Page 103 of Trusting Her Bear

His hand is still on the doorknob when I start talking. “Surprise. You said you wanted today to be special, so I wanted to do something for you.” He doesn’t move. “I love you,” I say quickly. “I love how you allow me to be anything I need to be in the moment. I love your patience and how you make me feel safe. I haven’t felt truly safe for a long time. I took a risk moving here and confronting my fears. I had no idea I would meet my mate and you would be everything I needed. I want to make a family with you. I get chills when I think about having your babies and what a great dad you will be. I want to lose myself in you every day for the rest of our time on this earth. I was stuck in this never-ending loop before coming here. A loop of fear, insecurities, and anger. I was angry at myself. Why couldn’t I get past the things that happened to me? So, I decided to force myself to come back to this place. I swore I would never return when I left, but something was pushing me to.

“It fell into place, and I know it was right. If I hadn’t made the decision, Breeane wouldn’t have met her mates when she did, and I wouldn’t have met you. She mentioned on the phone with me about a bear named Quinn. I didn’t know you would be my mate. I have dreamed of a mate with all the qualities that you have. I have always believed things happen for a reason, but I lost sight of that when I was taken. I couldn’t imagine there was a reason for that.” I take a quick breath. “I meant what I said. I would do it all again if I knew you were waiting for me on the other side. I would happily live in that cage because I would know you would be the one who unlocked the door.

“I want to complete the bond. I want to mark you. I want to meet your bear and run together. I trust you, Quinn. I trust in our bond. In our mating. I trust that you will keep me safe, happy, and loved. I will never leave, ever,” I swear, shaking my head jerkily. “Whatever happens in our life, I will come to you and tell you everything. I will always put you and our relationship first,” I grind to a halt, my breath short. I lick my dry lips while I wait for his response.

“You love me?” he rasps.

“Yes.” He steps in and shuts the door, locking it.

“You want my mark?” he asks, taking off his shirt.

“I do.”

“You want my babies?” He steps out of his boots.

“Of course,” I answer. He walks to the end of the bed, his fingertip touching the leather of the cuff.

“You want me to be your Daddy, forever?”

“Yes,” I whisper.

“Do you want to marry me?” he asks, his hand moving to his pants.

“Yes.”

“The bond is marriage to shifters. I don’t need a silly piece of paper to tell me that I will love you, keep you safe, and build a family with you, but I want to be tied to you in every possible way.” My heart thumps. “So, we will be doing that, too.”

“Okay.”

“I don’t particularly like gatherings like the one we just had here. You know I am not the most sociable person, but I didn’t hate it once you were with me. I think as long as you are by my side, I can survive anything. I was waiting for you. You are my other half.”

“Quinn.”

“What do you call me?”

“Daddy.”

“What is your word?”

“Cage.”

“I need to mark you,” he growls, his bear showing himself.

“Yes.”

He strips off his pants, and once again, I glory in my mate. He is big everywhere.

“Give me your hands,” he orders, holding his hand flat. I move them so fast they overshoot his waiting palm. His lips twitch. He separates my hands, steadying them before letting go, and picks up the cuffs. I can smell the brown leather, and I will always associate the smell with my mate. He unsnaps them, picking up one and the other, securing them to my writs. There is a chain attaching them, which he gathers in his fist. “Move back.”

“Yes, Daddy,” I reply and lay back, using my feet to push my body further up the bed. Quinn keeps his hand on the chain, using his other hand to crawl with me.

I settle on the pillow. “Leave them here,” he says, pressing my hands above my head. He caresses down my arm as he moves away and sits between my legs. His thumbs glide back and forth over my knees. He watches his hand for a moment and then pushes my knees up and out. “If you are uncomfortable, say your word.”

“I will.” His light touches bring the heat out in full force. I’ve been trying to ignore it as much as possible, knowing it will consume me if I give in every time.

“You need to let go,” he says, reading my mind. “Don’t hold back your reactions. Don’t hold back your emotions.”

“Okay,” I agree. He glides one finger through my pussy, and I shiver.

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