The Christmas Tree Bear: A Bear Shifter Paranormal Holiday Romance by Rosie Lynne Page A

 She was very cold, very wet, and very tired, but they needed to get out of their wet clothes and get warm.  
     
    “We’ve got to get out of our clothes,” she struggled to say to Willis.
     
    He groaned.  “I thought we were doing a rain check on the date thing.”
     
    “No,” she moaned and kicked at him.  Tried to, anyway.  Her feet were so numb, she thought she only smacked her boot heel against the floor.
     
    “I know what you mean.”  He groaned again, then struggled to sit up.  
     
    They both fought together to get out of their sopping wet clothes.  Charlie struggled with the big coat Willis had put on her, then her own jacket and cardigan underneath it.  Her jeans were a real problem after she managed to kick off her boots.  She had to lie on the floor shoving at her jeans from the top while Willis stood over her and yanked hard on each pant leg.  They eventually slid off of her, along with what Charlie was sure was at least two layers of skin.  She had to do the same for Willis to get off his tight wranglers.  He held onto his boxers while she pulled on each pant leg.  
     
    They left their wet clothes and boots in a pile by the door to deal with in the morning.  They stood together in their underwear.  Charlie was grateful she had taken the time to pick out a matching bra and panty set “just in case”.  At least she looked cute while freezing in a cold cabin in the middle of nowhere.
     
    Willis was as incredible to look at as she had imagined.  His shoulders were broad, with biceps chiseled from years of hard farm work.  His abs were delicious; it was the best word she had for them.  In the back of her mind, she knew that in another situation she would want to wrap her hands around his hips and lick a path from his abs to his mouth.
     
    “We’ve got to get you warm,” Willis told her.
     
    “I’m fine,” Charlie told him – or at least, she tried to.  Her teeth were chattering together so much, she had no idea if he understood her.  She hadn’t realized she was doing it.  She looked down at her hand and realized it was shaking.  She was shivering all over.
     
    Willis took her by the shoulders.
     
    “Shit, you're burning up!” she cried out.
     
    “No, that’s because you’re so cold, baby.”  He leaned forward and kissed her forehead.  His lips were on fire too.  
     
    Willis let her go to grab a blanket from the couch.  He wrapped her up in it, then picked her up as if she weighed nothing.
     
    “Hey,” she muttered.
     
    “Seemed easier.”  He flashed her a cheeky grin.
     
    He set her down gently in the bathroom.  “Sit here,” he told her.
     
    Charlie gracelessly plopped on the toilet while Willis started up the bath.  He leaned down and kissed her again before padding out of the bathroom.  She watched his muscled backside with a detached enjoyment.  She was so cold, she felt warm.  It was such a strange feeling, and it was sucking up all her energy to think.  Which was a bad thing.
     
    Willis came back.  She was so tired, Charlie had no idea if he had been gone seconds or moments.  
     
    “Clothes,” he explained and dropped a pair of sweatpants, a sweatshirt, and giant wooly socks by the sink.  “All right.  Bath’s ready.  Can I dig you out of that blanket?”
     
    She nodded and tried to help as best she could.  Willis carefully helped her up and held onto her arms as she started to put one foot in the bath.  “Fuck, that’s hot!” she cried.
     
    “I know it feels that way, but it's barely bathwater warm.”  He kissed her cheeks as tears sprung up in Charlie’s eyes.  “Come on, in you go. It’ll make it better, I promise.”
     
    Willis slowly lowered her into the warm bath, wet underwear and all. It was too warm, at first.  It felt like needles stabbing into her toes and her legs, then her fingertips once she got herself fully under the water.  She knew she was crying.  Willis made soothing noises as he