Free For Shift's Sake: Paranormal shapeshifter alpha werebear soldier BBW romance by Mina Carter

your ass back here, instead of sending a bodyguard!”
    Pulling the phone from her ear, she ended the call with a savage jab of her thumb. Not as satisfying as slamming the phone down, but it would have to do for now.
    “You okay, sweetheart?” Reese’s sleep roughened voice sounded behind her. She spun to pin him with a hard gaze.
    “Yeah, I’m just fine and freaking dandy.”
    His eyes narrowed at her tone and he straightened a little in the doorway. Wary. Watching her. Ha! As well he should. Fucking men and their lies. Clad in just his boxers, everything female in her wanted to pay attention to the big, hard body, but she ignored it. That was how assholes like this got around women like her. By flashing their muscles.
    “When were you going to tell me? Huh?” She would not cry. Hot tears prickled her eyes, but she held them back. No way. No how. In front of an asshole like this.
    “Tell you what, sweetheart? Who was on the phone?”
    That did it, her temper boiled over. “Don’t you fucking sweetheart me, and you know full well who that was. Danny. My brother. The one who sent you here.”
    His eyes widened a little, but she didn’t miss the guilt that flitted across his features before disappearing. “Ah.”
    “Yeah. ‘Ah.’ So what was it? An easy booty call?” She demanded and slammed the mug down on the counter. It was that, or pitch it at his head. Since it was her favorite mug, she slid out of harm’s way.
    “No! What kind of man do you think I am?” His voice rang with anger, and he took a step forward. She stopped him with a raised hand.
    “I don’t know. That’s just my point. I’ve talked about my brother, about Danny, and you didn’t mention jack shit. So what else you hiding from me? What else didn’t you think to mention?”
    He opened his mouth; she could practically see the cogs working behind his eyes. She huffed. “You know what, fucking forget it… This was a mistake. I’m taking a shower, then going to the wholesalers. Be gone when I get back, okay?”
    And with that, she swept past him and stomped to the bathroom.
     
    ***
     
    Shit. He really fucked up things with Bobbi. Reese watched as she stormed out of the house after her shower, still without talking to him. He growled and went to slam his fist into the wall before he remembered he was in Bobbi’s house and plaster didn’t stand up well to ursanthrope strength.
    “ FUCK!” he yelled instead, turning in a circle before rubbing both hands over his close cropped scalp and closing his eyes. He was an idiot. Why the fuck hadn’t he told her that he was Danny’s friend? What harm would it have done?
    Her scent surrounded him, teasing the man and making his bear growl in frustration. Erotic memories replayed through his mind on continuous repeat. Last night had been the best night of his life. He’d never known sex could be like that. So…earth shattering. Every touch, every stroke. He’d never felt so connected to a woman. Ever. Never felt that soul-deep connection with anyone, anything, other than his bear. To have that with someone else.
    He sighed and opened his eyes. Now he understood why male bears would do anything for their mates. Anything. She was the only thing that mattered. His life had gone from concern for international safety, down to the wellbeing of one small, curvy woman. And he’d move heaven and hell to make sure she was happy.
    Later. Because right now she was pissed as hell at him. He had to make it up to her. Turning, he walked toward the door and opened it to leave before he realized there were no keys.
    “What the hell?” he looked at both sides of the door before realizing Bobbi must have taken them. Leaving him without a way to lock up. “Well, shit.”
    He wasn’t going anywhere. Not yet. Crime rates in Banford weren’t at inner city levels but he still wasn’t comfortable leaving Bobbi’s home unsecured. Turning, he walked across the small space and flicked the kettle on.
    A couple