Goldie’s hand snakes down my chest and fists my dick, stroking slowly and firmly, which is more than enough to get me hard for her again. “I’m relaxed. And I am always ready for my bears.”
Kieran grins. “I fucking love you, Goldie.”
Silence presses in, and Goldie’s bright blue eyes dart between us before she responds. “I love you too, Kieran. And I love you, Adrian.” She looks up at me, my hands still cupping her face. “I love you, Marcus.”
Her words ignite a longing within me I did not know I craved until now. Happiness is a tangible thing filling the air, and a smile instantly reaches my lips. “I love you too, Goldie.”
18
KIERAN
Falling asleep in a massive bed with my favorite people is officially my new favorite pastime. Besides fucking Goldie, of course. Even now, my dick is eager for another round, but considering we had her three more times before finally falling into bed, I decide to let her sleep. Slipping from the bear pile as gently as I can, I make my way to the kitchen for a midnight snack.
I made certain to feed everyone after round two of our lovemaking. Goldie is only human, after all, and shifters’ stamina is endless when it comes to their mates. The thought crashes through my body like a tidal wave.Goldie is my mate. She is our mate.
The longer I hold the thought, the more certain I am that it is true. Having a mate of my own was a secret wish I never even shared with Adrian and Marcus. When we built this place together, it seemed to be an unspoken thing: us and only us.
Everything is different with Goldie here, and it is obvious to me now that she is the piece we were missing. A fissureformed when Sylvie died and our families lost hope, but Goldie brought that back to us.
Stuffing my face with leftover grilled chicken, I let my mind wander with fantasies of our future. And because I am such a lovesick fool, I don’t hear the intruder creeping up behind me until it is too late. Something heavy crashes into the back of my head too swiftly for me to react. And then, darkness.
The sound of someone screaming my name brings feeling back to my limbs. My bear roars to life, ready to shred whoever attacked us.
“Kieran,” Marcus’s baritone voice echoes in my head. “Come back, brother, we need you.”
Slowly, my senses return, and I stare up at him. Softness beneath alerts me to my position lying on the couch in our living room. Shooting up in alarm, I scan the room for Goldie.
“She’s gone,” Marcus snarls the words between his teeth, desperation in his voice. “She’s fucking gone. Someone took her, and we need to get her back.”
“Where is Adrian?” My voice is raw and lifeless.
Marcus rubs the back of his neck, pacing the room. “In the woods, trying to track them. We’ve been taking turns. Humans were here, and their scents end at the gravel road about three miles east.”
I nod, absorbing the information. “It’s her ex. It has to be.”
His eyes blacken, and the black bear within roars in anger, his control slipping. “I am going to kill him.”
“Not if I get there first,” Adrian snaps, stomping through the front door.
I run to him, relief flooding my veins to see him in thisform. We clasp arms, and I press my forehead to his. “Good to see you in control, brother. Marcus is barely keeping it together.”
Adrian huffs. “Nice to be the one with self-control for a change.” He looks into my eyes. “It’s her doing. She healed something in me, Kieran. We need to get her back.” Pulling a phone from his pocket, he places it in my hands. “Found this near the road. Do whatever tech magic you can and find her.”
“Fuck yes,” I exclaim, a sliver of hope returning. Not waiting for the others, I race to my office and find the right cord to connect the phone to my computer. Adrian and Marcus join me not even a minute later.
“Can you find them with the phone?” Marcus asks, continuing his pacing.
Adrian leans over me, staring at the screen, and my fingers fly across the keys, downloading every bit of data from the gadget. It appears the phone belongs to a Mr. Cliff Barnes. What a terribly lame name. Fortunately for us, Cliff sent out several texts to a handful of men, preparing them for the raid on us to steal Goldie. And because Cliff is a complete idiot, his location services are active and able to show me every previous location of his.
“Got them.” The relief is obvious in my voice. “The Weston Estate is only a few miles east of the edge of the forest. Maybe an hour's drive.”
“Good,” Marcus nods, finally coming to a stop on the opposite side of my desk. “Now we plan. I will not have us run in there and have gunfire rain down on our heads. They must know we will come for her.”
Adrian crosses his arms, his face fierce and calculating. “They expect men to come for her, yes. But not shifters.”
His words settle over me, and a feral smile covers my face. “You’re right. Goldie would never tell them.”
Marcus’s claws extend, and a rumble builds in his chest. “Then let us rescue her before they even have the chance to try. If even a single hair on her golden head is out of place, I’ll shred them all.”
