Page 23 of The Bear's Fated Mate
There were so many good reasons to not do this, but having a chance to enjoy the big bad bear for a brief time outweighed everything.
“Are you sure you want me?” Lara asked softly.
An inhuman growl escaped his lips, and she found herself airborne. A second later, with Lara seated on the island, he pushed her legs apart and stepped against her. The thick ridge in his pants lined up perfectly with the aching softness between her legs.
Okay. Wrong question. “You physically want me, I got that, but are you sure you’re not going to regret this later?”
He planted his hands on the island on either side of her. His head lowered and every muscle in his upper body bulged as he fought for control. When he lifted his head again, he was fully human, eyes full of questions and high intellect.
With his beast subdued, the man was ready to give an answer.
“You’re smart and you’re sexy. And you’re a fucking ninja warrior woman, and if I’m going to experience mating fever with anyone, it’s going to be someone who can kick my ass. I won’t hurt you physically, I swear I won’t, but I’m trusting you to have my back if the bear gets out of control.”
Out of all the pretty promises he could’ve made, this was the only thing she couldn’t resist. Offering his trust? It was one comment that set up something in her heart that really shouldn’t be there—
Hope.
Lara pressed her hands to the sides of his face and leaned in. “Then I choose…yes.”
11
He was still in control—the human him—but the bear was growing in strength. Alex wasn’t sure how much longer he could stay at the reins, but hell if he wanted his first time with Lara to be a mindless rush.
Complications between them aside, there was no reason this had to be difficult. Hell, considering the inflammatory way they’d interacted before, he expected in the coming days they’d burn through a lot of calories and a whole lot of pleasure.
But right now, his partner for the next week was looking surprisingly frightened.
No. It wasn’t fear in her eyes, but concern, and the sight of her wavering was enough to knock the bear back a notch or two.
Alex lifted a hand to stroke his knuckles over her cheek. “Thank you for your gift.”
Her eyes widened.
He couldn’t help it. A soft laugh escaped even as he slid his hand farther until he caught her nape. “Yes, I am capable of using pretty manners. Please, and thank you. And I have a few rules, such as a lady always goes first.”
He leaned in closer, the scent of her body wrapping around them and making his skin twitch as if a million fireflies were brushing against him.
Hmmmm. Alex moved until his lips caressed hers then lowered his voice to breathe out the all-important question. “Speaking of which, did you come?”
Her breath hitched.
And that would be a no. Especially from the flash of blood rushing her cheeks, and didn’t that kick his amusement up as well? She was shy in the bedroom.
Or the kitchen, as it were. Alex could work with that just fine.
“I think we’d better do something about me interrupting you.”
“I have no objections, but can you give me a quick briefing on what to expect?” She ran her fingers through his hair, damn near petting him into submission. “I’ve never done this before.”
He stilled.Shit.
Her cheeks quickly heated another couple of degrees, and she hurried to explain. “I’ve had sex before. I mean I’ve never been with— You have mating fever, and I don’t know what that involves.”
Valid question. “It means I’m going to take you a whole lot of times. Hard, soft, and everything in between. And not just fucking. I want to taste your body and tease you until you squirm. I look forward to stripping you naked and exploring you with my hands and my mouth and my cock until you’re screaming my name. And your tits—oh, yeah, I plan to spend a lot of time on them. Bears like to play.”
She wiggled slightly as he spoke but offered a head tilt as if filing away information. “So, there’s nothing I have to avoid?”
A beeper went off, the tone dragging over his nerves like nails on a chalkboard.
