Page 97 of Grin and Bear It

“Hey, I don’t want anyone else but my Pooky Bear, but I do admit to being a teensy little bit cut up when I found out about shifters and sleuths and realised there would be no airtight experience for me.”

“Airtight?” I stepped out of the shower and raked a brush through my hair.

“Every hole sealed up,” she replied with a wink.

“Fuck—”

“So, were they good to you? Nice dinner, not just multiple orgasms?”

I stopped then, staring into my reflection in the mirror, hardly recognising the woman with the half smeared makeup.

“Amazing dinner,” I confirmed, “and multiple orgasms.”

“Well, damn girl!” She threw a hand up for a high five, and I gave her one, grinning sheepishly. “Finally some fellas that know how to step up. I’ll leave you to sort this out.” She gestured to her face. “You’ve got a bit of a Bride of Chucky thing going on right now.”

But not bythe time I was dressed and ready to go. I snatched up my bag, my marking, and anything else I might need, only to find Cole standing outside waiting for me.

I was having a Never Been Kissed moment. At school there’d been a group of ‘cool’ guys who used to own hotted up cars like Cole’s, but they paid me little mind. Too geeky, too weird, too chubby, to catch their eyes, so part of me was a little shocked to see Cole look up when I got close, heat flaring hot in his eyes.

“I don’t need a lift, or a coffee,” I started to say.

“But you want it.” He spun me around, pressing me into the side of the car, his arm going above my head as he leaned in. “And I’m all about you getting what you want. I’ll take you to work, and get you some breakfast, and you’ll say thank you, nicely, when we get there.”

“Thank you,” I said then, just to taunt him, but his eyes twinkled as he pulled away and then held the door open for me.

“Now, hold on tight,” he said, hand slapping down on the gearstick. “There’s a few more cars on the road and this’ll take a bit more to finesse.”

The engine throbbed, edging forward, almost like a horse fighting the bit, but Cole just stared at me, a broad smile spreading across his face as he slapped a button on the steering wheel to turn the stereo on. Eighties cock rock bullshit blared from the speakers as he gave the car its head and surged forward.

Chapter49

“We don’t have time for this,” I yelped as Cole steered the car into a drive-through cafe somewhere in the vicinity of the school.

“Yeah, we do,” he replied, looking out his window, then winding it down as a guy ran over, toting a paper bag and a couple of to-go cups of coffee. The guy was wearing a staff uniform, but leaned on Cole’s door and peered in with a smile.

“Oh my god, she’s cute!” He playfully slapped Cole’s shoulder. “There is no way you deserve someone this cute. I’m Todd, by the way.” He offered me a slender hand, but his grip was strong. “And this is one of my Death by Chocolate muffins, fresh from the oven.”

“Holy sh…” My voice trailed away as I got a waft of something sweet and decadent, the aroma intensifying when I opened the bag.

“Amazing, right? Better than sex. Well.” He shot Cole a meaningful look. “Almost better than that idiot I brought home from the club the other day. Guy was tripping balls and feeling himself at night and woke up in a bisexual panic the next day, accusing me of taking advantage of him. Not sure how I could force him to ream my arse all night long, but here we are.”

“Hi, Todd,” Cole growled. “Bye, Todd.”

“You’re just gonna drive in here, get what you want and then bail?” Todd’s lips curved into a cat-like smile. “Typical guy.” He turned to me. “If he pulls that shit with you, I know plenty of other hot bear shifters who would be lining up for a chance with a pretty thing like you. You’ve got choices, girlfriend, don’t let them make you think otherwise.”

“This is literally a drive-through cafe and we need to get moving if my lady is gonna get to work on time.”

“My lady...” Todd’s smirk faded, replaced by a more sincere one. “Well, someone tamed the great Cole Valens.”

“Todd, we’ve gotta go. Thanks for the coffee. Put it on my tab.” Cole started winding up the window, forcing Todd to yank his arms out.

“Always do, honey,” Todd said, stepping away from the car and winked at me. “Call me if you want all the goss!”

“How the hell is he…?” Cole asked before looking at the paper bag and both of us saw Todd had scrawled his name and number on the bag. He reached for it, but I snatched it away. I winked back at Todd as we pulled out back onto the road. “Don’t call that number. Do not call that number.”

“What, and get the downlow on the ‘great Cole Valens’? How can I not? You say you’re my fated mates. Well, a girl likes to find out what she’s getting herself into.” I took a sip of my coffee, groaning at the rich taste, perfect without a hint of bitterness.

“If a girl has questions, she can ask me,” he insisted, staring into my eyes way too long.

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