Page 17 of Trusting Her Bear

Chapter Four

Quinn

Ikeep my eyes shut while my mate slowly moves closer when all I want to do is pull her under my body and fuck her.

I came late to the party simply because I didn’t want to go. I did make a promise and I like to keep them. Her scent hit me the second I opened the door. Her beauty and pureness struck my battered heart.

It was easy to see the past that haunts her, even if I didn’t know her story. I have heard what she went through and respected the strength of the woman before I met her. No one in this crew can keep a secret except me. I will go on as if I don’t know and let her tell me when she wants to. I understand more than most how hard it is to voice the shit that has shaped us.

I hold still while she climbs under the blankets. Her hand reaches under her pillow for the knife I left there. If it made her feel safe, there was no reason to move it. She fiddles with the blankets for a moment. I give her time to adjust and fall still.

“Are you cold?” I ask when I feel her tremble. I open my eyes when I sense her gaze.

“I—” she starts.

“You can tell me,” I encourage.

“I am always cold now,” she says softly.

“Thank you for telling me.” I roll to my side. “Will you let me warm you?”

“How?” she asks.

I slide my arm under the blanket and across her waist. She gasps as I pull her partially under my body, my leg settling between hers and my free hand curling over her head, cupping the opposite side of her pillow. My head rests beside hers, my mouth at her ear.

“Better?”

She clears her throat twice before saying, “Yes.”

“From now on, if anyone wants to get to you, they will have to go through me.” I squeeze her hip. “I am not easy to defeat. Do you believe me?”

“I do.”

“Good. Now sleep, Little Cub,” I whisper.

It is torture to smell my mate and the need that is demanding me to ease. I don’t show anything I feel on the inside with any expressions on the outside. I’m sure she has enough emotions going through her; she doesn’t need mine. I know what she needs and will do whatever I have to to give it to her.

Her breathing deepens, and her body slowly relaxes. She needed me to give her permission and provide a safe environment to sleep. I don’t mind sleeping in a closet. I have slept in much worse places. I actually like being in a small room, as long as she is with me. I’m sure she locked the closet door last night, but I noticed she didn’t close it tonight.

I noticed many things about my mate right away. She likes the light; all the lights were on when we entered. Her hand shook as she turned off the one in the bathroom; my command was the only reason she flipped the switch. She is obsessed with locks, and her eyes constantly went to them in the short time we have been here. I wasn’t surprised at her confession of being cold. It's warm in the room, and she has the heat on in the apartment, but she chooses to wear winter pajamas. Bears run hot like most shifters. We love wearing as little as possible but cover ourselves with blankets. I usually sleep naked, but I settled for taking off my shirt.

I don’t want to scare my mate. But I also want to push her. Push her to see she is capable of living how she wants and without fear.

I deal with women who have been abused every day. I hear their stories and their desire to move on from their abusers. It is not an easy road. They live for so long within the confines of their abuser's limitations. I strive to have the resources to help them heal. I know human and shifter therapists, depending on who needs help. It is rare to have shifters come to me for help, though. The main reason is that if they are in a relationship, their mate would never treat them the way human men treat their partners. It would physically hurt me to do anything bad to my mate. Of course, there are exceptions. Not every shifter is a good person, just as every human isn’t.

I don’t know what else the men who forced her into the cage did to her, and until I do, I have to tread carefully. Steph’s body and her bear may be ready to mate me in every way, but her mind isn’t.

I need her trust.

I have done things in my life that I am not proud of. I might not be worthy of a mate, but I don’t care. The universe decided to gift me with one, and I won’t give her up.

My grip tightens.

She belongs to me, and I will do whatever I have to to tie her to me, to need me forever.

I am wide awake when my mate starts to squirm. We are in the same position we fell asleep in. I can feel her heat on my leg. Her forehead is dotted with sweat. She licks her lips as her eyes flutter open.

“Morning, Little Cub,” I rasp.

---