Page 64 of Trusting Her Bear

“Where is she?” Bash asks.

“With Sally,” I answer.

His eyebrows shoot up. “Interesting choice,” he says. “I can send Marie to protect her. She likes Sally.”

“Thank you,” Steph says.

“Kade and Cash, continue to monitor the area. I’m taking Steph to the apartment.” I stand. “Can I trust the three of you to play nice?” I look from innocent face to innocent face.

“We are not children,” Heath hisses.

Micah rolls his eyes. “We will be fine. Take care of your mate.”

I toss the drive to Bash. “Bash, I’ll leave them and the office in your hands.” I wait for his nod before pulling Steph out of the room.

I hope the building is still standing in the morning.

As I lie in the closet waiting for Steph to come out of the bathroom, I think about the events of the day.

What a fucked-up mess.

The guilt that lives in my chest for bringing this crap into Steph’s life is almost suffocating. After all the shit she has been through, she doesn’t deserve to be tormented more. I would never forgive myself if something happened to her, and I wouldn’t be able to go on.

In the work I did, I had to lock down my emotions. I had to appear calm at all times and show nothing of the rage or hurt I felt deep inside. I couldn’t give the sick fucks an indication of weakness. My friends may have thought I was emotionless, but it was all a lie. Whoever is doing this knows I have a weakness. My mate is the one person who I would do anything to protect.

It causes an uncomfortable sensation in my gut to leave most of the search to the people around me, but the most important thing is to be close to Steph. I have been around long enough to have learned from the couples here. At some point, their mate is left alone. And shit hits the fan. I will not join their ranks.

And it’s not a hardship to be with my mate. My bear has been clawing at my chest, impatient to claim her, mark her, and horde her to ourselves. He wants to run with her in our other forms; doing so is another form of bonding. I have succeeded in holding him back, but I don’t know how much longer I can.

As my Little Cub leaves the bathroom, slowly walking toward me, tonight might be the night I can’t hold back.

She is wearing my shirt.

I have kept my jeans on each night, foolishly hoping the fabric will somehow quell my urges. I have used my skill of keeping everything locked inside every minute I have been with her, just as she has used her neck-to-toe pajamas to keep the demons at bay.

Something has changed.

I watch her slide to the floor beside me, my eyes the only thing on my body tracking her progress, afraid if I move, I won’t be able to stop taking her. Her heat washes over me, the scent strong and only getting stronger the closer she is.

“Do you know what it does to a man to see their women in their clothes?” I ask silkily.

“What?” she asks softly as she rolls to her side, her arm draped over her hip.

“I think you know.” I turn my head. “Do you need something, Little Cub?”

“Are you tired?” she asks instead of answering.

I smile slightly. “I am not.”

“Hmm…” Her fingers drum on her thigh, and I fight the laugh that wants to burst out.

She’s fucking adorable. “You are taking everything really well.” Unless she is hiding her emotions just as I am.

“You have the men you trust around you and Kade and Cash outside somewhere. I guess it gives me reassurance. Plus, you are here.” She looks down at my body and the heat blazes.

“I am here.” I turn. “If I ease your heat, I will be doing it with my cock,” I warn. “I’m going to fuck you my way. Every movement will be because I demand it. If you want something else, you will ask Daddy nicely, and maybe I will grant your wish. If something scares you or makes you uncomfortable, you say your word or stop. We will talk. Do you understand?”

“Yes,” she says, the air strong with her arousal.

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