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“Well, maybe the separatist idiots need to check themselves.”
He started pacing and threw his hands in the air. “I don’t care if you’re a wolf, a cat, or a snake. I don’t like people prying into my personal life, and now they’ll all be in my business. Not to mention my mother.”
Uneasy, Laura said, “Come on. You’ve dated other people. You’re a grown man capable of making his own choices.”
“I know that,” he snapped. “But there’s dating and there’s mating.”
She paled at that.
“Yes, mating implies something a lot more permanent, doesn’t it? The foxes can be overly dramatic over little things. And now they think I’m taking a mate?” He gripped his perfectly styled hair. “Why do you think no one ever knows who I’m even dating until it’s over?”
She noted he stated “until it’s over” like it was a foregone conclusion. “That’s sad.”
He snorted. “And you bears aren’t just as nosy?”
“Well, we are. But none of us care about it. We pretty much do what we want regardless of anyone’s opinion.” Come to think of it, she never did hear about Gerald’s companions until after they had parted ways. “I mean, my mom and sister are nosy, but I just tell them to butt out.” Not that she’d had a date in over a year…
“What will they think when they hear about you and me?”
“Nothing. Like I said, bears don’t usually mind what other bears are doing. Besides, I’m a big girl.” The moment she said it, she wanted to take the words back.
Flushing, she dared him to make a comment.
But he just glared at her. “I don’t like being the center of gossip.”
“Just ignore it if it happens.”
“Oh, it’s going to happen.” His eyes narrowed. “And I’ve got a bunch of family crap to handle with the holidays. So guess who’s going to be my plus-one for all my events?” He suddenly started smiling. “You know, this actually might not be a bad idea.”
“I—wait. All your events? What?” Laura barely liked being around bears. Foxes would be ultra-annoying. How had she lost control of the situation?
“My new girlfriend. My maybe-mate. Also known as my savior this holiday season. Thanks so much, Laura,” Gerald said with an overly saccharine voice.
Then, to her shock, he pulled her in for a hug and squeezed.
He felt beyond good. Even better than that hold she’d had earlier on his butt.
Her breasts smushed against his solid chest. So close, she couldn’t escape his sultry, seductive scent. His arms felt like steel, his body a welcome furnace that set her aflame.
He paused, likely smelling her arousal. To her shock, she smelled an answering waft from him. Desire, strong and true.
Gerald pulled back to smirk down at her, and that condescending expression had her hackles raised—and her body lit with arousal.
“Let’s seal the deal, shall we?” the sly fox asked, still holding her way too tightly.
She wanted to seal his pompous mouth with her fist and—
She blanked.
The kiss stole her ability to think.
His mouth felt hot and heavy, corrupting her with a shocking hunger. She moaned, shifting against him, and felt an answering hardness pressing against her. The fact that Gerald Winter was hard and smelled of mating need was nothing next to the fact she wanted him as much if not more.
He moaned and nuzzled past her mouth to her ear. “I really, really love that sweater, Laura.” His hands caressed her back, running up and down until he teased at the bared skin right above her waistline. “But I love what’s underneath it more.”
It was like she was dreaming, being in sexy Gerald Winter’s arms while he acted like he wanted only her.
Gerald didn’t reach for her ass or snake his way to her breasts like any other predator would. Instead, he skimmed the skin of her lower back, where her sweater gaped at her waist with her arms around his neck. How had her arms moved without her realizing?
