Teddy took long licks on the inside of my leg. “Sweet honey.”
“Teddy, wait, you don’t want to do that.” I panicked, not really sure what Teddy’s intentions were. I didn’t really know the grizzly, didn’t know what he could do to me.
He hummed, his big hands wrapping around my thighs. I no longer felt the thick fur on his legs or face, just the beard I knew from Bear.
“Can I talk to Bear first?” I squeaked. “I-I have questions.”
Teddy hummed, his long thick tongue sneaking past my underwear and grazing part of my pussy. My eyes rolled back in my head, and I bit down on my lip to stop letting a moan escape.
Teddy crawled up toward me. I couldn’t see him in the dark, and maybe I was more okay with him touching and licking me there, but it was all so new, all so… I don’t know, it was still scary to me. I wanted Bear to walk me through it.
Teddy’s claw gently caressed my cheek. “Don’t be frightened, little bee. We will take care of you.”
I let out a long breath, and I wasn’t sure if it was from relief or wanting, because I wanted both. I wanted both so very much.
Teddy’s warm, heavy breath lightened. The darkness of the room settled in, and I tried to scoot away from his hold around me, but I couldn’t move, and I panicked.
“I need to move,” I panted. “I need to move!”
It was so dark and silent. Teddy wasn’t talking, and now it just reminded me of my dreams. The warmth of someone breathing on my neck and then plunging their nails into my skin for me to feel the pain.
Had I fallen asleep again?
“Please!” I raised my voice for the first time in ages, and immediately, I was let go, but one warm hand stayed on my wrist.
“Baby, it’s me. I’m right here. I’m back. I’m so sorry.” Bear’s baritone voice was the light I was looking for. I reached for him, found his neck, and wrapped my arms around him.
“You’ve got a lot of explaining to do.” I chuckled anxiously.
Bear petted my hair and stood up from the bed. He immediately turned on the light on the bedside table. “I know, baby, I know I do.” His expression was soft and apologetic.
Chapter Sixteen
Nadia
Hisfacewasbackto normal. No fangs, no black onyx eyes staring back at me. The graveled voice that let me know that his grizzly, whom I had dubbed the name of Teddy, all had faded away, and now I wanted my answers. I felt like I had been very understanding. Partly because I was a bit put off, maybe even fearful because I wasn’t sure how to act around a unique personality, but I was finally comfortable now that Bear was back.
“That was your animal. Your grizzly, right?”
Bear smiled, his fingers combing through his tousled hair. “Yes.” He cupped my hip with his enormous hand. His nose was flaring, looking down my body, repeatedly squeezing my hip.
I couldn’t help it. My body was reacting too. Bear was nearly naked; he might have some really stretched-out underwear down there. The light was still dim, and my eyes had not yet adjusted, and we were still beneath the blankets.
“He got angry that Delilah blurted out that you were our mate. We were waiting for the right time,” Bear said, his voice filled with embarrassment. “He got so riled up. I wasn’t expecting him to lash out like that, and I lost control of him. He got so strong, so fast.”
“You mean Teddy,” I added. “Your grizzly’s name is Teddy.”
Bear smirked and shook his head. “You females are all about naming our animals. The others warned me.”
I frowned. “What? Warned you of what?”
“Grim and Hawke. Shifters don’t name their animals, but human females do. Our second chances have all been humans, and they name them. I didn’t think you would, but you named mine all on your own.”
I blushed and shrugged my shoulders. “I think he named himself. He responded to it. But we are getting off subject,” I scolded. “We had all week to talk. You could have even told me our first day here, and you didn’t. Why?”
Bear laid on his side and pulled me on top of him. It was a position that I was used to. He was like my own personal mattress. I could hear his large heart beating in his chest, the thunderous purring, and it lulled me right to sleep in an instant.
“I thought it was too much. Too much information in one day. I didn’t want to overwhelm you.”
