Free Hansel's Bear (Erotic Shifter Fairy Tale) by Yvette Hines Page A

been
shocked to discover he had culinary skills.
    Her sigh was low. “I’d like a cup
please.” She rubbed her arms over the sleeves as she faced him.
“One dollop of sugar please.”
    With a short nod he left the room.
Evidently she didn’t have a sweet tooth like him. In the kitchen it
wasn’t hard to spot the coffee pot on the small counter. The only
other thing beside it was a tall crockpot and a toaster. All the
appliances were new, another sign that the place had been given a
new face inside and out. He wondered for whom the place had been
made ready, especially in a town that didn’t open easily for
strangers.
    Pushing the power button on the coffee
maker, he opened one of the four cabinets to locate all the items
he would need to brew the coffee. His mind journeyed to the three
grandmotherly were-females he’d had the pleasure of meeting. Genma,
Octavia and Rita had shown him sincere kindness he’d never
experienced before—feeding him and ensuring he had a place to rest
his head.
    Don’t get used to
it, he warned himself, taking out two mugs
and honey as the pot began to percolate. He wasn’t staying in this
town. Just passing through. A lot sooner than he’d thought since
the Great Spirit had seen fit to present him with Greta at his
doorstep.
    Coffee done, he walked with two cups
back down the short hall to the front room. There were only two
other rooms in the place, the bathroom and the bedroom. He knew
there was a large bed inside from the short tour he’d taken before
going back to his motorcycle for his things.
    Don’t think of a bed while Greta is in
the cabin. “As you requested with one honey drop.”
    She gave him a small smile as she
claimed the mug he offered her. “Thank you.” Cupping her hands
around the ceramic she stood in the same place.
    “ Please have a seat. I’m
sure your bear could use a rest after being out and about.” He
waited to see which seat she would take before he sat.
    It didn’t surprise him that she
lowered herself into the single chair. She wanted to keep a
distance between them.
    Smart female.
    Settling into the center of the couch
across from her, he sipped his extra-sweet drink and allowed her
some time. She must need it the way she stared into her mug…as if
she were awaiting a small animal to pop up from its
depth.
    “ What’s going on inside
that beautiful head of yours, Blackberry.”
    Tilting her head up, she cocked an
eyebrow up at him, taking issue with the nickname.
    He gave her a wink and a small smile
and drank more coffee. He’d much prefer to see the spark of
annoyance in her gaze than the anxiety that seemed to fill
it.
    “ This is the
place.”
    To ask ‘what place’ never crossed his
mind as he leaned forward and set his mug on the table between
them. With the history between him and Greta, what they had
experienced together, some clarifications weren’t
necessary.
    “ How did it happen?” He
rested his elbows on his knees and stared at her.
    She wasn’t looking at him anymore, she
had her gaze fixed on one of the bare walls.
    Even though the cabin had been
refurbished it only held the basic items within…no extra décor or
knickknacks people usually set around their homes.
    “ A game of hide and seek
gone wrong.” She looked at him. “I didn’t know there were others
out in the woods seeking besides the other Were-children playing
with me.”
    Allowing her to work out how far she
wanted to go with the story, he maintained his silence.
    “ We came here all the time
during the summer months. Running and playing in the woods, we
weren’t allowed out this far. But rebellious as most youth, testing
their limits, we skirted Den County’s boundaries more than we
should have. We were always in a group…we thought that would keep
us safe.” She lifted her drink to her lips, taking a fortifying
sip.
    Greta needed it.
    He noticed the slight trembling of her
hand. “You all should have been safe.”
    She shook her head. “It was