Page 28 of Choose the Bears

I could see it in the way she clawed him closer, as if scared he’d pull back, hungry for more. Hungry for something she had wanted for so long, but never got. I was content to watch them for hours, the second-hand pleasure making my whole body throb, right as Asher stepped forward. He noted the potatoesbubbling furiously and rather than step forward to sort them out, he broke the spell we were all under.

That no one else wanted to escape.

I shot Asher a dark look as Imogen moved away from a dazed and pleased Lucas, towards the sink, draining the potatoes as I moved belatedly to help.

“So is everyone good with stew and mashed potato?”

Her voice was somewhat shaky, making me wonder if Asher was right and we’d let things go too far, but that’s not what her scent said. The closer I got, the more that wonderfully sweet smell of honey washed over me.

“We’re good with whatever you feel comfortable with, Imogen.”

I hadn’t meant that to come out the way it did, low and growly, more bear than me, but when she looked up, I forgot to be self-conscious. I lost myself in the brown depths of her eyes, staring long past the point of being polite. Of course Asher couldn’t let that just happen.

“We haven’t finished playing.”

“What?” She turned away from me to face him.

“We’re not done,” Asher insisted. “There’s one more dare.”

“I’m pretty sure I’ve had enough truth or dare for tonight.” Her reply was prim, her eyes trained on the potatoes as she upended them back into the now dry pot. A dob of butter and some milk was added.

“So dare me.” Asher shook his head. “Dare us.” Her brows creased and I was this close to telling him to shut the fuck up, that he shouldn’t, couldn’t ruin this for us. “Dare us to take care of the meal tonight.”

“What? I can’t do that,” she said, looking through the grocery bags for a potato masher. “You’ve already installed a security system?—”

“A dares not supposed to be easily done,” I said because I started to see the wisdom of what Asher was saying. “Otherwise there’s no challenge.”

“So you want…?” She stared at each one of us as if we were aliens with three heads, not just shifters waiting for our chance. Unable to work out why we’d be so insistent on helping, she shrugged. “Sure, fine.” I watched her walk over to the dining table and sit down heavily. “But I’m doing the dishes.”

“I dare Kyle to do the dishes,” Lucas said with a cheeky grin.

“I dare you to help me,” I shot back.

That settled, we went to work. Asher mashed the potatoes, then went through with a fork, breaking up all the little lumps, then I spooned the mash into four bowls. Lucas added stew on top then brought her bowl over. She eyed the contents, then ours before frowning.

“Don’t you like stew?” She was half out of her seat before we could answer, noting we’d served ourselves much smaller portions. “If you didn’t like it, I could’ve made another meal.”

Imogen was about to go raking through the pantry, looking for something else, but I headed her off at the pass.

“It smells…” I sank my spoon into the soft mash and collected up some of the meat, taking a bite before groaning in pleasure. “And tastes incredible.”

“So do you guys have a dinner date later or…?”

“I didn’t know if you had made enough to last you a few meals,” I replied, trying to keep my tone light. People focussed on the emotional journey of leaving an abusive relationship but didn’t realise the financial one could be just as brutal.

“You…” She marched over to the kitchen, grabbing a chopping board and setting it down on the table, then hoisting the stock pot in the air and put it down between us. “I made dinner to say thank you, so having tiny little portions kind of defeats the purpose. Eat.”

That imperious tone, the way her dimple popped into view when her lips twisted into a smile, I liked that a whole lot. I could almost imagine her getting bossy about other things. I nodded in her direction, then dug my spoon in and tasted, only to taste heaven.

“Oh my freaking god…” Luc mumbled, and I felt a moment of solidarity. “This is?—”

“Amazing. Nectar of the gods.”

When I reached for the serving spoon, I discovered it’d be a fight for more. Lucas had the exact same idea, his eyes narrowing. I bared my teeth, careful not to reveal my fangs and he did the same until Imogen burst out laughing. She intervened, taking the spoon from both of our grips and then filled our bowls with the savoury dish. Herbs, the umami of lamb, celery, carrots, it all burst on the tongue, cut through with the almost sweetness of the mashed potato. I ate mouthful after mouthful until I found myself scraping the bottom of the bowl in an attempt to summon more.

“Grandma Helen’s recipe never fails,” Imogen said.

“Is there anything else you need done?” I looked the place over quickly. “Hinges lubricated? A dripping sink fixed? Anything for more food like that.”

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