Page 74 of Trusting Her Bear

“You are listening?” I have been wrapped up in him.

“I have to do something to distract myself from your warmth and your scent.” He puts his mouth even closer to my ear; I feel his lips. “From my cock getting harder than it is.”

I shiver and lick my lips.

“Sis,” Gabby yells, and I jump. “We are going to dance.” I swivel my head, almost cracking my nose on Quinn’s chin, to see her hand in Sally’s.

“Bear, you should dance with your mate,” Sally says before bouncing away with my sister.

I grin, shaking my head.

“Do you want to dance?” Quinn asks.

I jerk back. “You don’t want to dance,” I state.

“That’s not what I asked.” He squeezes my hip.

“I—” I’m thrown. He doesn’t seem like the dancing type, and I haven’t had anything to dance about for a very long time.

“You do,” he says. He stands quickly, sliding my body off his lap and to my feet. My thigh burns from the slide of his hand. I watch him nod to Kade and Cash and then Micah.

“Quinn?” I don’t want to force him to do something he’s uncomfortable with.

“Little Cub, dance with me,” he whispers.

I stare at him wide-eyed. “Okay.”

He puts his hand on the small of my back and pushes. I stumble alongside him to the edge of the dance floor closest to our seats. He stops and positions his back to our friends. I stand frozen. My brain has stuttered to a halt, apparently forgetting how to move. The music is fast, and I’m not good at letting my body flow to that kind of beat.

“Relax,” Quinn coos.

He grabs my hand, places it on his chest, and covers it with his. His other arm wraps low on my hips, pulling me tight. He dips his head toward mine. My heart flutters.

“It’s fast,” I say helplessly.

“I don’t give a fuck,” he says. “This is the only way I dance.” He starts to sway, taking me along for the ride.

My throat closes, and tears glisten in my eyes. I drop my cheek to his chest, facing our joined hands and his chin over them.

Sometimes love isn’t a rush; sometimes it’s built, second by second, minute by minute, moment by moment. It flows slowly through you until you are consumed by it and the person you love.

The bond urges the fall but can’t force you to love. Our story is being nurtured by trust, understanding, and respect. Quinn needs my trust. We both need an understanding of our past and how it affects our present. I feel his respect.

“Quinn,” I whisper.

“Shhh…” He kisses my forehead. “Just feel Little Cub. I got you.”

He does. He holds my heart in his hands.

We pay no attention to the bodies around us. I see Gabby and Sally breezing by, and Sally takes out her phone. They giggle and dance away.

But I don’t care. All I care about is the man who holds me, the magic wrapping around us, the promise of a future with Quinn.

I stare at Quinn’s hand, gripping the steering wheel and trying to remain calm. I am really anxious to get home and jump him.

“See,” I say to distract myself. “Nothing happened.” We danced to several more songs in the same position, no matter what kind of music came on.

“It would have been stupid for them to try anything with so many of us there,” he says.

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