Page 22 of Her Embarrassed Bear Mate

"I just ran into your mum in the hallway and..." Veronica whimpered. "She tripped and practically flashed me. She wasn't naked except for what was clearly sexy underwear to seduce my dad. Eww, I never want to say that out loud again!"

Alix made a similar noise of disgust. "I'm sorry you had to see that. I wish I was surprised but the amount of times I've seen my mum in her night time underwear or strange men in boxers is too many to count. There's only so much privacy in a campervan."

Somehow, Veronica was even more horrified. "That's not okay."

"Oh, I know. But it's not like I have the power to stop her. That's why I slept over at my friend’s house so much. There was always tasty food, a big table todo homework, and no unfortunate incidents." Alix was silent for a bit. "Just so you don't get a horrible impression of her, she didn't do this when I was a child. It was only when I was a teenager and more independent that she stopped being discreet. Or maybe she just couldn't cope with the loneliness anymore after Dad died."

It still wasn't okay but now Veronica felt bad for a different reason. It didn't stop her being horrified and still suspicious of Dianne's true motives of going after her dad but it wouldn't hurt to give the woman a little more grace.

“I didn’t realise your dad was dead,” she said softly.

“He died when I was seven. I don’t have a lot of memories of him and Mum never talked about him much.”

Veronica took her first real step away from the door and leaned against the desk, her arms crossed in front of her chest. She wasn’t wearing anything under her shirt either and it was cold in the room. “I’m sorry. So Trixie is…?”

“She’s technically my half-sister but I don’t see her that way. To me, she’s just my little sister.”

Veronica smiled. “That’s sweet.”

“My mum tried her best to look after Trixie but I think she was overwhelmed and exhausted from being a single parent for so long. I helped out a lot, looking after Trixie and the house while she found ways to blow off steam.”

“Is that what you think she’s doing with my dad? Blowing off steam?” Veronica asked as she pushed herself away from the hard edge of the desk. It was digging into the small of her back and cutting into her skin.

“I don’t know. She’s had serious boyfriends before but this is the first time she’s gotten engaged. I don’t really know what she’s doing.” Alix let out a long sigh. “So what’s the deal with your dad?”

Veronica pointed at the end of the bed. “Can I?”

“Sure.”

She sat down, careful to leave enough space between them. “I don’t know what’s going on with my dad, if I’m being honest. I know him and mum weren’t happy in their marriage but it wasn’t always like that. I certainly have lots of memories of us all being one happy family. Or at least, that’s how it always seemed to me.”

The sheets moved as Alix pulled her knees up. “When did they get divorced?”

Veronica gulped. “They’re actually still in the process.”

“Oh.”

“Yeah… I don’t agree with the way my dad has jumped into a new relationship but the worst part is the way he’s talking about his marriage and the past. He keeps saying how it was such a mistake to marry mum and how he should’ve left much sooner. It’s like he regrets it all, including us.” Veronica hadn’t meant to share so much but all her feelings of inadequacy were lurking just beneath the surface.

The fabric of the sheets rustled again. Alix shuffled closer and put her hand on Veronica’s bare arm, the kindness and pity evident in the gentle touch.

“I’m sorry,” Alix whispered. She was so close, her breath tickled the side of Veronica’s face. “I’m really sorry that he’s making you feel that way and for the part we’re playing in that.”

“It’s not your fault.” Veronica turned her head, only realising then how close Alix was sitting next to her. Shoulder to shoulder, Alix's hand on her arm, the darkness of the room. It was unexpectedly intimate and reminded her of the first night they met. There was a good reason she’d poured her heart out to a virtual stranger and it was Alix's ability to really engage and listen.

At that moment, Veronica was secretly glad that Alix was Dianne’s daughter. Without this weird engagement, she might never have someone as wonderful and caring as her.

Affection surged through Veronica and she felt herself lean in closer. It was probably a bad idea to kiss Alix. They were barely wearing any clothes, their parents were getting married, they didn’t even know each other all that well. None of that stopped Veronica as she inched closer and closer until there was no distance left. Even in the darkness of the room, her lips found Alix's with ease. They were soft and warm and parted without hesitation, only drawing Veronica in more. Her breathing grew heavier as the kiss deepend and she let her hand roam down Alix's body. The thin shirt ended around Alix's thighs and from there on, it was all just smooth soft skin.

Eagerly, Veronica moved so she could straddle Alix. With every kiss and touch, her body got hotter. It was making her head spin and she could feel the desire tingling between her legs. There was only one way to satisfy that feeling and that was by finally doing all the things she’d wanted to do since the first night they met.

The bed creaked loudlyand both of them froze. The walls were thin and the loud noise was like reality hitting them over the head.

Veronica was the first to regain her senses. “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have done that.”

Much to her disappointment, Alix agreed. “You’re right. The situation is complicated enough already.”

That was an understatement.

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