He should tell her what he was, but would she believe him? No other human knew about them and how they’d arrived. It was putting a burden on her shoulders, and that’s not what he wanted for her.