Total pages in book: 47
Estimated words: 44191 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 221(@200wpm)___ 177(@250wpm)___ 147(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 44191 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 221(@200wpm)___ 177(@250wpm)___ 147(@300wpm)
Her feelings for this man were so confusing, but there was that twist of her gut that told her something wasn’t quite right. What was it? Why did she feel nervous? Like Wilder was hiding something from her?
****
Wilder listened to Poppy sleep.
He’d hoped to come home to Poppy being a little more relaxed, but the moment he opened the front door he sensed a change within her. It was hard to hide his real bear from her. The bees, the cub, his senses—all of them were incredibly difficult to hide. Especially from Poppy, who was now living with him.
After Poppy went to bed, he sensed she was still nervous around him. At least her body felt different. He took a quick check of the perimeter, then sat on his back porch listening to the night. Wilder could hear the rabbits, the birds, a few deer running around in the distance. He saw clearly as well.
There was no threat to his home, but he always found peace at nighttime. This was where true solitude existed, and peace of mind came. No one was out there, threatening to take it all away. He knew this sense was always fleeting. The real truth was someone, somewhere was always planning to make life hell, to take, to steal, to ruin. That was what humans did. The illusion was safety. It took him a long time to accept that, and now that he had, he didn’t look back. He relished moments like this, brief, teasing flashes of safety. They were always short-lived.
At the sound of a gasp, he turned to see Poppy. She was in a pair of flannel pajamas. He’d gotten them years ago from a store. They were fucking ugly things, a garish blue and yellow, but on Poppy they looked cute. He would have much preferred her in nothing.
“I thought I heard you up,” she said.
Wilder glanced toward her. Poppy’s body may be sending her warning signs that he was a predator, but did it also tell her she wanted him?
He sensed her attraction, and it made her nervous. He loved when she flicked her hair, or tucked it behind her ear. Little telltale signs that spoke volumes, even better than words ever could.
“You’re up late,” she said.
“I’m just keeping an eye.”
“Do you ever need a lot of sleep?” she asked, with a giggle.
“Sometimes.”
He did love his sleep, but that was usually through the winter. He liked to snuggle down, and he couldn’t help but look toward Poppy. She was standing with her arms folded which distorted the shirt she wore. However, he was able to get a clear look at her body underneath. More than a generous handful. If she decided to stay with him through the winter, he would have a lot of fun with her.
“What woke you?” he asked.
“I don’t know. I just couldn’t sleep. Did that cub settle all right?” she asked.
“Perfectly.”
“That’s good.”
He moved across the bench, giving her space to sit beside him, and he patted the seat next to him. Poppy didn’t hesitate in taking the seat beside him, and she offered him a smile of thank you.
He smelled her. Tonight, she was like vanilla, sweet, mouthwatering. He loved vanilla. Poppy tucked some hair behind her ear, and he couldn’t resist looking at the curve of her neck. She was so beautiful.
“Were you really being serious about me staying here?” Poppy asked.
“I don’t say things I don’t mean. I’ll keep you safe here.”
“Then, if it is okay with you, I would really like to stay.” She nodded her head. “I think this is going to be a good place for me.”
“Do you want to risk going back home to get anything?”
Poppy shook her head. “I was late on the rent. Those photographs were supposed to help me.” She sighed. “I hit on hard times. Nothing ever goes to plan, does it? My landlord has probably already rented my place.” She shrugged. “There’s nothing I can do about it now, but you know, I think this is a good thing.”
“Why?” he asked, loving her voice.
“Simple, I think everything happens for a reason. My life going from bad to worse meant I was supposed to meet you. This was all meant to happen. It’s like some weird twist of fate, but that’s how the world works, and that’s what I believe.” She turned to look at him, with a pretty smile on her lips. “And that is what I believe now.”
“Fate?” he asked.
It was odd, because he was a bear, and fate said he was destined to find a mate. One woman in the whole world who would accept him for who he was, who wouldn’t run away.
Poppy was his mate. He sensed it the moment he started to follow her. With each hour, and the fact he didn’t want to kill her, he knew his feelings were strong. They went far deeper than anything he’d ever experienced. He’d tried to fight his bear on this, but the beast was usually right. A human and a bear. It was laughable, but it wasn’t unheard of.