Page 16

Bryn

He practically jumped from a moving vehicle. The second he turned the truck off, he leapt out and came around to my side, leaving the keys in the ignition. He jerked my door open, nearly ripping it off the hinges. Nothing I did was fast enough for him, so he unbuckled me, he pulled me out of the truck and he-

He pressed my back to the shiny dark green finish. He placed his forearms on either side of me, caging me in. His eyes were stormy abysses, something fiery and passionate in his depths. His breaths belonged to a dragon or an athlete near the end of a marathon. He seemed to be gasping for air and pushing it out harder than he took it in.

His muscles flexed around me. Strain was visible in the clench of his jaw. He stared into me, far beyond my surface. He penetrated me with his gaze, peeling away layers I wasn’t even aware of.

I was mesmerized by him, entranced. I was seeing a side of him I didn’t generally see. Bear always came across as calm, cool and collected. Today, he looked disheveled, as if his world was coming apart at the seams. I didn’t know what to make of it all, though. I didn’t know what I should or shouldn’t do right now. I didn’t want to anger a wild animal. While I didn’t believe Bear would ever hurt me, but I didn’t know enough about the other part of him yet. I didn’t know what portions fiction got right.

“Fuck it!”

He captured my lips, stealing my breath. The way his lips molded to mine were flawless; a perfect fit. He was aggressive, yet there was a gentleness to his approach, an awareness of sorts. He teased and nibbled my lips as he freed my hair from its band. The second my strands were free, he thrust his fingers into them, cradling my head. With a tiny tug, he angled me just enough to deepen the kiss. He brushed his tongue along the inner edges of my lips, a prelude, a tease before he plunged it into my mouth, primal in the way he devoured me all of a sudden. He squished my curves between the truck and his hard body, his-

Whoa! His cock pressed through the material of his shorts and into the softness of my belly.

The feel of him had my body heating rapidly. I plastered my palms to the truck to keep myself in check, to keep from embarrassing myself. I didn’t know what he was aiming to do, but everything he did demanded a reaction from me. Every lick of his tongue had tingles sliding down me. Every nip of my flesh had desire pooling in my womb. Every brush of his lips had my carefully constructed barriers crackling, crumbling. Every press of his body to mine had me wanting more. God, I wanted so much more.

My nails scraped along the glossy paint. My breasts swelled, my nipples hard, and the fabric of my bra abrading them. In his arms, I didn’t feel fat and clumsy. I felt wanton and…and…wanted.

He made me feel wanted.

And that was the douse of cold water I needed.

I pulled back, breaking the spell. I didn’t want to feel wanted. I wanted to be wanted, purely and wholly. Trying to control my panting, I focused on his chest, on the rapid rise and fall of it with every harsh breath he took. I wanted him. I wanted him the way I wanted him to want me.

Damn, the man could kiss. I would never forget what it felt like to be kissed by him, to be so taken.

“I’m sorry.”

He put a little space between us, but didn’t completely set me free. He took several deep breaths, avoiding my gaze.

“I didn’t mean to do that.”

The words were like a knife piercing my heart. Whiplash would be a more delicate experience than the shock reverberating through me. Rage overpowered every other emotion.

“So I was just a convenient substitute?”

I quipped.

He whipped to attention, his eyes seeking mine. Lightning flickered in his depths, warning of his beast.

“No. Never.”

He growled.

“Every other woman is the damned substitute.”

Some of my anger dissipated as confusion twisted my features.

“Then what am I, Bear? Why didn’t you take me home? Why, after five years, did you just now kiss me?”

His expression softened as he took me in. His breathing was more rhythmic, less ragged.

“You’re my everything. You’re the only person who can balance man and animal. For five years I’ve wanted you.”

He chuckled.

“Every damned day I wanted to jump over that counter and have my way with you. This may be the first time I’ve kissed you, but I’ve thought about doing it every day for five years.”

He sobered, peering into me again.

“I know I fucked up, honey. I should have told you sooner. If I had known what I do now, I would have done it sooner. But I swear it’s genuine. This-”

He pressed his erection against me.

“This is all because of you. That’s how bad I want you.” He inched closer, hovering a centimeter from my lips. His breath tickled my flesh as he clarified. “Every fucking inch of you.”

Staring at him, studying his depths, all I saw was sincerity.

“You mean it.”

I was taken aback. It was unexpected. I shook my head negatively, trying to process it all.

“But you never said anything.”

Brows creasing, his features twisted with anguish.

“I didn’t want to mess things up for you. You were working and going to school. I didn’t want to come between what you were doing and what you wanted to be doing.”

Sliding his hands around my waist, he hugged my curves tightly. He pressed his forehead to mine.

“I never want to stop you from pursuing your dreams, honey.”

A wistful smile curled my lips. I closed my eyes, indulging in the feel of him for a moment. Opening my eyes, I looked straight into his, directly at his bear.

“One of these days, you’ll realize that you are my dream.”

A self-deprecating laugh escaped me.

“You don’t harbor a crush on someone for five years and not dream big.”

“It’s time to stop dreaming, honey.”

He claimed my lips. His touch was softer this time, less angst driven, as if he’d regained control of himself.

“I don’t want the first time I take you to be in a garage against my truck.”

His hands slid down. With one jerk, he hoisted me into his arms.

I squeaked, throwing my arms around his neck and clinging to him.

“Please tell me the whole shifter strength thing is true.”

Tension bound my muscles. I crossed my ankles behind his back, locking myself against him.

He nuzzled my neck, his chuckle vibrating my suddenly sensitive skin.

“That they got right.”

He pressed his hand to some sort of black pad. A blue, horizontal line ran down it before the lock clicked. He opened the door, easily managing all of me with one hand.

No man had ever been able to heft my curves around. With one look, they’d known they couldn’t and didn’t even bother trying. It was an exhilarating feeling to be carried, to be thrown about as if I weighed a hundred pounds, a number I hadn’t seen on the scale since elementary school.

My heartbeat kicked up as we entered his room, as he slammed the door shut behind us. I loosened my grip on him, leaning back to meet his gaze. Fear began to eat at me. What if he didn’t feel the same afterwards? What if he decided I wasn’t good enough? What if-

“Hey.”

His voice was whisper soft as he laid me down in the center of the bed, immediately covering me with his bulk. He removed my glasses, setting them aside as he drew his fingertips down my cheek.

“Talk to me, honey.”

Don’t cry. Don’t cry. Don’t cry. Oh, God, no.

I felt the sting of tears before he blurred. Blinking rapidly, I fought to hold them back. Of all the freaking times!

Tilting my head backwards, I worked to keep them from falling. Please, no. Not now.

Taking a few deep breaths, certain I’d gotten the swell under control, I peered at him.

Concern marred his otherwise smooth features.

“We don’t have to do this.”

He spoke through gritted teeth as his muscles flexed.

It was my turn to stare at him, worry surely contorting my expression.

“Are you okay?”

He closed his eyes, nodding his head.

“Just give me a minute.”

His hands fisted on either side of me. His limbs shook; his temperature seemed to jump twenty degrees as sweat dampened his brows.

Sitting up higher, I pushed backwards, leaning deeper into the pillows. He was clearly uncomfortable, in pain even maybe, but I didn’t know what to do. I didn’t know how to help. He said that I was the one who would balance man and animal, but, looking at him now, I had no clue how to help him.

My stomach knotted. My hand shook as I placed my palm to his cheek. “Bear?”

His eyes opened, but all I saw with his bear. His irises were reminiscent of a ring of fire. No more flickering, no more crackles of electricity. They were a solid illumination.

I swallowed hard. “Um, hi.”

I felt my cheeks warm.

A roar bellowed from him, echoing around us.

The sound startled me, but I managed to hold semi-still.

“Holy crap.”

The breathless words fell from my lips as his eyes stopped glowing, signaling that the man had overpowered the beast.

For now, anyways.

Dropping my hand, I bit my lip.

“He won’t hurt you. We would never hurt you.”

With one jerk, he pulled me back down, beneath him.

“He just wants to bite you so that no other bear can steal his honey.”

He pressed a kiss to my collarbone.

“And I want to claim you for the same reason. I never want to lose you.”

Turning my head a bit, I gave him better access as he worked his lips upwards.

“What if I don’t want that?”

For one moment, he hesitated, his lips pausing.

“Claiming you only keeps you from being with another shifter, and, as much as I want you, I would never stop you from walking away. I wouldn’t let you go without a fight, but I would eventually let you go.”

“Eventually?”

I felt my brows furrow, a smirk curling my lips.

He met my gaze, issuing a single nod.

“Eventually.”

“What if you change your mind?”

I hadn’t meant to ask the question; it just slipped out.

Halting, he frowned.

“Honey, maybe I didn’t explain it well enough, but, once I claim you, there is no going back for me. You can walk away, but I never can.”

Biting the inside of my mouth, I stared at him, uncertainty causing me to push.

“I’m not asking if you can walk away. I’m asking what happens if you decide that you’re not attracted to me anymore. What if I gain more weight or get into a car accident? What if something changes that makes you not want me anymore?”

His features turned down further, the crinkle in his brows increasing. “I see.”

He sat back on his knees.

“And this is what you think? That forever is conditional on neither of us changing?”

I shrugged my shoulders. “Not you.”

I worked my lower lip as I sat up, crossing my legs Indian style.

“Fuck.”

He expelled a heavy breath, shaking his head in dismay.

“Honey, that’s not how it works. Do you believe in God, or a higher being?”

Shaking my head, I replied, “Yes.”

“Do you think He’s all knowing and all powerful?”

Pursing my lips, I nodded again. “Yes.”

Leaning into me a bit, he met my stare.

“Then you believe He doesn’t make mistakes.”

It was a statement.

Yet again, I agreed with a dip of my head.

“We believe the same.”

He seemed to search for the right words.

“Shifters are led by instincts, but, when we find our mate, it’s completely different. It’s more than instinct. Every inch of me reacts to you. I’m drawn to you in an undeniable way. It’s a hell of a lot more intense than anything I’ve ever experienced, and it’s our Creator’s way of letting us know who He made for us.”

He gathered my hand in his.

“He doesn’t make mistakes. I will only ever respond this way to you. And when you have perfection, why on Earth would you want to walk away? I will never feel this way with another woman. To walk away would be to settle for second best.”

He gripped my chin.

“You’re it for me, Bryn. I will never want another woman more than I want you. And no other woman will ever be able to lure me away from you whether you weigh four hundred pounds or two hundred. I love you. Yes, it’s partly because I know you were designed for me. And while it would be tough as hell to walk away from you, I know shifters who have met their mate and done just that. You were forced upon me, as you said, but, honey, I choose who I claim and who I don’t claim. My bear and I are both choosing you of our own free will. Are we influenced by the knowledge that you’re who He deems as our perfect match? Yes. But we didn’t decide based on that. It was entirely based on you, on the woman I know you to be.”

A wicked gleam appeared in his eyes and a mischievous grin lifted his lips as he leaned ever closer.

“And your sweet curves. I want to taste every single inch of you again and again.”

He captured my lips, effectively silencing any reply I could have mustered.

My heart warmed. His words were perfection. They were exactly what I needed to hear; yet I knew he wasn’t feeding me a load of crap. Sincerity was pronounced in every syllable. And, the truth was, he had no reason to lie.

Slowly, he laid me back, pushing his way between my thighs. His hands roamed my abundance, grabbing at every swerve and curve with equal fervor. He didn’t shrink back when my excess spilled beyond a handful. Rather, he seemed to become more excited, more vested in feeling up the rest of me.

It’d been a long time since a man handled my full figure, and it’d been even longer since one had seen it without clothes.

I shrieked as he shredded my tank, shoving it away with my sweater. “Hey!”

His breath caught as he broke from my lips to take me in.

“God, you’re beautiful.”

He kissed a trail over my plush stomach and straight up the center of my chest. He hooked his finger around the front center of my bra.

“Don’t you dare.”

I cut my eyes at him.

“Even if I promise to replace it?”

A single brow rose; his finger stayed around the fabric.

“Even if you promise to replace it.”

I wasn’t walking out of his house without a bra, and I wasn’t explaining to my best friend why I needed her to bring me a new one.

He grunted. The sound was cute, a mini tantrum over having to take an extra few seconds to remove the garment properly. Darren had never wanted to see me that bad. In fact, a lot of times, we stayed partially dressed.

But with Bear, I wanted to be skin to skin. I wanted to hold him and feel his strength as he moved over me.

Reclaiming my lips, he slid his hands behind my back and set to removing my bra. He snarled in frustration when he couldn’t get the last hook.

Something about the scene had me laughing around his kisses.

He bit my bottom lip.

“Laugh now because you won’t be in a minute.”

I knew I was beaming.

“I love the way you want to get me naked so bad. It’s cute, and-”

I felt my cheeks heat as I looked away.

“I like it.”

That had him calming enough to get the final clasp open. He didn’t say anything, though. He merely kissed me again and again, gradually replacing embarrassment with desire.

Removing my outer layers, he peeled away my bra and tossed the lot aside. My nerves kicked up as he looked at me, thoroughly taking in every stretchmark, every dimple and every roll. Leaning to one side, he swiped his thumb across one hard peak.

I sucked in a breath as tingles shot down my spine. I watched, mesmerized, as he peered straight at me, lowering to capture one stiff bud between his lips. I bit back a moan as his swirled his tongue over the sensitive flesh, tasting and teasing me. I found myself arching into his mouth, into his touch as heat gathered in my womb.

He started off slow, but became more aggressive with each pass of his lips, tongue and teeth. He kept me on my toes, expecting the unexpected. Abruptly, he broke away and snatched my leggings and panties in one quick strike. The material tearing from my flesh echoed around us.

Surprise froze me momentarily before I snapped back to attention.

“You didn’t.”

He shrugged.

“I’ll replace them.”

“How the heck am I supposed to leave the house with no clothes?”

Wagging his brows, he smiled.

“That’s the point, honey. I don’t want you to leave.”

Fixing him with a glare, I crossed my arms over my chest.

“You don’t play fair.”

“Maybe, but I won’t apologize.”

He gently moved my arms, mindful of my bruise.

“I’ll make it up to you, honey. Promise.”

He trailed his lips down my extra plump curves.

I held my breath as he wrapped his arms around my thighs and hips. I watched as he stared at me, pressing kisses to my inner thighs. I was the most self conscious about that area. Not only were they covered in tiny white stretch marks, but they framed the most intimate part of me, a part that definitely did not look like it belonged to a virgin porn star.

Abruptly, he growled and dove for my pussy.

I cried out as he connected with my pearl, laving the bundle of nerves with gentle aggression. I grabbed his forearms, fighting to move my hips as pleasure swept upwards with every pass he made.

He had me pinned. He held me in place, unyielding in his grip. Suddenly, he plunged his tongue into my channel, tasting me in the most carnal way. He licked a path up to my clit, suckling and grazing his teeth along the hood.

Ordinarily, I would have been uncomfortable. I was naked and he was still fully clothed. But there was something different about him. He never took his eyes off of me; he was attentive, watching my every reaction, but for my benefit, not his own. It proved that my pleasure mattered to him. I was more than a notch on his bedpost. I was more than a convenience. I was more to him; I meant more to him.

My need doubled, pressure knotting in my womb. It had panic rising inside me. I dug my nails into his flesh, my heart sprinting in my chest, my breaths becoming more and more labored. I had to have more. I needed more. The pleasure was fleeting too quickly, my longing overpowering it too easily.

As if he sensed my distress, he increased his efforts, powering through my wall. Abandoning one hip, he thrust one thick finger inside me, thoroughly fucking me with it while he flicked the tip of his tongue repeatedly over my bud. He moved with such speed, rhythm and grace. There was a wild air about him, but it was controlled.

He peered straight into my eyes, not allowing me to cower or hide. With every arch of my back, with every soft moan that departed me, with every ounce of pain I ignored as I tightened my grip on him, he reacted. Tiny growls fell from his lips, vibrating my pearl, leaving me gasping for breath between fissions of pleasure.

Until I tumbled over the edge.

I cried out as pleasure rolled through me. My pussy pulsated around his finger; my clit contracted beneath his tongue. My limbs shook with the intensity of it. Releasing him, I threw my arms over my head, pushing with all my might into him, yet he didn’t budge. I was forced to endure it where I was.

My heart pounded in my chest; my pulse thumped loudly in my ears as intense sensations cascaded through me. Heat enveloped me, as he finally began to slow his assault, as my body gradually came down from the high.

A satisfied grin curled my lips as he kissed a path up my abundance.

“That was sexy.”

He brushed his lips across my breasts before continuing his climb. Hovering over me, gazing directly at me still, he stated.

“You, are sexy.”

Holding my bottom lip between my teeth, I felt my cheeks color.

“Unh unh. Don’t go all shy on me now, honey.”

He suckled the flesh between my neck and shoulder, grazing his teeth along the junction. Moving up my neck, he kissed along my jaw before claiming my lips.

Slowly, I became bolder, braver. The way he kissed me, the way he cradled me, randomly caressing my curves with vigor, the way he loved on me, the way he gave me pleasure before seeking it for himself, drove me to abandon. Hooking a hand around his neck, I pulled him to me, fighting for command of the kiss.

He gave in, again, giving me what I needed.

“Honey, if you’ve changed your mind, we need to stop now.”

He softened his touch, yet his body tensed.

“If we go much further, I won’t be able to stop myself or my bear.”

Why would I want to stop? He was sexy as hell, attentive, caring, and could heft my abundance with ease. He was a successful businessman, didn’t have a reputation for sleeping around, and was always respectful. That, and this was one of those big dreams I’d had a thousand times over the past five years. Bear turned out to be so much more than I dreamed, though, and I hadn’t even seen him naked.

Leaning back, I met his gape.

“Bear, take off your clothes and properly claim me.”

“I take it back.”

He broke from my grasp and tore his shirt off, carelessly tossing it away from the bed.

“That was sexy as hell. Sexiest damned thing anyone has ever said to me.”

He growled, capturing my lips as he wrestled free of his layers. A few moments later, he pressed the head of his cock along my slit, gliding back and forth, teasing my sensitive flesh. He broke from my lips, his breathing labored.

“I can’t wear a condom and my bear has to bite you.”

He seemed to brace himself, no longer moving, as if he was afraid I would send him away.

And that was when I realized that he was just as vulnerable as I was. Here was this tough alpha male shifter with as much muscle as most body builders yet three times the strength. By all appearances, he had it all. He was handsome, smart, comfortable financially, and could have his pick of most of the women in town.

But he didn’t want most women. He wanted me. Me. Extra curvy, unemployed, debt-laden me. On a chart, he was at the top and I was at the bottom. But right here and now, the opposite was true. In this instance, I had all of the power. He was submitting to me, giving up control to me.

In so many ways, in so many aspects of my life, I felt helpless. I felt forced to deal with whatever was dropped in front of me. But not in this. This was the one thing I had control of. I was allowed to choose my destiny. He gave me permission to decide our fate, regardless of what the Creator declared.

That was the most humbling, most awe-inspiring gift anyone had ever given me.

My heart cracked at the edges as emotion welled in my chest, tightening my throat.

“Look at me.”

I pressed my palms to his cheeks, his stubble prickling my skin.

“I choose you. I choose your bear. I choose whatever this happens to be for as long as it lasts.”

“Forever.”

He searched my depths.

“I will do whatever it takes to make you happy forever.”

Brushing my thumbs along his tanned flesh, I smiled at him.

“What would make me happy right now is for you to claim me.”

I gasped, crying out as he plunged into me. My grip tightened on him. I crushed my eyelids together, trying to breathe evenly as my body adjusted to him.

He shuddered atop me. Wrapping his hands around my shoulders, he pressed himself flush to me. Brushing gentle kisses over my eyelids, he soothed me.

“I’m sorry, honey.”

His voice was whisper soft.

“I promise it’ll feel better in a minute, but you’re so damned tight.”

He groaned, shoving impossibly deeper into me. His features contorted, twisting with something akin to torture.

“You feel so fucking good.”

“Good to know.”

Opening my eyes, I gave him a small smile.

Suddenly, he took off, pounding into me.

Within seconds, the pain was replaced with bursts of pleasure, rocketing through me. Hooking my hands around his triceps, I met his hips, arching into his every move.

His eyes began to flicker, striations illuminating as he pummeled me faster and harder.

My body shook beneath him, overwhelmed by his power. I held on for dear life, far beyond figuring out where he ended and I began. All I could do was see in rapid blurs of motion and feel. God, he felt good. Every thrust, every bump, every glide touched tender bits, sending sensations cascading through me before tension bound me once again.

I couldn’t keep up with him.

He assaulted my senses. He left me stunned and speechless with each upward stroke; he had sounds pouring from me that I’d never heard before. He caged me in, making me feel trapped beneath him, and yet, in the same second, he made me feel free, like that I was finally busting through every wall I’d ever erected.

Pressure constricted me, winding each muscle, knitting in my womb as he continued his pace. I was breathless, helpless against his onslaught. Adrenaline pumped through me in heavy waves, my heart beating rapidly in response. Perspiration licked every inch of me as I attempted to keep up. But I didn’t feel guilty for not keeping up.

Suddenly, he brushed my hair aside, nuzzling my neck. He wet my flesh, never losing his cadence.

My yearning left me in a fit of knots, desperation flaring within me. My breasts heaved with each inhale, his chest abrading my own as he took me. Lifting my legs, I locked them around his waist, and suddenly, he slid deeper. It was too much. It was not enough and then it was too much. I couldn’t fight it anymore.

Pleasure crashed through me. Pain had me crying out, stiffening around him as his growl sent shivers down my spine. Another roar sounded from him as heat scorched my womb, as a fresh bout of pleasure fluttered through me. I held onto him as he continued to pummel me, as he fucked me roughly, wildly.

My pussy contracted around him, as warmth slid through me. My body quaked; my limbs shook as my heart beat violently. I bowed into him, rubbing my plus curves along his firm frame; whimpering, feeling raw, overwhelmed, I sought his strength, his protection, and his reassurance as I surrendered to his command.

He peppered me with gentle kisses.

“Shh. It’s okay, honey.”

He cradled me to him, slowing his pace. He captured my lips, catching the last of my cries.

I was hypersensitive to every brush of his hard to my soft. I was hyperaware of how we fit together so well, despite our differences. Microscopic fissions of pleasure shot through me on occasion, reawakening sensations that were quickly dying down.

When he came to a stop, we both sighed around each other, slumping, relaxing our grips.

Allowing my legs to fall to the bed, I glided my hands along his sticky flesh until I cupped his face.

“That, was sexy.”

I giggled.

He smiled against me.

“You’re sexy. And now you’re all mine.”

A snarl escaped him.

“Ours. You’re all ours.”

He kissed me again, as if he couldn’t get enough of me.

Breaking away, I looked at him.

“When can I see your bear? Do you physically change into one or is it sort of a spirit thing?”

His features turned down, his brows furrowing intensely. Balancing on one arm, he scrubbed his forehead.

“Tell me I didn’t claim you without explaining this part.”

I didn’t know how to respond. Despite knowing each other for five years, everything happened so fast. One minute I was single, in a bar and being drugged, the next I had a new job, a new mate, and a newfound appreciation for orgasms.

My stomach chose that time to grumble, announcing that I hadn’t eaten since breakfast and it was dinnertime.

That broke through his stress. Slipping out of me, he gave me a chaste kiss.

“Don’t move. I’ll be right back.”

Watching his sexy rear asset disappear into the bathroom was a sight I would never grow tired of. Until I saw him return. He was six feet, four inches of pure, raging masculinity. His movements were lithe, prowl-like. He moved with purpose, with beauty.

Cocking a brow, he smirked, pressing a warm cloth to my center.

“Like what you see?”

I was exactly where I started that morning: in his bed, looking at a disheveled version of the man I knew. But it was different now. Everything had truly changed in the past twenty four hours. I was different. He was different. Everything was different.

Biting back a grin, I played coy.

“A little.”

He narrowed his gaze.

“If we didn’t have things to discuss, I would make you pay for that one.”

That broke my hold. Laughter tumbled from me.

“Do I want to know how?”

“No.”

He passed the cloth over my sensitive folds once more before stepping away to discard it. When he returned, he stopped short of the bed, taking the time to look me up and down.

It was difficult not to fidget under his intense scrutiny. Despite comfort, despite confidence, I was hyperaware of my flaws. I’d accepted them, but that didn’t mean I didn’t have moments of doubt.

Closing the distance between us, he pulled me upwards, dragging my rear asset to the edge of the bed. He stepped between my thighs and claimed my lips, his hands molding to my hips and back. Breaking away, he met my gaze.

“I love all of you, every damn inch of you, Bryn. If you ever doubt that, you promise you’ll tell me. Okay?”

Swallowing, I shook my head in agreement.

“Say it.”

The demand was a deep rumble.

A chill chased down my spine. My breasts swelled with his command; the husky growl of his voice had liquid heat scorching my pussy.

“I promise I’ll tell you.”

With a curt nod, he stole another kiss.

“Good. Now let’s go order some take out and we can talk while we wait for it.”

Pursing my lips, I considered him. “Naked?”

I tried not to cringe. I’d never been one to prance around naked. My boobs were overly sensitive at times, and I had the irrational fear that, in an emergency, I would be forced outside in nothing but my birthday suit. Not a pleasant thought when you knew all of your neighbors.

He stared at me for a long minute.

“Wear anything you’d like, but don’t expect to keep it on all night.”

I kissed him again. “Deal.”

Before he let me go, he focused on my right shoulder. His irises lit up like a circuit board. A sense of calm washed over him, one I’d never detected before. He breathed a sigh of relief, his muscles relaxing for the first time.

“I like seeing that mark and knowing that you’re mine.”

His gaze flickered to me for one brief second before he stepped away, opening the closet door and turning on the light.

Standing, I grabbed my glasses off the nightstand and put them on only to take them off and clean them with the comforter. Shoving them back on, to sit on the bridge of my nose, I hunted for my bra. I found the garment across the room, not far from my shredded tank and favorite comfortable sweater. Tugging the hooked brasier over my head, I jumped around, trying to get it in place, contorting every which way to fix it, until pain shot through my left arm. I hissed, wincing as I halted.

Bear quickly closed the distance between us. Moving in behind me, he smoothed the fabric around my chest. Wordlessly, he pressed a kiss to my sore shoulder.

“Thanks.”

I angled into his touch.

He didn’t linger, breaking away to go back to the closet. It wasn’t until he did that I realized he didn’t have a dresser. Three shelves that came halfway up the wall across from the bed occupied the only logical place for a dresser to be in the room. The shelves weren’t Ikea bookshelves, though; they appeared to be handmade, with a zigzag puzzle design to them. They were empty, but the wood looked freshly polished.

Spending more time than I wanted rifling through his closet, I darn near broke out in song when I came across a pair of grey cotton pajama pants that were forgiving enough to slide over my curves. They hugged every rounded edge tightly, but, thankfully, the material didn’t feel like it was going to split under the pressure. It took me longer to find a shirt. I ended up borrowing a white undershirt. The ribbed style tank stretched over my width while the length hit the bottom of my hips, thanks to my much fuller figure.

Straightening, I came face to face with Bear. He wore a pair of black athletic shorts and nothing else. All of his strength was on display. I squealed inside, in awe of the fact that this man, this shifter, was mine. Wrapping my arms around him, I pressed my lips to the center of his chest.

He leered down at me.

“What was that for?”

I looked up at him. “Because.”

Capturing my lips, he slid his tongue along the seam of my mouth. Pulling back, he kissed my forehead, just beyond the frame of my glasses.

“Come with me.”

He led me to the bathroom.

Opening the medicine cabinet, he pulled out a white tube.

“Give me your left arm.”

Extending my arm towards him, I watched as he squirted the clear gel on his fingers. I braced myself for a dull ache to encase my forearm, but it never came.

Ever so gently, he worked the cream into my bruised flesh. His nostrils flared and he ground his teeth, but it never affected his touch. He was careful. He handled me with a tenderness devoted to the most precious treasures on Earth.

I found myself studying him, observing him with wonderment. My mom would have loved Bear. He was everything she wanted for me.

Abruptly, tears stung my eyes. It’d been a little while since I’d thought of her.

“Shit.”

It was a breathless curse as he stilled, concern creasing his brows.

“Did I hurt you?”

Shaking my head negatively, I bit my lip.

“No. You were great. Perfect, really.”

With a nod, as though he understood this wasn’t about him applying medicine to my wound, he closed the tube and put it back in the cabinet. Placing another kiss on my forehead, he slid around me, securing my back to his front as he guided us out of the bathroom.

“Let’s go, beautiful.”

He flipped the light switch off as we passed it.