Page 47 of A Bear's Secret

If Barb was at all surprised at the display of affection, she didn’t show it.

“Of course, Trevor,” she said. “Take as long as you need. Plenty of fences need fixing around here.”

“Thank you,” Trevor said.

“Turn out the lights when you go to bed,” she said.

Then she turned around and walked back down the hall, just as Sloane came back in, mopping up spilled hot chocolate.

Trevor didn’t move a muscle. Then, slowly, he turned to Austin.

“She knows,” he said, his voice just above a whisper.

“She knows now,” said Austin.

Trevor jumped up and started pacing.

“I have to go,” he said. “I can’t stay here. She’s going to tell everyone, and then...”

Sloane was balling up paper towels covered in hot chocolate.

“Then what?” she asked. “You’re already here. You’re already out of your pack.”

The words sunk into Trevor’s brain slowly, almost as if they were penetrating his skull.

She was right. The worst thing had already happened. Sloane tossed the paper towels into the trash can, then walked up to him, looking up.

“Get some rest tonight,” she said. “Nothing worse is going to happen. Go to the police and probably the hospital in the morning.”

Austin stood and rested his chin on Trevor’s shoulder, his arms around his mate.

“If Barb was gonna sound the alarm, she’d have done that instead of going back to sleep,” he said. “Honestly, I don’t think Barb gives a shit who you’re mated to. She likes me pretty well after all.”

They’re right,Trevor thought. An odd elation swept through him.

I’m free.

He turned to Austin and kissed the other man so hard that their teeth nearly touched. He could feel the sharp point of Austin’s canines against his lip, but that didn’t stop him from pressing even harder against his mate, his tongue finding its way into Austin’s mouth and tangling with his, a low, deep growl coming out of the bear shifter.

When he finally broke away, he realized that Sloane was standing in front of him, eyes wide, cheeks bright pink. She opened her mouth to say something, but no sound came out.

Trevor grinned and leaned back against Austin.

Fuck it,he thought. Do what you want for once.

He crooked one finger at Sloane.

“C’mere,” he said.

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