Page 15 of Bear Creek Thanksgiving (Holiday Mates #3)
Making Dustin’s sexy dream a reality required some planning and supplies.
Gruff grabbed a few things from the bedroom, including some old blankets, and stuffed it all in a duffle bag.
He’d been relieved that Dustin hadn’t seen the furniture truck arrive or leave, keeping his surprise hidden a little bit longer.
His man was in the kitchen, making a picnic lunch to take with them.
Gruff brought him an old backpack to hold their meal and two filled water bottles, and they were ready to go.
Cutting through the backyard, the adventurous pair began walking north through a newer section of the orchard.
Dustin wasn’t familiar with this part of the property.
“Where are we going?”
Gruff slipped his free arm around Dustin’s waist.
“There’s a small section of the original orchard left. Big trees. I’ll have to clear it eventually, but they’ve been there for so long I didn’t have the heart to cut them down. It’s private and shady. Nobody will see us.”
Dustin chuckled.
“Perfect! You don’t mind being naughty with me, do you?”
Gruff slipped his hand inside Dustin’s back pocket and let his growl speak for itself.
The pleasant walk continued for several minutes until the old apple trees came into view.
Except here, the original stock had been replaced with dwarf varieties, and the height difference was immediately obvious.
Gruff led them to the heart of the half-acre section and chose a shady, secluded spot for their rendezvous—making a little love nest on the ground with the blankets.
Both men stripped down and then put their shoes back on to reenact the first part of Dustin’s dream.
“Start running, babe. The good stuff doesn’t start until I catch you.”
Gruff growled playfully and took off, leading Dustin on a merry chase around and through the trees.
Though Gruff hadn’t said so, he could easily outrun the man—capable of twice the speed of any human.
But this wasn’t a race. It was just a bit of sweaty foreplay, and Gruff had no intention of spoiling his man’s fun. Well, not entirely.
Ducking behind a tree, Gruff waited for Dustin to run past before he zoomed up behind and caught him.
Dustin cried out in surprise and then relaxed as Gruff jogged to their blanket nest and lay him down.
Flipping around, he set up the sixty-nine position and went down on Dustin’s tasty cock, his own package within easy reach of his lover’s hot mouth.
It was difficult to catch their breath and suck at the same time, but somehow they managed.
No human could withstand the assault of a shifter’s talented tongue for long, and Dustin soon erupted with heavy grunts.
Determined to give as good as he got, Dustin ordered Gruff onto his back.
Using the lube they’d brought with them, he shoved two slicked-up fingers in the man’s ass and resumed sucking.
Gruff held Dustin’s head steady, thrusting upward, but careful not to choke him while the man’s magic fingers sawed in and out down below.
Gruff gave a hearty bellow when he came, filling Dustin’s eager mouth with heavy spurts of cum.
The pair cleaned up their mess and then cuddled together for lazy kisses.
Dustin had never experienced intimacy in the great outdoors before, and he imagined that with Gruff’s dual nature, the sexy shifter must feel right at home.
A light breeze caressed their heated skin, rustling body hair and whisking away their sweat—leaving them relaxed, sated, and content to rest for a while.
Growling stomachs eventually interrupted their repose, and they sat up to dig into the provisions without bothering to get redressed. They ate in companionable silence until Dustin remembered his conversation at Delicious this morning.
“Rats! I forgot to tell you that Aiden invited us to come over tonight around seven o’clock. I’m supposed to text him with an answer.”
Gruff’s mental antenna started twitching, wondering what this was all about.
“Why? I’ve never been invited to their home before.”
Dustin didn’t know what Gruff’s response indicated. Was he not interested in making friends or angry because Dustin made plans for the two of them without his consent?
“I’m sorry, Gruff. While I was at the shop, I asked him if he knew anyone who could give me some advice about mating with a shifter. He said he knew exactly what information I needed and invited both of us to join them. Should I cancel?”
Gruff didn’t blame Dustin for seeking information, because he needed some wise counsel himself. But the last thing he wanted was to dredge up the past so soon. Maybe that was unrealistic. If Dustin was to become his mate someday, he needed to know the truth, but this was more than uncomfortable.
“No, don’t cancel. Tell them we’ll be there. I’m... glad you want to know about mating because I do too.”
Dustin’s face lit right up and he smothered Gruff with kisses—giving himself beard burn in the process.
When the enchanting human came up for air, Gruff spooned up behind him, rumbling happily.
They remained secluded in their secret lair for a while longer, enjoying the peaceful company of nature.
The week ahead would be their last before the grand opening, and moments like these might be mighty hard to find.
############
That evening
Dustin finished in the kitchen and hurried into the bathroom to get cleaned up.
Gruff would be here soon, having offered to pick him up for their visit with Aiden and Dash.
Shortly after their tryst in the orchard, he’d reluctantly returned home to finish his errands and chores.
He’d worked like mad because there wouldn’t be any time later in the week, and this was probably the last full day off he’d get until the apple season ended in mid-November.
Ditching his work clothes, Dustin jumped into the shower for a quick scrub, brushed his teeth, and put on a nice pair of jeans and a polo shirt.
Now that he and Gruff were a thing, he was more conscious of his clothes and grooming.
Plus, they’d be visiting someone else’s home and he didn’t want to look like a slob.
Though Dustin had interacted with Aiden several times at Delicious , he’d never met the man’s mate, Dashiell Hawthorn.
By all accounts, the wealthy businessman was as down to earth as Aiden and generous to a fault.
Dustin’s ruminations ended abruptly with a knock on the door, and he opened it to find the sexiest man in Bear Creek on the other side.
Tugged over the threshold, Dustin backed him up against the door, claiming his mouth.
Gruff spread his legs, gripped Dustin’s ass, and yanked him against his hot body.
The passionate encounter left them both hard and panting, but they didn’t have time to do what their libido wanted.
Dustin pulled back, smiling up at his lover.
“Damn! If we didn’t have somewhere to go I’d jump your bones.”
Gruff was a growly mess, unsure what to do with his hands or any other body part. His randy bear wasn’t helping at all, too single-minded to understand priorities.
“Don’t tempt me. You’re all I can think about, Dusty, but we, uhhh...better go before one of us loses control.”
They managed one more chaste kiss before heading to the parking lot. Gruff opened the door for his man and they took off, heading south on White Haven Road. Dustin reached out to lay his hand on Gruff’s meaty thigh and asked a question.
“I’ve never gone this way before. Are they way out in the country?”
Dustin’s warm hand set off Gruff’s purr-like rumble and he shook his head.
“Nope. They have a nice place across from Buttermilk Falls, and Bear Creek runs right through their property. It’s only a mile from town.”
Seconds later, Gruff switched on his right turn signal, and they followed the curved driveway to a yellow one-story with lots of windows.
Dustin had expected a mansion or something big and fancy, but this unpretentious home fit their reputation of normal, friendly folks.
Gruff handed Dustin out of the truck, but instead of letting go, he tightened his grip.
The contact grounded them both, and Gruff leaned over to kiss Dustin on the cheek.
The front door opened as they approached, allowing the aroma of something sweet to waft past Gruff’s sensitive nose.
The couple welcomed them inside and then Dash commenced the scenting; first Gruff, then Dustin.
The handsome shifter was a head shorter than Aiden and built on the burly side, with a friendly, bearded face.
Gruff growled at the man when he scented Dustin longer than necessary, and Dustin wondered if it was a territorial thing or because they’d never met before.
Aiden sensed his confusion and bypassed the awkward moment with an introduction.
“Welcome! We’re glad you could make it. Dustin, this is my mate, Dash Hawthorn.”
Dustin reached out to shake hands.
“Hello, Dash. I’ve heard a lot about you—all good, of course. I passed the resort on my way into town, and it looked awesome from the interstate. I hope to visit sometime soon and see for myself.”
Dash smiled, revealing adorable dimples.
“You and Gruff are welcome any time. I can only guess how busy you must be with the grand opening coming up.”
Aiden began leading them toward the dining room as Dustin replied.
“It’s been kind of crazy, but things are looking good.
Thanks to your mate, I now have the staff members I was looking for.
Jillian and Asha will be joining us on Wednesday and Thursday of this week, and everybody else will be on board for the trial run on Saturday.
By next Monday, we should have most of the wrinkles ironed out. ”
On the table, Dustin spotted a three-layer cake of some kind. Gruff and Dash simply growled at it while Aiden explained.