6. Briella

Oh my. I just agreed to mate with the hot grizzly bear. Since my heart has belonged to him since the second we met, I don't regret my decision one bit.

"Before this goes any further, I want to introduce you to my bear." He crooks his finger and leads me out into the warm night.

"Is this safe?" Weren't we just talking about the danger my stalker poses?

"Perfectly safe. This property is locked down tighter than Fort Knox," he reassures me. "I'm not worried about your stalker getting to you on my property, but I know you won't be happy staying here for the foreseeable future." That's so true. I'm already missing my Sunday morning flea market runs.

"I trust you." And I do. Totally.

I stand on the patio, watching while he rips away his clothes, and my girly parts start tingling. Oh my, he's magnificent in human form. "Shifting will shred my clothes," he explains, "and I really like those pants."

My mouth goes dry as I stare at his stunning, naked body. He catches me off guard a little when his body stretches and contorts. Kodi transforms into a huge freaking grizzly bear right before my eyes. Wow, he's gorgeous. I reach out and run my hand through his silky fur. Kodi's glowing green eyes meet mine from his bear form. "Now, I can see why you're so bossy," I tease as he rubs his furry body against me. "You're a magnificent grizzly." The bear grumbles and drops down on his front paws for me to climb on his back. Oh, man. "You mean I even get my own private bear rides?" His bear form rolls his eyes, which is something you don't see every day. As I throw my leg over his back, I realize carrying around my size fourteen frame is nothing for the massive grizzly.

After I settle onto his back, he slowly trots down the garden path I was eyeing earlier, giving me an up close and personal look at all its glory.

All too soon, he turns around and heads back to the cabin. He leans down again, and I hop off, already making plans for the next ride.

He shifts back to his human form and pulls me close to his naked body. His huge cock presses against my midsection as he kisses me. I melt against his hard body and part my lips to draw his tongue into my mouth.

His kiss takes things way past PG-rated, and I start to worry that we're making out in his garden. "Are you sure there's no one around to see us?"

"I own all the property for miles around, and I've set up cameras and sensors to tell me if anything or anyone comes onto my property," he whispers against the side of my neck before gently biting down on the sensitive skin. When he wraps his arms tightly around me, I melt against his hard body, ready to throw caution to the wind. With his massive erection pressed against my tummy, I have to fight the small amount of alarm trying to intrude.

Bossy Bear devours my mouth as I try to wiggle closer to his warm body. I give a little grumble of complaint when he pulls back and lays his forehead against mine. "We need to take this inside." Kodi lifts me up against his chest like I weigh nothing, "I'm not sealing our mating bond outside in my garden."

"Could we maybe still try out the garden some other time?" slips past my lips.

He chuckles and slips through the back door. "Anything for you." Kodi places a kiss on my nose before calling out, "Henry, lock down the house for the night and set the alarm system."

Behind us, a man's voice with an English accent echoes through the room. "Done, Kodi."

"Henry?" I snort and wrap my arms around his neck as he rushes down the long hallway that leads to his impressive bedroom.

"That's what I named my house security system."

"I like it."

"I locked down the property earlier when Kol came by, and now the house is secure, too," he reassures me before stepping inside the large bedroom and kicking the door closed. He sets me on my feet and looks at me with his gorgeous eyes. "I've spent the last two days, since I talked to you the first time, dreaming about you. The moment we met, I knew our souls already knew each other."

"Me too." I think I've always known there was a shifter out in the world meant for me. It's why I've avoided all relationships up until now.

He prowls over to me and pulls me back into his arms. "I need you."

My body goes haywire as my pulse skyrockets. "Then make me yours." I can't imagine my life without my Bossy Bear mate, so it's time to cement our relationship.

"I'm going to bite you here." He runs his nose around the area at the base of my neck where my shoulder and collarbone meet. "And join our souls together for all eternity. Be sure you're onboard with that because I'll never let you go once you carry my mark." He runs his tongue over the spot, sending sparks shooting through my blood. "My bear wanted me to fly to New York and kidnap you the first day we spoke on the phone, but I told the asshole to be patient. He's chomping at the bit to finish our mating. Once I let him off his leash, all bets are off." Sounds a tiny bit scary and a whole lot hot.

I take a deep breath and tell myself it's time to make my move. "Then make me yours forever." Giving the smoking hot bear shifter permission to bite me frees something in my soul.

"Once I give you my mark, our hearts and souls will bound together forever. Basically, a human wedding ceremony, except bears don't do divorce. Ever." I already knew all this from my sister's relationship with a wolf shifter.

"Quit stalling and bite me already," I groan as my patience runs out.

My Bossy Bear lifts my chin so I'm staring into his shimmering green eyes. His warm breath brushes against the side of my neck, causing my blood to boil. Kodi already owns my heart. Now, it's time to give him my virginity, too. "What are you waiting for?" When leans back and stares into my eyes, I see the fangs protruding from his gums and feel a tiny spark of fear, but the overwhelming lust coursing through me overrides my apprehension.