Mated to the Wilde Bear

She stared back at him coolly, eyes assessing, and despite her cold welcome, he couldn’t help but stare. Her dark hair hung over her forehead in a casual flip, framing blue eyes that pinned him where he stood. Her full mouth was pressed together in a tight line, but even that didn’t stop him from continuing his perusal of the rest of her. Cleavage strained sexily against the single button of her jacket and curves practically screamed sex appeal.

Her stare might have been cold, but everything else about her was scorching hot. Xavier’s dick hardened at the thought of all that heat pressed up against him.

He shook his head to clear it. Where the hell had that come from? He hadn’t reacted to a woman like this since… well, he wasn’t going there. No matter how unexpected or strong an attraction he had, Xavier Wilde didn’t date. Or mate.

He cleared his throat, ready to stop whatever was happening before it could go any further. “Laurel, I’m Xavier Wilde, head of Blue Bear Search and Rescue.”

He extended his hand and was surprised to find her grip just as firm as his. Their palms connected and a rush of energy shot through Xavier, up his arm and into the rest of his body. He heard Laurel’s gasp and met her eyes just as she yanked away.

That was interesting. And not what he wanted here. Deep inside, his bear rumbled at the dismissal, but he ignored it. He’d never felt anything quite like that. Attraction but… more. And he didn’t trust himself with any of it.

Besides, Laurel was frowning and smoothing her skirt, scanning her precious clipboard as if it had never happened. Back to business.

“Where’s Gerald?” he asked.

him, before falling

barely registered

a problem?” she

forced himself to focus. “No, we just have a system

doing this job a long time,

appreciated the innuendo in her words, but something about her stance and her authority here

At the sound deep in his throat, Laurel’s eyes widened. He drew himself up to his full height in a charge of alpha energy. “I’m going in,” he

She stared down at it and Xavier studied her, catching the way her cheeks flushed. She was disoriented. Well,

took that as permission enough to head out and

but stalled when he caught sight of the awkward way the man’s ankle was twisted against the rocks scattered around him. His

bear up just enough to help keep his footing, and then sent it away again when he neared the bottom. Humans couldn’t smell the animal, but they could sense something dangerous when he let his animal that close to the surface around them. He didn’t want to spook his patient

to reach the man without much trouble. He was relieved

Blue Bear Search and Rescue,” he said.