Chapter 8

Chapter

Eight

R eed was ready to go to bed.

Not that he was sleepy. Not really. He was just…ready.

Tyler had been so amazing, taking him to supper, renting this cabin by the lake. It was quiet. So quiet, in the wonderful way that he hadn't experienced since he started living in the city.

He wanted to thank his Tyler in a very intimate way, and he was already half hard just thinking about it.

He went into the bedroom and stripped down, finding a fluffy robe in the bathroom to slip on before going out to steal Tyler's attention.

Tyler was puttering, putting things away in the kitchen as if they were moving in. It was cute. He had a feeling Tyler missed being home, having his permanent things.

He unbelted his robe, letting it fall open, and he waited.

"Are you okay, l—" Tyler looked at him, and his eyes widened. "Well, hey."

He didn't look away. Think sexy. Think sexy. "Hey."

"Look at you." Tyler's voice had gone deep, and he had a tent in his pants now.

"Yes, please." His own cock began to fill, and he forced himself not to hide it, to let Tyler look his fill.

"Mmm." Tyler took off his shirt, letting it fall on the floor on the way to him.

"My bear." Tyler made his mouth dry. "I want you."

"Anything you want." Those hands landed on him, sliding over his skin. They made him jump, because the touch felt so good.

He stepped close and then moved away, teasing and playing, making Tyler work for it a little.

"Am I chasing you, baby?" Tyler growled a little, which was surprisingly sexy, not a bit scary or really frustrated.

"You are. Can you catch me? Claim me?"

"I can. I will." Tyler just kept coming, and the pants went the same way as the shirt too.

He scooted down the hall, teasing Tyler, playing.

Tyler roared lightly, a play sound, and he laughed, leaping for the big lodge pine bed.

"Coming for you, little bear."

"Coming for me. In me. On me. Yes." Reed felt incredibly brave, like a stud.

Tyler grabbed his cock and stroked it, slowing to a walk, stalking him now that he was on the bed. He shrugged out of the robe and tried not to feel silly striking a pose. The heat in Tyler's gaze told him he was doing good.

"I like playing with you, little bear. I like hunting you."

"Good. Because that was the hottest thing I've ever seen."

Tyler's knee hit the bed, and the mattress dipped. "I love it."

"Come and get me, then. I need you."

"I'm right here." One hand slid up his leg, Tyler touching him lightly, teasing.

His cock bobbed, his balls pulling up tight. He could barely breathe, just thinking of the things they could do together, and he felt a rush of wetness soak his hole.

"So pretty. I love how soft your skin is. And you're just furry enough. My sweet bear."

"You don't need a manscaped bear?" he teased, his belly taut and his cock heavy.

"I don't. Then they would expect me to do it." Tyler bent down, nibbling along his calf.

"No. You're perfect. You're beautiful and strong and I crave you."

"Perfect, hmmm? Not too pushy? I think I'm not, but sometimes my staff say so."

"No. I know pushy." Reed rolled his eyes. "You're what I need."

"Good. I want you so much." That hard cock dragged up along his skin as Tyler crawled to kiss him.

He opened up and pushed up into the kiss, loving the sensation of them both together. The tingle in his lips, the way Tyler's heat radiated against him, he adored every second. Reed was going to memorize all of this for the day that Tyler had to leave. Because he would.

But not now. Now they were kissing and touching and loving each other. He was aching, wet and hungry, his body on fire.

Tyler pulled him up against that big, hard body, rubbing them together, and he went from the sexy kitty recline to climbing into Tyler's lap. He wanted to impale himself and ride, which seemed to be his instinct every time he and Tyler were together. That mouth, those hands…

"I need you. It's like an ache through me. Can you feel it?"

"I can." Tyler pulled his ass cheeks apart, one finger sliding inside him to feel him there. "You honor me, love. I swear." Tyler kissed his lips over and over, little stinging bites peppered in that made the heat go up and up. "You're wet for me, so goddamn hot and slick."

"Bear. Yes, all for you. Bone deep."

"Well, soon, anyway."

He burst out laughing, his whole body bowing with it. Oh, he did love someone who could make fun of this ridiculous thing called sex.

Tyler caught him and eased him back farther, teeth teasing his nipples, leaving him shivering and stinging.

"Please." He sank his fingers into Tyler's hair, tugging and begging.

"Mmm…" Tyler began to suck, pulling at him, making his eyes cross. He'd always wondered why nipple play was considered so hot. Now he got it. "So sweet, love. You taste like honey."

"Thank you. I want—I need you to think so." His body buzzed, and he was vibrating.

"I'm here. I want inside you now that I've caught you." Tyler twisted his wet nipples again, really letting him feel it.

Reed arched up, his breath catching, his cock bobbing as he moved in a sinuous dance. "Okay. Your prize."

"Mine. You're going to take me. All of me."

"Yes." He wanted to take every single inch. The knot. Everything.

"My Reed." Those fingers inside him moved deeper, the ones on his nipple worked him, and he couldn't get enough.

He began to move, up and down, driving onto those fat, perfect fingers. The stretch was perfect, making him hiss, his body on fire. He didn't need much more preparation.

"You ready for me, sweet?"

"I am. Please, bear. You've got me." All of him. Every inch.

"Then I'm coming in." Tyler moved, fingers sliding free, cock pushing into place instead. He was about to be taken, opened up and ridden.

He relaxed, letting Tyler in and in, focusing on his entire soul welcoming his bear inside. He took a deep breath, then bore down, opening up.

"That's it. Take it, honey. Take it all. I'm going to knot you. You know that right?" Tyler was back to hunting mode, his voice a deep, deep growl.

"Yes. Yes, I'm—I feel like I'm on fire."

"We are. Together. We're going to burn this place to the ground if we're not careful." Tyler kissed him, making his lips burn. They moved in concert, his legs wrapping around Tyler's waist to hold them in place, though with Tyler inside him there was no way he was going anywhere. He was there until the end of this ride.

He let his head fall back, and he swallowed hard, feeling caught, exposed.

Tyler bent to suck up a mark at the base of his throat, where it would show unless he wore a shirt with a collar, but Reed didn't care. This was their weekend. His and Tyler's.

And he was here for Tyler to claim him, fill him up.

"Love this. Love how we fit." Tyler lifted him up, then eased him down.

"You fit everywhere. I mean it. I feel every inch."

"I do too. Oh, honey." He got another kiss, then another, and they were moving faster. Tyler helped him, hands solid against his hips, dragging him along that fat cock.

He cried out as Tyler slammed into him, and he could already feel that huge knot swelling for him. Growing.

That was all for him. Because Tyler wanted him.

"All for you," Tyler agreed, driving into him, and it rocked his whole body.

"All for me." He barked around the need that filled him up.

Panting, they strained, banging their hips together, both of them flushed and sweating. This was primal but loving, and he wanted more. More and more.

He gripped Tyler's cock, bearing down with his ass.

"Nhhhg!" Tyler's eyes went wide, gold flashing in them, his face a study in pleasure and strain. "Again! Reed. Again."

"Yes!" He tightened his body as much as he could, drawing up from his core.

Tyler swelled so much he thought he might burst, and then a hot jet of seed splashed inside him, Tyler filling him up. He'd done that, made his alpha bear come.

He hung on that heavy knot, forcing himself to hold off, make this all about Tyler.

"Come for me, love. I want to see it." Tyler had other ideas, grabbing Reed's cock and stroking.

"Alpha!" He arched impossibly, pushing up into Tyler's hand.

"Uh-huh. Want to see it. Smell you. Wear you on my skin." Tyler stroked faster, working him down on that still stiff cock, that huge knot.

"Your knot. Love. Oh, it feels so good…" He growled, not hiding his bear.

"I feel tall as the mountains at home. You make me… Oh, sweet. Love."

He gasped, so close that he forgot how to breathe.

"Now!" Tyler roared it at him, and he jumped, his seed spilling out of him, all over Tyler's hand and arm.

He would do anything Tyler asked. Anything.

When he floated back down to earth, he was cradled in Tyler's arms, held and protected as he tried to remember to breathe.

"Mate." Tyler said it, and there was no arguing. It might mean heartbreak later, but right now, it was everything in the whole world.

"Yes, Alpha. Mate." How could he deny his soul? He couldn't.

"Mmm. We'll rest, and then I have something special planned. Your seduction was amazing, sweet."

"Thank you. I was being brave." And it was worth it.

Tyler nuzzled him, then smiled against his skin. "You were magnificent."

"I'm yours." He hummed softly, eyes closing.

"And I'm yours." They slumped to the bed, Tyler covering them with the blankets. "Sleep now, hmm?"

"Mmmkay." He could so sleep. Napping with his mate was getting to be a favorite pastime.

Tyler made sure everything was in place.

He started a fire. Put blankets down in front of it, far enough away that an errant spark making it over the screen wouldn't be a problem, then put out berries and some salmon and such for later. On easy to reach platters. With no need for utensils.

Then he shrugged out of his robe and went to put his cold hands on Reed's ass.

"Mate!" Reed's eyes went wide, and his little bear gave the sweetest roar.

"Hello, love. Time to wake up." He squeezed, the roundness and slight softness of that fine ass making him so happy.

"Hello. I was being lazy, was I?" Reed pushed into his arms with a happy little moan.

"We both were. It was grand. But I do have a plan."

"A plan? I love plans." Reed's smile was like the sun coming out from behind a cloud.

"Mmmhmm. It's a gorgeous day out there. Cold as hell, but sunny and lovely."

"Yeah? Are we going fishing?"

"We can, if we get that feeling." He tickled the backs of Reed's thighs. "But there's a reason this cabin is isolated." He wanted to get furry. With Reed.

Reed tilted his head and blinked. "Can we? Honestly?"

"We can. I promise. I'll keep us safe." He'd made sure this place was off the grid. The owner was a shifter who lived in Valleywood. He understood.

He needed to see his little bear run and sniff and play in the snow before they came back to nap and feast.

Reed's eyes were wide, his expression eager. "I—it's been so long. I'm not even sure… I mean, it might take some effort."

"We can do it together." Tyler didn't doubt it in the least.

"I want to try." Reed beamed for him again, rolling over to take his hand. "What's the worst that could happen? I'm secretly a salmon shifter?"

"Then I would have to be very careful with you. And if you were a rabbit, people would make bad jokes."

"If I was a salmon, you'd dip me in honey and munch me right up."

"Possibly." He nommed on Reed's shoulder.

"I'm not a salmon. I'm a little black bear with a tummy." Reed stretched and rubbed up against him.

"You are. My perfect little bear. Up." He rose, lifting Reed up with him.

They wandered into the front room, and Tyler opened the door. "Come play, little bear."

"Okay." Reed took a deep breath, staring out at the snow.

So Tyler took the bull by the horn, running outside and calling up his bear and letting him out for the first time in too long.

Reed's gasp sounded and then, suddenly, he was getting a hard, happy hug. "Bear!"

He lifted his head, scenting his mate, his bear nose so much more sensitive than his human one. Reed smelled like home, and like him, and he grunted, rubbing his head over Reed's chest.

Come play with me.

You're beautiful. I love you. My bear! Magic rippled around Reed as he tried to shift, let his bear out.

That's it, love. I want to see you. Smell you.

The air shimmered like the highway on a really hot day, and he could feel Reed's panic, but then the human began to morph into the most amazing black bear he'd ever seen, glossy and gorgeous.

Yes! Reed. You're beautiful.

Reed bounced and danced, his pleasure obvious and clear as a bell. Bear! Mate! I did it!

You did. I'm so proud. He nuzzled at Reed's ears, at his nose. Then he pushed a little, playing, before turning and loping a few yards away. He had to be careful; Tyler was so much bigger than Reed that he could hurt him.

Reed followed, pawing at his flank, teasing and chuffing in pure happiness.

They slid down a snowy rise, heading for the lake, because that was going to be a hoot. Reed was a good runner, really, loping along at his heels.

They rolled together, bouncing into the water, his feet slapping at the icy edge of the lake. He almost roared with how cold it was, but then he bent to drink a little, feeling it all the way inside.

Reed was active, playing, his head bobbing with pure joy. They raced along the shore, then splashed, then ran back up the hill to slide down like big, fuzzy penguins. He'd never played this way with anyone but his brother and his cousins, and he was over the moon.

Reed was happy and chuffing, pouncing him and nipping at his ankles. He'd never had so much fun. Never.

Reed stood up on his hind legs, muzzle wrinkling as he sniffed.

He lifted his head, scenting the air too. He rose up on his back legs as well, chuffing as he breathed in. The clean, fresh smell of the snow mixed with the scent of the semifrozen lake, and there was the smoke from the fire he'd started, but it was still gentle and not a worry.

Reed batted at him, playing with him happily.

That might be the cutest thing he'd ever seen. God, he loved Reed more and more all the time.

Mate ! Reed's eyes lit up, the joy filling him up.

I know! You see? You needed this. He bounced, then turned in a circle.

You. I needed you!

You did. I needed you too. He'd just been waiting to feel like this. Maybe for his whole life.

He couldn't wait to share all this with his family—he wanted them to know his mate. They would love Reed, and his dad would want to feed the little bear until he was ready to hibernate all winter.

Then they would hide up in his big cabin and snuggle for hours.

He loved that idea and let it fuel him into herding his lover back toward the cabin they had now. There was a fire to lie in front of. Blankets to snuggle on. He'd been assured the floors would hold their weight.

Reed followed, slumping down in front of the fire to dry off. He could hear his mate wondering whether to shift back or stay as he was.

Stay with me like this. I want to nap with you as a bear. We have time to do both this trip. He nuzzled Reed's wet fur, the musk so pronounced like this.

Nap. Oh bear. Mate. Reed snuggled right in.

Mmmm. You're so beautiful. My little bear . He felt like the luckiest grizzly on earth.

Yours. Thank you for this.

You're welcome, love. We'll eat in a bit. I even made sure the snacks could be had by bears. They could just lollygag about and be natural. For a little while. Then they could be naked humans and lollygag some more.

His bear needed this, needed to remember that life was more than his job and stress.

There was nature and cuddles and the pleasure of scratching your back against a tree. Heck, even a trash can was fun in this form. The world was a whole new batch of scents every time he shifted, and Valleywood wasn't fab for that.

It was…a city. There was a lot to recommend it, but it also had a decadent, decaying scent to it underneath. He had heard from more than one person when he started negotiations to set up the store that Valleywood had old magic, and that it was more than a bit corrupt.

It was more than vintage, less than antique, and somehow…moldy.

Shhh. Reed nuzzled against his fur, his snout moving over Tyler's ear. We're here, not there. It's good.

I know, love. I do. Reed was correct. He needed to focus on his sweet love and not on things that had no bearing on them right here and now.

I know, but this is better. This is an amazing gift.

It is. I love you so already.

Reed chuffed, the sound purely made of joy. Reed seemed so easy in his fur, so happy as a bear. I love you. Even though it's been fast. We're mates.

We are. He cuddled in, wrapping his big grizzly body around Reed's smaller black bear form. They needed to cuddle, connect, and stop thinking too hard. Both of them.

Obviously Reed agreed, because his little bear melted into him with a soft little grunt. They fit so well, and the fire was turned low, not roaring, but not just glowing embers, and the blankets and pillows were perfect comfort for a bear body.

So Tyler closed his eyes and let himself go to sleep.