Ted’s hand curves around mine in a tight grip as if bracing himself for what’s next.
“Don’t worry, Tedford,” I say even as my words come out raw and gravelly. “This story has a happy ending.” I turn my attention to the window, so I can finish without getting sucked in his stormy gaze.
“But after a lot of prodding and nagging from my loving parents, I eventually cracked under the pressure and told them what was making me so miserable.” I crossed my arms over my chest, the need to make myself small cropping up. “When my mom found out what Madison did, she said some of the meanest things I’ve ever heard her say and that womannevercurses. Then she and my dad combined efforts to kick ass.” A half smile kicks up on my lips. “They pulled me out of school for the rest of that week and forced me to do all things I used to love, clothes and makeup shopping. Though my dad always said shrinks were full of BS trying to scam people out of their hard-earned money, he helped find me a great therapist and took me religiously. They went to the principal and got those girls who made the hate group about me suspended. It was the end of the school year, but I was too scared of running into the girls outside of school, so my parents sent me to live out here with Astrid that summer. I’d only met her a couple times, but it completely changed my life. Astrid. . . ” My voice trailed off in awe. “She had so many interests, loved everyone she met and was loved in return.”
“Sounds a lot like you,” Ted says gruffly.
I dip my head as heat rises to my cheeks. “That summer, I slowly but surely came out of the hole I’d burrowed into. When high school started, everything was different, including me. I found myself again and with the edge Astrid gave me, I was voted homecoming queen and voted most friendly my senior year. And I kept up that reputation ever since. I’ve been romancing everyone with fashion and killer makeup.”
Ted scrubs a hand over his face. “Sweet faelords, sometimes I’m so glad I’m a boy with only brothers. Girls can be so faefucking cruel.”
I rear back. “Whoa, raging feminist over here.” I point at myself. “Boys can be equally cruel.”
Ted drops his chin. “As much as I’m an advocate for equality, let’s agree to disagree. I feel teenage girls have a knack for a certain type of psychological warfare most boys are not subtle enough to pull off.”
I open my mouth to argue, but Ted grabs my hips and hauls me up onto his lap, so my legs are on either side of his. Instantly, I'm squirming and lifting myself, but he tugs me back down. “You couldn’t crush me before, you sure as hell won’t now,” he says, reading my thoughts.
His hands massage me in a way that almost makes me self-conscious about the folds at my waist, if it didn’t feel so good. His gaze bores into mine, keeping me connected mentally.
Then his tone softens, as he asks, “Do you like dressing up the way you do, or do you only pay such close attention to your appearance because you want to be pleasing to others?”
“I like dressing up, putting on makeup, I even love wearing frilly lingerie if no one is there to see it.”
A rumbling emanates from Ted’s chest as if he likes that idea.
“It makes me feel powerful, feminine, and I feel good about myself.” But without all the frills and whistles? I bite my lower lip. “Maybe I do depend on accessories and clothes too much. I should have confidence without those things.”
“Don’t do that,” Ted urges. “Don’t feel guilty about the things that make you feel good about yourself. That’s like saying you shouldn’t love something because others think you shouldn’t enjoy it. People naturally like certain television shows, sports activities, or foods, and trying to convince themselves they like the opposite is futile, not to mention a waste of what precious little enjoyment we can scrape together when life is hard. I only ask because I want to know if you like it versus doing it because you think other people will like you better. But it sounds like your parents keyed in on what you love and brought you back to it.”
The vibration of what feels like a massive gong being struck tremors into the marrow of my bones before sonorously traveling outward through the rest of my body. It sounds exactly like something Astrid would have told me. Why in the hell does this bear shifter have so much clarity on the world? Oh right, he has really had to live hard.
“You are lucky to have such loving parents." He gives me a small smile.
“Ted.” I shake my head, pressing my hands to his chest. “My problems are so ridiculous next to yours.”
Suddenly, I’m flat on my back. Ted is hovering above me, holding my hands over my head. “My experience, my life, made me who I am. And your life and experiences made you who you are, and you gorgeous, are a ray of fucking sunshine.”
He lowers so he can start planting kisses up my throat. My engines start up with surprising strength, causing my hips to rock up against his.
Lips brushing against my neck, he continues, “Makeup or no makeup, clothes or no clothes.” I feel his lips curve up. But then he raises to meet my eye. “Do you have any idea how much I wanted that ridiculous little pink cake? No, wait. That came out wrong. That cake wasn’t ridiculous. It was beautiful, lovely, thoughtful.”
I arch an eyebrow, more than willing to put him out of his misery. “It was pink, Ted. Rugged werebears like you don’t eat little pink cakes in the shape of hearts.”
A smirk slides onto his mouth. “Oh yeah? Why not? I already eat cream puffs every chance I get.”
Chapter33
A Day Without Porridge
GOLDIE
Iwake up with two strong arms around me. Something in me purrs as I snuggle deeper into the hard body surrounding me.
After the obscene magic tricks Ted performed on my body, we took care of his hard-on until he was moaning my name like a prayer and losing control.
I feel so safe here with him. Like the core of my being is wrapped in a big fuzzy blanket. Sunlight streaming in through the window warms my face, burning away the softness of my dreams and pulling me into reality.
The one where I know before I even open my eyes that I’m in Ted’s room. That it’s his arms around me. And I want to stay here. I don’t have to make apologies and run out of here though I will have to get up soon. But I want to feel safe a little while longer.
