Page 29 of Her Former Bear Mate

She turned on her side, only realising she wasn't alone in the bed when there was resistance when she pulled on the blanket.Her breath hitched and she didn't need her eyes to adjust to the darkness to know who was next to her.Every fibre of her being knew.She could smell the sweetness of Aditi's musk, feel the radiating heat from her body, hear her soft even breathing.

For a moment, Lena wondered if she was still dreaming.Or maybe, the entire breakup had been a horrible terror of a nightmare.

Aditi stirred and from the changing in her breathing, it became clear she'd roused too."Lena?"

"Hmm?"

"Are you awake?"

"Yeah, I just woke up."Lena's eyes had adjusted to the dark by now and she could make out the faint lines of Aditi's silhouette.There was something so very intimate about that, it was making her heart race.

The blankets rustled as Aditi moved."How are you feeling?"

"Rough," Lena said, very aware of the abrasion at the back of her throat and the sting in her eyes.Indicators that it hadn't all just been a dream.The breakup was real and yet somehow, she'd ended up in Aditi's bed.

Theirbed.The mattress underneath her remembered her in the same way as she remembered it.This was her spot, her side of the bed.

The sheets moved again and the bed dipped.Lena couldn't remember if she'd ever been so aware of her surroundings, of every minute movement and motion.It was amazing she could hear anything over her hammering heart in her ears.

The first touch felt like it might've been her imagination, a ghost of her memory.But then she could feel Aditi's fingers on her bare arm, hesitantly, tentatively, carefully.

Lena wasn't sure how to react, whether to stay still so she didn't scare the touch away or to press into it.She just knew she didn't want it to end.

"You still snore," Aditi murmured in that soft voice of hers that only existed in the bed.

"Did it bother you?"Lena asked, still breathless and hyper-aware that the touch had turned into strokes.She didn't know how, but the touch was sending sparks directly into her brain.

Aditi let out a soft hum."Not at all.It was soothing."

"Only you would say that."

"Does anyone else's opinion matter?"Aditi whispered.

Lena couldn't hold back anymore and shuffled closer.Those ten centimetres of mattress felt like the most treacherous ravine but she wasn't thinking about falling or failure or rejection.She just wanted, needed, this distance to be gone.She moved until their knees bumped together and Aditi's fingertips turned into a proper touch.

They were so close, she could see the dim light reflected in Aditi's eyes, the slope of her nose, the swell of her lips.Lena wetted hers, entirely caught up in the moment.

Aditi's hand slid up and touched Lena's cheek much like when she'd been crying.It was such a soft and comforting touch, Lena sank into it.

"Is this one of the other things you missed?"Aditi asked, sounding like she was holding her breath.

Lena just nodded, enjoying the feel of Aditi's touch.It just felt right, like pure dopamine.It was making her feel so very relaxed and warm.

"Me too," Aditi whispered."I missed you."

She was always so much braver when it came to expressing how she felt.

Lena reached out, her hand landing on Aditi's waist, slightly above where her bear mark was.There was no resistance when she pulled her closer.It seemed to be all she needed to do, all the encouragement Aditi needed.Before Lena knew it, the distance between them was gone.Aditi's hands were on her arms, on her hips, on her face pulling it down towards hers.Lena moved like she always did and found Aditi's lips with her eyes closed.Her whole body tensed and relaxed at the same time, rejoiced by the familiar thrill and thrum in her veins.

It was all so devastatingly familiar.The smell of their bed, the warmth, the shape of Aditi's mouth that fitted so perfectly with hers.

A sigh that sounded like a smile escaped Aditi."You okay?"

Lena hummed, still lavishing in that wonderful feeling running through her body.She felt so warm, it was making her sleepy again.

Aditi's fingers brushed over her cheek."It's okay, close your eyes."

"Hmm."Lena fought against the sleep, not wanting to be pulled away from this lovely moment."We're going to need to talk about this in the morning."

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