Free His to Bear by Lacey Thorn

I’m already bonded when Jaeda and I haven’t mated?”
    “You’ve heard that it’s the female who decides and initiates the bond.”
    Holt nodded, though it wasn’t really a question.
    “Once the choice is made, the skin begins to secrete an oily substance that’s
    passed to the mate through rubbing. The female will stroke her skin against yours
    anywhere she can, though the easiest places for the scent to be absorbed at are in the
    neck and groin where the skin is thinner. The more she does this, the quicker her mate
    is marked, and his scent becomes more linked to hers. There’s still a slight difference
    that can be detected, but the bond is easy to pick up.”
    “So all the time she’s been rubbing on me, she’s been marking me?” Holt almost
    snorted at that. He’d been so busy guarding against a bite, he’d failed to pay attention to what she was actually doing. He’d found it cute.
    “You already carry her scent. It’s why I’ve stayed my brother’s hand, though he
    is adamant Jaeda is his mate.”
    “Is it possible to have more than one mate?” Holt questioned.
    “No.” Laramie’s voice was hard, brooking no argument. “A bear won’t share.
    There can only be one mate.”
    “Jesus! I wasn’t looking for a ménage with you brother,” Holt admonished. “I
    meant could her bear have made a mistake and picked me when Koby is really her
    mate?”
    “Not usually,” Laramie said. “He was there when she was found. She went to
    you, picked you.”
    Holt took that in, wondering what it was then that made Koby think Jaeda was
    meant to be his mate instead of Holt’s. It was something he’d wait and discuss with
    Koby though, not Laramie. “Jaeda said choosing a mate was the one decision a female
    was allowed to make. What did she mean by that?”
    “We’re a male dominated society. The female is allowed to pick her mate as he
    will be her master for the rest of her life.”
    “Master?” Holt wasn’t sure he liked the sound of that. At least that’s what he
    told himself even though his cock was rock hard and throbbing with need. Jesus!
    What the hell was wrong with him? He’d never been into kink like that.
    “After mating, the female becomes the male’s responsibility. She’ll bow to his
    wisdom in all things. It’s her job to stand behind her mate, offering her support. It’s
    his job to protect her and see that all her needs are met. She’s his to cherish and love, as well as discipline if warranted.”
    “She’s a grown woman not a child,” Holt countered.
    Laramie merely smiled. “Have I not already seen the way she tries your
    patience? Did you not order her to silence then send her from this room with a swift
    tap to her ass?”
    “That’s different,” Holt mumbled and felt his face warm.
    Laramie laughed. “Not so different if even now you’re thinking of bending her
    over your lap and seeing the print of your palm on her rounded curves.”
    Holt felt his face burn brighter, and Laramie answered with more laughter.
    “Perhaps you’re more bear than either of us imagine,” Laramie mused.
    “I don’t believe in hitting a woman.”
    “But I can see the desire in your eyes. Don’t lie to yourself or repress your needs
    and demands. She won’t respect you for it, and you’ll lose what you’ve yet to truly
    taste. She will test you in the beginning. All mates do. It’s the bear’s way of seeing if you’re man enough to belong to her. She’ll see any reluctance on your part as
    weakness. It’s up to you to prove your worth.”
    “By spanking her?”
    “By showing her you don’t fear her. By showing her that her safety means
    everything to you, that you’ll guard it with your strength. By assuring her she’ll be
    protected even from herself. Only then will the bear fully submit to you, and only
    through that submission will you truly claim the woman. It’s the way it’s always been
    with the bears. The male dominates, and the female