Bear to the End (Bear Claw Security Book 5) by Terry Bolryder Page A

I’ve just been offered a buffet.”
    “I just want you to be happy,” he said. “But I also want to be careful. I don’t want to rush.”
    “I want to rush,” she said. “After three years of being so careful, I just want a rushed, passionate moment right now.”
    “I understand,” he said. He looked at her, wishing he could see under the blouse. It was dim in the apartment due to the small window and the dark storm clouds over the sky. “I wish I could see more of you.”
    She pulled her blouse around her. “No. Uh-uh. In fact, I’d prefer if we closed the blinds and it was even darker.”
    He snorted but got up to close the blinds. She watched him, and he couldn’t tell if she was disappointed he hadn’t fought her on it. Well, she was about to be surprised.
    He clicked on the bedroom switch, bathing them in warm, glowing light.
    “No,” she said nervously, wrapping her arms around her. “You’ll see how fat I am. Ugh, I didn’t think about the fact that I’d have to be naked. Can’t I just keep my clothes on?” Her tone was half-joking, but he felt rage bubble up in him that someone had clearly made her feel worried about her body.
    “Did your ex make comments about you?” he asked, trying to keep from looking too angry and scaring her off.
    She nodded, biting her full lower lip.
    The thought of anyone making her feel less than beautiful set him off inside. Looking at her, with her dark, beautiful skin, her shiny hair, her beautiful eyes, and that perfect soul inside, he couldn’t believe anyone would make her feel anything less than perfect.
    His eyes scanned over her body, thick and full and rounded all over. Literally perfect. He couldn’t have designed something better if he tried.
    “Stop looking,” she said, but he could tell from the way she squirmed that she was flattered.
    He reached for her blouse and started to undo the top button. Even if they didn’t do anything else, he wanted to show her how beautiful she was.
    “Wait,” she squeaked, but he gently pushed aside her hands and kept unbuttoning.
    She was breathing hard beneath him, and he saw her look up at him with a vulnerable expression that cut him to the core as he opened her shirt and exposed her in her bra.
    “Ugh, you’ll see my fat,” she said, trying to cover herself.
    “I see you,” he said. “You’re gorgeous.” Before she could stop him, he ran his hands down over her generous curves, feeling her waist, unable to stop a pleased groan from exiting his lips as his fingers grazed the softest skin he’d ever felt. “Damn, you’re so beautiful it’s driving me crazy. I could go just looking at you.”
    Her eyes widened, and then she relaxed and let out a little moan as his hands came up and cupped her breasts in her bra and then ran down her sides and caressed her tummy and hips again.
    She. Was. Perfect.
    “I… I can’t believe you look at me like that,” she said, biting her lip. “It’s… hot.”
    He grinned at her. “I’m glad. Because I can’t help looking at you like that. You’re the hottest thing I’ve ever seen.”
    “I’ve never been able to lose weight,” she said.
    “Good,” he said. “You look healthy and perfect to me.” He held her hands in his and lowered himself down to kiss between her breasts and then down to her belly button, where he swiped with his tongue naughtily. “Besides, shifters love curves. And shifter women tend to have them. You’re perfect. I wish you wouldn’t let anyone else make you think otherwise.”
    “It’s easier, having a gorgeous man like you looking at me like that,” she gasped out as his hand played at her waistband.
    “May I?” he asked.
    She closed her eyes and nodded, probably deciding that after going this far, she might as well go all the way. Plus, it meant she was trusting him with her body. Trusting him not to hurt her once he’d seen it all.
    He gently eased her pants over her butt and was shocked but pleased to see she was