Page 56 of Consider The Lilies

“My apologies. I didn’t think you’d have company.” Bear’s gaze flickers between me and Yuki. I duck my head, hiding behind my hair. “You have curly hair,” he says to me, almost as if amazed.

I touch my long tresses, realizing he’s never seen it outside of a bun or a braid. It’s a little funny that he’s focused on something so silly right now. Especially with Yuki’s lush body on display.

“Do you need something?” Yuki sits up, bending one knee and resting one arm on it. She looks so relaxed like this in front of Bear. I get it. They’re lovers and best friends, but it’s still weird to see her so naked with someone else in the room.

“Bear?” Yuki says to the distracted alpha, her tone edging a little more annoyed. “I’m busy.”

Bear narrows his dark eyes at me. I can practically see the gears in his mind turn. “Didn’t Jack forbid us from fucking Lucy?”

I snap my head up. “What?” I hold the blanket a little tighter to my chest. “Me?”

“Yes.” Bear’s gaze drifts down to my chest. I hold the blanket a little tighter, torn between excitement and unease at him seeing me like this. “We aren’t allowed to fuck key members of the staff. Not after Yuki screwed the head chef a few years back.”

He turns his attention to the she-alpha, but Yuki’s expression doesn’t change. She’s still as hard as ever. I wish I had her ability to hide my feelings.

“He fell in love with her,” Bear continues, “then quit when she didn’t want to run off with him. Stanley was so pissed.” He lets out a quick snort. “The bastard still complains that he’ll never have steak au poivre that good ever again.”

Shocked, I look at Yuki. “You never told me that.”

“I told you about Avin,” she says like it’s no big deal.

“No,” I say, not amused by her breezy attitude. “I meant the rule.Notyour past lovers.”

Yuki shrugs, clearly not bothered by any of this. “Forbidden fruit is the sweetest.” She smirks, and I’m immediately annoyed with the she-alpha. But I don’t want to have that conversation in front of Bear.

“Are you going to tell Mr. Stanley about us?” I ask the bearded-alpha.

“Fuck no,” Bear practically barks. “I’m in enough trouble as it is.” His hands settle on his belt. “I’ll be damned before I volunteer to be the bearer of bad news.”

“Yeah,” Yuki laughs, “Stanley told me about your punishment.” Her pointed gaze drops to Bear’s crotch, and my mouth falls open. His cock is incredibly hard, tenting his pants. “Have you been walking around like that all day?” She smiles as if loving it.

“There’s nothing I can fucking do about it,” Bear snarls as if angry that Yuki even brought it up. “And it doesn’t help that there are two gorgeous naked women in front of me.”

I duck my head at his compliment, suddenly feeling very shy.

“What the hell do you want, Bear?” Yuki’s voice rises, done with this conversation. “I’m trying to fuck here.”

“I wanted to thank you for helping to protect Stefan.” Bear covers his heart, speaking with so much genuine emotion. “I know you aren’t thrilled about him being here, but I appreciate what you did.” His eyes flicker to me, then back to Yuki. “But now I’m thinking you weren’t really trying to protectStefan.” He smirks, waiting for the she-alpha to react.

Yuki glares. “My goal was to protecteveryonewho couldn’t fight for themselves,” she says forcefully. “IncludingStefan.” She sits a little taller, squaring her shoulders. “I might not be thrilled with the way he joined our pack, but I’m still an alpha.” She narrows her dark eyes at Bear. “But I’ll be damned if an omega gets hurt on my watch.” The fierce way she speaks makes my heart flutter.

She’s going to be so good with Stefan…assuming she gives the omega a chance.

“I was happy you were there,” I say, reliving everything that happened on that porch. “For a second there, I thought Stefan was going to start fighting too,” I say, remembering how tense his body was as we moved. He was guarded but calm at the same time.

“You thoughtStefanwas going to fight.” Yuki snorts. “Are you kidding me?”

I quickly shake my head, eager to tell her. “Once the fighting started, Stefan pushed me behind him without even having to think about it. He shielded me from being able to see anything while he dragged me to the door.” I shudder as I remember the angry growls and hard punches that cut the air.Thank goodnessI didn’t see anything.“He moved like he knew exactly what to do.” I don’t bother hiding how impressed I am. “And all I wanted to do was cry.”

“Really?” Yuki screws up her face, clearly struggling to believe me. “Stefan did that?”

“He did,” I say, praying she sees how amazing the omega is. He’s so tender and sweet but strong at the same time.He’s like no one I’ve ever met before.

“I saw them.” Bear crosses his muscular arms across his chest. His pecs pop out, resting on his forearms. “I wasn’t happy about it,” he says. “Stefan shouldn’t have used himself as a shield.”

Yuki’s body tenses, and she leans forward. “You’d rather Lucy put herself between him and the fight?” She sounds pissed. “Lucy is half his fucking size.”

Bear’s mouth pulls into a tight line, glaring right at the she-alpha. “I'm not sure why you’re yelling atme,” he says, not having any of Yuki’s attitude. “Stefan is an omega, and Lucy is a tiny beta.” His dark eyes flicker to me. “Neither one of them should have been there.”

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