Bearly Beloved (Love Sync Mates Season Two)

Chapter Ten

Spencer

Opening my eyes and stretching my arms above my head, I worked out all the kinks in my body from a good nap. Looking at the light peeking around the curtains on the window, I guessed it was still early afternoon. I didn’t recall exactly how many times Liam brought me to climax, but I knew we fell asleep soon after. Looking at the clock on the bedside table, I was shocked to discover I had slept until late afternoon.

Where’s Liam?

Slowly moving off the bed and wrapping myself in a robe I found on the chair nearby, I ventured out into the hallway in hopes of finding my mate. Quiet speaking coming from the kitchen belied his location and I followed the sound, finding Liam standing nearly naked in front of the stove and speaking on his cell phone. I almost missed what he said, captivated by the way the royal-blue boxer briefs hugged his toned cheeks. But when my best friend’s name was spoken, I shook my head and focused on the words.

“He’s my mate, Isaac. My fated. You know I would never do anything to harm him. Including rushing him into anything. He is absolutely amazing.” Liam turned around and caught me eavesdropping. “But you could have warned me how stealthy he was and that he forgets to announce his presence when walking into a room.”

“Sorry,” I mouthed and walked to the fridge, grabbing myself a bottle of ice-cold water. I heard Isaac saying something through the phone but couldn’t decipher what was being said.

“True. Usually, I would have been able to tell he was behind me. But I was cooking at the stove and the fumes from the bacon camouflaged his scent for long enough that I was surprised by his presence.”

“Hey, can you ask Isaac to alert my neighbors about Alan. I don’t want him lurking around.

He might try to get into the apartment while I’m gone to grab his stuff. I don’t want him to be going through my shit.”

“Doesn’t he have a key?” Liam frowned.

“Nope.” I poured myself a cup of coffee and sat down at the table. “Thank the goddess my mama always told me not to share a house or finances with anyone until your—damn, that woman always said mated. Not married but mated. Did she know I would end up with a shifter?”

“Probably.” Isaac’s voice came out of Liam’s phone speaker.

“I put him on speaker so we can talk to him.” Liam shrugged and placed the phone down in the middle of the table, going back to the stove to finish breakfast.

“Thanks.” I nodded. “So can you check in at my place, Isaac?”

“Yeah. I can do that. I can also pack up the few things the jerk left at your apartment and drop it off by his place. That way you don’t have to once you get back.”

At the mention of returning to the city, my stomach cramped, and I frowned. Why did the idea of going home not sound so great anymore?

Because that’s no longer home. This is. Liam is.

“If you want to do it yourself, you can. Just wanted to offer.” Isaac must have thought I took too long to respond. “Let me know if you change your mind.”

“No. It’s not that.” I shook my head to focus on what I was saying. “I would love if you did that for me. I hope he doesn’t mess with you.”

“He better not.” Liam growled from the stove.

“Remember, brother.” Isaac chuckled. “I’m a big strong alpha too. He can’t hurt me.”

“Big and strong?” Liam looked back toward his phone, brow raised, even though Isaac couldn’t see him. I could though, and struggled to hold back a laugh.

“Yes. I’ve been working out.” Isaac scoffed. “Shut up. Tell me how things are going over there. Everything okay?”

“Besides me being your brother’s mate and my heat starting early? No not really.” I took a bite of the bacon Liam handed me and I winked my thanks.

“Ex-excuse me?” Isaac stuttered.

Oh, I must have overshared with the heat part. Oh well.

Liam

“Want to play some games?” I stood by the entryway to the living room and watched my mate going through some of my board games.

We had just finished dinner, and Spencer was looking through the bookcase near the television in the living room. He had already read a couple of my books, although I hadn’t told him I was the author yet. And now he was looking through my collection of video games and board games.

“I’m thinking about it.” Spencer looked up at me from the floor where he sat and smiled, holding up a beat-up box. “Part of me wants to get in some gameplay on the console since I can. Another part of me hasn’t played these in a long time and would love to see which of us would get to the finish line first.”

“You know I would.” I joined him and took the cardboard box out of his hands. “Let’s put it to the test though.”

“You’re so on.” Spencer hopped up off the floor and sat on the couch, pulling the coffee table closer to him. “Hope you don’t mind but this is how I play. Only in comfort, baby.”

“Whatever works.” I joined him on the oversized cushions and kissed his cheek. “Let the best man win.”

“Oh, don’t worry. I will.” Spencer lightly punched my arm.

And when he beat me, I didn’t even mind. His smile was too bright and sincere to care.