Andre, p.6
Andre,
p.6
His eyebrows rise, and Andre says, “I didn’t have to guess. I could tell how sexy you were the moment I saw you.”
“Really?”
He offers me a sly smile of his own. “And I smelled how much you wanted me when you handed me your backpack. I knew I was yours the moment I took it from your hands.”
I recall how he dangled it from his fingers as if it weighed nothing, even though it must have had thirty pounds of books inside. “Unfortunately, I was too oblivious to notice.”
He shakes his head. “No. You were just being human.” He pulls me against his body so that his dick is against my bottom, and he leans down to nip at my earlobe. “My human.”
I turn to face him and slide my hands up his massive chest to grip his broad shoulders. “My bear.”
Andre takes my face in his hands and whispers, “Your everything” before his lips land on mine.
Chapter 13
Shells clash as Keith dumps a huge mound of steamed clams onto a large platter. I slurp down an oyster, and the salty flavor fills my mouth as I swallow the slimy thing. I shudder and ask, “Okay, happy? And it wasn’t any better than I thought it would be.”
Adrian laughs. He’s the kind of guy who loves to tease and finds humor in almost everything. He couldn’t believe I’d never tried an oyster before and insisted I give them a chance. I make a face at the man who is a strong contrast to the Lindquist brother I love. Adrian says, “Just wait. Once you become a bear, you’ll crave them.”
I swallow my mouthful of beer that I’m hoping will wash away the disgusting flavor on my tongue. I say, “I thought everything tasted more intense. If that’s the case, you can count me out.”
Tori thumps the clams down on the table. “I know you like these. Dig in, people.”
Keith and Tori sit with us to eat. I drag my clam through butter and put it in my mouth. I moan a little at the flavor I do enjoy. Andre is next to me, and his hand squeezes my thigh. I imagine he’s remembering an earlier version of my small noise.
“So,” says Keith, “since we sent you guys down to Brunswick, I hear things have settled down.”
Adrian says, “Yeah. We had a little scuffle the first week, but Brady was right. Just our presence has calmed the La Verdier clan down.”
I glance quickly at Ginny, and her eyes are wide, so I ask, “What are you talking about?”
Andre says, “My brothers and I were sent to your town to keep a rogue clan of werebear from causing more trouble.”
I recall the security boxes that popped up on campus over Thanksgiving and the new rule about night escorts that led to meeting my true mate. “Ah. I wondered what the heightened security was all about.”
Ginny says, “You mean we were in danger all this time, and nobody told us?”
Adrian says, “Actually, only a select few are in danger. But we know who you are, and you’re all under surveillance.” He winks at her. “Some more than others.”
“Wait. Surveillance?” I ask.
“Yes,” says Tori. “Apparently word got out that a spell could be cast on human women with werebear genes to be called to more than just the Le Roux clan.” Her beer bottle thumps down on the table harder than necessary. “It was only a matter of time before less-than-honorable werebear figured out how to use it to their advantage.”
Ginny says, “Oh my god. Who else on campus is like us?”
Adrian licks butter off his fingers and sighs. “I’m not sure we should say. These women could go on to live perfectly normal human lives, and it might be best if they never have any idea.”
I think about the night Tori came to visit us and turned my world upside down when she told us that our father was a werebear. I place my hand on Andre’s arm, and the heat of him on my palm comforts me. “Or they could be missing out on their destiny. I think they might want to know.”
Tori says, “That’s a discussion for another time. Right now, you all need to finish these clams while I go tend to the lobsters.”
I gaze at Tori, and her stare makes me realize she’s far more mature than I remember. I glance at Ginny and give her a slight nod to let her know I think we should let the subject drop. But I hope the Lindquist brothers don’t plan on keeping us in the dark, because we’ll be demanding answers. For now though, I plan to enjoy my New Year’s Eve.
I get up to help Tori clear the table for the next round of food. I ask, “Anyone need another beer?”
I get a few takers, and caps pop off bottles as I open them. Our next round is lobster, and I’m looking forward to one of my favorite foods. We manage to eat enough shellfish that two large garbage cans are full of remains when we’re done. After Ginny and I clean the kitchen, we all gather in the living room to socialize before midnight comes.
Keith has turned on overhead spotlights to illuminate his backyard, and I gaze out at the light snow that’s falling. It’s mesmerizing, and I make a little wish that Tori’s blessed with something similar on her wedding day. The dishwasher beeps softly as I turn it on, and soft guitar music carries over as Andre begins to play.
Tori launches into the story of our childhood garage band and offers to show Andre how she can break a guitar string with a single pluck. He declines before I sit next to him. The conversation moves on to more family stories as Adrian tortures Andre with a few.
When there is a lull, Ginny asks, “Did you all know that Andre and Nessa are writing a song?”
I roll my eyes at her, and Tori says, “You need to sing it. I’m sure it’s great.”
I shake my head, and Adrian says, “Oh come on. I know my brother’s talent. We need to hear it.”
I glance at Andre and raise my eyebrows at him. He looks up at the sky, but the hint of a smile I’ve come to know gives him away, so I say, “Okay, but we really only have the chorus worked out.”
Andre begins to play, and I focus my gaze on my true mate and begin to sing with him.
“I didn’t know I was lost,
You showed me the way.
You told me to leave,
You asked me to stay.
The love that I’ve found,
It won’t go away.”
We break from singing as Andre plays the part we haven’t got words for. He segues into the final verse, and we sing again.
“We’re no longer lost,
We both know the way.
I’ll never leave,
I’m here to stay.
The love that we’ve found,
It won’t fade away, It won’t fade.”
Our voices drift off, as does my awareness of everyone else in the room, and I kiss Andre. He’s more than my true mate. This man is what I never realized I was searching for, and I can’t imagine life without him. No matter where we live, or what things we have, my world is with him. I’m not sure what that means for me, but I no longer care. Our bond is real, and that’s what matters.
The guitar between us digs into my belly, and we have a room full of spectators, but I don’t mind, and when we finally break apart, I say, “I’m yours, Andre. Forever.”
“I’ve always been yours, Vanessa.” He sings the final line of our song so softly I know it’s meant for only me. “It won’t fade away.”
* * *
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Ginny just became a werebear, but it’s not what she expected. She can’t control her shift and it happens at the most inopportune times….. in Adrian.
More Rocked by the Bear:
Andre
Adrian
Aleck
Aaron
Get more of Violet’s bears:
Called by the Bear.
Complete Edition
Called by the Bear Parts 1-3
Called by the Bear Parts 4-6
Called by the Bear Parts 7-9
Tempted by the Bear :
Tempted by the Bear - Parts 1-3
Tempted by the Bear - Parts 4-6
Tempted by the Bear - Parts 7-9
Tempted by the Bear - Complete Edition
Winter Valley Wolves
The Lindholms
The Wakefields
The Quinns
About the Author
V. Vaughn lives in New Hampshire and spends winter weekends in the woods of Maine. She might have seen a bear, or two….
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V. Vaughn, Andre
