Page 20 of Bear

“No, Crow’s great.”

“Crow’s great for what?” a voice says from the doorway. Chills run the length of my spine, but I can’t look at him.

Tennessee.

Fuck. I hadn’t even known he was here.

I open my mouth, but Ruin beats me to it. “Jupiter wants to shoot a video.”

I do look at him then. I’m not sure why I feel his opinion matters, but his cold, razor-sharp gaze slides to mine. “That what you want?”

“I came here, didn’t I?”

“You in some kind of trouble?”

“Why does everyone keep asking me that?”

Bear shakes his head and growls. “No.”

“Excuse me?”

“No, you’re not shooting that shit with Crow.”

I frown. “I don’t think you really get a say in this.”

“Bitch, I’m gettin’ real sick of your bullshit.”

My jaw drops. I can only stare at him, wide-eyed in confusion. My bullshit?Mybullshit?

Ruin leans back in his seat and folds his arms behind his head, watching the show.

“And I’m getting sick of yours. I know this may not appeal to your genetic ‘alpha makeup’”—I make air quotations around the words— “but let me bring you into the twenty-first century, asshole—my body, my choice.”

His nostrils flare. “Oh, I’ll give you choices. You can shoot solo, or you can shoot with me.”

I frown. “What? That’s a fucking terrible idea.”

“Is it?”

“You do have a certain chemistry,” Ruin adds unhelpfully.

I shake my head. “No. You can’t be serious?”

Bear’s stare is not just intimidating—it’s downright predatory. “As a heart attack.”

“We’ll kill each other!” I throw my arms up, exasperated.

“It’d make for a great shoot.” Ruin stands and brushes past Tennessee. “I’m gonna give you two a minute.”

I bury my head in my hands.

“Is the idea so fuckin’ repulsive?” Bear asks, and I’m surprised at the vulnerability in his voice.

I glance up and meet his gaze, my demeanor softening. “No. It’s not repulsive.”

“Then what? Why Crow and not me?”

“I just ... I think it might complicate things.”

---