Bear with Me (Half-breed Shifter Series) Read online

  His mate no longer suffered from her mating heat. So...what if she finally came to her senses and rejected him? His fingers tightened around hers as she led him up the stairs.

  “Don’t worry,” Rhea murmured, squeezing his grip. “I won’t let him kill you.”

  He huffed out a laugh. “As if he could.”

  Rhea glanced back, shaking her head and grinning. “And...here returns the Ego-trip Brick we all know and love.” But her blues eyes were warm and happy as she said it, as if it was one more thing she loved about him. It helped eased his worries more than anything.

  “You forgot immature,” he told her, smacking her on the ass for ol’ time’s sake.

  She paused and came around fully, two steps above him on the stairs. “Watch what you smack there, mate. Wherever you touch me, I get to touch you back.”

  He grinned. “Well, in that case.” He cupped her between the legs. “Touch away.”

  She immediately arched into his fingers and gasped. “Damn.” Shuddering, she closed her eyes and shook her head. “I really should’ve seen that coming.”

  “Really, you should have,” he murmured, coming up one step to nip at her exposed throat with his teeth.

  She began to melt into him and even slid her hand down the front of his pants until she felt his hard cock jerk under her touch. And that quickly, she retreated, shoving him away and scurrying up a couple more steps. “Down, boy. Wait until we get home. We’re in my parents’ house, remember?”

  Brick drew in a deep, refreshed breath. “Oh, and what sweet revenge it’s been to fuck Shaw Griffin’s daughter in his own—”

  “Hey! That was only because of the mating heat. Now we have to be respectful.”

  “Party pooper,” he muttered but willingly let the issue drop. He could wait...until they made it back to their new home, which they’d decided was going to be Brick’s place since it was bigger.

  As they entered the ground floor, Rhea frowned as she glanced around. “Hmm. I wonder where they are. Wait here. I’ll go check the kitchen.”

  She been gone for only ten seconds when something pressed against the back of Brick’s head and nudged him forward. The sound of a shell racking into its chamber told him it had to be Shaw...with a damn big gun.

  “I swear to God, if you make one of your smart-ass sarcastic comments, I will blow your fucking head off.”

  Brick lifted his hands into the air, surrendering. “I love her,” he said. “You know I love her. I told you so before all this went down.”

  “But you didn’t need to go and take her choice of mate away from her. She had the right, the fucking privilege, to choose her own fucking mate.”

  “You’re right.” Brick nodded, complying. “And if she wants to choose someone else, I will gladly let you put a bullet in my head, because I’d rather die than make her miserable. But maybe you better get her opinion on the matter before you off me.”

  “Yeah, Dad, because I do choose Brick.” In the doorway behind them, Rhea crossed her arms over her chest and tapped her toe. “Now lower that damn gun from my mate’s head before you piss me off, father.”

  Shaw lowered the gun, and Rhea pulled Brick to her side. Together, they faced Shaw who only glared as if he was still tempted to lift the shotgun again.

  Rhea growled. “We’re not teenagers anymore. Stop acting so pissed off like we ran off and eloped or something. And stop worrying about my choices. If I’d been in the right frame of mind at the time it happened, I would’ve chosen Brick anyway. So, it’s fine. Everything is fine.”

  “It’s not fucking fine. That bastard—”

  “Oh, my God. It’s Brick. Brick! You’ve known him since he was thirteen. He wouldn’t hurt a fly. He’s the most loyal friend I’ve ever had. And he worships the ground I walk on. How could you want anyone else for me?”

  Shaw scowled and glanced away. “He’s go God damn annoying,” he mumbled under his breath.

  She grinned and took Brick’s hand lifting it to her lips so she could kiss his knuckles. “Yes, he is. And that’s why we love him so much.”

  “Shaw,” Brick said softly stepping in toward the older man. “I will spend the rest of my days, working to make her the happiest damn jaguar ever. She’s my entire life. I cherish her.”

  Jaw knotting, Rhea’s father let out a long sigh. “God damn it,” he muttered. Then he turned to Brick and held out his hand. “Welcome to the family, son.”

  Hearing the word son come from this man’s mouth—even in that rough, reluctant tone—did him in. But Brick contained his pleasure and shook tightly with his new father-in-law. “Now if you don’t mind.” Brick grinned and glanced at Rhea. “I have a honeymoon to start.”

  Shaw’s hand tightened on his, not letting go. “You just spend two weeks—”

  “No enough time,” Brick cut in with a wink. “Not nearly enough time. Hey.” He nudged Shaw in the elbow. “She’s her mother’s daughter. You ought to know what I mean, right?”

  “That’s sick and disgusting, but yeah, I get it.” Shaking his head, Shaw sighed again and let go of Brick’s hand to wave the two newlyweds from the house.

  ***

  No sooner did the newly-mated pair make it home, though, than Rhea’s father was ringing them.

  Rhea sighed as she answered. “Dad, I told you. I chose him...willingly. I love—”

  “Something’s come up,” Shaw’s voice clipped into the receiver, alarming her. “This has nothing to do with that. Get your mate in the room and put me on speaker phone, will you?”

  But Brick was already in the room. And because he’d been behind Rhea with his arms wrapped around her waist as he nibbled his way up the side of her neck, he’d been able to hear Shaw’s demand.

  Growing serious, he stopped his kisses. “I’m here.”

  Shaw let out a breath before explaining, “An old comrade from the Hunter organization just contacted me. His name’s Clem Riker. He’s pretty high up. And he asked to come to dinner at my place this evening. Wanted me to invite my entire family, all three of my children...and their mates too.”

  Panic raced through Rhea’s veins. She gritted her teeth against the injustice of it. But if her father’s cover had just been blown, this was the absolute worst timing ever. She’d just gotten mated, she was in love, deliriously happy, and though she hadn’t told Brick her suspicions, she was almost positive they were about to start a family.

  “You think he suspects—?”

  “I don’t know,” Shaw snapped. “But I don’t like how this feels. Something’s...off.”

  “So you don’t want us to come to dinner?” Brick asked.

  “Oh, I want you there. If you don’t show, it’ll sound off alarms. I want to do exactly what he asks. But I want you all to be very aware, and very cautious. Have escape plans and attack strategies ready. Got it?”

  “Got it,” Brick and Rhea chorused together.

  Rhea hung up and turned in Brick’s arms. His worried eyes inspected her face before he leaned in and kissed her brow. “Don’t worry, baby. I’m not going to let anything happen to you.

  Love filled her to the brim. “My God. How have I known you for so long and not realized you were the one?”

  He just grinned. “Sometimes it’s hard to see past my annoying and immature traits to all the awesome underneath.”

  Nuzzling her cheek against his chest, she had to agree. “Well, I’m so glad I finally did.”

  “Me too, kitten. Me too.”

  ***

  Everyone else except for the main guest had arrived when Rhea and Brick returned to her parents’ house that evening. Even Dane’s in-laws—Knox and Jaycee—were there.

  “Oh, my God. Brick!” Brynn screeched as the newlyweds walked through the front door. “Welcome to the family. I always knew you and Rhea would end up together.”

  When she threw herself at him and hugged him tight, Rhea had a split second vision of herself pulling her sister off her mate by the hair. And then punching h
er in the face. No one touched her man but her.

  But Brynn’s own jealous mate growled low in his throat, so Brynn quickly jumped back, even as she continued to grin up at Brick. “You two look so happy.”

  “Of course I do.” Brick puffed up his chest. “I finally got to boink one of Shaw’s—”

  “Enough!” Shaw growled, glaring harshly. “Are you ever going to cut that shit out?”

  “Not until you admit you love me.” Brick blew him a kiss.

  Shaw snorted and walked from the room.

  Knox bumped Dane in the elbow. “I’m starting to think you’re not the worst son-in-law ever.”

  Everyone laughed but Brick. He sent Rhea a confused glanced. “What? I’m an awesome son-in-law.”

  She merely beamed as she lifted up onto her toes and kissed his cheek. “Yes, you are, baby. Yes, you are.”

  Before she could smooch on him too much more, Brynn grabbed her arm, then Brynn snatched Ari’s arm. And she rushed all three females from the room. Once they were closed into Brynn and Rhea’s old bedroom, Brynn whirled around and clapped her hands. “Okay, who totally loved her first mating heat?”

  All three females lifted their hands. “Holy hell,” Ari raved, fanning herself. “Dane was so—”

  “Whoa, whoa, whoa.” Brynn and Rhea waved their hands to stop her from continuing. “We really don’t want details about our brother like that.”

  Ari frowned and let out a small huff of disappointment. “That’s not fair. You guys can dish all the details, but I can’t?”

  “Basically? Yeah,” Rhea said. Then she put her hands over her abdomen. “Who else thinks she’s pregnant after her mating heat?”

  As Ari lifted her hand, looking excited, Brynn bounced on the balls of her feet. “I already know I am. Gannon, my super sniffer, can already smell it on me.”

  “Ooh, could he smell me too?” Both Rhea and Ari pleaded together.

  Brynn rolled her eyes. “Well, sure.”

  They talked for another ten minutes, giggling like a pair of teenagers, and Rhea felt as carefree as a teenager. She had the love of her life and she could find out if she was carrying Brick’s young. Tonight! No one cared a whit about a possible Hunter coming to the house. They’d dealt with Hunters before.

  “That’s it. I can’t wait,” Ari finally said, mirroring Rhea’s thoughts. “I want to know if I’m pregnant right now.”

  “Well, let’s go maul my man for news, then, shall we?” Brynn led them back out of their old room and down the stairs where everyone was still waiting for the Hunter to arrive.

  Even though he was immersed in a conversation with Dane, Brick’s gaze immediately sought Rhea when she entered the room. She glowed under his sexy inspection. But he must’ve known she was up to something because he narrowed his eyes suspiciously as she followed Brynn and Ari to Gannon’s side.

  Gannon was discussing something wolfly with Knox but paused when his mate approached. Brynn didn’t even have to say anything. The pair merely looked at each other, she made a few motions with her eyes, and Gannon leaned into toward Ari, his nostrils flaring, before he moved his head closer to Rhea. When he pulled back, he returned his gaze to Brynn and nodded. She let out a squeal and turned to her sister and sister-in-law.

  Realizing this meant they were all three going to have babies together, Rhea started squealing too.

  Suddenly Brick wrapped his arms around her waist from behind. “What are you three up to?” he demanded, his voice husky and amused in her ear.

  Rhea spun to face him. She gave him a long lingering kiss before she could announce—

  The doorbell rang, interrupting them.

  The Hunter was here.

  With a gulp, she decided to keep her news quiet for a few minutes longer. Brick might get a little overprotective if he knew his mate was carrying his babe, and if things went south—well, she’d just tell him later.

  Chapter Seven

  Brick couldn’t stop staring as Shaw showed Clem Riker, the Hunter, into the dining room where the rest of the family had gathered to formally receive him...or possibly kill him if he tried to turn on them.

  But, gah, why did this guy seem so damn familiar?

  When Riker glanced over and caught his gaze right in the middle of Shaw introducing him to Knox and Jaycee, something pierced Brick with a deep, binding awareness.

  He blurted out, “Why does it feel like I should know you?” He was positive he’d never seen Riker before in his life.

  Riker’s lips twitched with pleasure. “Because I’m you’re father,” he answered simply.

  Just like that.

  Out of the total freaking blue.

  “What?!” Rhea shrieked while everyone else gaped back and forth between Brick and Riker.

  Brick’s mouth fell open. “But...” What?

  “Wait a second.” Confusion marring his face, Shaw leaned in to point at Brick. “If you’re his father, then that would make you—”

  “A shape-shifter as well.” Riker nodded, confirming their suspicions.

  “A bear/jaguar mix,” Gannon confirmed after sniffing the air around Riker.

  “But...” Shaw shook his head, bewildered.

  “I never lost track of you, son,” Riker explained to Brick. “In my line of spy work, I couldn’t form attachments, so I couldn’t stay with your mother. She never even knew what I was. And I guess I never spoke of my breed with her, so I didn’t realize she’d be so...closed-minded about our species. I never would’ve let you stay there with her if I’d known what she’d do when she found out. The day she called the organization to come get you, I made sure Shaw was one of the operatives to pick you up.”

  A flustered Shaw waved his hand. “Then, you knew—”

  “That your wife and children were half-breeds as well? Of course I knew. I’ve always known.”

  “Then why the hell did you never say anything to me?” Brick’s father-in-law yelled at his father.

  Whoa. Two weeks ago, he’d had no paternal figure in his life whatsoever. Now, suddenly, he had two dads. Cool. Even though he was beyond the age to need any, they’d still make good granddaddies for his young.

  “I was a little more deeply undercover than you were, Griffin,” Riker explained to Shaw. “And there’s no way you would’ve been able to keep your cover as long as you did if I hadn’t always been there to smooth it back over for you.”

  “Hot damn,” Brick whispered to Rhea. “My dad’s more bad-ass than your dad.”

  Riker sent him an amused glance before turning back to Shaw. “I came here tonight to tell you...to tell all of you...” His gaze settled on Brick. “That it’s over. The Hunter organization has folded and is no more. And it only took me thirty-five years to accomplish it.”

  “It’s over?” Shaw murmured in disbelief. “But...how?”

  “Tax fraud.” Riker gave a serious nod before delight flickered over his lips. “That’s how all the great baddies are caught, isn’t it?”

  “Oh, he’s awesome,” Brick decided, grinning at Rhea before turning back to gaze at his father in awe.

  “Once I put them into financial trouble, the rest of the organization caved in like a deck of cards. They’re so busy fighting amongst themselves and blaming each other for what happened, they won’t be worrying about shifters for years to come...if ever again. And now that it’s over, now that I don’t have to hide what I am or try to hide any child I have, I was curious if I still had a chance to get to know...my son.”

  When he gazed beseechingly at Brick, a tight band of warm hugged Brick’s chest. “So...you stayed away all these years to keep me safe?”

  Riker nodded once. “If my cover had ever been blown, you—along with every other shifter family I worked to conceal—would’ve been put into grave danger. I couldn’t let you get close to all that risk. But I tried to make sure you were always in a safe place and always had someone who’d look after you.”

  When he glanced at Shaw, telling everyone he’d t
rusted Shaw as his son’s guardian, Brick laughed and shook his head. “And that someone was Shaw Griffin? Really? Jesus, if you only knew how many times he’s threatened to kill me.”

  “And I still might,” Shaw added.

  “Whatever. You were right, Riker. He totally loves me.”

  Riker nodded. “Can’t blame the man. You are my son.”

  When a flair of Brick’s own cockiness flickered in Riker’s eyes, it really hit him. Yes. Yes, he was definitely this man’s son. Life could not get any better.

  “So, it’s really over?” Riley asked, clutching Shaw’s arm and looking hopeful.

  “It’s really over. Which means, now that your lives are perfectly safe from the biggest threat to our species in fifty years, I fully expect grandchildren soon.”

  Rhea grinned and set her hand over her belly. “Oh, that’s already taken care of, sir.”

  “What?” Brick and Shaw roared together. Brick whirled to her and examined the ecstatic sheen on her face before he realized she was serious. They were going to have babies. Soon.

  Damn, he’d been right. He loved being right.

  “Oh, shit.” He hauled her into his arms and picked her up off her feet. “That’s fucking fantastic!”

  “I’m pregnant too,” Ari burst out, unable to keep her own news quiet any longer.

  As Dane shouted his happy surprise and kissed her savagely to reveal his pleasure, Brynn lifted her hand and wiggled her fingers.

  “Me three!”

  Joy flowed through the room. Brick and his extended family went around, congratulating each other and laughing and talking as if nothing could beat this moment, which it couldn’t. When he made it back to this mate, he hugged her close and kissed her hair. “Thank you,” he murmured in her ear.

  For years, he’d had no one and now...now he had an entire loud, boisterous family. Because of her.

  Rhea kissed him back softly. “For what?”

  “For accepting me,” he answered.

  Because now, he was complete.