Page 17 of Beast Bear

Serena slipped inside the small but elegant dressing room, inhaling the faint aroma of lavender. A cushioned bench stood against one wall, and on it lay a folded plush robe embroidered with the lodge’s name, along with soft terry slippers. The locker door stood ajar, inviting her to store her clothes and handbag. She traced her fingertips along the robe’s fluffy sleeve, absorbing the moment—this was more luxurious than anything she’d experienced in a while.

Across the wall, a large mirror reflected her wide-eyed look of anticipation. She exhaled, letting go of her lingering nerves, then quickly changed out of her clothes. As she slipped into the robe, the fabric was warm and comforting against her skin, making her shoulders relax.

Outside, the soft murmur of trickling water and muted chime music underscored the spa’s calm. Once dressed in the robe and slippers, she stepped back into the corridor. She found Theo outside the men’s changing area.

The spa attendant reappeared, guiding them toward frosted-glass doors further down the corridor. “Your Candlelight Massage awaits.”

The attendant led them into a spacious chamber. Flickering candles lined a low shelf, their warm glow dancing over walls painted in serene shades of blue and gray. Moonlight streamed through enormous windows that overlooked the rippling waters of Fate Lake.

Set at the center of the room were two massage tables, draped in plush white linens. Near each table stood a neatly arrangedcollection of hot stones, black and smooth. A mix of sandalwood and jasmine scented the air, and Serena felt her shoulders loosen just from the soothing fragrance alone.

“Whenever you’re ready,” whispered a soft-spoken masseuse. Another masseuse by the second table mirrored the invitation with a kind smile. Serena and Theo exchanged a glance, and they moved toward their respective tables parted by a privacy screen. The attendants left momentarily for them to get situated on their tables.

Serena slipped off her robe and settled onto the massage table, lying face down beneath a warm sheet. She could faintly hear Theo doing the same beside her. Every brush of cool air against her skin heightened her senses, while the hush of the spa magnified her awareness of his presence.

Moments later, as the masseuse poured oil onto her skin, Serena caught the faint aroma of almond and castor oil. The first smooth stone pressed against the muscles of her back, and a deep sigh escaped her lips. The stone’s warmth seemed to melt away tension she hadn’t even realized she was carrying. She let her eyes drift shut, fully conscious of Theo’s table only a few steps away. The knowledge that he was right there in this shared moment made her heart flutter.

She could sense the flow of the masseuse’s practiced hands gliding stones over her shoulders, down her arms, and across her lower back in a slow, rhythmic pattern. With each shift of heated stone, Serena felt her inner cougar relax in response. Across the gently lit space, she heard the soft hiss of Theo inhaling, presumably feeling a similar release of tension under his masseuse’s careful work.

At one point, the masseuses invited them to turn over so they could place stones along their fronts and shoulders. Serena caught Theo’s gaze across the dimly lit room, the moonlight catching the glint in his eyes. In that unspoken exchange, she felt the weight of her past doubts slip away, replaced by a slow certainty that what lay between them could be safe, comforting, and profound.

Under the enticing aroma of sandalwood and jasmine, and the glow of moonlight washing through the glass, Serena allowed her mind to float. She felt the press of the stones across her collarbones, the gentle heat seeping through her skin. Her cougar purred contentedly in her chest.

When the masseuses finally removed the last stones and stepped back, letting the warmth linger on her skin, Serena opened her eyes. The candlelit room felt charged with a new closeness. She turned her head, meeting Theo’s gaze. He wore a blissful expression, and for a moment, they simply looked at one another—breathless and entirely at ease.

She couldn’t recall the last time she’d let herself relax this completely. The sense of kinship with Theo intensified, as though all the barriers between them had melted away with her stress. For the first time, Serena felt she could truly connect to Theo. With her mate.

Chapter

Seventeen

Serena settledon the couch in the living room of the suite, heart still light from the spa’s lingering magic. She leaned back against the cushions, gazing at the bouquet of red roses Theo had bought for her. He carried over a bottle of champagne, icy condensation sliding down its sleek surface.

“Shall we?” he asked quietly, glancing at her with a teasing grin.

She nodded, a soft laugh escaping her throat. “Absolutely.”

He popped the bottle, muffling the cork’s release with a towel. Then, filling two glasses, he handed one to her, the gentle fizz dancing at the rim. They clinked a toast, and Serena sipped the cool, crisp bubbles that crackled on her tongue.

The atmosphere felt quietly electric, each moment heightened by the glimmer of moonlight through the balcony doors. They danced across Theo’s features, illuminating the curve of his mouth when he smiled at her. She felt an unfamiliar confidence growing inside her. For the first time in forever, she felt safe to lean into a connection.

Her inner cougar stirred with an insistent hum of longing that pulsed through her veins. For years, she had kept that restless feline hidden behind caution and walls of fear. Every instinct within her urged her to close the distance, to claim and be claimed. The intensity of it both thrilled and overwhelmed her, lighting a fire in her chest.

She set her glass on the coffee table, turned to him, and cupped his jaw. Theo’s lips parted. Encouraged by the warmth in his eyes, she leaned in and pressed her mouth to his. The taste of champagne lingered on his lips, adding sweetness to his kiss.

Theo responded with a low hum, his hand sliding around her waist. The heat from their connection radiated through her body. When they finally parted, Serena took a deep breath. “I guess the massage did wonders for my nerves.”

Theo’s voice sounded equally affected. “Me too.”

She couldn’t help but smile, tangling her fingers with his. In that moment, she felt safer and more open than she had in a long time. Prodded on by her inner cougar, she climbed into Theo’s lap, straddling him. “I’m not ready for claiming,” she said, looking him in the eye.

“I understand. I won’t bite you. I swear it.”

Without hesitation, she pressed her lips firmly to his, her tongue sweeping through them to taste his mouth. His responding groan vibrated against her, and she thrilled at the warmth of his hands grasping her waist. Each flick of his tongue fueled the pulsing desire coiling in her belly, and the air around them seemed to shimmer with intensity.

She could feel him growing hard beneath her and moisture gathered between her thighs. Serena’s desire deepened. Hearthammering, she seized the hem of her sweater, tugging it up and over her head.

Theo’s gaze grazed across her bare skin and the satiny fabric of her bra. He drank in the sight of her, a low groan rumbling in his throat. She could almost feel his pulse in the heated space between them. “You’re gorgeous,” he murmured, voice husky with desire.

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