Page 34 of Cowboy Bear's Hope

But if I claimed her, I knew I’d never walk away. I couldn’t.

Did she know what she was saying?

“Look, I’m sorry. It’s okay if you didn’t mean what you said about claiming me before?—”

I stopped her with a hard kiss. I just couldn’t let her finish that sentence.

“Look at me, Honey. Hear my truth,” I said, testing the softness of her skin with my hands on her face and throat.

“Claiming you would be the honor of my life, Avery Brown.”

I tilted her head, kissing away the frown that had marred her pretty features.

I felt Avery’s smile then, and it was like pure sunshine.

Her hands slid up my arms, leaving a trail of goosebumps in their wake, as she clutched my shoulders.

I moved us both, sitting up with her in my arms. She wiggled her fantastic body, and I loosened my hold, allowing her to nudge me where she wanted me to go, which was sitting up with the sofa at my back and my legs straight in front of me.

“What are you doing?” I asked, my heart pounding like the entire Giants' drum line.

Fucking Giants. They really needed to do better at the draft this year.

But those thoughts left as suddenly as they appeared. Right then, football could go fuck itself.

All I ever wanted was finally within reach.

“I’m taking what I want, Dante,” Avery said.

And just like that, everything else faded away. Everything except her.

Mate.

She bit her lip, and straightened her shoulders, thrusting those gorgeous tits out as she placed herself pertly on my lap.

Saucy little minx.

I was powerless to stop her, even if I’d been so inclined—which I wasn’t.

Far as I was concerned, Avery could have anything and everything she wanted. If it was in my power to give it to her, I would. Period.

I was hers. Utterly and completely.

Mine.

My Bear growled. The beast was already wholly dedicated to her.

I saw our matebond every time I closed my eyes. It was already there.

I could feel it wrapping tightly around my heart, binding me to her for all eternity. But it wasn’t cloying or strangling me. Quite the opposite, actually.

Being with her put everything to rights. All the difficulties of my past. The problems I’ve had anchoring my Grizzly. They all faded around Avery.

She was my life, my reason for being. Denying it was futile.

Hell, at this point, biting her was a formality.

I moaned as she leaned forward, kissing my chest and teasing my nipple with her tongue. She licked her way to my ear, nibbling on the lobe and fuck, my cock leaked precum at the sensations running through me.

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