Free Grizzly - Bundle Parts 1-3 by Emerald Wright

Cass. We were not anything to compare against a dying marriage, and I was damned if I’d sit passively by, watching another man and bear shifter make his interest in her known.
    There was civility, bear politics and social propriety to consider after all.
    I finally found the courage to ask her to come outside and get some fresh air. It was now or never. I’d say what I needed to say and it would be what it would be.
    “Cass? Care to join me outside?” I asked when a moment of privacy arose.
    Her smile in response to my request, would have lit up the world if needed, which made my heart lurch in excitement.
    “Sure Abe, that sounds nice. I’m a bit warm. I could use some fresh air.” She said, fanning herself with her hands, pretending it was too warm.
    As we walked out to the back patio area, I grazed her back with my fingertips and gently push-led her while walking behind her. Sort of a reverse cowgirl, only with a light touch.
    Just as I’d expected, we fell into pace within that short distance and the electric chemistry between us damned well shocked my fingertips. When she turned around to face me, I was stunned as she lifted herself up on her toes, pulled my jaw forward, wrapping her hand around my waist and pulled me in for a kiss.
    Hot damn!
    Her lips were warm, the musky heat of want and need laced them with her sweet desire and I was consumed in a nanosecond flat. She pressed herself up close to me, the contour of her body meeting the contours of mine as if they were made for it.
    I was instantly rock-hard for her, my manhood wanting her immediately.
    As our lips, tongues and body swirled, laying claim to one another, I damned well completely forgot what it was I needed to say to her. I somehow managed to get my thoughts and feelings back to their center. To be coherent and take control, although I loved that she’d initiated and hadn’t waited.
    “Cass,” I said breathlessly, “There’s some things I need to tell you…”
    Her hot, soft, curvy body was murdering my attention span, doing wicked things to my manhood, and seducing me as fast as I’d ever been seduced.
    “Yes, Abe.” She answered, equally as breathless. “What is it?”
    I managed to ever-so-gently distance her a bit from my body frame, while steadying her on her feet at the same time. So much for worrying about her innocent flirting with Officer Rotan. I’d address it another time. What I had to say was more important.
    I sucked in a deep breath and blurted it out. “I’m divorced and I’m a shifter.”
    She tilted her head as if part of what I said wasn’t news to her. Then she tilted it again as if she didn’t comprehend or understand what I meant about being a shifter. The confused look on her face was as adorable as anything I’d ever witnessed.
    We stood staring at one another for a moment. She seemed speechless, but eventually found her voice.
    “I know Abe, Charlene told me you were recently divorced. Thank you for letting me know…”
    I let out a sigh of relief. That was good, it hadn’t occurred to me that Charlene might have shared that tidbit about me with her.
    “And the part about me being a shifter…” I asked softly, my entire body acquiescing to the awkwardness of the confession.
    She bit her lip, “Oh come on Abe, please don’t tease me. That’s just not nice…”
    She didn’t believe me. That I was a shifter.
    I didn’t know what to say or do, so I blurted it out again, “No, really Cass – this ain’t something I would joke around about. I’m a shifter. A bear shifter to be exact. Grizzly. I’m from the Yellowstone Park region. I figured it would be best to tell you sooner than later, before we got too much more involved.”
    I hoped the further explanation would help her get the idea that I was serious and not chiding her or playing pretend.
    She suddenly put her hands on her hips, looking as if she was somewhat hurt and angry.
    “Did Charlene put you up to this? Cuz if she did, I’m