Her Bear for Life (BBW Paranormal Shapeshifter Romance) (Second Chance Shifters)

by Clarke, Meredith

  Jordan stepped in closer and lowered her voice, causing Mia to look around and realize they were having a very private conversation in the middle of a store.

  “You know who he is, Mia, what he is. So you must realize that you’re it for him. You have been since the moment you met.”

  “Uh, maybe we should talk about this later,” Mia said, when other people started walking down the aisle. “Are you free for dinner tonight?”

  “If I wasn’t, I still would be for you,” Jordan said, backing off for the moment.

  “Great, I’ll text you with where and when.”

  “Sounds good, and Mia, no matter how long it’s for, I’m happy you’re home.”

  They embraced with the promise that they’d see each other later, then Mia resumed her shopping.

  She was sitting down, about to take her first bite of pizza, when her phone rang.

  “Hey,” Mia said, after laying the slice back down. Looking at it longingly, she asked, “What’s up?”

  “Not much, babe, just wanted to see how you’re doing,” Drake replied, his deep tone giving her a happy little shiver. “And to see if you were up for dinner with Ty tonight. He’s asking if I’m ever going to let you out of the house.”

  “Yeah, that would be great,” Mia gushed. “I actually ran into Jordan and we made plans to meet up for dinner. We can do a foursome.”

  “Uh,” Drake began, then cleared his throat. “I don’t know if that’s such a great idea.”

  “Why not? We always used to do stuff together.”

  “That was a long time ago, Mia. Let me just say that Ty and Jordan have some history, from after you left, and things didn’t end well. They pretty much avoid each other at all costs.”

  “Really? She never said anything,” Mia said with a frown. “Well, I’m sure they’ll be fine for one night. I really want to get the gang back together at least one time while I’m here. It’ll be fine.” She kept talking, not noticing that Drake had gone silent. “One night won’t kill anyone. Just let me know where and when and I’ll let Jordan know. I’m about to eat a slice of Mickey’s pizza, so I’ll talk to you later, okay?”

  Mia hung up and finally took a bite, moaning as the spicy deliciousness hit her tongue.

  Chapter Ten – Drake

  At least one time while I’m here. That’s what Mia had said to him on the phone. As if her time here had an expiration date. As if she wasn’t planning on staying.

  Drake hadn’t been able to speak, his heart lodged in his throat at her words, making it impossible.

  Didn’t she realize what had happened between them, what was happening? Was she really planning to go back to her life and leave him behind… again?

  It wasn’t feasible.

  He couldn’t let it happen.

  Drake just wasn’t sure how to make Mia understand that she belonged with him, if she didn’t feel it as instinctually as he did. His love for her was like his need for air. Just the thought of losing her again made his bear want to go into permanent hibernation.

  “Sorry, brother,” Drake said to Ty as they approached the entrance to the restaurant. “I know you and Jordan left things… badly, but Mia doesn’t know that. She’s excited about getting us all together again. I didn’t have the heart to tell her now.”

  Ty shrugged off Drake’s apology.

  “We’re all adults, right? One dinner won’t hurt. As long as this place serves alcohol, I’m good.”

  Drake laughed and replied, “That it does.”

  “Fantastic,” Ty said wryly as he shoved the door open.

  Drake vowed to keep an eye on his friend and put an end to the dinner if things got out of hand. To say the relationship between Jordan and Tyson hadn’t ended well was putting it mildly. They’d gotten together well after Mia had left town, when they were all in their early twenties. The relationship between the two had been passionate and explosive. Drake wasn’t sure if they were too different, or too much the same, but he’d worried about his friend when Jordan had left him.

  Tyson had been forlorn for months, then chose to go into hibernation rather than stay with his clan for the winter. Since his friend was the social sort, not a loner, Drake had worried about him during that four month long winter, but when spring had sprung, Ty had returned content and back to his old self. But, as far as Drake knew, he and Jordan hadn’t spoken since the break up.

  It wasn’t easy to avoid people in a small town, unless you were really committed to staying away.

  Mia had texted Drake to let him know that she and Jordan were already seated, so he searched the dining room, then pointed Ty toward their table.

  Drake kissed Jordan on the cheek before turning his attention to Mia’s upturned face. She was smiling at him, her eyes twinkling with happiness, and he couldn’t resist giving her more than just a peck. It had been too long since he’d had her.

  He cupped the back of her head as her lips parted and he deepened the kiss, his body tightening when she moaned into his mouth. Drake heard Jordan clear her throat and Ty chuckle, then pulled back to see Mia blushing prettily.

  “Hi,” she said, somewhat breathless.

  “Hey, babe,” he replied, then took his seat next to her at the table.

  They ordered drinks and Drake and Ty talked about football, while Mia told Jordan about her travels. Jordan and Ty managed to totally ignore each other, even though they were sitting two feet away from each other.

  Until their food came, and Mia said casually, “So… Drake mentioned that there’s some history between you two…” She pointed her finger back and forth between Jordan and Ty, who were looking at her with wide eyes. “Funny, you never mentioned anything.” Mia pointed accusingly at Jordan. “What happened? Did you guys date?”

  Jordan cleared her throat and took a sip of water, as if composing what she was going to say, but Ty beat her to it when he said, “Actually, we lived together. We were together for two years, and then one day, Jordan just up and left me for no reason.”

  Mia’s mouth dropped, and Jordan’s fork clattered on her plate.

  “That is not true and you know it,” Jordan exclaimed, turning in her seat to look at Ty for the first time since he’d sat next to her. “I had a reason. You know why I left… Don’t do that. Don’t sit here and pretend that I just up and left you like some heartless bitch. I loved you. That’s why I had to leave.”

  “And I told you that your reason was bullshit and we could make it through anything. If you loved me, you would have fought for me. Not given up at the first sign of trouble, even if you thought it was in my best interest.”

  Jordan’s lips quivered, but Drake saw her back straighten as she gained control of herself.

  “Fuck you, Ty,” she whispered as she pushed back from the table. “Sorry, Mia, but I’ve gotta go. Text me later?”

  Mia nodded wordlessly, still shocked by the exchange between her high school friends.

  Ty sat still for a moment, before pushing back himself and telling Drake, “I’m going after her. We have to sort this out once and for all.”

  Then he too was gone, leaving Drake and Mia at a table with half empty plates and dumbstruck expressions on their faces.

  “Um, I guess I should have listened to you,” Mia said softly as she looked around the restaurant. “I didn’t realize things between them were that bad.”

  “Yeah,” Drake said, taking her hand in his and bringing it to his lips. “They’ll be okay though. I think it’s actually good for them to finally talk it out. I just hope Ty can handle it if things don’t go his way this time.”

  “Was he really hurt?”

  “Yes, he loved her. Still does,” Drake said, turning to look deep in her eyes, hoping to convey his meaning. “Jordan’s Ty’s mate, Mia. It doesn’t matter what she does or what happens between them, she’s the only woman he’ll ever love. If she continues to shut him out, Ty will remain alone forever, longing for his mate. I just hope she’ll see that they belong together and s
top this charade.”

  Mia looked over her shoulder in the direction their friends had gone, then turned back toward him, her eyes thoughtful.

  “He’d spend his life alone, rather than find someone else?”

  “Of course. She’s it for him. It’s either her or no one.”

  Chapter Eleven – Mia

  Mia was quiet on the way home. She was processing too much stuff internally to worry about making conversation.

  Drake seemed lost in thought as well, so she doubted he even realized she hadn’t spoken.

  They were inside his home, standing in the kitchen while Drake poured them each a drink, when Mia asked the question that had been burning in her mind since they left the restaurant.

  “Is that what it’s like for you?” Mia leaned against the counter and looked up into the chocolate warmth of his gaze. “Am I it for you?”

  Drake turned and leaned his hip against the counter. He handed one glass of amber liquid to her while he lifted his to his lips.

  “Do you really have to ask that, Mia? Don’t you know by now?”

  Mia tilted her head and looked at him thoughtfully.

  “You’ve never explained things that way. I mean, I knew you loved me. Even though we were young, and I’m just human, I felt that instant connection when we met, and I knew I wanted to be with you, but… Is it just me for you? If I left, would you spend your life alone rather than finding someone else?”

  Drake set his glass on the counter and moved to her. His hands came down to cup her face and he dipped his head low, eyes locked on hers.

  “You have been it for me since the second I laid eyes on you. I knew you were my mate when we were fifteen, but I didn’t want to scare you with the words, even though I know you felt it too. Now that we’re finally together, I hope to never let you go. but, to answer your question, yes, if you left, I’d spend the rest of my days alone.”

  Mia closed her eyes, savoring the emotion she felt coming off of him, which matched what she felt within herself.

  “And the biting?”

  “That was what we call in our clan a claiming ritual. That was me saying that you’re mine, forever and always. And Mia, even though I hadn’t told you what it meant, you instinctually claimed me as well.” Drake laid his forehead gently on hers and added, “You’ve always been mine, and now you are in the eyes of my clan as well. We just need to make it official.”

  “Official?” she asked, pulling back slightly to meet his gaze once more. “How?”

  “Stay with me. Live with me. Marry me, Mia,” he said, his thumb running along the edge of her jaw tenderly.

  Her heart leapt within her chest at his words, and her eyes filled with tears. She wanted that, God, she wanted to be with him so badly she ached with it.

  “Yes!” Mia gushed, her smile so wide it threatened to split her face. “I never want to leave you again, Drake. I want to spend the rest of my life with you.”

  Drake swept her up, lifting her in his arms as he brought his lips down to seal her promise with a kiss.

  The kiss intensified as he moved toward the sofa and laid her down gently, then lifted her skirt up and left her mouth.

  Head back and lips parted, Mia panted out Drake’s name as his expert tongue drifted over her panties. His head dipped and he nuzzled her with his nose, and rather than causing her embarrassment, the audible sound of him smelling her sex caused excitement to course through her, making her even wetter than she’d been from his touch.

  “I love the smell of you, Mia, sweet, delicious, perfection,” Drake grumbled, his voice deep and gruff. “I can’t wait to taste…”

  Drake pushed the material of her panties to the side and wasted no time getting that taste.

  Mia moaned as he licked her, pausing every few seconds to flick his tongue perfectly over her needy clit. Unabashedly, she tilted her hips, thrusting her pussy into his open lips, then cried out when he slid first one, then two, fingers inside of her and began pumping them in and out. When he started growling low in his throat, Mia thought she’d go out of her mind with all of the competing sensations.

  His fingers fucked her, his tongue licked her, and his nose nuzzled her clit, all while the vibrations from his groans seemed to heighten all of her senses. When Drake moved his mouth and sucked her clit in to his mouth, Mia came hard and fast, her body shaking with the glory of her release.

  While she was coming down, Mia felt Drake move her panties back, then kiss her lightly on the inside of her knee, before pulling her skirt down and rising above her. She felt the hard length of him, like granite, as he positioned himself above her and began kissing up her neck.

  Even though she just came, Mia thrust her hips up instinctively, rubbing his cock against her and causing him to groan sexily right below her ear.

  “It’s your turn,” she said when she could speak again. The thought of wrapping her lips around his long, hard cock already caused her body to throb with need.

  Drake nuzzled her neck sweetly before sucking her earlobe into his mouth.

  Putting her hands up, she pushed lightly, trying to indicate that she wanted him to move, so that she could reverse their positions and get to work on relieving some of his obvious need.

  Drake chuckled and sat up, but before he could lay back and let her have her way with him, his phone rang.

  “It could be work,” he said apologetically, as he got up to grab his phone off of the counter.

  “What’s up, Ty?” Drake said, after checking the front of the phone and pressing answer. His eyes came to her on the couch, causing her to stand up and walk toward him. “Okay, yeah… we’ll be right there. Thanks, brother.”

  “What is it?” she asked when he hung up the phone.

  “Your mom’s awake.”

  Chapter Twelve – Drake

  Drake could tell that Mia was happy that her mother was awake, but wary of the fact that she’d kept so much from her over the years. That she’d essentially kept Mia and Drake apart, with the help of Mia’s father, and hindered them having a life together.

  Mia was angry with her, but wanted to make sure that her mother was well before she mentioned anything about being back together with Drake.

  That was why, rather than going in to that room at his fiancé’s side and questioning her mother about the robbery himself, Drake had agreed to let Mia go in alone and had his sergeant, Mika, get Mia’s mother’s statement.

  He agreed that he probably wasn’t ready to see her mother yet, not after finding out that she’d been lying to him for all of these years, which was why Drake decided to focus on the positive, rather than the negative.

  Mia’s mother was awake and his quick chat with the doctor assured him that she would make a full recovery. Even if it took them a while to forgive her, Drake didn’t want to see anything bad happen to Mia’s mother.

  Besides, now that Mia had agreed to be his wife and stay with him forever, Drake really didn’t want anything clouding his day.

  “What’s up, Drake?” Ty asked, as he walked up to where Drake was waiting for him outside of the tattoo parlor. He motioned to the sign. “Why’d you want me to meet you here?”

  “I’m stopping in here to make sure my appointment’s still on for this afternoon,” he replied with a grin.

  “You’re getting a tattoo?” Ty looked at his friend curiously and asked, “Of what?”

  Tyson had tons of tribal tattoos marking his coffee colored skin, but Drake had never shown an interest in getting a tattoo… until now.

  Rather than tell Ty what he was getting, Drake lifted his shirt to show the now faint markings of Mia’s teeth.

  Ty’s eyes widened and his lips split into a grin.

  “You’ve claimed each other.”

  Drake nodded.

  “I came by afterwards and had the tattoo artist copy the marks while they were still fresh, so that I could have her mark tattooed permanently on my chest.”

  “I’m so happy for you, man,” Ty said,
clapping his hand on Drake’s shoulder. “You deserve this. You both do.”

  “And, that’s the real reason I asked you to meet me,” Drake said, gesturing to the jewelry store across the street. “I’d like to have my best man with me when I pick out Mia’s engagement ring.”

  Tyson’s head swung from the storefront back to his friend’s face, not bothering to conceal his joy at Drake’s news.

  “Best man?”

  “Well, I thought it was a foregone conclusion, but if you want me to ask…” Drake began with a chuckle. “Tyson, will you be the best man at my wedding?”

  “Yes!” Ty said, clapping his hands together with glee, causing them both to laugh at his exaggerated enthusiasm.

  “Whew,” Drake said with mock relief. “That was more stressful than proposing to Mia.”

  Tyson stepped forward to pull Drake into a hug and said, “In all seriousness, I’m happy for you, brother, and I’d be honored to stand by your side while Mia becomes your wife.”

  Ten minutes later they’d confirmed Drake’s tattoo and were standing at the jewelry store counter.

  “That’s the one,” Drake said, pointing to the ring that seemed to be winking at him from beneath the glass. With opal inlay and a large princess cut diamond, the ring screamed Mia to him. It was delicate yet strong, and beautiful in its simplicity, and Drake knew it would look perfect on her hand.

  The clerk pulled the ring out from behind the glass and set it before him.

  “It’s perfect,” Ty said as he picked it up. The ring looked even more dainty in his large hand.

  Drake looked at the clerk and said, “I’ll take it,” then waited for it to be boxed as a sense of serenity came over him.

  This was right. He could feel it.

  “Thank you so much.”

  “You’re welcome, Sheriff,” the clerk responded with a genial smile. “And congratulations.”

  Drake had just stepped out on to the sidewalk when his phone rang. He took it out of his pocket, replacing it with the small black box, looking at the screen before answering.