Free Brother Bear Mated by P. Jameson

matched the ones on her cheeks dotted her shoulders and sprinkled the skin above her breasts, fading out to creamy pale mounds tipped with pink nipples. Lower. Her waist tapered inward at her tiny belly button before the rest of her disappeared under the water.
    His mate was exquisite.
    His hands tightened at her waist as he struggled for control. He would do this right. He wouldn’t scare her by being a brute.
    But then she tossed back her shoulders, sticking her perfect breasts out like she was proud of them. And she damn well should be.
    He caught her gaze, and saw a tiny ounce of apprehension remained. That was his female, naïve yet bold.
    “I don’t know much about getting um, physical, but I know you’re staring at my body like it’s a book that holds the secrets of the universe.”
    Oh, it held the secrets to a universe alright. His universe. And he was going to unlock every last one.
    Tonight.

Chapter Eight
     
    Nastia’s heart beat a hundred miles a minute as Thames carried her through the tunnels back to the great room. The lantern had been forgotten in the hot spring cavern and even though they were bathed in pitch darkness, she clutched her dress to the front of her body as if it was still necessary to remain covered.
    She wasn’t sure how far they were from the great room but there was no light anywhere. Maybe this was how it would be when she’d completely succumbed to evil. When all her goodness was blotted out.
    Each step Thames took was sure. He wasn’t fumbling like he should be in a blackout. Like she’d be. He squeezed her closer against his chest as if he could sense her toiling thoughts.
    “You can see in the dark,” she whispered.
    “Yes.”
    She rested her head on his shoulder, happiness warring with fear. Thames wasn’t her Anchor. She knew it to be true. Darkness still sang to her. Her light still faded. But right now, it didn’t matter what he was. She cared for him, risked her future to protect him. It meant something. And she was going to be with him as long as she could, starting tonight. Starting now. Because she didn’t know how long she had left to be herself.
    The way his kind mated was beautiful. Maybe some women would want the feelings first. The unexplainable passion that built and built until love was proclaimed and plans made, culminating in a union of bodies and life.
    But that wasn’t what Nastia needed. His way made sense to her. Touched her deep inside where her hopes collided with reality making something messy. It was that messy part of a person that made them unique. Finding someone who was willing to take on that mess with her was something special.
    Even if it only lasted a night.
    “If I was a bear, the darkness wouldn’t come for me.”
    It was several steps before he answered.
    “It doesn’t matter if the darkness comes, Nastia. We’ll go through it together. You’ll see.”
    The tunnel began to get lighter, an orange glow bleeding out the black and casting shadows on the rocks. Nastia blinked as they stepped into the great room. The only light was that coming from the fire in the stove but it seemed much brighter after walking through the dark tunnel.
    Thames stalked straight for the bed, but then stopped suddenly, his arms stiffening around her.
    She stared at his rigid profile. “What is it?”
    He tipped his head forward, a frown pulling his brow tight. “Someone’s made the bed.”
    Sure enough, the sheets were crisply folded around the mattress instead of bare bones the way they’d left it. A fluffy white comforter and too many pillows made it look heavenly.
    Thames walked with her to the edge, and Nastia gasped at what rested in the middle of the bed. A small heart shaped stone. A geode crystal from what it looked like. She could see the dark amethyst color peaking through the rough gray exterior.
    He set her carefully on the bed, and she reached for the rock, drawing it close to examine.
    “It’s beautiful,” she breathed, her cheeks