When he finally pulled away, she protested.
“Shush, lass.I’ll be back in a moment.”Niall stood and padded into the en suite.The water turned on, and he returned a few minutes later carrying a damp cloth.
“What—?”
“You’ll be sore,” he said in a matter-of-fact voice.“This will help.”
The cloth was warm against her flesh and soothing.
“There you go,” he said, standing again.He disappeared into the en suite and returned to bed.
“Now what?”Suzie said, feeling a little awkward and unsure.What was the protocol?Did she return to her bed?
His brown eyes twinkled as he slid into the bed beside her and tugged her against him.“Now, we cuddle, sleep a little, and depending on how you feel, we enjoy ourselves again.”
“Oh.”Suzie relaxed and pressed her cheek against his brawny chest.“That sounds lovely.”
“It does,” he agreed, and a rumble slipped past his lips.
It sounded as if his bear agreed with the plan.Suzie smiled and let her eyes flutter closed.Best day ever.
10
Bears In The Woods
Suziegrinnedassheraced into her bedroom, dressed in Niall’s robe and carrying the clothes she’d worn yesterday.A glance from her tower window showed sunshine, and after a leisurely shower, she opted for shorts and a T-shirt.A walk before breakfast to enjoy the fine weather, she decided, before she headed to the office to work with Niall.It was the working bit that surprised her a little.She liked the gruff bear very much, and now that he’d told her about his past, she understood his determination to succeed and his attitude toward his family.Her younger siblings sometimes drove her nuts, but she loved them and would do anything for the pests, as she called them.Her parents, too.They’d been strict with her but fair, and they had her respect.
Niall hadn’t mentioned his parents, but they must’ve known what was going on with their children.Shaking her head, she arranged her hair in a haphazard ponytail.She thrust her feet into sandals and headed out to explore the gardens Niall kept for his private use.
Outside, she inhaled the crisp air tinted with pine and roses.The nearby flower bed was awash with yellow roses, and a gardener was busy removing the dead flowers.He dipped his head in a respectful nod.
“Good morning,” Suzie said.“Which is the best way to walk?”
“The master usually wanders through the flower beds and into the forest.There’s a trail that joins the one that circles the lake.It will take you about an hour.”
“Thank you.That sounds perfect.”Suzie waved goodbye and strolled between the flower beds, directing her steps to the path the gardener had shown her.
After the bright morning sun, the shade under the trees was welcome.The pine needles muted her footsteps, which allowed her to spot shy forest creatures.A red squirrel darted along the branches of an oak tree and jumped to the next—a beech of some kind.The animal chittered at her as if scolding her for interrupting its foraging, then flitted away with a flick of its bushy tail.
The crack of a branch had her freezing, and she peered through the trees.A flash of color enlightened her.A deer.It darted away with more crashing, and silence fell again, broken only by a singing bird.The path sloped upward, giving her views of the castle and the lake, and she halted to take photos before glancing at her watch.
Oops!She’d need to hustle if she wanted breakfast before she started work.
Angus served traditional Scottish breakfasts with bacon, square sausage, beans, fried eggs, and tattie scones.Sometimes, the breakfast included link sausages or slices of haggis and grilled tomatoes.She was a devotee.
Suzie jogged along the forest path and down the hill to the lakeshore.Halfway down, a musky scent reached her.Not unusual because the shifters attending the gathering had access to this area of the estate, but something—an inner instinct—had her steps slowing and her feline surfacing.She warily scanned the shadows beneath the tall oaks, beech trees, and the lower leafy bushes full of lush summer growth.
When she saw nothing, and the birds continued to sing overhead, she shook herself and hustled down the path to the lake.The scent bothered her, but Suzie pushed onward, each of her senses ultra-aware and processing information at top speed.She’d reached the lake’s edge when a bear padded from behind a bramble patch.Suzie’s heart jumped before she forced herself to keep moving.Scotland didn’t have native wild bears—not any longer.This was a shifter and a male, judging by his size.His shaggy coat was a rich brown, and he scrutinized her intently.
Suzie stared back, instinctively refusing to let the shifter intimidate her.A large contingent of bears had attended the gathering.She’d met a few but didn’t recognize this one despite his familiar scent.
The bear retreated, padding out of sight as quickly as he’d appeared.
Suzie waited for the count of ten before breaking into a jog to avoid being too late.She rushed into the breakfast room, breathless and warm from her hustle.Niall had already started with a heaped plate of sausage, eggs, bacon, and other delicious items when she slid into the seat opposite him.
“Sorry, I’m late.It was such a lovely morning.I went for a walk.The loop around the lake took me longer than I planned.”
His brows cocked, his silence full of questions.
