Page 28 of Bound to Two Bears

Jared turned back around and stared at the small waterfall feeding into the large, crystal clear pool. A mist came up off the water as the cooler upper mountain run-off ended up in the hot spring below, adding to the beauty. Pines surrounded for privacy, but Jared knew you could nearly see the entire valley from one spot near the waterfall.

“Want to take a swim? It might help those bruises the McCrearys gave you earlier.”

“Isn’t the water ice cold?” Carson asked.

“Near the waterfall, it can get frigid, but along that side is a natural warm spring. Keep closer to the air pockets and you’ll stay plenty warm.” Jared unbuttoned his shirt before sitting on a rock to take off his boots. “I’m going in. I can’t pass up an opportunity while I’m up here.”

Carson appeared to fight a smile. “You just want to get me naked.”

“Oh, that, too,” he answered honestly as he kicked off his jeans. He stared at their human, willing the man to join in. He wouldn’t force. They’d pushed hard the night before and Carson needed space to make his own choices.

That didn’t mean he couldn’t offer temptation, either.

He leveled a wicked grin at Carson, giving the best come hither look.

Finally Carson sighed. He dropped his backpack and began disrobing. With a smile on his face, Jared dropped the last of his clothing onto the pile and dashed off to jump into the pool. The warm water greeted him, enveloping his body in soothing comfort. As he broke the surface, he saw a naked Carson making his way over the smooth rocks at the water’s edge. Seeing his mate bare, his cock already thickening in anticipation, made Jared’s shaft harden in response. Not that he needed much help to get him there.

Carson toed the water and confirmed it was indeed warm. He climbed in, moaning wickedly as the water wrapped around him.

“This is amazing,” he said, his lids lowering.

“I’m glad you like it,” Jared replied, watching his mate enjoy the water. “So you want to tell me the reason you high-tailed it out of the cabin this morning?”

Carson’s face reddened some, and he looked away. “I just needed time to think, like I told you both earlier.”

“I know learning you’re the mate of two bear shifters can’t be easy. You’re handling it better than some I’ve heard of.”

One of Carson’s eyebrows shot up, and he gazed at Jared. “More like my entire world has flipped upside down. I’m amazed I haven’t gone off the deep end.” Carson sighed. “I should be, right? I should be freaking out and running away as fast as I can. I don’t understand why I’m not.”

Jared swam a bit closer. He lifted a hand and pressed his palm against Carson’s chest. The rapid beating quickened under his touch. “You sense this is right… don’t you?”

Carson met his gaze, heat pooling there.

“Right here,” Jared whispered. “You feel it here… how bound we all are.”

Carson turned away from Jared, looking out into the trees. “Maybe. I don’t know.”

“How can you not know after last night?”

Carson slanted his gaze at Jared. “I wonder if last night was a mistake.”

Jared felt as if he’d been punched in the gut. “A mistake? You didn’t sound like it felt like a mistake as you were screaming in pleasure.”

Carson swam away a few feet. “I can’t think when you two are this close. All I can think about is fucking. That’s why I needed some space this morning.”

Jared swam closer. “It’s our bond. The closer we are, the stronger it is. Why fight it?”

“In the matter of a day, I’ve had sex with two men for the first time, learned those men were bear shifters, and been attacked by twootherbear shifters. I think I deserve an hour to clear my head. But the two of you are always near. Always. I just need to think.”

“If we hadn’t been close this morning, you’d likely be dead.”

Carson grew quiet. “Yet if you hadn’t pushed me last night, maybe I wouldn’t have needed that hike.”

The comment stung. It sounded like something Royce would say. Doubt filled his mind. “Are you telling me you being attacked is our fault?”

“It’s no one’s fault. It just happened. There’s no finger to point. I just need you two to slow down a little.”

“Slow down isn’t in my vocabulary. Not when it comes to you,” Jared said, his voice growing deeper. Three days. They had three days to claim their mate, and Jared wasn’t pressing the brakes one bit. He swam closer and pulled Carson into his embrace. “You’re ours, human. Ours. And I can prove that to you.”

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