Page 83 of The Grizzly Situation
Love him.
“You’re thinking too hard,” Uly whispered. “Go back to sleep.”
“Nah, not tired.” Even though I’d lay there most of the night, holding him, making sure he was real. “You get some rest, though.”
He sat up, despite the fact I tried to hold him against me a little longer. The moment I lost that touch, I grew cold. Lonely. Despite the fact he was right next to me.
“You’re a terrible liar. Talk to me. What’s going on in your head?”
I wish to hell I knew. “I’m sorry I pulled you away from Jamie and Deb,” I said.
“It’s fine. Deb promised she’d….” He peered down at the sleeping boys. “Suck his lollipop to soothe things over.”
“But it never should have been a thing,” I protested. “I should have been able to be alone for a week.”
“Should you really? Did you not listen when Chaim and Benjy told you about mates? The draw is irresistible, if what they said is true. You need me and, even though I’m not a bear, I need you too. I was thinking how I would do if you told me you had to go away for a week, and I’m going to admit, I wouldn’t have done well. Maybe I don’t feel the same pull you do, but you and thekids are tattooed on my heart. You’re all a part of me now, and it would crush me to be alone again.”
“But you’re never alone,” I reminded him.
“Neither were you. You have Chaim, Benjy, Cullin, Amelia. You’re surrounded by people, yet you missed me. Why?”
Because you’re my mate was the obvious answer, but it wasn’t the one I wanted to give. I’d never felt so needy than when the car disappeared from sight. Or gotten so freaked as the hours ticked away. Even talking to him for those few minutes had barely put a dent in my desire to have him with me. And it wasn’t just about the sex. Hell, it wasn’t even part of it. His scent filling my lungs made my brain work better. His hand on mine made me stronger. His eyes staring into mine made me see things more clearly. I was hopelessly hooked on him, needing him more than I needed to draw a breath.
“I don’t know,” I replied honestly.
“Maybe because you love me? Maybe because we need each other? Or, possibly, where we are right now, is exactly where we’re supposed to be?”
I slid a hand around his waist and pulled him closer. Just the feel of his skin near mine eased some of the ache that had built up yesterday. He wasn’t wrong, I needed him near me. Was lost when he was gone, even for a few hours.
“I spoke with Chaim. He said he had the same issue when Benjy went away. Apparently there are meds he takes that helps, but doesn’t cure it. He also said there were coping techniques. I told him it was fine, I’d stay in town and?—”
“No.”
He reared back. “What?”
“No, I won’t allow it. You have a life, a family. It only makes sense that at some point you’ll need to go back out there. What happens if Deb needs you after Wyatt is born? Or if something necessitates you having to be there for Jamie? Having you hereevery day would be a dream, but that’s all it can ever be. I’ll talk to Chaim. We will get through this together.”
“But the boys?—”
“Will adapt and adjust. We have to. They need to see that if you’ve got to go away, you will come back.” I smiled at the two of them, still sleeping side by side. “We’ll figure it out.”
“But what ifyou or the boysneeds me, and I’m with Jamie?”
“That’s why you take the jet.”
“But it’s still hours away.”
“Are you saying you don’t want to see Jamie and Deb and bring me back cake?”
He sighed and shook his head. “You’re a stubborn man.”
“I like cake.” I reached down and cupped his ass. “Some cakes more than others.”
“Why can’t they come here to visit?”
“That’s not logical, and you know it. First off, how would you explain Mr. Jensen running down the street in his bear form or naked, if he switches back? Or just naked because he enjoys the sun? And what if Deb isn’t able to fly and he needs help? This is on us to fix, not you. So let us figure out how to do that.”
We would do anything for Uly.
