Bluff Bears: The Complete 4 Book Collection (BBW Paranormal Shape Shifter Romance)

by Amelia Jade

  He just hoped that she didn't choose the alternative option.

  Jet turned to head inside, but he had gotten barely half a dozen steps toward the door before two sharp cracks rang out in the night. He immediately hit the floor, scrabbling across the wooden patio exterior of the bar, trying to get out of sight. It had been years since he was in the city, but the sound of a pistol gunshot was something he would never forget.

  He managed to get inside without more shots being fired, and even as he raced for his own weapon behind the bar, he could hear a car engine roar to life. As he burst outside loaded for bear, the car took off down the road, in the same direction Kailee had just fled.

  It was a late model sports sedan with a dark silvery finish, but that was about all Jet was able to pick up through the darkness and the cloud of dust it kicked up as it roared away. He raised his gun, sighting down the barrel, but it was too far away by that point to bother wasting ammunition.

  Once he was sure it was gone, he slowly walked over to where it had been parked. He may not have been able to make out much detail of the car, but his bear had an extremely fine sense of smell. Opening his mind, he set the gun aside and let the transformation overtake him. Moments later his bear snuffled around the area, doing its best to pick up anything in the area other than the smell of burnt rubber.

  There was something, there, vague and familiar, but not strong enough for him to identify no matter how hard he tried. Jet let his bear absorb enough of it that he knew he would recognize it later on, but for now nothing would come of it, he knew.

  Changing back to his human form, he grabbed the rifle and hurried back inside. He didn't like it, but it looked like Jet would have to go around armed for the foreseeable future. While most bullets would do nothing more than leave painful welts upon his or any other shifters skin, there were a few types that could do serious damage to him if the user knew what they were doing.

  Jet just had to hope that they were ignorant of such things and that he could get in the first shot.

  ***

  Chapter Eight

  Kailee

  Fuck. Fuck. Fuck!

  How could she have been so stupid as to let him kiss her?

  Kailee was pissed at herself, thoroughly furious at how she simply became weak in the knees any time Jet so much as gave her a glance. When he had pulled her in close like that, hemmed in by her truck on one side and his heavenly body on the other, she had simply let him do whatever he wanted to her.

  The result had been an explosive kiss that had left her clit throbbing and her panties soaked as she drove home at a breakneck pace. She was determined to put as much distance between herself and Jet as possible for the moment until she was able to fully understand his intentions.

  He was, after all, her boss. Kailee was fairly certain that he hadn't hired her simply to then try to use that as leverage to sleep with her. It didn't fit with what she knew of Jet as a man, but then again, she had thought she knew who Donald was as a man. If she could make a mistake once, then it very clearly stood to reason that she could make another one.

  A large part of her, most of which was currently crying out with desire, hoped that her first instinct was correct, that he was simply interested in her. She didn't want to have to give up working with him, when the job was enjoyable, paid well, and she meshed so well with her boss. However, if he was doing it simply to be able to take advantage of her, she would not hesitate to leave this time.

  She couldn't deny that the kiss had felt wonderful, that every fiber of her being had called out to Jet to let him take her. Her bear continued to tell her that he was the one, but she just didn't see it, despite the telltale physical signs. He was far too gorgeous to be interested in a woman like her. Things just didn't work like that for women like her. She was confident that she could get a man to be interested in her, just not a man like Jet. He was different, a special catch she told herself, despite all of her earlier claims that he might be a pathetic, power-using jerk who had hired her simply to get in her pants. She was finally forced to concede, through logical thought, that he wasn't that type of guy. He wouldn't hold her job over her head in exchange for sex.

  She snorted at herself. As soon as she admitted that, all trace of opposition within her mind evaporated, leaving her with the conclusion that perhaps she should explore things with him.

  Not ready to accept that yet either, she pulled into the driveway at home. She would sleep on it, and see how she felt in the morning. Until then, she would have to deal with her father.

  Thinking of him brought confusion to her face because there was no other vehicle parked in her space. He had sent her a text message saying he was waiting, just hanging out until she got home from work. However, there was no new vehicle and no sign of a person anywhere.

  She got out, looking around, but still no sign of him. Rolling her eyes in frustration she let loose a long sigh as well. It would have been quite a stretch to say that this was the first time that her father had pulled such a thing. Her entire childhood he had constantly let her down, promising to be in attendance at numerous events, before being a no-show.

  The key had just slid into the lock of her door when she heard a car pull up next to her truck. She didn't get a glimpse of what he was driving as her truck blocked it, but moments later Jack Britten emerged, walking purposefully toward her, giving her a nod by way of greeting.

  "Hi, Father," she intoned, not even bothering to pretend excitement at seeing him. She supposed she cared for him on some level since he was her father, but they were not close. Neither party lamented the fact either since they were both used to it by now and trying to change anything at this point in their lives would be more effort than it was worth.

  "Hello Daughter, what a fabulous place you have here," he replied, following her inside.

  She wanted to ask him where he had been but figured he would likely avoid the question, as usual, so she didn't bother. Instead she led the way to the kitchen, pouring each party a drink. A light beer for her father, and a glass of red wine for herself.

  They clinked glasses and retired to the living room. She was dreading having to chat with him. Small talk really was not in their repertoire, but if he had come all this way to see her, he must have something to say.

  So thus it was, that while she should not have been shocked, it caught her completely off guard when he announced that he was going to hit the hay. Yawning, he stretched himself out on the couch, draining the last of his beer in one swig. She stared at him in frustration for several long moments, before angrily stomping out of the room. As a small bit of revenge, she left the lights on, forcing him to get up and shut them off even though she walked right by them on her way out.

  Thankfully despite her irritation, the glass of wine put her right to sleep until rays of sunlight shone through her curtains several hours later.

  She rolled over, desperate for just a few more hours of sleep, but the slamming of the door as her father left woke her up with a start. The older style house she had bought, with its arched doorways and hardwood floors, echoed and amplified any sound into something ear-shattering. As soon as she had time, Kailee intended to put a number of area rugs down to mute the noise, but she just hadn't found the opportunity yet.

  When she heard footsteps inside the house, she realized it wasn't her father leaving but instead returning from somewhere. Any sense of relief that had been building at the idea of having the house to herself for the morning was shattered, falling to pieces as she dragged herself to the ensuite shower. That, she admitted through her groggy state, was a perk she was likely to never get over. The previous owners had torn down a wall between the master bedroom and a small room, before then turning that into a marvellous upgraded bathroom directly attached to her bedroom. It was heavenly, she said to herself as warm water began to pour over her naked body, washing away any remaining tiredness.

  After a painful sit-down breakfast with her father that resulted in half a dozen words
being exchanged with most of them being 'thanks for breakfast', she made good her escape.

  "I have to go into work early today, lots of paperwork to get done before the weekend. I'll be home late again, around the same time."

  She tossed him her spare set of keys and headed for the door without waiting for a reply.

  "Stay safe. I'll be coming by later for some grub and a beer if that's okay?"

  Kailee eyed him suspiciously. He never asked permission of her, simply doing whatever he felt he needed to. Something was wrong there, a tingling at the base of her skull warning her that not everything was as it seemed. He continued to eat his breakfast slowly, without meeting her gaze.

  There was no point in trying to get more information out of him, so she simply made a noncommittal noise and left. The only thing she could do now was stay on her guard and be wary of when he came inside. If she could identify what he was up to before he did it, then there was a fair chance of stopping it if need be.

  Kailee had hoped for things to calm down when she moved out to Bear Bluffs, but it would appear that drama was destined to follow her. Although she wasn't scheduled to start work for hours yet, she felt drawn to the bar that morning. She drove over to it, thinking that perhaps she could get a few extra hours doing more paperwork for Jet. Despite her efforts so far, there was still more piled up waiting for them.

  "Today just isn't my day, is it?" she voiced aloud as the door refused to open, telling her that Jet wasn't at the bar yet. He always kept the back door unlocked if he was inside. With it locked, he must still be at home. He was probably still sleeping, she thought to herself, wishing that she could be in her own bed, too.

  With a sigh, she walked back to her truck. The forest out back of the Quencher was so beautiful and inviting. A smile upon her face, she looked around to see if anyone else had happened upon her. There was nothing, no sound of approaching cars either. Tossing her purse into the truck, she locked it behind her, pocketing the keys.

  She broke out into a run across the cleared area right out back, before pushing past the first trees and into the woods. Pausing, she mentally nudged her bear awake, communicating her interests to it. With a snuffle of delight her bear awoke, surging to the surface. She didn't fight it, instead letting the change overcome her.

  It had been quite some time since she had roamed free, and her bear rejoiced in the prime location she had chosen for the afternoon. Complete in her large brown bear form, Kailee moved on into the forest, letting her bear snuffle along as it picked up the various scents, cataloguing them away in her brain. It was so peaceful, she couldn't help but let out a soft chortle of contentment.

  I need to do this more often.

  The wind shifted abruptly, picking up speed. She could smell the incoming storm already, the fresh breeze thick with the smell of ozone. It was hard to judge just when it would arrive, but it felt soon, perhaps within the hour. Not interested in being soaked before she started her shift, Kailee turned to head back.

  It was as she shuffled around that another scent raced by her on the wings of the wind. This one smelled sweeter than the freshest rose to her bear's sensitive nose, infusing her with a warm, fuzzy feeling from her muzzle to her short, stubby tail. It raced through her so quickly that she didn't have the opportunity to raise any barriers or protective walls around herself. She did know, however, what it was she was smelling.

  Or who.

  It was Jet, in his bear form most likely, and very close. She tried to focus on it, but the smell had gone to her head, confusing her, awakening animal instincts she wasn't prepared to fight off.

  In a panic, she took off in the direction of the bar. There was no clear-cut goal at the moment, she simply wanted to be able to shift back to her human form and clear her head. Her bear could cover the distance much faster and with less fatigue than her human legs, but even as she moved along, her body began to cry out for him.

  It would be so much easier to give in and be with him, but that did not necessarily mean it was the best choice for her. She still was unsure if the attraction between them was purely physical, or embedded in something deeper, something more meaningful.

  You know that it is. You're just scared to love again.

  She stumbled and nearly fell as the voice cut through all the noise in her head. It was true, Kailee had been burned by a man who had seemed to be everything she needed once before. Burned, beaten and forced to flee with her tail between her legs. Even though everything about Jet screamed that he was better than that, she knew he was still hiding something, that he had something he wasn't willing to share.

  Of course he does, you idiot. Think of the way you've treated him. Who wouldn't be hesitant to mention some things that perhaps they aren't proud of?

  Her inner voice was proving to be irritatingly accurate in its estimation of the situation. She couldn't really fault it, since it was her voice, after all. Unfortunately, all it did was complicate the situation even more. Perhaps after work would prove to be a good time to bring this up to him, to have a frank discussion.

  She pushed through the last of the bushes, knowing that the brown walls of the Quencher were just beyond. It would be nice to shift back to her human form and reign in her bears urges. It was much harder to do when she was in bear form.

  Her bear shouldered its way into the clearing, only to nearly bowl over Jet, who was just getting up from a pose that indicated he had shifted back to his human form merely moments ahead of her arrival. She threw her large body to the side to avoid running him over, tumbling down and crashing into a heap. The graceless fall didn't cause any pain, only serving to further embarrass her.

  The soft chuckle from Jet didn't help the situation either. She shifted back as well, but still lay there unmoving, wishing that she would wake up to find this was all a dream.

  "You know, sometimes I regret the fact that clothing stays intact when we shift," he commented flirtatiously, eyeing her suggestively at the same time. The fire between her legs roared back to life as she saw the way he looked her up and down appreciatively. There was no bigger boost of confidence than having an attractive member of the opposite sex admire her in such a way. Especially when she found herself doing the same thing.

  It was impossible to keep her eyes off him. He wasn't wearing a shirt, exposing generous amounts of skin and muscle to her greedy eyes. She drank it all in, admiring the way his body rippled as he breathed. Each one of his abs was so well defined she could wash clothing off them without trying. As her gaze travelled lower, her eyes widened in surprise.

  His cock was clearly hard, tugging at his jeans, begging to be set free. Kailee found herself biting her lip, desperately curious to see just how big he was. The air between them became thick with desire as both parties admired the other. The way Jet had kissed her the night before boded well for the other things he could do with his mouth, and she wanted to experience that now.

  The barriers were falling, her desires overwhelming any last resistance to his charms as the sheer power of his sex became clear to her. Kailee nervously reached down to her waist, fumbling awkwardly with the buttons that kept her pants on. She saw the way his eyes focused on her, his renewed attention the cause for her increased breathing and heart rate.

  He walked over to her before she could finish what she had started, reaching down to scoop her up in his powerful arms. He lifted her without effort, his strength more evident now than ever before. This time Kailee didn't fight it, letting herself curl up against the warmth of his chest as he took her inside the bar to his office.

  Part of her couldn't believe things were moving this quickly between them, that they had gone from kissing the night before, to what was about to happen. She could only hope that her instincts were right, that Jet was one of the good guys, for there was no turning back now. The demands from her body were too great to deny.

  That didn't mean she had to give in right away. Regaining a meager portion of her courage, she stopped him before he lay her
back onto the couch along the wall. Putting her feet on the floor, hands pressed against his chest, she looked up at him.

  "Kiss me," she whispered breathlessly, needing to feel what she had felt the night before.

  She got it.

  When his lips touched hers, a shock of static electricity and emotion surged through her all at once, overwhelming her senses. Even her bear was caught up in the rush, momentarily subsiding in its calls for her to get to the good part already. Wobbly legs almost gave way, and if it wasn't for the thick, strong arms of Jet grasping her tightly, she would have collapsed into a puddle in front of him.

  "More," he demanded when she pulled away to try and regain her senses. He didn't wait for her to say anything, tilting his head to the side as he kissed her again, the urgency of his desire rising, flowing through him and into her. Warm, thick, honey built between her legs as did the throbbing coming from her clit as it pulsed its wants and needs through her entire body.

  A moan escaped her lips as she parted them, his tongue and hers hungrily attacking each other with barely restrained fury. She was descending into a baser version of herself, Kailee knew, letting her hormones do whatever talking needed to be done. It had been so long since a man had made her blood burn like Jet did. His hard cock was firmly pressed against her stomach now, and she desperately wanted to feel him slide it in her, filling her wet cunt with its steel-like hardness.

  "Take me, Jet. Take me now, I can't wait any longer," she begged him, her eyes full of desire as she looked deep into his hazel orbs.

  "With pleasure," he murmured into her ear, his hands finding her shirt and tugging it over her head.