Page 62 of Regally Binding

Bear shrugged as she placed a square of chocolate in her mouth.

Bear brushed a broom softly against the floor while explaining that the bomb threats had come in after she spoke on stage. They’d checked the building, and while Bear got her out, they’d learnt the hotel was at risk.

Liss pulled her hair like butterfly wings to tighten her ponytail. Dark waves cascaded down her back. He watched every movement.

“Strike found a suspicious guy in the palace cellar during one of his sweeps, and security is interviewing him now.”

Bear sunk to the chair in front of where she remained on the table and wrapped his hands around her calves before pulling her closer to him. She sighed as she stared into his eyes.

“So what now?” she asked, her eyes dropping to his creased shirt. “What can I do?”

“Nothing,” Bear replied. His hands remained on her calves, warming her skin. “We have to wait and see what everyone finds. My aim is always to keep you safe. So we brought you here, which is a first for this house. No one will find you here, and we trust you to keep this place secret when this is over.”

Bear closed his eyes and puffed out a breath. He was weary too. She shifted closer, and inadvertently, his hands slid to her thighs under her dress.

“It’s been a long day,” she said.

He nodded slowly, looking back up at her. “That it has, Liss.”

“And I’m sorry for shouting at you in the palace.” His brows knitted together. “When I said you had your walls up and wouldn’t know how to be anyone’s boyfriend.”

Bear shrugged. “I’ve had worse.”

“But not from me. Not like that.”

“It’s okay. Last night was a lot for you. And I was being overprotective. I’m sorry. I wanted to keep you safe, but I didn’t need to be a controlling dick about it.” They smiled softly at each other. They’d survived their first proper argument. “How’s your arm?”

She waggled it. “Better.”

He raised an eyebrow. Liss fought the temptation to flatten it. “And how is your head?”

Her gaze soured. “I wish I hadn’t drunk so much.”

His fingers stroked her thighs as he smiled. “You were sozzled.”

Liss pulled away in an attempt to kick him, but Bear held firm. Her belly ached at his touch. “Will Strike bring Isla here if he finds her?”

Bear looked away. “Probably not. We want to keep her safe, but you’re our priority.”

The clock above the oven drew her attention. All they could do was wait. Bear continued his strokes, and her legs trembled under his palms. Liss had been selfish at the palace, only caring about herself, and Bear was right. She was drunk.

“You’re thinking too hard,” he uttered as he squeezed her thighs.

She glared. “I need a distraction. I can’t keep sitting here when my friend may be injured and while that guy is interviewed.” She pulled herself out of Bear’s grasp and jumped off the table. She strode back and forth across the kitchen floor, her dress dancing around her legs.

“There might still be shards of glass,” Bear shouted, but Liss continued to pace and wring her hands together.

She might be trapped forever. Her future couldn’t involve friends because her choices put them at risk.

Bear reached to still her, but she ducked away. She scratched at her arms. “There’s no point holding me still. If I stop pacing, then I’ll fall apart. I can’t believe someone wants me and my friends dead. I don’t want to cry anymore. I need to know if Isla is safe. Please distract me, Bear.” Her shakes were uncontrollable now, and her throat was closing.

Bear wrapped his arm around her waist to hold her still. He chewed at his lips. Her pulse was rising. “I can only think of one way, but you won’t like it.”

She narrowed her eyes. “You’re going to try to kiss me while my friend is missing?”

“Of course not. I don’t need to touch you to distract you.” The depth of his voice tickled her skin like his thumbs had earlier. But his furrowed brow betrayed an uncertainty. “I want to ask you a question.”

Liss shrugged. How distracting could a question be? Was it a maths quiz? “Only if I get to ask you one,” she countered.

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