Authors: Ariana McGregor
“See,” Tara said, poking him in the ribs. “She was here, having a bath.”
Alex narrowed his eyes. “That doesn’t mean she was here the whole time.”
“Alex,” Tara said, exasperated. “Your mother didn’t do it.”
“What didn’t I do?” Anna asked.
“Kill the hitman after me,” Alex said bluntly.
“Alex!” Tara gaped at him.
“Oh, that,” Anna said, waving a hand in dismissal. “Of course I did that. Why do you think I needed that bath? It’s so hard to get blood out of your nails.” She bent her head to examine her hands. “Pretty sure I got it though.”
Alex sat down on the floor with a thump. “I’m going to have to arrest my own mother,” he muttered.
Tara gaped at the woman. Her mother by mating had just nonchalantly admitted to murder.
“Arrest me?” Anna asked. “Why on earth would you do that?”
Alex just stared at her. Tara looked between them. Nobody spoke.
The doorbell rang.
“Be a dear and get that, would you?” Anna said, looking at Tara.
Shrugging, she made her way to the door and opened it. Ethan stood there with another man. One she didn’t recognize. His light brown hair was scruffy and slightly long. Her nose informed her that he was a wolf shifter.
“Hey, Tara,” Ethan said. “This is my cousin, Kane. He’s with the Shifter Agency… even though he only just bothered to mention it.”
“I told you,” the other man said, rolling his eyes. “I was undercover. The whole point of that is that I don’t tell people.”
“Yeah, yeah.” Ethan looked back at Tara. “Can we come in?”
She glanced back over her shoulder. “Um… I’m not sure that this is a good time.”
“It’s important,” Ethan said.
“Fine,” she said, stepping back to allow them inside.
Back in the living room, Alex was still sitting on the floor, staring in horror at his mother. Anna, meanwhile, had found an emery board from somewhere and was calmly filing her nails.
“Agent Russell,” Kane said, walking towards her.
“Agent?” Alex whispered in confusion.
“It’s an honour to meet you,” Kane continued. “Your service record is absolutely legendary.”
“Service record?” Alex sounded bewildered.
Kane turned to him. His eyes widened. “Ah, you didn’t know. Your mother is an agent.”
Tara stared at Alex’s mother, who simply shrugged.
“All those times you went away and left us with Auntie Sharon,” Alex said slowly. “You said you were visiting an old friend who was sick.”
“I was working,” Anna confirmed. “Once you kids were born, I wasn’t as active. I just took on a few smaller jobs in the area. Once or twice I had to go a bit further and leave you with my sister.”
“So…” Alex said thoughtfully, “I don’t have to arrest you?”
“Arrest her?” Kane asked. “Oh, no. Her actions were sanctioned.” He paused and looked at Anna. “It was a little messier than we expected, though.”
Anna shrugged. “I was irked.”
Tara and Alex exchanged a look. He snorted first. Then she did. Before long, they were both howling with laughter. Her stomach hurt and she held it as she giggled, tears running down her face.
“I don’t have to arrest my mother,” Alex chuckled.
“Anyway,” Kane interrupted. “I’m just here for your report, Mrs Russell.”
“It’s on the table,” she said, waving a hand in that direction. “If you don’t mind, I have to finish getting ready. It’s bingo night.”
“One of the finest agents we’ve ever had,” Kane said, watching her leave.
Ethan exchanged a bemused glance with Tara. “You’re all insane,” he said.
Probably.
“My mother is an agent.”
“Will you stop saying that?” Tara demanded. She was starting to sound a little annoyed at him. Didn’t she understand how momentous this was?
“But I didn’t know,” he said. How could he not have known? He was supposed to be a detective, for crying out loud. Could they take his badge for this?
“We established that too.”
“I guess it does explain a lot,” he mused. It really did. It made much more sense than her being the ninja he’d always accused her of being.
“Do you think I should go home?” Tara asked, gnawing at her lip. “Maybe I should check on Sara.”
He reached up from where he still sat on the floor and tugged at her until she sat down next to him. He wrapped his arms around her, hugging her close, breathing in her scent.
“She wants to be alone,” he reminded her. “From what you’ve told me, she’s tough. She’ll be okay.”
“I’m not happy with her being alone, Alex.” She looked up at him.
“Then it’s fortunate that Dana is on her way over there with Fiona and Katie,” he said, smiling. “I wasn’t happy about her being alone either, but I knew she’d push you away and you’d try to be understanding and give her space.”
“Really? Dana, Fiona, and Katie are with her?”
“Yeah, Dana suggested it and I thought it was a good idea. You know what those three are like. Sara won’t push them away easily.”
Tara snorted. “I almost wish I was there to see her try.”
“Me too.” Alex grinned and then turned serious. “We’ll help your sister, Tara. All of us. It’ll just take time.”
“Or we could send your mother after the scumbag who did this to her,” Tara said, scowling.
“Tempting,” Alex agreed. “But then we go back to me possibly having to arrest my mother. I’m honestly not sure I can take her.” Actually he was starting to feel certain that he couldn’t.
“Good point.” Tara sighed and burrowed into him.
“I promise it’ll be okay,” he murmured into her hair. His hands stroked down her back, enjoying the feel of having his mate in his arms. Safe. Warm. Nibbling his neck? Wow, that was good. His bear had flipped over in his mind, legs in the air, eyes rolled back, and tongue hanging out. Totally shameless.
She bit down a little harder and he jumped.
“Are you trying to seduce me?” he asked.
She sighed. “If you have to ask then I’m obviously not doing it very well.”
“No, no,” he assured her. “You’re doing it extremely well. I just feel that I need to point out that my mother…”
“Ah there you both are,” his mother announced as she strode into the room. “Don’t mind me.”
“… is still here,” Alex finished.
“Now, you two have fun tonight,” his mother told them. “I imagine I’ll be out until quite late,” she added with a meaningful look.
She walked to the door and then paused, turning around. “Oh, before I forget. I called your brother and sister today.”
Was this it? Was she finally moving on to torment… er, visit… his siblings? He forced himself to answer with a casual, “Oh?”
“They should be here within the next few weeks,” his mother announced.
“That’s nice,” he answered automatically. Wait. What?
“Uh, why?” Tara asked, beating him to it. “Not that it won’t be nice to meet them, of course,” she added hastily.
“For the wedding,” his mother said, looking at the two of them as though they were a bit backward.
“What wedding?” Alex asked. He searched his memory, wondering who was getting married.
“Why, yours, of course,” his mother said, shaking her head.
“But Ma…”
“Alex Theodore Russell,” Anna said disapprovingly. “You are not having my grandcubs out of wedlock. I raised you better than that. Even your no-good father put a ring on my finger before you were born.” She paused. “About two hours before you were born, but it still counts.”
Too much information. He resisted the urge to slap his hands over his ears. His inner bear didn’t.
“Ok, I’m off to bingo,” she told them, as she swept out the door. “You can get started on those grandcubs now.”
Finally, she was gone.
“Did that just happen?” Tara asked.
“Yeah,” he grunted.
“So, what do we do?”
He shrugged. “I guess we get married.”
“You want to get married to keep your mother happy?” Her voice was incredulous. “You really think that’s a good idea?”
“She’s not going to leave until we do,” he pointed out.
“So, how soon can we arrange a wedding?”
***
Tara snuggled into her mate. Even though they were in his bed, which was much bigger than hers, she still lay sprawled over the top of him. His big hands smoothed down her back before suddenly cupping her ass and pulling her in tighter against him. She could feel the rigid length of him poking her.
“Again?” she asked.
He chuckled. “Yeah. You up for it?”
“Always,” she assured him, reaching up to kiss him.
She would never get enough of her bear. Their lips met, and she groaned into his mouth as he massaged the globes of her ass. She left her exploration of his mouth to nibble her way down his neck, revelling in the little shivers that wracked him. She reached his chest, kissing his flat nipples and working her way lower.
His hands grabbed her shoulders, preventing her from moving lower.
“Alex,” she whined, wanting to taste him.
“I have something much better,” he promised.
“Cheesecake?” she asked, sitting up straight.
He gave her ass a light slap. That probably shouldn’t have turned her on as much as it did. Alex’s nostrils flared, catching the aroma of her arousal.
“Damn, woman,” he growled, pulling her back up his body to capture her lips once more. He plundered her mouth as he rocked himself against her, his hard shaft rubbing between her legs, catching her just right.
“Mmm,” she moaned. She could feel herself getting wetter. Hotter.
One of Alex’s hands left her shoulder to slide down and cup a breast, tugging firmly at a nipple.
In reflex, her hips bucked, rubbing herself more firmly against him. The sensations took over, driving her higher and higher. Yet it wasn’t enough.
“More,” she whined into Alex’s mouth.
In response, he pulled her upright, positioning her over his shaft. She squirmed, trying to get him inside. Chuckling, Alex lowered her slowly, stretching her with his girth. So, so good. She took him in, a little at a time, until he was fully inside. They both groaned with pleasure.
“So perfect,” Alex whispered. “So completely and utterly mine.”
Slowly, she began to move up and down, driving them both insane with her leisurely pace. Alex’s hands remained on her hips, guiding her. His eyes were riveted to where her breasts bounced with her every movement.
She lifted her hands to toy with her breasts, noting Alex’s breath grow faster as she plucked and pinched. He began to move her faster, bucking his hips to slam into her harder. She wasn’t going to last much longer.
Alex moved a little, catching her at a different angle. Now with every thrust, he was grinding himself against her clit. Her eyes opened wider in shock and now she was panting as hard as Alex. Another rub against her clit. Then another. Then she was flying, the orgasm shocking and sudden. She could feel Alex pulsing inside her, finding his own release. When she regained her senses, she was once again sprawled over her mate. Come to think of it, that was how she ended up there to begin with. She lifted her head shakily to look at him.
“Wow,” she said.
“Better than cheesecake, huh?” he asked, a cheeky smile on his face.
“Now, now. Let’s not get carried away,” she teased.
An eyebrow lifted. “That sounds like a challenge. One I am happy to meet.” He kissed her gently. “I love you, little mouse.”
She felt herself smiling back. “I love you too,” she said. “You and your big ass bear.”
“My ass is not big!”
She giggled and lay her head on his chest.
“So,” she said. “I believe you mentioned cheesecake?”
Ariana McGregor has always wanted to be a writer but took quite some time to get around to it. She has a somewhat unhealthy fascination with things that go bump in the night. Not fear. More of an “ooh, I want my own werewolf” kind of thing. Well who wouldn't? It's like having a hot boyfriend AND a really self-reliant dog all rolled into one. Ariana lives in Scotland where there appears to be a complete lack of vampires, werewolves, nephilim, etc. Bah.
Ariana also writes less fluffy, more serious paranormal romance under the name Adara Anderson.
If you enjoyed this book, please consider leaving a review somewhere. It really does make a huge difference to independent authors and we always appreciate it.
Also, keep an eye out for future books in the Bearbank series.
Thank you.
Find Ariana/Adara online at:
www.facebook.com/AdaraArianaAnderson
www.goodreads.com/Ariana_McGregor
www.goodreads.com/Adara_Anderson
As Ariana McGregor:
Don't Moose With Her (Bearbank 1)
Bearly a Squeak (Bearbank 2)
Coming Next: Polar Opposites (Bearbank 3)
As Adara Anderson:
Téo (The Host, Book 0.5)
Markus (The Host, Book 1)
Coming soon: Anders (The Host, Book 2)
Bearbank, Book 3
Polar bear shifter, Sara Evans, has a problem. Accidentally mated as the result of an attack, she is struggling to deny her bear’s demands that she return to her mate. Her anger issues are becoming increasingly difficult to manage, and she fears what she might do next.
Life is pretty good for lion shifter Felix McKenzie. He manages to coast along happily, rarely worried about anything. Except his hair and that is truly fabulous.
A snarling polar bear with anger issues meets an unflappable, easy-going lion. Will he tame her temper, or will she get under his skin?
Coming Next
Bearbank, Book 1
Ethan is a police detective on the trail of the Shifter Stalker, a serial killer who preys exclusively on shifter women, stalking them for a while before turning on them. A lone wolf, Ethan doesn't need anyone. Certainly not a mate.