Page 26 of Bear

I chuckle and press a kiss to Tink’s shoulder, wrapping my arms tighter around her to shield her from the room. Kind of pointless now, I guess. She stiffens.

“Hey, Jupiter. Think we could get a couple more close-ups?” Ruin asks.

Tink nods, but her energy has shifted. I don’t know if I just fucked the shit out of her and she’s sleepy as fuck or if she’s having doubts about what just happened.

“You alright with this?” I ask gently, tucking a few limp strands of hair behind her ear.

“Sure,” she whispers. “Why wouldn’t I be?”

Crow continues shooting as Ruin moves Tink into what feels like a thousand different positions, and then he asks me to climb between her legs so we have clear screen grabs they can use for thumbnails.

I hold my weight on my bicep, my arm cradling her head. I’m hard as fucking nails again and breathing heavily, as if I just ran a fucking marathon. Her body is still trembling beneath me, and she’s fever hot. I slide my fingers into her cotton candy hair, marveling at how soft it is, how good it smells.Fucking edible. Just like the rest of her. Tink’s breath is shallow and the sheen of sweat on her neck and shoulder cools my hot flesh. I look down into her eyes. Her pupils are huge, and there’s something—some kind of vulnerability in them that breaks my fucking heart in two.

“You okay, darlin’?”

Her brow creases, and she bursts into tears.

Oh, Tink.

I turn to Tyra and my brothers. “Out! Everyone out right fuckin’ now.”

Ruin arches a brow, no doubt not used to being ordered about in his own goddamn house, and I’m sure I’ll hear about it later, but he and Crow exchange a look and he nods.

“I’m sorry,” Jupiter whispers.

Crow switches off the camera and they all leave. I slide my arm under Tink’s back and roll over, pulling her on top of me and holding her close. Sobs wrack her tiny frame and I stroke her hair, waiting for her to say something, anything. Even though seeing her cry after I just fucked the shit out of her stings like a motherfucker, I know this can’t be about me.

“Did I hurt you?” I ask.

She shakes her head. “No. Just the opposite.”

Thank fuck for that. She may pretend to hate me, but I’ve seen the desire in her eyes. I know she wants me as much as I want her. That much was evident by how fucking wet she was before I’d even touched her. This isn’t about me at all.

“Darlin’, I meant what I said before. I’ll find you the money.”

“What’s the point?” she whispers. “It’s done now.”

“And it doesn’t need to be seen by anyone but us if you don’t want it to.” I rub lazy circles over her back.

She sniffs and traces the scars on my abdomen. “I’m sorry. I’m not crying because of what just happened. You were incredible.”

“I know.” I kiss her crown, and she shifts and stares up at me with a scowl. I shrug. “What? It’s true. I’m great at fucking.”

A small laugh leaves her.

“I mean, if you can get past the fact that I look like I went a few rounds with Jack the Ripper, all the bitches would be lining up for a ride.”

She traces my ruined flesh beneath her fingers. “I like your scars.”

It’s my turn to frown, ’cause this bitch must be crazy. “That’s one I ain’t ever heard before.”

“It’s not your scars that have me in tears.”

“Then what?”

“I just keep doing things to try and save my family’s garage, and they get more and more like things my dad would be disappointed in me doing, you know?”

“Are you disappointed, baby girl?”

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