Chance Fur Hire (Bears Fur Hire 6) by T. S. Joyce

his skin.
    “When Dalton lost his first baby to the werewolf curse, his mate pushed him away the same day. She cut him off, and he’d already bonded with her. He lost everything all at once, and he wouldn’t let anyone in. Wouldn’t let anyone see him. No one but me.”
    “So when you were standing under him, trying to prop him up to loosen that hanging rope, you weren’t just trying to save your packmate or your cousin. You were trying to save your brother.”
    “Yeah.” Chance swallowed hard. “Your dad did that, Em. I want to mark you. I want it so bad I can’t think straight, but you can’t ask me that again until I feel like you’re ready.”
    “Because I’m my father’s daughter.”
    “No, because two days ago, you were hunting me. Hunting my family. My brother, my friends, the little baby girl of our pack. Your life just did a complete one-eighty, and I’m so fucking glad you are here with me, giving me a shot at being with you. But I am fueled by animal instincts, and you aren’t. This doesn’t feel fast to me, Em, but in human time, it’s really fast. I don’t want to be a reaction.”
    “Chance, you aren’t a reaction. My head is clear, and I’m not with you to betray my family for hurting me.”
    “I know. I can tell from the way you look at me and talk to me.”
    “Then why are you still questioning my loyalty?”
    “That’s not what this is,” he said, easing back and gripping her hair at the base of her neck. “It’s really not. It’s me being careful for the both of us. It’s me taking care of you while you heal from the scars your family left on your insides. And someday, when you’re not going through this huge transition and you aren’t running on emotion, I hope you’ll ask me for the mark again when we’re both ready for the commitment.” He smiled and clamped his teeth onto her shoulder. “And then I’ll mean it. I’ll do it right, and we’ll throw a party afterward and celebrate with your new pack.”
    “ Our new pack,” she corrected softly. “I’ll show you, Chance Dawson.” Tucking her arms against her chest between them, she snuggled close and sighed. “Someday I’ll prove I’m ready and I’m worthy. I’ll work really hard to be good enough.”
    Chance’s growl rattled his chest and vibrated against her forearms. Resting his cheek against hers, he whispered, “Silly little bunny. You’re already more than enough.”

Chapter Eleven
     
    “Do you want to see something cool?” Emily asked.
    She looked so beautiful here in the gold lamplight from the bedside table. Cheeks glowing, smile lingering on her full lips, blue eyes soft, and her hair mussed and sexy from lounging around in bed with him. He loved this. Loved that she could find happiness in just being here with him.
    Chance grinned and clamped his teeth over the top edge of the sheet, then pulled it down far enough to expose her perky breasts. Perfect curves and pert, pink little nipples that begged to be played with, and now she was waiting on an answer to a question he couldn’t remember.
    “Not those. Watch.” She picked up the remote from the bedside table, pointed it up at the ceiling, and hit the button. A panel moved slowly, exposing a huge skylight. Above, the night sky was cloudless and the stars looked like silver glitter on a royal blue background.
    “Wow,” he whispered.
    “This was the room I stayed in when I would come to visit as a kid. That skylight was always my favorite part of this place. In my room at my mom’s house, I would pretend to look through the ceiling some nights when I couldn’t sleep. I would imagine I was here. The city was my home, and it was fine. I had my friends and my mom, and she was a really good parent. Now I feel kind of guilty for asking for more time with my dad. She was always quiet about why they split up, and she didn’t offer any explanations on why I got so little time with him, but now I think maybe she was trying to protect me. I