Page 35 of Coveted By The Bear

I noticed Shifters didn’t seem keen on shaking hands, so I kept mine loose at my side. Well, except for the one that was holding onto Miles like a lifeline.

“Yep. That’s my name,” I murmured nervously.

“Let me walk you to the room where you’ll be waiting until we are ready for you,” Taylor said, motioning us to walk ahead of him.

“Won’t I be with Miles?” I questioned.

“It’s okay, Pretty Girl. They probably want to ask me about some stuff,” he rumbled, rubbing the back of his neck.

It was a gesture I was starting to recognize. One that meant he was uncomfortable or anxious. I leaned into his side, pressing my body against his.

Something else I noticed about Miles, or maybe it was Bear, but he seemed to calm down whenever I touched him.

I liked that. I mean, I really liked touching him, so it was good I had a reason to otherwise he might think I was crazy or something.

“You’ll be safe here,” Miles murmured, placing his hands on my waist and pulling me towards him as we entered a comfortable looking sitting room.

There were huge couches in a large circle with tiny side tables between them. A soft, clean area rug sat in the middle along with a Lego table and a few tiny tables and chairs. It looked like the kind of set up a preschool might have.

Five seconds later, I found out why.

“Okay, now, everyone grab a toy and sit down and play nicely while I get us some snacks,” an older woman with gentle looking blue eyes told a group of seven rambunctious toddlers.

“Clary, is something wrong with the playroom?” Taylor asked, eyebrows raised.

Three of the little cuties waved to him and called him Daddy, and I had to bite my lip to keep from laughing out loud. He was trying so hard to stay formal.

“Hey munchkins, you be good for Nana Clary now,” he chided, but he was grinning all the same. He turned to us and sighed. “Pardon me one second.”

“Hey, it’s okay,” he said, but I was still worried.

“I wish I could go in with you now,” I told him.

“Everything will be fine. Don’t worry. I will make it right,” Miles whispered, squeezing my waist where his hands still held me.

“I know. Miles?”

“Yeah?”

“Let’s go, Orson,” Daniel Devlin, the tough man from last night, the Head Enforcer, stuck his head out of a door and called to Miles.

“Shit. I gotta go, Hope,” he said, kissing my knuckle.

“Okay, yeah. Um, I love you, too.” I blurted just when he was about to turn around.

His blue eyes blazed with feeling.

“I know my timing sucks. But you said it before, and I never said it back. I just wanted you to know I do. I love you. And if they tell you that you can’t stay here, then that’s okay. I’ll go anywhere you want. As long as we’re together.”

Miles closed the space between us and pulled me tight against his body.

“I love you so fucking much, woman. I’ll try my best not to let that happen. Love you, Mate,” he said again, kissing me hard on the mouth before turning away and walking into that room where I couldn’t see him or hear him or anything at all.

I sucked in a breath and covered my mouth, hardly noticing the two women bracketing me, one on either side.

“Let’s sit here while the cubs have their snack, okay?” a gentle-looking woman with curly hair said quietly.

“How about some tea? Or would you prefer water?” a curvy blonde asked.

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