Page 75 of Choose the Bears

He would’ve had to. I saw in my mind’s eye the way he’d picked up Phil like he was a doll, then tossed him to one side.There was no way a man could have that kind of power at his disposal and not be able to eradicate all possible threats.

“We’re working on it, but it's nothing you need to worry about.” I caught Asher staring at my plate. “So eat up. You spent all of this time making a delicious meal for everyone else. It wouldn’t be fair if you didn’t get to enjoy it.”

My cheeks flushed, feeling a rush of pleasure at that compliment, and maybe that’s what had me spiking a potato and taking a bite. Suddenly, I wanted what everyone else was having. I chewed through my meal with surprising speed, hunger roaring up from somewhere hidden, not letting me stop when I was full. I groaned, feeling the way the waistband of my yoga pants were forced to stretch tight and yet… one look at Lucas, at all of them, evoked another hunger.

What would’ve happened if Kyle hadn’t interrupted? How far would Lucas and I have gone? Would’ve I have risen up on his lap so he could pull my tights off, then sank back down on the thick, hard cock I’d felt as we made out? Would the lurid colours of all of those horrific videos played across my skin as we celebrated all the physical and emotional beauty two people can conjure with a whole lot of consent and a little love? Would Kyle have opened the door anyway, slinking in, watching us, not the sick shit on the screen, with hungry eyes? Would he have told me I was doing a very good job of pleasing his friend, right before he tilted my head his way?

I’d remember his kisses then too, have them stored away inside my head, a precious memory I’d bring out every time I was bored, tired, or hurting. I’d curl myself around them like a dragon, hoarding each one. The idea played out in my head as the silence stretched on, and this time their stare? It took on a whole other cast. Maybe they saw it, because I was only just starting to see it myself. Before I was hurting too much, too scared, too harassed, too overwhelmed, but this place? Itdid more than just make me feel safe. By protecting me from Phil, from Mike, from the whole world, it allowed me to feel something I wasn’t sure I’d ever feel again.

Desire.

I wanted to know where things would’ve gone. I wanted a locked door and a better place than the server room, but more than that, I wanted to go right back to where Lucas and I were before we were rudely interrupted. That decided, I got to my feet.

“Better get started on these dishes,” I said, but when I went to collect them one handed, the guys swept in.

“We’ve got this,” Lucas assured me. “You should be resting your hand.”

“Or…”

I didn’t ask Mike out and rarely was the one to initiate sex. It wasn’t due to lack of confidence but more because I never got a chance to. No matter how shit things were between us, even minutes after we were screaming at each other, he was down to fuck with startling regularity. I spent most of my time trying to say no and then justify that, which just caused more arguments, so right now, I felt nervous as hell. Then my eyes met Lucas’, I saw a curiosity there, but most of all a hunger, one he was trying so hard to keep down. His eyes dropped down to my mouth, catching the way he’d left them swollen, before forcing them back up again.

“Or we could work together to get them done quicker.” My words came out fast, because if I paused for a second, I’d lose my nerve. “Then you could show me those comics you were talking about.”

My heart sank as he just blinked. Right then I was sure I’d misread the situation, though how does one explain spontaneous boners any other way? As I began kicking my own arse for even suggesting this, he grinned.

“Of course,” he said. “I’d love that.”

The sigh I let out as we went to work came from the very depths of my soul. I might not be cool and dressed in black leather like my book heroines, and the hot guy I kept eyeing wouldn’t turn into some wild animal, but a cute boy that blushed every time I spoke to him? Yeah, I could get into that.

Chapter 39

Lucas

“You need to tell her,” Kyle hissed the minute Imogen walked into the cool room carrying uneaten food in one hand. “She needs to know before you ‘show her your comic books.’”

“I thoughtwewere going to talk to her about this?” I replied, dragging out the dishwasher rack and then stacking the plates.

“She doesn’t want to hang out with us.” Asher was trying to keep it all under wraps, but I saw it, the way he eyed the cool room door with not a little longing. “She wants to hang out with you.”

“And after I organised that really awesome finger painting session too.” Kyle looked thoughtful before shrugging. “But apparently digital forensics are a turn on for her. Are you going to play white hat hacker and maiden in distress? Pretend that she’s been hacked by some shitty cartel and all her nudes are about to be leaked if you don’t step in?”

“There’s something seriously wrong with you,” I whispered in a hoarse voice. “You’re talking about…”

Something I’d spent my life preparing to do, but really, in the back of my mind, I never saw myself being the one who tookpoint on this. Kyle wouldn’t shut up ever, so I assumed he’d spill the beans, or Asher?—

“Being honest with our mate,” he said, staring me down with those freaky eyes that seemed to see right into your soul. “Set the tone for our relationship going forward.” He swallowed hard. “Give her the choice between…”

He didn’t get to finish that sentence because Imogen walked back out.

“Are you guys washing the dishes or having another one of your meetings?” she asked, cocking her hip.

“You guys should go.” Asher looked at me then her. “Kyle and I have got this.”

And I had a far more important job to do than wash dishes. I tried to swallow the lump in my throat but failed.

“My comic book collection awaits,” I said, offering her my hand. Not sure if she caught it, but the slight tremor had my forearm tensing, so I barely felt it when her hand landed on it.

“Take me to see Batman and Robin,” she said, her touch feeling like it seared my skin. “Do you read them?”

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