Page 10 of Wrong Turn, Right Bear (Beartastic Summer of Love)

TEN

ASH

“You!”

I had to be imagining my mate’s face. He’d left days ago, leaving a Theo-shaped hole in my life. My heart would never be whole but in time, I’d piece it together. There was a Japanese saying about when something was broken and put back together it was more beautiful and unique than the original.

I wasn’t sure I could say the same about my heart but I would survive.

But now I was hallucinating. Not a good sign.

Theo, or pretend Theo, strode toward me, hand outstretched, a ghost of a smile on his lips.

“Hi. I didn’t book but Romey said it was okay if I joined the hike today. ”

“That’s… that’s f-fine.”

“Thanks so much. I’m looking to change my life and this seemed like a great way to do it.”

What did I make of that? There was no correct response to what he said so I mumbled something about being in nature always giving people time to think.

I took note of his shoes. Not the boots that had started a chain of events none of us could have foreseen.

If it weren’t for them, Theo might have stayed and we could have muddled through our…

courtship or whatever humans called it. But I had his boots, they were close to my bed and I blew them a kiss every night.

“You’ll need water and snacks.”

“Great.” He retreated to the back of the group, keeping his head down.

I was so discombobulated that the welcome spiel I gave to every group and had memorized years ago came out accompanied by splutters and stops and me repeating half the words.

We started off with me at the front, pointing out the bluffs and the legends around the pine trees. I explained how ancient the forest was and people asked questions.

I walked backward while talking to the small group and Theo had his eyes on me but dipped his head when I snuck a look at him.

Getting him alone was impossible until we stopped for a break or for people to snap pics.

But we needed more than five or ten minutes and being surrounded by people wasn’t ideal.

Theo took out his water bottle and chugged down the liquid. Some escaped and dribbled over his chin. How I longed to scoop them up with my fingers or even lap them.

Shit, my cock was swelling. I couldn’t have a hard on while leading a tour group. I thought of anything that might lessen the swelling. Baby poop, not flushing the toilet, dirty feet in the bed and someone picking their nose. That did it. My arousal deflated.

Thank gods I’d walked this path a thousand times and had all the talking points on a mental scroll. I said my bit, people responded, rarely with a question that I hadn’t heard and I answered. Normally I’d be fully engaged in the moment, but today I rattled off my answers.

By lunch time when we returned to the trail head and people were thanking me, one woman sidled up and asked if I was married. She had a nephew who I’d be perfect for. That wasn’t new. My human clients were often trying to match me with their son or next door neighbor.

“I’m not but I just came out of a serious relationship and I’m not ready to date.” I avoided looking at Theo. Our relationship lasted what… a day or two ?

“I’m sorry to hear that.” She patted my shoulder and gave me a sympathetic smile.

Most of the group got into their cars and drove off. Romey corralled the ones who’d come in the van. Only Theo stood unmoving.

“Are you coming, sir?”

“I’ll make my own way back. Thanks.”

The van disappeared down the road. I kept my eyes on the spot where I’d last seen it because I didn’t want to hear what Theo had to say. If he stayed silent, I could pretend he’d changed his mind and wanted to be with me. But when he broke the silence, the last shred of hope I had, could be dashed.

“You came back.” Nothing like me stating the obvious.

“Yeah.” Theo’s conversational skills were worse than mine.

He wants to be our mate. Mark him . My bear didn’t understand the need for words and clarity.

“Why?” Now I’d have my answer whether I wanted it or not.

Theo studied his feet. “I don’t have my boots.”

A sharp pain stabbed at my belly. He hadn’t said the words. Instead he was avoiding my question.

“I’ve got them and I could have posted them to you. ”

“They gave me blisters. Not sure I want them back.”

“That was your fault, Theo.” Hmmm, accusing the man I wanted more than life itself that he was wrong wasn’t the best or most direct way to his heart. Instead, I’d taken a detour, got a flat and had no spare.

“Thanks for pointing that out.” There was an edge to his voice and I apologized. His shoulders slumped as if my apology had pricked his anger and now his emotions were laid bare.

His voice wobbled and he glanced away. Shit, I’d made him cry. No wonder he didn’t want me. I was a horrible person. It didn’t matter that he rejected me but I had to hug him, tell him he was a great guy and that it would all be okay.

I opened my arms and he fell into them, sobbing on my shoulder. The hurt poured out of him in those salty tears. Maybe I should cry some more though I’d done little else since he left.

“I’m sorry,” he wailed and sniffed.

“No. Your heart told you we weren’t a match. You put yourself first, Theo.”

He pulled away, still blubbering. “But I don’t want to.”

That didn’t clear anything up. He didn’t want to be my mate. That I understood. Or he didn’t want to put himself first. That made no sense and I would refuse if he did it just for me.

“Okay.” I waited, hoping he’d fill me in. But if this was the last time we met, another last as we’d already at least one, I took advantage of him being in my arms. I inhaled his scent, relished his smooth skin under my touch and his heart pounding against my chest.

“I missed you. I couldn’t sleep. Cereal was all I ate. You were in my thoughts and also here.” He patted his chest. “I couldn’t get rid of you and it hit me that I didn’t want to.”

He gulped in mouthfuls of air while his eyes bored into mine.

“I don’t know if this is what love is—I’ve never really been in love before—but I want and need you in my life.”

Now my heart sped up at hearing his declaration. But I had to clarify. “Are you saying you want to be my friend, my lover, or my mate?”

I stayed still, not even breathing, a trait only shifters had, though I couldn’t maintain it longer than a few minutes.

“All three.”

“You want my mark? To be with me until one of us takes our last breath?”

He grinned. “Maybe beyond if the goddess allows us to be together. ”

I had no power over the goddess but a long life together sounded good to me.

“Wait. You’re going to mark me?”

Oh Theo. Being mated to a shifter was a huge life about turn. The marking was a symbol but I got that he wasn’t aware of that.

“It’s a scratch.”

He smirked. “As in to scratch an itch?” He sidled up to me, swaying his hips. “I have an itch right now that needs attending to.”

All thoughts of marking fled my mind as my mate—the first time I’d used that expression in this context—pressed himself against me and ground his hips. He was rock hard. Where had he been hiding his arousal?

Gods, I scented the slick. His butt must be coated in the sticky, slippery substance. How I longed to finger him, taste him, and plow inside his hole.

“I’m at your service.” I yanked him closer so he could feel my hard dick. His eyes widened.

“You’re big.” He nuzzled my ear. “And I’m certain you once told me you were hot.”

“For you.”

He took my hand. “We need to go to your place and fuck like bunnies.”

Standing behind him, I pulled him onto me, my arousal pressing on his ass. He wriggled and I almost came .

“I’m not familiar with how bunnies fuck but I have a very comfortable bed and I’m a willing student if you want to teach me.”

“Stop talking and hurry.”

I almost broke the speed limit but stayed mindful of the winding road and how humans reflexes weren’t as speedy as shifters. I eased my foot off the gas. But Theo was groping me, stroking my cock as I turned a corner and changed gears.

“This is where you live? I love it and it's so close to the lake.”

We hadn’t discussed living arrangements but I needed him close by. As in living in my house.

“Our home if you want it to be.”

“Yeah.”

That was easy.

I raced around to his side of the car and dragged him onto the porch. Or I tried to. We kissed, fondled, and said I love you’s as we tried to undress but Theo tripped over his pants.

I picked him up. “This is our forever.”