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Because I liked it.

I yearned for it.

And it felt right.

I closed the book and sat there for a moment, staring at the fire, feeling its warmth. I looked out the window, the nightmaking everything too dark for me to see anything behind the pane of glass, but I heard the raging weather outside.

There was no indication that it was letting up any time soon.

I felt the brush of air behind me and turned, a startled gasp leaving me when I saw Ursid standing right there. His paw was so large that the bandages he held looked like a minuscule piece of tissue paper.

I didn’t move as he crouched in front of me, feeling his body heat, breathing in the scent of wilderness that surrounded him.

My body relaxed further as I inhaled deeply. I could feel Bear and Bruin watching us, but my focus was on Ursid as he reached out slowly, almost hesitantly, toward my ankle.

When I woke up earlier, I noticed the wraps around my ankles and wrists, and I hadn’t bothered taking them off to see if there was any real damage. Although they ached, I was able to move them easily, which told me the bandages were probably more to keep things stable, so no further injuries would happen.

When I didn’t flinch as he curled that big paw around my leg, I felt him smooth a digit along my bare skin. Goose bumps formed along my arms and legs, and I shivered. We held eye contact for several moments, and I felt sweat bloom along my brow and between my breasts. My body heat rose until I started to pant.

It had nothing to do with the fire behind me and everything to do with the three bear-beasts surrounding me.

He went to work meticulously unwrapping the bandages, then gently feeling around my toes, the heel of my foot, and the arch before making his way to my ankle. His touch was tender, but I showed no reaction as I gazed into his face. These creatures were strange but oh-so beautiful. Their dark fur looked lush and silky. And their scent was the most arousing thing I’d ever experienced.

It was musky, a little wild, as if they’d been traveling at night, collecting the wind and the scent from the pine needles in their fur.

I watched as his rounded ears twitched back-and-forth, as if he were picking up every little sound in the cottage. His nose tweaked, the shape round and dark, reminiscent of a bear’s nose. In fact, they looked so much like the creatures it was almost startling.

They were built so big, walking on two legs, their bodies formed similarly to human males in structure and stature but more feral and wild.

Before I could stop myself, I was reaching out and tunneling my fingers into the fur of his chest. I felt his pectoral muscles flex and gasped slightly at how pleasurable that sensation was.

Ursid’s claws curled slightly around my ankle, his body tightening under my hand.It was very clear I took him off guard by touching him. He lifted those golden eyes at me, another purr rumbling out of his chest. I felt the vibrations move along my arm, slide through my palm, and settle right on my breasts, tightening my nipples.

He lifted his head, and we held gazes. Another purr left him, this one stronger than the last. I felt him stroke his clawed thumb over my ankle bone.

Back and forth.

Gently.

And then I was acutely aware of Bear and Bruin making deep noises.

I pulled my hand back, and faster than I expected, Ursid used his other paw to grip my wrist, gently pulling it back to his chest and placing it right over his heart.

“Be our good girl and don’t fight.”

For long moments, we just stayed like that, staring into each other’s eyes. The fact that he wasn’t human had been very clearto me, but as the time passed, it became less unusual and more fascinating.

I could feel his heart steadily beating beneath my palm, and I found my own trying to match the rhythm. But he was so much bigger that his heartbeat was slow.

After a moment, he started working on my ankle, taking the wrap off and putting a new one on.He did this with my wrist too, his touch so gentle it was a strange contrast to the strength that poured off him.

I relaxed, sinking farther into the furs beneath me and letting his touch weave its way through me. Before I knew what I was doing, my eyes closed, and a soft sigh left me as goose bumps covered my arms and legs.

I was vaguely aware of the shift in the air and a moment later felt a light touch on my shoulder, then a furry digit smoothed down my cheek.

I opened my eyes to see both Bear and Bruin touching me—all three bear-creatures having this physical connection with me at the same time.

It felt… right.