Free Furever Mated (BBW Paranormal Shifter Romance) by Meredith Clarke

having some fun,” Blair said. Scarlett jumped at her voice.
    “Blair? What are you doing here?” Scarlett asked.
    Blair walked out of Scarlett’s bedroom. “I was worried about you,” she said. “You know me, always the protective one.” Scarlett walked up to Blair and gave her a hug.
    “Thanks for being protective, B.”
    Blair moved over to the couch and sat down. “So, tell me about him.” A huge smile spread across Scarlett’s face. She sat down on the couch next to Blair and told her about the night at the library and her night on the beach.
    Blair let out a laugh. “And you were so upset when you first got here. See, a fling like this is going to be great for you.”
    Scarlett smiled. Meeting Kurt had made this vacation worth it. Scarlett knew she was already in trouble, though, because she was falling and falling fast for the sexy clan leader. This can’t be just a fling , Scarlett thought.

13

Kurt
    K urt lounged on the private dock of his bungalow and closed his eyes. Flashes of Scarlett’s body underneath his went through his mind. He loved the way her breath caught when he had pushed himself inside of her. She had this sweet, innocent exterior, but once he got his hands on her, her wild side rushed to the surface and Kurt couldn’t get enough of it.
    That night in the library was only supposed to be a one-time thing. He had been drinking heavily and that morning he regretted what he had done. Yes, he had loved her touch, but he didn’t think it was real. It was just the booze that was making him feel the way that he did.
    When he saw her that next day at the beach something changed inside of him. A force deep inside him called out to her and made him want to claim her as his own. He had to talk to her again to see what it all meant.
    After last night, Kurt knew that he was hooked. He had not felt this way about a woman since Callie, and that both surprised and terrified him. Callie would be happy for me , he thought. Maybe Scarlett was the start of an overdue healing process.
    Kurt looked down at his watch. He was supposed to meet Scarlett in half an hour. He pushed his large frame off the lounge chair and walked into the large bathroom and jumped in the shower. Water cascaded down his chest as his body melted under the heat of the shower. Kurt let the water rush down him and he imagined that with it went the pain and anger that he had been harboring for years. Scarlett would bring him back to life.

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    K urt gently knocked on Scarlett’s door. His bear bristled inside of him in anticipation of seeing her again.
    Scarlett opened the door and walked out in a long, flowing beach dress. It was a green color which looking amazing with her hair and her eyes.
    “You look beautiful,” Kurt said as he leaned in to kiss her. Sparks flew between them, and it took everything Kurt had not to pick her up, wrap her legs around his waist and take her right on the porch of her bungalow. Kurt broke their kiss and grabbed her hand.
    Scarlett looked up at him. “So what is the plan for today?”
    Kurt smiled down at her. “It’s a surprise.”
    Scarlett let out a light sigh. “For future reference, I kinda hate surprises,” she teased.
    Kurt chuckled. “This surprise is worth it.”
    Kurt walked Scarlett up the path from the bungalows towards the water. They passed by several of his clan members chatting up various girls, and they all turned to stare at them. Kurt gripped Scarlett’s hand a little tighter.
    “Why are they all staring?” Scarlett asked.
    “Let’s just say it’s been a long time since any of my clan has seen me take an interest in someone.”
    Kurt led Scarlett away from all the onlookers down a path that led them to a secluded area on the beach. Palm trees covered the area from the sun, and in the middle was a large blanket with a picnic basket.
    “Oh, this is amazing!” Scarlett said.
    Kurt smiled happily as they lay down on the blanket. Scarlett immediately dove into the basket,