August: Mating Fever (Bears of Kodiak Book 2) by Selene Charles Page B

fell in love with him.”
    It felt as if someone had just ripped the rug out from under his feet. Intellectually, he understood that he had not come first. Neither had she. But August could honestly say that he had never fallen in love before either. There had never been a woman alive who had held his interest the way Jack did.
    He had never met anyone else who had made him curious enough to know everything about her. He had never willingly suffered through hell each night just by being in another woman’s presence and not being able to touch her.
    Hearing her admit to him that she had been in love before felt like a blade to his chest. He clenched his back teeth, not sure what to say or how to say it.
    Her hand reached for his and she gave it a gentle squeeze. “Look at me, bear.”
    It was hard, but he did. And he drank the sight of her in—her oval-shaped face, her pretty blue eyes and bow-shaped lips, those high, razor-sharp cheekbones, and her delicate nose.
    “He didn’t love me back because sirens aren’t capable of love.”
    He cocked his head, confused. “But you just said—”
    She sighed, letting him go, or at least trying to. But he snatched her hand back, holding fast to it as if it was his lifeline.
    And she let him.
    “I’m broken, Auggie. I’m not like normal sirens. We enjoy sex. The chase. The hunt. The feel of bodies pressed close. It’s our lifeblood. But we don’t want or need more than that. Except me. I had to leave Angoon because I was suffocating there.”
    He squeezed her fingers. “And now you’re going to leave here too.”
    Her smile was so sad that it made him tremble, desperate to wipe it off her face.
    “Yeah, well, I just can’t seem to help falling in love with people that can’t love me back.”
    As if someone had just punched a fist through his gut, August went absolutely still. Was she implying that she loved him?
    Hurt shrouded her, and this time she put a little more effort into pulling her hand out of his, but he hung on, refusing to let her go.
    The words he’d been dying to say all night slipped out as easy as a thought. “What if I don’t?”
    This time, she went absolutely still. “What?”
    Licking his lips, he plowed on. “What if I refuse to do the mating ritual? I can, Jack. I can choose not to do it.”
    Her eyes widened, and in them, he read fear and panic, but also hope. The fire was small, but it was there. “You would do that for me?” Her words seemed to echo through the empty bar, causing his heart to squeeze painfully in his chest.
    He nodded. “I would do almost anything for you, siren.”
    Her mouth parted just slightly. Then in a flash, she was up and out of her chair, walking around the table to him.
    Stunned by what she was doing, he didn’t fight her when she released his hand and placed her hands on either side of his chair, pushing him back away from the table.
    His little siren was much stronger than she appeared. Her face was intensely serious as she stood up, placed her hands on the hem of her shirt, and with one smooth motion, pulled it up and over her head.
    His body went rigid at the sight of her lacy black bra and her smooth, flat stomach. He swallowed hard.
    Next, her fingers landed on the button of her jeans. With a flick, she had them undone. Then she was unzipping and shoving them down her long, lean legs.
    His eyes feasted on the skimpy, black lace panties she wore. When her hands landed on his waist, he sucked in a sharp breath. His body was a riot of sensations—hot and cold, excited and impatient.
    Was she telling him yes? Was that what this was? Was she going to seal this partnership with their bodies?
    His thoughts scattered when she undid his button and zipper. Quickly, he helped her shuck off his jeans, leaving him only in his boxers and shirt.
    She tugged at his hemline. “Shirt off.”
    With the type of speed he wasn’t generally known for, he whipped his shirt off and tossed it over his shoulder.
    Holding out her