Page 14 of Bear to be Wild
Which meant I had to break this spell. Being forced to share a cabin with the bear would be horrific.
And far too tempting…
CHAPTER 8
ROAN
Maribelle. In her cabin. In her shower.
Every inch of me yearned to slip closer to her, agonized to join her in there, so I finally gave up and left her room.
That didn’t give me much leeway since I could only roam a short distance down the hall. With my bear protesting leaving our mate, it wasn’t easy not to head back inside the cabin.
I paced and paced, but eventually the urge—and my bear—won. Striding back to her door, I turned the knob.
Locked. Of course it was—I didn’t have her key card.
Minutes dragged until she emerged later, looking more refreshed in a loose blue tunic and a pair of black leggings. Her silvery curls bounced, falling damp over her slender shoulders.
“What are you doing out here, bear?” she asked with a quizzical look.
I rolled one shoulder. “Just giving you privacy.”
She stared at me with an appraising expression, studying me as if trying to figure me out.
“What?” I asked.
“I might have misjudged you.”
“How so?”
She tilted her head. “I thought you’d be just another cocky, womanizing shifter.”
I edged my chin up. “That doesn’t describe me at all.”
She nodded slowly, keeping her gaze fixed on me. “Trust me, I’m learning.”
A twinge of hope flickered inside my chest. “Where to now?”
She cast her gaze down the hall. “Will you come up to the spa with me so I can try to fix my mess?”
The Serenity Spawas quiet aside from the low trickle of a fountain. The scent of bergamot and rosemary lingered in the air. Maribelle moved with weary determination, flipping through a spell book on the counter. She arranged oils and crystals with scientific precision. She repeated incantations under her breath, voice low and melodic, weaving her hands through the air as if knitting an invisible blanket.
I sat in a chair, watching, captivated. My bear, who’d been restless since we’d met Maribelle, went still, just as enchanted by her working magic. Not only was she beautiful, breathtaking, she exuded such power and vibrancy.
After several minutes, she sagged against the wall, her shoulders drooping.
“It didn’t work,” she said, sounding resigned. Her tired blue eyes met mine. “I’m sorry.”
I stood and took a few steps toward her. “It’s okay,” I replied, keeping my voice gentle. “You’ve had a long day. You should rest.”
“But—” Her voice cracked. “You know what that means tonight? If we don’t come up with another solution…” She pursed her lips.
I knew. I’d been picturing it far too often since stepping into her cabin.
Her eyes fluttered back open. “We’re going to have to sleep in the same cabin.”
My bear cheered at that idea, but I forced myself to stifle the enthusiasm and not get carried away.
