Page 3 of The Bear's Fated Mate
More than allowed—he luxuriated in it, leaning his big cat head into the caress and loudly voicing his approval.
“Two-timing beast,” Lara muttered.
Alex grinned harder, lifting his gaze to hers. “We used to spend all lunch hour together, me and Mac.”
Which would have been at least a couple years before she’d attended the school. Lara supposed Mac’s approval was a point in Alex’s favour, but admit it? Hell no. “Yeah? Well,Ididn’t have to bribe him with food to make friends.”
Alex rolled his eyes.
His hand slipped off Mac’s head and brushed the side of Lara’s breast.
Both of them went motionless. He didn’t retract his hand—just stood there, touching her. As if he were trapped in a magic force field and not sure how to escape.
Lara closed her eyes and swallowed hard, fighting with everything in her to not follow the damn cat’s example and lean into the polar bear shifter’s touch.
She knew why it was so addictive, the simple caress of his fingers. The too-close exhalation of air from his lungs across her cheek lit extreme cravings. The urge to grab his massive shoulders and cling tightly as she kissed him senseless was enticing and as desperately needed as her next breath.
Alex Borealis was her mate.
Wolves always knew, which was why, since the moment she’d met the exasperating man, she’d been fighting tooth and nail to keep from jumping his unwilling bones.
Mating was for life. She didn’t wantanyman forced to accept her as a partner, especially not one who didn’t trust her and thought of her as nothing but an adversary. So, as sexy and desirable and oh-my-God-I-want-him-now as he was, Alex Borealis was off the menu until they could straighten things out.
Noooooooo, her wolf howled in renewed dismay, pain licking along her nerve endings at being denied her mate’s caress as Lara forced herself back all of half an inch.
Sorry. Hurts me too, baby,Lara soothed her.We need to wait.
Another wave of heat struck as Alex leaned in and his scent drilled through her like a spike.
“Lara.” Her name rumbled over her skin, teasing and sensual. It held a touch of awe, as if he wasn’t sure what was happening between them but was utterly aware this wasn’t a typical reaction between two people who claimed to not like each other.
She was tempted to do something questionable in the pursuit of self-defense when Sir Mac bunched into a tight knot then propelled himself from her arms directly at Alex’s head.
2
Instinctively, Alex swayed to one side and twisted. His already raised hand allowed him to catch the feline flying at his face and redirect, swinging the oversized missile in an arc and slowing Mac’s momentum.
Alex let go, arms pointed toward the parking lot.
Mac did that cat thing, legs flailing rapidly as he twisted his torso to land on all four paws.
The beast gave Alex a haughty glare before stalking off, tail raised high in the air. The very tip twitched as if waggling a finger in pointed disapproval.
“What the hell was that about?” Alex snapped at the annoying, tantalizing,delectablesiren of a woman who had been driving him mad since her return to Yellowknife three months ago.
He was speaking to empty air.
Lara was marching away from him at high speed, her heart-shaped ass swaying temptingly with every step.
He went after her, his boots smacking into the concrete underfoot with a sharp slapping sound. “I’m talking to you,” he all but roared.
Smooth,his bear offered blandly.
Shut up,he told his inner beast.
His bear grumbled back,It’s not nice to shout, especially not ather.
Alex nearly tripped over his own feet at the vehement tone in the scold.What’s your problem?he demanded.
