Page 45 of The Bear's Mail Order Mate

“I understand,” she said, reaching up to touch his cheek. “But I don’t want secrets between us, Kris. Not if we’re...mates.” The word still felt foreign on her tongue, yet strangely right.

He captured her hand in his, pressing a kiss to her palm. “No secrets. But there are some things you should know about being mated to a shifter.” A smile tugged at his lips. “That I was born to make you happy in so many ways.”

Cassia chuckled nervously as heat spread through her body. “Born to make me happy.”

“Uh huh,” Kris’s eyes darkened, a rumble vibrating deep in his chest. “It’s written in our DNA. To protect, to provide, to...please.” The last word came out in a husky whisper that sent a shiver down Cassia’s spine.

“Is that so?” she murmured, her fingers trailing along his jaw. The vineyard, the mountains, and even the barn around them seemed to fade away until there was only Kris—his warmth, his scent, his presence enveloping her.

“A mate bond is sacred,” he continued, his thumb brushing across her lower lip. “It’s not just attraction or compatibility. It’s...deeper. More primal.”

Cassia swallowed, her throat suddenly dry. “Primal?”

“Yes. It’s part of our nature. Bears are protective, possessive even. We’re driven to provide for our mates, to keep them safe, to make them...” He trailed off, his cheeks flushing.

“To make them what?” Cassia pressed, feeling the heat rise to her own face.

“Happy,” he finished, his voice dropping to a husky whisper. “In every possible way.”

The promise in his words sent a flutter through her stomach. She bit her lip, suddenly aware of how close they were standing, of the warmth radiating from his body, of the vineyard stretching around them.

“And what about me?” she asked, fingers tracing the line of his jaw. “What’s my role in all this?”

Kris’s expression softened. “You’re the heart of me. The one who makes me complete.”

Her eyes rested on his lips, and she held her breath as he leaned in closer, his breath warm against her skin. Time seemed to slow as his lips brushed against hers, soft and questioning at first, then more insistent. A low growl rumbled in his chest, and something wild and uninhibited awakened within her. She pressed herself against him, fingers threading through his dark hair, anchoring him to her.

When they finally broke apart, both breathing hard, Cassia felt dizzy with desire.

“I want you...” Kris began, his voice rough with desire.

“I want you, too,” she agreed, not needing him to finish the thought. This wasn’t exactly the day she’d planned. But the tension building between them had been simmering since their first meeting. She could feel it, that inexplicable pull, drawing her closer to him with each passing moment.

“Not here,” Kris murmured against her neck, his warm breath sending shivers down her spine. “Not like this.”

Cassia pulled back slightly, her eyes searching his. “Where, then?”

“Somewhere worthy of you,” he replied. “Our first time together should be special, not rushed in a barn with my brothers possibly walking in at any moment.”

The thought made her cheeks flush deeper. “Good point.”

Kris pressed his forehead against hers, his eyes closed as if he was gathering strength. “You have no idea how hard it is to be responsible right now.”

A small smile played on her lips. “I think I might have some idea,” she whispered, her body still thrumming with desire.

He chuckled, the sound warm and rich. “Come on.” He took her hand and led her outside, but no sooner had they stepped into the sunlight than he stiffened.

“Is everything all right?” she asked, clinging to him.

“You know what I said about my brothers walking past?” he said.

“I do.” Although being so close to Kris made it hard to think straight.

“Well, Finn and Philip are on their way to join us,” Kris said, half-turning to look at her. “We could go into the forest…”

“But if you can sense them, then they can sense us,” she said. “They are shifters, too, aren’t they?”

“They are,” he said.

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