Mail-Order Bear: BBW Bear Shifter Paranormal Romance (BRIDES fur BEARS Book 5)

by Natalie Kristen

  Reid sighed heavily and cursed Damien for the umpteenth time under his breath.

  Heck, Eddie even called Damien “Uncle Busybody”.

  Reid scowled.

  Even Uncle Busybody was better than “sir”.

  CHAPTER FOURTEEN

  Reid carried Eddie from the car and into the house. There was no sign of Damien. Everything was neat and tidy. There wasn't even a dirty coffee cup in the sink or an empty pizza box on the table. His cousin usually dropped by and left a big mess for him to clean up.

  Reid placed Eddie gently on his bed and smoothed a lock of hair from his forehead. The boy grunted and let out a little snore.

  “I'll undress him,” Lauren whispered as she carefully arranged Eddie's precious dinosaurs and book on his bedside table. “Thank you, Reid.” She paused and added, “Eddie had a wonderful day today. We don't go to the shops that often, and when we do, we...just look at the stuff.”

  Reid shrugged. “I'm glad he likes the dinosaurs.”

  “He loves them!” Lauren said, her eyes shining.

  Reid nodded and left them alone. He went to his room and peeled off his clothes. Stepping into the shower, he turned on the cold water at full blast and let the water pelt his back.

  God, what was he getting himself into?

  He told himself repeatedly that he would let them stay for a day, at most two, and send them on their way. Driving them to town and treating them to a good dinner was just good manners. He didn't want them here but it wasn't their fault they were here. It was all that goddamn Damien's fault!

  But he was getting attached to them. He'd spent just one day with them, and he wanted to...take care of them. What the hell! What the hell had gotten into him? Did he pity them?

  Well, yes, he did. He hated to see the longing and resignation in the little boy's eyes when he walked past the display windows. The boy knew that he could never have all those nice things the other kids had. But he didn't complain or grumble. Reid hadn't heard a single word of complaint from the boy since he came. In fact, he seemed immeasurably grateful for every little thing Reid did for them.

  Reid grimaced. What he saw as little things were big things to them. The boy kept stroking the hard cover of his dinosaur book as he clutched it to his chest. He turned the pages reverently, admiring the pictures of the dinosaurs and running his fingers over the glossy pages. He'd never owned a book before. All his books were borrowed from the library.

  And Lauren. She shared a room with Eddie and slept on the hard floor, on a thin, broken mattress every night. She insisted the boy sleep on the bed while she curled up on the floor.

  Reid snapped the water off and grabbed the towel. Lauren would never sleep on the floor again.

  She would sleep in his bed tonight. Every night.

  How long has it been since she's had a man?

  Did she have any boyfriends since Eddie's dad passed away?

  What did she like or dislike?

  Reid growled as his mind reeled with questions. He wanted to know everything about this beautiful, strong, guarded stranger who had just dropped into his life with her little boy.

  He wanted to touch her. But more than that, he wanted to be close to her. The realization stunned him.

  When they were browsing in the shops, he had stood close to Lauren, or as close to her as possible without touching her. He hadn't realized that he was snarling at every male who glanced her way until he bumped into Marcus Beck and Nick Sullivan. Marcus and Nick were the bosses of Beck's Builders. Beck's Builders contracted quite a bit of their plumbing works to him, and he knew Marcus and Nick pretty well. They were also Damien's bosses. Those two men were good guys, happily mated and they took care of their crew.

  Nick and Marcus had called out to Reid and threw curious glances at Lauren and Eddie. When the two men started walking towards them, smiling affably at Lauren, Reid had bared his fangs at them and snarled.

  Nick and Marcus had stopped in their tracks and widened their eyes. Their eyes darted back and forth between Lauren and him. Then they grinned and turned away. As they left, Nick glanced over his shoulder and bared his fangs, imitating Reid's snarl. It was just good-natured teasing. Chuckling, Nick winked at Eddie before following Marcus out of the store.

  Reid had retracted his fangs instantly. He hadn't even realized his fangs were out until Nick mirrored him.

  Shaking his head hard to clear it, Reid wrapped the towel around his waist and came out of the bathroom. Maybe Damien was right. And he hated that his busybody cousin was right.

  It had been too long since he'd had a woman, and it wasn't healthy. It was making his bear cranky, and twisting his thoughts in unnatural directions.

  He guessed that as a single mother, Lauren didn't have much time and energy for dates and one-night stands either. And if she slept in her son's room, it would be difficult for her to bring men home.

  If, like him, she hadn't had sex in a long while, then perhaps they would both get their needs met tonight. It would just be sex, hot, sweaty, growly sex.

  CHAPTER FIFTEEN

  Lauren kissed her nephew on the forehead and whispered, “Goodnight, sweetheart.” There was a smile on the boy's lips as he murmured something about dinosaurs in his sleep.

  She closed his room door and padded down the corridor. Nervously, she stepped into the master bedroom and her breath hitched.

  Reid was standing beside the bed, wearing nothing but a towel around his hips. Lauren stared at the water droplets racing down his broad, muscular body and let her eyes trail lower.

  Lauren stood rooted to the spot, unable to move anything but her eyes.

  Reid was hard and large all over. His body was broad and ripped, and his limbs were corded with muscle.

  As she stared in awe, she noticed the bulge between his legs was getting bigger and she let out a small whimper.

  She was finding it difficult to breathe. The air seemed to have heated up in the room, and her skin was tingling. She clenched her muscles, but the ache between her thigh seemed to have intensified.

  Her gaze flitted to the king-size bed and she gulped. “I...I'll sleep on the floor,” she stuttered.

  “Like hell you will,” Reid growled. In two strides, he closed the distance between them.

  His mouth crushed against hers, and her lips parted as she gave a startled cry. Immediately, he stroked his tongue into her mouth, and she began to tremble. She felt both terrified and exhilarated. Her nipples pebbled as Reid brushed his thumb across her breast and held her close.

  Walking her backwards towards the bed, Reid tumbled her onto the mattress and began to unbutton her blouse.

  Lauren gasped as panic began to set in. He was going to make love to her. What should she do? She didn't know at all what to do, what to expect.

  But she was here as his mail-order bride. She was going to marry him. They weren't married yet, but she hoped it would be soon. She had seen the way he looked at her. He did want her, there was no doubt.

  She mustn't freak out now. She had to go through with this. She might even be married tomorrow, and the Dire Wolves would have no reason to harass her and Eddie. They just needed to get two witnesses and sign the marriage register. She was almost there. They were almost free.

  Keep calm, she repeated the mantra in her mind. Keep calm, and make love.

  It was only natural that Reid wanted to make love to his bride-to-be. If he wanted her, it was a good sign, right? He was attracted to her, that was for sure. Every time he looked at her, her panties almost melted right off. She had caught him reaching out to hold her hand as they walked along the street, only to see him jerk his hand back and ball it into a hard fist at the last minute.

  Lauren's first instinct was to cover her breasts when she felt Reid pull her bra from her body. She heard Reid's sharp intake of breath as her generous breasts spilled out. “So beautiful,” he hissed.

  Reid kissed down her throat and took one bre
ast into his mouth. Lauren moaned when he swirled his tongue around her erect nipple and suckled her. What he was doing to her felt so good. No man had ever touched her like this, and she didn't know it could feel so amazing.

  Reid kept kissing her, his mouth moving from her lips to her breasts. She tensed when Reid began tugging her jeans and panties down her hips.

  “I want to see you, Lauren,” he growled. “All of you.”

  She took a deep, shuddering breath and nodded. He had a right to see his bride.

  Lauren squeezed her eyes shut as Reid spread her legs. His rough, calloused hands kneaded her thighs and grabbed her hips.

  Reid flung his towel away and knelt between her legs. Her eyes rounded when she saw his cock. There was no way she could take him into her body. It was going to hurt, a lot. She blinked rapidly, hoping that he wouldn't see her tears.

  CHAPTER SIXTEEN

  Reid pressed the head of his cock against Lauren's sensitive clit and massaged her engorged nub with slow, circular strokes. She was wet, but not wet enough. And she seemed painfully shy to have her body exposed to him.

  Granted, he was still a stranger to her. But what did she expect? She had signed up to be a mail-order bride. She had come to him, fully prepared to marry him on the spot and be his wife. Whatever her motives, she would have known what being a wife entailed.

  Reid moved his cock up and down her slick, pink folds. She was breathing hard, and he could feel her heart beating frantically.

  Reid tightened his grip on her luscious thighs possessively. Lauren didn't strike him as a flirtatious, sultry woman. When they were in town, she kept her eyes on Eddie and didn't even crack a smile when some guys whistled at her.

  Reid smirked. He would make this good for her. He hadn't had a female in eons, and he had to reign in his lust and take her slowly. He wanted to throw her legs over his shoulders and rut like an animal, but Lauren seemed shy and...scared.

  Lauren groaned as he rolled her nipples between his fingers. He pushed the tip of his throbbing cock into her tight slit and waited.

  If she resisted him, he would stop. His cock and his bear wouldn’t be happy, but he would never take her against her will.

  But Lauren dug her nails resolutely into his biceps and pulled him down. Her eyes were still closed, and she had turned her face away from him.

  Reid spread her legs wider and began to inch into her body. She was so damn tight. Reid growled and reached for the lubricant in the drawer of his bedside table. He spread the lubricant over his cock and rubbed some over her clit and pussy lips.

  Lauren writhed and her juices squirted out as he rubbed her swollen clit. She was wet enough for him to penetrate her.

  Reid held her and took a deep breath. She was still so tight, but he had done all he could. It was hard to believe that she had given birth to a baby.

  In one forceful thrust, Reid buried himself fully inside her. Lauren cried out and her eyes flew wide open. He saw pain and terror in her eyes.

  “What the hell, Lauren!”

  She shook her head quickly and reached for him before he could withdraw from her.

  “Reid, make love to me,” she begged. “Please...”

  He stared into her eyes for a long moment. She clung to him and began to sob, “Please, Reid...”

  Slowly, he moved his hips. He closed his eyes in agony, as lust overwhelmed his senses. He stroked into her, his veins bulging from his neck and temples. His release was hard and fast, and hollow.

  Reid pulled out of her and stared at the blood on the sheets.

  He was her first.

  She hadn't had any male before him.

  Lauren was a virgin.

  But—she was also a liar.

  Reid turned and saw that Lauren had curled up into a ball, hugging a pillow to her chest. She had a hand pressed over her eyes, no doubt to hide her tears from him.

  “Lauren...”

  She sniffed. “Y-yes.”

  “Look at me, Lauren. We need to talk.”

  CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

  Lauren lowered the pillow from her face slowly and turned around. She felt sore and tender between her legs, but the pain wasn't unbearable. She had felt a sharp stab of pain when Reid entered her but her body had adjusted quickly to his girth and the pain had turned to pleasure.

  She'd hoped to conceal her shock and fear so that Reid wouldn't notice how inexperienced she was. But she couldn't help her tears. The experience of having sex for the first time was overwhelming.

  Lauren took a deep breath and lifted her eyes to Reid. He was staring at her intently, his mouth set in a tight line.

  Lauren winced and grabbed the pillow again. What she hoped to accomplish with the pillow she had no idea, but it acted as a shield, a buffer between her and Reid.

  “Eddie is not your son,” Reid said.

  Lauren gulped and looked down. She had tried to fake it, but the game was up. He knew.

  “He's my nephew.”

  Reid nodded. “Why did you answer the ad?”

  “I...”

  “Just tell me the truth,” Reid said wearily.

  She twisted the corner of the pillow and swallowed repeatedly. The truth. He wanted the truth.

  Lauren jerked her head up and looked Reid straight in the eye. “I'll tell you the truth,” she said. “And I'll understand if you don't want me as your mail-order bride after this. I didn't tell you the truth of our situation in my letters. I was afraid you wouldn't even want to meet me, if I'd told you the truth. Which man in his right mind would want to bring the Dire Wolves to his doorstep?” She let out a bitter laugh.

  “The Dire Wolves?” Reid frowned.

  Lauren nodded and took a deep breath. In a steady, impassive voice, she told him everything.

  “I saw the ad and figured that being a mail-order bride was the way out for us. I have to protect Eddie,” she finished quietly. “We'll leave in the morning. You won't hear from us again. I...I'll pack now.”

  She began to move from the bed but Reid caught her arm. “You're not leaving.”

  “Wha…?”

  “I didn't put that ad in the paper, Lauren. And I didn't write you those letters,” Reid said.

  “I don't understand.”

  “My cousin, Damien, pretended to be me and answered your letters. He was the one who put up the ad.”

  “Oh.” Lauren didn't know whether to feel relieved or disappointed. “So that means you don't want a bride. But why did you open your door and let us stay in your house? You could have told me straight away...”

  Reid sighed. “I just couldn't turn you away. I...don't want a bride, but I don't want you to go either.”

  Lauren frowned, then glared at him. “You just want to take me to bed.” She let out a harsh laugh. “I came out here to marry a man I had never met. What did I expect?”

  “Why didn't you tell me that you're a virgin?”

  “What difference would that have made?” she sneered.

  “It would have made all the difference!” Reid exploded. “I...”

  “You wouldn't have slept with me?” Lauren smirked. “Oh come on. I saw the way you looked at me. You wanted to get in my pants first chance you got.”

  “Yes, I want you, Lauren. But you want me too,” Reid said and leaned in. “I can see the desire in your eyes and smell your arousal.”

  “How dare you...” Lauren clenched her fists and bit back an expletive.

  “I'm not sorry I had sex with you, Lauren,” Reid went on, tilting her chin up. “I'm only sorry we were not honest with each other before. From now on, we keep nothing from each other. Understand?”

  Lauren unclenched her fists and jaw when she realized what Reid was saying.

  “You...you're not going to turn us out?” she whispered.

  Reid smiled grimly. “You're my mail-order bride. We'll get married as soon as possible. I'll go down to the marriage registry tomorrow and get the first av
ailable date. You'll no longer be Lauren Sanchez. You'll be Mrs Lauren Ken, and the Dire Wolves will have no cause to bother you any more.”

  CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

  Reid sat across from Lauren at the lawyer's office and frowned at the piece of paper in front of him. It was Lauren's idea to sign a prenup. And Reid was surprised at his own ambivalent feelings regarding the whole thing. Hadn't he told himself that he would never let a woman get her dainty but dishonest hands on his assets again?

  He had told Lauren about his failed marriage. It was only fair for her to know about his past.

  Lauren had been very calm as she listened to him. He had told her how he met Shelly and how he had fallen for her in a very short time. Shelly was a witch, and he suspected but never mentioned to anyone that she had used witchcraft to attract him. During their brief marriage, he did his best to be a good husband to her, but she fooled around. And when they divorced, she got an exorbitant amount in the divorce settlement. Reid had to sell almost everything he owned and worked so hard for in order to pay her off. His business, his house, his car.

  He could hear his own anger and bitterness in his voice as he spoke about his divorce, but Lauren was unfazed. When he finished, she stood up and said, “Let's go. We'll go to the lawyer's office and get a prenup. After the contract is signed, we'll get married.”

  The prenuptial agreement was simple. If they divorced, everything that Reid owned before marrying Lauren would remain his. There was a similar clause for Lauren, but she'd laughed when she read it.“I have a few hundred dollars in my savings account. That's it. And I withdrew some money before I came to Shadow Point, so the amount is even less now.”

  Reid stared at Lauren as she picked up a pen and signed at the bottom of the agreement. She slid the papers over to him and waited.