Page 27 of Bear with Me

“And how would you know how that smells, brother?” Brock asked, noting the way his brother’s cheeks flushed. That was interesting. “Do tell?”

Matheus ignored the question and tapped his watch.

“Yeah, yeah,” Brock muttered. “Meet me on the porch.”

He went to the bed and nuzzled his mate’s neck, pressing kisses along the slender column of her throat.

“Mmm,” she mumbled. “Again?”

She made to roll over, and he almost laughed. She was barely conscious and willing to go another round with him. He’d fucked her into exhaustion. Fucked them both into it. But seeing her there, noting the scent of sex in the air and on their skin, he felt his cock thickening in his jeans.

“Sleep, love. I’ll be back in a little bit.” He kissed her again, and she mumbled into the pillow as her body relaxed back into slumber. He pulled the covers over her, not wanting her to get cold. Then he shut the windows Matheus had opened. Brock liked the way the room smelled.

Finally, he forced himself to step outside and close the door behind him.

“She’ll be fine,” Matheus said as if he knew Brock’s worries. “No one will dare touch her.”

Brock nodded, but he couldn’t forget when Fletch had carried her to Jensen. How she’d looked unconscious and covered in blood.

“It’s normal to worry,” Matheus offered as they ducked into the clearing at the back of the main cabin. Em and Jaeda were outside by the swings, watching over little Ruby.

“Hey, Baby Bear,” Matheus called.

She ran to him, screaming his name at the top of her lungs. Brock watched the smile take over his brother’s face, and Matheus knelt, catching her as she flung herself against him. It was a genuine pleasure. Of all of them, he was the most natural around children. Someday, he’d make an amazing father.

“Mama Em. It’s my fwiend.” She bounced on Matheus’ forearm as she yelled at Em. She turned back quickly, and Brock wasn’t sure how Matheus kept her from tumbling out of his arms. Then she cupped his face. “Did you come to play with me?”

Ruby still had trouble with her r’s. She was getting better with her l’s, but when she was really excited or angry, she went back to a y sound on them.

“Not right now,” Matheus said, and Brock almost laughed as Ruby’s bottom lip trembled. “I have to go talk with Laramie, but I’ll come back to play when I’m done.”

Ruby narrowed her eyes. “Daddy Lawamie will let you stay. He loves me the mostest.”

It still baffled Brock how Ruby had fallen so hard for Laramie, but the little girl practically worshipped the ground he walked on. Her father would have his hands full when he finally returned. The cunning Baby Bear, as they’d all taken to referring to her as, would pit the two men against each other if it meant she got what she wanted. Brock had no doubt of that. He’d already witnessed it between Em and Laramie. Little Ruby had them both wrapped around her finger. Hell, she had most of the pack that way.

Em laughed as she scooped Ruby out of Matheus’ arms. “He’ll be back later. Crocodile tears and pouty lips don’t work on me,” she warned as Ruby’s eyes filled. The little girl glanced back and forth between Matheus and Em.

“I go talk with Lawamie, too.”

Matheus opened his mouth, but Em beat him.

“No, you can see him later.”

“Daddy Lawamie love to see me. I’m his baby beawah.”

“Malachai’s going to love that,” Brock said, bringing a snort from Em.

“No one to blame but himself,” she muttered. “Now, give Matheus a kiss so he can go.”

Ruby leaned in, cupping Matheus’ face again. She planted a wet kiss on his cheek before moving her lips to his ear. “We have ice cweam later.”

They all heard her, though it was clear she thought she was whispering. Em’s gaze narrowed on Matheus when he opened his mouth, cutting off the yes Brock was sure he’d intended.

“We’ll see what Mama Em thinks when I’m free.”

Ruby leaned back to frown at him, crossing her arms over her chest. “I likes you mostest. Fow now,” she warned as if he could fall out of her favor very quickly.

“I like you the mostest, too,” Matheus said.

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