Page 37 of Hunny and the Bear

She didn’t sleep in here; a point Tank had grown irritated with over the last few days, arguing that, until her room was built, he could sleep on the couch while she took the bed. But Tank was literally, well,a tank, and the couch was too small for him to sleep on comfortably, so she refused to steal his bed.

Not that her decision mattered. In the end, they’d both taken to sleeping on the couch nightly, usually because they’d fall asleep watching trashy shows on TV, covered by a mountain of warm blankets and cuddled into each other. Hunny didn’t mind sharing the couch with him, mostly because she loved feeling his body pressed against hers.

Tank was snuggly, warm, and safe, even while he made her insides melt with desire. Still, she’d never felt this same level of sexual tension between them until now.

Another thought intruded, and she distinctly remembered earlier, when they’d left Murphy’s office. Tank had acted jealous over nothing, so she’d teased him about being her favorite bear shifter, just to get him out of his snit.

As soon as she’d done it, it was like a switch had flipped between them. Tank had invaded her space, his scent powerful and addictive as he’d leaned in close. For the briefest moment, she could have sworn she’d seen a carnal hunger shining in his eyes. Her body had reacted immediately, and as he’d leaned in even closer, she’d felt confident he would kiss her.

And she’d been so disappointed when he hadn’t.

What did that whole encounter even mean? Did helikeher? No. She didn’t believe that. Sure, he did nice things for her. Like, cook her delicious meals, let her boss him around, indulge her love of puzzles and reality TV, cuddle with her all the time—

As the list piled up, Hunny felt like a damned idiot, and suddenly Jasper’s playful jabs at Tank, Tabitha’s sly smile, and Murphy’s comments earlier today all made sense.

Tank was a dick to everyone but Hunny. Hunny, who he went out of his way to accommodate. Hunny, who he loved to listen to all day long, even though he claimed to despise chatterboxes. Hunny, who he’d asked to stay when she’d thought about leaving. That’s why he’d looked at her so hungrily earlier.

Because hewantedher.

No … He can’t want me, not like that,she thought ruefully. Wouldn’t she have scented his desire if that were the case?But she hadn’t. Not once in the last week. Even so, she couldn’t help but wonder,What could he possibly see in me?Probably nothing more than a female to protect.

So consumed with her thoughts, Tank startled her when he grabbed her hips and squeezed. “Were you listening, darlin’?”

Hunny blushed, her lips brushing his neck again as she asked, “Repeat it for me?”

“I need to go back out there,” Tank rasped. “I don’t like that a wolf was on bear territory, and it feels like it left that dead animal there as a warning.”

“You think it’s one of Jason’s people?” Hunny shook her head in denial. “That wasn’t Natasha.”

“Doesn’t mean it wasn’t another one of his pack members.”

“Why would Jason send one of his wolves here?” She shook her head again, leaning back to stare at him. He lifted his head as well, his gaze meeting hers, his eyes dark and broody. “Natasha having it out for me makes sense; she’s pissed I’m pregnant. But how would another wolf even know about me at all? I doubt she’d reveal Jason’s true mate to anyone, and Jason kept me locked away like a dirty secret. He hated me for being a submissive, so why would he tell anyone about me after his rejection?”

Tank huffed, reaching up and pulling a few leaves from her messy hair. “Maybe it’s not someone from his pack, but I’mbetting it is. Either way, they aren’t meant to be here. If I can hunt down that wolf, I’ll get some answers.”

Hunny nodded reluctantly, but she wasn’t sure she agreed with Tank’s assumption. Jason was finished with her, and after the incident with Natasha, that bitch hadn’t shown back up here to mess with her. She guessed she didn’t have the guts to attack her on bear turf.

So what would be the point now?

“Are you taking Jasper with you?” she eventually asked.

“No,” Tank said firmly, absent-mindedly combing her hair with his fingers. “He’s going to stay outside to monitor you and the cabin while I’m gone.”

Hunny cupped his face then, his beard tickling her palm as she sent him a worried look. “I don’t want you going after that wolf alone. What if there’s more than just one?”

He was a massive grizzly bear, but several wolves could overpower him. Not only that, he’d told her the Moon Rose pack was full of crazy bastards; she didn’t want Tank anywhere near them, especially alone. She still needed to ask him more about that, to learn just how depraved Jason was, but part of her didn’t want to know.

She carried his offspring—what if there was something genuinely wrong with Jason and that got passed along to her children? She’d be distraught. Not that going in blind was a smart decision, either, but couldn’t she live with the wool over her eyes for a little while longer?

“I talked to Murphy on the way back home.” Tank tapped the side of his head, indicating the telepathic connection an Alpha shared with its subordinates. “He and a few others will come with me to hunt.”

Hunny sagged against him in relief, but she still didn’t like it. He was putting himself in danger for her. “I can’t believe it’s day one of being allowed to stay in bear territory and you alreadyhave to track someone down because you think they’re a threat to me.”

Murphy was probably ready to throw her out on her ass.

“It’s my privilege to care for and protect you, Hunny.” Tank leaned into her palm as it cradled his cheek, his eyes softening before he pressed his forehead against hers. “I’m glad you’re okay, darlin’.”

Her heart squeezed in her chest at his admission, and her eyes burned from the sudden sting of tears.

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