Marcus was his best friend, and he'd known the guy for more than fifteen years now. Nick remembered how Marcus had nearly lost his mind after Staci was captured and tortured by Marcus's old enemy. Marcus and his younger brothers had managed to save her, but Staci had arrived at the hospital more dead than alive. When Dr. Halle realized that medicine alone might not save Staci's life, she had roped in the witches of Shadow Point and asked them to cast a healing spell for Staci.
Marcus and Staci were grateful to all the witches who'd helped with the healing spell but everyone knew that if Dr. Halle hadn't acted so quickly and decisively, Staci might not have pulled through. The good doctor was just doing her job, but Marcus and Staci would never forget what she did for them.
Marcus and Staci were here to support the hospital and Dr. Emily Halle in particular. They wanted to show their deep gratitude and appreciation.
The bids went on, and Nick put in a bid as well. But Staci was determined to win. She kept raising her bids until finally, Dr. Halle announced, “Going once, going twice, and I am sold—to the lovely lady in the green dress!”
After the applause died down, Dr. Halle batted her eyes playfully at Staci and asked, “So, Staci, you've won the bid. For five thousand dollars, what would you have me do for you?”
Staci grinned and beckoned the doctor to their table. “I want you to have a drink with us!”
Dr. Halle blinked repeatedly as she put a hand over her heart. Touched beyond words, the doctor stood on the stage for a moment, unable to speak. Pressing her fingers to her lips, she finally recovered and gushed, “I...oh my God, it will be my pleasure! Thank you! And on behalf of Shadow Point Hospital, thank you very much, Staci and Marcus!”
Dr. Emily Halle stepped off the stage and walked towards their table. All the guys stood up when Dr. Halle came to join them.
Staci hugged Emily and made her sit down beside her as Marcus immediately went to get her a large, frothing mug of beer.
Nick chatted for a bit with Emily, before asking in a casual tone, “Who's that nurse at the back of the line? I don't think I've seen her before.”
“Oh, that's Zoe,” Emily answered. She slanted him a look over the top of her glasses and smiled slyly. “She just joined us a few months back. She's a great nurse. She's warm, caring and capable. And...very single.”
With a cheeky grin, Emily raised her beer mug to him. “Bid for her, Nick. Put in a really generous bid. Do it, for the hospital,” she urged, her eyes twinkling.
Nick laughed and raised his mug. “For the hospital.”
He drained his mug and pretended to watch the auction, but his eyes remained on Zoe.
The auction proceeded smoothly but not quite swiftly enough. Why did Zoe put herself at the very back of the line? He grew impatient, waiting for everyone else to be auctioned off.
Finally, at long last, only Zoe was left.
She stepped forward and took the mic off the stand. Nick saw that her hands were quivering a little.
Clearing her throat, she gave a small, apprehensive smile. Nick sat up straighter and tensed. This was the moment he had been waiting for.
Damn, this was the woman he had been waiting for.
Don't let anyone win her, his bear snarled.
Nick felt his claws stabbing out, the predator in him preparing to pounce.
I won't, Nick promised. She's mine.
CHAPTER EIGHT
Zoe stepped forward and gulped audibly. She had to clear her throat twice before she could find her voice.
“Hi, I...I'm the last, but not the least. I hope.” With a small, nervous laugh, she plowed on, “My name is Zoe Riley, and I'm the newest nurse at Shadow Point Hospital. I've met some of you already. Even though I don't know many of you, yet, I do hope that you'll bid generously. I really, really hope that I won't be the only one standing on stage without a single bid tonight.” She made a face and the crowd laughed and clapped encouragingly.
“You'll do fine, Zoe. I'll bid for you!” someone called out.
“Thank you,” she beamed, squinting against the spotlight. “So, the opening bid is...one hundred dollars? Great!” She smiled and blew out a breath, unable to hide her relief.
Yay, she'd raised one hundred dollars for the hospital already. Maybe she could try to push it to one thousand? She had seen how Emily did it. The cute, smart doctor cajoled and challenged the crowd, confidently asking, no, demanding for higher bids.
She just had to do what Emily did. But the difference was that Emily knew a lot of people in town. The vivacious doctor had a lot of friends and was popular among the patients.
Zoe knew she wouldn't be able to attract as many bids as Emily, but damn, she could do better than just one bid, couldn't she?
All right. She blew out a breath. Let's get this show on the road, girl!
“All right!” Zoe said into the mic. “Let's hear your bids! Do I have two hundred?”
A big hand shot up. Zoe smiled at the young man who was sitting beside that blond, handsome stranger who had smiled at her earlier. His warm, encouraging smile had given her the confidence to see her auction through.
“Name's Damien,” the young man hollered to her. “Remember the name, baby doll. You're coming home with me tonight!”
Zoe smiled as the crowd cheered. Her gaze slid over to the blond hunk beside him.
The man was leaning forward, his blue eyes blazing with heat and hunger. His jaw was tightly clenched, and he was staring intently at her. Zoe took a shaky breath. Would he...bid for her?
Zoe thought she heard him growl and her whole body seemed to ignite under his intense, burning gaze. She clenched her muscles and whimpered. A rush of moisture pooled in her panties.
Eyes wide, Zoe froze on stage. She saw the blond hunk rise to his feet, his nostrils flaring.
Oh shit, oh shit, oh shit!
Could he...scent her desire?
She almost slapped her forehead. Of course he could. From his size and height, she was guessing he was a bear shifter. A big, growly, grizzly bear.
Bears have an amazing sense of smell, her brain lectured.
And they have amazing big cocks, her vagina added helpfully.
Zoe bit her lip and silently screamed at her greedy vagina. Stop thinking about his cock!
Balling her fists, Zoe took a deep breath and gritted her teeth. She had to control her libido, not the other way around. She was on stage, in front of all these nice, supportive townspeople. Her libido had been slumbering for the longest time, so why in the world was she getting all hot and bothered now?
Wrong time, wrong place.
But...right guy?
Zoe ignored that hopeful, niggling voice in her head and dug her heels into the stage floor. She had to remember why she was here. To do her part for the hospital.
She would not embarrass herself and make a mockery of this whole fundraising event. Everyone had worked so hard for this.
Twisting her grimace into an awkward smile, Zoe stepped forward resolutely and faced the audience.
She could do this. She could conclude her auction and raise at least a few hundred dollars for the hospital.
CHAPTER NINE
Nick stood up slowly, fighting what felt like a losing battle against his bear. Her scent was intoxicating and maddening.
He could scent Zoe's sweet, feminine arousal, and his bear was rearing up in a jealous rage at the thought that every male in the hall would have whiffed that very intimate scent. A scent that was meant for him alone.
“Two thousand dollars,” Nick growled.
There was a momentary silence in the hall as heads turned to him. He shot every male in the room a warning glare, even the happily mated ones, like his best friend Marcus.
Marcus simply shrugged and grinned affably at him. Nick scanned the hall quickly, but from the faces of his townsfolk, there was no indication that anyone else had whiffed Zoe's fierce desire.
He could scent it clearly and it was driving him crazy. In his passi
on, he wasn't thinking straight. A female's scent was really very subtle and only her mate would be able to identify the changes in her scent clearly. A bear could track its mate for miles, and know when its female was in heat or in danger.
Nick staggered back a step.
Was that beautiful, curvacious nurse on stage his mate?
All he knew was that he would not let anyone else win the bid for her. Zoe was his!
Damien whistled and rocked back on his chair, lacing his fingers behind his head. “Only two thousand, Nick? Well, I bid three thousand dollars!” There was a gleam of mischief and challenge in Damien's eyes.
There were gasps around the hall. Then people starting clapping.
“Four thousand dollars,” Nick snarled back.
Damien yawned. “Five. Five thousand.”
The crowd went wild and started egging them on. Some shouted Damien's name and others threw their support behind Nick.
“Six thousand,” Nick said, staring daggers at Damien.
Cracking his knuckles, Damien hollered, “I bid ten thousand dollars! Ten grand for you, baby doll.” He winked conspiratorially at Zoe and blew her a kiss.
A kiss?
That punk blew Zoe a kiss?
The thought of Damien kissing Zoe made Nick's head explode. He suddenly remembered what Damien had said earlier. He'd boasted that Zoe would be going home with him tonight.
No way. No fucking way.
Over his dead body.
Nick let out a deafening roar. “Fifty thousand dollars!”
It took a full minute for the echo of his roar to subside. People were staring at him in disbelief, delight and amazement. Then everyone started stomping their feet, hollering and clapping. Over the thunderous applause, Nick swung his gaze to Zoe.
She was gaping at him, and her eyes were shining with a strange, intense light. The color was high in her cheeks as she reached for the mic.
At last, Zoe managed to make herself heard above the wild applause. “That...is the highest bid ever! May I...have your name, sir?”
“I'm Nick, Nick Sullivan.”
“T-thank you...thank you very much, Nick,” Zoe stammered, smiling shyly.
Still blushing, she turned back to the audience and asked quickly, “Any other bids? All right then. Going once, going twice...”
Before she could finish, a deep, gravelly voice interjected, “Fifty thousand and one.”
CHAPTER TEN
Zoe started and squinted at the new bidder. A slim, lanky man in a black jacket was leaning against the wall. When he smiled, Zoe glimpsed the tips of his canines and wondered if the man was a vampire.
The townspeople all shot the man curious glances. It seemed that they didn't recognize him. He was either new in town, or he was just passing through and had bought the ticket to the charity auction on a whim.
For some inexplicable reason, Zoe shuddered involuntarily at the sight of the stranger. Surely she hadn't seen the man before, yet she just thought he looked kind of familiar.
“What's your name, sir?” Zoe asked politely.
“Sinclair.”
“Mr Sinclair,” Zoe said. “Thank you for your bid. It is the highest bid so far, but I have to remind you that I am not obliged to accept the highest bid.”
“I understand,” Sinclair answered smoothly.
“For fifty thousand and one dollars, can I ask what you have in mind...”
“I would like to take you on a date, Miss Riley,” Sinclair said with a slight bow.
Some of the women in the audience sighed dreamily. They seemed impressed with his old-school gentlemanly manners.
Zoe acknowledged that Sinclair wasn't unattractive. He was tall and slim, and his shoulder-length black hair was neatly slicked back.
Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Nick stepping forward and she put up a hand quickly to stop him from raising his bid. Fifty thousand dollars was a lot of money.
And this Sinclair fellow had outbid Nick by a mere dollar. She studied Sinclair for a few more seconds and decided that she wouldn't enjoy going on a date with this guy at all.
Maybe some women found him smooth and charming, but she just thought that he looked sly and sleazy.
And she just couldn't shake the feeling that she had seen him before.
Zoe turned to Dali, her hospital director, who was standing at the side of the stage. Dali nodded at her and mouthed, You decide.
Glad for the support, Zoe smiled her thanks and faced the audience.
“My two highest bidders are Nick and Sinclair. Sinclair is bidding for a date with me. What are you bidding for, Nick?” she asked, her tone teasing but she realized that she was holding her breath as she waited for his answer.
Nick's buddies began to offer raunchy, unsolicited advice and suggestions.
Ignoring them, he held her gaze for a long while.
Finally, he said, “I want to kiss you. Right now.”
Zoe gasped and felt the heat bloom all over her body.
Some guys pounded Nick on the back, while others groaned and guffawed.
Nick wanted to kiss her. Did he really say that?
Oh yes he did. And he wanted her right now.
What should she do?
Temporarily, her mind went blank. She just stood in the middle of the stage and gawped at Nick.
Her brain had stopped working. Luckily, her libido was still very much alive and kicking.
Kiss! Kiss him already! What are you waiting for?
Zoe stared at Nick and blurted out, “So kiss me already! What are you waiting for?”
As the entire hall erupted into applause and laughter, Zoe recovered enough of her wits to squawk, “Sold—for fifty thousand dollars! To Nick Sullivan! Now...come up here and kiss me!”
CHAPTER ELEVEN
With the deafening cheers, shouts and applause, Nick could hardly hear his bear roaring his victory as he walked up to the stage. Zoe was staring at him, her chest rising and falling as her breaths came hard and fast. He could hear the rapid, frantic beats of her heart and hear her soft whimper as he approached her.
But most of all, he could scent her growing, gnawing desire.
This female didn't just want him to kiss her. She wanted more. She wanted everything he could give her, and more.
Nick stood in front of Zoe and took a moment to breathe in her lush, intoxicating scent. She smelled fucking delicious. With a low growl, Nick pulled her to him and pressed her body against his.
The crowd hollered and whistled. Nick tuned them out and the raucous sounds became just a muted sound in the background. Only Zoe stood in the spotlight. She was glowing, looking so beautiful and perfect in her white nurse uniform. She looked like an angel.
She blinked up at him as her curves pressed against his rock hard body. Her eyes widened when she felt his erection push and throb maddeningly against her belly.
Circling her waist with one arm, Nick cupped her nape with his hand and slanted his mouth across hers. She gasped as his lips crushed against her, and he kissed her deeply, hungrily, passionately.
Her arms slowly wound around his neck and she parted her lips willingly. Her tongue touched his and their bodies jerked at the electrifying, scorching heat coursing through their veins.
Nick growled and pushed his tongue deeper into her mouth, exploring and tasting her thoroughly. His hips subtly ground against her, his cock straining against his jeans.
Zoe melted in his arms, moaning softly as he kept kissing her. Nick wanted to kiss this amazing, wonderful female forever. She was everything he had ever dreamed of. Hot and sweet, soft and strong. She was so perfect.
He could tell she was getting wetter and the scent of her juices was driving him to the edge of his control and sanity. He had to stop now, even though letting her go was the last thing he wanted to do.
He wanted to keep touching her, holding her, kissing her. And he wanted to savor every luscious inch of her.
With a ragged breath, Nick released her s
lowly and stepped back. Zoe swayed on her feet as she unconsciously leaned towards him. They were like two magnets, gravitating inexorably towards each other.
When her eyes finally focused on his face, Zoe blinked and gave a long, dreamy sigh.
“You,” she whispered.
The crowd hooted and whistled, and Zoe's eyes rounded. She suddenly seemed to realize where she was.
With a gasp, she backed away and put both hands to her cheeks.
“Oh...I…did I just kiss you...in front of everyone?” Her face grew impossibly redder. “Wow. Just..wow. I...I've never done this before.” Biting her lip, she muttered under her breath, “I've never felt this before.”
“Felt what, Zoe?” Nick said in a low voice.
She started and stared at him. “I...I'm not sure...what I'm feeling,” she mumbled, shaking her head. “I just feel very, very hot, incredibly, unbelievably hot...”
Nick took a step towards her but she held up a hand and turned to the audience. “Thank you, everyone! What a kiss...I mean, what a night! Yeah! Thank you for making the auction a success! Woohoo! Thank you, thank you! I love you!” She sounded a little drunk as she blew kisses at the crowd.
The curtains fell and Zoe abruptly spun on her heel and ran backstage. She didn't even look at him.
Something was happening to her. Her eyes were glowing and Nick had felt her body temperature shoot up when she was in his arms. He knew that female shifters experienced changes in their body temperature when they were in heat, but Zoe—Zoe was human, right?
Her scent had been human initially, but now there was a subtle change in her scent, and she looked alarmed and confused.
“Zoe!” Nick tried to follow her but when the hospital staff saw Nick backstage, they accosted him, crowding round him to shake his hand and clap him on the shoulder. Many thanked him for his generous donation to the hospital and asked him out for drinks.
When he could finally extricate himself from the noisy, jubilant group, Zoe was nowhere to be found.
Big Bear: BBW Bear Shifter Paranormal Romance (BRIDES Fur BEARS Book 4) Page 3
