“Thanks for delivering my nephew,” Logan said. “I’d hugyoubut…”
Kate stepped in. “We’ll clean the kitchen. Don’t worry about anything right now, just go upstairs andrelax.”
As Drew led her out of the room, the other brothers and their mates began grabbing mops and towels. It wasn’t until they were upstairs in her bedroom that the avalanche of emotions she’d been holding back wereunleashed.
Chapter10
Drew pulledher intohisarms.
“My hands. The blood,” shestammered.
“Shh. I got you,” hewhispered.
He stroked her back as she sobbed against his chest. His bear wanted to come out and wrap her in a huge hug, but that would only scare her. Fortunately, the creature understood why he couldn’t bereleased.
“Let’s get you into a bath,”hesaid.
“Oh, no. I ruined your shirt.” She pulled back to study the dark splotches on hischest.
“Don’t worry about it,” he said. “During cattle birthing season, my shirts go through muchworse.”
When she wrinkled her nose, he smiled. He released her and walked into the bathroom. As he leaned over to run the bath, she began to unbutton her shirt. He tested the stream of water and adjusted it until it was hot, but not scalding. He opened the cabinet under the sink and took out a bottle of bubble bath. After pouring a few drops into the water, he capped the bottle and returned it tothesink.
“If you need me to adjust the—” His jawdropped.
Cindy stood in the center of the bathroom, completely naked. Other than the splotches of blood on her hands, she was stunning. Black hair cascaded across her shoulders. Pale peach skin glistened in the light. The rosy tips of her breasts formed enticingpeaks.
“You’re staring,” shewhispered.
“I…Um.” Heat rushed into his cheeks. It took a lot to strike him speechless, but apparently her naked perfection had beenenough.
“The tub looks big enough for two,” she said after scrubbing her hands inthesink.
She didn’t have to ask him twice. He stripped off his shirt and pants and set them on the counter along with her clothes. As he walked toward the bath, she stepped into it. She sat forward, giving him room to slide inbehindher.
He didn’t bother trying to hide his growing erection as he pulled her back against him. She had to know how much he wanted her already. But if she hadn't, sheknewnow.
After wrapping his arms around her waist, he kissed the back of her shoulder. She sighed and leanedagainsthim.
“Thank you for helping Madison,”hesaid.
“I’m just glad I was here. She had to be terrified. I didn’t think she was that far along. I thought she met Mack inDecember.”
“It’s complicated,”hesaid.
He couldn’t exactly explain the unpredictable gestation period of werebears, not yet at least. That would be a hell of a conversation, one that they would need to have if she really was his mate. But that could wait. She shivered in his arms. The adrenaline of the situation hadn’t fullydissipatedyet.
He picked up a fluffy tan sponge and dipped it in the water. As he brushed it across her shoulders, he sighed. She hadn’t been the only one keeping secrets. He had his own that he’d have to reveal if they decided to move forward together. Was he really any better than her? He’d lied about his fundamental makeup. But he couldn’t even think about broaching that subject with someone who wasn’t his fated mate. The Yellowstone werebears had spent decades hiding their true natures. They’d managed to stay safe by keeping their bear selves secret. He couldn’t tell her.Notyet.
Cindy’s shoulders trembled. She sniffed a few times before reaching up to wipe tears fromherface.
“Hey,” he murmured. “What’sgoingon?”
“I’m just so lost. I came here thinking that I was going to meet the man of my dreams only to find out it’s all a lie. And then I met you. And I…I’m not ready to leave. I just wish I knew where I stood with you,”shesaid.
“I want to trust you, I do. But I’ve been burned before,” he said. “I don’t know what it will take for me to makethatleap.”
“I don’t know how to make youtrustme.”
