Jared: Mating Fever (Rocked by the Bear Book 5) Read Free Page B

today, did it?”
    Jax exhales as if he’s surprised by my words and says, “Bro. Destiny’s a bitch.”
    Anger I don’t understand simmers in me, and I pull out of Jared’s embrace to face his twin. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
    He holds up his hands. “It’s not a bad thing. You don’t take his shit. I like it.”
    “And other people do?”
    Jax grins at me. “My brother likes to date the pretty girls that never question what he says. You’re not that kind of woman.”
    I squint my eyes at him, and he quickly adds, “Not that you aren’t pretty. You’re gorgeous. I meant that you don’t believe everything he says.”
    I don’t want to explore what that means right now, so I turn back to Jared and cross my arms. “Tell me again how you’re going to keep me safe.”
    Jared takes my arm and leads me away from Jax as he says, “Let me explain more about werebear.” He tells me about super senses and the warrior training all werebear experience during their teens. Apparently it’s even hard to kill one because of the quick healing process. When he’s done, I feel a little better about my mate’s ability to protect me.
    I’m not thrilled that my safety is dependent upon someone else, so when Jared insists sleeping in his bed with him would be safest, I refuse. Even though I’m physically attracted to him with an intensity I’ve never felt before, I need space.
    The sofa bed creaks as Jared yanks on it, and it thuds on the floor. I take the linens from him and say, “I’ve got it. If you don’t mind, I’d really like to be alone now.”
    Jared steps close, and the true-mate attraction between us practically sings. When he takes my arms, I lean my head back as if we’re already familiar lovers. He closes in for a kiss. For a moment, I experience bliss as we taste each other’s intoxicating elixir, and if he led me to his bed, I’d go. But Jared respects my boundaries, and he releases me before we get carried away. He says, “I’m sure this is hard for you to understand, but I’ve been waiting for you all my life, and I’m very happy to have found you.”
    I smile up at him, but I don’t know what to say because while the idea of a forever love makes me happy, it comes with a hefty price.

4
    I ’m not a morning person , and the bright sunlight burning through my eyelids makes me wake annoyed, especially when I realize it’s Saturday. I groan as I tug a pillow over my face and inhale the scent of laundry detergent.
    “Good morning,” says Jared as the mattress sinks beside me. I whip the pillow off to glare at him, but when I notice he’s holding a cup of coffee, my anger fades. He says, “My guess is you drink it black. Am I right?”
    I slide back to sit up, and the mug is hot in my hand when I take the drink from him. “Yes. How did you know?”
    He smiles, and my insides tingle in response. Wow. Maybe I should have slept in his bed. He takes a moment before he answers, and I wonder if he’s trying to be tactful when he says, “You strike me as a no-frills kind of girl.”
    I sip the bitter liquid before I offer, “How about I’m a hot mess that never has cream on hand and is usually late?”
    Jared grins. “Self-aware. I like it.”
    I ask, “So what’s the plan today?”
    “Donuts and a recon mission to see if it’s safe for you to get your things out of your apartment.”
    “And my car?”
    “We’ll swing by to get that on the way home.” He gazes at me with a hungry look that makes my heart skip a beat, and I gulp down more coffee to resist kissing him with my morning breath.
    Jared sighs before he stands up. “How soon can you be ready?”
    “Five minutes.” Air is cool on my bare legs when I climb out of the bed wearing one of Jared’s T-shirts. He takes a shaky breath as he watches. My desire burns in my belly at his reaction to me, and I pause as our eyes lock.
    Something flashes in Jared’s eyes before he swallows hard and says, “We have things to