Page 43 of Bear Strength

We are both interrupted by a voice that belongs to someone who also makes my heart go aflutter. I pull away from Wagner, wiping the corner of my lips. I blush wildly, looking at my feet, so I almost miss seeing the wide grin on Mason’s face.

“I didn’t mean to interrupt,” Mason lifts his hands in a mock gesture of surrender. “But, Guns needs you. His exhaust pipe isn’t working right.”

I see Wagner nod at me, as his fingers caress the side of my cheek, then he leaves me alone with Mason. We both hear the front door open, then close. I wonder how come I didn’t hear it before. Probably because I was too busy kissing Wagner.

“I’m sorry, I…” I start.

“What are you sorry for?” Mason wonders, looking puzzled.

“We just…”

“Kissed?” Mason ends my sentence, chuckling sweetly. “Is that what you’re apologizing for?”

“Well...” I feel so confused, like a school girl talking to her long time crush.

“Oh,” he suddenly nods, “you think because we kissed, I’d be upset with you?”

“Um, you aren’t?”

I swallow heavily. What kind of a game is he playing?

“Not one bit. I sometimes forget you’re just human.”

“Just human?” I take offense at this, but I try not to show it. It shows. My cheeks reveal it all too plainly.

“Don’t take it as an insult, darling,” he laughs heartily. “Humans are still enforcing monogamy onto each other. I mean, there’s nothing wrong with that, if both parties agree. Usually, only one party agrees, and the other wants to explore more.”

“So, you like to be free to fool around?” I snort, still offended.

“Fool around? Absolutely not,” he shakes his head fervently. “I think you’re missing my point completely.”

“Then, do explain,” I snort again.

“Alright,” he is still chuckling softly. “I’m not talking about fooling around, as you called it. I’m talking about polygamy, as opposed to monogamy. It’s non-constraining, allowing you to be with other people at the same time, loving them all equally, and no one feels like they are being cheated on.”

Somewhere deep down, my heart reacts wildly to his words. This is what I want. Unable to make a decision between these three men, these three shifters who all seem to fill a different void in me, wouldn’t it be the best decision just to be with all of them at the same time, loving them, sharing my all with them?

But, that’s not right. That’s not what I’ve been taught. What would others think of me?

“You’re having a battle of morals, aren’t you?” Mason winks at me.

“What do you mean?” I ask, but I know well what he’s referring to.

“You were taught to only love one person. All humans are taught this. Some of you figure it out on your own that it’s perfectly alright to love more people, as long as everyone knows exactly what’s going on.”

I blush even more hearing his words. He’s right. That is exactly how I’m feeling.

He walks over to me, cupping my chin with the tips of his fingers.

“So, don’t worry,” he smiles. “If you were mine, I would love you, but you would be free to be who you want to be. No restraints.”

With those words, he kisses me passionately, my lips parting, our tongue twirling, dancing. My fingers clutch at him,desperately. I never want him to let go. I never want to let go. We kiss for what seems to be a small eternity, when his hands suddenly pull away.

“If we keep this up, I can’t promise to stop,” he tells me.

I don’t want him to stop. Ever. But, instead of saying this, I just nod. He’s right. This isn’t the time or the place.

“Let’s see what Dom and Adrian are up to,” I hear him say, and I rush to follow him outside.

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