“Have you ever wondered why no other man was able to get you excited? Did you wonder why your girlfriends had crushes and you didn’t?”
What the hell? It’s like he’s seeing into my soul…
“Yes,” I whisper.
I can’t move. I’m completely still as I stare at this man who seems to know me better than I know myself.
“Tell me about your pussy,” he says in a low voice that deepens the throb between my legs. “Do you ever touch it?”
I gulp. “Sometimes.”
I can’t believe I just admitted that to a stranger. He’s got some kind of control over me…
“What do you think about when you’re touching yourself?”
I swallow hard. “Like, which guys?”
He doesn’t like that answer. The tightness in his body is back and his nostrils flare as he watches me with heated eyes.
“I don’t think of any men,” I quickly say, wanting to soothe him. “I think of a presence. A feeling in my chest. It’s weird, I guess. Hard to explain.”
He grins like he knows I was going to say that.
And that’s when it clicks.
That feeling of recognition I had for him… His presence… It’s the same presence I’ve felt whenever I’ve touched myself in a sexual way. It’s almost as if it’s always been him there with me as I pleasured myself.
Geez, what do they put in this beer? Narcotics?
I glance at the timer and there are still three and a half minutes left.
“Have you ever kissed a guy before?” he asks.
I shake my head as I feel my cheeks start to flush. “Weird, right? A twenty-two year old who’s never kissed a boy.”
“I’m thirty and I’ve never kissed a girl.”
My mouth drops. “Seriously?!”
He nods.
That’s… I can’t even believe that.
He’s so gorgeous that he could kiss any woman he wanted to. All he has to do is ask.
“Why not?” I blurt out. “Are you gay?”
He laughs. “I’m not gay.”
“Then why?”
“I’m supposed to ask the questions.”
I hit pause on the timer. “Why haven’t you kissed a girl?”
He leans back and licks his lips as his eyes bore into me. “I’ve been waiting for my mate.”
“Your mate… You’re a shifter?”
He nods.
“Whoa,” I whisper as my eyes drop to his massive chest. “What kind of animal?”
“Kodiak bear.”
“I’ve never met a shifter before.” My hand reaches out to touch his chest, but I snap it back when I come to my senses. “Do you have a mate?”
He nods as the sexiest grin imaginable appears on his face. “I do now.”
Damn it. Lucky bitch.
“You’re my mate, Mary. It’s you.”
I’m nodding my head, but it’s not sinking in.
“Wait. What? I’m the lucky bitch?”
Suddenly, Jacob is at his side, grabbing his arm and pulling him up.
“What?” Cameron roars as he rips his arm away from his brother. “I’m busy with my mate.”
His mate… I’m that mate. No way…
“I need to talk to you,” Jacob hisses through clenched teeth.
Cameron gets in his face. “I’m not leaving her side.”
“For fuck’s sake, Cameron, she’s going to stay right there. I just need a second.”
Cameron looks at me and then turns away with a huff. “I’ll be right back,” he grumbles as he leaves with his brother.
I’m sitting there, staring at the wall in shock.
A mate.
I have a mate?
It’s like someone coming up to you out of the blue and telling you that they arranged a new husband for you, only this new husband is a bear shifter/soul mate and your marriage is going to last forever.
Don’t I get a say in this? Doesn’t my voice matter?
My eyes roam back to him and I can’t help but smile as I watch him standing there, arguing with his brother.
If fate had to pick someone for me to be with, I’m glad it’s him.
He’s the most beautiful man I’ve ever seen.
And I like the way he looks at me. I’ve never had a man look at me with such intensity before.
Maybe I’ll give it a chance before I run out of here and escape back to New York.
What’s the worst that can happen?
It might even be fun…
Chapter Four
Cameron
My bear is snarling inside of me like a rabid beast as Jacob pulls me to the side. The furious Kodiak wants me to knock Jacob out and go back to my girl. He’s trying to claw and hack his way out, but I flex my body, keeping him back. For now.
He’s a different kind of animal now. Much stronger and more determined than I’ve ever seen him. He’s already so possessive and is looking at her like she’s our territory to protect.
“What the hell do you think you’re doing?” I roar as I yank my arm away and get in Jacob’s face. My hands are squeezed into fists by my side ready to unload.
“What the hell do you think you’re doing?” he snarls back.
We’ve always been the two hotheads of the group and when we go at it, well, let’s just say it’d be a wise thing to get as far away as possible.