The Right to a Bear's Arms (A BBW Shifter Romance) (Wolf Rock Shifters) by Carina Wilder

going to show you how to frame a house today,” said Colson. “Are you guys excited?”
    Something in his tone of voice made Zoe want to laugh. She could see that even if the children weren’t thrilled, he was delighted to be there. But of course they were as well, and the entire class yelled, “Yeah!” in unison.
    Colson began with some planks of treated wood, showing them how to cut the ends and screw them at right angles in order to begin construction of the frame.
    “Would someone like to help me with the drill?” he asked.
    “I would,” said Conner, who stepped forward. Since his talk with Zoe on her first day, the young boy had become outgoing and confident, and Zoe was beyond pleased to see his progress.
    With Colson’s hand over his own to protect him from the power drill’s weight, the bear shifter helped the boy to drill a screw deep into a piece of wood.
    “Excellent,” said Colson. “You’re a natural.”
    “Thanks,” said Conner. “I like making things.”
    “Oh yeah? What else do you make?”
    “Toys, mostly,” said Conner, shrugging as though it were no big deal. “Sometimes I build toy cars with my dad out of wood.”
    “Well, your dad should bring you round the garage sometime. We can show you how the insides of a car work.”
    Conner smiled, revealing the adult teeth which were now growing in his mouth.
    “Really?” he asked.
    “Of course.” Colson turned to Zoe. “You could bring the whole class if you’d like.”
    “I might just do that,” she said. “One of these days.”
    “Well, you should do it before the weather turns cold.” It was October now and he was right, of course; it would soon be cold out. Zoe thought of her funny, impractical home, and how she’d keep warm over the winter months.
     
    When the lesson was done and the children had been dismissed, Zoe began to make her way towards the woods and Colson’s work station.
    “Zoe!” she heard a little boy’s voice from behind her.
    “Hi, Conner,” she said, turning around.
    “That man in the woods. The one who builds. He’s your friend, right?”
    “Yes, he is,” Zoe said, crouching down in front of the boy.
    “I like him. He’s nice. He’s not a bad one.”
    “What do you mean, not a bad one?” Zoe smiled, amused at the choice of words.
    “There are good people. Some people are in the middle. And there are bad people who like hurting others. Colson is a good person. He doesn’t like to hurt anyone.”
    “I’m sure you’re right.”
    “And he likes you.”
    “I know he does,” said Zoe, standing up. “Now you head on home to your parents, and I’ll see you tomorrow, okay?”
    “Okay,” said Conner, his toothy smile re-emerging. He turned on his heels and dashed off in the opposite direction.
    Zoe found Colson finishing off a corner of the new building.
    “How’s it going back here? I mean, aside from the obvious distraction of ankle-biters running around.”
    “They’re not the distracting ones,” he said, raising an eyebrow suggestively. “But it’s good. All good. I’m sorry though; I spent so much time here that I didn’t get a chance to work on your place.”
    “That’s okay. This is more important.”
    “Nothing’s more important, Zoe,” he said, his yellow-flecked eyes looking down into hers.
    “So,” she said, avoiding any acknowledgment of his sincere words, “would you like to come by? I have some food left over from yesterday. It’s nothing exciting but you’re welcome to have dinner with me.”
    Colson looked surprised.
    “Sure. I mean of course. I’ll just clean up here and maybe take a quick shower before I head over. I’ll be there soon though.”
    “Good. Don’t take too long,” she said, turning around and beginning the walk home.
    Colson watched her go as every drop of blood in his body seemed to rush to his cock.
    “It’s just dinner, buddy,” he said. “Calm down.”

Eleven
     
     
    When Zoe got home, she stood, looking in the mirror which