Called by the Bear 1-3 Read Online Free PDF Page B

when she adds a growl. "Maybe, but don't be cuddling me tonight. I don't swing that way." I grin at her and grab my pajamas.
    Her eyes dance with laughter as she says, "Ha! You're the one that cuddles."
    "I think you secretly like it." I slam the door to the bathroom before she can reply.
    I strip down and glance at my reflection in the mirror. The black ink of my paw print is stark against my white breast, and it's sexy as shit. I rub my hand over it, and desire pools between my legs. Fuck. I could get off right now, but I'm not doing that with Carly in the next room.
    I pull on my cat-print pajama pants and plain cotton tee instead. When I emerge from the bathroom Carly says, "Wrong animal."
    I smirk. "I know. We'll have to look for bear ones."
    A knock on the door makes us both stop talking. I go to answer it and find the blond girl standing on the stoop.
    "Hi." She's swaying from foot to foot and throws me a furtive glace before returning her gaze to the ground. "I'm Lily. Can I ask you some questions?"
    "Sure, come on in."
    Carly is on the bed. She smiles and gives her a nod. Lily forces a smile back. I walk over and pull out the desk chair and motion with my hand for her to sit.
    She shuts the door with a small click and takes the seat. She looks at Carly. "Where did you get your tattoo?"
    Carly takes a deep breath before she speaks. “I drew it. From a dream.”
    I pipe up as I sit next to Carly. "The thing is nobody can see it, but the two of us and now you. We're pretty sure it's a sign and calling us."
    "When you got the tattoo, did the weird dreams stop?"
    A flame-like flicker glows in Carly’s eyes. Whoa. That’s so not right. She says, "No. They get more intense."
    Lily's eyes widen. "I dreamt about you two, and in the dream you give me that tattoo. Is that what you do?"
    Carly says, "Yes, I'm a tattoo artist from California."
    I interject. "She's famous. Look at these." I hold out her arms for Lily to look. Lily glances at the sleeves of bright color but returns her gaze to Carly. I guess tattoos make her uncomfortable.
    Lily bites her lip and gets up to walk to the window. Her back is to us when she speaks. "I'm not really into tattoos." She turns back to look at us. "Can you give it to me somewhere nobody would see?"
    "Sure, we could do it on your hip, your butt, or even your breast."
    "Does it hurt?"
    I smile at her because the fear of pain is probably her biggest hurdle. "Yeah, but you can do it. I'll be right here to hold your hand." I get up and go to Carly’s luggage.
    Lily leans against the windowsill and bites her lower lip. She says, "This is going to sound strange, but a few months ago this old Indian woman I know told me I was destined to save a clan. I think she might mean a clan of bears."
    "Catori at the diner?" I ask. Cotton from clothes is soft against my skin as I rummage through Carly's bag for the car keys to get the tattoo equipment. Cold metal indicates I've found them, and I squeeze them tight in my hand.
    “Yes, did you meet her?"
    Carly nods and says, "She told us to go east, and that's where we're headed."
    Lily's face gets hard. "She's a creepy woman, but everyone around here listens to her when she speaks."
    Carly says, "She couldn't see our tattoos, but she said she felt them. I think she's gifted." She gets up and takes the keys from me.
    Lily snorts. "That's a nice way to put it."
    "I'll go get my stuff." Carly smiles at Lily. "And you decide where the sign is going to go."
    The door shuts with a solid clunk, and Lily says to me, "I'm too soft for a bikini. Should I do it on my hip?" She touches where a hipbone would jut out.
    "You could definitely rock a bikini. I do." Her face flushes, and I think about how she doesn't embrace her curves either. I’m not letting her get too close to Carly and start that self-depreciating camaraderie shit. "You need to know once you get the tattoo I think you'll be called to leave. Are you okay with that?"
    Lily nods her head. "It's already