Page 26 of Her Painter Bear Mate

She swam to shore, her movements growing more sluggish as more of her fur got wet and heavy. Luckily, Dee pushed the dog onto the grass and heaved herself out, looking absolutely drenched and miserable.

Clarissa dragged herself out, glad to be out of the lake’s grip. She shifted back and the cold really hit her now she no longer had her fur to insulate her.

A few steps away, Millie shook the water off of her, spraying them with ice cold droplets. Her tail vibrated from the motion as she trotted away, mostly unphased by the whole thing.

Typical.

“Fucking dog,” Dee cursed, mostly sounding terribly relieved. She turned around, her mouth falling open when she realised Clarissa was absolutely naked. “T-Thank you for helping. I, umm, god, you must be freezing. Take my coat!”

“I’m fine,” Clarissa assured her, clumsily using her scarf to dry her and pulling her clothes back on. “I’m more worried about you, you’re going to get sick.”

“I’ll be okay, it's only twenty minutes back to my house.”

“It’s only five to the craft store,” Clarissa said. “You and Millie can warm up there.”

Surprisingly, Dee nodded without protest. Their eyes locked and the gratitude was clear on Dee's dripping wet face. There was something else too, the slightest hint of panic setting in as the realisation sank in of what just happened.

It didn't matter if they hadn't done the ritual on the beach, they'd jumped in the sacred lake on the night of the crescent moon.

Whether they liked it or not, both had just partaken in the fated mate ceremony.

FIFTEEN

Dee

Dee couldn't stop shivering as she entered the flat above the craft store. Even though she'd had the good sense of keeping her coat dry, she'd used it to keep Millie warm instead. Stupid silly dog.

They'd never figured out what she was choking on either.

"Here." Clarissa handed her a large beach towel, her voice reduced to a whisper. "For Millie I'll crank the heating up. If you could just be quiet, my dad is sleeping already."

With a grateful nod, Dee crouched down to dry the spaniel who was entirely oblivious to the panic and inconvenience she'd just caused. She rumbled when her ears were dried and pressed herself more into the towel, totally pleased with herself.

Bork didn't seem to understand why Milli was getting all the fuss and put his paw on Dee's arm, begging for attention.

"You don't need drying," she said, but she did scratch him under his chin. Just to be fair.

The sound of bare feet behind her made Dee look up and she found Clarissa standing over her in just her underwear and a towel slung over her shoulder. There was a softness to her body that made Dee gulp and she felt herself grow a few degrees hotter.

She was reminded of seeing Clarissa fully naked and now that she was no longer panicked, she could really appreciate the image. And that wasn't all Dee had seen, she also got to witness Clarissa’s bear form. She’d felt it more than she saw when she had grabbed hold of her. It had been such a reassuring presence, so safe.

"Towel for you," Clarissa said, drawing her back to the present. "If you want to take a hot shower first, you're very welcome to."

Dee hesitated, her gaze still fixated on Clarissa's bare midriff. It was smooth with slight dimples and dips, only made more appealing by the low light and the faint shadows. She looked like a marble statue come to life with that fierce red hair of hers.

"Dee?" Clarissa prompted.

"Sorry, yes, I will take you up on the shower," Dee said, eager to put some distance between the two of them before her inappropriate thoughts got even more out of hand. She was halfway across the room before she realised she didn't know where she was going.

"Second door on the right. You can use my shampoo and stuff," Clarissa said, quietly chuckling. There was a smugness resting on her lips that suggested she was well aware of the staring.

Dee practically fled to the bathroom, grateful to be putting a locked door between them. Her heart was pounding and not just from the events of the night. If she wasn't freezing cold, she might've taken a cold shower right here and now. Instead, she twisted the hot water all the way up and filled the bathroom with steam.

She lathered her hair with Clarissa's shampoo and the fresh citrus fragrance of neroli and bergamot surrounded her. She tried not to think too much about it when she ran her hands over her body to distribute the soap. That didn't stop the slight tingle zipping through her body when she brushed past her nipples or slipped her hand between her legs. She didn't know where her arousal had come from, she definitely didn't remember ever looking at Clarissa like that. Then again, it had been near ten years since they saw each other and both their bodies were very different now. No longer awkward gangly self-conscious teenagers but women with all the right curves to go with it.

Dee pushed the thoughts away and rinsed, hopeful that would put an end to her wandering thoughts. She only remembered how soaking wet her clothes were once she picked up her shirt. No matter the situation, she couldn't put those back on. Instead, she wrapped the towel around her body, glad that it was big enough to cover everything.

Back in the living room, Clarissa was waiting on one of the sofas with Millie sleeping at her feet and Bork curled up against her.

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