You Bear With Me: A Shifters in Love Fun & Flirty Romance (Bewitched by the Bear Book 6) Read online

  You Bear With Me

  Bewitched by the Bear - Book 6

  V Vaughn

  Sugarloaf Press

  Copyright © 2018 by V. Vaughn

  All rights reserved.

  No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

  Cover by Wilson Rowe

  Editing by Jodi Henley, Red Adept Publishing and Angie Ramey

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  Contents

  About This Book

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Epilogue

  About the Author

  About This Book

  Sammy the witch moved to Maine with a plan. She’s going to get her Masters in Education and teach long enough to establish her career before she lets the complications of a soul mate interfere. But when she meets Leo in the most unlikely place, she discovers destiny has played a cruel joke. Not only is it too soon, but Sammy never expected her soul mate to have a job that makes her want to run in the other direction.

  Leo’s got a plan too. With his good werebear looks, Leo finds working as an exotic dancer pays well enough to make medical school possible. When he meets Sammy, his strategy has to change because he can’t imagine taking his clothes off for any other woman. What Leo doesn’t expect is for his soul mate to deny their fate. And when he finds out why, he’s not so sure they belong together either. The soul mate connection is powerful for a reason, but it may not be strong enough.

  1

  "Le-o! Le-o! Le-o!" chants a crowd of women. I down another shot of tequila and wince at the burning sensation that races down my throat. Bad childhood memories are flooding my brain. While this place doesn't smell like stale cigarettes and sour beer, I don't think there's enough alcohol for what I have to endure tonight. I'm at a bachelorette party for one of my best friends, Nina. And with the exception of our third musketeer, Elise, I don't think I'd come to a male strip show for anyone else.

  I lean back and tug at my high-necked shirt as a waiter, wearing micro shorts only, sets down more drinks for us. I do my best to avoid looking at him and gaze at the man who just appeared on stage and is apparently named Leo. He's dressed like a policeman, except I've never seen an officer in a shirt that tight or with a body that hot. The tequila hits my bloodstream, adding to the slight buzz I've got going, and I smile as I take in the prime physique before me. He's got to be a werebear, because he's supersized. I have to admit, the eye candy here is top notch. And this place is much nicer than the strip club I remember. I'm starting to think maybe there is enough booze to make me enjoy this night.

  "That's the spirit!" Elise yells at me over the noise in the club. "Told you these guys were worth seeing."

  Screams erupt as Leo rips his shirt open, making buttons fly into the crowd. He reveals an oil-slicked chest honed to perfection.

  "Day-um," says Nancy, an older woman who is one of Nina's clients for her dog counseling business. She nudges me. "I'd climb that man-mountain. You know what I'm saying?"

  I chuckle at her. "I hope you brought your dollars." I move my gaze up the dancer's body to his face and notice a pair of teal-blue eyes that practically glow. Now I know he's definitely werebear and probably from the Robichaux clan. Since moving to Orono, Maine, I've learned there are three clans of werebear here, and they each have distinctive attributes. The most mesmerizing to me is their eyes, which are a different vibrant color for each clan. I have a strong urge to see Leo's up close, and I laugh at myself when I actually consider grabbing one of Nancy's dollar bills to go up to the stage.

  Leo is down to just his tight pants, and when he reaches for the belt buckle, the music stops abruptly. He glances around in mock confusion.

  The emcee, who is most likely werebear too, comes back out to stand beside Leo and chide him. "Uh-uh-uh," he says as he wags his finger. "Ladies, what self-respecting officer of the law is going to strip off his pants in front of a woman? Not one who wants to keep his job. Am I right?"

  Boos come from the audience, and Leo holds up his hands and shrugs as if he can't do a thing about it. The emcee grins. "But nothing says a woman can't strip them off him." This brings a cheer from the crowd. "Leo needs a little help. Do I have any volunteers?"

  Nancy hops up, and her screams nearly pierce my eardrum. "Here! Over here!"

  To my horror, I realize she's pointing at me.

  "Oh my god, Nancy!" I tug at her shirt. "Sit down."

  "What have we here?" says the emcee as he looks at us.

  I shake my head so violently my earrings jingle. But my protests seem to go unnoticed, because the spotlight shines on our table, and I blink in the bright light.

  "What do you think, Leo? She's got that proper-librarian look you like."

  "What?" My hand flies to the neckline of my boatneck top. I had hoped appearing to be conservative would keep me from being noticed, and I blush profusely at the insinuation I'm a prude. And at the fact everyone is looking at me.

  I can't see what is happening through the glare of the spotlight, but Leo must agree, because the emcee walks over to me and holds out his hand. "What's your name?"

  I cross my arms. "I'm not going up on that stage. Please—" I gasp when I realize he's stuck the microphone in front of me and everyone can hear my voice. "Pick someone else."

  "Aw, Leo. She's shy." He flashes his toothy grin to the crowd and in a taunting voice, he says, "Just his type."

  "Oh my god," I groan out.

  "Just go, Sammy," says Nina, whose voice is picked up by the microphone the emcee has stuck back in my face. She leans in and whispers in my ear, "It'll be worse if you don't."

  "She's right," whispers Nancy.

  I glare at Nancy, because I have a feeling she's done this before, and my stomach sinks because they’re probably right. But what makes me stand up is the sexy voice I hear next. "Please, Sammy."

  The spotlight shines on Leo, and his gaze is trained on me as he steps off the stage and comes over. He holds out his hand. Something about the look in his eyes makes me take it, and when I do, I feel as if I'm under his control. And that's saying a lot for a powerful witch like me. He jerks back as if he's startled, and I wonder if I'm drunk enough that I sent a shock of magic through him. It's not out of the question when I have had more than I should.

  "I'm sorry," I say as I walk with him toward the stage.

  He leans in to whisper, "It's fine. Just play along, and it'll be over in a few minutes. Okay?"

  "Sure."

  My feet thud up the wooden steps to the stage, and Leo stops us at the top. "I'm going to talk you through this. Once you get my belt off, yank my waistband hard, and the pants will tear away easily."

  I nod.

  "The more you ham it up, the better this will go." He winks. "And trust me… whatever you dish out, I can handle it."

  I close my eyes and let out a groan before I take a deep breath and prepare to help him give a show. We walk to the middle of the stage, and the music begins again. Leo gyrates his hips to the beat.

  The emcee
asks the crowd, "Are we ready, ladies?"

  They begin to chant again. "Take it off! Take it off! Take it off!"

  Leo ripples his belly as he sticks his thumbs into his pants, and I roll my eyes at him. But I get an idea, and I give him an order in a loud voice. "Hands above your head!"

  Leo shoots his arms up in the air and raises his eyebrows into his hairline as if he's afraid of me.

  The emcee lets out a whoop before he says, "I think Sammy has some experience with enforcing the law."

  The crowd laughs. The truth is I have had experience on stage and, at one point, had a dream of being a theater actress. My training comes back to me as I revel in the attention of the crowd. Leo's high internal werebear temperature makes his belt buckle hot in my fingers as I make quick work of slipping the belt out of the loops. I fold it in half and snap it as I turn to the crowd.

  "Nice," Leo says softly as the emcee loses it and begins to make comments about my dominatrix tendencies. "Mention something about my gun."

  "Really?" I chuckle at him as I walk slowly around him as if I'm checking out the goods, which I might as well do at this point. "Fine." I take stock of the rock-hard butt his pants are straining to contain before I walk around and gaze out at the crowd. Being on stage is sending a rush of power through me as I remember how much I love to perform, and I snap the belt one more time to get their attention before I say loudly, "Where do you think he keeps his gun?"

  The emcee laughs as women yell versions of "in his pants" to me. He gets them chanting, "Take it off," again, and I toss the belt aside.

  I stand beside Leo and slide my finger under the waistband of his pants and drag it sideways. The contact sends a tingle through me and makes my magic want to come out and play. I say loudly, "Oh my, ladies. He's smoking hot!" Leo's stomach trembles beneath my touch. I might be trembling a little too, and I definitely want more, so I continue to drag my finger around his side and along his back. When I'm facing Leo again, he lets out a shaky breath of air before he says, "One quick pull, like a bandage."

  "I got it." I step in front of him and yank hard. The strips of plastic fastener rip loudly. My body is blocking him from the crowd, and when I see that his impressive package is barely covered by a shimmery blue thong, my power surges through me in a way that I can’t control.

  "Oh, sweet Jesus!” I automatically refasten the pants around Leo’s waist as I’m filled with a jealous need to make sure nobody else sees Leo's scantily clad groin.

  "Who-ho-ho!" cries the emcee. "It seems Officer Leo has quite a big, scary gun."

  Leo frowns at me. "Sammy?"

  I stare up into his eyes as my power surge retreats and my body slumps in exhaustion. I have absolutely no claim on this man, but I feel as if he's my boyfriend, and my heart hurts because I don't want to share him with the women in the crowd. I shake my head in confusion. "I can't. I—"

  "Faint," Leo orders.

  "What?"

  "Faint, and you don't have to."

  "Oh." That’s easy since I’m wobbly anyway, so I close my eyes and give in to the darkness.

  As if he’s in my dreams, I hear Leo say, "Keep your eyes closed."

  "Sammy!" calls out Elise, and I open my eyes and wonder how we got off the stage. I blink at her face along with Nancy's and Nina’s so close to mine.

  “What just—” I blink as I try to clear my head.

  Leo says to my friends, "Follow me. She just needs air."

  He glances over me and nods.

  It must have been at the emcee, because the man says, "Duty calls for Officer Leo, ladies. But don't worry—" The music shifts to a song that starts with the rumble of thunder. "Oh no! We're in for some nasty weather, ladies! Let's welcome your favorite weatherman, Lance!"

  Leo's foot thuds on a door when he kicks it open, and we enter a hallway.

  When the door closes us off from the main part of the club, it dampens the noise, and Elise asks, "Are you sure Sammy is all right?"

  My first instinct is to tell her I'm fine, but Nancy knows nothing about werebear or that Elise, Nina, and I are witches.

  While witches don't have to hide what they are, werebear do, and Leo says, "She just fainted. Happens to me all the time."

  A burst of anger fills me when I imagine him carrying another woman in his arms. Does this guy have magical pow—oh crap. I mentally slap my forehead because I finally get what's going on with my crazy attraction to this werebear. It was only months ago I watched my roommate, Nina, fall hard for her werebear fiancé.

  Leo is my soul mate.

  2

  I blink my eyes open and let out a moan as if I'm just coming to awareness. "Oh god," I say as I squirm in Leo's arms. "Did I just faint?"

  We've entered what appears to be an office, and Leo sets me down in a chair. He grins at me as my friends look at me with concern. "I have that effect on women."

  I want to slap the smirk off Leo's face, but I roll my eyes at him instead. This is not how it's supposed to happen. "Thank you for carrying me here, but I'm good now. You can"—I wave my arm toward the door—"resume your performance."

  He shrugs with that damn smirk still on his face. "Dance is over. Weatherman Lance is up. But if you want to talk about performing…" He pumps his eyebrows at me, and I groan thinking about what I did on stage.

  "Our girl was good. Right?" Nancy nudges me with her arm. "But you didn't make any money. That hardly seems fair." She reaches into her bra, and I'm horrified when Nancy pulls out a wad of ones and thrusts them at Leo. "Here."

  He shakes his head. "I can't take that."

  "Of course you can." She grabs his hand, shoves the money into his palm, and folds his fingers around it. "At the very least, take it for catching Sammy before she cracked her head open."

  Leo looks down at the cash in his hand and then at me. Those darn teal-blue eyes draw me in as he says, "I'll catch her anytime she falls for the rest of her life… if she’ll let me."

  My jaw drops for a moment as I let myself believe he's sincere, but I snap it shut when I realize it's one of the many lines he probably uses in his line of work. "You're too much," I say and get up from my chair. "Thank you for saving me from a concussion, but we should probably get back before we lose our table."

  Leo opens his mouth as if he wants to say something but shakes his head instead. "Enjoy the show."

  As my friends file out the door, I hesitate. The draw of soul-mate attraction is stronger than I expected, and I glance over my shoulder at Leo as I walk away. He offers me a sad smile as if we're breaking up on friendly terms. My heart aches, and it's all I can do to keep from throwing myself into his arms. "Stupid tequila," I mumble as I get into the hall.

  "Gets me every time," says Nancy as she takes my arm. "Maybe water for the rest of the night. What do you say?"

  "Are you sure you want to stay?" asks Nina. "Don't think you need to on my account." She winks. "My man's waiting at home."

  Nina really wanted to come here for her bachelorette party, and I'm not going to let the confusion of meeting my soul mate ruin her night. "Of course we need to stay. I promise I'm okay. I think I just had too much to drink."

  Elise frowns at me.

  "Really." I step ahead of my friends to push the door to the bar open and paste on a huge smile. "C'mon. The eye candy's waiting."

  As we approach our table, I notice nobody claimed it.

  Nancy says, "My faith in humanity is restored. Can you believe our table is still open?"

  I glance at Elise, who mouths behind Nancy's back, "Spelled it."

  I give her a knowing smile. Magic does come in handy. But unfortunately, I don't have a spell to dull the attraction I feel for Leo. As I watch the latest male dancer move across the stage and contort himself in ways that should pull a muscle, I curse destiny. I'm not ready for this. When I catch myself scowling, I quickly turn it into a smile and decide I need to join Nancy in her fun. I put my hands up to my mouth and yell along. "Take it off!"

  I do my
best to pretend I'm having a good time, but the truth is I feel as if I’m being swallowed up by a world I thought I’d escaped. Tequila gurgles in my stomach with the threat of coming back up. My soul mate is a stripper! I swallow hard and take a deep breath to loosen my chest in an attempt to ward off panic. But it’s no use. The music is so loud it hurts my ears, and sweat covers my skin with the slickness of fear. I’m afraid I might be having an anxiety attack, so I get up to go to the bathroom and take a break.

  I sneak off before anyone can try to come with me. The hallway to the restrooms is dimly lit, and I'm grateful when I find there isn't a line.

  But before I can enter, a figure steps out from the shadows and startles me. "Sammy."

  I let out a whoosh of air in surprise as anger spikes in me when I recognize the voice as Leo's. He moves closer, and I notice he's in loose sweatpants and a sweatshirt with the hood on his head. "Hey," he says as he removes the hood, "can we talk?"

  I cross my arms as I scowl at him. But it’s an act because my entire being is humming with attraction for him. My mind practically screams for me to get with this guy, but I do my best to casually say, "Sure."

  "You're a witch, right?"

  I nod, since putting his pants back on without touching him made it pretty apparent.

  He asks, “On the stage, when you touched me, did you hex me as punishment for making you come up there?"

  He thinks I— "No! Of course not."

  Leo steps closer and is now in my space, making my body spark with the electricity between us. My insides tremble when he lowers his voice as he looks down at me.

  "Then explain why I can't get you out of my mind."