Soraya
Ray couldn’t believe what she was hearing. She stared at Sloane as if seeing him for the first time.
“You really work for the FBI?”
Sloane frowned. “Of course. I told you, didn’t I? Wait, you thought I was lying about that?”
She heaved a sigh and then nodded.
“I’dneverlie to you,” he said with feeling.
She lifted her head to meet his gaze. “Why not?”
“Because you’re my mate,” he said simply.
Ray blinked up at him. “I don’t know what that means.”
Sloane came to take a seat next to her on the sofa then reached for her hand. “Did you think everything I said to you was a lie? Or more specifically, did you think I was lying about being a polar bear shapeshifter?”
“Umm…”
Sloane sighed. “I thought I was doing so well—really getting through to you. You thought that was a lie? All of it?”
“Actually, I thought you were crazy. Still do,” she murmured. “Although…”
She looked back at the window, unsure what to believe anymore. That FBI agent had recognized her. He’d been furious when he realized that Sloane had her there.
“Why did they leave?” she asked. “Your friend obviously knew who I was.”
“He did. You’re all over the news, apparently.” Sloane sighed. “He left because I told him you’re my mate.”
She frowned. “You didn’t explain what that meant.”
“I’ll explain it to you, but I think it would be better for you to understand if you saw me shift first.”
“Shift?”
“Into my bear form.”
“Oh boy.”
“It’s okay,” he said, getting to his feet and pulling his shirt up and over his head. “I promise, I will never hurt you.”
“What are you doing?” Ray asked, backing up a step when he started taking off his jeans.
“If I shifted while wearing my clothes, I’d tear them to shreds,” he explained. “I’ve got spare clothes here, but I like these jeans.”
She turned her face away before he got completely naked.
Sloane knelt then said, “Don’t be afraid, okay? You can touch me when I’m in my polar bear form if you want. It’ll just be me, but in a different shape.”
Becausethatwas so reassuring.
Come on, Ray. This is fine. You’re fine. Just watch him pretend to be a bear, and then you can get out of here. And by all that is good and holy, donotcheck out the naked kidnapper.
She set her jaw and turned back to Sloane. He really was something to look at, and despite her best intentions, her eyes definitely slipped below his neck.
His chest was a work of art. He was so hot he practically made the air shimmer around him. Wait, no. The airwasshimmering around him. And then her eyes were darting everywhere at once as thick white hair sprouted from his skin. He dropped onto all fours and—Holy shit! He was a bear. A huge, white polar bear.
