Mated to the Wilde Bear novel Chapter 4

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.

Laurel’s chest expanded with a deep breath. Xavier was hyper-aware of the way her cleavage rose, shoving toward him, before falling away again. “He’s on vacation. Few days in Tahiti. I’ll be filling in until he gets back.”

Xavier barely registered the explanation.

“Is there a problem?” she asked.

He forced himself to focus. “No, we just have a system is all.”

Her eyes narrowed. “I’m just as capable as Gerald. I’ve been doing this job a long time, Mr. Wilde. I can handle whatever system you need.”

Any other time, he would’ve appreciated the innuendo in her words, but something about her stance and her authority here rubbed him wrong.