Bare Instincts: A BBW Paranormal Bear Shifter Romance Read Online Free

probably wasn’t wise to feel again, but he needed some hope and goodness in his life right now.
    When the song ended, he didn’t want to move. Tasha was different from the girls he hung out with. She knew him—knew his fears—at least until he’d turned thirteen. Then everything changed. She got big tits and his hormones kicked into high gear. He’d never understood what it was about her that threw him off balance.
    “Come on, Burke. The band is taking a break.”
    His eyes started to roll back in his head, but he tensed his muscles to wake up. “Okay.”
    This time, she grabbed his hand, and he was forced to follow. Burke never let anyone take the lead, but he was a bit drunk. As soon as he sat down, he polished off the rest of his drink. God that tasted good.
    “Hey, Lily!” he shouted.
    Tasha placed a hand on his. “You don’t have to shout.”
    He faced her. “I don’t?” His words slightly slurred. “How else am I going to get her attention? I need another Jack.”
    “Like this.” She raised her arm and pointed to him.
    The bartender looked up and nodded. Seconds later, another drink appeared in front of him. “Last call, big boy,” Lily said.
    “What are you talking about? It’s early. I’m just getting started.”
    “Then take it someplace else. We don’t cotton to drunks in here.” She ripped the bill from her pad and placed it in front of him.
    “That wasn’t very nice.” He raised his glass and downed half the contents.
    “Burke,” Tasha said. “Getting drunk won’t bring Tom back. Nothing will.”
    Well, fuck me .
    *     *     *
    Burke Devereaux wasn’t Tasha’s problem, but guilt would ride her hard if something happened to him on his way home. It wasn’t even nine, but if Burke went in search of more booze, there was no telling what trouble he might get into. “How about we call it a night and get out of here?”
    Crap, that sounded like a proposition, and that wasn’t what she’d meant. She planned to take him to his parents’ house, and once he slept off his drunk, his dad could bring him back in the morning to pick up his cycle.
    Burke fished out two twenties, placed them on the table, and stood. At least Lily would get a good tip.
    Wade piped up. “You’re leaving so soon?”
    “Got me a hot date.” Burke wrapped an arm around her shoulder.
    Oh, boy. She’d never live this down. Tasha pushed her chair back and got up. “I’ll see he gets home safely.”
    “Talk to you tomorrow, buddy,” Wade said.
    Because no one tried to convince him otherwise, the others must have agreed that he needed to sleep it off. Burke slid his arm around her waist, but she wasn’t sure if it was for support or pride after being cut off. If Chey and Storm hadn’t been there to keep Em company, Tasha might have insisted Burke stay since the bar served coffee.
    “Let’s go, party boy.”
    Tasha hoped she wouldn’t regret this. With her arm around him for additional support, she led him out of the bar. The air, while warm, was more refreshing than the bar’s, and she was glad to get away from the smell of stale beer and the stench of body odor.
    Burke half-dragged her to where the motorcycles were lined up. “Oh, no, you don’t,” she quickly announced. “I’m driving you home.”
    He laughed. “Sorry, sweetheart, I never spend the night. I’ll need my hog to take me back once we finish.”
    Heat flamed her face. He was talking about sex? She faced him and shook his arm. “Burke. It’s me, Tasha. Let’s get in my car so I can drive you to your parents’ house.”
    He placed his helmet on his head and stuck his hands in his pocket. “I don’t want to go there. Too much sadness. Can you imagine the fuss my mom would make if I came home with al..alcohol on my breath?”
    Yes, she could. Hopefully, his mom would lock him in his room until he came to his senses. The sad part was that Tasha understood why he’d had so much to drink. However, if he’d planned to get