“No, I want to get it out. We showed up at the gas station late at night and they sent me in alone with a gun. They said they’d have my back, and I believed them. When I got in there, I saw that there were two people working—an old man and a teenage girl who looked like she was his granddaughter. I almost left right then, and I should have. I’ll regret that decision every day of my life.”
Despair saturated his scent, and my chest tightened. I didn’t press him. I just held my breath, waiting to hear what happened next.
“I held them at gunpoint and forced them to hand over everything in the register. It wasn’t even that much money. I was about to leave when an alpha came out of the bathroom. He saw me and tackled me. I landed right on my bad knee, and the pain was blinding. They held me there until the police came. The gang members left the moment they saw what was going down. I was arrested and sentenced to four years in prison.”
“You were practically a kid,” I said softly.
“Don’t make excuses for me,” he said, his tone harsh. “I knew better. And I’ll never forget the fear on their faces.” He swallowed heavily. “I wrote them a letter from prison apologizing. I never heard anything from them, but I hope they know how sorry I was.”
“I’m not making excuses for you.” I kissed his cheek, his stubble rough against my lips. “I’m just saying you were alone in the world. If you’d had the love and support you deserved, noneof that ever would have happened. And you paid the price for what you did. You don’t have to keep punishing yourself for it.”
I rolled him on his back and pressed a kiss to his throat, running my hands down his chest. He shuddered as I kissed down his body until I got to his knee. His right knee was slightly larger than the other, permanently inflamed like a talisman reminding him of his past mistake. I pressed my lips to it, wishing I could ease his physical and mental wounds.
“Come here, baby,” Bear said, his voice hoarse.
He pulled me back up his body and gazed deep into my eyes. Then his lips were on mine, his tongue pressing into my mouth. A moan slipped from my lips at the taste of him. I wrapped my arms around his neck, arching so my nipples rubbed against his chest. I wondered if we should talk more about what he’d shared, but I sensed that Bear had told me as much as he was able to tonight. We were so alike—we both buried our suffering and preferred to get lost in distraction to avoid thinking about our pain.
I was happy to be his distraction tonight, just like he was mine.
Our bodies rocked together, my slick drenching the front of his boxers where his hard cock ground against me. I wanted to tear off his boxers, but if Bear wasn’t strong enough to tear my panties, I definitely couldn’t rip off his boxers. I settled for trying to pull them down, my fingers tugging at the waistband.
Bear stilled. “Actually,” he said slowly, his hand catching mine. “I was thinking you might want someone else in bed with you tonight.”
I frowned. “What are you talking about? I want you.”
“I know, baby. I meant in addition to me.”
I froze. My omega did want more of my guys in bed with us, but I didn’t want Bear to think he wasn’t enough for me, especially after what he told me about his childhood.
“I don’t need anyone else.”
His smiling lips grazed mine. I breathed in his heady scent, not detecting any notes of distress.
“You can’t hide anything from me, remember?” he said. “My omega needs her pack, and I don’t mind sharing.”
“Why don’t you mind?” I asked.
“Because it’s what you need,” he said simply.
“Mr. Whatever-Your-First-Name-Is James, you are such a romantic. I never would have guessed when I saw you that day in your shop.”
“I knew that day you were it for me, even though there’s no way in hell I’m good enough for you. But you’re impossible to resist.”
“I’m glad you can’t resist. Because I can’t resist you.” I nipped his bottom lip.
“Now, are you going to get that beta in here?” he asked, a devilish look on his face.
My cheeks heated and I nodded. Bear and Henry were getting along so well, and I wanted to be with both of them again now that I was out of my heat and fully lucid.
“Good girl.” He smacked my ass as I got off the bed. “Tell him to bring his suitcase in here.”
I cocked my head. “Why?”
“I might have peeked inside. He’s got some freaky shit in there,” Bear chuckled.
My butt cheeks clenched as I remembered the last thing Henry had pulled out of his suitcase.
I threw Bear’s shirt on to cover myself before creeping down the hall until I got to Henry’s room. Soft light shone through the cracks in the doorway. I wasn’t sure if I should knock, but in the end, I decided to just slip inside.
