Gray Back Broken Bear (Gray Back Bears Book 4) by T. S. Joyce Page A

you the diamond because I hoped that someday you would escape this place.”
    Easton screwed up his face and turned his back to her. He arched his head back and muttered a curse. He linked his hands behind his head before he spun back to her and wrapped her up in a bone-cracking hug. “I didn’t know it was valuable, but I wouldn’t have sold it even if I had. It’s in the box with the rest of the presents you gave me. I didn’t know. I didn’t know.”
    Easton’s words were muffled against her neck, and she was openly weeping now. She’d been afraid he wasn’t ever going to touch her again. He lifted her off her feet, and she nuzzled his face because she loved him so fucking much she couldn’t be close enough to him. Not ever.
    “Easton, Easton, Easton. I’ve thought about you all this time. Missed you so badly and compared every potential mate to you. I imagined how it would feel to hold you like this without my feathers.”
    “You’re cold, Ana. You’ll get sick. Shit, you’re bleeding. Look what I’ve done to you,” he murmured, setting her down, his eyes on her shoulder. The skin was jagged and deeply torn where he’d bitten her, and sure enough, it was weeping red again. The multiple Changes weren’t helping.
    “I wanted this. Stop fussing with it. It’s okay. I wanted you to choose me for a mate someday. I just didn’t know that was how it was done with your people. And I certainly didn’t know you were going to claim me our first time.”
    “I hadn’t done that before. I messed up.”
    “You haven’t claimed anyone before? I’m glad.”
    “No. I mean, I’ve never slept with a woman.”
    Aviana’s mouth dropped open.
    A slow smile spread across Easton’s face as he pressed his finger under her chin until her mouth closed again. “You’ll catch flies.”
    “Wait, you were a virgin? But you knew exactly what to do, and you were so good at it. You didn’t even ask me what I liked. You just knew.” Okay, she was rambling but, dear goodness, the man had given her a bona fide orgasm first try. And he was a virgin? “Why didn’t you tell me?”
    “What difference did it make?” Easton was still smiling.
    “I don’t know. I could’ve lit some candles or taken it slower or…something.”
    “Yeah, well, lucky you. You got the first Beaston bang, complete with copious amounts of blood, teeth gnashing, and pain. Congratulations.”
    “You’re teasing.” She liked that Easton could joke with her after all of the heavy grit that had happened. The smile slipped from Aviana’s face. “Can I ask you something?”
    Easton rubbed her arms to warm her and nodded.
    “If you would’ve known I was your raven before we slept together, would you have claimed me still?”
    “Are you asking if I still want you for my mate?”
    She dipped her chin once. His answer meant the world.
    “I don’t regret my mark on you.”
    “We have to go back home and explain everything to Creed. He’ll understand. He has to. You’re mine, and I’m yours, and technically you didn’t Turn me, so you didn’t disobey his order.”
    “I thought you said ravens were naturally afraid of bears.”
    “Yeah, so?”
    “So if the Gray Backs scare you, I can claim my own territory and keep you safe. You won’t have to smell scared anymore.”
    “But you love your crew.”
    His eyes stayed steady and clear on her, but he didn’t answer.
    “You’d give them up for my comfort?” she asked, stunned.
    “Any good mate would, and since I’ll be shit at most of this, it’s the least I can do.”
    Aviana trailed kisses down the line between his taut pecs and rested her cheek against his drumming heartbeat. “Silly man, I’d never ask you to give up something you love just for my comfort. The Gray Backs are growing on me. Take me home, Easton.”
    Without a word, Easton backed away and kicked out of the too big jeans. With eyes full of adoration, he hunched into himself and exploded into the massive grizzly bear