Total pages in book: 28
Estimated words: 26479 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 132(@200wpm)___ 106(@250wpm)___ 88(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 26479 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 132(@200wpm)___ 106(@250wpm)___ 88(@300wpm)
“I’m sorry if I was rough,” he says with shame in his eyes. “I lost control for a minute.”
“It was perfect,” I say, knowing there’s going to be bruised fingerprints on my ass cheeks tomorrow. I grin, excited to see them. “I kind of like it when you’re out of control.”
“Hopefully, it’s just in the bedroom from now on,” he says with a soft smile, “and I’m not losing control in the middle of Costco.”
I grin as I drag my hand through his hair. “I’ll be there to calm you down whatever happens. You and your bear. We’re a team now.”
He wraps his arms around me and holds me close. “Thank you,” he whispers. “For everything.”
I hold him back, enjoying the feeling of being so close to him, of being so loved. “I love you, August. You and your crazy bear.”
He kisses my collarbone and starts rolling his hips, his cock hardening inside of me once again. “I love you too, my mate.”
I kiss him hard on the mouth as our hips start moving, about to show just how much we love each other.
All. Night. Long.
EPILOGUE
August
Seven months later…
“Did you meet up with Jackson?” Hazel asks me on the phone as I slide into the back door of the country club.
“Yeah,” I lie.
“How’s he doing? Has he found his mate?”
“No,” I answer. “But he’s still looking.”
“I hope he finds her soon,” she says with a sigh. “I don’t want what happened to you to happen to him.”
“He’ll find her,” I say as I sneak past the locker rooms and head toward the indoor tennis courts. “Luckily, his bear is more patient than mine was.”
“You tell him I said hi, okay?” she says. “I love you so much.”
“Me too,” I say as my heart aches. “I gotta go. I’ll call you later.”
After a few more I love you’s, I slip the phone back into my pocket and close my eyes, taking deep calming breaths. I hate lying to her.
It kills me to do it, but this is something I have to take care of. It’s been eating away at me for months.
It’s not a complete lie. I am visiting my brother Jackson for a couple of days, but I’m making an important stop first.
It’s time to pay someone a visit.
My pulse picks up as I peek into the window of the first tennis court. Two ladies are playing. Two older men in the next one. The third one, bingo.
I can tell by the weasely smile and the slick-backed hair that this is my guy. He’s training a girl who looks like she’s barely eighteen years old and he seems more focused on her ass than her backswing as she hits balls from the machine.
A growl rumbles out of me as my body tenses. I squeeze my hands into fists, picturing his neck between them.
My bear perks up, ready for action, but I give him the bad news.
“He’s all mine,” I whisper. “I’ve been waiting too long for this prick.”
Furious heat is flushing through my body as I open the door and step in.
The girl doesn’t break stride. She keeps hitting the balls as Tanner Jones glares at me.
“Hey!” he barks. “This is a private session. Out.”
I grit my teeth as I walk over to the machine and yank out the plug.
“Session is over.”
His mouth drops open in outrage. The girl lowers her tennis racket and looks at me.
“Why don’t you go get some fresh air or something?” I tell her. I really don’t want to do this in front of her and give her nightmares.
She looks at me, then at Tanner, then at me, and then quickly leaves.
“What the fuck do you think you’re doing?” Tanner says as he rushes over with an air of self-entitlement. Look at this fucking prick with his short white shorts and white collared shirt. They’re going to be stained red by the time I’m done with him.
He charges right up to me, dripping with self-importance. I grab his neck with a firm grip and give him a taste of my strength. His eyes bulge open as he claws at my wrist, trying to squirm free.
After a few seconds, his skin is blue and his mouth is open wide, gasping for air that doesn’t come.
Finally, I let go and he crumples to the ground.
I grab a fistful of his hair and yank his head back. He’s on his knees, looking up at me with terror in his wide eyes.
“Do you remember Hazel Stewart?” I growl as I look down at him.
I see the recognition on his face. He looks like he’s going to be sick.
“What was it that you told the whole school about her?” I say in a calm voice despite the fury raging through me. “That she was a what?”
“It wasn’t me!” he says in a panic. “It was Matt!”