Page 21 of Bear In Mind

I pulled back, breaking the spell.I didn’t want tofeelwanted.I wanted tobewanted, purely and wholly.Trying to control my panting, I focused on his chest, on the rapid rise and fall of it with every harsh breath he took.I wanted him.I wanted him the way I wanted him to want me.

Damn, the man could kiss.I would never forget what it felt like to be kissed by him, to be so taken.

“I’m sorry.”He put a little space between us, but didn’t completely set me free.He took several deep breaths, avoiding my gaze.“I didn’t mean to do that.”

The words were like a knife piercing my heart.Whiplash would be a more delicate experience than the shock reverberating through me.Rage overpowered every other emotion.“So I was just a convenient substitute?”I quipped.

He whipped to attention, his eyes seeking mine.Lightning flickered in his depths, warning of his beast.“No.Never.”He growled.“Every other woman is the damned substitute.”

Some of my anger dissipated as confusion twisted my features.“Then what am I, Bear?Why didn’t you take me home?Why, after five years, did you just now kiss me?”

His expression softened as he took me in.His breathing was more rhythmic, less ragged.“You’re my everything.You’re the only person who can balance man and animal.For five years I’ve wanted you.”He chuckled.“Every damned day I wanted to jump over that counter and have my way with you.This may be the first time I’ve kissed you, but I’ve thought about doing it every day for five years.”He sobered, peering into me again.“I know I fucked up, honey.I should have told you sooner.If I had known what I do now, I would have done it sooner.But I swear it’s genuine.This-” He pressed his erection against me.“This is all because of you.That’s how bad I want you.”He inched closer, hovering a centimeter from my lips.His breath tickled my flesh as he clarified.“Every fucking inch of you.”

Staring at him, studying his depths, all I saw was sincerity.“You mean it.”I was taken aback.It was unexpected.I shook my head negatively, trying to process it all.“But you never said anything.”

Brows creasing, his features twisted with anguish.“I didn’t want to mess things up for you.You were working and going to school.I didn’t want to come between what you were doing and what you wanted to be doing.”Sliding his hands around my waist, he hugged my curves tightly.He pressed his forehead to mine.“I never want to stop you from pursuing your dreams, honey.”

A wistful smile curled my lips.I closed my eyes, indulging in the feel of him for a moment.Opening my eyes, I looked straight into his, directly at his bear.“One of these days, you’ll realize that you are my dream.”A self-deprecating laugh escaped me.“You don’t harbor a crush on someone for five years and not dream big.”

“It’s time to stop dreaming, honey.”He claimed my lips.His touch was softer this time, less angst driven, as if he’d regained control of himself.“I don’t want the first time I take you to be in a garage against my truck.”His hands slid down.With one jerk, he hoisted me into his arms.

I squeaked, throwing my arms around his neck and clinging to him.“Please tell me the whole shifter strength thing is true.”Tension bound my muscles.I crossed my ankles behind his back, locking myself against him.

He nuzzled my neck, his chuckle vibrating my suddenly sensitive skin.“That they got right.”He pressed his hand to some sort of black pad.A blue, horizontal line ran down it before the lock clicked.He opened the door, easily managing all of me with one hand.

No man had ever been able to heft my curves around.With one look, they’d known they couldn’t and didn’t even bother trying.It was an exhilarating feeling to be carried, to be thrown about as if I weighed a hundred pounds, a number I hadn’t seen on the scale since elementary school.

My heartbeat kicked up as we entered his room, as he slammed the door shut behind us.I loosened my grip on him, leaning back to meet his gaze.Fear began to eat at me.What if he didn’t feel the same afterwards?What if he decided I wasn’t good enough?What if-

“Hey.”His voice was whisper soft as he laid me down in the center of the bed, immediately covering me with his bulk.He removed my glasses, setting them aside as he drew his fingertips down my cheek.“Talk to me, honey.”

Don’t cry.Don’t cry.Don’t cry.Oh, God, no.

I felt the sting of tears before he blurred.Blinking rapidly, I fought to hold them back.Of all the freaking times!

Tilting my head backwards, I worked to keep them from falling.Please, no.Not now.

Taking a few deep breaths, certain I’d gotten the swell under control, I peered at him.

Concern marred his otherwise smooth features.“We don’t have to do this.”He spoke through gritted teeth as his muscles flexed.

It was my turn to stare at him, worry surely contorting my expression.“Are you okay?”

He closed his eyes, nodding his head.“Just give me a minute.”His hands fisted on either side of me.His limbs shook; his temperature seemed to jump twenty degrees as sweat dampened his brows.

Sitting up higher, I pushed backwards, leaning deeper into the pillows.He was clearly uncomfortable, in pain even maybe, but I didn’t know what to do.I didn’t know how to help.He said that I was the one who would balance man and animal, but, looking at him now, I had no clue how to help him.

My stomach knotted.My hand shook as I placed my palm to his cheek.“Bear?”

His eyes opened, but all I saw with his bear.His irises were reminiscent of a ring of fire.No more flickering, no more crackles of electricity.They were a solid illumination.

I swallowed hard.“Um, hi.”I felt my cheeks warm.

A roar bellowed from him, echoing around us.

The sound startled me, but I managed to hold semi-still.“Holy crap.”The breathless words fell from my lips as his eyes stopped glowing, signaling that the man had overpowered the beast.

For now, anyways.

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