Free Brother Bear Mated by P. Jameson Page A

puffing up in a smile she couldn’t help. She stared over at Thames. “Two?”
    But he looked even more troubled as he shook his head. “I didn’t do this.”
    “Oh. Adira and Mirena then.” She rubbed her fingers over the rough stone. “They probably brought it as an apology.”
    “For what?”
    Nastia shrugged. “They were a touch judgmental earlier about Newt. They think he’s a familiar.”
    Thames touched her cheek and brought her gaze back to him. The worried look on his face held her attention. “What’s a familiar?”
    “A familiar spirit. An animal companion the Magei keep to do their bidding.”
    His eyes narrowed. “A dark spirit?”
    Nastia pressed her lips together. She wouldn’t lie to him. Familiars usually were dark spirits. But Newt wasn’t that.
    “They take on the characteristics of their witch. So, yes. They belong to the darkness. But perhaps if the witch wasn’t dark, they wouldn’t be either.”
    Thames seemed to relax a bit. “How can you tell if an animal is a familiar?”
    “I don’t know. A feeling maybe? Like you knew I was your mate? But Newt isn’t my familiar. He’s just a pet. I would know. You have to trust me.”
    Thames took her hand in his and she stared down at the connection. His touch calmed her. Grounded her.
    Anchor or not.
    “I do,” he said. “How could I not after what you risked for this clan.” His throat bobbed with a heavy swallow. “For me.”
    She saw the truth in his eyes. He believed her. And after the fight she’d had with her sisters, it meant the world that Thames had faith in her.
    “Thank you,” she whispered, tears welling again.
    But he didn’t let them fall. Instead, he swept her up in another soul-shattering kiss, gently pushing her back against the bed as his mouth danced in time with hers.
    She loved this. Kissing was much nicer than she’d ever anticipated. If this was any indication what sex would be like with Thames, she’d be picking herself up tiny confetti piece by tiny confetti piece by the time morning came. Because he was breaking her. Breaking her in the very best way.
    Like one of those chemical light sticks you have to crack before it will glow. With his lips on hers, she almost believed he could snap her and bring her light back.
    Nastia moaned when his tongue once again swirled seductively with hers, and the rock clattered to the floor as she wound her arms around his neck. His body lying over hers felt like raw power. All coiled energy just waiting to be sprung.
    Thames was intoxicating. His breath, his heat, his hands roaming her body. The rumble of his bear vibrating his chest. It sent delicious chills running from her spine to her toes.
    More .
    Pulling her bottom lip between his teeth, he nibbled his way across her jaw to give her earlobe the same attention.
    “Tell me,” he whispered, his breath skipping along her skin and making her shiver. “Does this feel wrong to you?”
    “N-No,” she managed.
    He dragged his lips down her neck and along the curve of her shoulder, nipping gently at the cord there. God, the sensation was almost too much. Nastia jerked involuntarily but she didn’t want him to stop. When he went to pull back, she tangled her fingers in his short hair to make him stay.
    Thames chuckled softly, working his mouth across her collarbone. “How about this, little witch? Feel wrong?”
    “Goodness, no.”
    His big hand swept upward, rippling along her ribs, touching her soft enough another round of chills broke over her skin. If only he would touch her harder maybe she wouldn’t squirm so much. Palming her breast, he squeezed and sucked her nipple into his mouth causing her to jack up off the bed with a cry.
    Oh my .
    “Wrong?” he asked.
    “No. No, no.”
    With a sexy snarl, he mouthed her tender nipple again, swirling and lapping until her breath came hard and mixed with odd sounds she’d never made before. Nastia lifted her head to watch, but then slammed it back to the bed when