Page 5 of Seducing His Mate

Once Trent disabled the alarm, he gestured for her to enter first. Numerous animal scents hit her, overwhelming her bear’s keen sense of smell. Several dogs barked, but within moments the occupants settled. Jenna followed behind Trent, wondering how a bear shifter, an apex predator, had the ability to work with domesticated animals.

She admired the width of his shoulders and graceful way he moved. There was an aura of peace around him she hadn’t noticed before or hadn’t taken the time to notice. Even with her, he was gentle and calm now that her secret was in the open. The situation brought a level of peace although she never intended it to. She even felt he cared. He had offered help when no one else had. He opened his home to her without knowing her. Maybe she had misjudged him?

Jenna shook her head at the direction of her thoughts. Do not fall for your rescuer, even if he is your mate and sexy as hell, she reminded herself.Wasn’t there a word used to describe that type of attraction?

This man used women for entertainment without emotional attachment. They were fated mates, but she still had a choice. Her mother told stories of women who chose to ignore their mate for different reasons. Those women usually lived the remainder of their life alone, but it was better than having your heart trampled on. Trent King was dangerous to her heart and mind. The sooner she concluded her business with him, the sooner she could start a new life. She had no idea how she’d do it with no money, but she’d find a way.

When he flipped a light switch and descended the steps, her curiosity got the better of her. She shouldn’t be here, and she shouldn’t be so trusting, but Trent was like a magnet. At the bottom he turned on another light, revealing a warm, tastefully decorated basement. Various shades of blue and cream lent a relaxing atmosphere to Trent’s personal dwelling. His scent saturated the space, sending shivers along her spine. A green smock lay over the back of the couch and several handsewn quilts, lending a homeliness to the room. Her gaze drifted to Trent for one breathless moment and lifted to focus on the walls. A feminine chuckle erupted when she caressed the smooth, grayish-blue stones. It was a bear cave, almost, except for the finer furnishings and modern elements.

Trent tossed his jacket over the back of the couch. “You laugh?”

“It’s a bear cave.”

Her savior ran one hand through his dark hair as a sheepish grin spread on his handsome face. “Better than a bat cave. Right?”

Jenna outright laughed as she strolled through the space, noticing the bed dominating the corner, a bathroom, small kitchen, and sectional sofa facing a large screen television. She glanced at the ceiling and the cement floor covered in numerous, plush rugs. “I like it,” she spoke on a yawn.

Trent placed her satchel at the end of the bed. “Thank you. I’ll sleep on the couch, and you can have the bed. I’m sure you’re tired. I know I am. Make yourself at home. I’m going to take a quick shower and then the bathroom is all yours.”

A bit uneasy, Jenna only nodded while Trent grabbed a pair of shorts and disappeared into the bathroom. She heard a vent start followed by the spray of water and groaned to herself, imagining a hot shower. She glanced in a mirror and frowned at her ragged appearance. She had stayed in hotels off and on, used truck stops for showers, and lived on whatever she could afford or scrounge for almost three months, and it showed.

Trent’s home may be small, but it was nice. The furniture appeared new and the artwork on the walls looked expensive. She bit the inside of her cheek while lifting his watch off the sofa table. The expensive name on the clockface brought a sigh of disappointment. Carefully, she set it back where it had rested and frowned.

As much as she didn’t want to sell it, maybe the King family would want to buy her out of the family restaurant. She had plans to turn it into a bakery, but it was an unreal and unobtainable dream. Her eyes watered, deciding it was time to accept the inevitable just as Trent emerged from the bathroom fresh and dressed only in shorts. A bead of water slid over his chest causing her lips to twitch. He was so beautiful.

She remembered how poor she was in that moment, how she must appear to someone like him, and dropped her eyes to his bare feet. Embarrassed and ashamed, Jenna quickly grabbed her satchel and dashed into the bathroom. Tears fell while she showered, along with her dreams, her hope, and what remained of her shattered pride.

Chapter 7

Trent heard the sniffles and saw the tears but chose to give Jenna her space. If she’d let him, he would help her. If she’d let him, he would love her. Women were weird creatures though, so it would take careful planning. It was true he had been with many women, but only because he hadn’t found the one.

Bears were promiscuous creatures, but the man searched for something different. Everyone had a past. His mother’s ad damn near ruined his life. The endless parade of women, hoping for a match with himself or one of his brothers, was downright insulting and annoying.

From the first moment he scented Jenna, he knew she was the one. He admitted he didn’t immediately recognize the signs or expect her, because he’d been alone all of his life. When he saw her for the first time and inhaled her scent, the confirmations fell into place. Her sassiness did something for him and his bear. The woman he wanted stated she didn’t want him, and that wasn’t acceptable.

When the hair dryer started, he grinned to himself. There were a million questions to ask. She seemed to know everything about his life, but he knew nothing about hers. When the bathroom door creaked open, he could only watch in curiosity while she gently put her things away. Small, bare feet with faded, pink toenail polish hardly made a sound. Striped, pink pajamas bagged from her tiny frame. Again, he was struck with her size. “Why are you so petite?”

The first genuine smile graced her full lips, and it was for him. Her eyes sparkled when she lay on his pillow, facing his direction. “I was the runt of the litter.”

A grin spread and he couldn’t stop it. “Well, you sure make up for it with attitude.”

Jenna’s soft laugh turned his heart over. “My brother thought so too. I had to fight for everything.”

“Where is this brother?”

Jenna tucked her hands beneath the pillow and sighed. “Shot by a hunter when we were younger. He died instantly.”

Trent swore beneath his breath. Hunters were the ugly side of the shifter life. “I’m sorry.”

Her lips twitched and her eyes closed. “It was a long time ago.”

“And your parents?”

“Dad died from pancreatic cancer. My mom quickly followed, but physically nothing was wrong with her. The doctor said it was from a broken heart. She just lost the will to live after dad passed.”

Trent shifted on the couch. “And you’ve been alone all this time? Where did you live? Where did you shift and run?”

“Alaska. I loved it there but couldn’t afford to stay.”

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