1. Sir, yes, Sir.

One

Sir, yes, Sir.

MARIE

Get a grip, Marie! Six months, I've been working for this man and my inner omega still can't handle all that's Maverick Ursinus. The alpha bear shifter is big, tall, imposing, and always frowning. He grunts more than he talks, scowls at everyone, and deadpans his orders in a low, gravelly rumble that has destroyed many of my panties.

It's just the hoe-mega in me , I keep telling myself. It'll pass. I'll get used to the insane level of manliness Mav exudes. Uh-huh, sure . Thank God, I'm not due for a heat for a few more weeks, and I haven't had one since I started working here. But with the way my nipples pebble whenever I'm in my boss's vicinity, and how wet and swollen my pussy gets, I don't know if my scent-blocking underwear is gonna do the trick much longer.

I shake myself out of my dangerous train of thoughts, take a deep inhale, and push my glasses up my nose. Grabbing the pile of files we need to go through, I make my way to the vast corner office across from mine and knock on the door.

"Yeah," Mav growls from behind the heavy wooden door, and his deep rumble hits me straight to my clit. Lord…

I clear my throat and lower the handle, sliding into my corporate armor, my professional mask firmly in place.

"Good morning, Mr. Ursinus," I greet in an even voice that's so far from my inner turmoil, it's not even funny. "Are you ready for our one-on-one?"

Maverick nods, his dark eyes sharp on me, his carved, deliciously stubbled jaw ticking.

I firm my resolve, pushing one foot in front of the other, until I'm standing next to him, close enough for his intoxicating scent to fill my nostrils. Pine trees and pure male. He makes me want to roll in a pile of pine needles…

The intense heat radiating from his massive body spreads over my skin, making me shiver. God, I can't wait until he goes on his yearly hibernation trip. At least that'll put hundreds of miles between us. And I really need that distance, because the closer I get to my heat, the less control I have over my bear in the presence of this ridiculously tempting alpha male. She's never been like this. I went to school with other alphas, met plenty of hot guys in my twenty-five years on earth. Even dated a few. But the effect Maverick Ursinus has on my body is something else altogether.

I risk a glance up at him through my lashes as I spread the files out on his huge mahogany desk. His chiseled profile could be carved from marble, all sharp angles and brooding intensity. The silver streaks at his temples and threading through his dark beard only add to his raw masculinity. He looks like he was made to toss a woman over his shoulder and carry her off to his lair. And damn if that deep, primitive part of me doesn't want exactly that.

I swallow hard, trying to tamp down the desire simmering in my veins. He's my boss, for heaven's sake! Mooning over him like a starry-eyed fool can only bring trouble. I need to focus on my job, not indulge in forbidden fantasies about all the wicked things Maverick's big hands and sexy mouth could do to me.

But it's not easy when he's right here, larger than life, and so fucking mouthwatering. When I can feel the weight of his gaze on me like a physical touch, setting my skin on fire. When every cell in my body is aware of his presence, craving his touch.

‘Get a fucking grip, Marie!' I scold myself. ‘ You're a professional, not some silly omega who can't control herself!'

Straightening my spine, I launch into our agenda for the day, determined to ignore the way Maverick's woodsy scent wraps around me like a lover's embrace. The sooner I get through this meeting, the quicker I can go back to the safety of my own office.

And the sooner my sexy as fuck, scowling boss will be hundreds of miles away, the better for my poor neglected, overstimulated libido. I just hope I can survive until then without doing something monumentally stupid. Like beg Maverick to throw me on his desk and show me exactly what his alpha bear can do with an omega who has it bad for him.

* * *

MAVERICK

When will this torture stop? For six fucking months, I've been enduring Marie's scent, the vision of her mouthwatering curves, the sound of her melodious voice haunting my nights.

From the moment she walked into my office, brought in by my former assistant who was going on retirement, I was fucking done for. Wanting nothing but to bend Marie over my desk, pull her tight skirt over that juicy ass, and pound into her tight, wet heat.

When I allow my wild fantasies to take over, I can hear her panting under my thrusts, see her neat bun come undone, her brown and blonde hair fly all over her face, her glasses go askew, cheeks hot, warm brown eyes glossed over, her heavy tits spilling out of her blouse. I can almost taste her. That's how badly I want this woman. And my bear? Fuck, my bear has been rattling inside me, growling and barking at me to fucking claim our omega. He's been so close to the surface ever since Marie came into our lives that I sometimes have trouble holding him in. I'm like a teenager who barely started turning and has little control over his inner beast.

I can't fucking wait until tonight. Lake Tahoe. My den. Weeks of hibernation. Nothing but me, my bear, sleep, and the wilderness. Far from Marie Flores, her enticing omega scent and her maddening body.

I've always been a grumpy motherfucker. Black bear shifter and all that. But the constant frustration this female has brought into my life has turned me into a complete mess. I'm always frowning, in a permanent bad mood. Growling and scowling at everything and everyone. I'm fucking exhausted. I barely sleep or eat. And it feels like I've been sporting a boner for six months straight.

Marie was brought over by her grandmother, Edna, when she retired. Edna Flores worked for my father before he passed down our construction group to me. The Flores and my family are tight. So, like a fool, I promised I'd take care of Edna's granddaughter. But that was before meeting Marie. Before the damn woman turned my quiet, boring life to complete hell.

I didn't know how fucking good I had it in life. I'm the oldest son of a well-established family. I come from money. And I always excelled at everything. I was top of my class throughout school. Team captain of my high school, then college rugby teams. I grew our multi-million-dollar family business into a billion-dollar empire. And women? They were just a pleasant distraction. Companions to share pleasure and good times with. Until she came along.

Now I spend my days in a state of constant partial-arousal, my dick at half-mast and throbbing every time Marie comes within feet' distance of me. Which, considering she's my assistant, is a fucking lot. Having her in my office is its own brand of agony - so close, but untouchable…

It's not just her perfect body that calls to me, though that's certainly a large part of it. It's her sharp mind, her quick wit. The way she challenges me and keeps me on my toes. She's not like any other omega I've met. Marie Flores is a fascinating mix of sweet and sassy, goddamn sexy and shy.

But I can't have her. I can't let myself cross that line, no matter how badly I crave her. She deserves better than a grumpy-ass, work-obsessed bastard like me. Mary deserves a mate who can give her the attention and affection she needs, not one who's shut off his heart for so long he's not sure it still works.

I shake myself from my dark thoughts and focus on the files Marie brought me. Signing each contract, reviewing data, and giving her instructions where needed. She's my executive assistant. My right-hand woman. Smart, efficient, and a fucking bombshell. She's excellent at her work, so I can't even use that excuse to fire her. Fuck. I can't have her and I can't let her go.

I run a heavy hand over my beard and force my gaze to meet her doe eyes. She looks calm and collected on the outside, but I can see it. Just under the surface. She fucking wants me too. Probably not as bad, because I would be able to smell it on her otherwise. But the quickening of her pulse when our eyes connect, the way her pupils dilate, how her chest heaves, round tits rising and falling. ‘ Ours ,' my bear growls, but I silence him. This female isn't ours, and she will never be. She's a five-foot-nothing beauty, ten years younger than my grumpy ass. Full of life, laughter and light. Our massive form would crush her. I bet her bear is a cute, prissy thing who wouldn't be able to handle mine. Fuck .

"So, you're going to Tahoe tonight?" Marie asks, the warm notes of her throaty voice spreading through my chest. I grunt my acquiescence. "Sounds like it should be fun. Letting your bear out for a while." Her gaze turns dreamy. "I wish my family's den wasn't so far." She lets out a small laugh, and the enchanting sound wraps itself around my balls like a sensual caress.

Fuck me. I need to get out of here before I do something really stupid. Like yank Marie into my arms and show her exactly what fun looks like. Show her she's the only den I want to bury myself in. Claim her so thoroughly, so completely, that every shifter from here to Alaska will know she's mine.

I shove back from my desk abruptly, registering Marie's startled jump at my sudden movement. Sorry, sweetheart. But there's only so much a bear can take.

"If that's all, Ms. Flores."

She blinks at my curt dismissal but nods, gathering up the files with quick efficiency. "Of course, Mr. Ursinus. I'll get these processed right away. Have a great trip."

Then, with one last lingering glance from those honey-colored eyes, she's gone. Leaving me alone with my cock hard as a rock and my head filled with fantasies about her fucking amazing body.

I slump back in my chair, scrubbing a hand over my face. It's gonna be a long fucking hibernation. Alone in my den, imagining Marie naked and spread for me, begging for my knot as I make her mine over and over… Fuck!

For both our sakes, I have to stay strong.