Page 19 of Bear with Me
"Why Santa, what a big hairy behind you have."
The bear snorted and rose up on his hind legs, since he couldn't back out of the kitchen without running over me. He hit his head on the cast-iron chandelier, sending it rocking back and forth, and landed back on his front feet.
Before I could reach out and touch his soft fur, his body shrank in on itself. Once again, I stared at Ollie's ass. His thigh muscles curved out below it, making him look like a Mr. Universe model.
I shifted my attention downward. Even the backs of his knees were sexy, and the curves of his calves could have been carved from granite. Every part of him begged me to lick and claim him.
I took a step back toward the bedroom door. I'd never in my life wanted to claim an alpha. Ollie was being kind by letting me share his bed. That didn't mean I was suddenly his mate.
Ollie turned toward me, and my gaze caught on the wiry hair on his shins. I tried to skip over his midsection, but there I was, face-to-face with his gorgeous cock, which was standing at attention.
"Merry Christmas to me," I whispered.
Ollie chuckled. "Merry Christmas."
My gaze snapped to his face and my cheeks burned. "I'm so sorry. I should go. I need to not stare at my roommate first thing on Christmas morning." Babbling while backing away, I couldn't tear my gaze away from his body. His pink nipples stood out from thick brown chest hair that reminded me of his bear pelt. I tucked my thumbs into the waistband of my new sleep sweats, so I wouldn't reach for him.
"Gods, I'm being so inappropriate. I'm gonna?—"
"What if I like it when you're inappropriate?" Ollie stepped toward me, closing half the distance between us. One more step, and we would be touching. I took another step backward and ran into the hallway wall.
Instead of stepping toward me, he held his hand out and looked up. I'd hung a little sprig of plastic mistletoe above the kitchen entrance.
"That was a joke," I said. "Or wishful thinking. Not a suggestion."
"Mutual interest." He flexed his fingers in invitation.
I slipped my hand into his, and he pulled me to him, wrapping his other arm around my waist. He tipped his head forward, waiting for me to close the distance.
Gods, this was a bad idea, right? I shouldn't be kissing my new roommate, but it was the only thing I wanted to do. His body was so warm against mine, though we weren't quitetouching. I placed my hands on his chest, and he sighed. He sounded content.
I tilted my head so our noses wouldn't bump against each other and tentatively brushed my lips against his. The rasp of his beard against my lips felt so good. I pressed harder against him.
He took over, backing me against the wall again. I tangled my fingers in his hair and held on for dear life as he kissed me thoroughly.
His stubble burned against my cheek as he nibbled along my jaw to my throat. I couldn't resist a moan when his teeth grazed my neck.
I tilted my head back and caught sight of the sprig of mistletoe hanging well behind us. If Ollie didn't care, neither did I. I angled my head down to capture his mouth again, and he opened for me. He tasted like milk and sugary chocolate. I couldn't get enough.
He picked me up and carried me into the bedroom. The change in temperature cooled my libido for the moment. "What are we doing?" I whispered as he nipped at my neck again.
"Hmm?"
His cock pressed against mine, still trapped in my sweats. One, or maybe both of us, had leaked all over the fabric. It was cold against my skin.
"I'm not a vacation fling kind of guy," I said. At that moment, I wished I was, but I didn't want to go home and pine for this guy who would surely realize he could do a million times better than me when he had all of Chicago to choose from.
"Neither am I," he said. "You're my mate."
I swallowed hard. "Your … what?"
He groaned and pressed his forehead into my shoulder, pinning me to the wall beside the door. "Dammit. That's the bear talking."
"Your bear thinks we're mates?"
My mom and dad had insisted they were fated mates, too, but I didn't believe in it. I'd fallen too hard for too many guys I met at the club to think there was only one person in the world for me.
He pulled back with another pained groan. Dropping his gaze to my pants, where he'd left a nice little spot of precome next to my own, he groaned again. "Fuck. Sorry. I can do laundry today."
