Alpha's Rescue (Shifter Ops 5)

“He just wandered in through the door and got into the fridge,” Lana is breathless. “Guess the bears really are bad around here.”

“You have no idea.”

I scoop her up and set her on the couch. “The doctor said I should keep you quiet tonight.” She curls into a ball, still looking traumatized. What else do humans need to be comfortable? I grab a blanket and tuck it around her. I can make a fire, but I need to collect logs. First I need to clean up. I rush to do that, making sure the front door stays closed. I don’t want any more brothers wandering in.

“Was that him?” Lana asks. “Was that the resident bad bear? He looks different from the one I saw at the summit. That one was brown.”

I toss logs into the fireplace and set the extra on their pallet by the wood stove. “No, that was a different one. He’s…he’s harmless. If he comes in again, just wave him off.”

She blinks. “That was incredible. You just chased him out.” She makes shooing motions. “Like swatting a fly.”

I grunt. Deep down, my bear preens. “Like I said, he’s harmless.”

“You were so brave. Like Bear Gryllis. Do you know him?”

“What? No.”

“Too bad. He’d be perfect to model my new mountain bear inspired fashion line. So would you, actually. Would you ever consider modeling?”

“Not a chance.” I frown at the pyre of kindling. Matthias said to watch for symptoms of concussion. “You know, the doctor said head injuries can cause behavior changes. Are you–”

“Oh, I’m always like this.” She waves a hand. “My brain jumps around and can’t sit still. Bentley says I’m feeble-minded.”

“Bentley.” I growl the name, and she laughs softly. It instantly becomes a sound I crave hearing again and again.

“You sound like you’ve met him.”

“No. Not yet.”

And he won’t like it when I do.

“I’m going to get you some Tylenol and ice for your head. Hang on a second, babygirl.”

She twists her head to follow me with her gaze as I go to the kitchen to retrieve a bag of frozen blueberries for her head. I return with a glass of water, the Tylenol, and the blueberries.

A smart bear would just hand her the things and get back. Keep his distance from the alluring human.

I guess I’m not a smart bear. I’m definitely a bad bear. Because I crouch beside my guest and apply the blueberry pack myself.

It’s not because I want another deep drink of her honey scent. Definitely not because I can’t get enough of her chirpy conversation or alluring pink braids. It’s more that my bear insists on taking care of her.

Although now I’m torn between lifting her onto my lap to cradle her head and apply the icepack and feeding her dinner.

But this is nuts.

I need to back away. Stop touching her. Get my bear under control. I force myself to stand and clear my throat.

“I’m going to clean up the mess in the kitchen and make you some dinner.”

“Do you need some help?” the sweet human asks.

“No, babygirl. You lie on that couch and rest.” I point a stern finger. “Doctor’s orders. And mine.”

I swear to Christ, her thighs slap together at my tone, like it turns her on that I’m getting bossy.

My dick instantly gets rock hard for her, and that’s before I catch the sweet scent of her arousal.

Oh, damn. It’s going to be a very, very long night.

Lana

Teddy mops up the egg mess with a wet cloth and then uses a real mop to finish the job. For a huge mountain man, he’s more than capable with a mop. Quick and efficient. Graceful, despite his size.

“What do you do for a living, Teddy?”

“Helicopter pilot.”

“Really?” I sit up taller to get a better look at him with that career in mind. I was picturing more like lumberjack or firejumper. Pilot is hot, too, though.

“Rest.” He points that finger at me again. The one that makes my internal muscles tighten and my panties get damp.

As the CEO of my own company and a multi-millionaire, not to mention a plus-sized woman, I do a lot of the bossing around. Is it wrong to be turned on by a guy who is bigger and stronger and far more dominant than I am for a change?

I smile. “What made you choose that career?”

Teddy shrugs. “I didn’t choose it. The Army chose it for me.”

“Ah, military guy. I should’ve guessed by that barrel chest.”

Teddy looks down at his chest with his brows furrowed. He gives his head a shake. “I’m going to feed you now. And then you’re going back to bed. Early night.”

“Yes, Daddy,” I say suggestively. He can daddy me any time. All the time. With alacrity.

He arches a brow, and I press my legs together to hide my quiver.

“Do you want eggs and sausage? Or something less greasy?”