Read The Bear King's Captive: Curvy Paranormal Shape Shifter Romance Online
Authors: Milly Taiden
Leah rolled onto her back and shuddered when cold, moving air brushed across her face and shoulders. She yanked the heavy blanket layers to her chin. Wood burning in the fireplace across the room popped and hissed as the fire grew. Wait a minute. Her eyes snapped open.
Directly above her, rustic wood beams crisscrossed from one side of the steeply pitched ceiling to the other. Bacon and coffee scents drifted into the room. She sat up.
Stacked timber planks created the four walls around her. The unfinished lumber nightstand held pink earrings and a zirconium heart trinket strung on a necklace. Twenty years ago, she had that exact jewelry. Her finger rubbed the faceted stone. Memories of her family and childhood emerged. She pushed them away.
Leah threw off the covers and set her socked feet on the wood floor. She scuffed toward a window, watching a squirrel scamper up a conifer tree, tail covered in snow.
Where am I?
“We’re at the cabin in Vermont where we vacationed when you were eight. You loved it here.”
A powerful jolt from the core of her body flashed down her limbs and doubled her over. She reached for the wall and stared across the room. In front of the fireplace, a man with his back to her rocked in an old-fashioned chair. An empty rocker sat next to him.
Leah slapped both hands over her gaping mouth, slowing breaths to not hyperventilate. Wide-eyed, she moved to the vacant chair’s side and stared into her father’s face.
“Dad?” The word passed through her lips in a whisper. A lump caught in her throat. He looked the same as she remembered him. His cropped white-gray hair reflected the fire’s scarlet hues. Wrinkle-free eyes and smile reminded her how young he was when he died.
“H-How come I see you?” The answer came instantly. “Oh my god, I’m dead. I failed.” Her hands covered her face while she turned away. “The ship blew up!”
From the rocker, he released a hearty laugh. “You always were the drama queen, weren’t you, Little Bell?”
Leah snapped her head around and gripped the empty chair. The sound of her father’s nickname for her crushed her heart. Unwanted tears burned her eyes.
“It’s okay, little one. You see me because this is your dream, and you can see anyone you want. Your mother may have been a better choice, but you chose me. So, here I am.”
Her mind and heart fought over the possibilities. She was dreaming; she remembered three coffins buried side by side under mounds of dirt and snow. But her heart and soul wanted him to be real.
“Sit.” His hand patted the wood armrest she leaned on. “How’ve you been, Little Bell?” His chest rose and fell with each breath.
She unclenched white knuckles from the chair and looked into his cinnamon eyes, the same color as hers. “Not very good, D-Dad.”
Her father frowned. “The Leah Belinda Kallus I knew never let anything get her down.”
“Well, Dad, you died a long time ago. Things change. Shit happens.” Deep inside, years of suppressed anger and feelings of abandonment popped the top. Anger flared. She squeezed her fists, digging nails into her palms. “You left me! Mom, Kristy. All of you.” Uncontrollable tears spilled over her cheeks.
He glided to her and put his arms around her shoulders. “Now, Leahbell, you know that’s not what happened.” He gently rocked side to side.
“You kept me from going with you. I was all alone.” She buried her face in his plaid shirt. He kissed the top of her crown then rested his chin on her trembling head.
“We’ve always been here. You refuse to remember us and keep us locked behind the door you’re too afraid to open.” He held her back and tapped her forehead.
Leah rolled her eyes. “Don’t give me the ‘we live in your heart’ crap. That’s in every sappy movie, and it’s a damn lie. Nothing will replace the sound of your voice, the way you tucked me in every night or your horrible tuna casserole.”
He chuckled. “Never got that right, did I?”
“No. I still don’t touch the stuff.” She laughed through a sob.
Dad brushed back the hair on her wet cheeks. “Little Bell, if we could have, we would’ve never left you. But that’s not how God wanted it.”
“God? I don’t care what God wanted! He’s not the one living without you.” She choked on words. “Why me? Why did I live? WHY?” She snuggled into his arms and cried for her lost family and lost innocence; holidays spent alone, no birthday or Christmas presents; years of watching other children leave the orphanages with happy adoptive families, knowing she never could.
She longed for release from nightmares that ripped her heart apart, liberated from a life of running and hiding. She wanted all the pain and heartache to go away. Her spirit begged for forgiveness, redemption.
Her father tilted his head down and whispered into her ear, “Let it go, Bell.”
Fear clinched her stomach. Since a child, hate and revenge burned inside, fueling the drive to kill the man who ripped away her family. Anger kept her going, kept her alive. If it were gone, she wouldn’t have the strength or courage to face the day.
“Don’t be afraid. Let it flow away.”
In the pit of her stomach, a knot of despair unraveled and dissipated. The intense release empowered her. She never conceived the grief or pain she held--not until they were gone. The black pit dragging her down lightened, but she grabbed ahold of something she would never grant that bastard killer, forgiveness.
“Bell, no. Until you forgive, you will never be free.”
“Maybe I don’t want to be free, Dad.” She sniffled.
He held her close. “There will come a time, when you are ready.” He sighed. “Perhaps you must finish what you’re supposed to do, first.”
“What am I supposed to do?”
“You’ll know. Follow your heart.” He kissed her forehead. “And Leahbell . . .”
“Yes, Daddy.”
“A long time ago I told you to run and hide. Now, it’s time to come out and play.”
In darkness, Leah’s body tingled. She’d never felt so numb, so “unaware” of her physical form. The black around her remained. Where was she? Where did Dad go? Sound reached her ears.
“Pirates don’t come this far west. They must be getting desperate.” Hannes’ soothing voice relaxed her worry. She was safe, just like her father protected her.
“The captain thinks the ship will limp into Ponta Delgada in a day or so. We’re running half speed.”
Leah’s brain kicked in and realized she was with Hannes while he talked to…himself?? She tried to open her eyes, but like the rest of her body, they refused to move. Focus on one eyelid. From determination, Leah forced up a lid barely enough to see.
Hannes held a mobile phone to his ear and tossed a sage green tank top and dark gray sweat pants onto the desk’s chair. He leaned against the bureau and unclasped his chinos. The zipper parted. Pushing down on the waistband, the khakis slipped lower. Midnight blue boxer-briefs peeked out.
Leah’s other eyelid slid open. Her face felt hot. Holy shit! This was embarrassing…and appealing. She felt like a Peeping Tom. With a tiny wiggle, the pants fell to the floor.
He unbuttoned his sleeves at the wrists as he walked back to the desk. With every step, the muscles in his legs rolled like a well-oiled machine, from the solid calf, up to the tight thighs. His firm backside screamed “squeeze me.” Her eyes closed. What was she doing?
“Have Alvaro ready to leave first thing. I have to deliver the package before coming home.”
The phone conversation became white noise in the back of her mind. This wasn’t right. She wouldn’t want someone drooling over her if the situation were reversed. Who was she kidding? Of course she would! Besides, he was so bigheaded, the idea of a female secretly desiring him would be too hard for him to resist.
All right, this felt justified now. Her lids cracked open, seeing his back turned to her. His button-down shirt lay discarded on the desk. If her mouth could’ve fallen open, it would’ve. Michelangelo’s David had come to life. His sleek frame flowed smooth and fluid. She imagined her fingers gliding down his neck, over the back of his shoulders, her fingertips skimming the hot flesh to the small of his back and sculpted waist.
A rush of heat filled her lower belly. His back and shoulders rippled when he reached for the clothes on the chair. After moving the phone from his ear, the tank top slid over his head. He turned and leaned back against the desk, slipping a leg into the sweatpants.
Leah lowered her lids closed. She was ogling a man who killed for a living. Mercenaries worked for the money. She was an easy $10 mil. Her chest crushed her heart. Good God. What was her problem? She couldn’t betray her morals for a jump in the hay. Could be a really good jump—No!
His voice retreated into the bathroom, the melodic accent rocking her back to sleep. “And Win, we may have a guest.”
Leah jerked awake. Pain in her left shoulder made her wince. The room was dark with flashes of light from the television reflecting off the ceiling. She pulled herself to a sitting position on the bed and looked around Hannes’ cabin. Ivan gasped.
You’re awake!” He dropped the TV remote on the coffee table and stumbled to the bed. “How do you feel?” He put his palm on her forehead.
She leaned away from his hand. “Except for my shoulder, I’m fine.” A gauze pad replaced the blood-soaked material cut away from her shoulder. She sat back against the wall. “Why are we in Hannes’ room?”
“Because you passed out. You don’t remember him carrying you from the bridge?”
“He what?” Fuzzy memories rushed through her mind. “What happened? Does the captain have control of the ship?”
Ivan’s eyes widened. “You don’t remember anything?” Laughing, the boy fell onto the mattress. “Holy cow! I gotta story to tell you, about you! And you won’t believe me!” He howled on. Leah pursed her lips and crossed her arms. A sharp pain cut into her left shoulder. She inhaled sharply and relaxed her arm. Ivan scurried to her side.
“Does it hurt?”
“Only when I pull on it. It’s not that bad.” She lifted the edge of the cotton dressing. “What did he do to it?”
“After he laid you on the bed, he pulled out a needle and stitched the skin together.” The boy shivered. “I almost threw-up. He checked your pulse and put his hand on your forehead several times. He seems really worried.”
Leah rolled her eyes and pushed away the rush of pleasure over Hannes being concerned over her. “Oh, please. The only thing he’s worried about is another dead body to take care of.” She scooted toward the front edge of the bed. “How long have I been sleeping?”
Ivan shrugged. “Not sure. At least a day.”
“A day?”
The cabin door flew open. Hannes barged into the room. Excitement in his eyes met hers. He started to say something but snapped his mouth shut. Dropping clothes on the sofa chair, he turned and cleared his throat. He ran his fingers through his hair and walked toward the desk. “Nice of you to join us, Princess.”
She grimaced, sprang to her feet, and headed for the door. “Screw you. I’m going to…” Her body melted, her vision and knees giving way. Hannes lunged and caught her around the waist before her face hit the floor.
“Nice catch.” Ivan smiled widely.
Leah’s head lolled as she tried to push away Hannes carrying her back to the bed. “I’m all right. Just stood up too quickly.”
Hannes leaned against a table and studied her and Ivan. She hated when he did that. So much attention made her nervous. “Are you just going to stare at us all night, or can we go back to our rooms?”
“You’re free to go wherever you want, Princess.”
Instant aggravation and frustration grabbed her. She picked up the pillow and screamed into it, then launched it at the source or her exasperation. “You are the most irritating person I have ever met.” Of course he smiled. Damn, he was so cute with his dimple. She wondered how many women had fallen under his little spell only to wake the next morning to find him gone. Probably dozens. Disgusting. Worse yet, her brain kept telling her to consider adding herself to the pile.
She raised her chin and looked away. “Ivan, would you please grab our clothes and walk me to my room?”
A question on his face, the boy glanced toward Hannes. Leah’s eyes narrowed. “Don’t ask his permission. He is not the boss of us.”
Hannes broke into laughter. She wanted to beat her head against a brick. How many stupid things could she say in front of him? Hannes gave a nod, and Ivan jumped to his feet. After opening the cabin door, Hannes said, “Be ready to leave. We dock in the morning.”
Telling her what to do, again. Leah waved him off. “I know. I heard you the first time.”
Back in her cabin, Leah soaked her muscles in hot bath water and thought about what was to come. When they docked, what would happen to her and Ivan? In movies, whoever sees the bad guys’ faces were usually killed. Bile rose in her throat. There had to be a way to save Ivan. Maybe she could work a deal with Hannes.
The skin on her fingers wrinkled, telling her she’d been lazy long enough in the water. She dried and changed into her own clothes. Such a relief to be in jeans and tennis shoes again. A sharp pain jabbed through her middle. She hadn’t eaten in quite a while. No wonder she felt half-dead. The kitchen was only one floor down.
After closing her stateroom door, she stood in front of Ivan’s door about to knock. She stayed her hand. At this hour, Ivan was probably asleep. If he were awake, he’d eventually get to thinking about what’s going to happen to him in several hours. She couldn’t handle facing him knowing she failed. Just like her father did.
Leah tiptoed down the rest of the hall to the stairs, hoping no one else was awake.