Page 12 of Delivered to My Beasts
“To be free. To mate who I choose. To not be someone’s trophy. To make my own choices. I would like to maybe go to school. I’ve never even worked a job.”
“Jobs aren’t that fun.”
We laughed together. She shrugged one shoulder. “I don’t know. This one seems pretty great. You are really talented, Jax.”
“You don’t have to flatter me, Imogen. We already want you to stay.”
“I’m not flattering you.”
While I wiped down the workbench, I’d managed to inch closer to her. I turned to face her. “Thank you.” Mate. The word stayed in my throat no matter how much my bear wanted me to say it. It wasn’t time yet. We’d had that confrontation earlier and while everything was now in the open, there was a hint of tension in the air.
“You’re welcome.” Her gaze dipped to my lips and all I could think about was kissing her.
So I did.
Her lips tasted like fresh honey and cinnamon. I pulled back after the soft barely there kiss, not knowing if I’d done the right thing or not.
“Do that again,” she whispered. No way in hell I could muster the strength to tell her no. This time, I put my hands on either side of her slim waist and tugged her to me with a bit of force. She let out a giggle, but it was snuffed out once our lips met again. My body lit up and exploded in a thousand fireworks of pleasure.
I’d expected a big reaction the first time I touched my mate, but nothing prepared me for the soul-shaking way she made me feel.
And we had only kissed.
I might not be able to handle mating her.
“Oh.” Crew’s voice broke through my haze. “Sorry. Just…sorry.”
“No, it’s fine.” I stepped back and winked at my mate. Her cheeks were flushed and her eyes glassy. Good. I was glad I had the same effect on her. “What’s up, Crew?”
There was no reason for me to be embarrassed in front of Crew or Duke when it came to our mate. We were going to have moments with her alone and moments with two of us and some with three of us. I suspected there would be lots of times when the three of us would be with her together.
Yes, I was jumping the gun a little bit since she hadn’t decided we were her mates and so far had stayed for protection rather than mating, but I had hope.
“I thought I’d give Imogen a lay of the land so she can roam around as she pleases.”
Imogen lit up at that idea then instantly withered. “Is it safe?”
Crew nodded. “We have cameras and other things in place to make sure we’re safe. I’ll show you everything…if you’re done here?”
He looked at me and I nodded. I had to share like a good bear.
“See you later?” she asked before joining Crew.
“Yes, sweetheart.” The term of endearment slipped from my mouth. “I’ll be here.”
That night, even though it was Jax’s turn, Imogen volunteered to make dinner for us. I wasn’t sure if tradition was the same for wolves as it was for us, but a bear’s mate making food for them, well, it was the one of the greatest gifts she could’ve given us.
She wouldn’t let us help, either.
My favorite part was watching her shoo Duke out of the kitchen. She had us all wrapped around her fingers already.Even though he’d shown her some tough love that morning, now that the air was cleared, we were all smitten and would do whatever we had to in order to keep her safe.
And with us.
“It smells delicious,” I said, taking a seat at the island with the others.
“Thank you,” she said. “It’s nothing fancy.”
“Doesn’t have to be. We’re easy to please,” I responded. Hell, she could make us toast with cinnamon and sugar and there wouldn’t be a complaint from any of us. Better not be.
