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

away.
    Drew took a deep breath, trying to calm the angry beast
inside of him. His anger coupled with his desire for Avery was going to be too
much for him tonight. He knew that he would need to drive out of the city late
tonight and shift in the woods.
    “Everything okay?” Avery asked as he sat down.
    “Yes, I’m sorry.”
    Avery was quiet for a moment. “Everything is not okay, Drew.
I know you better.”
    Drew turned to her and clasped his hand over Avery’s slender
hand. “You’re right. Everything is not fine. But it will be. Just a disgruntled
business associate.”
    “I didn’t like him,” Avery said simply, “I don’t trust him.”
    “Good instincts,” Drew agreed. “He definitely should not be
trusted.’’
    They didn’t get a chance to speak again because the emcee
came out, a local news personality, and welcomed everyone. After a brief
introduction, he sat back down and waiters in crisp tuxes came out and began
placing tiny plates of salad and roasted duck in front of the guests.
    “This is so fancy,” Avery whispered.
    “You’ll be fine,” Drew promised.
    They ate their first course, making small talk with the
other two couples at their table. Drew knew one couple—the husband, Jack, was a
partner of one of  Portland’s biggest law firms, and his wife, Jennifer, headed
one of the bigger charities in the city.
    He could tell that Avery felt slightly out of her league,
but both couples were polite and Jennifer especially was going out of her way
to talk to her. Drew couldn’t remember, but he was pretty certain that
Jennifer’s charity revolved around children.
    As the plates were being cleared, the band began to play
again, and Drew took Avery’s hand and spun her out onto the dance floor.
    Laughing, Avery tossed her head back and wrapped her arms
around Drew’s shoulders. It was the most relaxed he had seen her all evening.
    “This is a little much, isn’t it?” he asked.
    She bit her lip, which always meant that she was going to be
honest. “Yes,” she admitted after a few seconds. “But I’m glad you brought me,
and its something that I will never forget.” She gave Drew a shy smile. “And
the company isn’t half bad either.”
    Drew whirled her around the dance floor, feeling her body
pressed to his. It felt so familiar and yet so different.
    “You haven’t let your guard down with me.”
    Avery shook her head. “What did you expect?” she asked.
    Drew was right. What did he expect?
    What did he even want?
    “I know,” he said softly, his mouth pressed to her ear. “I
just can’t let you go this time.”
    Avery pulled back and looked at him. Her eyes were sad but
resolute. “You didn’t have to let me go last time.”
    Drew had set himself up for that.
    He bowed his head. “You’re right. It didn’t seem like it.
But I did.”
    Avery nodded, her face a mask, concealing her true feelings.
    “But let’s forget for now,” Drew said, pulling her in close
once more. “Let’s just focus on this music, and you and I dancing.”
    He felt Avery relax as she rested her body into him, and
Drew tried to calm his bear.
    He pulled Avery close, smelling her, and his hands softly
rubbed her shoulders. He could hear her heart accelerate, and he smelled the
arousal on her.
    “Avery,” he groaned softly, pulling her body into him
tightly.
    He couldn’t help his erection and Avery moaned quietly as he
pressed into her.
    “Come on,” he said gruffly, yanking her by the hand and tugging
her off the dance floor.
    “Huh?” she cried bewildered, but she stumbled after him.
    Drew knew the mansion well, he had been to a number of
events in the various rooms, in fact, he hosted a few events here himself, and
he knew exactly what room he wanted.
    They turned down to small hallways, and then Drew pushed
open the second door on his right. His desire for Avery was overwhelming and he
could feel his pupils dilating as his bear pressed far too close to the
surface.
    He pulled her