Page 34 of Bound to Two Bears

“Maybe the next time I slide my cock deep inside you, I’ll hold you like this. Tight. And see if that makes you shiver even more.”

Carson’s eyes went heavy lidded.

“Do you like that idea?” Royce asked, moving his lips within inches of Carson’s mouth. “Do you want it rough like that?”

Carson’s eyes closed, his trembling coming full-on. When he reopened them, Royce had his answer. Carson wanted it, without a doubt.

“What exactly is expected of a bear’s mate?”

Royce smiled, a slow spreading of his lips as he gradually released his hold around Carson’s neck. “Not much more than would be expected in any other intimate relationship.”

“Such as?”

“You belong here. With us. Be a part of our community here.”

“I have a home in the city. I have a job there. A life. I can’t just turn my back on all that.”

“That life is over now. You belong here,” Royce stated.

“That life isover?”

Carson fought Royce’s hold until he was let down. “You can’t demand I walk away from everything I know just because some cosmic mishap threw us together.”

A rumble rose up Royce’s throat. “A cosmic mishap? Are you calling this amistake?”

“Maybe I am,” Carson spat, anger contorting his handsome face.

Royce stared Carson down. “After what we’ve shared, you could so easily walk away and ignore the bond we have?”

“I barely know either of you and you expect me to give up everything I am. You ask too much,” Carson climbed from the pool before turning to look at Royce. “Maybe I should just go now, before this gets any more difficult.”

Royce stepped closer. “You belong here. Period.”

What the fuck was he doing? He’d yelled at Jared not to push too hard and there he was pushing even harder. There had to be a middle ground, but it was as if his mind refused to let those words past his lips.

Carson grabbed his clothes and started pulling items on. “I don’t. I’m sorry. I’m leaving before I let you convince me otherwise.”

Royce left the pool and pulled Carson close. He pressed his lips against Carson’s and immediately felt the man’s resistance falter. At first, Carson was stiff in his arms, but he soon melted into Royce’s embrace. When Royce pulled back, there was even more confusion in Carson’s gaze.

“I know we ask a lot, but we have so much to give in return, Carson.” He cupped Carson’s cheek and pinned the man with a gaze. “You didn’t mention family being left behind.”

“I don’t have much of that left,” Carson mumbled.

“You’d have one here.”

Carson stared up at him, a yearning in his eyes. It was gone as fast as it appeared. “I can’t think straight when you two are close. I need to go home. I need to be alone. I need to think.”

“Think about coming back to us?”

“I don’t know. Maybe.” He searched Royce’s gaze. “Maybe not.”

“Can’t you stay the rest of the weekend? Give us time to bond?”

“No. Stop pushing!”

Royce lowered his hands and stepped back. He let their human go, even though it was the hardest thing he’d ever done. His chest ached at the thought of Carson leaving them.

“I…” Carson turned, unable to look at Royce. “I might be back.”

---