Page 16 of Hunny and the Bear (Bearly Yours #1)

Sixteen

H unny woke in a cocoon of warmth, Tank’s heady scent filling her lungs with every breath she took. Waking up like this, with him being the first thought to cross her mind, was nice. Relaxing and sweet. She’d spent years with survival being her only priority, busting her ass to take care of herself and ensuring she didn’t starve. But since coming here, she hadn’t worried about any of that.

She hadn’t needed to because Tank took care of everything. Considering how independent she’d been for half a decade, it was surprisingly easy to fall into the role of a kept woman, even if they weren’t actually a couple.

Tank was just that good at seeing to her needs. Even now, while he slept, he took care of her. She could feel him behind her, his arm thrown around her waist and his legs cradling hers as he spooned her protectively. As always, Hunny felt safe with him. And happy.

She hadn’t truly felt like that since her parents died. But now? The warm emotion was always present.

Peeling her eyes open, it took her a second to adjust to the light from the lamp on her nightstand. Blinking blearily, she glanced around for a wall clock, but the room was pretty bare.

What time was it? And when had Tank crawled into bed with her?

She shifted slightly, and he murmured something under his breath, his muscled arm tightening around her waist before he pulled her hips back toward him. Something hard, hot, and thick pressed against her bare ass, and her eyes widened into saucers as realization struck.

Oh shit.

Not only was Tank very naked, his erection was prodding her butt. Hunny swallowed thickly, her fingers curling into the bed sheets as he pushed his cock more firmly against her, grinding his hips against her ass with a throaty groan. Instantly, she was wet, her pussy spasming with need. All she had to do was lift her leg and drop it over his hip, and his tip would brush against her entrance.

She’d be open and waiting for him.

Dragging in a shallow breath, Hunny’s nails tightened around the sheets, and she vaguely wondered if she’d rip them from how fiercely she held on.

What should she do? Should she do anything? She knew what she wanted to do, and that was to turn around, push Tank onto his back, and straddle him. She wanted to take his shaft in hand, guide him to her entrance, and let him sink inside her.

And then she wanted to fuck his brains out, again and again and again.

More slick pooled between her thighs just thinking about it, and her core ached. The last week had been agonizing, dealing with the feeling that she held so much unrequited lust for Tank that she could do nothing about. But she’d smelled his desire yesterday; she knew he wanted her. That knowledge had haunted her all night while he’d been gone, but now he was here.

Was he awake? Did he know what he was even doing?

“Henry?” Hunny asked quietly. His breathing remained nice and even, and his hold on her didn’t change in the slightest.

Make a move. Don’t be such a coward. You know he wants you, so do something about it!

Emboldened, or maybe just aroused and delusional, Hunny arched her back, planting her ass firmly against the length of his erection. Tank released a deep, needy growl that she felt everywhere, her nipples hardening in response. His lips pressed against the back of her neck, his body coiling around hers. Warm breath teased her skin, and then he licked her, groaning heavily.

That deep sound was her undoing, and Hunny rolled her hips, stroking his hard length with her ass.

Tank stiffened, and then he launched himself away from her like she’d burned him. Hunny whipped around in surprise as the covers came flying off of her, wrapping around Tank’s body as he fled from her side. They tangled around his legs, and he pitched forward and off the side of the bed, landing on the ground with a heavy thud.

“Oh my god,” Hunny cried, mortified as Tank groaned in pain from somewhere on the floor. “H-Henry, are you okay?”

Hell, was she okay? She’d made a move on him and he’d run away like she was contagious. All of her confidence disappeared in an instant, leaving her humiliated and on the verge of tears as he pushed himself up from the floor, sending her a bewildered look.

His beard was a mess, his hair stuck to one half of his head, and his chest rose and fell quickly, his breathing loud and uneven. Tank cleared his throat, his eyes widening in alarm when he noticed the tears filling her eyes. “I’m sorry, Hunny. I was sleeping, and I didn’t mean to touch you like that, darlin’.”

‘I didn’t mean to touch you like that.’ The words repeated in her head, slowly moving down and twisting through her heart like a knife. Hurt mixed with humiliation and Hunny looked away from him, swallowing thickly.

Of course, he hadn’t meant to touch her. Because he’d been sleeping. If he actually felt attracted to her, that wouldn’t have mattered—it never had before with past partners. But based on how quickly he’d tossed himself from the bed, he obviously found her repulsive.

That had been his way of rejecting her, and the message was loud and clear. How could she have been so stupid? Was she really that lonely, that desperate for affection that she’d imagined everything growing between them?

Her heart squeezed like a vise in her chest, and her lungs burned as she tried to breathe normally. The last thing she wanted now was to break down sobbing and only humiliate herself further.

He didn’t want her after all. His rejection had been clear. And she didn’t know how to react. Didn’t know how to feel. With Jason, his rejection had gutted her. But she knew she’d be fine. That she could persevere.

But Tank rejecting her? This was a level of devastation she hadn’t felt in years.

‘I didn’t mean to touch you …’

She tugged her shirt down, desperate to cover every inch of her body from his gaze as shame joined the party of turmoil swirling around inside her.

How had she gotten her signals so wrong? She couldn’t wrap her head around it, but clearly, she was a freaking idiot. Tank didn’t want to touch her, and she’d taken advantage of him in his sleep. What kind of person did that make her? What the fuck was wrong with her?

Tank stirred, rising from the floor with the sheets now wrapped securely around his waist. “Are you okay? I didn’t make you uncomfortable, did I?”

Hunny snorted, but the sound lacked humor as she slid a hand down her face, keeping her gaze averted. “No, I—” Her throat constricted, and her chin wobbled as she fought to control her emotions, just for a few minutes longer. “ No . You didn’t do anything wrong.”

“You look like you’re going to cry—”

Her fingers twisted along the hem of her shirt as she struggled to keep her composure, refusing to admit the truth. “It’s just pregnancy hormones.”

“Okay,” he answered slowly, but there was an uncertain note in his voice as he added, “I never want to hurt you, Hunny. Or make you think I’m taking advantage of you. Please believe that.”

Oh, great. Now he was consoling her because he felt bad. He’d be better off digging her a grave outside and just letting her wallow in it until she died of shame.

The silence between them grew, and the tension was taut and oppressive. Enough so that Hunny mustered up a small smile, sending him a quick, fleeting look. “I don’t feel that way. Everything’s good between us. I promise.”

Tank stayed there for another few seconds and then he put the covers back on the bed for her. She quickly looked away from him, lying back down as she pulled the covers close, wishing they’d swallow her whole.

Tank sighed. “I’m going to take a shower.”

“Yup. I’ll just”— cry my eyes out— “get a bit more rest.”

It wasn’t until he’d locked himself in the bathroom, the sound of the running shower loud through the door, that Hunny let herself cry, hoping to ease some of her wayward emotions.

It didn’t work.

“ H ow are you feeling, Hunny?” Tabitha asked later that day, ushering both Hunny and Tank into an examination room just off from the clinic’s lobby. The building was attached by a long hallway to the den house and just a mile from Tank’s cabin, but after a silent drive over, it had felt like an eternity.

Hunny felt Tank crowding in behind her, and her irritation spiked. She was tempted to turn around and demand he haul his big bear ass back to the waiting room. This wasn’t his kit so he didn’t need to be here. Instead, she ignored his presence like she had all morning. She didn’t want to say anything she’d regret later, and right now, she wasn’t in the proper mindset to talk to him about anything.

She was still too hurt.

She placed a protective hand over her still-flat stomach, looking at Tabitha. “Pretty good, I think.”

It was a lie, obviously, but it was a better answer than, ‘Actually, I tried to have sex with your son this morning and he shot me down spectacularly. No, I have not recovered from the emotional trauma.’

Her cry earlier had only caused resentment to build, and instead of feeling better, she was now pissed off and miserable. It didn’t matter that several hours had passed since the incident; Hunny’s mood hadn’t improved in the slightest.

Probably because Henry ran from me like I was diseased and on fire , she thought irritably. Even though she’d read all the signs wrong, including the metaphorical neon arrow pointing to the erection he’d had no problem thrusting against her, his reaction this morning was over-the-top.

Completely ridiculous.

Falling out of bed in his haste to get away from her? Puh-lease . That aggravating male never let her sleep more than an inch away from him any other night, but now, suddenly , she was disgusting to be around? Confusion and hurt warred within her.

She dropped her hands to her side, clenching them into fists to help keep her mind focused on this appointment.

Tabitha sent her a quick smile, adjusting the white doctor’s coat she wore as Hunny climbed onto the examination table. “Nervous?”

“No,” Hunny grumbled, only to wince when Tabitha shot her a hesitant look. “I’m sorry. I’m a bit hormonal today. And okay, maybe a little nervous,” she added at the last second, hoping to placate Tank’s mother. It wasn’t Tabitha’s fault she had a jerk for a son.

As soon as the thought entered her mind, Hunny felt guilty.

Was Tank really a jerk? No, he wasn’t. He’d set boundaries, albeit aggressively, and she didn’t need to throw a fit just because she didn’t like them. He had already done so much for her. He was her friend before anything else, and she needed to be respectful.

Even if it did hurt.

And God, it hurt so much.

Don’t think about it. Focus on your kit. Focus on yourself. Deep breaths, bitch. You’ll be okay. You’re always okay .

“Hormones happen,” Tabitha said matter-of-factly, in way of explanation for Hunny’s poor behavior, taking a seat on a small medical stool with wheels. A large cart was beside the bed, a sonogram machine sitting on top. “Lie back for me, and we’ll take a look at your kit.”

Suddenly anxious, Hunny did as instructed, moving her shirt up until it rested just under her breasts. Needing an outlet for her nerves, and still moody, she turned toward Tank, who’d parked himself in a corner, and waved a hand at her bare belly. “Feel free to look away if this is too much for you, Tank. I don’t want to freak you out again.”

As soon as she said it, she felt like an asshole.

See? This is why you need to keep your mouth shut until you’re feeling less bitchy .

Tank’s eyes narrowed and his jaw clenched, but he remained silent, crossing his arms in front of his chest.

Clearing her throat to cut the tense silence, Tabitha turned the machine on, grabbing a wand and a tube. “This is some gel I’ll put on your belly. It’s cold, but it’ll help me see what’s going on.”

Squirting the gel onto her stomach, Tabitha made quick work of pressing the end of the wand to Hunny’s skin, moving it around as they both stared at a black-and-white monitor. Hunny had no clue what she was looking at, but Tabitha whistled lowly after a few minutes.

“You’ve got your work cut out for you, Hunny.”

Well, that didn’t sound good at all. What kind of news was that?

“What does that mean?” Hunny sat up on her elbows, staring at Tank’s mom in dread. “It’s twins, isn’t it?”

Tabitha sent her an apologetic smile. “Triplets.”

There was a beat of silence as her brain struggled to catch up, the wand digging uncomfortably into her stomach. Hunny shook her head quickly. “Can you repeat that? I must have misheard you.”

Before Tabitha could answer, Tank was beside the bed, his hand resting on Hunny’s thigh as he stared in awe at the monitor. “Triplets? You’re sure?”

“Positive.” With a sweet smile, Tabitha pointed to three tiny dots on the screen. “You can see each one has its own gestational sac, which is good. It means health complications are less likely.”

“Oh. Great,” Hunny stated a bit frantically, unsure if she was going to vomit all over the floor or pass out. Both? “I thought maybe, worst-case scenario, maybe twins. But triplets? That’s three, ” she whispered faintly, bile rising in her throat as her head swam. “That’s three, but I only have two hands. That’s not enough hands for three babies!” she exclaimed hysterically, her breathing becoming shallow as a chill swept down her spine.

Oh no, she was going to vomit.

She sat up quickly, swinging her legs over the side of the table. The room spun, and her nausea increased. She needed to get the hell out of here—

Suddenly, Tank cupped her face, his palms warm against her cold skin. He looked down at her, his deep brown eyes radiating a calmness she didn’t feel. “Breathe for me, baby,” he murmured, taking a deep breath and waiting for her to do the same.

Her vision flooded with tears, and she glanced at the sonogram monitor just over his shoulder. The image was gone. But that didn’t matter. It was burned into her brain for the rest of her life.

How could she raise three kits? She wasn’t even cut out to be a mother, and she couldn’t do this alone. She couldn’t .

Three?

Hunny gasped, her heart pounding in her ears; the world around her tilting on its axis.

Tank shook his head, tightening his hold on her face until she glanced at him. “Don’t look at anything but me. Breathe.”

“B-But I c-can’t breathe, I-I only have two h-hands,” Hunny blubbered nonsensically, tears sliding down her face unchecked as she began crying.

She felt every kind of pathetic, and somewhere in the recesses of her mind, a stronger version of herself was demanding she shut the hell up and pull herself together. She’d handled the death of her parents, being rejected twice, and enduring years of self-imposed isolation; she could handle this, too.

Unfortunately, that voice was drowned out as she cried harder, embarrassing herself for the second time in less than twenty-four hours. Could this day get any worse?

“I’ve got two hands, too, darlin’,” Tank pointed out with a small chuckle, wiping away some of her tears with the pads of his thumbs. “That’s four between us and more than enough for three kits.”

“I know how to count, Henry!” Hunny wailed miserably, her shoulders shaking. “But you don’t e-even like me. S-soon enough you won’t be here. It’ll just be me. It’s always just me. I’ll be alone again—”

“No, you won’t,” Tank growled, cupping the back of her neck. He forced her head back until she was looking up at him, dominance radiating from every inch of him as it poured over her, his influence demanding that she calm down.

And she did, sucking in a deep, trembling breath. Tears still ran unchecked down her face, but at least she didn’t feel like she’d pass out anymore. Or hurl everywhere.

“You won’t be alone,” Tank told her firmly, his eyes penetrating and possessive. “I’m here with you as long as you want me.”

She squeezed her eyes shut and sobbed, knowing that it likely wasn’t true. He was just trying to make her feel better.

Tank bit out a sharp curse and then picked her up from the table, holding her tightly to his chest as he ran a palm up and down her back soothingly. “You’re breaking my heart with your tears, Hunny.”

“At least now we’re even,” she mumbled in despair, only for her mouth to drop open in horror when she realized what she’d said.

Tank went completely still. A heartbeat passed between them before he asked, “What did you just say?”