Page 85 of Grin and Bear It

“Mates,” he repeated, voice rough with emotion. “Is that what you want, Thora?”

“Yes.” The certainty in her voice surprised even her. “I want to be your mate, Artair. Not because of convenience or proximity or healing bonds. Because I choose you.”

The kiss that followed stole her breath—tender at first, then deepening with shared hunger. Dinner forgotten, they moved together toward the bedroom, hands exploring with increasing urgency. Thora backed him toward the bed, nudging him down to sit on the edge before straddling his lap.

“Your shoulder,” he murmured against her throat.

“Stop worrying about my shoulder.” She tugged his shirt upward, impatient to feel his skin against hers. “I need you, Artair.”

His response was immediate—hands sliding beneath her shirt, mapping the contours of her back with reverent touch. They undressed each other slowly, rediscovering familiar terrain with new appreciation. When he laid her on the bed, his bodycovering hers with careful weight, Thora wrapped her arms around his shoulders, pulling him closer.

“I love you,” she whispered against his lips.

The words, once so difficult to voice, now flowed freely. She repeated them like a mantra as they moved together, as physical pleasure built between them. His answering declarations washed over her, heightening every sensation—the slide of skin against skin, the perfect synchronization of their bodies, the building tension coiling low in her belly.

When release finally claimed her, Thora cried out his name, clutching him close as waves of pleasure crashed through her. His climax followed moments later, her name a benediction on his lips as his body shuddered against hers.

Afterward, they lay tangled together, her head on his chest, his fingers tracing lazy patterns along her spine. The contentment that suffused her went beyond physical satisfaction—a bone-deep rightness as if some missing piece had finally clicked into place.

“I never thought I’d find this,” she murmured, tracing the defined muscle of his abdomen. “Never thought I’d want to stay in one place with one person.”

His hand smoothed her hair back from her face, touch infinitely gentle. “What changed?”

“You.” She propped herself on an elbow to meet his gaze. “You showed me that belonging doesn’t mean being trapped. That loving someone can make you stronger, not weaker.”

The wonder in his eyes melted something in her chest. “I’ve wanted you since the moment you tackled me in the town square,” he admitted with a small smile. “Even with magical handcuffs cutting off my circulation.”

Thora laughed, the sound bubbling up from a place of genuine happiness. “I thought you were the most irritating man I’d ever met.”

“And now?”

“Now you’re still irritating.” She leaned down to kiss him, softening the words. “But you’re mine.”

His smile against her lips warmed her from the inside out. “Yours,” he agreed. “Always.”

Outside the window, twilight deepened into true night, stars emerging to speckle the velvet sky. Inside their cabin—their home—Thora curled against Artair’s side, savoring the simplicity of being exactly where she belonged.

SEVENTY-FIVE

The decision to formalize their mating came naturally, discussed in quiet moments between work responsibilities and domestic routines. Thora researched Tiikeri traditions while Artair consulted family records for bear clan customs. Though both had typical ceremonial elements, they agreed the actual mating would be private—a sacred moment between them alone.

On the night of the quarter moon with stars scattered across the dark sky like diamond dust, Thora led Artair to a clearing behind their cabin. Wind whispered through pine branches, carrying the scent of wild herbs and distant water.

“Here?” he asked, understanding dawning in his eyes.

She nodded, throat suddenly tight with emotion. “Just us. No audience. No formalities.”

His hands found hers, warm and steady. “Are you certain?”

“I’ve never been more certain of anything in my life.” She stepped closer, pressing a kiss to his lips before drawing back. “Meet me in the moonlight.”

The shift came with practiced ease, her human form flowing into sabertooth in one fluid motion. Power surged through her muscles, senses sharpening to preternatural clarity. Artair’stransition followed—his massive bear form emerging with a low rumble of anticipation.

They circled each other beneath the stars, ancient instincts guiding them through the sacred dance. Her sabertooth moved with liquid grace around his bear’s powerful bulk, their bodies gradually spiraling closer. When they met at the center of the clearing, their muzzles touched in recognition—predator acknowledging predator, strength honoring strength.

Energy crackled between them, invisible currents weaving their essences together. The sensation cascaded through Thora’s consciousness—warmth and light building with each circling step, each brush of fur against fur. Her sabertooth’s awareness expanded, stretching beyond physical boundaries to encompass Artair’s presence.

The completion came suddenly like a key turning in a lock. Their separate energies fused, creating a bond transcending ordinary connection. Thora gasped as her senses adjusted to this new awareness—the ability to locate Artair through instinct alone, to perceive the edges of his emotional state even across distance.

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