Free The Bear King's Captive: Curvy Paranormal Shape Shifter Romance by Milly Taiden

up. We’ve got to find a hiding place.” She pulled Ivan to his feet then stared down the aisle. She whipped around. Was one way better than the other? Damn. Just run.
    With no path to safety, they ran blind. Med bay door with the red cross--shouldn’t hide in there—too obvious. Down a set of stairs and along another aisle. After passing the same door twice, Leah stopped. Both panting for air, she pulled her mind from panic’s grip. She was responsible for the young life beside her, not just herself anymore. She couldn’t simply run and hope for the best any longer. She needed a plan.
    Ivan opened a wooden door and stepped inside a large laundry facility. “Wow, let’s hide in here.”
    Leah guffawed. “This will be the second place they’ll look.” Then an idea struck her. She grabbed a short stack of folded sheets on a table and told Ivan to do the same. In the hallway, she looked for stairs.
    Behind, Ivan followed. “Where are we going and why the sheets?”
    “Hush. We’re going where they’d least likely search for a while.”
    “Where’s that?”
    “Topside.”
     
     
    After finding a door that opened onto the upper deck, Leah led the way through shadows to the ship’s bow. With all the containers stacked so highly, no one would be able to see them from the bridge at night.
    The wind was noisy and cold. Ivan helped her drag rope off a tarp and haul the dark green covering behind several crates. They spread a long mound of sheets on the metal flooring and threw the tarp over it. Leah fiddled with the heavy drape until it looked haphazardly thrown onto ground. 
    Nearly frozen, Leah and Ivan crawled under, careful not to mess up the camouflage. In complete darkness and quieter surroundings, they shivered. Minutes passed before their breaths and body heat dispelled the chill.
    Ivan wiggled, shifting the tarp. Leah’s hand snapped out and pulled the covering back over the sheets. “Ivan, you can’t move that much. The sheets will show.”
    “Sorry,” he huffed. “Metal doesn’t make a good bed, you know.”
    Culpability settled on her. She had totally screwed up this kid’s life in a matter of hours. Par for the course for her. At least she’d been able to keep him from freaking out.
    Ivan cleared his throat, and a fake, low timbre voice came through the dark. “Ya know, I’m very mature for my age. My mom said so.”
    Leah’s brow rose. She didn’t like the sound of this.
    “I’ve been around the track a few times, ya know. I-In fact, several times.”
    “You mean, been around the bases?” An image of his group of “friends” popped into her head. Anyone needing to pick handcuffs and have mandatory tattoos couldn’t be in good company. No telling what boys that age talked about, but she was sure of one topic: sex. “Ivan, think of me as your mother.”
    “Ewww.” He scooted away. “How did you--”
    “Do you even know what sex is?”
    “Yes, I know what it is.”
    “Let me rephrase. Do you understand making love is between two people who deeply care for and are devoted to one another? Going around having random sex will not only get you in trouble, but gonorrhea, chlamydia, syphilis, and who knows what else.”
    Ivan remained unnaturally quiet, then suddenly rolled over and put his back to her. “Forget it. I’m going to sleep.”
    Her hand snaked toward the tarp’s edge and lifted the material enough to breathe fresh, salty air. Love and devotion only existed in romance novels where every man was Mr. Perfect: handsome, strong, and respected. He’d be kind and forgiving, stand up for righteousness, and protect the innocent no matter the consequence--like her dad did.
    Mr. Perfect would always do the brave and honorable thing. And make love to her like no other man could. Why did the damn image of Hannes come to mind at the thought of making love? She doubted the bear king saw her as anything more than a nuisance he needed to take care of.
    Leah shook her head to clear the