The Bear's Surrogate: A Paranormal Pregnancy Romance Read Online Free PDF Page B

out of the way.  Even though I’m far away from the city in this castle, I still have servants.  Some days I crave solitude.  That’s when I take the boat and go to that place.”
    Rachel had a suspicion it was the same island she had gotten injured on almost a month ago.  The previous day, Valemon took her in to the clinic in Trondheim and the doctor gave her the all clear to remove the boot.  Her ankle had fully healed in less time than they had anticipated. 
    She walked next to Valemon along the narrow dirt path that lined the sea-filled cavern.   She shyly put her hand in his.  His large hand enveloped hers completely.  She was not a small woman by far, but Valemon’s massive size dwarfed her.  He stopped and looked at her, his silver hair shining in the light of the bare fluorescent lighting of the cavern.  She looked up at him, and couldn’t help but feel a renewal of the initial attraction she’d felt when he brought her to this marvelous place in the Norwegian countryside.
    She felt a jolt of arousal as his large warm hand surrounded hers.  According to her app, she should be nearing the best time for conception.  She swallowed hard and decided to go for it.  She couldn’t remain a virgin forever, and at least Valemon seemed like a very gentle soul.
    “Hey,” she began.  “Umm...you know, in the room you have me in?” 
    “Yes?” he asked, confused as to where this was leading.
    “Do you think that hot tub can fit two?” she asked coyly.
    Valemon looked at her with a puzzled look on his face.  “Well, it could.  It is rather large, why do you ask?”
    Rachel sighed in exasperation; she was determined to take the lead in this before she could back out due to fear.  “Just come to my room around eight.  I need to show you something.” 
    Valemon knew she had been taking pictures of the area around the castle.  He allowed it because it helped keep her busy and engaged in her passion.  The only conditions he put on her were to never publish the pictures online or send them away to a publisher.
    Maybe she wanted to show him the things she had captured while exploring the isolated house.    He shrugged. “OK, sounds good.”  He didn’t want to get his hopes up that anything would happen between the two of them.  She was still the scared virgin, after all.
    Rachel looked up at the massive mountain of a man.  She gulped nervously.  “Was just wondering, do you have any vodka? I wouldn’t mind having a bit of vodka and cranberry juice later.”
    “We have aquavit, that’s about it.  We distill l it here on site.  I have heard it goes well in apple cider.  I do think we have some of that.  I thought you didn’t drink?” he asked arching a silver brow in skepticism.
    “Well...umm, sometimes I do. Just...” she stammered.
    Valemon looked at her pointedly, trying not to crack a smile across his stoic face.  “Well dinner should be ready soon.” He said it gruffly, amusement twinkling in his ice blue eyes. “Let’s get upstairs, and I’ll tell Hans to get you that drink for later.”
    They walked up the winding tunnel to the manor.  It was a long trip, and would have been really dark if Valemon or his predecessors hadn’t put up lighting. She could just imagine the pirate crew sneaking down here in the dark of night to sail out on the tide to pillage an unsuspecting vessel.
    They exited the tunnel via a small sally port near the back wall of the castle.  Rachel reached for Valemon’s hand again and relished in its warmth.  The touch reinforced her resolve to go through with it tonight.  She might need a bit of liquid courage, but her few weeks living with Valemon had bolstered her trust in him.  He was always courteous and solicitous of her needs.  He was fun to be around and Rachel really dug his understated sense of humor  He never imposed himself on her in any way; he always knocked at her door when wanting to speak with her. He showed her around his