My Boss to Bear (Billionaire Werebear Paranormal Romance Steamy Standalone) Read online

  Copyright 2015 Luna Noir

  All rights reserved.

  My Boss to Bear

  Book design by Luna Noir

  Cover Image Copyright 2015 CanStockPhotos

  Warning: This book contains graphic depictions of consenting adults engaging in explicit sexual activities, and is only intended for mature readers over the age of 18.

  Marissa couldn’t control her excitement. Today she would be interviewing for her dream internship. As only a sophomore, everyone had told her not to get her hopes up, but here she was about to prove them all wrong. She had been preparing for this interview for months. She was ready and she knew she could do this job and do it well. It was her passion to work on forest conservancy and she had heard so many good things about the company and its founder, Russell Branch.

  And it wouldn’t even take her away from her fiancé for the summer. She and Jake would be close enough that they could still visit. Everything was definitely going to be perfect.

  She dressed carefully for the interview, wanting to give the manager a good idea of her professionalism. But when she arrived, it wasn’t an HR manager who met her at all. It was Russell Branch.

  “Sir,” Marissa stammered, feeling almost like she should courtesy. “This is a huge honor.”

  “Please call me Russell.” He smiled, and she found herself immediately drawn to his warm green eyes. “And it’s my foundation after all. I oversee all hiring. I only want people here who really care about the wilderness. This forest we oversee is very dear to me for personal reasons.”

  “Oh, I do love it sir. Russell.” Marissa forced herself to stop babbling.

  He laughed and offered her his hand. “And you are?”

  “Marissa Edward, sir. Russell.”

  She took his hand to shake it. The connection immediate and electric. Something was between them. She couldn’t have said what, but it made her weak in the knees.

  She forced her mind back to the interview. What was wrong with her? She was happy with Jake and this man would be her boss, for goodness sake.

  “Shall we begin?”

  He held the door open for her, still smiling. And though Marissa couldn’t have said in what way, his expression had changed subtly as though he had noticed something about her, too. Maybe it had been her imagination.

  It didn’t matter. She was here for her dream job.

  Marissa squared her shoulders. “Yes. I’m ready. We have a lot to cover, Russell.”

  His delighted laugh followed her into the room.

  ~

  First day. Time to get up.

  Marissa stared at the ceiling and tried to summon the passion she had felt only a few short months ago. Where was her drive, her enthusiasm?

  Or maybe Jake had taken those from her, too.

  It came out of the blue two weeks ago. “I don’t love you anymore,” he’d said, and taken back his ring. “I don’t think this can work.”

  He left then, and left her devastated. Worse, she knew the real reason he was leaving, and it made her feel even more like a fool.

  She was pregnant. She had only told him a few weeks ago, but she had expected Jake to be happy that they were starting their family so soon. Instead, he had blanched and asked her if she was really going to keep it.

  Marissa couldn’t even think off giving up her child. Even though she had only been pregnant a short time, she already loved her child with a fierceness that was frightening in its depth and intensity.

  But she had truly thought he would come around. She had never thought he would leave her.

  Swallowing against tears, Marissa forced herself out of bed. Her baby needed food, and her amazing internship awaited her. Everything would amazing again, she just had to remember that.

  And Russell Branch had been so kind to her. It would definitely be a pleasure to work with his team. And for such a good cause. Her baby would be proud of her someday.

  Feeling reassured, Marissa went to get dressed.

  ~

  To her surprise, Russell came himself to welcome her. She blushed at the warmth in his smile, feeling like this whole job was a dream. How was a billionaire - a busy billionaire, with his own company and non-profit - so down-to-earth and willing to talk to her? She had been certain he would have forgotten her, or would at least take a moment to place her, but here he was, welcoming her by name.

  It was then she saw him take in her condition. Marissa couldn’t help but feel a thrill of fear. After Jack’s reaction, she now felt a moment of panic that her pregnancy would ruin things here, too. But somehow, warmth still lingered in her new boss’ voice when Russell clasped her hand. “I see congratulations are in order!”

  “Thank you.” She felt a thrill at his touch and had to force herself to let go.

  “You are your fiancé must be excited.”

  Being reminded of Jake hurt. But then, she was always reminded of him. “I am. Jake is… no longer in the picture.”

  “I see. I’m sorry.” Russell did look genuinely sorry for her sake, and seeing his concern made her heart skip a beat. How could such an important man be so down to earth and thoughtful?

  “It’s fine.” She forced a smile.

  He didn’t look as though he believed her, but he was a gentleman and didn’t press. “Let me show you to your desk. I hope you’ll be happy here.”

  Seeing the earnest hope in his face made her smile again, this time for real. “I’m sure I will be.”

  ~

  Marissa threw herself into her work. It was easy - she had always been passionate about conservancy, but now she had a new reason to push herself. She wanted to forget the spring, to forget Jake and the look on his face when he told her he didn’t want to be with her and her child.

  Over the next few weeks, it began to dawn on her that she might have some other reason for working hard.

  Her billionaire boss continued to pay special attention to her, even though she was sure he was a busy man, trying to run both his company and the non-profit. Yet he seemed to be more often working to save the forests than trying to make money, and Marissa began to feel like he might be spending more time in her department particularly than he might have otherwise.

  She tried to convince herself she was imagining things, but every day, Russell dropped by to say hello, even if he was too busy to have a real conversation. He brought her flowers for Mother’s Day and left her little notes at times when he came by while she was in another desk. Once, one had a little doodle of her as a superhero fighting to save the forest, and she laughed until tears came to her eyes.

  Those were the good times.

  It was hard to admit to herself that she was beginning to look forward to Russell’s visits more so than even her internship - which she loved. But it was hard not to notice how her heart skipped a beat when he smiled at her, and when he gently touched her hand. She began to notice him as a man, and more than anything, that terrified her.

  It was embarrassing that she couldn’t stop thinking about him. He was such an important man - he was her boss - but whenever she met his eyes, she felt a heat growing between them that was hard to deny. At the office, she forced herself to look away and tried to think of her unborn child, but at home… at home, sometimes she couldn’t help but dream about his burning gaze, his soft lips, the way his hands would feel around her…

  Closing her eyes, Marissa let her hand drift lower, resting it on her most private places as she thought about Russell. She remembered the look he had given her during her presentation that day. Remembering the hea
t of his gaze made her quiver all over again. Should she tell him what it was she was thinking?

  What she was thinking…

  God. Marissa felt herself blushing at just the thought. She was only an intern, and he was a rich and powerful man. He would never be interested in her. No, this was just a fantasy.

  But in her fantasy, he held her close and whispered sweet things to her. He kissed her lips, her neck, her breasts, and her belly. He called her child theirs and promised to be with them always.

  It was as though she could really feel him with her. His tongue on her thigh, his breath on her panties. And then his fingers pulling back the thin layer of sheer fabric to give his tongue free reign within her folds.

  Marissa imagined the sweet torment of his mouth sucking at her clit while every movement wracked her body with spasms of longing and pleasure. He would be good at it, she was sure, and her pussy ached for him to prove it. She could almost feel Russell’s tongue inside her.

  She could imagine the long, slow licks he would take, as though he was tasting the very core of her. Her whole body shivered in forbidden delight as she lay alone in the darkness, wishing that she dared hope for her dreams to come true.

  ~

  Nervously, Marissa waited for her billionaire boss to reply. She had just shown him a new program she had designed to try to track illegal logging activities. It was the most important project she had ever worked on, but all she could think was how she wanted him to be pleased with her.

  “I’m very impressed with your work, Marissa.”

  She felt a blush rising from her cleavage up. He was pleased!

  “I think we should implement your app immediately,” Russell continued. “I’ll get a meeting set up with IT for tomorrow morning.” He handed her back the files and started to leave.

  On his way out of her cubicle, he paused. “You’re going to save a lot of trees, Marissa. You’ve made me very happy.”

  Marissa shivered at the look in his eyes. It was so close to the look she had been dreaming of only last night - but she had to be imagining things. He was her boss!

  She forced herself to look away and tried to pretend that she was only glad about the trees, and not that she had made him so happy.

  True to Russell’s word, she met with the IT department the next day, and before she knew it, the entire company was using her app. Her boss even called together a surprise party in her honor. She was so shocked when they appeared at her cubicle with cake and fruit punch that she nearly shrieked.

  “Let’s all toast Marissa. Two months in, and I’d already be lost without her!” Russell’s face was bright and happy, and she wished she could kiss him.

  But the twinkle in his eye was just for her, and that was enough. He raised a glass of fruit punch. “To her future here at Branch Industries.”

  “To her future!”

  The chorus rose around Marissa. For the first time since she had lost Jake, she felt truly at home.

  ~

  Only a few days later, Russell stopped by her cubicle with some exciting information. “Your app has been picking up some unusual activity in this area.” He pointed to a quadrant on the forest map that hung over her desk. “The police say they chased off some illegal loggers a few days ago. I thought you might like to go with me to see the trees you’ve helped to save in person while I check things out.”

  “Oh!” Marissa blushed. “I don’t know.” Days alone in the forest with her boss? Did she dare?

  “Unless my company is so terribly unpleasant that you would rather sit behind a desk for three days than be around me.” His eyes twinkled.

  Marissa laughed then, deeply and truly - what felt like the first real laugh she had had since her fiancé left.

  “Of course I’ll go with you.” She smiled up at Russell. “I’d love to.”

  ~

  They hiked through the lush and green undergrowth, reveling in the majestic forest they’d helped save. Russell paused often to be sure Marissa wasn’t straining herself on his account, and she always told him how she would have such stories to tell her child. He’d point out grouse and once, a turkey, as they walked. The first night, they huddled before a field Russell had built before a makeshift lean-to. Marissa couldn’t remember ever being so happy

  “This is perfect,” she said aloud as a wolf’s howl rose over the teeming woods.

  Russell nodded, his face surprisingly closed. “I know. I love it here. Since the moment I stepped foot here first ten years ago, I knew I loved it. I would do anything to keep them safe. But these woods have done more for me than I could ever repay.”

  Curiosity ate Marissa up. What a curious thing to say. But she could tell by the look on his face that he meant to say no more. “I love it here too,” she told him quietly instead. “I promise I’ll help you keep these woods safe.”

  “I know you will. That’s why I hired you.”

  “Russell…” She bit her lip, and then forced out the words she had been worried about for weeks. “I was so afraid you wouldn’t let me stay when you found out I was pregnant. Why did you hire me?”

  “You were right for the job.” Russell’s eyes wrinkled as his face finally relaxed into a smile. “And you told me so.”

  Once more she laughed, the sounds of her joy ringing out over the forest. Here, she felt freer than she had in months. And safe. Was it just the forest, or was there some other reason?

  “Marissa.” Russell’s voice was suddenly very serious. “I want to ask you something completely improper.”

  Her heart beat a little faster. “What is it?”

  “You don’t have to answer if you don’t want to, but I wonder why your fiancé are no longer together.”

  “Oh.” There wasn’t anything in particular that she had wanted him to ask, but she felt strangely disappointed anyway. “It’s a long story. I guess he just didn’t want the responsibility of a child.” She forced a smile. “She can just be my child, and she’ll always know she is loved, by me if not by him.”

  Russell stood, looking angry. “I’m sorry to say it, but your fiancé is an idiot. Any real man should be proud to be by your side.”

  A flood of emotions washed through her. No longer disappointed - instead, she felt a rush of… desire?

  “Thank you,” she managed, not daring to meet his eyes lest he read something in hers she wasn’t ready for him to see. “It’s nice of you to say.”

  “Marissa,” he began and then stopped, his face twisting. She opened her lips to ask what was wrong, and then he was kissing her. “I was not just saying it. You are incredible, Marissa, and you deserve someone who knows it.”

  “Russell,” she moaned against his mouth. “Please.”

  “Please what?” He pressed her back against the ground.

  Marissa felt leaves and twigs at her back, but her whole world was caught up in him, and how badly she needed him. “Please make love to me.”

  It was all she needed to say.

  With aching, infinite tenderness, Russell kissed her once more. Slowly, his hands slipped down about her shoulders, and then to the buttons of her shirt. He undressed her then, kissing each part of her as he revealed it until she was lying underneath him, completely naked.

  “You are perfect,” he murmured.

  Marissa felt a sob catch in her throat at the utter truth and love in his voice. He was looking at her as though he had never seen anything so beautiful, even with her big belly.

  “I’m pregnant,” she forced out.

  Russell kissed her belly. “And?”

  She shook her head, hardly daring to speak. “What have I done to deserve you?”

  He laughed then, and she raised her head, almost ready to be angry. “Why are you laughing?”

  “Because,” he kissed her again, “you didn’t have to do anything other than be yourself. Who you are is amazing, Marissa.”

  “You’re crazy,” she whispered, but without much conviction.

  He captured her
mouth again then, and she gave herself up to him completely. With Russell as her guide, she rediscovered the beauty of her body, even the belly she hated as much as she loved. He trailed his fingers down between her breasts, showering her with soft kisses and tasting the very salt of her skin. She shivered under each touch, feeling as though he were opening her like a precious flower.

  When he finally undressed and pressed his body against hers, Marissa awaited his cock eagerly. But for long moments, he just held her close, gently stroking her hair.

  The intimacy undid her. It was as though a dam had been locked inside her ever since Jake had left, and now, finally, she could be free.

  She ran her hands down his muscled chest and reached for his cock. It was thicker than she had imagined it would be, and it was hard and straining under her touch. She could feel the first drops of his need on the tip of it and felt a rush of excitement knowing that he could soon be inside her.

  “Please?” she whispered, looking up into his face. “I want you to feel every inch of me.”

  “Anything you want,” he murmured.

  They lay, side by side, as he gently guided himself into her. Marissa felt her breath catch at the size of him pressing into her warm pussy. He was so big for a moment she was afraid he wouldn’t fit - but her body was ready for him, and when she drew him into her tight sheath she heard him gasp in pleasure.

  “Marissa,” he moaned.

  They rocked against each other, Russell thrusting in and out ever so slightly. She whimpered at the teasing feeling of it. She needed him, all of him. She never wanted him to stop touching her.

  He stroked her back and neck as he moved inside her. She could feel every thrust of his cock. Each movement was sweet torture, sending shivers throughout her entire body. Every few thrusts he would hold, deep inside her, and she could feel him pulse against her.

  Marissa whimpered in need. Her whole body was full of him, aching with desire. She could feel how he moved within her, but it was also as though he was all around her, protecting her, drawing the deepest desires and passion from her and breathing it to life.

  Her whole body shuddered as he thrust again and again. One of his hands slipped lower, gently parting her folds above his cock and stroking her in time with his movements. Marissa cried out as he found her clit, massaging it.