I’ve gone my whole life not trusting anyone, but I trust Knox.Being with him feels right.I think he might really be my soulmate.
“Do you want to meet my bear?”Knox asks.
“Yeah, let’s do it.”
He grins, pushing off the bed.I smile, watching as he kicks off his boots, then reaches for his shirt.
My eyes widen as he pulls it over his head, and I hold up a hand when he reaches for his pants.“Wait!Uh… what are you doing?”
“If I shift wearing my clothes, they’ll rip,” he explains.
“Right.”
I glance away as he pushes his pants and boxers down, my cheeks heating with a fierce blush.
“Ready?”he asks gently.
I take a deep breath and turn to look at him.Our eyes lock as he steps back.I watch in shock as he changes.It happens fast—crazy fast.One minute, he’s Knox, and in the blink of an eye, a bear is standing beside the bed.
“Whoa!”I squeak, my eyes wide as I stare at the black bear.
I freeze, my heart racing as the bear prowls closer.His nose brushes the back of my hand, and I suck in a sharp breath.
This is insane.
Crazy
And completely real.
I reach out with shaking fingers, brushing my hand tentatively over his head.The bear grumbles happily.I giggle, feeling braver, and scoot closer, stroking my fingers through his fur.I scratch one of his ears, eliciting a deep rumble of approval.
“So soft,” I murmur.
He steps back after a few minutes, shifts back to human form, and pulls on his clothes.Once he’s dressed, he turns to look at me.We lock eyes, both at a loss about what to say or where to go from here.
Finally, he takes a deep breath and breaks the silence.“So, yeah…”
I can’t help it.
I laugh.
FIVE
Knox
Is laughter a good sign?my bear asks.
I mentally shrug at him.We’re in uncharted territory here.But I don’t think she’s laughing at you.
Of course not.I’m magnificent.
I smile at his confidence.I wish I could be as sure as he is.Instead, my head is racing with a thousand thoughts.
Did I explain everything right?What is she thinking?Can she feel this thing between us too?
“Do you have any questions?”I ask Daisy when she finally stops laughing.
“Uh, no, I don’t think so.Or, not right now anyway.”
