The Billionbear's Bride: BBW Bear Shifter BWWM Paranormal Romance by Zoe Chant Page B

darkness entering his voice.
    “What?”
    “He’s an asshole, that’s what.”
    Violet turned to him. Tears glimmered in her eyes. He cupped her face and swiped tenderly at a falling tear with his thumb. “I always wondered if it was my fault,” she confessed. “If I had done something wrong. If I had been a better girlfriend, or skinner, or prettier … He never seemed like the kind of guy who would do something like that.”
    His bear’s growl rumbled through his chest at Violet’s self-deprecation. How could she not see in herself what he saw—a beautiful woman, strong but delicate, funny and kind?
    “Don’t say those kinds of things,” he rumbled fiercely. “They’re not true. If he didn’t think you were the most beautiful, perfect woman in the world—then he was blind and stupid. He didn’t deserve you. Not one bit. His loss.”
    She ducked her head, breaking his touch. Then she squared her shoulders, took a deep breath, and said, “Where to next, tour guide?”
    He showed her the rest of the house—the game room, the dining room, the den, and finally the bedrooms. His bear wanted her, of course, in the master bedroom with him, and tortured him with visions of how good she’d look between his sheets. But of course she would be staying in one of the guest beds. He would be sleeping alone again—just like he had been before the wedding, before he’d met his mate.
    It was even harder now that it had been before. At least before he’d met Violet, he hadn’t had such temptation—his mate, so close, but so out of reach. And sweet, sultry memories of their one night together to haunt him.
    He carried her two bags to the room and set them on the bed. Violet was exploring the large walk-in closet. “I’ve never had a closet this big,” she said, delightedly running her hands over the row of empty hangers, making them click and clatter like wind chimes. “Everything I brought with me won’t even come close to filling it up.”
    “We can go back to your place anytime and get your other things,” he promised. He wanted to shower her with new things; she had been living paycheck to paycheck for so long, and after what that asshole did to her—she deserved more. She deserved everything he could give her, and then some. Patience, patience , he reminded himself. Bears could be patient. They waited all winter long for spring to come.
    He wasn’t sure he could last that long.
    “In the meantime,” he continued, “you can start settling in. We have some time before dinner.”
    The plan was to host a dinner to break the news to Wanda—who knew, of course—and her sister Jana—who didn’t. Violet was especially worried about Jana’s reaction, he knew from their conversations. His own family would find out tomorrow night, and he suspected it would be a bit thornier.
    “Sounds good to me.” She began unzipping the first suitcase, but not before flashing him another smile. He couldn’t help but return it, his heart buoyant with hope.
    Something hard nudged at his hip. Belatedly he remembered the ring. He pulled a small, velvet box out of his pocket. The gesture caught Violet's eye, and her lips rounded in a silent 'O'.
    "To complete the … arrangement," he made himself say, even though what he really wanted to say was I love you desperately, marry me for real .
    Was that a flash of disappointment? If it was, it disappeared almost immediately; he couldn't be sure he hadn't imagined it.
    "It's beautiful," she said with an awed smile that pleased Bruce. He didn't know anything about her preferences or style, so he'd chosen a classic, timeless cut.
    She held out her hand. She might have intended to take the ring and put it on herself, but he didn't let her. Instead, he took her wrist. Her skin was delicate, and he could feel her pulse fluttering underneath her skin. Bruce slid the ring onto the appropriate finger; it wasn't quite a perfect fit, but that could be fixed.
    He was reluctant to let go of