Beary Guarded (Polar Bliss Book 2) by Ruby Shae Page A

found someone else. Of course, his actions had proved otherwise.
    Multiple times.
    He’d been protecting her since day one, but the fear had somehow manipulated those thoughts, too. Her bear had even tried to guide her in the right direction, but she hadn’t listened to her animal either. There was a reason the beast had been edgy and demanding for most of the day.
    She was so tired of being afraid.
    And alone.
    Nate had proved to be her perfect partner, and she’d abandoned him at the first sign of trouble. She hated the fact that she wasn’t stronger for him, but she vowed to try harder. If she didn’t, she could lose him, and therefore lose a piece of herself.
    She couldn’t let that happen.
    “I have to go after him,” she said, standing.
    “You just got here,” Reid said. “Let’s get something to eat, and give him a chance to cool down.”
    “No, it has to be now,” Riley said, crossing the room. “I can’t lose him.”
    Reid narrowed his eyes and looked at her for a full minute before speaking.
    “You love him,” he said, finally.
    “Yes,” she admitted. “Very much, and I know he loves me, too.”
    “How does it feel?”
    “Scary,” she laughed. The tears she’d been holding onto finally escaped, but they didn’t fall in sadness. Each drop was full of joy, hope and love. “Amazing, but scary.”
    “You’d better go get him, then,” Reid said.
    He hugged her tight, nearly cutting off her air, but she didn’t care. She didn’t get to hug him near enough. When Reid finally let her go, Jillian closed her arms around her.
    “I’m so happy for you,” Jilly said. “Please keep us posted, and don’t leave without telling us. If you stay a few days, let’s have dinner so we can know him under better circumstances.”
    Riley nodded, gave her brother’s hand a squeeze, and walked out into the courtyard.
    For the first time in three years, she finally felt…free.
     
    ***
     
    Riley took a deep breath and tried to still her rapidly beating heart. The adrenaline coursing through her body was better than any caffeine high, but she didn’t want to appear too giddy. She knew Nate would need more than a few minutes to overcome his anger.
    She knocked on the door, and he opened it a second later. His face was set in a frown, but he wordlessly stepped back and allowed her to enter his suite.
    He was still angry, but as she entered the room more fully, she realized two important things.
    One, while she didn’t want to face his temper, she wasn’t afraid of the man. It wouldn’t matter how loud or long he barked at her for disappointing him, she knew he would never hurt her body, mind or heart.
    The second, and most important insight, was the fact that Nate loved her, too. He didn’t stay with her because he had no choice, he stayed because he wanted to. They were mates, true, but that didn’t mean he was stuck with nature’s choice. Though he’d never said the words, she knew he stayed because he loved her.
    “Have you eaten?” he asked.
    “No, but I’m okay for now,” she said.
    “Okay,” he nodded. “I’m going to take a shower, and then let’s order room service. Look at the menu and decide what you want before I’m done.”
    Without waiting for her response, he turned on his heel and disappeared into the bathroom, closing the door behind him. 
    Shutting her out.
    Hell no!
    She had to do something to prove her love.
    Now.
    And she knew exactly how to do it.
    Without hesitation, she stood, crossed the room, and let herself into the bathroom.
    Steam filled the oversized room, but it couldn’t hide the beautiful design.
    The tile floor lead to a pebbled alcove that housed a large, two-person tub built into the floor, and an open shower behind a rock covered wall.
    Reid stood under the spray with his head hanging low, and both hands on the wall for support. The water hit the nape of his neck and sluiced down his firm, muscular back and ass. He looked tired and worn out, and she