Free Aaron: Mating Fever (Rocked by the Bear Book 4) by V. Vaughn Page A

couldn’t help yourself around her, could you?”
    “What are you talking about?”
    Why do men think that if they pretend things didn’t happen they’re actually going to get out of it? I spit out, “Cherri.”
    Aaron frowns as he steps closer. “What about her?”
    I step back and shake my head. “Don’t you dare lie to me!”
    “Lie? No.” He shakes his head and turns away from me.
    His arm is firm in my fingers when I grab it and say, “Don’t walk away from me!”
    He shakes my hand off and turns to me with a snarl that shows his fangs before they quickly retract. I’ve never seen Aaron mad, and if I weren’t so angry it might scare me. He says, “I’m not going to explain myself, because I did nothing wrong.” His words sting, and I open my mouth to reply when he says, “I deserve your trust, Olivia. If you can’t give it to me, then we aren’t going to work.”
    I snap back, “I knew it was only a matter of time before you hurt me.”
    Aaron glares at me with bear flashing in his eyes. “Can you even hear yourself? You’re inventing an argument. I won’t live a life of one crisis after another.”
    I gasp as I struggle to comprehend how this became my fault. “I’m not about drama.”
    Aaron takes a deep breath and rakes a hand through his hair. “Right now you most definitely are. Think about what you just accused me of. I’ve got a sound check.”
    He brushes by me, and I stand still in shock. Am I wrong? I do trust Aaron, and I can’t believe I let Cherri get the best of me again. I’m Aaron’s true mate, and there’s no way Cherri can steal him away from me. My stomach knots as my anger fades. Aaron was mad. He didn’t act like he was guilty, and I grimace as I realize my mistake.
    Now the heat that burns in my cheeks is shame because I was a complete jerk to Aaron. I recall the way he growled at me, but most importantly, I think about how he said I was creating drama. I can’t make a scene in front of the band to straighten this out. I’ll have to wait until they’re done.
    Unfortunately, I get pulled into a power issue that requires my attention so the lighting will work right for the concert. By the time I finish, the crowd is cheering, and the stomping of their feet as they chant out for the band to play vibrates through me. I’ve got to get up on stage and introduce Second Sound before I have a riot on my hands. I make my way to the stage and climb on it to gaze out at the full arena of people. I close my eyes and take a second to gain composure before I make my way to the microphone to give my speech.
    I had planned on thanking the band and giving a little information about the charity the event is for, but the crowd couldn’t care less, so I make it short and sweet. “Help me welcome Second Sound!”
    The band jogs onto the stage, and I move down to my VIP seat next to Courtney, in the front row. She grins at me and says, “Killer seats. I’m going to stay your best friend for one more day.”
    I don’t have a chance to tell her I might need her strong shoulder before Adrian yells out to the crowd, and the band begins to play. Shame still smolders in my stomach, but I let myself enjoy the concert.
    Before the last, song Adrian takes a moment to thank our sorority for asking them to play, and gives a little information about the children’s education charity. He says, “On behalf of Second Sound I’d also like to match the money made tonight. But on one condition.” He glances over at me as a spotlight swings my way and makes me blink from brightness. Heat rushes through me as I recall the last time I bartered for A Phi. Adrian says, “Tonight wouldn’t have happened without Olivia Dalton, and I’d like her to come join us on the stage.”
    Courtney squeals as the crowd cheers, and a few voices chant my name. My feet thud up the stairs, and my hands are damp with sweat as I approach a smiling Adrian. Aaron joins him, and I gaze at my mate to notice he’s