Bear Meets Girl by Catherine Vale

I’m so weak,” she muttered,
leaning her head back against the seat as she gazed out the window. “I wish we
could just keep going.”
                Cole
laughed softly. “You’re not weak,” he said, reaching out and patting her hand.
“You just don’t have thousands of years of endurance training that I do. Give
yourself a couple centuries before you start beating yourself up. Then you
might have a reason for it.”
                Silence
descended upon them, more comfortable than the last one, and Angela looked down
at her hands, noting that Cole had elected to keep his there. Her heart began
to beat a little faster, wondering if he intended to move things further along
between them, and whether or not that was something she even wanted. She knew
for sure that it was wrong for her to even be thinking about sex when
her friend was in danger, but she couldn’t help it; it had been so long since
she’d last run into a male she was attracted to that she almost didn’t remember
what it had been like.
                Yeah,
and the one time in forever that you do run into someone, he happens to be
someone you can’t have. Go Angela.
                She sighed. Truthfully, there
was no way she could have a lasting relationship with Cole; their lifestyles
were just too different, with him being a nomad, and her having a highly
committed career. But there was no denying the sexual attraction; she felt his
pulse jump as well, and knew that even this small amount of skin contact was
affecting him, too.
                Would
it really be so wrong to pass up the chance to make love again? To feel the
heat of a lover’s caress, the sensation of skin gliding against skin, the sound
of a male voice moaning her name…
                Cole
cleared his throat, drawing her attention. “You know, you’ve really got to stop
doing that.”
                Angela
blinked up at him. He was sitting stiffly behind the wheel, his brows drawn
together in consternation. “Doing what?”
                “Thinking…
whatever it is that you’re thinking that’s making you so horny.” He turned to
look at her, his violet gaze so full of heat that it scorched her even more
with desire. “It’s hard to concentrate on traffic when all I can think about is
getting you naked.”
                Angela
swallowed hard, her mouth suddenly dry. “That’s gotta be the weirdest reprimand
anyone’s ever given me.”
                Cole
laughed as he pulled up to her building, but it was strained. “Maybe, but it’s
true. I… it’s been too long since I… never mind.” He unlocked the passenger’s
side door with the flick of a button. “I’ll call you in the morning.”
                Angela
reached for the door handle, then looked back at Cole with a frown. “You’re not
coming up?”
                Cole
gave her a bewildered look. “I assumed I was renting a hotel.”
                Angela
bit her lip. They were definitely less likely to sleep together if he did that,
which was a plus point, and yet… “I think due to the nature of this assignment
that it’s best if we stick as close together as possible,” she said. “I have a
spare mattress I can inflate for you.”
                Cole
stared at her for a long moment. “You really want me sleeping in your living
room?”
                “Why
wouldn’t I?” Angela frowned. “We’re working together, and I doubt you’ll get
your payment if you murder me in my sleep, so I think I’m reasonably safe with
you.” She winked.
                Cole
snorted. “If you say so.” He killed the engine, then popped the trunk and went
around the back to grab his luggage. Angela waited for him to sling the single
duffle bag over his shoulder – clearly he packed light – before
leading him up the stairs and into the apartment