Page 8

EZRA HIKED STEADILY, his movements relaxed and easy as he strode along the trail. His brain whirled with everything he’d just learned. He could hardly believe it, but he couldn’t deny what he’d seen with his own eyes.

But mating? Love...or lust, rather...at first sight? A one and only? Shifters and paranormals and bonding?

It’s all just so crazy!

Ezra pointedly ignored the memory of Link’s explosive blowjob. Any time he allowed his thoughts to dwell on the experience, he instantly began to plump up. No point in thinking about it and ending up hiking with the hard-on Link had relieved him of with the blowjob, after all.

Every once in a while, Ezra heard something moving in the trees to the left or right, and he would pause to peer amidst their foliage. He would spot a hint of brown, noting the shape of a large animal. Ezra had worried about it the first couple of times it had happened.

What if there’d been a bear out there?

Somehow, Link must have known, for he’d revealed enough of himself so Ezra knew it was the musk ox. Just as the man had promised, he was keeping pace with him. Link was giving him time to come to grips with everything he’d shared.

To Ezra’s surprise, he realized he found it reassuring. Hiking alone could be dangerous. There were risks. Out in the wilds, anything could happen.

With Link around, following as a sentient animal, Ezra knew he had a built-in safety net.

Huh. That’s actually kinda cool.

I like hiking alone. I don’t have to figure out chatter with someone else or moderate my speed for another.

Ezra enjoyed silence and nature.

I get to enjoy my hiking and know that I have someone watching out for me.

Well, damn. Ain’t that a kicker?

Ezra smiled at his thoughts. That was definitely something he could get used to. Of course, it would mean accepting all the other things that being with a shifter entailed.

And that’s another weird thought. Being with a shifter.

Except, if Link was to be believed, that would mean he would be devoted to him—to his pleasure, happiness, safety, and health. Wasn’t that what every person wanted in a partner? Well, unless they were the dominant one who wanted to be the one caring for the other person.

In truth, Ezra had always found taking care of his girlfriends exhausting. He’d assumed it had something to do with him being attracted to high-maintenance women. However, maybe that wasn’t the case at all.

It would definitely be nice to have someone care for me for once. I bet I could get used to it.

Ezra allowed his mind to spin with those thoughts as he hiked along. Enjoying the scenery, he made a mental list of questions. He didn’t want to lead Link on or anything, but he definitely wanted a chance to explore the big man’s sexy body.

And gods, the way his beard felt against my groin. So fucking fantastic.

Predictably, Ezra felt his dick begin to plump behind the fly of his cargo shorts.

Ugh, stop thinking about sex and Link.

That was harder said than done, though. For some reason, Link just pushed all of Ezra’s buttons. Even ones he hadn’t realized that he had.

Maybe that’s the mate-pull thing Link had mentioned.

To Ezra’s surprise, he found himself looking forward to his evening camp when Link said he would join him.

JUST AS THE SUN WAS beginning to sink behind the trees, creating long shadows and pockets of gloom around him, Ezra spotted a good spot to bed down for the evening. The space was flat and mostly clear, and he quickly cleaned up the few sticks and stones littering the area. He rolled out his sleeping bag and settled on it cross-legged.

Ezra placed his backpack on his lap and pulled out several soup packages. After deciding on the potato corn chowder, he hesitated, wondering if he should make a double batch so Link could have some. He hadn’t planned to consistently feed two people, and it would definitely eat into his stores.

Still, Ezra didn’t want to be rude by eating in front of him.

Setting aside two packages, Ezra put the rest away. He could at least give him the option. Ezra pulled out his small propane cookstove and set it up off to the right of his sleeping bag. After placing the small cook pot on the burner, he filled it with twelve ounces of water. He would add more if Link decided he wanted some.

As if conjured by his thoughts, Link appeared from between the trees...in human form.

Ezra felt a small measure of disappointment. He’d wanted to see Link’s big musk ox again. He wondered if he would be given the opportunity to pet the animal.

Would it be rude to ask?

Only one way to find out...but later.

“Hey, Ezra,”

Link greeted softly, a hint of uncertainty in his tone. “How, uh...how are you doing? Have a good hike this afternoon?”

“Hey, Link. I did, thanks.”

Feeling the strange desire to set Link a bit more at ease, Ezra patted the blanket beside him. “Take a load off. I’m making potato corn chowder. Want some?”

Link smiled as he eased his bulk onto the blanket, mirroring his position. Sitting cross-legged before Ezra, his thigh muscles bulged where they stuck out of his gym shorts. His shoulders bunched as he rested his forearms on his legs.

“No, thank you, Ezra,”

Link replied, resting his satchel against his leg. “I don’t want to eat your food. I know you weren’t expecting me.”

Shrugging, Ezra pointed out, “There’s towns along the way. I can buy more.”

It would cut into his timetable, but he could do it. It wouldn’t be the end of the world.

Shaking his head, Link told him, “I grazed quite a bit while walking, so I’m not really hungry. Plus, I brought a few things to supplement.”

“Grazed?”

Ezra asked curiously. “What do you mean?”

Link pointed at his pot. “Your water’s boiling.”

“Oh.”

Ezra quickly grabbed his package and opened it. “Thanks.”

He poured the soup contents into the hot water, grabbed a spoon from the side pocket of his bag, and gave it a stir. “So, grazed?”

Nodding, Link told him, “As a musk ox, I can eat a lot of the vegetation around here.”

He indicated the forest around them. “Grass, stalks, shoots, moss, flowers. That kind of thing. So I’ve been eating as I walk.”

Reaching into his bag, Link pulled out a pouch of jerky and opened it. “And for a boost of protein.”

He took a piece before holding it out, giving him a hopeful smile. “Want some?”

“Yeah, thanks.”

Ezra took the bag and snagged a piece, then handed it back. From the pleased expression on Link’s face, he knew he’d made the right choice. He tore off a piece of the succulent jerky and chewed the surprisingly tender meat.

“Good,”

Ezra murmured as he watched Link eat his own piece. Needing to move past the awkward silence, he searched his brain for something to say. He’d made a mental list of questions as he’d hiked, but suddenly, his mind was coming up blank. Finally, Ezra blurted out, “So, mating’s done through sex, and that’s how a shifter bonds with their other half, and that’s like marriage. Right?”

Ezra shoved another bite of jerky into his mouth to stop himself from continuing to ramble. At the same time, he fought down a blush. While he wanted confirmation, he couldn’t believe he’d just blurted it all out like that.

Link nibbled his bottom lip for a few seconds, which Ezra found totally adorable on the big man. “Yeah.”

He cleared his throat, then added, “In a nutshell.”

Rubbing the back of his neck, Link told him, “Fate doesn’t make mistakes. She brings mates together when one or both need each other, so while I’m uncertain of her timing right now, I want you to know I’ll be good for you.”

Grimacing, he amended, “I’ll make it good for you. I want to support you, not hold you back or anything.”

Reaching over, Ezra rested his hand on Link’s knee. He rubbed lightly over the hairy flesh, surprised to find he liked the feel of the crinkly hair beneath his palm. Ezra didn’t have much body hair, but considering Link sat there without a shirt, his broad chest clearly displayed that he did.

Man, I wanna explore so bad.

“I haven’t met anyone I’ve wanted to try a relationship with in...a really long time, but—”

Ezra hesitated, taking a second to glance at his soup. He stirred, focusing on his simmering meal as he collected his thoughts. Mulling over things while alone and hiking was so very different than trying to voice his thoughts when a very sexy Link sat before him.

Appreciating that Link gave him a few minutes to sort his thoughts and find his words, Ezra turned off the burner so his soup could cool. He turned back to meet Link’s gaze and scoffed softly. “How I respond to you really makes me want to try.”

Before Link could reply, Ezra admitted, “I’ve never had a relationship work long-term, and that definitely concerns me. I mean”—he lifted a hand, then dropped it into his lap a second later—“you make it sound permanent. Bonding for life, right?”

“Yes,”

Link confirmed, his deep voice quiet and sure.

“What if we get tired of each other?”

Ezra asked uncomfortably. “I’ve had it happen before.”

After a while, Ezra would just...lose interest in his girlfriend. Sometimes, they would go their separate ways amicably. A few times, Ezra had ended up getting an earful from the ex about how he was cold, distant, or uncaring.

“That’ll never happen for me, Ezra.”

Link smirked, his eyes narrowing in a smoldering expression. “And I can guarantee that it won’t happen for you, either.”

“How?”

Ezra shook his head, even as his body responded to that look. “I don’t think that’s really something you can promise.”

Link chuckled. “Because after we bond, you’ll be the only person I can ever get it up for.”

Wait. What?

“Huh?”

Ezra gaped for a few seconds. “Really?”

“Really,”

Link confirmed, sounding serious. “You know what that means?”

Ezra shook his head.

“That means I’ll make it my mission in life to give you so much pleasure you’ll never look elsewhere for satisfaction.”

Link smirked again, obviously taking in Ezra’s dumbfounded expression. Letting out a husky chuckle, he claimed, “And sex between mates is far more enjoyable than anything you could experience with anyone else.”

Link waggled his eyebrows suggestively. “That blowjob was just the tip of the iceberg.”

Gaping, Ezra felt a rush of heat flood his body just thinking of experiencing more with the other man. It had definitely been the best damn blowjob of his life. His prick thickened behind the fly of his shorts, pressing against the material almost uncomfortably.

And I do want more...so very much.

Unable to help himself, Ezra reached down and adjusted himself into a better position. The move drew Link’s attention to his tented shorts. The bigger man’s nostrils flared, and he swept out his tongue and licked his lips.

“Wanna help you with that,”

Link declared gruffly, his tone betraying his desires.

“Yes, please,”

Ezra murmured reflexively.

Link began to set aside his bag of jerky, then hesitated. His attention fell on Ezra’s soup. He pointed at Ezra’s meal and opened his mouth.

Ezra was about to say, it can wait, when his stomach took that second to grumble loudly.

Smiling, Link cleared his throat. “You’ve expended a lot of calories hiking today.”

He indicated the soup again while holding Ezra’s gaze. “Part of taking care of you is making certain you’re fed. Please eat.”

With a reassuring expression, Link told him, “I’m not going anywhere.”

With a groan, Ezra nodded. He knew the other man was right. That didn’t make setting aside his carnal thoughts any easier. Still, Ezra did it.

Ezra pulled a metal trivet from his backpack and placed it before him. Gingerly, he rested the small cook pot on it. Then he stirred his soup and blew on it, helping it to cool faster.

After a moment, Ezra carefully took a tentative bite. It was still a bit too hot, but the flavor bursting across his tongue caused his stomach to grumble again. He hummed appreciatively as he eased another small spoonful between his lips.

“Damn, that’s a great sound,”

Link rumbled, drawing Ezra’s attention. He eyed him with a somewhat feral glimmer in his dark eyes, causing the hairs on Ezra’s arms to stand on end and his cock to twitch. Link grinned as he narrowed his eyes. “Yeah, wanna pull those kinds of noises from you while I’m stroking my hands over your body and burying my dick inside your hole.”

Link’s nostrils flared, and his expression turned a little vacant, as if he was imagining just that. “Know you’ll feel so tight and hot around me.”

Ezra swallowed hard, trying to get moisture into his suddenly too-dry throat. His breath caught in his chest, and heat rushed through his veins that had nothing to do with his hot soup. It even felt as if his heart skipped a beat in anticipation.

The soft sound of a device vibrating filled the air, effectively yanking Link out of whatever daydream he’d been enjoying. He blinked a few times while shaking his head. Offering a sheepish smile, Link chuckled, soft and low.

“Sorry, mate,”

Link murmured, glancing from Ezra to the device wrapped around his thick bicep and back to him. “Your aroused scent mixed with the sounds of your enjoyment...ha. Drove me to distraction.”

Then Link grabbed his satchel while ducking his head, perhaps trying to hide the flush that was creeping up his neck. “Um, while you eat, I’ll, uh...just check this.”

Once again focusing on his food, Ezra ate hungrily as he watched Link absently. He saw the man pull a tablet and...something else...from his bag. Link quickly twisted a few things, and a second later, he was setting up what looked like a mini satellite dish.

“What’s that?”

Ezra couldn’t help but ask before shoveling in another spoonful of delicious potato corn chowder.

“This is a nifty device that allows me internet access just about damn near anywhere.”

Link flashed a grin Ezra’s way as he turned on his tablet and began tapping on it. “My own design, and I worked with a couple of guys to tweak it and make it even more powerful.”

“Cool.”

Ezra didn’t really have much else to say. If it wasn’t technology related to accounting, he’d never paid attention to it. Instead, he ate his meal and enjoyed the scenery...namely, Link’s gorgeous body.

It only took a moment for Ezra to realize that the silence between them was comfortable, and he felt no need to fill it with chatter.

I could get used to this.