Page 62 of The Bear's Reluctant Mate

“Are you sure?” he asked.

“How would you put it?” she mused. “Oh yes, I believe we aremintto be together.”

Chapter Twenty – Marion

“Good morning.” Alfie kissed her shoulder as she rolled over to face him.

“Is it?” she asked, her voice croaky as her eyes adjusted to the dim light.

His expression faltered, and she cupped his face and pressed her lips to his.

As their kiss deepened, Marion pulled back just enough to murmur against his lips, “I meant, is it morning already? It’s still dark outside.”

Alfie chuckled, his chest vibrating against her hand where it rested over his heart. “Yes, it is. Technically.” He inched away from her reluctantly. “I didn’t want Charlie to find me in your bed, so I wanted to leave early.”

“Oh, yes, of course,” Marion said as she glanced at the clock. It was only five, and Charlie didn’t usually wake for another couple of hours, but she didn’t want to take any chances. Not that she was ashamed or embarrassed about her relationship with Alfie. And she knew Charlie would be over the moon when he found out. But Alfie was right. This needed to be handled carefully. The last thing she wanted was to cause confusion or complicate Charlie’s life further.

Still, as Alfie slipped from her bed and dragged on his clothes, she wanted nothing more than to reach for him and pull him back to her.

“Will I see you today?” Alfie asked as he perched on the edge of the bed, stroking her shoulder with fingertips that sent shivers down her spine.

She reached for his hand and pressed light kisses on his palm before tracing small circles with her tongue. He groaned, and the sound ignited a fire in her core. Maybe they had time to make love one more time before he left. The memory of his hands on her body, his mouth exploring her intimately, flicked her desire up a notch.

“You’re not making this easy,” he murmured as he leaned forward, pushed the covers down over her breasts, and sucked her nipple into his mouth.

A shock of electricity coursed through her, and heat built in her core as he rolled his tongue over the taut bud. She whimpered as he slid his hand beneath the sheets and stroked her inner thigh before caressing her bundle of nerves. She opened her thighs, and he slipped two fingers inside her, while his thumb stroked her mound and his mouth teased her breasts.

As her orgasm built, she covered his hand with hers, relishing the feel of him inside her. He’d learned quickly what she liked, and he was merciless at bringing her pleasure. She turned her head to the side, her hands gripping the sheets as he flicked his tongue over her nipples, pushing her over the edge.

Damn, he was good. And he was hers.

As she closed her eyes, her body tensed and as her orgasm swept over her, she pictured the man turning into a bear. A shifter, he’d called it—hershifter. Fated to be hers forever. Just as she was fated to be his.

For some people, the lack of choice in their life partner might be hard. But for Marion, it was a blessing. It meant she would never make the same mistake her sister had and choose the wrong man. A man who had no regard for others.

When her breathing steadied, she opened her eyes to find Alfie watching her with such tenderness it made her heart ache.He pressed a gentle kiss to her forehead, then her nose, and finally her lips.

“I should go,” he whispered, though he made no move to leave.

Marion nodded, running her fingers through his tousled hair. “I know. But I’ll see you later? Charlie wanted to ask you to dinner this evening.”

“Wild bears couldn’t keep me away,” he said with a grin, then winced at his own joke. “Sorry, that was terrible, even for me.”

Marion laughed softly. “I’m getting used to your terrible jokes. They’re growing on me.”

“Like moss?” Alfie suggested, wiggling his eyebrows.

“Exactly like moss,” she agreed, pulling him down for one last kiss.

This time, he did stand, adjusting his clothes and running a hand through his hair in a futile attempt to tame it. “I’ll text you when I get to the garden center.”

“Okay,” Marion said, watching him move toward her bedroom door. “Be careful going down the stairs. The third one creaks.”

He nodded, blowing her a kiss before slipping out the door. Marion listened as he navigated the stairs, holding her breath at the slight squeak of the third step. Then came the soft click of the front door, and he was gone.

She sank back against the pillows, still warm from where he’d lain beside her. Her body hummed with satisfaction, but more than that, her heart felt full in a way she’d never experienced before. Not just because of the physical connection they’d shared, but because of the deeper bond forming between them.

The mating bond. She liked that. And they sure had mated last night. Many times. She snuggled down under the covers, stillwarm from where Alfie had slept. Then she closed her eyes, and drifted off to sleep, to dream of a bear who had the same eyes as Alfie. Who was hers as much as the man.

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