Page 34 of Regally Binding

Bear eased her into the car like a priceless jewel at risk of harm. “Comfortable?” he asked, locking eyes with her.

“Stop staring at me with your human lie detector techniques,” she replied, shifting her bum. The car smelt of leather and the body spray Bear was wearing. “I know what you’re doing. Just because you stare at me like that doesn’t mean you can tell if I’m lying. Also, I’m fine.”

He huffed, but there was a twinkle in his eyes too. “I’m checking that you’ll be okay until we get you to the hotel. I don’t want you in too much pain and for me to be the cause of it. Is that really too much to ask?”

She side-eyed him as the heat of his stare penetrated any lies she might offer. “My arm hurts, and I’m sore all over, but the sooner we get back to the hotel, the sooner I can get some painkillers,” she grunted.

He gave a nonsensical response and grabbed her seatbelt, leaning over her to click it in. His arm barely touched her, but at his proximity near her chest, she sat up in her seat. “Stop rubbing your tits against me,” he said gruffly.

“You’re the one touching them,” she sassed.

“If I were touching your tits, then you’d be moaning my name and begging me to touch every part of you,” he replied, still across her. He used humour to deflect anxiety too.

Liss pursed her lips. “That’s what they all say until you’re underneath them and they’re giving you the dullest five seconds of your life.”

He cupped her face and locked eyes with her. He could have kissed her in a dramatic Hollywood style, but he held her face gently and said, “Princess, I never do five seconds. When I’m with a woman, I take it slowly. I seduce her with words and then touch. I test and tease until I learn what she likes and what gets her soaking. I brush kisses to her neck.” He brushed her neck with the tip of his finger. “I run my tongue over her nipples and take her to heights she’s never experienced.”

Liss gulped as he ran his fingers carefully across her body. Maybe he used seduction to deal with anxiety too. She should try that the next time someone pushed her down the stairs.

Bear paused briefly where her vest dipped above her chest before running his fingers to the waistband of her leggings.

“Then, when I’ve brought her to the edge, I stop and leave her writhing and begging before I start again. I want her to come on my fingers, my tongue, and to play with her until she can’t take anymore.” His voice was deep enough to make her legs quiver.

He paused longer than the five seconds other men had pleasured her. Her previous words about mistakes flashed into her mind. He’d given her too long to think.

She shook her head, and he backed off. “Sorry,” he mumbled. “I need to learn better coping mechanisms for when I’m freaking out internally.”

Instead of asking if that was what had happened with Mazdy, she replied, “It’s okay. Let’s get back to the hotel.” She cradled her arm against her body.

“Liss?” Steve called from behind Bear. His eyes were wild with panic. “Are you okay?”

Bear turned to face Steve, holding him back with a hand against his chest as he tried to poke his head through the open door. Steve’s lips pinched as he attempted to push past him, but the strength behind Bear’s hand was enough to stop a tsunami.

“I’m fine, Steve,” Liss replied, shaking her head to push away the myriad of Bear-related thoughts that clambered for her attention. “Where were you? Why did you message me to tell me to come to the pub?”

Bear’s head whipped around, and he scowled at her with a fire she hadn’t seen before. He spoke slowly and clearly. “That’s why you came here?”

Liss pulled herself back up in the seat and took a deep breath.

Steve held his hands up in surrender. “I didn’t text you.”

“Yes, you did. You texted the burner Bear gave me. You put your name in the message,” she argued. Bear’s eyes narrowed in her direction.

Steve’s arms flailed as Bear continued to push him back. “How would I know that number?” His feet stuck in the ground as he tried to get traction, but it would take a truck to get past the might of an angry Bear. “Get off me, mate!”

“I’m not your fucking mate. You and me need to have words.” He turned to Liss and ensured her legs were tucked in the car. His chest rose and fell with rapid breaths. “And you, don’t you go anywhere.”

He slammed the door shut.

From the window, she watched as Bear pushed Steve back. It wasn’t hard enough to hurt him, as he’d have been on the floor if Bear decided so. Bear didn’t rant or scream, but his shoulders were tight and unmoving. Liss pressed the button to push the window down, but the car’s power was off.

Steve shook his head, and his arms danced. Every time he stepped further away, Bear stepped closer. Suddenly, Bear turned and glared at Liss before striding to the driver’s door. He opened it as he shouted at Steve, now frozen in place, “I’ll tell Liss that you were worried about her, but let me make something clear, I don’t fucking trust you.”

He slammed the door.

They’d made it halfway to the hotel before she spoke. His knuckles were white where he gripped the wheel, and even from her side-eye, she saw his skin was mottled.

“Get out of my fucking way,” he shouted at an old lady in a little red car.

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