Page 15 of The Bear’s Matchmaking Mix-up Mate (Bear Creek Forever:Thornberg Vineyard #6)

Finn stood before Wren, his bear rumbling with joy so intense it vibrated through every fiber of his being. Never in his wildest dreams had he imagined this moment would unfold with such perfect acceptance from his mate.

There had been no fear in her eyes, only awe, and the kind of open adoration that made his wild heart beat faster.

Wren’s fingers trembled as they stroked through his thick fur, her touch reverent and unhesitating.

The scent of her filled his heightened senses, imprinting itself forever in his memory.

His bear wanted nothing more than to curl around her, to shelter her from the world, to show her every secret corner of his wild heart. A heart that belonged to her forever.

He lowered his massive head and nuzzled her cheek, wanting her to know how much he loved and cherished her. Tell her, his bear said.

I will, Finn promised as his bear stepped away from Wren, just enough to give himself space to shift.

With his eyes locked on their mate, he let go of the world, instantly feeling a sense of loss as the air crackled and popped around him.

A heartbeat later, he reappeared in his human form, fully clothed in the jeans and shirt he’d worn earlier, but feeling utterly exposed.

No more secrets. No more hiding.

Wren stood a step away, arms wrapped tightly around herself, eyes wide and shining in the moonlight. For a moment, she looked shell-shocked, and his heart lurched with sudden doubt.

Had it been too much? Had he misjudged what she could accept?

But when he took a cautious step toward her, she didn’t retreat. Their gazes locked, and Finn offered her a lopsided, almost bashful smile. The smile of a man who had just laid his soul bare and now waited, heart in hand, for judgment.

The silence between them stretched out, punctuated by the hoot of an owl and the far-off mournful howl of a wolf.

Then Wren drew in a deep breath that seemed to fill her entire body.

She closed the distance between them in two quick steps and wrapped her arms around him, pressing her face against his chest.

Finn’s hand found her back, holding her close against him. He buried his face in her hair, inhaling her unique scent . Relief and gratitude flooded through him with each breath.

“Thank you for not running,” he whispered, his voice thick with meaning.

She leaned back just enough to look up at him, her expression fierce and vulnerable in a way that made his chest ache. “I could never run from you.”

“I wouldn’t have blamed you if you had,” he murmured. “It must have been a shock. I wish I could have said something to prepare you…but I don’t know if you would have believed me.”

“It’s okay.” Her gaze intensified, searching his face for answers. “But tell me, is there...a connection between us? Something more than just...?” She hesitated, shook her head, and laughed softly. “Sorry, that’s foolish.”

Finn cupped her chin gently with his hand, tilting her face up to meet his eyes. His thumb traced the line of her jaw, marveling at the softness of her skin.

“No, it’s not foolish, Wren. It’s real. We’re fated mates.”

Her eyes widened. “Fated mates?”

He nodded as his emotions threatened to overwhelm him. This was it, the moment of truth. “We’re meant to be together forever. You’re the only one for me.”

Wren’s breath caught audibly, her voice trembling when she spoke.

“I felt it the moment I opened the door that first day. But I was so afraid to trust what I felt.” Her bottom lip trembled slightly, vulnerability written across her features.

“I came here to lick my wounds after a disastrous end to a relationship.”

Finn smoothed his thumb across her cheek, catching a tear before it could fall. His heart ached at the thought of anyone hurting her that much.

“I’m sorry you went through that,” he murmured. “But I’m not sorry you chose Bear Creek to run to.”

She gave a watery laugh that made his heart flip over in his chest. “You can thank my godmother for that.”

His bear gave a mental chuckle. Mrs. Abernathy’s never going to let us forget it.

Finn smiled, his whole body humming with the rightness of holding her. I don’t care if she reminds us every day. It just means we’ll always remember how lucky we are to have found our mate.

When Finn looked down, Wren was already gazing up at him.

Her lips parted slightly, then pursed, her eyes reflecting the moonlight.

His heart thudded against his ribs so loud he thought she might hear it as he tried to read her expression.

Was she asking him to kiss her? The air between them felt charged, electric.

He leaned forward just a fraction, testing, waiting.

But this time, Wren did not blink; she did not step back.

She did not break the spell. Instead, she cupped his face in her hands and stood on tiptoe as she pressed her lips to his.

The taste of her was sweeter than anything Finn had ever known.

His bear roared in approval as Wren melted against him, her mouth soft and yielding.

The kiss deepened, her body pressing against his with delicious heat.

Her tongue found his, tentatively at first, then bolder as she wrapped her arms around his neck.

He tightened his arms around her waist, lifting her slightly. A small sound escaped her throat as she pressed herself against his hardness, the friction making him groan into her mouth. His bear growled with need, urging him to claim her fully.

“Make love to me,” she whispered against his lips, her voice trembling with desire.

Finn pulled back, his breath coming in ragged gasps. He searched her face in the moonlight, needing to be certain. “Are you sure?” he asked, his voice rough with restraint.

She nodded, her eyes luminous in the darkness. “We’re mates,” she said simply. “And I want you in a way I’ve never wanted anything before.”

The words sent a tremor through his entire body as he bent to kiss her again.

As if to reinforce her words, Wren slid her hands up his chest to caress his broad shoulders, fingers tracing the outline of his muscles.

She pushed his shirt from his shoulders, exposing the hardness of his chest and the soft trail of hair that led downward.

He shrugged it off, never taking his mouth from hers, and reached for the hem of her dress then pulled it over her head, leaving her in nothing but her bra and lace panties, her bare skin glowing in the moonlight.

Finn’s eyes devoured her, drinking in every line and curve. Her breasts, full and inviting, rose and fell with each breath. Her nipples were taut, pebbled against the cool air. His hands trembled as he cupped them, brushing his thumbs lightly across each bud, savoring her gasp of pleasure.

Then he dropped to his knees before her, leaving a trail of soft kisses from her belly button and then lower, his breath hot and enticing against her sensitive flesh.

Wren’s hands tangled in his hair as he pressed soft kisses over her mound, breathing her in. Needing more, he hooked his thumbs under the lace of her panties and slid them down her legs, his lips following the path. Then, he carefully helped her step out of her panties and cast them aside.

Wren shivered as she inched her legs apart in invitation, one he could not refuse.

He trailed his fingers gently up the inside of her thigh, feeling her tremble at his touch.

Taking his time, he pressed a kiss to her inner knee, then higher, his mouth mapping the softness of her skin, the delicate curve of her hip.

Finally, he pressed his lips against her most intimate place, drinking in her essence. Wren whimpered, her fingers twisting in his hair as her legs parted wider in surrender. The sound sent fire racing through his veins as his tongue traced slow circles around her sensitive bud.

“Finn,” she gasped, her voice breaking on his name.

He licked her slowly, savoring her taste, teasing her with gentle strokes as her legs trembled against his shoulders.

The moonlight bathed her skin in silver, making her look ethereal, otherworldly, yet so beautifully human in her desire.

His bear rumbled with satisfaction deep inside him, urging him to taste more, to claim what was his.

Finn slid his hands over the soft curves of her bottom and pressed closer, dipping his tongue inside her. The sound that escaped her throat was primal, desperate.

“Please,” she begged, her voice breaking. “More...”

He couldn’t deny her anything. Not now, not ever.

Finn licked and sucked at her most sensitive spot as he slipped two fingers inside her, hooking them just so to find that hidden place that would bring her the most pleasure.

In and out he moved, grazing her inner walls with deliberate pressure while his tongue danced over her.

Wren’s thighs began to quiver, her breath coming in short, sharp gasps. Her hands clutched his hair tighter, pulling almost painfully, but the sting only heightened his own desire. He could feel her approaching the edge, teetering on that exquisite precipice.

“Don’t stop,” she pleaded.

Finn increased his pace, his fingers moving in rhythm with his tongue until she came around his fingers, her inner muscles clenching rhythmically as waves of pleasure washed through her. He didn’t relent, drawing out her pleasure until she collapsed to her knees, her body limp and trembling.

He stood on shaky legs, his own need almost painful now. Leaning down, he gathered Wren into his arms, cradling her against his chest. Her skin was flushed and damp with perspiration, her eyes half-lidded with lingering pleasure.

With reverent fingers, he reached behind her to undo her bra, sliding it from her shoulders. The sight of her bare breasts made his breath catch.

They fit perfectly in his palms as he caressed them, teasing the rosy peaks with his thumbs until they hardened beneath his touch. He lowered his head, taking one nipple into his mouth, swirling his tongue around the sensitive bud while he slid his hand down her body and stroked her mound.

“Finn,” she whispered, her hands fumbling with his belt. “I need you.”

He helped her, kicking off his jeans and boxers in one swift movement. Her eyes widened slightly at the sight of him, fully aroused and ready, then she wrapped her fingers around his length, stroking him with a gentle pressure that made him groan against her breast.

“Make love to me,” she urged, her legs parting in invitation.

Finn positioned himself between her thighs, the tip of his hardness pressing against her entrance.

The heat of her nearly undid him as she guided him forward, her eyes locked with his.

As he inched into her, the sensation was so intense, so perfect, that he had to clench his teeth to maintain control.

He bit down on his lower lip, fighting the urge to thrust deep and hard.

“Are you sure?” he asked one last time, his voice strained with the effort of restraint.

In answer, Wren lifted her hips, urging him on. Finn inched forward slowly, giving her body time to adjust to his size, until he was fully seated within her. The sensation of her around him, tight and hot and perfect, was almost too much to bear.

Then he began to move, drawing back before pushing forward again, establishing a rhythm that soon had her gasping beneath him. He lowered his head to capture her nipple again, flicking his tongue across it as he thrust deeper, harder.

Wren drew her knees up, changing the angle so that each stroke brushed against her sensitive bud. Her nails raked lightly down his back as her pleasure built once more.

Then she came, and she cried out, her inner walls clenching around him.

The pressure built inside him, coiling tighter with each thrust, each gasp from her lips.

Finn couldn’t hold back any longer. He thrust deeper one last time and came, spilling his essence into her, claiming her as his mate in the most primal way possible.

Wave after wave of pleasure crashed through him as he held her close until the last tremors subsided.

Finally, he had claimed his mate, and it was everything he’d ever imagined and so much more.