"I would," he says immediately. "I'd die before I let anything hurt you."
"I know. That's what I'm trying to tell you. I know." I reach up, placing my palm against his chest. His heart is racing under my hand. "Whatever this bond is, I feel it. And I'm not scared of it."
"You should be."
"Why? Because you might lose control? Rhett, you had complete control last night. You shifted and shifted back on purpose. You've been in control this whole time."
"Because you're here. The mate bond helps. The bear wants to impress you, wants to show you it can be trusted. But that doesn't mean—"
"It doesn't mean you're fixed, I know. This isn't some magical cure for trauma. But it means you're not as dangerous as you think you are."
His hand comes up to cover mine against his chest. "You're so sure."
"I'm sure of you."
We're standing so close now that I can feel the heat coming from his skin. Can see the rise and fall of his breathing. Can smell pine and smoke and that wild, musky scent that's purely him.
"This is a bad idea," he says, but his other hand is moving to my waist, settling there like it belongs.
"Probably," I agree, my voice barely above a whisper.
"You barely know me."
"Then let me get to know you."
"I'm broken."
"I'll help with that."
"I haven't—" He swallows hard. "I've never done this. Never had someone. Never wanted someone until—"
"Until?"
"Until you."
I don't know who moves first. Maybe both of us at the same time. But suddenly his mouth is on mine and I'm being kissed like I've never been kissed in my life.
It's desperate and hungry and fierce, like he's been holding back for so long that now that the dam's broken, everything is flooding out at once. His beard is rough against my skin. His hands are in my hair, tilting my head to deepen the kiss. I grab onto his shoulders for balance and feel the muscles flex under my palms.
When we finally break apart, we're both breathing hard. His forehead rests against mine, his eyes closed.
"We shouldn't have done that," he says.
"Probably not."
"I don't do relationships. Don't know how."
"Neither do I."
"This is going to be complicated."
"Everything worth having is complicated."
He pulls back enough to look at me, and there's something almost like hope in his expression. "You really want this? Want me? Even knowing what I am?"
"Especially knowing what you are," I say firmly. "No more secrets. No more hiding. You show me who you really are, and I'll show you who I really am, and we figure out the rest as we go."
"What if I hurt you?"
