Gladiator Bear's Battle (Shift In Time 1) Read online

Page 8


  It was not much, but it was all theirs. Erden was good with his hands and with the help of the other gladiators, homes had sprung up around the village like mushrooms after rain. They even had a few animals now, and Kiya had found herself to be particular toward sheep. They were sleepy creatures that seemed to miss the sun just as much as she did.

  She could already see the door to her home when someone snatched the basket from her hands. She yelped, spinning around to face her attacker, but finding the face of the man she loved there instead.

  “Erden!” she squealed, throwing her hands around his neck and hugging him before kissing him squarely on the lips. “I thought you would be gone for days more!”

  “I simply couldn’t keep away from my woman for so very long,” he said with a chuckle, balancing both a heavy sack and the basket in one hand, while his other hand was snaked around her waist.

  “You better not,” she laughed, pecking him on the cheek as well for good measure.

  Reluctantly, Erden let go of her and opened the door for her, letting her enter the house before he did. A fire was crackling in the hearth—as it always did as long as Kiya had her way—and there was stew boiling in a pot above it, filling the rooms with a sweet and savory smell. Erden let the basket and sack fall to the ground, and as soon as he had closed the door, he rushed to the pot.

  “You will burn yourself!” Kiya protested as Erden scooped up some of the stew and brought it to his lips.

  “A bear does not burn his mouth!” Erden huffed, just before Kiya heard him wince with pain and put the ladle down. “I stand corrected.”

  She didn’t say a word though, but simply smiled and shook her head. Without noticing what she was doing, her hand went to her belly and rubbed it quietly. Erden was back. He went off to so many raids that sometimes, she felt he was never home at all, but he promised to stay home after this turn. And by the heaviness of the sack he carried, it seemed that this trip had truly been one worth his time.

  She loved looking at him. He was so tall and powerful and now that he was free, he looked at peace with the world. He looked happy. And she knew that much of the happiness had to do with her. That made her grin. She looked down at her belly, still almost flat, but she knew the secret it hid. Kiya hadn’t moved a step since walking into the house, simply taking in the sight of her man back in their shared space.

  Erden stopped fussing around and came back to her. He put his arms around her and lifted her up, kissing her with all the passion that she knew burned hotter between them than any flame ever could. She tied her fingers behind his neck as he put her down, his lips still on her. When he squeezed her a little, she giggled and pulled her lips away from him just an inch.

  “Careful,” she said.

  “Why? Are you hurt?!” Erden asked, rearing up with worry in his eyes.

  Kiya couldn’t help but smile at that, shaking her head. “No. I simply want to be careful with our firstborn. He will be a boy,” she said confidently, putting a hand on her stomach.

  She knew he would be. It was that simple. Her mother had always told her that she could tell far before she should be able to, and she had been right. As soon as Kiya had realized that she was pregnant, the facts unfurled before her like the starry night sky, easy to read if she knew what to look for.

  “I… are you sure?” Erden asked, his hard warrior façade cracking into the soft visage of a father-to-be.

  “I am sure,” Kiya confirmed, beaming.

  “It seems I should go to raids more often, if my return is always blessed with such news,” he laughed, scooping Kiya up in his arms.

  She yelped, clinging to him as he carried her toward their bedroom.

  “What are you doing?” she laughed.

  “Why, simply making sure that you are truly with child. It cannot hurt to seal it, yes?” he said with a wink, barging into the bedroom.

  Don’t miss the excerpt of Anya’s next book, Big Bear Problems on the next page, written together with Rory Dale.

  Loved what you read and can’t wait to find out what happens to the rest of the Shifter Grove gang? Join Anya’s newsletter to be the first one to hear about new releases, catch sneak peeks and receive advanced reader’s copies if you want to read the books before anyone else does!

  Newsletter Signup Form

  BIG BEAR PROBLEMS EXCERPT

  Jennifer beamed a broad smile „Thank you! Really, for everything! You’re such a great guy!”

  And all of a sudden, she gave Ethan a big hug. Feeling her soft body against his both startled and aroused him. He sure as hell wasn’t ready for a reception that welcoming, though didn’t mind it the least bit. Neither did his cock, which was growing harder every second of being pressed against the curvy beauty. He left the embrace much faster than he would have otherwise wanted to in order to keep from completely blowing his suave, laid-back cover. At least what passed for suave and laid-back when you were a 250 pound bear of a man with a 5 o’clock shadow and wearing plaid.

  Their bodies pulled apart slightly and he looked into her eyes. She was looking right back at him, her green eyes wide open.

  Don’t rush it, Ethan thought to himself, if she really is the one, there’ll be plenty of time for that later. He let go of Jennifer, catching a hint of a puzzled look on her face. Had she wanted him to kiss her? Dammit, that was going to haunt him now.

  Ethan grabbed his hat from the kitchen table and headed towards the door. He stopped with his hand on the handle and gave Jennifer one more long look, standing in the middle of the kitchen and looking a little flustered and flushed. He memorized that look of frustration. Ethan was going to make damn sure that he’d sweep all of that wanting out of her real soon, if she’d let him.

  “Sleep tight, Jennifer,” he said, slipping out into the cold night air.

  I need a cold shower, he thought glumly, clambering into his truck and revving it up.

  With more longing than he cared to admit, he drove off into the darkness of the night, already knowing that he’d be soon returning to patrol her home. He didn’t trust the Grimpaws as far as he could throw them and it was just like Ryan to prey on a city girl without the heed to keep a shotgun by the door. Ethan wasn’t going to let anything happen to his mate. Not as long as he was still breathing, anyway.

  Want to be the first one to hear when this book gets published? Join Anya’s newsletter!

  Newsletter Signup Form

  WANT MORE?

  Billionaire Dragon’s Bride

  He's blazing hot and this dragon won't take no for an answer.

  Devon Bluewing is a billionaire playboy like no other. Cocky, strong and sexy as hell, he's used to getting anything and anyone he wants. But when it comes a time to step up and stand as the head of his family, and the dragon council of Treasure Lane, Devon is met with an inexplicable problem. He needs a mate or his whole legacy could be in jeopardy. Now, that doesn't work at all for the fire-breathing bad boy, who's used to getting his own way.

  Gemma Teeley can't stand injustice. She's sassy, smart as a whip and always ready to fight for what is right. So when the newest Bluewing heir decides to wrack up the taxes on her hometown, Gemma isn't about to stand for it. But what she doesn't know is that her fight against traditions might just get her into a whole lot of steamy trouble! The curvy, headstrong woman has all the fire of Devon, and when he gives her an ultimatum, they're both in for more than they bargained for.

  Even if she'll play along, it doesn't mean that she'll make it easy on him. But it isn't just Devon whose making decisions for Gemma, and soon it becomes very clear that it's not only Gemma's pride that's in danger of getting burned...

  Montana Wild Bears: Books 1-4 Bundle

  Want to read more about Ryder and his struggle as an Alpha?

  Strong, scorching-hot werebear Alphas and their sassy, curvy mates - could it get any steamier?!

  The Montana Wild Bears series follows two werebear clans during the most difficult conflict of their lives, sparing n
othing and no one in it's path. How can these determined, powerful Alphas keep their clans safe while also finding their fated mates? And will their mates allow them into their hearts, even when all odds stand against them?

  Find out in these hot stand-alone books, each following one Alpha couple through the war between the clans. Expect some twists and turns and plenty of steam!

  If you want your shifters hard, loving and dripping with testosterone and your heroines capable, smart and saucy, this might be just the boxed set for you!

  The anthology includes the following books:

  Find Her Bear - Book 1

  Wanting Her Bear - Book 2

  Saving Her Bear - Book 3

  Needing Her Bear - Book 4

  Sassy Shifter Brides: The Complete Series

  What a shifter really needs is a good mate!

  Shifter Grove only attracts the kind of shifters who are looking for something better... Something different. When Warren, Rake, Deacon and the Warfang decide to build a new life, they knew it wouldn't be easy. But it would be worth it. Still, hard work and making a better future for the buff, burly and completely Alpha shifters isn't quite enough for the men. Ever shifter knows that a home isn't perfect without the right woman and that's exactly what all of them need!

  SassyDate is here to help! Each of the Alpha shifters will find a mate that's as if made for him... Just sometimes it isn't all sunshine and roses.

  If you like your shifters hot, growly and determined and your women sassy, bbw and opinionated, this is the boxed set for you! You can find all five of the Sassy Shifter Brides books in this anthology and none of them will leave you disappointed!

  The box set includes:

  Hearts Laid Bear

  No More Lion

  Bear the Cold

  Roar for Her

  The Wolves' Bride

  Smutty Shifter Shorts: Books 1-5 Bundle

  5 hot, sizzling shapeshifter shorts sure to make you need a cold shower!

  The Smutty Shifter Shorts series is all about bringing the naughtiest, sexiest werewolves right to you! Each story is a standalone short, but three of them can be read as a series.

  If you want your werewolves growly, determined and hungry for more and your women curvy and sassy, this is just the boxed set for you! Expect some twists and turns and plenty of steam!

  This anthology of bestselling shifter shorts includes the following books:

  The Mate

  The Chase

  Outcast's Claim

  Outcast's Pride

  Outcast's Mate

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  Anya Nowlan loves sex and writing about it. The sexier and naughtier the better. She mostly writes paranormal and fantasy erotic shorts, focusing on shifters and their lucky mates. Her stories are bite-sized, just what you need to soothe that craving for brave women and growly alphas with a big side-order of smutty sex.

  Anya lives in Boston with her boyfriend and several dogs of varying sizes and levels of mischief. She can't go through a day without chocolate and has an unhealthy addiction to purses, but every girl is allowed her little vices, right?

  If you have enjoyed her shorts or want to just shoot the breeze a little, don't hesitate to contact Anya via e-mail: [email protected]

  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/anyanowlan

  Twitter: https://twitter.com/AnyaNowlan

  Homepage: http://www.anyanowlan.com

  You can find all of my books here:

  Amazon Author Page

  www.anyanowlan.com

  Thank you for reading!

  Table of Contents

  A LITTLE TASTE…

  TABLE OF CONTENTS

  CHAPTER ONE

  CHAPTER TWO

  CHAPTER THREE

  CHAPTER FOUR

  CHAPTER FIVE

  CHAPTER SIX

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  CHAPTER NINE

  CHAPTER TEN

  CHAPTER ELEVEN

  CHAPTER TWELVE

  EPILOGUE

  WANT MORE?

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR