Bear To The Bone (Bear Claw Security 1) Read Online Free

knowing damn well it isn’t what I wanted, and you’re going to kiss me in front of your damn MC and act like I’m some kind of property?” She shook her head and pointed a finger at him. “I’m nobody’s property, and you know damn well I’m not going to be anyone’s old lady.”
    Though if there had ever been a man who tempted her to make an exception, it was Cage.
    His eyes narrowed to slits. His entire body was tensed as if to spring. She was clearly pushing all his buttons, but she didn’t care.
    Even though this Cage was more intimidating, more substantial than the Cage she’d last seen—a tall, gangly teenager with a cocky smile and a million dreams.
    Dreams she’d thought had included her.
    “What’s your problem?” he asked, throwing his hands in the air. “You knew I was coming back, and I did. Now you act like you don’t want to see me, just because of my choice in profession.”
    Her lips tightened. “You know it’s more than that. I had hopes for you.”
    “So did I, sweetheart,” he said sarcastically, taking a step toward her, his heavy boots pounding on her floor as he backed her to the wall, caging her there. “But life turns out weird sometimes.”
    She tried to stand straight, lifted her jaw stubbornly, unwilling to be cowed by him, even as her body nearly melted at his closeness. He was Cage, the boy she’d been in love with since she was thirteen and had walked out of the woods to meet her and become one of her best friends until he left at eighteen. He was the only man she’d ever really seen . He was here with her, and she’d dreamed of it for so long. Wanted it.
    But not like this.
    She put her hands on his shoulders to push against him, but he didn’t budge. He was like iron, like steel.
    His eyes burned down at her.
    “You’re mine,” he said. “You know that.”
    “Do I?” she spat. “You’ve been gone for years. You haven’t even written in years. I assumed you moved on. I’ve been fine on my own. At least I thought I was. But if you were going to come straight back here to wallow in your past, why didn’t you just stay here in the first place?” Her voice broke. “At least I’d have been with you.”
    He went silent then. She could almost hear the sound of something breaking. A wall in his mind or the tension between them. She didn’t know.
    He put a hand up and brushed her hair back off her face, making her suppress a shiver. “You missed me, then?”
    She bit her lip and let out a sigh, daring herself to look up into his eyes. “Of course I did, you idiot.”
    He cupped her chin and tilted her lips up toward his. She should say no, push him back, remember he’d betrayed her by joining the Aces.
    But she couldn’t. He was still Cage, the man of her dreams, and kissing him was everything she wanted.
    Just one. Just for now. She could wake up from this dream she was in then. Smack him. Yell at him.
    But first she’d allow herself to indulge in what she’d been wanting so long.
    She gasped as her lips met his.
    His heat was searing, reaching her core as memories of the past went through her. As his tough, strong hands wrapped around her, she felt completely safe, completely at home. Suddenly, it didn’t matter what he was doing or where he went. He was just Cage. One of the only people she’d ever trusted or loved. The guy she’d always had a crush on.
    Someone who was meant for bigger things than her. Someone who shouldn’t have come home.
    But he had.
    And here in his arms, she was home, too. She opened her lips and invited him in, wanting more of his warmth. More of the safety he offered.
    Even if this had to end sooner rather than later, she wanted it now.

2
    C age felt like a piece of shit for not telling her everything. The real reasons he was there, who he was now. But even though he loved her more than life itself, he knew he couldn’t.
    Not yet.
    Her lips were a cool drink he’d never get enough of. He just wanted to keep them joined