Diesel (BBW Paranormal Shapeshifter Romance) (The Grizzly Brothers Book 1) by Terra Wolf Page B

he’d taken down on his land. He’d sanded and stained it, then slapped it on a couple large logs and called it good.
    He’d never had a woman in his home, let alone sleeping in his bed and sitting at his table.
    Diesel found he liked it very much. Especially this woman, with her sweet smile and light brown eyes that reminded him of his favorite stream.
    Sadie watched him as he leaned against his kitchen counter, his own cup secured in his large hands. She was nervous, if the rapid beating of her heart was any indication, but she gave no sign of nerves in her expression or mannerisms.
    “Diesel,” Sadie began, her tone hesitant before rapidly firing off questions. “How did you find me? How far are we from my car? Did you see that bear? How did you get me here?”
    Diesel let her questions sift through his brain, then tried to find the words to answer.
    His brothers always told him he spent too much time in his true form. He was always awkward as a man, especially around strangers.
    “I… saw your flare… then came to you and carried you back here. We are… ten miles from your car.”
    “Ten miles?” Sadie asked, her lips parting prettily in shock. “You carried me ten miles?”
    “You’re very light,” he said, stating what he thought was obvious.
    Sadie’s eyes took in his large form, her gaze wandering over every inch of his body. Her top to toe perusal left him feeling strangely heavy and light at the same time. Diesel liked the way she looked at him, like he was strong and capable.
    The strange feelings she brought forth in him made him curious. He’d never felt so protective, or attracted, to anyone before. Human or bear.
    Diesel watched as she sipped her coffee, her face reflective. His eyes wandered over her delicate features. Sweet, full lips, rounded, rosy cheeks, and those eyes… all surrounded by hair that looked soft as a cloud, and had his large hands itching to touch.
    “I…” Sadie began, then stopped with a blush when her stomach growled loudly. “Oh, my gosh, excuse me. I haven’t eaten since I left Chicago.”
    “You’re hungry,” he stated, immediately turning to open his refrigerator.
    Salmon, vegetables, and leftover rice were the first things he saw, so Diesel pulled them out and set the flame on his stove before beginning to chop up the vegetables.
    “You don’t have to go to any trouble…” Sadie assured him.
    Diesel put some butter in the pan and said, “No trouble.”
    Ten minutes later, he set a plate filled with rice, salmon, and sautéed vegetables in front of Sadie, who looked up at him with wide eyes.
    “Um, thanks, but I don’t know if I can eat all this,” she said, her voice low, but kind.
    Diesel looked at the overflowing plate, thinking it looked like the perfect amount, then realized her smaller frame might not need as much sustenance as his. He grabbed another plate, scooped half of Sadie’s food on to it, then set her plate back in front of her.
    “Thank you,” she said, her smile so shockingly beautiful that he was momentarily stunned. “It looks delicious.”
    Shaking his head to try and clear it, Diesel grunted in response, then sat across from her and began shoveling his food into his mouth. After a few moments, Diesel noticed her small, graceful bites, and forced himself to slow down.
    His brother, Blaze, always complained that he ate like an animal. Maybe he was right…
    They ate in silence, and when they were both done, Diesel watched as Sadie rose from her seat. He moved to get up as well, to get their dirty plates to the sink before she could, but Sadie reached him first and put her hand on his forearm to stop him.
    That was all it took.
    One touch. Skin on skin. To explain the strange feelings he’d felt since first coming upon Sadie in the road.
    She was his intended. His mate. The other half of his soul.

Three

Sadie
    S adie snatched her hand back as if she’d just touched a flame, but even though she was no longer touching Diesel,