Free Claimed At First Sight (Curvy BBW Paranormal Bear Shifter Romance) by Evelyn Grey Page A

flicked south and my stomach clenched as my gaze ran over them. 
     
    What was it he asked?  Oh that’s right, my name.  I was severely distracted, because ‘yum’ was the only thing that came to mind. 
     
    “I…um,” my jaw tightened as the four of them watched me struggle to spit out my name. 
     
    The tall one was grinning now, and his gaze raked up and down my flesh as he waited for my reply.  I had completely forgotten that I was wearing nothing but a bikini; a much too small, only-wear-it-in-private-when-you’re-working-on-your-tan sort of bikini. 
     
    I crossed my arms over my chest instinctively and bit my lip.  “Layla,” I finally squeaked.
     
    “A beautiful name for a beautiful young woman,” he said, never taking his eyes off my hips. “We’re the Ash Ridge Search and Rescue Crew.”  He drew his gaze slowly back to mine.  “We work the forest between Waynesville and Black Mountain.  I’m Case.  This is Lucas, Micah, and John.”  He extended a hand for me to shake, revealing a dark tattoo on his arm. 
     
    Hmmm…that tattoo , I thought to myself as I examined his arm.  It was exactly like the one Gerri had!  My eyes flashed to the other three, each of them displaying the same ink job.  “Hey, your tattoos! It’s just like my friend’s,” I said with surprise.
     
    “Who’s your friend?” Micah asked with alarm, looking past me with an expression that startled me.  It wasn’t curiosity as much as it was angry recognition.  His eye twitched and his hands balled into tight fists. “Gerri?!” he roared, his brows drawing down with a look of irritation as he darted past me.
     
    I tried to follow him, but Case stopped me in my tracks with a firm grip on my shoulder.  “Don’t worry, he won’t hurt her.” His eyes were a brilliant shade of light green, a beautiful, glowing, calming green.
     
    I inhaled sharply, shivering against the heat that emanated from his touch.  The sensation drew something primal from my core, sending thrills radiating up my arm and drawing my nipples into hard little buds. 
     
    “The two of them grew up together and were mated when she disappeared.” 
     
    “Mated?!” I gasped. 
     
    Lucas and John shot Case an icy glance.  “Married,” Case corrected himself, nodding back towards the water. 
     
    Holy hell, I thought nervously.  Gerri had never mentioned anything about being married!  But then, Gerri never spoke much about herself in general.  Getting her to open up was a lot like pulling teeth.
     
    “We should get her out of here,” John whispered to Lucas and Case as all three of them moved their massive bodies in such a way so as to obscure my view of Gerri.
     
    “Get me out of here?”  I protested.  “Not a chance, not until I know she’s ok.” 
     
    Just then a sound that was neither human nor friendly tore through the sultry mountain air.  I writhed under Case’s grip, my only good fortune being that I had lubed myself up in baby oil just before coming ashore.  I had no idea that the next few seconds would change my life--but then, how could I have?
     
    Two bears now thrashed in the water; Gerri’s raft was empty and Micah was nowhere in sight. 
     
    “Where is she?!”  I screamed with horror.  “You have to help them!” I cried, my knees beginning to shake as Case drew me into his arms and held me against him.
     
    “Gerri is a shifter,” Case said calmly, his free hand stroking the side of my face gently, the way a parent would soothe a child. 
     
    If it weren’t for the remnants of her swimsuit, I wouldn’t have guessed what he meant. But strung around the leg of a bear was the shiny gold bikini Gerri had been wearing.  I shook my head in confusion as Gerri and Micah emerged from the water, the two of them growling at one another, teeth barred viciously. 
     
    “Stop him,” I pleaded, horrified as the two bears began tumbling over one another in what looked like an attempt to rip one