Free Tamed by the Bear (Bear Creek Clan 3) by Harmony Raines Page A

love and cherish you.”
    “I don’t know if I’m capable of being loved and cherished,” Antonia had answered.
    “Of course you are. I have loved and cherished you as a sister forever. So just allow Sam to do the same.”
    “That was different, we only had each other.”
    “Well, you and Sam will only have each other. I mean as lovers.”
    “I don’t know how to be someone’s lover,” Antonia had told her sister.
    “He will make it perfect for you, Antonia. Take a chance. It’s the best offer you will ever have.”
    Antonia had known she was right. And on the drive over here, she had made up her mind to give herself, her innocence, to Sam. Only there, in her car, it had sounded so simple. Now she was here, her courage deserted her. And so did her appetite.
    “I hope you like it. The herbs in the sauce are from the kitchen garden. Everything else has been grown on the farm too. I like to be as self-sufficient as possible.”
    “It smells really good,” she answered.
    “Are you going to try it?” He had been watching her staring at her plate.
    She picked up her knife and fork, cut a succulent piece of chicken, and slipped it into her mouth. She had expected it to taste like cotton wool, her mouth was so dry, but it was surprisingly good.
    Slowly, as she ate, her appetite returned. The wine made her loosen up and she sat listening to Sam babble away. He knew she was feeling uncomfortable and he tried to make her at ease. He didn’t push her to talk, or for any information, but slowly she found herself opening up, just a little, to him. A chink had appeared in the armour she wore to protect herself from getting hurt.
    “I’d like to show you around the farm properly tomorrow. If you’d like to.”
    “I would. I have a dress fitting but apart from that, I’m free. I think Kayleigh might like me out of the way for a couple of hours. I know she has lots to do and I have offered to help, but she wants to make sure everything is just right. Between her and your mom they seem to have it all under control.”
    He laughed, a low rumble in his chest. It made her stomach flip and she wanted to place her hand on his chest, so that she could feel the vibrations through her body.
    “My mom has been planning weddings ever since I can remember.” He ate some food, chewing it before speaking again. “Every era that’s gone by, she’s looked at wedding dresses, bought a couple of mother-of-the-groom outfits too. She hung on to them until they were so dated she would look ridiculous if she wore them and then kept her eye out for another one. So to actually have a wedding happening is a dream come true for her. I don’t know what she’ll do once we’re both married. She’ll need a new hobby.”
    “And do you intend to get married?”
    “If you’ll have me.” He looked at her for a moment and then looked away. “I’m sorry, that was presumptuous of me.”
    “These days people live together without getting married. But also, if I don’t stay, won’t another woman come along?”
    He placed his fork down on his plate and looked at her earnestly. “No. If we don’t get married, or at least stay together, that’s it. No second chance, no second mate.”
    “That’s harsh.”
    “It’s the way it is. At first, our kind didn’t marry. It was only when living together without marriage was considered a sin among humans, that the clan began holding ceremonies. Now it’s as much of a tradition as the Beltane Rites.”
    “When long life is passed to your mate?”
    “Yes. It’s so that we can live the same number of years. Some of us are lucky and marry others that have a long life; others are not. So with the help of an ancient druid who was mated to one of us, the Beltane Rites were created.”
    “Do you think of yourself as being unlucky to have a mate like me, who is only human?” It was another reason she figured he had lucked out having her as his mate.
    “No. Not at all. Don’t ever think that.”