Page 28 of Driven Wild By The Grizzly

And there’s Ethan, my mate, standing in the middle of my living room. Arms hanging loose at his sides, feet apart. Gloriously naked.

So big and powerful and sexy.

“Oh my god.” I rush to him.

He clasps my hands briefly and plants a kiss on my forehead. “Just let me get dressed.” He dives through the front door, and he’s back in a moment, wearing his familiar jeans and wifebeater.

I run into his arms and press my head against his chest. “Thank you, thank you,” I say. “Kevin was about to drag me away.”

Ethan snarls and looks for Ricky, who’s slumped against the wall.

“He did his best. But there were six of them, and they all had guns,” I explain.

Ricky stands up, clutching his ribs and wincing. “Thanks,” he mutters grudgingly. But I know my brother, and he’s as impressed as hell.

“How did you know I needed help?” I murmur against Ethan’s chest.

He cradles my head in his massive hands. “I told you I’d never leave you unprotected, Jessica. And I had a bad feeling after we saw those bikers yesterday. So, I followed you back here.”

“But we were driving—” I break off. He ran on four paws. Of course, he did.

“You must’ve run like crazy.” As I look up at the man I love, wonder pours through me.

He shrugs. “I don’t remember it all that well. All I knew was I had to get to you.”

“We’re connected, aren’t we?” I say. “YouknewI was in danger.”

“Right here.” He presses my hand to his massive chest again, and I feel the deep rumble that’s already becoming so familiar to me.

“This is what being mates means.”

He nods. “You’re starting to get it.”

I stare at him and a shiver goes through me as finally, I understand. It’s not like boyfriends and girlfriends. It’s so much more than that. Being mates means being completely connected to one another, like you share the same soul.

And right now, all I want is to be alone with my incredible mate, in each other’s arms, reconnecting.

“Can we go back—?” I start to say, but a sound like a dying lawnmower starts up behind me.

Ricky is clearing his throat. Unsubtly. “I’m not real comfortable with this,” he says.

Annoyance bubbles up in me. “You’re still saying that, after Ethan just saved your ass?”

“No offence. I’m grateful and all for what you did.” He sighs. “But Jessica, can’t you find yourself a human boyfriend instead?”

I open my mouth to tell him it’s none of his business, but Ethan lays his hand on my shoulder.

“I get it, bro. You’re just trying to protect your sister, and that’s admirable. But I’m in love with her. We’re meant to be together.”

Ricky goggles. “Are you going to go live in the forest, like some crazy mountain woman, and quit washing and shit? You hadambitions, Jessica.”

I plant my hands on my hips. “Number one, Ethan has not one, but two showers at his cabin. And number two, he has wifi. Which is kinda important because he’s an app designer.”

Ricky plants his hands on his hips. “What have you designed?”

“You heard of Sick Rebellion?” Ethan says.

Ricky blinks several times. “You designed that?”

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