Bearly Hanging On (A Werebear Shifter BBW Romance) (Laid Bear Book 3) by Marina Maddix Page A

been here the same amount of time, and even self-absorbed me can see that neither side is all that jazzed to socialize. No, I honestly believe your grandparents would be righteously pissed off if you brought me home.”
    She pulled back a little, creating a small gap between them. Chet could feel the cool, misty air filling the space and he was left yearning for her to snuggle back in.  
    But as much as his bear didn’t understand it, he couldn’t simply drag her back into him. She was a headstrong and very cynical woman, and Sandy had been coaching him on how to handle her. If she needs to talk, listen. If she needs space, give it to her. If she wants to make out, for God’s sake, do it!  
    That wasn’t a hard rule to follow, but the others rather went against his nature. He was used to getting what he wanted, when he wanted it. It wasn’t easy but it felt right, it felt good. As much as he hated to admit it, this ‘taking it slow’ thing was a way cool chance to do some growing up.
    “So where does that leave us? If neither of us can tell our families, then this thing really doesn’t have much of a future.”
    Pain shot right to his heart at the way she said ‘thing’. This was so much more than a ‘thing’ to him, but she wasn’t fully convinced. She was so freaking aggravating sometimes!
    “Listen, my love,” he growled, tugging her back into the crook of his arm and covering her shoulder with the blanket. “You can fight this all you want, but I’m here to stay. Until you feel the same way, there’s no sense in putting anymore strain on our relationship —“ he refused to call it a ‘thing’ — “than there already is.”
    This time he knew her sigh was a happy one because she snuggled into him, wrapping an arm around his chest. He wanted to stay this way forever, holding her in his arms and envisioning how amazing their life together was going to be. He pictured their home filled with cubs, running around like maniacs and he couldn’t help smiling. That would come in time. Now was the time to enjoy each other.
    “Now it’s your turn to remind me of something,” he whispered into her hair.
    “Mmmm,” she answered sleepily.
    “Why was it that we decided not to make love?”
    “That wasn’t my idea, you letch!” She burst out laughing and tickled him as punishment. Turns out, he was incredibly ticklish so she used her fingers as weapons whenever he got a little too frisky.  
    Grabbing her wrists, he pulled her body onto his and planted a deep kiss on her soft lips. She relaxed into him and took charge of their kiss, lazily flicking her tongue along his lower lip, nipping after each flick. The light prick of pain only served to heighten his desire for her, which she no doubt felt along the length of her thigh.
    His hands skimmed her back and settled on her round rump. He’d never realized what he’d been missing with all those emaciated, flat-assed girls back in L.A. There was nothing to hold onto, only hard edges and angles. Crystal was smooth and soft and oh-so-grabbable.  
    After what seemed like hours of slow and gentle torture, she pulled back, a sad smile on her lips, and said the words he’d come to hate over the past few days.  
    “It’s time to go, Tubbs.”

CHAPTER NINE

    “I have good news, Chet,” Uncle Max said over dinner later in the week.  
    Chet barely heard him. His thoughts were still with Crystal, remembering what they’d been doing behind the equipment shed at her work just a few hours before. It took every ounce of strength for him not to take her right then and there, despite the fact Andy might walk around the corner at any moment. She wouldn’t have resisted, either, but they’d both agreed to not have sex until after they told their families. Which, of course, depended on when — not if, but when — Crystal realized they were fated to be together.
    He didn’t understand what was taking her so long, honestly. His bear had known in a heartbeat