did love her, but she wasn’t my mate. She never provoked anything close to the feelings I have for you.”
“Maybe you only think I’m your mate because it’s been so long since you’ve shifted. You might meet someone better in another hundred years. Will you live that long?”
“Yes, I’ll live that long, but that’s not how it works. I’m immortal, honey, and I can’t die. I can be injured, and feel pain, but I can’t be killed. The mate mark won’t turn you into a bear, but it will give you the gift of immortality. Once I mark you, we’ll be together forever. You’ll always be mine and I’ll always be yours. No one else will matter.”
“Will I be able to have children?”
“Yes,” he laughed. “The process to mark you involves biting your neck while I come inside you without protection. Newly mated bears are extremely fertile and your chance of becoming pregnant is nearly one hundred percent. The fact that Darcy and Sam aren’t carrying yet is surprising.”
He offered her an instant family, something she’d always wanted, but would she make him happy? He talked about mating, but he never mentioned marriage or whether or not he wanted kids, only that she would have them. What if he freaked out again and left her to raise the little bears alone? She’d be alone for eternity, not just the rest of her regular lifespan.
Aaron watched as she processed the information, and she knew he was waiting for some kind of response. She didn’t know what to say, so she said the only thing that stuck in her mind.
“That’s a big decision. It seems I have a lot to think about.”
Chapter Eight
Aaron watched as the backpacker hit on his woman. Both the man and the bear bristled as Sara laughed at a lame joke while she finished checking-in the guy’s group.
It had been two weeks since he brought her home from the hospital. She’d allowed him to stay, but they’d exchanged nothing more than a nightly platonic kiss before bed. He wanted more, but he kept his distance to give her the space and time she needed to heal.
In order to keep his agreement with his bear, and to help Sara become accustomed to his animal, he routinely shifted on their daily walk through the National Park. She hadn’t admitted her fear to him, but she’d been apprehensive to walk among the trees again. Every day he watched her regain more confidence, and he hoped he had something to do with it. Man or bear, he would always protect her.
After another fit of giggles, the man at the counter touched her hand and invited her to dinner.
No way in hell!
Aaron put down the drill he’d been using in the kitchen and walked up behind Sara. He pressed his body against hers and encircled his arms around her waist. He didn’t try to hide his erection, or his possession. The man took a step back and cleared his throat, regret evident on his face.
Good. At least he isn’t stupid .
“Are you almost finished, honey?” Aaron asked. “I know I’m starving.”
“Yeah, I’m almost done,” she replied nonchalantly over her shoulder.
“Sorry dude,” the backpacker said, “I didn’t know she was taken.”
“Don’t worry about it, son,” Aaron replied. “I know she’s hard to resist.”
The younger man grabbed his key and his bag and raced for the door.
“Thanks for your help, Sara. See you later.”
“Bye,” Aaron said before she could respond.
When the room was clear, she pushed his arms off of her and crossed the room to lock the door. She turned back toward him, her anger evident.
“What the hell was that?” she spat.
“That’s what I’d like to know,” he said in the same irritated tone.
“What are you talking about?”
“Why are you flirting with guests right in front of me?”
“What do you care? You don’t want me anymore, so why don’t you just leave me alone?” her voice cracked on the last word, and she ran upstairs and slammed the bedroom door.
What the hell?
Aaron had no idea what just
“Maybe you only think I’m your mate because it’s been so long since you’ve shifted. You might meet someone better in another hundred years. Will you live that long?”
“Yes, I’ll live that long, but that’s not how it works. I’m immortal, honey, and I can’t die. I can be injured, and feel pain, but I can’t be killed. The mate mark won’t turn you into a bear, but it will give you the gift of immortality. Once I mark you, we’ll be together forever. You’ll always be mine and I’ll always be yours. No one else will matter.”
“Will I be able to have children?”
“Yes,” he laughed. “The process to mark you involves biting your neck while I come inside you without protection. Newly mated bears are extremely fertile and your chance of becoming pregnant is nearly one hundred percent. The fact that Darcy and Sam aren’t carrying yet is surprising.”
He offered her an instant family, something she’d always wanted, but would she make him happy? He talked about mating, but he never mentioned marriage or whether or not he wanted kids, only that she would have them. What if he freaked out again and left her to raise the little bears alone? She’d be alone for eternity, not just the rest of her regular lifespan.
Aaron watched as she processed the information, and she knew he was waiting for some kind of response. She didn’t know what to say, so she said the only thing that stuck in her mind.
“That’s a big decision. It seems I have a lot to think about.”
Chapter Eight
Aaron watched as the backpacker hit on his woman. Both the man and the bear bristled as Sara laughed at a lame joke while she finished checking-in the guy’s group.
It had been two weeks since he brought her home from the hospital. She’d allowed him to stay, but they’d exchanged nothing more than a nightly platonic kiss before bed. He wanted more, but he kept his distance to give her the space and time she needed to heal.
In order to keep his agreement with his bear, and to help Sara become accustomed to his animal, he routinely shifted on their daily walk through the National Park. She hadn’t admitted her fear to him, but she’d been apprehensive to walk among the trees again. Every day he watched her regain more confidence, and he hoped he had something to do with it. Man or bear, he would always protect her.
After another fit of giggles, the man at the counter touched her hand and invited her to dinner.
No way in hell!
Aaron put down the drill he’d been using in the kitchen and walked up behind Sara. He pressed his body against hers and encircled his arms around her waist. He didn’t try to hide his erection, or his possession. The man took a step back and cleared his throat, regret evident on his face.
Good. At least he isn’t stupid .
“Are you almost finished, honey?” Aaron asked. “I know I’m starving.”
“Yeah, I’m almost done,” she replied nonchalantly over her shoulder.
“Sorry dude,” the backpacker said, “I didn’t know she was taken.”
“Don’t worry about it, son,” Aaron replied. “I know she’s hard to resist.”
The younger man grabbed his key and his bag and raced for the door.
“Thanks for your help, Sara. See you later.”
“Bye,” Aaron said before she could respond.
When the room was clear, she pushed his arms off of her and crossed the room to lock the door. She turned back toward him, her anger evident.
“What the hell was that?” she spat.
“That’s what I’d like to know,” he said in the same irritated tone.
“What are you talking about?”
“Why are you flirting with guests right in front of me?”
“What do you care? You don’t want me anymore, so why don’t you just leave me alone?” her voice cracked on the last word, and she ran upstairs and slammed the bedroom door.
What the hell?
Aaron had no idea what just
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