Page 16 of Bear Creek Thanksgiving (Holiday Mates #3)

“I whipped up a favorite from my days as a pastry chef. It’s an apple-cinnamon layer cake with salted caramel frosting. Have a seat.”

Gruff and Dustin sat side by side, facing Dash and Aiden across the table. Aiden laughed as his mate and guests all groaned with the first bite. Dustin managed to pause the action long enough to make a request.

“I had no idea you used to be a pastry chef, and this is terrific !. Can we compare notes? Better yet, is there any way I can get my hands on the recipe? Seriously, Aiden, our guests will flip for this.”

Aiden’s poker face revealed very little, and he turned to Dash.

“What do you think, Mate? I suppose Ryder could draw up a contract, but I wouldn’t consider anything less than twenty percent royalties. Does that sound reasonable, Dustin?”

Both Dustin and Gruff stopped eating and stared at the man, unsure what to say. Dash cracked the first smile, making Aiden chuckle and their guests laugh. Dustin tried for a compromise.

“How about if we etch your face in the icing instead? On the other hand, I’m much better looking, so that might not be a good idea.”

More laughter ensued, and Aiden pointed at Dustin with his fork.

“Watch out Gruff, this one has a mouth on him!”

Gruff didn’t miss a beat.

“Yep. And he knows what to do with it.”

Dustin’s face blossomed with heat while his hosts cackled gleefully. Once Aiden got himself under control, he provided a more reasonable response to Dustin’s request.

“I don’t mind sharing the recipe, and I’m flattered that you want to use it. You don’t owe me anything, but if you wanted to donate a small percentage of the profits to SHARP , Dash’s charitable foundation, we’d be grateful.”

Dustin received a simple nod from Gruff before flashing his host a delighted smile.

“Done! If it wasn’t for SHARP , Gruff wouldn’t have been able to expand the business and I wouldn’t be here. I’ll be looking for other ways to help once things settle down.”

It was Dash’s turn to pink up this time, as he hated taking credit for charitable endeavors. Aiden leaned over to give him a peck on the lips.

“Now that we’ve demolished dessert, why don’t we reconvene in the family room downstairs and talk for a while?”

Hand in hand, Gruff and Dustin followed their hosts down a carpeted ramp leading to the lower level.

The space oozed a quiet, den-like charm with reduced lighting and comfortable furnishings—perfect for a shifter.

Two matching loveseats faced one another, with a narrow coffee table in between.

The couples settled in, and Aiden got things started by sharing part of his own story.

“When Dash and I met, I didn’t know much about shifters.

Little by little I began to learn, but as things got serious, I almost made a huge mistake that could have ruined our relationship.

Dustin, you asked for some advice about shifter mating and I’m glad you did.

There are things you must know so you and Gruff have the best chance for a happy future.

I have to assume your feelings for each other have grown strong, or you wouldn’t be thinking about mating. Am I right?”

Gruff squirmed a little, but nodded in agreement. Dustin did too, though with a delighted smile on his face. Dash chimed in with a pertinent question.

“You haven’t talked about it, have you?”

Dustin answered first.

“Well, not in so many words. I don’t understand shifter mating, and I haven’t said anything because I don’t want Gruff to feel pressured.”

Dash and Aiden refocused their attention on Gruff, who growled with discomfort. Dustin hadn’t expected him to be angry or upset, and he feared the worst.

“Don’t you want me? Are you disappointed because I’m not a shifter?”

Gruff was horrified that he’d been misunderstood so badly, and pulled Dustin onto his lap.

“No, no, no. You’re perfect. I love everything about you. It’s just… I’m scared, Dusty. Mating is permanent and... things happened to me that you don’t know about. I should have told you already, but I’ve never been in love before, and I don’t know what I’m doing.”

Dustin wiped the tears away and buried his face in Gruff’s neck.

“You love me? I love you, too! Can’t we figure this out together?”

Aiden and Dash exchanged a knowing look as memories of their own convoluted romance came to mind. Aiden paused before interrupting the couple.

“First, you two need some honest conversation and a commitment not to hide or bury any of this stuff moving forward. Second, let’s make sure you understand what shifter mating means and how it happens.

Once you have the facts, you’ll know if and when the time is right to act on your feelings for one another. Think you can do that?”

Both men agreed, and though Dustin turned to face the other couple, he remained on Gruff’s lap. Dash began with the basics.

“Many shifters recognize their mate the first time they scent them. It was that way with me and Harv, my first mate. We didn’t have to question or take our time because we knew .

My parents were among those who didn’t immediately recognize the other person as their mate, but that they could be.

The potential was there, but the decision came only after they got to know one another.

Gruff, how did your bear react when you met Dustin? ”

Gruff had no trouble recalling their first meeting.

“He liked him and wanted me to spend time with him. He wasn’t pushing me to mate.”

Dustin found all of this fascinating, but he chose not to interrupt or comment. Dash continued.

“Just as I thought. Your situation is similar to human dating where the relationship builds gradually until you and your bear agree that the other person should be your mate.

Eventually, the human partner has to commit to a lifetime relationship.

If they can do so honestly, then the mating act follows—usually sex that includes marking the human partner in some way with claws or teeth.

“This is why the shifter should avoid intimacy in their own bed during the courtship. If they don’t, it’s likely that the urge to mate will be too strong to resist, and the human won’t be prepared to make the necessary commitment. Being rejected by one’s mate can result in madness or even death.”

No one except Gruff knew that Dash had touched on the very thing which nearly destroyed him as a cub.

Frightening, wretched memories began their incessant march through his troubled mind, stirring up old pain, fear, and abandonment.

Gruff began to huff in distress amid concerned looks from the others, and Dustin did what he could to soothe the poor man—whispering reassurance and stroking his face until he calmed down.

“Shhh, I’m right here. No one will hurt you. We’ll get help if you need it. Just hang on, Gruff. You’re strong, and I love you so much.”

Gruff clung to Dustin like a child, drawing strength from the physical contact, his scent, and the comforting words.

Dash and Aiden waited patiently, wondering if the man’s scars had something to do with his reaction.

After all, no one knew his story, though he would need to share it with Dustin sooner than later.

Aiden got up to fetch a box of tissues and set them on the empty seat beside the couple.

When Gruff finally settled, Dustin dried his tears, kissed his forehead, and handed him some tissues. Once the nose-blowing and sniffling stopped, Dash asked if either of them had any questions. Gruff shook his head, though Dustin needed more information.

“So, we can have sex anywhere except in Gruff’s bed and it won’t cause a problem?”

Aiden answered him.

“Yes, as long as Gruff is in control of his bear. Once you tell Gruff that you want a lifelong relationship with him, the mating will happen very quickly no matter where you happen to be. I know from experience that it will be intense, painful at times, and thoroughly exhausting! Afterward, Gruff will need frequent sex, constant contact, and reassurance that you belong to him. He won’t be able to control it, so you’ll have to be patient until the mating effect fades over a couple of weeks. ”

Dustin wasn’t quite finished.

“I don’t understand the marking thing. Is that something natural bears do, too?”

Dash responded this time.

“From everything I’ve heard, the marking only occurs with a mixed couple.

We think it’s because humans lack the heightened senses of their shifter mate, and the marks serve as a physical sign of a legitimate bond.

We remain faithful to our mates and expect them to honor their commitment to us. Aiden, would you mind showing Dustin?”

Aiden stood up and shucked off his T-shirt. The man had a gorgeous physique with a thick pelt of chest hair that didn’t completely cover the scars running down both of his pecs. Wide eyed, Dustin winced.

“I bet that hurt.”

Aiden put his shirt back on and snuggled against his mate.

“It was painful at the time, but Dash took good care of me, and I healed without problems. Unless I go swimming, he and I are the only ones who ever see the marks. I won’t ever forget who I belong to, and wear them with pride.”

Before they wrapped up, Dash gave Gruff one final admonishment.

“We don’t know the cause of your pain or your scars, but you must tell Dustin. He deserves to hear your story if you intend to mate with him. Don’t put it off, Gruff.”

Gruff nodded, drawing Dustin in for a hug.

“I won’t. I promise.”

############

A short time later...

The drive back to Dustin’s apartment was filled with silence rather than conversation.

There was no anger, angst, or disappointment—just two exhausted men who had crossed a difficult bridge into the next phase of their relationship.

That part felt good, but this wasn’t the time for another emotion-filled discussion.

Gruff pulled into a parking spot and Dustin reached for his hand.

“Stay with me?”

Gruff gave him a weary smile.

“I’d like that.”

Inside, they prepared for bed and Dustin found an old pair of athletic shorts for Gruff to wear. Alarm set and lights off, they squeezed onto the twin sized bed and pulled up the covers. Gruff spooned up behind, wrapping an arm around Dustin’s middle to hold him close.

“Is this all right? I don’t want to squish you.”

Dustin heaved a satisfied sigh.

“Perfect. Exactly where I want to be. By the way, we’re boyfriends now, and I want everybody to know you’re taken.”

Gruff’s purr started up, vibrating both the bed and their bodies.

“Okay. Goodnight, boyfriend.”

Gruff couldn’t see Dustin’s smile, but his relaxed and happy scent filled the air, and they were soon asleep.