Page 8

Bear

My breath caught as she rounded the corner. Every rounded edge of her body called to me. More of her was covered yet her shape was better defined, revealing a waist that was more whittled than I thought. At work, her apron shrouded her figure, and while some of her mid-section had been bared last night, her short top hadn’t clung to the smallest part of her the way the tank did, despite being a relaxed fit. She carried more weight in her lower half, but there was more than an inch to pinch everywhere and I fucking loved it. I knew I wouldn’t have to hold back with her.

Dammit. If I’d acted on the pull years ago, I wouldn’t have to struggle to control myself or my bear now. I could have stripped her naked and fucked her senseless on the counter. Shit. I was grateful my shorts hung loosely off my hips, but worried my erection would still be visible if she looked hard enough. Stepping closer to the counter, ensuring my reaction to her curves was concealed by the cabinets, I watched as she set the black bag on the floor with her shoes.

Straightening, she peered at me expectantly. She nibbled her bottom lip, clamping her hands together.

The action drew my attention to the bruise on her arm. My bear roared, his anger melding with my own. Grinding my teeth, I tried to suppress the need to hunt the twerp down and shred him. I didn’t want to scare her, but hell if I could control the darkness swamping me. I wanted to kill him.

Noting where I was staring, she hid the bruise behind her back, flushing as though she were embarrassed by it.

My goal wasn’t to make her self-conscious about it. I wanted to protect her. Hell, I wanted to scoop her up, hold her curves tight against my bulk and kiss every doubt, every fear and every worry away.

“Um, do you know where my phone is by chance?”

She licked her lips. It wasn’t meant to be seductive, but I couldn’t stop the rush of need that assaulted me at the sight of it.

Reaching a few feet down, I snagged the bag of pieces and held it up. I winced as the evidence dangled in my hands between us.

“I’ll buy you a new one.”

She blanched, her brows creasing.

“That happened last night?”

Setting the zip-lock aside, I sighed. “Yeah.”

I would be kicking myself for weeks for that one.

Her features contorted in concentration. She scrubbed her forehead, tears abruptly appearing.

My heart cracked. My bear sent me flying towards her. Before I knew what I was doing, I had her in my arms. Guilt stabbed me as she trembled in my grip.

“I’m so sorry, honey.”

She didn’t hug me back, but she made no effort to escape my hold either. Lightly, she shook her head negatively.

“It’s not your fault.”

She gasped for air.

And that was when I felt the frame of her glasses followed by wetness of her tears on my shirt. I heard her sniff, her curves continuing to quake. She was trying to be quiet, trying to hold back, but I heard it all; I felt it all. Fury rushed me again, but this time it was aimed at myself. I’d been the one who broke her phone. I’d been the one who left her vulnerable and unprotected last night.

Curling my fingers through her wet strands, I cradled her to me. All I could do was apologize.

“It’s okay, honey. I promise I’ll make things right.”

Pressing her palms to my chest, she lightly shoved out of my grasp. She took a breath, her gaze focused downwards.

“It’s really sweet of you to offer, but I’m sure you’ve done enough already, thanks.”

She swiped at her cheeks, adjusting her glasses as her tears gradually slowed.

“I assure you I haven’t.”

Stepping out of my grip completely, she gave me a small smile.

“You’re a good man, Bear, but I don’t want you doing anymore than you already have for me.”

She finally met my gaze.

Electricity crackled down my spine, jolting me. For one brief second, I swore I saw longing in her depths. Bitterness warred inside me. I understood why she was pushing me away, but I wasn’t prepared for it. How the hell could I be so na?ve? I assumed when the time was right that she would run to me and I’d be waiting with open arms. For five years, I kept her at arm’s length while she finished school. Not once did I let the professional wall slip.

Until now.

But she had five years of disinterest engrained in her. Of course she didn’t expect anything. Of course she was prepared to walk away. Because in five years, I’d declared nothing. I’d been an idiot. I didn’t think it through to this scenario back then.

Was right now really the best time? No. She’d suffered a traumatic event. Even though she didn’t remember what happened, the signs were there. The emotional ramifications were clear as day.

But I couldn’t do it; things couldn’t go back to the way they were.

Crossing her arms over her chest, she swallowed.

“Can I please borrow your phone for a minute?”

She shifted uneasily.

I knew it wasn’t rational, I knew it wasn’t the right time, but I snapped. My bear panicked. I panicked. And five years of patience went out the window. I couldn’t wait anymore. I couldn’t let her leave unprotected. We needed to mark her. The urge was primal. It was rooted deep in my gut and seconded by my bear. It wouldn’t be as strong as mating with her and fully claiming her. It would tie me to her with no chance at love with another woman forever.

I didn’t care, though. I refused to risk her life again. Last night could never happen again; it would never happen again. Determination vibrated through me. “No.”

She whipped to attention. “No?”

Shaking my head negatively, I reiterated my denial. “No.”

I closed the distance between us in one stride.

“I know you don’t remember what happened last night, but something bad could have happened and it would have been my fault. And I know you won’t understand what I’m about to say, but you need to know the truth.”

Concern furrowed her brows. She angled her brown eyes directly at mine, and every ounce of unease was visible in them. Wordlessly, she nodded her head, stiffening as if to brace herself.

For the first time ever, my confidence was rattled. I’d always been levelheaded, the rational one. I listened more than I spoke. I observed, calculated, thoroughly thought through everything before responding in most situations. But five years of rational came to a head last night, morphing into five years of pent up desperation. I was cracking. The thought of losing her broke open the haunting darkness her permanent loss would cause me, and I was hyperaware of every misstep over the years.

Fuck!

Sucking in a rugged breath, I cupped her face tenderly, aware of my strength and her fragility.

“This is going to sound crazy, illogical, improbable and potentially inconceivable, but I will prove it. Okay?”

She didn’t move, yet she lost a bit of her warmth. “Okay.”

Her voice was barely a whisper.

My stomach knotted. My bear stilled, preparing to take over the second I let my guard down. My heart beat faster as the weight of my truth hit me; no human was ever prepared to hear it.

A snarl rumbled in my chest. I hated this. I wanted to jump to the part where I claimed her.

“Last night should never have happened, Bryn.”

I kept my voice calm and steady.

“I’m a shifter, a bear shifter to be exact, and you’re my mate. I’ve known since the minute I met you. Had I pursued you early on, you would have been protected. That guy wouldn’t have been able to slip you something without every shifter at that bar stepping in to save you. If I hadn’t-“ I closed my eyes, trying to breathe through my anguish. I was pissed off, at myself, at the twerp, at the situation in general. I’d majorly fucked everything up.

My muscles vibrated as my bear tested me, springing upwards and clawing at my surface. I was forced to take a step back, unwilling to put her at risk.

My hands balled at my side, I flexed, trying to alleviate the mounting pressure, the physical strain of my bear seeking freedom. Blowing out a breath, I faced her again.

“If I hadn’t been there last night, who knows what he would have done.”

My lips curled in disgust.

“Who knows what he would have done to you.”

A growl escaped me, echoing loudly.

To her credit, she didn’t flinch. Her eyes widened and her right hand tightened around her left bicep, but she didn’t react.

“Five years ago, staying away made sense. I didn’t want to keep you from pursuing your dreams. But that was a mistake. I see that now.”

I squeezed the back of my neck, as if to pinch my bear’s scruff.

“I can’t let you leave until I know last night will never happen again. I can let you live the life you want with anyone you choose, so long as I know you’re safe.”

My heart sprinted in my chest, each beat akin to a hammer hitting my ribcage, as I stared at her, as I waited. Every second that ticked by felt like a lifetime because I knew what she said next would shape our futures forever.