Page 103 of Mated to the Mountain Bear

BEN

Two strides, and I’m across the room, my hands cupping her face and tilting it up to mine. Her skin is soft under my calloused palms, warm and real. For a heartbeat, I just stare at her, drinking in every detail—the way her lips part slightly, the flutter of her pulse at her throat, and the tears gathering in those green eyes that have haunted my dreams.

“Ben, I’m so sorry. I missed you,” she whispers, her voice breaking on the last word.

My mouth crashes down on hers, pouring every minute of agony, every sleepless night, every moment I thought I’d lost her into this kiss.

She makes a soft sound of surprise that melts into a moan as her arms wrap around my neck, fingers tangling in my hair.

The taste of her floods my senses, and my bear roars with satisfaction.

When we part for air, I rest my forehead against hers and breathe her in. Her scent fills my lungs and chases away the lingering cold from the mountains.

“Never apologise for sending me away. You were trying to help.”

Her hands frame my face now, thumbs stroking over the beard I haven’t bothered to trim in days. The touch is gentle, exploring, like she’s reminding herself I’m real, too.

When I claim her mouth again, the kiss shifts, becoming deeper, more possessive. My bear is pushing at my control, demanding we claim what’s ours. One hand slides to her lower back, pulling her flush against me, until there’s no space between us, while the other buries itself in her hair.

She rises on her toes and presses closer, until suddenly, standing isn’t good enough.

I lift her easily, my hands gripping her ass as she immediately wraps her legs around my waist. The heat of her core presses against my already hard cock through our clothes, and I groan into her mouth. The feel of her, warm and real and here, nearly brings me to my knees.

“You’re staying.” It’s a declaration, not a question. I can see it in every carefully placed item, every small change she’s made to my space.

She’s moved in. She chose me.

She chose us.

“You couldn’t make me leave if you tried.” She breathes against my lips, rolling her hips against mine in a way that makes me see stars.

She’s here.

Zara’s here, in my home, and she’s staying.

Seeing her things mixed with mine feels right. Like she was meant to be here all along, and her presence is what’s been missing from my life. My bear settles for the first time in a week, recognising his mate is where she belongs.

All the way down the mountain, he’d been pushing me hard. He’d sensed something I hadn’t noticed yet, too caught up inmy misery to pay attention to. While Maddox rambled on about criminals setting up shop in the old logging headquarters, my bear had been pulling me home.

To her.

“What about Maddox?” she whispers between kisses, her breath hot against my skin.

My bear rumbles in my chest, and the sound makes the windows rattle slightly. “He’s my brother, but if you say his name again while I’m kissing you, I’m going to have to kill him.”

She laughs, the sound lifting my soul, and she shifts deliberately in my arms. The movement grinds her pussy against my cock, and with only thin layers of fabric between us, I have to bite back a groan.

She knows exactly what she’s doing.

“Okay, no more.” She promises, pressing open-mouthed kisses along my jaw, her tongue flicking out to taste my skin.

“He’s got a bear’s nose and ears. He’ll figure it out and clear off, if he knows what’s good for him.” I’m already moving toward the bedroom, my cock so hard, it’s painful.

Zara goes still in my arms, tilting her head back to look at me with wide eyes. “He can’t... he couldn’t hear us from outside, doing... you know.”

Her cheeks flush pink as she glances toward the door, and I catch her chin, turning her attention back where it belongs.

On me. Only me.