"I hope you like Earl Grey little miss." Marius set a fragile looking china cup and saucer in front of her. As he poured the dark liquid in her cup the floral scent of bergamot filled the air. She inhaled deeply, Earl Grey had always been a favorite. He held up a sugar bowl filled with tiny white cubes and a pair of tongs.
"Four please." He nodded and with practiced ease dropped four of the sugar cubes in her cup. She picked up a tiny silver spoon and began to stir.
"Four?" Aiden stared.
"I like it sweet."
"So do I." Byron smiled at her kindly and took three cubes.
"Now, in all the ruckus, did my son explain that you were his mate?" Adelaide asked sipping her tea.
"He said we were mates, but I kinda freaked out after that."
"That's understandable, considering the situation." Byron shot an amused look at his son.
"How could he know that we are mates? We've just met." Meryn asked. She still didn't quite believe this was happening, but seeing Colton shift had definitely swayed things in her mind. Either they were telling the truth or her genius mind had finally cracked. She personally didn't think that she was that weak, that only left the explanation that they weren't lying and really were bear people.
"Being shifters we know by scent." Adelaide explained.
"So that's why he kept sniffing me." Meryn mused out loud and Byron laughed.
"A mate's scent to a male is like catnip to a cat, we can't get enough of it." Aiden's father leaned over and buried his nose in Adelaide's neck breathing deeply. He smiled at his mate as if to make the point.
"So Colton, with the great ass, is a dog shifter?" Meryn asked. Aiden growled loudly.
"I do have a great ass." Colton admitted beaming.
Aiden's father ran a hand over his mouth smiling. Aiden stood, sending his chair flying backwards.
"You shouldn't be looking at anyone else's ass!" He bellowed chest heaving. Thirty minutes ago, she would have been terrified, but he had kidnapped her, stuffed her in a trunk and manhandled her. She had met his parents and saw their love for each other and their son and it had changed her perception of him. She was no longer afraid of him. He was just a grumpy, spoiled-ass bear and she was tired of his growling.
She stood, ready to bellow back when she noticed that he towered over her. Grumbling, she climbed onto the chair. She was still only about chin level. He smirked down at her. Seething in frustration she climbed on top of the table and put her finger right in his face.
"Don't you dare tell me what to do! I am a grown woman, if I want to look at naked men I will!" She knew she was screeching, but couldn't help it, this man drove her nuts.
"You want to look at naked men, start with me!" Aiden whipped off his shirt and stood in front of her his hands on his hips.
All coherent thought flew from her mind. Meryn felt her IQ dropping along with her eyes as she took in every ... single ... inch of him. The man was a work of art. Never before had she seen something so perfect. He was built, but not bulky. His muscles had definition and she appreciated every dip and ridge. Her eyes moved down his body and the view only got better. Mentally she traced each rigid valley that made up his eight pack. Her eyes followed the smattering of dark hairs down until she was looking at where his pants began. She couldn't help her physical reaction to him if she tried. Groaning, he pulled her off of the table and into his arms. His lips found hers and her world changed forever.
She had never felt such need, such urgency as she did when his tongue twined around hers. It was as if he was inhaling her, absorbing every breath and drop of sweat. He fed from her lips as if he was dying and she was his last meal. Vaguely she was aware of everyone quietly leaving the kitchen, but she didn't care. All she wanted was this man, forever. She had gone her entire life without ever experiencing this drowning need, and now that she had, she would never let it go. It was as if her body was coming alive for the first time under his touch.
She wrapped her legs around his waist and practically climbed up his body. She buried her hands in his hair and allowed him to dominate her mouth. He pulled away and she whimpered. His lips traced her ear and her breath caught, when his soft lips trailed down the slope of her neck she moaned. He pulled away again and she noticed that his eyes were different now. They were no longer a bright blue, but an unreadable black. She tensed. She had forgotten that he wasn't human. The black eyes were eerie. She was trying not to be afraid, but it wasn't something a person could exactly control.
He must have noticed the change in her ardor because he blinked and closed his eyes. Pulling her close he buried his face in her neck.
"Please don't be afraid of me. Not me. We may have had a rocky start, but I would never hurt you. Never." He whispered harshly.
It was his desperate request that swayed her. It touched her very soul. It was filled with raw sense of loneliness that she understood all too well. In that moment she knew that she would never be afraid of him again. Hesitant at first, she wrapped her arms around his head and stroked his hair. A shudder went through his body and his arms tightened.
"I'm sorry I hit you with the toilet." She whispered. He chuckled and she felt a sense of accomplishment. It was the reaction she was hoping for. She pulled back suddenly, desperate to see his smile.
He looked down at her, his eyes blue again. Laugh lines creased the corner of his eyes and a gentle smile greeted her. There would be no other man after him, how could any other compare? In less than one afternoon he had changed her life forever. Yet it felt so perfect she was scared to trust it.