Bear Seeking Bride: Thorn (Bear Canyon Brides Book 6) (BBW Paranormal Bear-Shifter Menage Romance) by Ruby Shae Page A

before he got back from his little rant. Luckily, he and Hawk had chosen well when they’d picked Ava’s response to their ad.
    She’d learned to tell them apart almost instantly, a feat that took most people years, if ever. Only a true mate would be able to identify them so easily, especially while they wore their professional faces. The three women on their staff didn’t know who was who half the time, and they’d been working with the women for nearly five years.
    He glanced at his mate’s neck and his dick started to harden when he saw the two permanent mate marks. He loved the way the puncture wounds stood out on her pale, freckled skin. The marks wouldn’t turn her into a bear, or give her any bear-like abilities. Their only purpose was to brand her as the mate of a bear, and tell the world who she belonged to.
    He and Hawk had failed miserably in expressing their feelings, and explaining the mating process to her, and when she’d accepted their marks, he’d silently vowed to never keep anything from her again.
    He felt grateful his patient had reached out and friended Ava in her time of need. The woman, Bree Mallory, had welcomed Ava into her close group of friends, and he appreciated her kindness. His heart ached when he thought about how lonely she’d been before she’d answered their ad, and how she’d desperately wanted their companionship, even though she thought their relationship would soon end.
    He and Hawk had to work in the morning, but he couldn’t fall asleep. He wanted to call in sick and lay in bed all day with Ava, but he wouldn’t. He’d hate to have to cancel and reschedule all of his patients, especially those who depended on him to be there.
    The ring they had hidden in the nightstand flashed in his mind and he whispered a curse. They’d picked the setting Monday afternoon, and they jeweler had delivered it yesterday morning. It had been burning a hole in his pocket ever since.
    “What are you swearing about?” Hawk asked.
    “Sorry,” Gavin said. “Go back to sleep.”
    “What time is it?”
    “It’s almost two.”
    “Why aren’t you sleeping?”
    “I was thinking…about everything,” Gavin admitted. “We forgot to give her the ring.”
    “We’ll give it to her tomorrow morning,” Hawk said.
    “Yeah, I—”
    “There’s a ring?” Ava asked.
    “Hi,” he said, facing her. “How are you feeling?”
    “Fantastic,” she said. “You mentioned a ring?”
    “Now you’ve done it,” Hawk laughed. “Turn on the light and give it to her.”
    Ava sat up and giggled like a kid in a candy store, and Hawk sat up next to her. Gavin switched on the light, pulled the velvet box out of the nightstand, and handed it to his mate.
    She opened the lid and gasped.
    “Oh my god,” she said, her voice wobbly. “It’s perfect.”
    They’d gone for a simple, one carat, princess cut diamond guarded on each side by two smaller princess cut emeralds. The three stones were set in a platinum gold band.
    Hawk removed the ring from the box and slid it down her finger. Seeing her hand garnished with their ring made his cock harden. He wanted her again.
    “Thank you.”
    She leaned forward and kissed him gently, swiping her tongue across his lips. He opened his mouth and allowed her to leisurely explore. Too soon, she broke the kiss and granted Hawk the same exploration. Hawk leaned her back onto the pillow, and slowly slid his hand down her stomach and over her ass. Gavin knew is brother’s next move, but Ava’s stomach decided it was hungry again, and the intimate moment was ruined by the three of them falling into a fit of laughter.
    Ten minutes later, Gavin and Ava sat at the island laughing while Hawk hovered over a skillet full of scrambled eggs, cheese and ham. Ava had worked the toaster and he’d set the table and given everyone a bottle of water.
    They gobbled up the hot food in silence, cleared the table, and then shuffled back to the bedroom, exhausted. They resumed their