Free The Witness and the Bear: (Werebear Shifter Romance) by T. S. Joyce Page A

said, a growl in his voice. “I’m not going anywhere. You’re a strong woman, Hannah. Your life experience has taught you resilience. You’re a survivor and I swear to you, we’ll figure this out.”
    His fist tightened in her hair and he pulled her lips to his. Her arms wrapped around him, pulling him closer until she was burrowed against him. Warmth radiated from his smooth skin and even his warning growl when she pressed against his injury was half-hearted. Clearly, he needed to feel her devotion too.
    Lifting her, he hauled her to the bedroom and set her on the mattress. Urgent hands ripped her blood stained shirt from her shoulders and he dragged her bra away as soon as he was able. The zipper to her shorts ripped slowly before he pulled them off. Fingers fumbling, she helped him shed his pants and stretched up to kiss him. Gripping the sheets, she arched her back until her breasts touched his chest and he closed his lips over hers.
    “You’re so damned beautiful,” he growled, gripping her ribs and rubbing a thumb under her breast. “Tell me something. Anything you want and I’ll make it happen for putting you through this.” Nudging her legs apart, he slid into her. “Please,” he implored over her moan.
    “Never run. Stay and fight for us.”
    He winced and plunged deeper. “Done. I swear it.”
    She grinned and giggled. “You werebear swear it?”
    “Stop it.”
    “Stop what?” she asked innocently.
    “Making jokes right now.”
    “Or what?” she said, rocking.
    He pulled out of her, hovering just above her wetness. “Or I’ll punish you.”
    A frail whimper escaped as she pressed against him, only for him to retreat with a wicked smile on his face.
    “Your pout is irresistible.” He sucked on her bottom lip until it felt swollen. Plunging into her again, she cried out. His teeth grazed her shoulder and she leaned into his bite. A few strokes more and he spilled into her as her center shattered from the inside out.
    Screaming his name, she raked her nails down his back.
    “My bear,” she sighed as he pulled the covers over them and curled around her. She’d never felt so safe and adored in all her life.
    Riker was warm, solid and strong. Able to shoulder anything, including the burdens she’d gifted when she’d opened up to him earlier. He didn’t run from her struggles, but touched her, eased her fears. Bear or man, he was hers and she his.
    He nuzzled her ear until she smiled.
    “My mate,” he rumbled.

Chapter Nine
     
    The setting sun was doing an awesome job of shooting Hannah in the closed eyeball with a single obnoxious ray. Pulling the covers over her head, she escaped and tumbled onto the cold patch of bed where Riker should’ve been.
    When she lifted her head to search the room for him, a note fluttered in the breeze against his pillow.
     
    Duty calls. Meet at Jenny’s for dinner at six. I’ll try to get away.
    Benson
     
    Benson? How formal and cute. The alarm clock that shadowed the bedside table read 5:40 . Swallowing her disappointment at Riker not being here when she woke up, she rolled from the bed and blanched at the full-length mirror that hung from his closet door. Okay, thank God he wasn’t here to see her in all of her post nap glory. Rifling through her duffle bag, she pulled everything that might be appropriate to wear for a family dinner. She was nervous about meeting Jenny again, like seeing her naked in the forest didn’t count as bonding time. But she’d turned into a freaking bear. A bear. Gulping, Hannah clenched her hands to steady them. Riker was a bear. A werebear, and so was his sister and so was everyone else in this valley. Actual, furry, clawed, toothy, terrifying bears.
    The high of shock had definitely worn off.
    Sitting heavily, she pulled a pair of jean shorts from the bag and covered her chilled lap with them. She hadn’t thought terrible people like Stone and his men existed either, but they did. Her life and beliefs had already been