Page 35 of Her Former Bear Mate

Morning came far tooquick and not nearly quick enough.Lena hadn't quite managed to sleep, partially from nerves, partially from the fantastic desperate sex.She didn't know if it was because they both knew it could be the last time but it had been more intense than ever.

But with the first sunlight peeking in through the curtains, the time for laughter was over.

Lena turned on her side, not at all surprised to find Aditi awake already.She never slept well when something big was happening and this was possibly the biggest thing they had dealt with so far.

"Do we have to look?"Aditi whispered, looking adorable tucked in under the blankets.

"You want to have sex the rest of our lives with clothes on?"

"Only you would have to keep your clothes on," she teased.

A chuckle escaped Lena and she was glad that even after everything, they could still joke around."We've delayed this long enough.You check."

Aditi looked surprised."You want me to check?You don't want to do it on your own?"

"No, we did this together.We should find out together."Lena reached under the blankets for Aditi's hand and guided it onto her body."Touch me."

The briefest flicker of desire flitted through Aditi's eyes before a far more serious expression came on.She shuffled closer and let her hand glide down.Lena enjoyed the sensation, the slow move, the gentle exploration.They could've just thrown the blankets off and the lights on but this was far more pleasant, far more intimate.

Aditi's fingertips travelled over her elbow and she giggled.

"That tickles."

"Have I never touched your elbow before?"Aditi wondered, her hand moving further down.

Lena shrugged."Maybe not."

"I'll make it up to your elbow later then."

The mattress dipped when Lena turned on her back so Aditi could touch her other side.Even after a whole night together, her touch still felt new and exciting.Aditi explored every part of her.Her arms, her stomach, her shoulders.She even patted Lena's face even though that was totally unnecessary, but it still made them giggle.

Then Aditi's fingers touched her hip and a spark jolted up Lena's spine.Her eyes widened at the feeling and she could see the same surprise in Aditi's eyes.

This was it.

All patience gone, Lena tossed her side of the blanket away and twisted, raising her hip to examine it.An orange pattern had appeared on her skin, with slightly raised lines that tickled when she ran her own fingers over it.

"Is that...?"Lena looked at Aditi, suddenly overwhelmed.

Aditi nodded."That's my mark."

"Show me?"

With a nod, Aditi pushed the blanket away too.Lena's gaze went down to her waist where she knew Aditi's shifter mark was located.There was a little tattoo over it too, one Aditi had gotten when she was eighteen.A little fuck-you to fate.

Lena brushed her fingers over it.She'd seen the mark plenty of times over their relationship but she'd refused to pay attention to it.Maybe it was strange that she knew every inch of Aditi's body like the back of her hand but didn't know this.

"Is it really the same?"she asked.

Without saying anything, Aditi pulled her in for a kiss.It instantly created unprecedented sparks and Lena could feel her heartbeat in the new marking on her hip.Or maybe it was Aditi's heartbeat.It was hard to tell, she just knew that it felt so very right.

Of course, it was right.

"I love you," Aditi said when she pulled back from the kiss, her voice laden with emotions.

Lena brushed her fingers over Aditi's cheek."I love you too.Now what?"

"Now we'll be together forever."

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