Zara was nervous as she walked towards Finley’s building. She’d agonized over calling him. She’d sat staring at her phone when she was supposed to be studying for her chemistry class. Then that feeling started in her stomach again and she dialed his number.

She didn’t think that he would have ignored her, but then again, she had been ignoring him. So when he answered she felt an immediate relief, and just hearing his voice made her feel a thousand times better.

Her brain was telling her that she needed to proceed with caution, but her heart was telling her she should be running towards this man full speed. He already said he loved her. How many women waited and waited for those words and sometimes never got them. How often did she hear her classmates complaining that their boyfriends were too busy playing video games or partying to keep in touch with them?

These were all things she knew she wouldn’t have to deal with, with Finley. Mostly because it wasn’t just him. There was an animal inside him. Literally. And animals worked differently when it came to mating. She tried to put together what a human’s needs and an animal’s needs combined would look like and it was pretty much how Fin had described it.

He wanted her. He thought she was beautiful and smart. His animal needed her, wanted to care for her and, obviously, breed with her. That wasn’t going to happen, but she understood the drive.

She’d spent the last three days building a pros and cons list. To be honest, the cons list was a bit longer. She assumed that it would make her feel differently seeing it on paper, but it didn’t. She still wanted to see him, be near him. Zara thought about what her mother would say, and then what her father would say. They were her living pros and cons list, although her dad would probably stay neutral.

Her mother kept asking about, “the boy,” and Zara kept telling her that she hadn’t made a decision. Which would then launch her mother into a lecture.

Realizing this wasn’t something her parents could, or should, decide for her. She had to go with her gut. And her gut and her heart wanted Finley.

So there she was marching to his room like she was heading off to face down the dragon, or in this case the bear. When she got there she wasn’t even sure what she was going to say. Maybe just staring at each other was going to be enough. Then again, those dreams about Finley the last few nights were not on the wholesome level at all. They were naughty, and they seemed to be getting more hardcore as the nights went on.

Never had she been that obsessed about sex. Finley Rochon was like a mountain she needed to climb just to say she did it. Or him, whatever.

And then she was at his door. She checked her phone. His class would have ended not long ago. Hopefully he was here already and she wouldn’t have to wait. Giving the door a soft tap, she barely had time to drop her hand before the door swung open.

She started to say hi but was pulled into a pair of warm, strong arms and her face came into contact with an amazingly hard chest.

The door clicked closed behind her and she let her arms wrap around Finley’s waist. His hands were moving over her, cupping the back of her head, skimming down her back, like he was checking to make sure she was okay and really there.

“Damn, I missed you. You smell so good,” he said against her hair.

“Uh, thanks?” She wasn’t sure what she smelled like, but as long as it was good for him, she figured it was okay.

She could feel the vibration of him chuckling against her cheek. He was a really good hugger. No weird leaning forward, no patting. It was a toe to head full body contact hug. Like they were one body.

“That was the longest three days of my life,” he told her, his hands still moving over her back.

“I’m sorry.” And she actually was. Now that she was back with him, whatever it was that she had been missing was gone. She felt good again. Why had she kept herself from this for so long?

“Don’t be. I dumped too much on you. I asked for too much too soon. I understand why you needed time.”

“I had to think it through. It’s what I do. But I believe what I saw and I had to figure out what I wanted to do with that information.”

Releasing her enough so that he could look into her eyes, he asked, “And what did you figure out?”

“That I like you, Fin. I can’t lie and say that I’m not worried about your level of feelings for me. I can’t promise that I will be good for you, or that I won’t make your life more difficult, but I feel like I need you. I don’t feel good when you’re away, and if that makes me greedy, then so be it. I’m using you for the comfort you bring.”

Finley brought his hands up to cup her face. “You will never make my life more difficult. Every moment with you makes my life simpler. I know it’s hard for you to understand, but as long as I’m with you, everything else takes second place. Your schedule, your classes, your long hours, don’t faze me. And you aren’t using me any more than I’m using you. It’s not using either. It’s what two people do when they give and take in a relationship. It’s caring about the other person and getting something in return.”

“I may need you to remind me that you are still getting something out of it when I feel like I’m taking more than I’m giving. That is my biggest concern. I can’t be that person that just takes. But I’m worried about how much I can give.”

It sucked for her to admit that she wasn’t perfect and that she wasn’t sure if she could balance their future together.

“Can you let me hug and kiss you every time I see you?”

“Sure, of course.”

“Can you let me take care of you, make sure you’re safe and that you aren’t in any danger?”

“Obviously, that wouldn’t be bad.”

“Then will you let me make you happy if that means feeding you or buying you things I think you need?”

“Buying me things like what?”

“Not cars, my sister-in-law gave me very specific instructions on not buying cars.”

“Who on earth buys someone they’re dating a car?”

Shaking his head at her he smiled. “Numerous Rochons. My brother has a thing for nice hotel rooms and stupidly expensive dinners. I’m not that creative, I’m sorry.”

“No, I have a car so that wouldn’t make any sense. I did like the PJs and the bobble head though. Good call.”

“My sister-in-law again. She’s like Yoda.”

“She sounds like my kind of people.”

“She’s everyone’s kind of people. But it was her idea to get you something you liked.”

“Well, I did, thank you.”

“Good. Now, when do I get to meet your parents?”

Zara sputtered a few times before replying, “How about six weeks from never?”

* * *

“Zara, you know that I’m here, that I’m not going anyway. I’ve said the words, and I get that you won’t really believe them until I’ve proven myself. I still think me meeting them is going to give them a chance to start to get to know me.”

Finley was pushing but he was excited. He was thrilled she had shown up after talking to him, and especially that she wasn’t avoiding him any longer. It was overwhelming and he could barely contain himself. Being in a room with her after so many days had his bear and his cock standing at attention. She smelled so good, it made his mouth water.

“You say that like it’s such an easy thing. I’m not just saying that they won’t like you. I mean they definitely won’t. They’re hard wired to reject any male that comes near their daughter. I don’t want to put you through that. It’s not fun, and my darling mother can come at you like a freight train if she wants to.”

“Zara, I grew up around strong women. I can handle myself.”

“Okay, well how about the fact that I might have mentioned you to my parents but I didn’t say we were dating exactly. Let alone whatever you have planned in your head.”

“Planned in my head?”

“Finley, you say forever like it’s so easy. You have this look in your eyes like you’ve just won the lottery and your future is going to be cake. I don’t have that feeling. I feel good around you, and you say that is because we are supposed to be together. I think it’s more to do with chemical compatibility. You promise forever and I’m having a panic attack about next week.”

Finley didn’t like Zara being stressed. He could smell it on her. His bear didn’t like it either. She had too much in her life to worry about without him adding to it. But how did he fix it?

“I don’t want you to panic. I want you to feel comfortable and that’s my job to get you there. So you tell me what you need and I’ll make it happen.”

Zara let out a laugh that sounded like a groan. “I wish I knew what I needed, Fin. I feel like I’ve been going a hundred miles an hour since junior high. I’ve always been a high achiever and it used to be fun. I like accomplishing things, coming in first. Now I’m in a much bigger pond and I feel like I’m swimming as hard as I can to keep up with everyone. Now I have to swim to keep up with you and what you feel our relationship is.”

Finley didn’t like that at all.

He leaned over and scooped her up ignoring her yelp of protest. Crawling onto his bed, he leaned up against the back wall and sat Zara in his lap, her legs stretched out on his bed.

“Fin, what are you doing?” she asked, trying to push away from him.

“Holding you. At least for now. Just breathe, little engine. You never stop, do you?”

“Little engine?”

“The little engine that could. Constantly climbing that mountain. Well, I just put your emergency brake on. Let’s just sit for a while.”

Fin wasn’t really sure she was going to sit still, or quietly. He could practically feel her vibrating. Her mind was spinning and his bear could sense all of the agitation washing off of her.

He started rubbing her back, then when she didn’t relax; he gently pressed her head against his chest, tucking her under his chin. It was a solid five minutes before he felt her take a deep enough breath that he could tell she was settling in. Another few minutes passed and he felt her weight sink into him a little more.

“Wow, you’re a ball of tension.” He waited to see if she would tense back up. She didn’t.

“I don’t try to be. I don’t like being tense. My only real release is when I’m watching a movie or my favorite shows. I don’t get out much,” she admitted. “You make my head hurt, but I’m not stressed about you. Isn’t that funny?”

“Funny that I make your head hurt?”

“No, not hurt. Just you’ve added another box inside my head. It’s how I keep organized. Everyone and everything has a box. Sometimes my boxes overflow; sometimes I don’t have any room at all. I’ve had to add a new box for you.”

Finley took that in stride. He had the advantage of having another soul inside him that shared his worries and concerns. It must be very lonely inside a human mind.

“I’m happy I have a box,” he told her, placing a kiss on the top of her head.

“I’m glad too. I hope your box makes the other boxes smaller.”

“Does that happen?”

“Not yet, but I’m hoping for some time lord technology that will make your box bigger on the inside.”

“Okay, you’ve lost me.”

“Dr. Who. He flies around in a blue police box, but on the inside it’s infinitely huge. It even has a pool.”

“I know Dr. Who, but sorry I’m not up to date on the details.”

“You’re going to have to add it to your study schedule, mister.”

“If it’s important to you, I absolutely will. Where should I start?”

“Hmm, Firefly is my favorite. I’m sure you’ve seen Star Wars, so we can skip those.”

“Yes, I’m a grown man, I’ve seen them all.”

“Then there is Battlestar Galactica,” she started counting off her fingers.

“The old one?”

“I like both versions. Then there is new stuff, like Guardians of the Galaxy, but some of my favorites are classic TV shows that they’ve turned into movies. Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy, that kind of stuff. I do have a small paranormal box that I get to watch Buffy and Angel in.”

“I’m gonna get fat sitting around binge watching TV so I can keep up with you.”

“I doubt you could get fat,” she said, placing a hand over his stomach. Finley couldn’t help but suck in at the contact. He had been chanting in his head to control his cock while she was in his lap. That innocent touch sparked it back to life.

Her wide eyes came up to his then she started to giggle.

“Seriously? Laughing at a man at a time like this?”

“Fin, how do you think I feel?”

“Well, I was doing good before you touched me.”

“I’ve been sitting in your lap though.”

“It’s different, believe me.”

He watched her chew her bottom lip for a moment.

“Fin, are you still holding out on the no sex before permanent whatever?”

“Bonding. No, bonding for us can come later. I’m not holding out exactly. It’s just that I can’t turn away from us once I get a taste of you.”

“A taste literally?”

“Both. I mean if we are together, I’m going to want you more and more each day. I won’t be able to walk away from you.”

Her eyes stared into his. He needed to make sure without any possible doubt that she understood what he was asking for and where he stood. There could be no mistakes in this.

“What if I don’t want you to walk away from me?”

“Then I’m yours. Forever.”

“It’s as easy as that?”

“For other people, maybe not. For us, yes. As sure as I am that the world keeps turning. I’m yours and you are mine. We are made for each other.”

She looked like she was searching for something in his eyes. The truth perhaps. There was only one truth he knew so he let his animal come forward enough to assure her that whatever she was thinking was based on fact.

“I’m going to need a few more boxes for your bear,” she said with a sigh.