Free Bear Again (Second Chance Shifters 3) by Meredith Clarke, Ally Summers Page A

over her sore limbs. Liam had rocked her body into total ecstasy. And this morning had been everything she loved. She loved how it felt, having him hard and solid behind her. His big hands stroking her body while he rode her the way he wanted. She loved it—nothing turned her on more.
    But then there was that awkward blood oath conversation. She lathered shampoo in her hair. It was a natural part of bear commitment. She knew that. She hadn’t expected it so soon. It needed to be enough that she had given him her body.
    She rinsed her hair and added conditioner to the ends. Her neck was tender where he had bitten her. He had taken the opposite side from Noah. Maybe it was instinct. Maybe it was his personal preference, but she was glad. Her bond with Liam was separate and unique.
    She didn’t want to compare them to each other. It wasn’t fair to them or to her.
    She turned off the water and searched for a towel. She had let Liam keep her in bed too long this morning. She had cakes that needed to be baked.
    She poked her head in the bedroom door. He was pulling jeans on over his long legs.
    “I’ve got to get the ovens turned on downstairs. Meet me for coffee?”
    “Wouldn’t miss it.” He smiled, and she felt the tug on her heart. God, he was sexy. And hers.
    “Okay, see you soon.”
    She skipped down the stairs, flipping on the lights and humming to herself.
    “Shit.” She looked at the kitchen. They had raced up the stairs in such a hurry she had forgotten what a disaster the place was.
    Her eyes raked over the counter where Liam had licked icing from her body. She blushed, biting on her lower lip. Was there anything hotter than that? She wouldn’t be upset if he traipsed down the stairs and tried it again, but she had work to do. Starting with sanitizing the entire counter. She giggled.
    She had just pulled an apron on over her head when she thought she saw someone standing outside the kitchen door. She looked out of the small window.
    “Can I help you?” She pulled open the door.
    But there wasn’t just one person standing in the private parking lot. There were at least fifteen. And she knew without knowing their names that they were all bears.
    “It’s done, then?” A man stepped forward.
    “Excuse me?” She searched the crowd for someone she recognized.
    “Look at her neck.” A girl pointed, smiling. “Thank God.”
    They all smiled and patted each other on the back. Sophia’s hand covered her neck. She didn’t realize how prominent the bite was. They were all staring at her.
    And then she heard the steps behind her. Liam stepped in front of the door.
    “What are you doing here?” His voice was angry. He stared down the group.
    “We had to know if you would come through for us.”
    Liam made a protective gesture, shielding Sophia from the onlookers. “You all should leave.”
    “But you claimed her? Is the ceremony tonight? It has to be.”
    Liam tried to push Sophia inside the kitchen, but she wouldn’t budge. “Liam? What are they talking about?”
    “Just go inside. It’s clan business. I’ll take care of it and I’ll be in.”
    “We saw her neck.”
    Sophia felt the humiliation and the panic gripping her. These bears knew. They knew what she and Liam had done last night. It was something so personal, yet here in the parking lot, it was as if the whole world had seen him bite her.
    “They know?” She pulled on Liam’s arm to force an answer from him.
    “Just go inside, Soph.”
    “We need a time for the blood oath. All the elders will be there.” The bears wouldn’t stop talking.
    She tightened her fists into a ball. “No they won’t.” She gritted her teeth at the crowd. “There will not be a blood oath tonight.” She stormed into the kitchen, leaving Liam and his clan to face the fallout her words had just caused.

20

Liam
    T hey were all looking for answers. But there was only one person he needed to give an explanation to. He had to get inside to Sophia.
    “I