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

gorgeous, rich, and capable enough to make a woman melt in his hands.
    But that wasn’t enough for Mara. She wanted someone to love her, and she was never going to beg for it.
    When they finally pulled up in front of the hotel, it was totally dark.
    “Let me walk you back,” he said.
    “Fuck you,” she said quietly.
    “Mara, I’m sorry.”
    “No, fuck you,” she said. “That was wonderful for me.” She felt tears start and swiped at them angrily. “But I didn’t mean for that to happen any more than you did.”
    His face fell and he gathered her against him, ignoring her struggles as he enfolded her in his strong arms.
    “It’s your fault,” she muttered.
    “I know, and I’ll take responsibility,” he said.
    She pushed away from him with angry eyes. “You don’t get it. I don’t want you to take responsibility.”
    “You want to leave me,” he said.
    “No, I want a mating with love,” she said.
    “I can’t give you that,” he said coldly. “I can give you protection. A home. More wealth than you could spend in a lifetime. I’ll work all my life to give you that.”
    “But not love?” she asked. “Not even when we’re mated?”
    His mouth tightened in a line. “I don’t see how that changes anything. I just don’t feel it, Mara.”
    She blinked, too hurt to think of a response.
    He took her by the arms so she couldn’t run.
    “Don’t misunderstand. You’re wonderful. Beautiful and kind and talented and more than I deserve. But it’s just not in me, Mara. I’m not like that.”
    “You could be,” she said. “But you won’t deal with whatever’s inside you that’s stopping you.”
    His face hardened. “So now what?”
    “Now you think about what you want,” she said. “This was half your fault.”
    “I want—”
    “Don’t you dare say you want to take responsibility.” She put up a hand. “I just can’t hear that again tonight. No, you go take a break and think about what you’re really willing to bring to the table, because we’re both stuck now.”
    “What will you do if I can’t love you?” he asked, looking as trapped as she felt.
    She sighed. “I don’t know.”
    He shook his head and released her to lead the way back to the hotel, struggling to keep up. When they got to the door, he leaned on the wall, not looking at her.
    “Good night, Mara,” he said.
    She didn’t answer. Just walked in and shut the door behind her. Then her legs turned to jelly and she slumped on the floor. Her body was still warm from his touch. She could still remember how good it had felt to be joined with him. How happy her animal had been.
    He was definitely her mate. And under any other circumstances, she’d be lucky to have him.
    But not like this.
    She put a hand up to her face as tears fell.
----
    T he next morning , something very odd happened to Mara. She felt like painting.
    She twisted the bed sheets in her hands, worrying the urge would disappear once she went to the easel.
    Still, she knew from working, even before the stalker, the best thing to do was to get up and try, even when you didn’t know for sure you could accomplish anything.
    And if nothing else, maybe she could try what Scott had done the other day. She rolled out of bed and changed, feeling somewhat in a trance. She went to the kitchen and peeled a banana as she looked out at the ocean.
    She heard a door open and close and looked up to see her Kim emerging from her room.
    The two women were as different as possible. Where Mara was short and shy and demure, Kim was tall and vivacious and loved to blurt things out that would make lesser women faint.
    Kim’s braids were an unruly mess around her face, and she looked like she’d been up far too late before returning in the morning. She muttered something about a sea captain and sat down at the counter as if she expected Mara to serve her. Mara just grinned and grabbed an orange juice carton out of the fridge and handed it to her cousin.
    “Thanks,” Kim