Page 7 of Solomon's Ransom

“Remma,” Sol said, low, in warning, and Remma stopped. They both watched as the bear came toward them and then stopped, too, as it saw them.

The bear looked as surprised as Sol felt. Its nose twitched. It lifted its head, then stood up on its hind legs to peer at them.

Adrenaline flooded Sol’s body. He had never encountered a bear before, and for a moment, his panicked brain couldn’t remember what to do. Then his training took over. “Hey, bear,” he said, loud but not too loud, doing his best to keep his voice calm. He raised both arms above his head and waved them slowly. “We’re just heading to our camp for the night. Not going to bother you.”

Remma, watching him, began to wave his arms, too. “Hey, bear,” he said.

The bear looked from Sol to Remma and back. It stayed where it was, towering above both of them, its ears swiveling.

“Nice evening for a walk,” Sol said, just babbling, using the sound of his voice to show the bear—hopefully—that they weren’t prey. “Out for a stroll, huh? Seeing the sights. Enjoying the weather.”

“The miserable weather,” Remma added in, and of course he was still able to crack jokes even when they were facing a predator that could easily take down both of them. Sol knew how bears ate their prey: intestines first, and without a care as to whether the creature was still alive. He didn’t want to go out that way.

“Start walking sideways, Remma,” Sol said, still waving. Remma was useless in a combat situation, but he was smart, and he would follow directions. “Maybe it won’t attack us. Will you, good bear? You aren’t hungry. You’re just out for a walk.”

The bear huffed. It dropped back onto all fours and took a few steps toward them. That was bad. Sol tried to master his shaky breathing, the hot panting in and out. Go away, goaway, he thought silently, viciously in the bear’s direction. Aloud he said, “We won’t bother you. We’re just heading on our way.”

“Should we stop?” Remma asked.

“No. Keep going. Keep waving.” Sol moved sideways, slow careful steps, and the bear didn’t follow further. It watched them go, its ears twitching a few times. Then it kept going the way it had been, perpendicular to their path as they moved sidelong.

“Shit, it’s leaving,” Remma said, his voice low with relieved disbelief.

“Don’t stop. Don’t watch it go. Just keep coming this way,” Sol said. His heart pounded in his chest. He’d never been more afraid, not even when facing down a furious mother pinecat.

They walked in that direction until Sol couldn’t see or hear the bear. “You hear it?” he asked Remma, who shook his head. “Okay. Shit. Okay.”

“We’re safe,” Remma said. “I think. Somehow.”

“Somehow,” Sol said. He stopped for a moment, feeling his body pulsing all over. “Then let’s go make camp. I really need you to fuck me.”

* * *

He didn’t bother settingup the tent. Their sleeping bags tossed onto the ground were good enough. The air was cold, but Sol burned with heat and didn’t want to waste time pitching the tent. He couldn’t wait.

He had packed lube—shamefully, pretending it was just an oversight, that he’d left the bottle in his bag from their last trip. He dug it out of his bag now and tossed it on top of the sleeping bags, and gave Remma a defiant look. If he had something to say?—

But Remma didn’t look like he had mockery on his mind. Sol could just barely see his expression in the last fading light. His eyes were black, black and intent as he watched Sol work. He looked hungry, if anything, and that was gratifying. He’d never turned Sol down yet.

Sol’s hands were shaking. He was trembling, his body processing the terror of coming face to face with death. They hadn’t died, though; they were still alive, and he wanted to revel in it, to feel the blood rushing through his veins and know he’d escaped. He wanted Remma on him and in him, making him feel alive.

“Zip the bags together,” Remma said, and Sol did, hands clumsy on the zippers. Remma knelt beside him on the loam, and Sol could feel the heat of his body, the mass of him, impatience rolling off him in waves.

“Were you scared?” Sol asked.

Remma grinned, a flash of sharp teeth. “Yeah. Terrified.”

“I thought we were both going to get eaten alive,” Sol said, and leaned forward to kiss Remma’s mouth, heedless of the teeth.

Remma cradled Sol’s face in his hands and kissed him hard and deep. The tips of his claws slid into Sol’s hair. His hands were so big. Sol was hit with a sudden sense-memory of their first time together, a late night in Remma’s room after too much to drink, and the searing heat of Remma’s huge hands dragging down the length of Sol’s body. Sol had slept with men before, but Remma was in an entirely different category. The experience had been shocking, like a shock to the heart to bring someone back to life. He had already liked Remma so much—how competent he was without ever being conceited about it, the way he smiled at every one of Sol’s jokes—and after that he had to work really hard to think about Remma as little as possible, because it was easy to see where those thoughts would lead him. Nowhere safe.

They undressed with frantic hands and crawled into the warm space of the sleeping bags. Inside, Sol reached down to feel for Remma’s cock. There it was, sliding out already, the blunt tip hot and wet. Sol gripped it and gave a gentle squeeze. Hey there.

Remma’s hands cupped his ass and pulled him close. One of Remma’s thighs slotted between Sol’s own and pressed against his cock. “Get yourself ready.”

Sol’s cheeks flushed hot. Yeah, he would have to, and with Remma right there and probably enjoying it. He groped around for the lube. There it was, shoved down toward the feet of the sleeping bags. He popped the cap and coated his fingers with a messy portion. There was no time for grace or modesty. Remma’s hands parted his cheeks for him, and Sol’s face burned as he reached back and stroked his fingers over his own hole.

It felt good, the pads of his fingers rubbing around and around, softening himself up. He pushed two fingers inside because why not. He wanted to get this over with and move on to the next part, the part where Remma was in him. But he couldn’t resist lingering a little, rocking his fingers there, pressing deep.