Billionaire Bear Shifters A Paranormal Romance Complete Series Boxset - Brittany White Page 0,59

would take over and she would be unable to resist its most primal urges.

Mate.

Her head pounded with it as Eric turned his head and looked into her eyes. He seemed a little sad and she looked away, hoping things weren’t about to turn serious. She felt good and warm and everything was balanced on a tightrope.

Getting serious would just tip them right over.

“Why did you leave?”

Eric’s question thundered in her ears and she sighed, rubbing her eyes. She got to her feet.

“We can’t do this right now,” she said. “Not after drinks and… Not tonight.” She spun around to face him and felt hot tears behind her eyes. “Please, Eric. Just not tonight.”

He was standing too close, the smell of him was hypnotic and she found herself reflexively leaning in closer just as he bent his head and kissed her.

18

Eric

Lydia melted into Eric’s arms and his bear, that had been roaring in his head since she’d sat down with him at dinner hours ago, wanted to bust right out of his chest.

You’re mine, he thought desperately.

It was his child self and his teenage self and his bear and his entire being that howled from every part of him: You’re mine, you’ve always been mine…

She tasted like whiskey and a little like chocolate and like her.

A long time ago when they were kids, just figuring the world out together, they had kissed. Eric had been ten-years-old and even then he’d known: She’s for me.

He considered it a personal failure that he’d never been able to convince her of it.

“No,” Lydia whispered against his lips and shoved him away and he felt his heart shattering in his chest.

He’d read her wrong. Again.

“You found someone,” Eric blurted out. He was breathless from the kiss. He got to his feet and ran his hands through his hair, wanting to shift again just to get all this awful energy out of him, and just to feel something less confusing. “Is that why you came to Black Bear Lake?”

“No,” Lydia said. “I came here because I had dreams about you.”

“Dreams?” Eric spun on his heel to face her, a terrible sinking feeling in his stomach. “What do you mean?”

“I’ve had these nightmares about you,” Lydia said. Her voice shook as she spoke. “They’re always the same. I’m watching you get torn apart right in front of me and there’s nothing I can do to stop it. I know enough to know that it means something. The fates are trying to tell me something. That you’re in danger. I just don’t know how yet. But I had to come here and do something about it.” She stopped rambling and took a breath, her eyes glassy as she looked up at him. “I’m sorry it took me so long to tell you. It’s easy to get wrapped up in things. Pretend it’s...like it was. But it’s not.”

“That’s why you came,” Eric said flatly.

He felt like a complete idiot suddenly. The night had gone so well. He’d started to believe that she’d really come back.

“Eric. That doesn’t mean-”

“That’s the only reason you came,” he said again, clenching his fists at his sides.

“Yes.” She ducked her head. “Okay, yes. I wouldn’t have come otherwise. I couldn’t. But I had to make sure you were okay. The nightmares were so real and even after so many years there’s no one, Eric… There’s no one in the world I care about as much as you.”

“Maybe you should go.”

His head was throbbing, his cheeks burning with shame.

He could have any woman he wanted. He’d been with super models and actresses and debutantes visiting the lodge for the winter or drifting through town. Michelle was practically throwing herself at him and she was both breathtaking and good on paper.

He could have any woman...except this one, it seemed.

“Eric,” Lydia whispered.

“I’m not in danger!” He threw up his hands, smirking. He had an urge to hurt her and maybe that wasn’t fair, but all he could feel was how much she’d hurt him. Again. “So you can go home. Or not. Stay here and ya know… enjoy the lodge. That’s fine too. Whatever.”

“I don’t want you to be mad,” Lydia said. “I know that’s not fair to say.”

“It’s fine.” Eric sniffed and Lydia hung her head as she slowly headed towards the door. “I shouldn’t have expected anything. You don’t owe me a goddamn thing. Really, stay here as long as you want.” He waited until she had the door open and couldn’t see his face