Bearly Mated (BBW Paranormal Shape Shifter Romance) Read Free

vindicated with Patrick’s eyes lingering first there and then moving over her body. He had pronounced her beautiful before they had entered the hall.
    “Why aren’t you wearing your glasses?” he whispered. “You look cute in them.”
    She frowned up at him. “I don’t want to be cute.”
    “Cute enough to eat ,” he insisted. She clutched his hand tighter, a puddle of desire. He gave a deliberate flare to his nostrils, letting her know he knew everything. She wet her lips. The man was killing her.
    The councilman raised his voice, capturing their attention. “While we’re sure Ms. Barrow is a good human being, the council is not sure—”
    Lizzie started when Patrick’s hold on her hand tightened. She peered from the councilman to him and noted the change in his eye color. The gold deepened, and he narrowed his eyes. She shivered. “We’re here in keeping with the traditions,” Patrick said. No one in the room could mistake his meaning. Their being there was pomp and circumstance. Patrick didn’t care what the council thought of their joining.
    Hearing the protest come from the top renewed Lizzie’s doubts. Weren’t they being selfish? Wasn’t she in particular? The day Patrick stepped into her dad’s bookstore and announced in his haughty way that he had chosen her to be his mate, she hadn’t think of one other person. Not his people and not her family and friends. After the initial shock had worn off, and of course she had let him know what she thought of the way he proposed, she had said yes. Why? Because this man had filled her wildest fantasies for a long time, and her dream was coming true.
    Now she doubted. “Patrick, I—”
    “We understand,” the councilman said, cutting her off. Patrick never once looked her way. His anger hadn’t lessened, and she doubted he had heard her voice.
    “And?” Patrick’s single word sounded like a threat. She blinked at the older men. Weren’t they the real leaders? There they sat squirming in their seats in the face of Patrick’s fury.
    One by one, all of the men gave a single nod, and the man on the end pronounced them as being promised. On behalf of the others and himself, he wished them many years of happiness and blessings. With his words, Patrick’s anger drained away, and he turned to smile at her.
    “That’s all?” she said, confused.
    Patrick swept her into his arms. Her heart raced, her breath trapped in her chest. “That’s all,” he repeated. “Now you are mine, and all I need to do is seal it tonight.”
    Her nails dug into his jacket sleeves without her meaning to do it. “But rings…”
    “We will exchange them during the human ceremony. My people don’t use symbols like that.”
    “I—”
    “Kiss me, Lizette.”
    She was about to complain about him always saying her full name.
    “I’ve waited a long time to taste your lips. I won’t wait any longer.” He snapped her chin up with a single finger, and she was lost in his golden gaze. Now her heart seemed to have stopped completely. There was no way to hold back. Her lips parted of their own accord, and Patrick devoured them. He pushed his tongue deep into her mouth, and a moan escaped her. She sagged into his chest, fingers spread on the hard surface. His arm came up behind her, dragging her almost off her feet. Her toes just touched the floor, but his steel hold kept her in place.
    Hungry and hot, Lizzie met Patrick’s tongue with the tip of her own. She forgot everything and everyone as she tasted him and felt the tight erection between them. Before she knew what she was doing, her hand crept toward the thing she was most curious about, and Patrick caught her wrist.
    He drew away, and she came to herself, shocked at her boldness. The amusement in Patrick’s gaze said he was pleased with her eagerness. “Not yet, baby,” he whispered. “Tonight.”
    Lizzie tried to jerk away and wished she’d sink through the floor, but Patrick held on. He molded her hip to his