Page 38 of Bear with Me

“So, you admit people hate you,” Malachai teased, and Titus gave a laugh that quickly morphed into a groan.

“Walker’s not a real popular name to have here,” Holt shared with a shrug.

“Yeah,” Titus agreed, looking defeated. “Coming here was probably a bad idea.”

“Don’t give up yet,” Jemma advised. “No one liked me when I first got here, either.”

All five men stared at her, but it was Holt who laughed. Brock left Titus between Malachai and Jensen and moved back to her, scooping her up into his arms.

“You got this, Jensen?” he asked, but his gaze stayed on Jemma.

“Holt can help if I need it,” his brother answered as they moved away.

Brock dropped another kiss on her lips. “Let’s get cleaned up, then I’ll show you how much I like you.”

“Why don’t you show me while we clean up,” she whispered, nipping his ear.

“I plan to,” he promised and carried her inside and downstairs to their room.

Chapter Sixteen

Brock couldn’t stop touching Jemma. He washed her from head to toe, dropping kisses along her soft skin as he rinsed away the suds. He inspected her side closely, exhaling in relief as he took in the way the wound was healing. Walking up and seeing her covered in blood had taken him right back to when she’d been badly injured. He’d been desperate to touch her, hold her, to ascertain for himself that she was whole and safe.

“Brock.”

He glanced up at her, drinking in her beauty.

“I can feel my bear.”

“What?” he asked.

“When I was out there, when I heard the gunshots, I felt my bear.”

“Fuck. That’s fantastic. We’ll have to let Jensen know. I thought I’d go crazy when I saw you covered in blood. I was terrified you were hurt again.”

“I’m fine, but if you don’t make love to me, I might go crazy.”

“We can’t have that.” He stood, easing a hand behind her to shut off the water before stepping out onto the bathmat and reaching for her. He lifted her into his arms, her full breasts pressed against his chest, her lips on his, and carried her to the bed. He lowered her to the mattress then followed her down, nudging her thighs wide and sinking into her. Her moan caressed his ears while her hands did his arms and shoulders. Never enough. It was never enough with her. He always wanted more. He’d keep her in his bed permanently if he could. Neither of them leaving. It was unbearable to have her out of sight, not to feel her against him, not to breathe in her scent.

He took her hard and fast with a rough edge that had them both reaching completion quickly. The taste of her blood rested on his tongue, making him aware he’d bitten her shoulder when he’d orgasmed. Though other shifter species had a tendency to bite their mates to form bonds, bears didn’t. Bears marked with scent. Their females nuzzling the chosen males and marking them with the pheromones that increased during mating. Usually, they rubbed a male where the skin tended to be thinnest, at his neck and groin. Jemma had been doing that. Marking his clothes before she’d ever begun marking him.

“You bit me,” she whispered, running her fingers through his hair while he licked over the wound he’d left.

“Sorry,” he muttered, though his bear was anything but.

“I liked it,” she admitted, and he glanced up to meet her gaze.

“Yeah?”

She nodded. “Maybe, you can do it again.”

He licked over her again, a rumble of satisfaction rolling through his chest. He’d definitely do it again. Pulling himself away from the mark, he rolled to her side, tugging her so she lay on his chest. He couldn’t stop touching her. Not yet. Maybe, never.

“My heart stopped when I saw you,” he confessed as he brushed his fingers over her skin.

“I know. I felt it.”

Their bond was growing, strengthening more and more every day.

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