Page 140 of Grin and Bear It

Chapter69

I’d been warned that bear shifter mates went into heat and, I admit, I’d just laughed it off. Dogs went into heat, so did cats. Surely a thinking, rational person like myself couldn’t do something like that. But the day we drove the boys to the airport, sending them off to their grandfather’s for the summer holidays, I felt hot.

“Can we turn up the aircon?” I asked, on our way home. I grabbed the front of the super light t-shirt I’d put on and then waving it back and forth.

“It’s on the coldest setting it can go,” Nash replied with a small smirk. “Fan’s on flat out as well.”

“The car needs to go in to get looked at,” I said in irritation. “Or one of your fridgey mates needs to see if there’s an issue. It’s hot. I’m hot.”

“Yeah, you are,” Lin purred from the back seat.

I frowned at that, hearing the cheeky comment, but getting confused about the delivery. There was none of the usual banter in the car. Instead each man stared at me, even Nash who was driving. They watched me with inhuman focus, their eyes bright gold, or ice blue, right up until we got back to the house.

“I’m going to have a cold shower,” I announced, getting out of the car and when I did, they came with me. They didn’t comment, didn’t say anything, just kept tracking my every movement as I fumbled for my keys, then struggled to get the key in the lock.

“Let me,” Nash said, in a low throaty growl as he moved forward, my shirt sticking to my skin as he settled behind me. His hand wrapped around mine, using it to bring the key to the lock and then slot it in. “Go upstairs, strip down and get in the shower. We’ll join you in a second.”

“But you have that job—” I started to say.

“We’ve got one job to do today.” Lin winked when he had my attention. “You.”

I wasn’t sure why that had my feet moving, fast, faster, running away from them, then up the stairs and into my section of the house. They still called it that, even though we all slept there. Their steps were slower, more ponderous as they marched up the stairs after me.

There was no reason for me to run into the bathroom. There was no reason for me to slam the door shut. There was no reason for me to stand there, panting way too hard, with a strange kind of fear and something else rushing through my blood.

Anticipation. That’s what it was.

My hands clawed at my clothes because I was still hot, so damn hot. Sweat prickled everywhere, making me feel clammy, shaky. I tugged at my t-shirt, pausing when I saw the bathroom door handle twist. A low chuckle came from the other side of the door as the privacy lock engaged.

“If you don’t want us in there with you,” Nash said. “We won’t come in. I don’t think you’ll like going through this on your own, but no one’s going to force you.”

The last time he’d walked into my bathroom to fix everything, he’d seemed calm, authoritative, and there was a lot of that now and then something else. Intent, dark and seductive, as well as a knowing air.

He knew exactly what was going on with me.

“You feel hot, hotter than you ever have before.” I nodded mutely at that, struggling to get my shirt up and over my head, the fabric landing with a splat when I tossed it to the floor. “Your skin feels alive in ways it only does when we touch you.”

God, the moment he mentioned that, my focus shifted, feeling the way my blood seemed to throb just under the surface of my skin, my nipples pulling tight. Then to my shame, slick rushed from between my thighs, my hand slapping down on my shorts, terrified I’d somehow wet myself, when I felt it. Slippery, clear and ready to lubricate my body through what had to happen, and I realised what it all meant. I was going into heat.

“Nash…” My voice came out a thin whine I didn’t even recognise.

“Open the door, Ellie, and let us in. Open the door and let us tend to you.”

Moving hurt, the flesh between my legs felt too sensitive, like my folds were rubbing against each other with each step. That friction started an ache, one that had me gasping as I turned the lock. They waited until I opened the door, the four of them standing there. Their eyes were hungry, taking in every bit of my dishevelled state and then smiling.

“Ready, my mate?” Lin stepped forward first and my eyes were completely entranced by him. All that golden blond hair, it was a million shades from platinum to dark gold, I now realised. He smiled as I stared, my fingers twitching, wanting to touch him, test how soft his hair was, even though I knew. He took pity on me then, grabbing my hands and staring into my eyes as his kissed the fingertips.

“We don’t have to go too far today.”

I spun myself around to see Tyson had appeared at my back. A war waged in those golden eyes, between concern and hunger. But it was hunger that won out, my own desire amplifying his.

“But what if I want to?”

His reticence, the desire to check in and make sure I was OK stoked something reckless in me. I smiled slowly, watching those eyes turn from wary into something much hotter. Tyson backed me up until the cool of the tiles met my skin, making me shiver.

“Well, then…” Tyson held out a single finger, sliding it down my collarbone, then lower still, but not where I needed it. “Then I’d be forced to give you every fucking thing I’ve been keeping back for just this moment.”

He ducked closer, his head hanging over mine until my tongue flicked out across my lips, wanting a taste of him, but not taking it yet.

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