Page 22 of The Bear's Fated Mate
Noooooooooooooo. An easily understood sentiment from her wolf.
In the hallway, Alex straightened, unfolding his arms from where they’d lain across his chest. “Open the door, sugar. I know you’re there.”
The words came out quiet but forceful. Demanding, as if he could order her around, and suddenly her temper flared.
Lara jerked the door opened and glared at him. “What the hell are you doing here?”
He took a deep breath and his nostrils flared. A shudder quaked through him. He closed his eyes, and every muscle tightened as if he was fighting an internal battle.
Then he straightened, his gaze locking on her eyes. “Christ, woman. You’re killing me.”
He knew. Lara licked her suddenly dry lips because it was clear he knew exactly what she’d been up to a moment ago. “What do you want, Borealis?” she demanded.
His gaze dropped to the floor briefly before he lifted it, this time without the demanding attitude and with one hundred percent truth held up like an offering. “You. I fucking wantyou.”
It was the last thing she’d expected to hear. Suddenly it was hard to think, considering the calisthenics her wolf was doing inside her brain. But she was pretty certain what he was saying and what her wolf wanted to hear were not the same thing.
The sound of voices down the hallway announced they were going to have an audience within seconds, so Lara did the only thing possible. She caught hold of his shirtsleeve, pulled him into the room, and closed the door firmly behind him.
“This is not me agreeing to anything,” she warned. “This is me trying to deal with what the hell is wrong with you without witnesses.”
Alex went surprisingly meek for a moment, marching at her side to what should be the safest place in the suite. Only, as she reached the kitchen and twisted to discover his gaze had been fixed on her ass, the truth was at this particular moment neither of them seemed to have full control of their brains.
She folded her arms over her chest. “Ignoring bigger questions such as how did you know I was here and what kind of creep follows a woman to her hotel when he’s not invited, I want to know what you mean by that outrageous comment.”
Alex caught her hand in his, tugging it toward him. He swore softly, eyes blurring for a second as he lifted it to his lips.
She should’ve moved sooner, because when he opened his mouth and sucked her fingers into the wet heat, she couldn’t move. He closed his eyes and rumbled, lusty and deep, and the pulse of need inside her grew exponentially.
His voice shook when he spoke. “Please tell me I can have more of that.”
Dear God, he’d licked the fingers she’d used to masturbate.
He curled his fingers more deliberately around her wrist, locking her in place.
“Alex. What is wrong with—?”
Oh, sweet mercy.
He stared at her as he ran his tongue between her knuckles. Fire was in his eyes, his chest moving erratically as if breathing was difficult.
His eyes weren’t human.
She was definitely talking to his bear, which meant something was happening, which meant…
Everything she’d heard over the years, plus all the research she’d done since discovering her mate was a polar bear, pointed to one thing. He was in mating fever, or about to be.
He is ours,her wolf said.Pleeeaase.
The whisper of information her friend Kaylee had shared slid in—the only way they could end up mated was if both of them agreed. And while Alex was here for some strange reason, and obviously wanting sex, that didn’t mean he wanted her forever.
Which was what she truly wanted. What she trulyneeded. Instead, she was being offered temporary, and it was going to break her heart and hurt like hell, but turning him down? Impossible.
Lara laid her free hand against Alex’s cheek, meeting his gaze head on. “Is it the fever?”
Happiness spread across his expression. He eased closer to press his body against hers. “Need you. But you choose—yes or no.”
He shuddered, then shook his head violently in a move she recognized from having strongly worded arguments with her wild side. Obviously his bear did not agree with giving her the option of deciding.
