Page 10

Chapter Ten

Barrett

My bear was feeling so freaking smug right now, but I couldn’t believe that I’d made that confession. Even if she couldn’t pay me for what the job had become, she was still a client, and I should’ve remained professional.

She’s more than that and you know it.

I sat on the bed and tipped my head back. Silverclaw would have the last laugh because I would fall head over claws for this woman.

Tegan sat beside me. Her soft and curvy body was still fragrant from the citrus shower gel that had been left for us.

Us , my bear said. You’re already thinking like she belongs to you.

And it made me no better than Gideon fucking Silverclaw. I never thought I could have another mate. Fate had chosen Renee for me. But it had taken her away, too.

Our thighs were touching, and Tegan’s hand was on my arm. I could barely think straight with her so close.

“Why does your bear think that?” she said softly.

“I’ve never questioned my bear before.”

“That’s not what I meant and you know it.” She pushed playfully against my arm, and it took everything I had not to push her back on the mattress and ravage her. Show her the animal inside me so she had no questions about what he was thinking ever again.

Nope, not better than Silverclaw at all. I was taking advantage of a woman who hired me. I told her I would keep her safe. And what the fuck was I doing?

“I’m not exactly sure how to put the feelings into words,” I said. “My bear is always inside me. Guiding me when I’m in my human form, making sure I stay true to my nature. He wants to protect you, and not because you hired us to do it. He thinks you might be good for me.”

She nodded. “What do you think?”

“That my heart is still in pieces from losing Renee. That I’ve already had a mate. That I’m just as bad as Gideon, trying to claim you. That you’re the most beautiful woman I’ve laid eyes on since?—”

Tegan’s lips were on mine, and she let out a little squeal when I reciprocated with everything I fucking had. My hand snaked into her wild pink hair, pulling her head to the side. My tongue danced along the seam of her lips, teasing her, demanding to be let inside. She clutched my shoulders, moaning.

I’d tell her how much my bear loved how expressive she was when we were so close, later. But now, I couldn’t stop kissing her.

She was the one to pull away. Her eyes were wide, hair mussed, lips swollen. I’d only thought she was gorgeous before. Now she was wild. Completely irresistible.

My cock pulsed, wanting, needing more.

“What did your bear think about that?” she asked.

“You want to play with him, don’t you?” And more than anything, I wanted the answer to be yes.

She nodded. “I want to see if he’s as big, strong, and protective as I think he is.”

“Tegan,” I rasped.

“I know. I crossed a major line and I’m sorry.” She was up off the bed, pacing. She did that when she was scared. Nervous. Unsure of herself. My bear wanted to make sure she never did it again. “But you know, maybe your bear could take me to Red Heaven. You know what that is, right?”

“You didn’t cross a line. It was only a matter of time before I kissed you.”

“Glad me and your bear are on the same page.” She smiled. “So that means that we can go to Red Heaven? There are a few things I’d love to show you there.”

“Absolutely not.” I growled. Red Heaven was the exclusive area at The Redheaded Stepchild. It was a cross between a VIP lounge and a sex club where anything could happen and usually did. Bellamy had brought me there, thinking maybe it would help me move on after losing Renee. Didn’t work.

“If I wear a wig and I change up my makeup, Gideon’s goons will have no idea it’s me. He’ll never do his own dirty work. He’s too much of a pompous prick for that.”

“They’ll be able to scent you.”

Her eyes widened. “Really? Even if I’m not their mate?”

I nodded.

She let out a long, shaky sigh. “When it’s safe to go, will you bring me there?”

I raised a brow. “Do you like being watched?”

Her lips parted, and her scent intensified.

She likes it a lot , my bear said. Good to know.

Wasn’t sure I liked it.

This luscious body belongs to us , my bear added. But you can’t deny a little show could be fun…

“I want everyone there to know that I belong to you.” Her body stiffened. Scratch that—I liked that reasoning a lot. “But you just said that I don’t. That I can’t…”

She didn’t have to finish the sentence.

I closed my eyes for a long blink. “I never thought I’d have another woman in my life after I lost Renee. That connection…” I needed to slow down, think about what I wanted to say. Tegan had my mind racing, and other parts of my body had some opinions too. “It’s magnetic. And I never thought I’d feel that again.”

“I’m not expecting you to have feelings for me like you had for Renee.” Her name on Tegan’s lips was like getting hit in the face with ice water. “Twenty-four hours ago, I thought I’d be married to another wolf by now. My feelings are a little all over the place. But you make me feel safe. And heard. And that’s more than I’ve felt in way too long.”

She was scared and confused. That’s all this was. I was taking advantage of her…

No, it isn’t, and you know it , my bear growled loudly enough to make Tegan jump back. Tell her how you feel. This woman is ready to believe in big, crazy love. She doesn’t need a fucking explanation. Don’t fuck this up for her. Or us.

“You didn’t let me finish.” My bear had been aggressive since we met Tegan, but he’d never steered me wrong. “I’m feeling that pull again. But it’s not exactly the same. You’re not Renee. You’re Tegan. You’re gorgeous, exciting, and brave, and I’ll do whatever it takes to make sure nothing happens to you. Because…” I chuckled. “My bear says not to fuck this up.”

“Oh.” She softened. The silence was thick between us. “I think what your bear is trying to tell you is stop thinking so much about what you should do and do what feels right.”

“Like this?” I leaned in and kissed her again. This time was even more charged than the last. There was no surprise, no wondering if this was the wrong thing, just pure need.

More than that. Hunger.

We’d both refused to admit that we’d been starving.

Tegan leaned back on the mattress, and I was ready to follow her anywhere. My hand slid along her thigh, and she tightened her grip on my shoulders as I made the journey up her body, under her sweatshirt. She sighed against my lips when my hand stopped on her ribcage.

Had I gone too far? Abso-fucking-lutely. Even if we’d confessed these feelings for each other, she was still a client. But at the same time, it wasn’t far enough. I wanted her. I wanted to know what noises she’d make when I touched every inch of her. When I made her body lose control.

She broke the kiss first. “This might not need to be said, but you don’t have to sleep on the floor tonight.”

“It did need to be said.” Was I really gonna do this? Spend the night with another woman? Forty-eight hours ago, I would’ve sworn I’d never have another in my bed. But Tegan changed everything. “But while I was shopping, I did get an air mattress?—”

“You’re adorable. And very concerned with rules. Which means it’s gonna be really fun when you break every single one of them.”