Free Bear Mine for Christmas: BBW Holiday Paranormal Bear Shifter Romance (Christmas Bear Shifter Romance Book 2) by Ariana Hawkes Page B

and Karen decided to have the Christmas celebrations at Madison’s place to make things easier for Elsbeth, so Elsbeth sat by the fire while the other four brought everything over and stuffed it all into Madison’s kitchen. Sophia was no worse for the previous day’s adventure and worked far harder at her chores than usual, as if to make up for the trouble she’d caused. Madison worked quickly and cheerfully, making pies, full of nerves and excitement at the thought of seeing Brock again.
    They stopped for a sandwich at lunchtime, and as they were starting up again, Brock knocked on the door, asking for the keys to the garage. His cheeks were glowing from the cold, and he looked rugged and tousled.
    “We’ve got some extra meat, and it’s all ready to cook, but we figured that we’d leave it in the garage as it’ll take up too much space in the fridge,” he explained. 
    “Perfect. Are you guys going to come hang out with us now?” Madison asked.
    “Soon. We’ve got a couple more errands to run in the town first though.” Madison’s eyes were drawn to his lips as he spoke, the memory of their snatched kiss still fresh in her mind. He gave her a smoldering look that made her nipples harden beneath her bra.
    “We’ll be back soon,” he said, and he was gone again.
     
    *
     
    When the three guys came back a couple of hours later, laughing and joking, Karen decided it was time for more mulled wine.
    “It’s to fortify us against the cold,” she explained. They all sat by the fire and sipped them, while Abbey waited impatiently.
    “Are we going to play now?” Abbey demanded, the second Karen had finished hers.
    “Yes, let’s go!” Karen yelled, running for her coat. Sophia rolled her eyes, but put her coat on too.
    “Are you guys coming?” Madison asked.
    “You betcha!” Brock said.
    “I think I’ll stay and keep Elsbeth company,” Grayson said, and Elsbeth looked at him, eyes bright with delight.
     
    “Where we going?” Brock said as they left the house at a run.
    “Just to the edge of the park,” Madison yelled over her shoulder.
    “And why are we running?”
    “Family tradition!”
    As soon as they reached the snow-covered grass, Abbey aimed a snowball at Brock, which hit him on the side of his head.
    “Hey!”
    “That means she likes you!” Madison called. He laughed and shook the snow off his hair, in an instinctive, animal movement.
    “Hey, Abbey!” Brock threw one back at her very gently, which glanced off her shoulder. She shrieked in excitement, and bent down, scooping up more snow to attack him again. Snowballs started coming in all directions as Karen and Riley joined in, everyone laughing hysterically, throwing them so fast that some of them weren’t even properly formed and fell apart on the way.
    At one point, Brock hurled one at Madison from long distance, and it hit her right in the chest, narrowly missing her boobs. She tumbled backwards into the snow dramatically. Brock clapped his hand over his mouth and ran over to her.
    “Oh God, I’m so sorry,” he exclaimed, falling onto his knees. “I don’t know my strength sometimes. Have I hurt you?” Her eyes had been closed, but now she opened them to see that his face was only inches from hers, his own eyes full of concern and guilt. She couldn’t tease him any longer.
    “Nope!” she said. She brought her hand up and pressed a ball of snow against the back of his neck.
    “Ow!” he yelled. “First you trick me and now you’re trying to kill me!”
    “That’s just so dramatic!” she said.
    “Yeah? How about this then?” He grabbed some snow and tried to put it under her scarf, but it was done up too tight. Eventually he gave up, dropping it back down on the ground, and instead, his freezing cold hand brushed her cheek. She shivered. Time seemed to stand still. Keeping his eyes on hers, Brock lowered his head, bringing his mouth closer and closer to hers, until their lips met in a soft crush. She sighed as