Page 96 of Grin and Bear It

“Cole!” His grin only widened. “Aren’t you supposed to be all perfect and shit? I need to get dressed and to work, stat.”

“The bear gods don’t fuck shit up. You must want a prick in your life.” But when the fabric started to protest as I tried to yank it out from under his foot, he let go, stepping forward and smoothing his hand over my shoulders, drawing me closer. “And I think you’ll find me ready, willing and able to do whatever the hell you want.”

“Like get me to work on time? My boss will literally put her foot up my arse—”

“Your wish is my command, milady.”

He performed a funny, little, old fashioned bow, gesturing for the door and following me out once I was dressed.

I soon foundout the root of all of his confidence. I’d ridden in his work ute on the way out to Bunnings, but apparently he had more than one car.

“Is this the car from Mad Max?” I asked, looking at the sleek black muscle car.

“You’re comparing my baby to The Interceptor?” he said with a grin. “Nope, this is better. Strap in, beautiful.”

I couldn’t ask any more questions as the first of my alarms went off. I didn’t even know how far we were from my place exactly, having come here in a fluster last time. But I needn’t have worried, the engine growled the moment he turned the ignition, the revs vibrating all the way through me.

“Hold tight.”

That was the only warning I got as the car lurched forward, down the driveway in barely a second, the wheels squealing as we made our way out onto the main road.

Cole seemed to have a sixth sense. There were plenty of cars on the road and Cole’s car was a massive beast, but he seemed to slot into every spare spot, weaving his way through traffic with devastating efficiency, nudging at the speed limit, but never going over it.

I wasout the door the minute he pulled up in my driveway, bustling up to the door, keys ready, when it was jerked open.

“You didn’t come home last night!” Coll crowed.

“Yep, and I’m late this morning as a result,” I told her, pushing past.

“And here’s why, huh? Morning, Cole.”

“Morning,” the man said smugly, pulling out his phone.

“Don’t you have to paint the house or something?” I asked, before leaping into the shower.

“Nope, right now I’m getting you coffee and a muffin to go. Just ordering on their app from a place on the way.”

“We don’t—” I started to protest.

“I’ll get you to school on time, Ms Jennings, and make sure you have something to eat as well.” He smiled slowly as he consulted his phone screen. “You need to keep up your strength after last night, apparently.”

“Prick!” I shouted as I ducked into the bathroom.

“Your prick,” he corrected.

“So…”Coll said,

“Fuck!” I yelped, half a minute into the world’s fastest shower. I’d debated doing the teenage boy thing and just spraying myself with a metric fuck ton of deodorant, but instead was trying to scrub myself very fast. Another alarm went off, letting me know how stupid this was.

“Are we at a stage of friendship where we share showers?” I demanded, pulling the shower curtain around me. “Because I don’t think I got the memo.”

“Keep scrubbing,” she said, pegging a loofah at me. Ow. “So, things are progressing?”

“No time, Coll,” I said, ducking my head under the water to wash away the soap.

“Because you were up all night having a bear shifter orgy? Please, please, tell me I’m right.”

“You are weirdly invested in that idea,” I said, slapping the taps off, a towel appearing beside me. “Thanks.” I towelled myself off super briskly, making every damn thing jiggle, before rubbing at my hair.

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