Page 115 of Choose the Bears

“Do you have any idea what it's like to know that there’s someone…?” I glanced left to see the rest of my mates arriving. “Someone who’ll always prioritise what I need. That will listen and care rather than smirk and dismiss me. That makes me feel seen.” I grabbed Luc’s hand, no, his claw, and held it tight. “You gave me all that and more with that library. I love it, Lucas. I love…”

I stepped over his threshold, but it felt like I was doing more than that. Shedding the me that had been and replacing her with someone else. An Imogen who had never been hurt, had no wounds to mend, was complete and whole in herself and because of that, she could offer that soul to another.

“I love you, Lucas.”

I was jerked closer then, into the darkness, the loud drumbeat competing with the rapid flutter of my heart as Lucas gazed down at me. Fur and fangs receded and so did his claws, his hand moving to stroke my face.

“I love you,” he said. “I’ve loved you since the moment I saw you and every day since. Each time we had to leave you behind felt like my soul was being ripped from my body. Of course I noticed what you liked. All I wanted to do was make you feel safe and secure and… loved.” He nodded at that. “And you did before, with Kyle. I didn’t mean to take off, but?—”

“You’d performed a really big act of service and Kyle took credit for it?” I suggested.

At that we both turned around to find the man himself holding up his hands.

“Hey, that was not deliberate. I was just…” Kyle shook his head. “Being a thoughtless dick, as per usual. Sorry about that, but that’s the kind of man you tied yourself to.”

“A good man,” I corrected, because right then the memory played inside my head of Kyle with those kids. “One that’s not always super self-aware, but a good man.” My focus shifted to over his shoulder where Asher stood in the background. “All of you are. That’s why it was so easy, all of it. To accept the bond.”

My neck throbbed just like my body did. Kyle had stirred the embers Asher created, but the only way they could be truly quenched was together.

“That’s what I need from you now.” I realised I’d gone about this all the wrong way. They didn’t need me to make anything or do anything for them, they just needed me. That I was the most valuable person in the room was such a strange feeling I was still trying to adjust it, but perhaps this would help. Lucas stared back at me, not the bear, though his beast still lurked there somewhere. “Complete me. Complete us. Complete our?—”

“Yes.” Lucas tugged me closer as the others entered the room. Dimly I was aware the music was turned off and the door was locked shut behind them as they followed us towards the bed. “Yes, fuck yes, Imogen. I’ve been waiting for this moment for so damn long and I…”

Words failed him and I understood why. As much as I loved books, sometimes there weren’t enough words to describe things. Instead, he just had to show me. His mouth crashed down on my lips, branding that first as the bite marks on my neck throbbed, and perhaps that’s what summoned Kyle forward. He shifted my hair, then brushed his lips against the marks.

“I…”

“No more talking,” I said, pulling Lucas back down, kissing him harder, faster, deeper, until he took over.

His lips seared a burning trail down my neck, his nipping little bites a foreshadowing of what was to come. My skin feltreddened, swollen, and sensitive right before he licked a stripe upwards.

“Luc…”

Whatever I had to say was choked off as he lunged forward with a feral growl, his claws pricking my arms. I was his, all his, and now he was going to formalise the process. Fangs bit into my neck, the link snapping into place, and that had my eyes opening, because I could feel all of them. Asher’s smug smile, Kyle’s reverence, and Lucas’… I blinked, barely able to believe it.

That’s what you were feeling?

A weird tumble of strength and insecurity, love and pain, along with a belief that I’d never really want him the way he was that was shoved aside by something bigger. Us. Lucas saw himself then the way I saw him. Tall, golden, strong, so very strong. Strong enough to be considerate, loving, sweet with me, right when I needed it. He gazed down into my eyes, his hands caressing my cheeks as we both felt what we meant to each other.

How important each one of us was.

So now that’s settled, can we get back to the good stuff?Kyle asked as he kissed my neck.

We’re having a moment here.Lucas’ reply was wry.

I can think of an even better way to spend our time.The bed dimpled and Asher crawled closer with all of the intensity of a hunting bear. Lucas let me go far enough that I could kiss his sleuth mate.Far, far better.

I smiled into his kiss, but that was quickly lost in the feel of Asher. The rasp of his stubble against my skin had my nerve endings awakening, rousing in anticipation and with good reason. Hands moved, sliding up my sides, balling my hair at my nape so my neck was free to be inspected, and each bite mark kissed with ponderous slowness, letting me know how this would be.

I’d wear their marks with pride, even if they had hurt to get. I’d have a reminder all over my neck of the bliss I experienced every time I was near them.

This is so much better.Kyle’s voice threatened to cut through the haze of Asher’s kisses.I can feel what you’re feeling, know exactly what you want. Like this.

My whole body jolted as I felt fingers pinch down on my nipples cruelly, but right as I was riding the sharp edge of pleasure, more hands moved. Sliding down the front of my yoga pants, fingers closing around my clit. They could synchronise things now that our minds were connected, working together to drag me to higher and higher heights of pleasure.

Like this.Lucas’ voice inside my head was completely different. Deep, masculine, and utterly confident, he knew exactly what he was doing as he pushed two fingers inside me.Here, right here.

“Yes…” I panted, feeling his fingers rake against that sensitive spot, but it would never be good enough. They could never reach far enough, deep enough, lock down hard enough to make me come. Instead, I was teased with the possibility of it, what it would feel like when one of them finally locked down inside me, and that’s where my mind went then. I pulled back from Asher, staring into his eyes, as I showed all three of them exactly what I wanted.

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