Free Avenge the Bear by T. S. Joyce Page A

we’ll take the eastern grid next,” Ethan said. He slid a quick glance over his shoulder and froze, his eyes reflecting like an animal’s in the light. He straightened and faced her. With a twitch of his head, he said, “Unger, call me back when you’ve done the next row. We’re getting close to him. I want to know the second he’s found.”
    “Yes, sir.” The line went dead and Ethan twisted to return the phone to its cradle.
    “Hi,” she said as heat crept up her neck and into her cheeks.
    “Hey,” he said with a tentative smile. Leaning back, he rested on the table of maps, like he didn’t want to approach and scare her.
    That didn’t matter though. The room smelled strongly of bear and something heavy weighed her down the farther into the room she stepped. Bron did this sometimes too, when he was angry or hurt. She couldn’t think of any reason why Ethan, who was in the safety of the tower, was bleeding dominance though. There was no one here to posture in front of. There was nothing here to threaten him enough to have his eyes blazing silver.
    Fighting the instinct to flee, she closed the door softly behind her and dropped her gaze to the toe of his boot, like the wise woman she was. “What’s wrong with your bear?”
    “Does he scare you?”
    “Yes. Sometimes. You didn’t answer my question.”
    He stared out the window beside him for so long, she thought he wouldn’t answer. She couldn’t deal with the closed off secretiveness again. She’d done that with Trent, and it had hurt her.
    As she turned to leave, he said, “Wait. Before I tell you anything about myself, I have to know you won’t run.”
    “What does it matter? You don’t even know—”
    “You can’t use that as an excuse either. I’ll get to know you, and you’ll see who I am. Hear me out and try to understand where I’m coming from before you make the decision to leave.”
    “Okay.”
    “I want to take you out.” Head canted, he stared openly at her, as if daring her to look away.
    “I came here tonight to ask if you wanted to go to dinner in town. With me. Together,” she said, stumbling over her words. “I heard you were dangerous, and I wanted to find out for myself.”
    “I am dangerous,” he said without missing a beat. “You should know that before we go any farther.”
    “Will you hurt me?”
    He shook his head slightly, eyes never releasing hers. “Never.”
    “But you’re dangerous to others?”
    “Sometimes.”
    Okay, he was alpha and he hadn’t got to this position without fighting every challenger in his clan. He wouldn’t have been able to climb the ranks if he wasn’t dangerous.
    “I can’t go out with you tonight. I have to work here.”
    “Right,” she said, reaching for the door. “You can call me and we’ll set it up for some other time.” Why were her words falling all over each other and why in damnation were her cheeks on fire?
    “Stop,” he drawled, approaching her steadily. He closed the door she’d opened a crack and inhaled slowly. “Stay here with me.”
    “Bad idea, danger bear. The last time we spent more than thirty seconds alone, I’m pretty sure you bonded with me.”
    His silver eyes flew wide. “You felt it too?”
    “Like a mac truck. I owe you an apology for how I reacted. You tried to warn me and I ignored you. And then I freaked out like a psycho and cried and oh God, I’m going to stop talking now. Just…I’m sorry.”
    His nostrils flared slightly and he studied the door. “I…”
    He seemed to struggle with his words, so she said, “The last man I was with never told me what he really thought. Maybe not ever. I won’t run, Ethan. Just tell me what you’re thinking.”
    He cast her a troubled gaze, and a muscle in his jaw twitched as he clenched his teeth. “Want to touch you. You smell good. I wonder what kind of panties you’re wearing. I want to hurt Trent for not taking better care of you. I’m sad that he’s gone and his loss hurts you.