He nods. “My bear and I love that work the most. But we also like serving our mate.”
“Are you close with any of the other clan members?”
“Yes, all of them,” he says. “But being newly mated, I’ve been giving them space to bond with their women. And I’m also close with my brother.”
“Well, I guess I’ll make myself useful by helping Jewel keep the pantry stocked,” I suggest. “It looks like a lot of work.”
“The men will do the stocking,” Jabari explains. “She just picks out the food.”
“I want to get to know the other women of the clan,” I tell him.
“I’ll introduce you tomorrow,” he promises. “They’ve been keeping their distance because you’ve just arrived. They want you to get comfortable and adjust.”
We enjoy the rest of our meal, chatting and laughing, getting to know each other better. The conversation flows easily, and I find myself relaxing in a way I haven’t in years. There’s something about his earnestness that breaks down my usual defenses.
When I finish my plate and wine, he stands and begins to clear the table. I move to help him, but he snatches my plate and glass before I can grab them.
“I can clean up,” I protest.
He’s already moving toward the sink, so I follow, bumping him playfully with my hip to make him move over.
“Fine, I’ll help you then,” I say, and he just smiles down at me, eyes crinkling at the corners.
“You wash while I rinse,” I instruct, taking my place beside him at the double sink.
As we work together, passing dishes between us, I ask, “Do any of the bear shifter clans get together sometimes?”
“No, not really,” Jabari says, taking one of the rinsed pots. “Every clan keeps to themselves. But we are close with our cousins from Axel Clan. They visit sometimes, and we visit them.”
He wipes his hands on a dish towel. “Most of the congregating in Wintermoon is done in the market with seasonal festivities and vow renewal ceremonies. Kade has been working hard to get us out of our villages more.”
I rinse the last dish and pass it to him to dry. “I’m wondering where I’ll fit in on Wintermoon. I’m just a personal stylist, but I have other skills too.”
We move together easily, putting away the leftovers and wiping down the counters. The kitchen shines under ourcombined efforts. There’s something nice about this—the easy rhythm of working together.
“You don’t have to rush to assimilate into the clan,” He tells me, folding the dish towel. “You can rest, enjoy your new home, work on making it a comfortable space.”
I look around at the cabin. “It is comfortable. The clan practically gave the place a full remodel while we were in the market,” I gesture at the new furniture and electronics.
Jabari laughs, the sound rich and deep. He turns off the water and pulls me into his arms. His eyes rake over my body, his hands moving to my waist and then sliding down to cup my ass.
“Can we stop talking now?” he asks, his voice dropping to a growl. “I want to eat your pussy again.”
I shake my head with a smile. “What am I going to do with you?”
“Love me,” he says simply. “Just love me. I’ll handle all the rest.”
I run my fingers through his beard, the coarse hair surprisingly soft against my skin. “I’m teaching you how to keep your hair and beard trimmed in the morning.”
“I told you, I’ll clean myself up for you, baby,” he promises before leaning down to press his lips to mine.
The kiss deepens quickly, his hunger evident. Before I can process what’s happening, he’s lifted me onto the counter, positioning himself between my legs and pulling me tight against his body. His hands move to my breasts, pulling them free from my dress and bra. He lowers his head, taking a nipple into his mouth, and I gasp at the sensation of his warm tongue circling the sensitive peak.
He lifts my dress over my hips, spreading my legs wider. I place my palms on the counter, watching as he tears my panties apart with a single pull, tossing the ruined silk to the floor. Ifrown slightly—those were hard to find in the market, and there were limited options in my size. I make a mental note to stock up on underwear, since he apparently enjoys destroying them.
But I forget all about my underwear when Jabari kneels before me, his broad shoulders pushing my thighs further apart. He buries his face between my legs, ravenous. His tongue traces my center before circling my clit, sending waves of pleasure radiating through my body.
“Oh god,” I moan, one hand moving to the back of his head.
