“You’re awake.” Candrin snuggled into me and then froze. “Why didn’t you wake me? I shouldn’t be here, right?”
That wasn’t what I had been expecting him to say.
“You absolutely should.” And I needed to get the balls to tell him that I wasn’t human and my bear wanted him to be my mate.
He relaxed at my words and his breathing evened out as he started to snooze. I must’ve followed along beside him, because the next thing I knew I was waking to an empty bed. I hated it. I wanted Candrin still here with me.
“But Candrin’s human,” I reminded myself. He wouldn’t just scent me and be allmine, the way my bear and I did with him. He probably thought his quiet exit would be appreciated by me.
I climbed out of bed and headed straight into the shower. I hated the notion of washing his scent off of me, but I was covered in cum and that really wasn’t the best way to go about my day.
The hot shower felt amazing against my skin and I stayed in a bit longer than I should’ve and paid the price. My face and chest were so red. When I got downstairs, Candrin was gone.
He hadn’t fled the house taking his things with him, he was just gone for the day, probably working and I missed him. And my bear? He was pissed that I let him go without marking him. I had a feeling that was going to be a fight of ours until I finally shared my true naturewith Candrin.
Mate.
Ours.
Mate.
“He’s gone.” I stormed out of the house, shucked my clothing and let my bear out. Maybe if I could wear his sorry butt out he would chill.
We ran and ran and ran. He wasn’t happy about Candrin being gone, but he took full advantage of his time out. And when I shifted back and went inside, I felt more in control of my beast than I had since I had woken up. Thank gods.
I spent the next few hours cleaning, and basically doing anything and everything I could to keep busy and to not worry about things. And when he came home that evening, it was everything.
There was no way to fully understand what was happening. But I didn’t need to. Not really. Candrin was here and enjoying the time I had with him would be enough—at least until I figured out how to share who I was with him.
“I made dinner.” It wasn’t anything too special. Just some chicken with yellow rice. But it was a favorite of mine and I wanted to eat it with him.
“It smells delicious in here.”
“I agree.” Only I was talking about his scent wrapping around me and not the dinner.
Candrin yawned a few times during the meal. I’d kept him up too late the night before—or maybe it was more accurate to say we kept each other up, but either way he was exhausted.
“I’ll let you get to bed.” I put the last of the plates in the dishwasher. “You look like you’re ready to fall asleep standing up.”
“I’m tired, yes. But I don’t want to go to bed. Maybe we could just snuggle on the couch and watch a silly movie.”
“I’d like that.”
We cuddled under a big blanket, watched an old musical and just enjoyed being close. All of the awkwardness I’d felt that morning when he froze beneath my arms and then when I woke for a second time, only to an empty bed, vanished. And in its place was nothing but comfort and companionship. I loved how we could be like this, all snuggly, without the expectation that things would heat up. It made it more relaxing and somehow better.
Not that I’d have a problem with things if they were to heat up, but Candrin was running on fumes and this wasthe sensible plan.
When the movie was over, I walked him to his room, kissed him sweetly and then retired to my own bed, the bed that still scented like him. I didn’t love him not being in my arms when he went to sleep, but if he was with me, I doubted either of us would’ve gotten much sleep. The couch was one thing—my bed an entirely different one.
The next morning, I was up early and when I went down to start the coffee, I found Candrin putting bread in the toaster.
“Want me to put in some for you?” he asked, looking very well rested, pleasing both my bear and me.
“I’d love that.”
I went into the spice cupboard and took out the little bear cinnamon sugar shaker my brother picked up at the grocery store as a joke. Joke was on him—it was delicious.
We ate our cinnamon toast, drank coffee, and that was when I discovered what was really weighing heavy on Candrin; he’d been unable to find a lawyer who was willing to challenge Charles about the will. And I got it. I did. Lawyers didn’t want to waddle in the middle of family business, especially as the underdog and withthe money Charles could pour into the case—anyone on Candrin’s side would be the underdog.
