Mary and the Bear by Zena Wynn Page A

anyone who got in his way.
    Once he was sure she was okay, he was going to set her straight on a few things. It didn't matter what she wanted. She was his. She could just get over any issues she had with him. At the first opportunity, he was claiming her. Given the way she felt, he'd probably have to trick her. Giving it some thought, he set up his battle plan. Once, he'd excelled at strategic planning. Claiming Mary Elizabeth was the most important mission of his life. He'd need all of his skills to accomplish it.
    First, he needed to build upon the attraction she felt for him. She could deny it all she liked, but there was something powerful between them. Something explosive. All he had to do was to convince her to explore their attraction and let nature take its course. Let her think it was her choice. Get her to let her guard down and the mating heat would do the rest.
    It seemed to take forever but he made it all the way into town without spotting her vehicle. He saw the diner, and drove around back. Her truck was parked haphazardly in the lot. He viewed it with trepidation, relieved that she'd made it home but concerned because she usually parked with more care than what he was seeing.
    He took the stairs two at a time until he reached the top. Hugh banged on the door, and then waited in vain for a response. The walls of the apartment were too thick for him to hear anything inside, even with his sensitive hearing. When he'd waited what he thought was a reasonable amount of time for her to answer the door, he pulled out his keys and let himself in.
    Once inside, he could hear the shower running. He wasn't leaving until he saw for himself that she was fine. He closed the door, and as an afterthought, locked it as well. There was a cup sitting on the coffee table, one he recognized from Alex's house. He could smell the alcohol from where he stood. Damn, she must have grabbed another drink on her way out of the door. The shower cut off. As he turned toward the bathroom, he spotted her skirt lying on the floor. A few paces beyond that lay the top she'd worn.
    He took off his jacket and tossed it onto the couch as his temperature suddenly spiked. He paced back and forth, waiting for her to come out of the bathroom. Screw that! It was taking her too long. He was going in there to check on her. As his hand reached for the knob, the door opened and out stepped Mary Elizabeth, wet, naked and glistening.
    The blood instantly drained from his head to his groin. Everything but the need to mate forgotten, he reached for her. Mary Elizabeth spotted him and turned sheet white, and then an interesting shade of green. She slapped a hand over her mouth, her eyes mirroring her distress right before she spun around and hurled herself at the toilet. Sounds of retching could be heard as her body released the contents of her stomach.
    Oh hell, he'd been afraid of this. Pushing up his sleeves, he followed her into the bathroom. She knelt on the floor hugging the toilet as her body heaved and spasmed. He gathered her hair, pulling it up and back, and made soothing noises. He stayed like that until her stomach was empty and she was dry heaving.
    Hugh wet a washcloth with cold water and placed it on her hot, sweaty forehead. Using her hair like a handle, he tugged her head back until it rested on his thigh. When she stopped heaving, he helped her stand and supported her while she rinsed and gargled. Then he carefully lifted her into his arms, carried her into the bedroom, and laid her on top of the bed.
    He searched until he found her pain reliever. A glass of water in one hand, and pills in the other, he returned to the room and sat on the bed beside her. He slid his hand under her neck and lifted her into a half-sitting position.
    "Drink this. You don't want to dehydrate. Take small sips and it won't upset your stomach. If you keep the water down, swallow some pain reliever."
    He brought the cup to her mouth and held it there, helping her hold