Free One in a Bear-llion (Polar Heat Book 3) by Terry Bolryder Page A

reason— Damn. He’d come inside her. Without protection.
    They were mated.

7
    “ W hat do you mean a mistake ?” she asked, coldness moving through her.
    He finished putting on his clothes and tossed hers to her. “You know what I mean. I saw it in your eyes when you realized it.”
    “I don’t see why it has to be such a mistake.”
    He snarled at that. “Oh, you’d like that, would you? Like to trap me.”
    She felt anger rise inside her. Well, he’d told her to get angry. Now he couldn’t get mad if it were directed at him. “Who do you think you are? You were just as caught up as I was. It takes two to tango, punk.”
    “You could get pregnant,” he said.
    “It’s not my time,” she said. “So don’t worry about it.” She started changing into her clothes, hating he was ruining her afterglow with his anger. “I’m a big girl. I can take care of myself.”
    “Except you can’t, because there’s a psycho on the loose.”
    “That’s right,” she said. “You’re insisting on getting involved with my stalking situation even at risk to yourself, but you think accidentally mating me is the worst thing that could happen.”
    “It is for me,” he said in a low voice.
    His words stabbed her. “What?”
    “Nothing,” he said. “Don’t worry. I’ll take responsibility.”
    “What?” She gaped at him. “You’re kidding.”
    “No,” he said. “You’re right. It’s my fault too. I’ll take care of you.”
    That’s it. She’d thought she was angry before, but right now, she was ready to go on a she-bear rampage. “You arrogant ass! I have a choice in this too, and I don’t have to stay with you.”
    His face tightened. “Fine.”
    She swallowed. Could they really separate. Shifters were known to stay together once they were mated. To be separated was supposed to be torture. But that was probably mostly because there was usually love between them.
    And there was none between her and Scott. She thought she could have loved him, especially when he’d been inside her, showing so much care. Or when he’d been helping her paint, or promising to take care of her.
    Or taking her here, to let her bear out. There was such a soft part of him. So warm and inviting. But then it was buried under this avalanche of ice, leaving him untouchable.
    “You can take me back,” she said haughtily. “I’m ready for bed.”
    His face fell slightly, and it was a little reassuring to see him feeling as shitty as she did. He’d taken something beautiful between them and thrown shit on it. And yes, it was a shock for both of them, but he’d made it out like he was the victim and she was just begging for a mate.
    All she’d done was give in to the animal inside her and the liquid lust he caused in her. And he acted like she was trying to ruin his life.
    And she was supposed to be grateful if he agreed to let her continue ruining it?
    He watched her warily as she glared at him. Finally, she stomped past him and quietly waited for him to unlock the car door. Then she got in, feeling sticky and stiff as she put on her seatbelt.
    “Mara, I just need time to adjust.”
    “Oh, you need time all right. But not with me. Take me home.”
    He sighed and started the car. Part of her was hurt that he wouldn’t fight her on it. He really didn’t feel what she did. He really hated what they’d done.
    It was serious; this she knew. She wouldn’t know how much until she got home and called her mom to ask what she knew about fated mates, if that’s what she and Scott were.
    Her mom and dad had a slow and steady courtship with a careful mating ceremony presumably after their human marriage.
    That wasn’t at all how things had unfolded between her and Scott. He’d made it clear he could only offer a roll in the hay, or grass, as it were. And she’d made it clear she wasn’t demanding more from him.
    Which is what made it so ridiculous that he thought she’d want to trap him. Who did he think he was? Sure, he was