Page 33 of Bound to Two Bears

Royce glanced at Jared before staring back down at Carson, a slow smile coming to his lips. “Everyone has checked in for theweekend, and Paul knows enough. Quentin is in the restaurant and could help in a pinch.”

“I can’t believe you left it in his hands. AndI’mthe one not serious about the business?”

Royce glowered at Jared. “I wanted some time with our mate, too. You’ve had yours. So go check on the guys.”

Jared lifted one brow, but didn’t argue with Royce’s request. He rinsed off his hands and his cock before climbing from the pool. Royce continued to run his hands over Carson’s body as Jared left them alone.

“You don’t have to leave your business in less than capable hands on my account.”

Royce frowned. “I’ve lived fifty-seven years without a mate. Now that I’ve found him, I don’t want to leave him alone.”

“You’re fifty-seven?”Carson blinked a few times. “You don’t look a day over thirty-five.”

“Bear shifters live longer than humans. We often double a human’s average age or more.”

“You can live to be two hundred?”

“Yep. Of course, that depends on the bear and how well he lives.”

“And how well have you lived?” Carson asked, swimming away from Royce a few feet.

“I feel like I’ve simply… existed. Something has always felt as it was missing.” Now it no longer felt that way. Carson completed their triad. Royce felt it as clearly as the nose on his face.

“And you think that something missing is me.”

It wasn’t a question. More a statement. Which was fine, since Royce agreed with it. “Youarethe missing piece. Don’t you feel it?”

Carson was silent as he swam away a little more. He could feel the human putting up a wall between them. The same wall he’d felt this morning. Their mate was confused, assuredly. He likely sensed the bond but fought it.

“Don’tyou?” Royce asked again.

Carson glanced at him but didn’t answer. He swam farther, increasing the gap.

Distance wasn’t something Royce wanted. After dipping under the surface, he swam with speed until he could wrap his arms around Carson’s waist. He sprung from the water, lifting Carson, and clutching him tight.

Chest-to-chest and eye-to-eye, he pinned Carson with a glare. He could feel Carson’s feet pressing against his knees. He towered over the man and wasn’t against using his size to get the answer he craved.

“I asked a question.”

Carson’s cheeks darkened and he averted his gaze. “I’ve spent my entire life as a straight man. I also spent it not knowing beings like you existed. You can’t assume I’ll just accept this is… whatever it is.”

“I didn’t ask you that,” Royce murmured, lowering his head to recapture their mate’s stare. When he finally had it, he continued. “I simply asked if you felt the bond. Not if you accepted it.”

“I suppose I feel something,” Carson spat. He narrowed his eyes. “Like a noose around my neck.”

Royce lifted one of his hands to wrap around Carson’s slender neck. Carson stiffened under his grasp.

“A noose, hmm? It didn’t sound as if you were being forced earlier. You practically begged Jared to fuck you harder… and then demanded I do the same.”

Carson swallowed roughly against Royce’s hold around his neck. It wasn’t tight, but tight enough for Carson to be wary.

“You know I’ll never hurt you, right?”

“No, but clearly you’ll threaten,” Carson murmured.

Royce ran his thumb over Carson’s lower lip. “No threat. You claimed our bond was a noose there. I thought you might like to be reminded of what one really feels like.”

Carson shivered against him.

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