Aidan reached for Juliette's belts.
"I have it thank you," she said as she fumbled to get herself loose.
"No, you don't and no amount of you being angry with me is going to change that," he said.
Gently he pulled her hands away, with their eyes locked he unbuckled her. Juliette mumbled a thank you and quickly exited. Aidan was on her heels.
"I'm sorry," he said as he pulled her into his arms.
"Don't be. We weren't anything you need to apologize for," her disclaimer didn't clear the sadness from her eyes.
"Juliette, you should know why I'm not quick to name what we are. It's because I don't think you're ready for what it means. I don't think you are ready for who I am," he said as gently as he could.
"What are you talking about Aidan? If I weren't ready for who you are, then I wouldn't have come to you to begin with. You're just not ready to share yourself with me. I get it. You don't have to. I won't interfere in your life anymore," said Juliette. She tried to wiggle herself free of his strong embrace.
"You're not an interference, at least not in the way you think. You're everything I ever thought I'd want in a mate," he said.
"Why is it that you always say mate when you mean girlfriend?" asked Juliette.
"Because I don't mean girlfriend, I mean mate. This is what I was trying to save you from. Juliette, I'm a werebear. I'm part human and part bear, it's how I was born. So are my brothers and so is most of my crew. It means that if you and I were to get together, it wouldn't be like your regular relationships. Werebears mate for life," said Aidan.
Juliette stared at him in disbelief. He knew she was grappling to understand what he was telling her.
"I don't want to jump into anything, because if you wake one morning, and you decide you can't live this life with me, then that is it. I'd never make you stay, but I'd never meet anyone else either," said Aidan.
"So I'm your mate? How could you even know that?" Asked Juliette.
"My bear told me, it's a complicated relationship. Besides, don't you feel it when we are together?" He asked.
Her eyes locked on his and Aidan saw the realizations of what he was saying roll over her subconscious.
"I don't want you trapped with me until you are sure," he said.
"Why do you think I would feel trapped?" She asked.
Aidan was stunned by the question. He hadn't considered she would want the pressure that came with being chosen. As he looked at her now, he realized he'd been unfair to her. He should have been honest sooner, and let her decide for herself. He would rectify that now.
"Listen, I have some work to do while I'm here. I'm going to make it a point not to see you. I want you to think about what this means, what it means to be a part of my life permanently. When we leave to go back, you can tell me what you decide," said Aidan.
He released her and waited for confirmation that she understood. Juliette nodded her head, yes, and they parted ways. When they got back, he would know his fate.
* * *
Six days in and Juliette was a wreck from not seeing Aidan. She missed him terribly. It was something she hadn't really expected. She'd believed that once she was back on solid ground, she would be reminded of the life she's had away from the rig. It had the opposite effect. She'd come to miss the bustling noises of the crew at work and the wide open ocean. She missed the sunsets, the cafeteria food, and the outrageous internet connection. Most of all, she missed Aidan. She would have at least seen him wondering around by now. Instead, they'd been avoiding each other.
Liam kept her updated. He'd sent her several pictures of a brooding Aidan that he'd turned into a meme. Funny captions about Aidan missing her always accompanied them. Juliette wasn't sure that Aidan told his brothers anything or if they just noticed. What she was sure of was that their dynamic was one she treasured. Even Jordan sent her a message or two to make sure she'd been okay. Juliette didn't know the last time anyone checked in on her so much. It was a new sensation, one that gave her a feeling of belonging she'd never felt anywhere else.
"What should I do Ava? Is it crazy that I've fallen for him? I mean it has only been three weeks?" said Juliette into the receiver of her cellphone as she painted her toenails.
"What's three weeks in a lifetime? If you love him, and you trust him, then go for it. The worst that could happen is that you fall out of love and come home. The best that could happen is that you fall deeper in love and live happily ever after. I'm partial to best case scenarios myself," said Ava.
Ava was the best friend that Juliette had been with when she met Liam. Juliette held back the information about Aidan being a bear. She didn't want to blow Liam's cover too. She didn't know how Ava would respond. After all, Juliette was the more accepting one, and even she was having a hard time.
"What if I'm wrong about him?" Juliette asked softly.
"What if you aren't? Look I know you want me to tell you what to do in a situation like this, but I'm not going too. If your heart says he is worth finding out about, then that's all that matters. Follow your heart Julie, let him prove he's who he's shown you he is," Ava said softly.
There was a wistful tone in Ava's voice, and Juliette would follow up later. She disconnected the call for now to think. Her heart had been clear; Aidan was what she wanted no matter what he was.
Aidan couldn't remember the last time he'd been so nervous. His meeting with Andre had gone well enough. They'd never be friends or partners again, but he would get back his money. The only thing he wanted now was to hear Juliette say she was ready to be his mate. He didn't know that she would. It had been hell on him to not call her or see her while they were on land. He'd tossed and turned in his hotel. It would have been nice to have her in a proper bed and without concern for who would hear them. His cock started to stiffen at thoughts of their last night together. He scolded himself for being such a teen boy where she was concerned. He had to focus on what her answer would be and how his life would change because of it. He'd meant what he said, if Juliette didn't agree to be his mate, he would never be with another. They wouldn't compare anyway. His bear wouldn't settle for just any woman, it had to be Juliette or no one.
"She's coming back, stop pacing," said Liam from beneath a baseball cap. He'd spent the last three nights God knows where after they'd dealt with Andrew. When he'd arrived this morning, he'd been tired and bitchy. Jordan was his usual self, playful but collected. Aidan was the only one of them who was truly a mess.
"Did you tell her about us?" Jordan asked.
"Yeah," Aidan answered.
"What did she say??" Liam asked, suddenly interested in the conversation.
"Nothing yet," Aidan answered. He made a note of Liam's antsy demeanor. Something was up with him, and he'd figure it out later.
"You worried?" Asked Jordan.
Juliette slowly came into view before Aidan could answer. His breath caught in his chest as she walked closer. The sway of her hips in her fitted jeans was only outmatched in glory by. The gorgeous widespread smile she wore. Aidan smiled back, a genuine ear to ear grin that he hardly allowed himself. He opened his arms to her, and Juliette dropped her things to walk right in.
His mouth landed on hers in a searing kiss. From beside him, Jordan and Liam hooped and hollered like they'd just witnessed a game-changing play. In essence, they had. Aidan was walking into a new path of his life and Juliette would be doing it with him.
"No more secrets okay?" She whispered against his mouth as she pulled from their kiss.
"No more secrets," he promised.
Liam picked up her things and put them in the helicopter.
"Thanks, Liam. Oh and ugh, Ava said hello," said Juliette.
Liam fumbled her bags. "Next time you talk to her tell her I said hey," he responded without his usual playboy jokes.
Juliette and Aidan exchanged looks. Aidan chuckled to himself. Seems his baby brother had a secret or two of his own.
"So, about this werebear thing? How does that really work?" asked Juliette as they boarded the helicopter.
Aidan went into an explanation; he would be explaining all the way back. He didn't care, she was with him, Lawerence Oils was saved, and all was right in his world.
FIN