Poke His Bear Read online

  Poke His Bear

  Ezra Dawn

  Cover art created by JeB Designs

  [email protected]

  Poke His Bear © 2020 Ezra Dawn

  eBook ISBN: 9780463081525

  ISBN-13: 9798620809608

  All rights reserved. No part of this story may be reproduced in any form or by any means without express permission from the copyright holder. This book contains sexually explicit content which is suitable only for mature adults.

  Books by Ezra Dawn are only available through Amazon, and Smashwords distributed retailers. (iBook’s, Kobo, Barnes and Noble, local libraries, etc.) If you are reading this book elsewhere, please note, it is an illegal, pirated copy, uploaded without my permission. I, the author, nor the distributors, received payment for the copy, and if prosecuted, violation comes with a fine of up to $250,000. PLEASE do not pirate books!!

  #piracyistheft

  #notavictimlesscrime

  Character Name Pronunciation

  About the Book

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Epilogue

  Playlists

  Acknowledgements

  About the Author

  Other Books by Ezra Dawn

  Contact the Author

  Cosmo Mayweather (Cos-mo, May-weather)

  Convict Connelly (Con-vict, Con-nel-ly)

  Poke His Bear is a standalone story with the insta-love of fated mates

  and little to no angst.

  Con

  Convict “Don’t call me Connie” Connelly is a grizzly bear shifter and police officer with a take no prisoners attitude. Known for being the man with a permanent scowl on his face and a surliness reminiscent of his animal half it’s hard for anyone to get close to him. That all changes when he responds to a call and meets his mate.

  Cosmo

  Cosmo Mayweather is a serval cat shifter and hairstylist. Cosmo is sassy and a little bit smart-assy. When his salon is robbed, he doesn’t expect for the responding officer to be his mate or for that mate to basically hate him on sight. But, if there’s one thing Cosmo loves, it’s a challenge and getting the surly cop meant to be his to like him will be Cosmo’s greatest challenge yet.

  Together

  One neighbour from hell with a love for daisy dukes, a neighbourhood hook-up artist, and a man determined to claim something that isn’t his will either make or break their happily ever after.

  (Warning: Contains graphic sexual content and explicit language. Not recommended for those under the age of 18.)

  The sound of a lawnmower starting up rouses me from sleep. Squinting at my alarm clock, I see it’s only eight. I worked a double shift -my second one in a row- at the precinct because several officers were still out with the flu. I didn’t get home until a little after five in the morning. Rubbing my eyes with my palms I sigh. There’s no way I’m going back to sleep now. I would’ve liked to sleep a little longer before going in for an afternoon shift but, with the noise outside it’s not going to happen. If I could get away with killing my neighbor for mowing his lawn this early, I would.

  Slipping from bed, I head into the bathroom and turn on the shower. When it’s heated to near scalding the way I like it, I step under the spray. Grabbing the soap, I run it over my short hair then finish washing up. After I rinse, I turn the water off and step out, wrapping a towel around my hips. Walking over to the sink, I brush my teeth and shave then return to the bedroom. Opening a dresser drawer, I pull out a pair of jeans and a t-shirt and put them on.

  Heading into my kitchen, I set a pot of coffee to brew and move into the living room. Peeking out the blinds I see my neighbor in his hot pink crop top and tight daisy duke shorts that leave nothing to the imagination. Seeing him move, I shake my head and sigh. Goddammit… he’s at it again. What kind of person dances like that while mowing their lawn? My crazy sexy ass neighbor, that’s who. It’s a miracle he doesn’t miss whole patches of his lawn with the way he drops down and shakes his ass, lifting the front of the lawnmower off the grass while it’s still running.

  The beep of my coffee maker signaling it’s done brewing pulls me away from the window and the view of the sexy little sprite next door. Which is probably a good thing. The last thing I want is to be seen as some kind of creeper. With how often I find myself watching him I’m definitely heading towards creeper territory. I don’t know why I’m so fascinated by him because we’ve never officially met or spoken, save for the occasional wave and good morning I get from him, that I never return when we leave for work at the same time.

  After doctoring my coffee, I take a sip and open the fridge to see what I can fix myself for breakfast. The choices are few. As in, I’ve got a couple slices of cheese and enough milk for another cup of coffee and that’s it. I meant to go grocery shopping after my regular shift but then I had to pull that double. Grilled cheese sandwiches it is then. Grabbing the cheese and what’s left of my bread, I get to cooking.

  I’ve barely finished eating my second sandwich when my phone rings. Grabbing it off the counter where I left it last night, I see it’s my boss calling. Swiping to answer, I say, “hello?”

  “Connelly, I’m sorry to do this to you, son, since it’s only been a few hours since you came off shift, but I need you to come in and work another double. Two more officers are down with the flu and Ramirez just went home after throwing up all over a suspect. I’m seriously shorthanded.”

  “I’ll be there in fifteen.”

  “Thanks Connelly.”

  Ending the call, I drain the last of my coffee then head into my bedroom to change into my uniform. Once I’m dressed, I make myself another cup of coffee to go then head out to my truck ignoring the adorable sprite next door who waves at me while leaving his house in black skinny jeans, rainbow glitter converse, and a rainbow splatter sequin tank top that looks like a unicorn threw up on it. Our front yards are tiny as fuck because whoever designed this neighborhood decided the houses needed to be right on top of each other so, it only takes three passes with a lawnmower and then you’re done.

  I can’t wait until the house I’m having built on the land I bought recently is done, so I can get out of this tiny neighborhood. Not only are the houses too close together but the walls are thin, so you hear everything. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been called to the corner house for domestic disturbance because they guy has really loud sex with his one-night stands and the old woman next door swears he’s killing them because of the screaming.

  Climbing into my truck, I put my coffee in the cup holder then start the engine. Once I’ve made sure it’s clear, I back out of my driveway and head into the heart of town where the precinct and other businesses are located. Coral Key is a small coastal town that butts up to a national forest and looks like something out of a painting with all the businesses lined on either side of main street. The town is comprised mostly of paranormals, but we have quite a few humans too and we coexist completely.

  Fifteen years ago, paranormals were outed to the world thanks to the carelessness of a couple young teenagers who fought and shifted in the heat of the moment not realizing they were being videotaped the entire time. It took a lot of work but, eventually the humans accepted us though there are a few hate groups still around. New laws were put in place to protect us and humans alike. Our councils and the human governments merged into one governing unit. The councils still handle issues pertaining to paranormals and the human governments handle human affairs.

  The laws regarding challenges and matings -among
other things—remain the same, but humans must follow them as well and vice versa. Now with paranormals needing to abide by human laws too, even justified deaths are thoroughly investigated before an official ruling is made otherwise the paranormal who did the killing would end up behind bars for murder.

  With Coral Key being so small, our police department is also tiny. There’re six officers per shift and only three cruisers so, we can’t take them home. Our hospital is also small but, just as equipped as a larger hospital in a city. We get a lot of tourists though because it’s a coastal town so, we do see our fair share of crime. Normally, I work the afternoon shift, starting at one and getting off at nine. With half the department out sick, I’ll probably end up working a triple shift instead of a double covering the graveyard from nine to five.

  The captain seriously needs to hire more paranormals like shifters and vampires who are resistant to illness. Three of the officers out with the flu are warlocks, but their magical ability doesn’t protect them from common human illnesses like the flu. I suppose it’s because warlocks are technically human just with the added benefits of being able to do magic. The good news is, even though they get sick they can create potions that help them get over it faster. I suspect they’ll all be back to work tomorrow. At least, I hope they will be otherwise, the lack of sleep is going to get to me, and I’ll be a lot surlier than I usually am.

  I know I can be a grumpy asshole it’s just how I’m wired. I’ve never had a reason to smile not even as a child. Growing up on a farm in Minnesota, I didn’t get to have a typical childhood. From the time I could walk, I was getting up at dawn with my family and helping out in some way, whether it was milking cows or feeding chickens. Farm work was all I ever knew and when I didn’t do my chores or acted out, I got my ass beat. Hell, I got my ass beat even when I did my chores and was on my best behavior. Abuse was constant in our household. There wasn’t a day that went by that my brothers and I didn’t have a bruise of some kind.

  Mom was just as bad as dad, sometimes worse. I can’t count the number of times she used a wooden spoon on me and my brothers for no reason at all. It might make me an awful person, but I celebrated when they died. All my brothers had left home as soon as they were old enough and as the youngest, I was the last to go. I joined the army right out of high school and was overseas when I received word of their passing from my oldest brother. Lightning struck the barn and it caught fire. Our parents died in it trying to save the animals. I didn’t go to the funeral because if I had, I would’ve danced on their graves. Something that would’ve scandalized the god-fearing folk of our tiny town.

  My oldest brother inherited the farm. After bulldozing every building on it, he built an empire in the form of a dude ranch. My other brothers help run it but, I refuse to join them no matter how many times they ask me to. It’s not what I want to do for the rest of my life. Besides, I’m not sure I could handle living with the memories all the time. I don’t know how they do it. Spending a few days there is hard enough for me when I go visit at Thanksgiving and Christmas since it’s the only time I get to see my brothers in person. I can only imagine what living there full time would be like. Not an experience I want to endure. Our shared childhood trauma brought us together. We’re so close we facetime once a week to catch up since I’m in Coral Key.

  I ended up in Coral Key thanks to my best friend Nathan. We served together. He was born here and when I told him about wanting to find a place to start over after I got out of the army, he suggested I come to Coral Key, so I did. We went through the police academy together and started working with Coral Key’s police department at the same time. He’s my partner on the force but, he’s currently on paternity leave since his mate just had a baby so, I’ve been riding solo.

  Parking in the lot at the back of the precinct, I head inside to clock in and get the keys to my cruiser, so I can start what is bound to be a very, very long day.

  Watching my neighbor’s big black truck trundle down the road toward town I shake my head and head for my car. Give it up Cosmo, you’ll never get that sexy bear of a man to give you the time of day. I’ve been attracted to the gorgeous cop since the day he moved in. I thought he might feel the same way since I’ve caught him watching me many times. Knowing he’s watching is the sole reason I wear my sexiest shorts and crop tops while mowing the lawn now when I used to wear jeans and a tank top. I listen to music while I mow that I naturally end up dancing to.

  I’ve made those dances a teensy bit sexier than I normally would to get my neighbor to generate a strong enough reaction that’ll get him to finally make a move. A plan that has failed spectacularly. Time to face facts, he’s just not that into me. Or he’s so deep in the closet even my sexiness can’t tempt him out of it. I might have to take matters into my own hands and ask him out myself. If we aren’t mates we can still have a little fun. I want to meet my fated mate, so any relationships I have are short flings. I’m not the type to sit around and wait for the day Fate drops my mate into my lap, which is why I actively search.

  Climbing into my mini cooper, I put my lunch bag on the passenger seat and start the engine then back out of the driveway and head for my salon, The Razor’s Edge Parking in the small lot at the back of the building, I grab my bag and get out of the car, locking it behind me. Years of living in the city before I moved back to Coral Key has made locking my doors a habit. Unlocking the back door to the salon, I step inside and flip the lock once the door closes. My employees all have a key to the door, so I don’t have to leave it unlocked for them.

  As I go to punch in the code for the alarm, I see that it isn’t armed. That’s odd. Maybe Stephanie forgot to set it when she closed up last night. Putting my lunch in the fridge, I flip on the lights and head into the front area of the salon, stopping in my tracks when I see the damage. The place is trashed. Glass is everywhere from the smashed Barbicide jars. Written on the mirror at my station in red is the words ‘I saw you, whore.’ What the actual fuck? The salon chairs have been knocked over. Hair products have been swept off their shelves and the register is wide open, likely missing the money that was in there. Pulling out my cell phone, I dial 9–1-1.

  “9–1-1, what is your emergency?”

  “My name is Cosmo Mayweather. I own The Razor’s Edge on Main Street and it looks like someone broke in last night.”

  “Is the intruder still there?”

  “No, they’re long gone.”

  “An officer is en route.”

  “Thank you.”

  Ending the call, I shoot off a group text to all my employees telling them not to come in today, then walk to the front of the salon taking care not to disturb anything or touch anything that might have fingerprints on it. The front door isn’t broken but it is unlocked so, that has to be how they got in. Hearing the sirens, I watch as a police cruiser parks in front of the salon and my sexy bear of a neighbor -who’s built like a linebacker- steps out looking delicious in his uniform and aviator sunglasses.

  Stop it Cosmo. Now is not the time to be getting a hard on for your neighbor who is totally not interested in you. Using my elbow, I push open the door for him then quickly step back once he has hold of it. When he brushes past me and I catch his scent of honey and whiskey I have to fight back a moan. Fuck, he smells good… like… like mine. Oh shit. Don’t go crazy Cosmo. You want him to like you, not run for the hills. Smiling at the stoic man in front of me who’s showing no signs of acknowledgment to the fact we’re mates, I say, “Thank you for coming so quickly.”

  “It’s my job.”

  He pulls out a notepad and says, “Tell me what happened.”

  “I came in through the back. The alarm wasn’t set, and I thought my employee who closed up last night must’ve forgot to set it. I put my lunch away, came in here to open up, saw the damage and the open register and called 9–1-1.”

  Officer Connelly -yes I peeked at his name tag- glances up from his notepad and asks, “Was there any money in the register?”
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  “Only about a hundred dollars. I always leave that much in the register to start the day with for when customers pay cash.”

  “Anything else missing?”

  I shake my head. “Not that I’ve seen. They left the stations alone for the most part. Aside from the message they wrote on the mirror of mine, the turned over chairs, and the smashed Barbicide jars they didn’t touch anything else on the stations. Which is surprising because the scissors of each stylist would’ve netted them a couple thousand alone. It’s like they were out to make a mess and even the stuff they trashed wasn’t that expensive.”

  Officer Connelly glances at the message on my mirror and for a brief moment anger flashes in his eyes before he schools his expression. “Any surveillance cameras?”

  I nod and say, “I can show you the footage from last night.”

  “I’ll need a copy of it for evidence.”

  “I’ll make one.”

  Turning on my heel, I head down the hall to my office which might as well be a broom closet because of how small it is. I barely fit my desk and three chairs in here. It’s a tight fit, that’s for sure, with my desk in the middle and the chairs on either side up against the wall. I’m glad everything I do is digital because I’d have nowhere to put a filing cabinet if it wasn’t.

  Sitting in my rolling chair, I boot up my computer and pull up the camera feed. Officer Connelly leans over my shoulder with one hand braced on the back of my chair and the other on the desk. His scent wraps around me and I have to fight not to react, but it’s a losing battle. There’s no hiding my arousal. When he says, “Show me last night’s footage,” his breath tickles my ear and I bite my lip. Don’t whimper Cosmo… Do not fucking whimper!

  Clicking on yesterday’s footage, I fast forward through until Stephanie leaves for the night. I have cameras in the front and back so, it’s easy to see that she did set the alarm. Shit… that means whoever broke in bypassed the alarm somehow or had the code. Hiding how worried that thought makes me, I slow down the speed of the fast forward so, I don’t miss the moment the intruder comes in. Whoever it is, is wearing a ski mask, gloves, a long sleeve shirt and pants that hide all identifying features but, it’s obvious the intruder is a man because of his height and build. We watch him trash the place, write the message, and finally go to the register. He pops the register open with a crowbar takes all the money out and stuffs it into a plastic bag then he leaves and tosses the money in the trash can out front.