Bear

BEARSAVAGE KINGS MC - VIRGINIA LANE HARTD.B. WEST COPYRIGHT This book is a work of fiction. The characters, incidents, and dialogue were created from the authors’ imagination and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to actual people or events is coincidental. The authors acknowledge the copyrighted and trademarked status of various products within this work of fiction. © 2023 Editor's Choice Publishing All Rights Reserved. This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the publisher except for the use of brief quotations in a book review. Editor’s Choice Publishing P.O. Box 10024 Greensboro, NC 27404 Edited by One Love Editing Photo by Wander Aguiar Photography L.L.C. Model Blaze Cover by Marianne Nowicki WARNING: THIS STORY CONTAINS REFERENCES TO SEXUAL VIOLENCE. THERE ARE ALSO GRAPHIC SEX SCENES AND PROFANITY, WHICH ARE NOT SUITABLE FOR ANYONE UNDER 18. SYNOPSIS Barrett “Bear” Fulton hasn’t been with a woman since his wife divorced him years ago, shattering his heart beyond repair. He hasn’t had any interest in women or dating, avoiding both altogether. He obviously needs closure before he can even try to move on. So what’s a more perfect place to find it than at his ex-wife’s wedding? Seeing her happy with someone else was easier than Bear expected. What he wasn’t prepared for was having to come to a beautiful woman’s aid while he was lurking around the reception. Bear knows that tending to his ex-wife’s sister was the right thing to do. He just had no idea that, after the chance encounter with Lyla Perry, his entire life would be forever changed or that he’d ultimately be responsible for putting the Savage Kings MC in danger. CONTENTS PrologueChapter 1Chapter 2Chapter 3Chapter 4Chapter 5Chapter 6Chapter 7Chapter 8Chapter 9Chapter 10Chapter 11Chapter 12Chapter 13Chapter 14Chapter 15Chapter 16Chapter 17Chapter 18Chapter 19Chapter 20Chapter 21Chapter 22Chapter 23Chapter 24Chapter 25Chapter 26Chapter 27Chapter 28Chapter 29Chapter 30Chapter 31Chapter 32Chapter 33Chapter 34Chapter 35Chapter 36Chapter 37Chapter 38EpilogueComing SoonAbout The Authors PROLOGUE Lyla Perry “Bathe in sunscreen, don’t you dare touch a drop of alcohol, and your asses better be back by midnight!” our dad calls after us from the front porch as my older sister and I head off for the summer’s first beach party in Rockland. “Stick together too. I better not hear about one of you running off with some boy!” “Don’t worry, Dad. I’m picky, and boys don’t notice Lyla,” my sister replies with a smirk. “Thanks a lot, Laurel,” I huff as we climb inside her car. “Well, it’s the truth. You’re a wallflower – always have been, always will be.” What she means is that I’m an unattractive dork. The shy kid with glasses who is much more comfortable shoveling poop at the local animal shelter than I am socializing. Everyone assumes I’m smart when the truth is that’s just how I look. My grades are only average at best – better than Laurel’s, though. She didn’t even bother applying to any colleges. And from now on, I’m going to make an effort to be more outgoing. My sister just graduated, and I’m headed into my senior year. Before I go off to college, I want to go on dates and kiss boys, like Laurel and every other girl in our school have been doing since they were freshmen. It doesn’t help that I’m not allowed out of the house unless Laurel is with me like some sort of babysitter. Why our father trusts her and not me, I’ll never understand. She’s the wild child. And as she loves to point out, I’m the wallflower. “Maybe some guys like wallflowers,” I tell my sister. “Did you think of that? And there aren’t any walls on the beach.” “Whatever. You’ll find somewhere to hide. Just don’t embarrass me or my friends.” I’m not sure how she thinks I’ll embarrass her when I probably won’t say two words to anyone the entire night, but I let the comment slide. Instead of arguing with my sister on the half-hour ride to Rockland, I give myself a pep talk to try and be, well, not flirty but just more approachable. I swear it’s like I have a natural boy repellant surrounding me while they flock to Laurel like mosquitos to a pond. Of course, it’s a perfect, beautiful sunny day on the coast, which means if I don’t slather on sunscreen every ten minutes, my lily-white ass will turn fire-engine red. I don’t understand how my sister and I share the same long, wavy, red hair, but of course, she only tans in the sun, never burns. Over the next few hours of lather and repeat, I relax and listen to the waves crash nearby and watch the other people having fun with friends while I sit alone. And I do get approached – by people asking for the time or wanting to borrow sunscreen. Out in the water, several guys are surfing or attempting to since the waves aren’t quite big enough for them to really ride them. They wipe out more times than I can count but keep getting back up. It’s impossible not to admire their persistence. One of them is so beautiful I swear even the sun shines down more light on his tan skin, as if it too is paying him particular attention. I’m captivated by his every movement – when he slicks his hair back out of his face, when he straddles the floating board, patiently waiting for a wave. I spend hours sitting alone, watching him until the sun begins to set. All of his friends have left, yet the one guy remains. Sometimes it feels like he’s looking in my direction, as if he can tell I’m staring at him behind my big sunglasses. I’m a little disappointed when he starts walking up the sand with his board tucked under his arm, having had enough sun and salt water for the day. I lower my face