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I crawled slowly along the perimeter, not caring that I was covered in sand and dirt and had a small cut on my elbow. My plan was to get the side of the house and the sneak in through a window. I was pleased to find that the closer I got th the house, the more I felt... a tignle, a magical beacon. The mecca crystal, no matter how small, was calling to me.
I inched closer until I reached the side of the house, where there was a study visible through large double windows. I could see full bookshelves; the window was cracked open. That was my entrance. Rolling out from under the bushes, I popped up and was almost at the side when a voice sent my entire plan crashing down.
- "Well, well, what is a wolf heir doing on the bear king's property ?"
The voice was husky and deep and I was so royally screwed. Pun intended. I had been seen. If I ran, the guard would sound the alarm - I needed to talk my way out of this situation, running was not an option. Turning slowly, I opened my hands to show I was not armed. He already knew I was an heir, he mist have recognized my insignia on my shirt, which would hopefully buy me enough time to plead my case.
Unfortunately, by the time I finished spinning to meet my fate, no plan had formulated in my head. Looks like it was the good old "wing it and hope for the best" plan. Some freaking queen I was going to make.
When the male came into view, I was a little taken aback. I had expected it to be a guard, multiple guards actually, but it seemed luck might be on my side after all, because the giant of a bear standing shirtless before me was definitely not a guard. He seemed to be the gardener, right down to the pair of shears in his right hand, hanging non-threateningly at his side.
I took a second to admire the view. Because a view like this was made to be admired.
He was one of the hugest males I had ever seen, topping out close to seven feet. He had heavily corded muscles and darkly tanned skin. Someone clearly used to being outdoors, lifting heavy stuff, swinging an axe... maybe. With his wild dark hair and neatly trimmed but stil sort of scruffy beard, he was every girl's woodcutter fantasy come to life. And his eyes, holy crap, his eyes were like molten copper, swirling as they remained locked on my face.
[...]
He showed no disconfort to find a wolf casually strollinf around his king's territory. His stance was relaxed, although his face and eyes were harder...
- "You" he wispered, and chills ran up my arms.
He said it like he knew me.
- "I... I'm unarmed, and this is not an act of war. Our queen fell and..."
He took three quick paces toward me and I tensed, readying myself for a fight. I didn't need weapons to kill a man. I had done it with my bare hands many times... But this was one of the largest men I had ever seen. If he wanted me dead, there was no doubt the could make that happen.
He cast me in shadow as he closed in, seemingly even more massive than he had looked from across the way. My breathing slowed, every part of me focused on the incoming battle. Then he shocked the hell out of me.
- "I never forgot that kiss", he said, his arm snaking out to curve around the back of my neck.
My brain tried to process his words and actions at the same time. What in all shifters was he doing ? What kiss ?
My next barrage of curses was hushed as the bear's surprisingly full lips crashed into mine. For a second the world stood still. I forgot who I was, what I was doinf here, and the fact that hot-as-woodcutter-man was a bear. Desire like I had never known unfurled in my chest and continued downward through my body. He was a freaking bear, I was a queen heir, this could not happen ! I started to growl, and just as I was about to bite his tongue off, he pulled back, grinning.
I was then that I realized exactly who the royal gardener was, why he acted so familiar with me. It had been the dimple that jogged my memory, a dimple that was barely visible within his dark facial hair.
- "You..." My voice was hard, but still much breathier than I liked.
It was the same bear I gad kissed at fifteen on this very island. Of course back then he had been only a little taller than med, and baby-faced. Now he was a hard and all man. And he had just kissed me... again. My right hand came up and smacked him solidly across the face. He had no right to touch me, and I didn't appreciate the manhandling, no matter how satisfying the kiss was.
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