Page 33 of Bear with Me

Jemma nodded as she yawned. “Her family is great. I didn’t realize her brother, Roman, had arrived. They were telling the best stories about when they were little and the antics she used to pull. I would have fallen out of my chair laughing if Milo hadn’t caught me.”

A growl rumbled in his chest. Jemma patted him and nuzzled against his throat.

“I didn’t like seeing his hands on you.”

She laughed then pushed her head up when he couldn’t hold in another growl. “Are you serious?”

He didn’t say anything, and her gaze narrowed.

“That’s absolutely ridiculous. Milo kept me from falling. That’s all.”

“He’s a single male,” Brock stated.

“I’m not going to avoid Milo because you suddenly decided you’re insecure.”

“I’m not insecure,” he snarled.

She sat up then, all tiredness gone. “Then you don’t trust me? Is that what you’re saying?”

She didn’t even give him time to reply.

“Oh, hell, no. Hell, no!” She was out of the bed, tugging his shirt over her head then flinging open his door before he even moved. He ran for it, stopped, snagging his jeans and pulling them up but not buttoning them, so he could chase after her. As luck would have it, she had cornered Matheus and Jensen at the top of the stairs. Both were trying to look anywhere but at her bare legs or the exposed shoulder from the way Brock’s shirt hung on her.

“How do you undo a mating? I take it back. I don’t want him.”

“What?” Brock all but roared, and as Fate would have it, the rest of his brothers ducked out of the dining room to join them.

“What’s going on?” Laramie asked. “Brock?”

“You can do it,” Jemma said, blue eyes blazing with anger. “Make some alpha decree and undo our mating. Void our vows.”

“The hell he will,” Brock thundered, and his mate finally turned to face him.

“I’ll be damned if I’ll be mated to a man who doesn’t even trust me!”

“What the hell, Brock?” Matheus questioned, and Brock nearly lost his mind when Jemma moved to stand beside his younger brother.

“I never said I didn’t trust you!”

“Well, you said you weren’t insecure, so why else would you have an issue with me hanging out with Helen and her family? Or is it just Milo you don’t want me hanging out with? Do you not trust him?”

“Milo’s like a brother to me.”

Her snarl very quickly made him aware that hadn’t been the correct answer.

“Bad move,” Slade muttered while Declan shook his head. Brock was suspicious Laramie hid a grin behind the hand covering his mouth.

“I trust you. I trust Milo. I simply didn’t like seeing his hands on you!”

Jemma grabbed Matheus’ hand and slammed it onto her hip then moved it to her stomach, Matheus jerked it away before she could do more than that.

“Are you trying to get me killed?” he asked. “I thought we were friends.”

“We were. We are,” she corrected. “Your brother is an idiot, though.”

“Jemma.” Warning filled Brock’s voice.

“Oh, good, they’re still arguing,” Xandra said as she joined the group, slipping in beside Declan. “I was afraid all the fun would stop now that you two mated.”

---