A Wife For The Bear: BBW Paranormal Shape Shifter Romance (Bear Brides Book 3) by Natalie Kristen

library. “I don't read much,” he blurted out
at last. “I prefer the outdoors.”
    Lisha started and turned
round. “Oh, everyone likes different things...”
    “I know, but
we...I...you...” He frowned, searching for the right words.
“I want us...” He took a deep breath and said, “I
want us to work out. I want you—to be happy...with me.”
    Lisha blinked repeatedly,
staring at the tall, rugged man in front of her. He was a big,
strapping male, co-owner of a successful landscaping business and a
leader in an influential bear clan...yet here he stood before her,
baring his heart to her. He cared for her deeply, and her interests
and happiness were of paramount importance to him.
    If Lisha were the swooning
type, she would have dropped to the floor in a delirious faint. She
felt like the heroine in one of those steamy, touching romance
novels. Only this wasn't a fairy tale. This was...real. And her
man was way hotter than any of those dark, brooding heroes she'd read
about. He was strong and sweet, tough and vulnerable, honest,
protective and sexy as hell.
    Lisha walked towards him,
closing the distance between them. It was late morning, and there
weren't that many people in the library at this time. But it felt as
though for a breathless moment they had dropped out of time and
space, and they were the only people in this quiet, shimmering
universe.
    “Brad, you are the
perfect man for me. My tiger was right to mark you. I want you, and
I choose you. I am happy with you. I love you.”
    She stood on her toes and
kissed him. With a quiet sigh, she stepped back and gazed at her
mate. How she wished she could have brought Brad home to meet her
dad. Her father would have loved Brad, and he would have given them
his heartfelt blessings.
    “Hey, sweetheart,
what's wrong?” Brad said softly.
    Lisha shook her head mutely,
unable to speak.
    “You're thinking of
your parents, aren't you?” he said very gently.
    “Yeah, I just...”
    “It's okay. I know
it's painful right now. At this time, when you think of your
parents, you remember your loss. But gradually, you won't feel the
heartache and the sorrow any more. You'll feel pride, gladness and
love when you think of them. You'll leave the darkness behind.
You'll take only what is real and good with you. The happy memories,
the laughter, the love. They'll be in your heart forever.”
    She reached up and touched
his face. “My parents would have loved you.”
    “I know. I feel their
love through you,” he smiled. “They're good, brave
people.
    Lisha's smile grew. “You
know, I fell in love with you when you rescued me as a big, brown,
snarling bear.” She paused, and whispered, “I'm still
falling. With every beat of my heart.” Reaching up, she
cupped his strong, stubbled jaw. “And it seems, you're still
rescuing me.”
    “Lisha...” Brad
slanted his lips over hers. His strong arms encircled her waist and
drew her closer to him. He kissed her passionately, hungrily,
letting her feel how much he desired her. Lisha moaned and clung to
his shoulders, kissing him back with equal fervor.
    She could feel his hard body
against hers, his growing erection pushing against her belly.
    “Brad,” she
rasped against his mouth. “We're in the library.”
    “I know,” he
muttered. “And I think you know all the secret, private spots
in the library.”
    “Brad,” she
gasped.
    “You are the
librarian.” His lips curved playfully. “A very good,
naughty librarian.”
    He was about to grab her
again when his phone beeped and she felt it vibrate in his pocket.
Brad gave her a quick kiss and stepped outside to take the call.
    When he came back into the
library, he was wearing a frown on his face.
    “Something's cropped up
at the work site, right?” Lisha said before Brad could open his
mouth.
    “Yeah. It's just...”
    Lisha shook her head. “Don't
worry about me.” She glanced at her watch, and shrugged. “I
need to go grab a bite anyway. It's almost lunch