The Royal Pain by MaryJanice Davidson Page A

the place had a fresh, clean smell.
    â€œHe’ll get a lady friend in here, will he?”
    â€œYes.”
    â€œHmm.”
    She was walking around with her hands clasped behind her back, just like a dignitary. A dignitary in spotless jeans, a spotless white blouse, and sneakers. Her black hair looked like a starless night against the starkness of her shirt and the cool white of the habitat. Her lips were pursed in thought, but it was too close to looking like she was ready for a kiss, and he had to look away.
    â€œSo, you’re hoping to get cubs out of the deal?”
    â€œIdeally.”
    â€œAssuming she accepts the fellow you picked out for her.”
    â€œWell…” He could feel the blood filling his face and told himself to grow the hell up. He was a scientist, for Christ’s sake, not a giggling high school freshman. “Polar bears are solitary, actually. So we’ll only put them together for mating purposes. She’ll have her own habitat most of the time. And they’ll—if they’re compatible, they’ll mate several times in one week.”
    â€œSo, they’ll do it again and again and again, and then she’ll go back to her own place?”
    He coughed. “Yeah.”
    â€œNow that is enthralling,” she said, and pounced on him like a big cat. He was so startled he staggered back, clutching at her, and they toppled into one of the snow banks.
    Her lush mouth clamped over his, and her arms curved around his neck. He clawed for air and gasped, “You must really be into polar bears.”
    â€œDr. Rivers,” she murmured, fumbling with his belt buckle, “shut the hell up.”
    He did, and tried not to gasp again when her chilly hands closed over his dick. Cool or not, he was very happy to see her. He fumbled for the buttons on her blouse and got them open with fingers that felt like flippers. Her breasts, pale white with rose-colored nipples, filled his hands. Her scent filled his nose; his face was hidden in the dark blaze of her hair.
    They wriggled against each other, working out of their jeans, and then her knees were on either side of his hips and he was thrusting up into her. She was tight, and dry, and, if possible, more determined than he was.
    â€œWait—”
    â€œNo.”
    â€œI can—”
    â€œIt’s fine,” she gasped.
    The last of the blood left his brain and cognitive thought became a thing of the past. Before he could do just about any crossword in pen, now his thoughts were reduced to: Yum smell. Feel good. Want more. Sleepy soon.
    He had to have been hurting her—hell, the friction was almost hurting him —but she didn’t seem to mind, seemed to be enjoying it. She’d thrown her head back and was rocking against him, bracing her palms behind her on his thighs. He groaned as his climax didn’t so much approach as gallop up to him, overtake him, bury him.
    â€œOh my God ,” he managed, as she stopped rocking, as she surged forward to look down at him and her hair swung into her face. “You’re an angel!”
    She grinned. “Keep it between us, please. I don’t think the Minot Daily News needs to know about my angelic properties.”
    â€œThis snow bank is freezing,” he complained. It was actually the first time he’d really noticed, but snow had gone down his collar and up his ass.
    â€œWhat a whiner,” she said good-naturedly, and climbed off him. In seconds, she had arranged her clothing and was standing patiently, waiting for him to get his act together.
    â€œWell!” he said brightly, brushing snow off his jeans. “That was…that was really nice. I’m sorry you didn’t—”
    She waved a hand at him. “I had fun. It was fine.”
    â€œYeah, but I think I had I more fun, physiologically speaking, if you know what I—”
    â€œIt’s fine, I said.”
    What was going on here? He frowned at