Page 23 of Bear with Me

Brock finished undressing and went to his knees, pulling her down the bed and guiding her legs over his shoulders as he dipped in for the first taste. Spreading her with his thumbs, he ran his tongue over her. He meant to be slow, to take his time, but with one taste, he couldn’t hold back. He was ravenous. Both of her hands locked in his hair, and she wavered between urging him closer and almost ripping out his hair as she tried to pry him away.

“Oh, God! Brock! Please!”

Jemma screamed when he thrust a finger into her channel and fucked her with it as he sucked on her clit. She bucked and moaned. He had her coming within minutes and switched his finger and tongue, so he could lick inside her and drink her release while he worked her toward another. Then another, until she was completely spent beneath him.

“Jemma.” He moved up her body, pausing when his shaft slid along her folds. Her release coated him, slicking him for what was to come.

“Brock,” she panted, lifting a limp hand to touch his chest. “Wait.”

He clenched his teeth, struggling then finding the control he needed. If she wanted to wait, they’d wait. He rolled off her, landing on his back beside her on the bed.

“What’s wrong?” she whispered, rising on her elbow to peer down at him.

He kept one arm thrown over his eyes. “If you want to wait, we’ll wait.”

“I didn’t mean…” She paused as he sat up. “I’m not going to hide when trouble comes.”

Brock growled. “I’m hoping, with everything that’s happened, it will be a long time before we have to deal with hunters to the extent we have been.”

“What do you mean?”

“A lot happened while you were unconscious. Hours after we were attacked, Marcus Blain led an attack on the cat pride in Oklahoma. Blain and his group were killed. Laramie’s been in contact with their alpha, Tah. Our hope is the hunting society Blain headed has scattered now that Blain and Dr. Talbot are both dead. There’s talk of forming an alliance, cats, wolves, bears, coyotes, and even the group of soldiers Tony Sandoval has under his command.”

“He’s the one they call Sandman, right? The billionaire who fights for and with us?”

Brock nodded. “He’s practically a brother with a black liger shifter name Aleksy. They grew up together. And if things go the way Laramie plans, you’ll get to meet most of them. He’s invited them here.”

“I…” She shook her head. “None of this is what I meant when I asked you to wait. I wasn’t asking for conversation, Brock.”

She slid her gaze down to his hard cock, which hadn’t gotten the stop memo just yet.

“I’m okay with waiting,” he promised.

“We’re going to fight and argue. Mating won’t change that.”

“God, I hope not. You drive me insane, and I wouldn’t change it for anything,” he admitted.

“You really mean that?”

“Bear with me, Jemma, because the thought of living without you is unbearable. I love the way we argue.”

“Then I guess there’s only one thing left to do,” she murmured, rising onto her knees and facing him. He wasn’t sure what she had in mind until the first question left her lips.

“Will you protect me?”

“Yes,” he forced past the lump in his throat. She was giving him the vows he’d wanted.

“Will you care for me? Make sure all my needs are met?”

“Yes.”

“Will you allow me to stay at your side? Your side, Brock, not hidden away or shoved behind you.”

“Jemma.”

“Allow me to go where you go?”

“Yes. I swear, Jemma. You’ve asked, and I’ve agreed. Your mine, and I’m yours. From this day until my last day.”

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