Page 23 of Bearnapped at the Altar

Nope, not better than Silverclaw at all. I was taking advantage of a woman who hired me. I told her I would keep her safe. And what the fuck was I doing?

“I’m not exactly sure how to put the feelings into words,” I said. “My bear is always inside me. Guiding me when I’m in my human form, making sure I stay true to my nature. He wants to protect you, and not because you hired us to do it. He thinks you might be good for me.”

She nodded. “What do you think?”

“That my heart is still in pieces from losing Renee. That I’ve already had a mate. That I’m just as bad as Gideon, trying to claim you. That you’re the most beautiful woman I’ve laid eyes on since?—”

Tegan’s lips were on mine, and she let out a little squeal when I reciprocated with everything I fucking had. My hand snaked into her wild pink hair, pulling her head to the side. My tongue danced along the seam of her lips, teasing her, demanding to be let inside. She clutched my shoulders, moaning.

I’d tell her how much my bear loved how expressive she was when we were so close, later. But now, I couldn’t stop kissing her.

She was the one to pull away. Her eyes were wide, hair mussed, lips swollen. I’d only thought she was gorgeous before. Now she was wild. Completely irresistible.

My cock pulsed, wanting, needing more.

“What did your bear think about that?” she asked.

“You want to play with him, don’t you?” And more than anything, I wanted the answer to be yes.

She nodded. “I want to see if he’s as big, strong, and protective as I think he is.”

“Tegan,” I rasped.

“I know. I crossed a major line and I’m sorry.” She was up off the bed, pacing. She did that when she was scared. Nervous. Unsure of herself. My bear wanted to make sure she never did it again. “But you know, maybe your bear could take me to Red Heaven. You know what that is, right?”

“You didn’t cross a line. It was only a matter of time before I kissed you.”

“Glad me and your bear are on the same page.” She smiled. “So that means that we can go to Red Heaven? There are a few things I’d love to show you there.”

“Absolutely not.” I growled. Red Heaven was the exclusive area at The Redheaded Stepchild. It was a cross between a VIP lounge and a sex club where anything could happen and usually did. Bellamy had brought me there, thinking maybe it would help me move on after losing Renee. Didn’t work.

“If I wear a wig and I change up my makeup, Gideon’s goons will have no idea it’s me. He’ll never do his own dirty work. He’s too much of a pompous prick for that.”

“They’ll be able to scent you.”

Her eyes widened. “Really? Even if I’m not their mate?”

I nodded.

She let out a long, shaky sigh. “When it’s safe to go, will you bring me there?”

I raised a brow. “Do you like being watched?”

Her lips parted, and her scent intensified.

She likes it a lot, my bear said. Good to know.

Wasn’t sure I liked it.

This luscious body belongs to us, my bear added. But you can’t deny a little show could be fun…

“I want everyone there to know that I belong to you.” Her body stiffened. Scratch that—I liked that reasoning a lot. “But you just said that I don’t. That I can’t…”

She didn’t have to finish the sentence.

I closed my eyes for a long blink. “I never thought I’d have another woman in my life after I lost Renee. That connection…” I needed to slow down, think about what I wanted to say. Tegan had my mind racing, and other parts of my body had some opinions too. “It’s magnetic. And I never thought I’d feel that again.”

“I’m not expecting you to have feelings for me like you had for Renee.” Her name on Tegan’s lips was like getting hit in the face with ice water. “Twenty-four hours ago, I thought I’d be married to another wolf by now. My feelings are a little all over the place. But you make me feel safe. And heard. And that’s more than I’ve felt in way too long.”

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