Free Bearly Consenting: Russet Falls Series by W.H. Vega

handful of reporters.
    Drew smoothed down his tux and gave a tight smile. He was
used to this. He moved in front of the obnoxious backdrop that had been added
for photo-ops and pulled Avery next to him.
    She was looking around with surprise, clearly not used to
the cameras.
    “This is Avery,” he said kindly to the reporters.
    They continued to snap away and then Drew gently tugged
Avery’s hand and pulled her towards the door. He gave a small grin to the
photographers and put his hand up in a short wave.
    “Is that normal?” Avery gasped as they walked inside the
mansion.
    “Unfortunately, yes. These events usually always have press
and photos.” He didn’t get a chance to say anymore because they had entered the
ballroom, and Avery stopped dead in her tracks to admire the room.
    “Wow,” she breathed.
    Drew was used to these events, but he had to admit that this
one was spectacularly decorated. The theme was Evening Garden and
everything had a very upscale tea-party theme. The room was lavishly laid out
with shrubbery, vines and small flowers, along with twinkling lights and
expensive crystal.
    He nodded his approval.
    He saw a business associate headed his way, though he didn’t
feel like talking and he quickly nudged Avery towards their table.
    “This way.”
    They found their places and Avery sat her bag down, still
looking around the room in amazement. It allowed Drew a moment to admire how
beautiful she looked. He knew that she would garnish a ton of attention in that
incredible dress.
    The gown fit her like a glove, and he would have to
personally thank Vera for taking such good care of her.
    He wanted to whisk her into a corner and talk to her more,
to learn more about her life, but he knew he would need to socialize first.
    Business first, pleasure second—it had been his motto for
the past seven years.
    “I need to make the rounds,” he apologized.
    Avery stared at him blankly.
    “I need to walk around and talk to people,” he explained.
    Avery giggled. “Oh, right. Sorry.”
    She linked her arm through his elbow as a second thought and
then she froze, catching herself.
    “Is that okay?”
    Drew’s bear roared to life as he filled with his old desire
for her.
    “It’s more than okay,” he said huskily, pulling her arm back
into the crook of his elbow. He led her to the other side of the room,
practically nuzzling her neck. She smelled so damn good and he cracked his neck
from side to side trying to keep his bear at bay.
    Avery eyed him suspiciously. “Are you angry?”
    “No,” he said quietly.
    “Then why is your bear-’’ she stopped herself mid-sentence.
She must have remembered Drew’s other trigger.
    “Forgive me, but you look so amazing tonight. It’s hard to not think about that,” Drew explained.
    Arousal was nearly as big a trigger as anger for him.
    Avery blushed bright pink.
    “Don’t be embarrassed,” Drew said quietly as they approached
one of the board members of the event. “I’ve always found you incredibly sexy.
Especially so now.” Then he smiled and reached out to give the older lady in
front of them a kiss on the cheek.
    “Elsa,” he said warmly, “How are you? You’ve outdone
yourself tonight.”
    The older woman smiled, brushing back a stray silver hair.
“Why thank you, Drew. Of course none of this would be possible without you.”
    Avery didn’t seem to miss a beat, and Drew felt her stiffen
next to him.
    “And who is this lovely lady?” Elsa asked kindly.
    “Elsa may I introduce you to Avery Monroe.”
    “Hello. Nice to meet you,” Avery said politely, reaching out
to shake the woman’s hand.
    “Likewise. And what do you do?” Elsa asked curiously.
    “I teach Kindergarten,” Avery explained.
    Elsa clapped her hands together. “How delightful!” she
exclaimed, “Well done, Drew!” she complimented him.
    Drew rolled his eyes internally. He knew that Elsa was
probably relieved not to see him with a gold-digger or a worthless