Chapter 18

Kodiak

“ You gonna shower with me?” I ask my sexy as fuck elf. Seeing her in that costume all night has me hard and ready, and I won’t be able to wait long before I’m sinking into her pussy and filling her up in every way possible.

“Is it really gonna be a shower?” she teases, sashaying her ass toward me.

“Mate, you’re the only reason I survived this party. I don’t like sticky fingers or snotty noses,” I retort. But for her? I gladly, okay, maybe reluctantly, played Santa.

“Well, what are you going to do when we have our own family?” she questions. “Because this will be a partnership. I’ll expect you to help with any kids we have, Kodiak.”

Oh, we like it when our mate is sassy, my bear states. Let’s have shower sex.

My thoughts exactly. I reach out and pull her into my arms and kiss her until we’re both breathless. “It’ll be different then, Sweetheart.”

“Whatever you say, I’m gonna hold you to that,” she sasses. “Now, are you gonna wash my back or what?”

“Gonna wash your back and your front,” I reply. “Let’s get naked and have our own party, shall we?”

After all, it’s not every day you hear the words ‘I love you’ from your fated mate, right?

“Man, the zoo goes all out, don’t they?” Chomp asks as we follow behind the huge group of kids walking through one of the exhibits. It’s a few days after Christmas, but the zoo is decorated for the holidays until after the first of the year. I have an idea for next year and want to bring it to the brothers at church because I think it would benefit not only Yukon Bluff but also Mercy Falls.

There are lights everywhere and the glass houses have snowflakes and Christmas ornaments plastered to them. It’s rather festive, even though before Spike volunteered the club for this project, Christmas had little meaning for me. My attitude is changing, however, thanks to the sassy elf walking hand in hand with me. It probably doesn’t hurt that I’m beyond relaxed from our activities after the party, as is my mate.

We need to tell her, my bear insists. She needs to know she’s carrying our cub!

“Did the kids enjoy the pontoon rides?” Callie questions, interrupting my internal dialogue with my bear.

“They did. They were far more well-behaved than some of the kayaking tours we do during the season,” he tells her.

“Look, Mr. Kodiak! Snakes,” one of the little boys yells, running over to grab my arm.

Of all the creatures out there, I detest snakes. However, it’s right up this little boy’s alley and seeing his eyes glowing with excitement is forcing me to push down my aversion. “Let’s go see what they’ve done in the reptile house.”

“I’m gonna pass,” Callie says with a shudder. “Why don’t you and Chomp take the ones who want to go see the snakes and creepy crawlies and I’ll head over to the aviary.”

I chuckle before leaning in for a kiss. “Be careful, mate.”

“What’s to worry about? I’m surrounded by men who will protect me no matter what,” she says.

What’s to worry about? How about the fact she’s carrying our cub, my bear grumbles. Sometimes, I wish I could thump him on the head because now is not the time or the place.

“You’ve got that right.”

Walking behind the little boys who are all clamoring to see the various snakes, I see Chomp stop in his tracks and take a deep breath. His body goes rigid before he inhales again, deeper, and his eyes take on the reptilian look of the gator.

“You okay, brother?” I quietly ask. “Your gator is showing.”

He’s relatively laid back, so to see him so tense is a bit disconcerting. “I have a question,” he says, stopping to look at me. “When you… when you found Callie, how did you know she was your mate?”

Shock hits me like a lightning bolt. Holy shit, is he asking what I think he is? “Chomp, what are you smelling?” I query.

“Almost a beachy smell. Salt water, coconut, and a fresh, clean scent. It’s fucking intoxicating. I can’t seem to move because I don’t want to lose it. Why do you ask?”

“I think your mate is somewhere near,” I tell him. “Because when I first ran into Callie, all I could smell was peppermint and cinnamon. It got stronger every time I was around her or near where she’d been. Who do you think it is?” I ask, looking around. I see a small, almost waifish woman ahead of us corralling a few kids through the reptile house and wonder if it’s her.

“I don’t know! It’s just… it’s getting stronger,” he mutters, his eyes moving to and fro.

And then he locks in, his gator making a sound that only happens when Chomp hunts.

But this noise? It’s almost feral.

His shoulders roll back as he turns to me, determination in his gaze. “I’ve found her.”

The end … for now

We hope you enjoyed Kodiak and Callie’s story as much as we loved writing it!