Bearing It (5 page)

Fred sat across from her mate and had a glass of wine. He was wearing a black button-down shirt that made his golden skin glow.

“You can’t be serious.” She snorted.

“I am deadly serious.” He arched a brow. “Did you think I wouldn’t?”

“I didn’t think about it. I mean, I am firmly anchored, but I have friends and family enough to make something workout. Do you really want to move in with me?”

“I do. Do you have room?” He sipped at his own wine.

“Uh…you could say that. I live in a seven-bedroom house.” She blushed. “I always planned for a big family, so I had the house built accordingly.”

His smile was slow. “Excellent. I have connections in the fish and game department, so I can find work in your area. Is that acceptable?”

“It is. It is very acceptable. The local fish and game wardens are mostly wolves and a couple of foxes.” A sense of relief rippled through her. “Will you mind leaving customs work?”

“Of course not. I have been waiting for the chance at a family my entire life.” He reached out and placed his hand, palm up, on the table.

She slid her hand along his and gripped his fingers with her own. “It will start completely the moment that you meet my family.”

“Should I be frightened?”

“No, but they may want to witness a ceremony. They are funny that way.”

He grinned. “You know me, all the legalities are key.”

Their meal arrived, but instead of releasing their grip, they ate one handed. It made things a little messy as they had both had steaks, but carnivores and omnivores were not that fussy when it came to table manners.

Eating the salad was a little fun, but by then, it had become more of a challenge and less of a romantic gesture.

Hektor looked at their amused server. “Box up the dessert. We will have the trifle and the fruit salad.”

She could see where his mind was going, and she had no objections.

The server brought them a pair of finger bowls and some hot towels. They washed their hands and dried them.

Fred grinned. “I call it a tie.”

“Deal.” He released her hand, and they washed their other hands, getting to their feet the moment that Hektor had paid for dinner.

Fred collected the containers of dessert, and they laughed together as they made their way back to the bed and breakfast.

Teebie was in the entry hall, at her desk. “Good evening. I can see that you have mated. Congratulations.” Her expression was enthusiastic, but there was a sadness to her expression.

Fred walked over and kissed her on the cheek. “Thanks, Teebie. We will be leaving tomorrow, but the service ratings we will leave in Shifter circles will be glowing.”

Teebie blushed and looked away. “Thank you and thank you for being a good start to my new career. I was getting worried.”

Fred laughed. “With food and service like this, you needn’t have worried.”

“Go. Your mate is fidgeting.” The djinn waved her away with a smile.

Fred chuckled and squeezed Teebie’s hand again before she returned to Hektor’s side. She looked up at him and grinned. “Well…dessert?”

He grabbed her and tucked her under one arm while he ran for the nearest bedroom. It was his, and he wasted no time in removing her dress, shoes, underwear and arranging her on the bed. “Stop me if this makes you uncomfortable.”

She kept silent as he arranged fruit and trifle on her body, moving to make her into the ideal table. Once the food was in place, he set the containers aside and removed his clothing, flinging them into the shadows.

“The cream in the trifle is starting to melt.” She whispered it to him. It was sliding down her breasts and in a cool trickle between her thighs.

“Then, I had better get started.” He leaned down and lapped at her breast, slurping up fruit and cake.

Once he had taken it off her skin, he leaned up and fed her with his mouth. Her mind was a little taken aback, but she realised it was bird-style courtship. He merely held the food in his mouth before giving it to her, so she thanked the first bear for small mercies.

Every time he either ate a mouthful or gave it to her, he went back and thoroughly cleaned her with his tongue. The sounds his mouth made increased her arousal, and her skin was hot all over by the time he worked on removing the last serving that he had placed between her thighs.

This one was all his, and he munched, slurped and parted her thighs to get the last of the melted cream from her skin. She was fairly sure that he had taken all sweet traces from her, but she was rather distracted as his thorough pursuit of all the cream had her gasping and twisting against him.

He held her thighs with a tight grip, and the slurping continued as he used his tongue to tease, penetrate and torment her.

“Please, Hektor.”

He looked up at her and thrust two fingers inside her wet heat. “Yes?”

“I want you. Please.”

“I don’t know, I am a little full.” He grunted when she reached down and pulled on his hair. “Yes, ma’am.”

When he was up where she wanted him, she kissed him savagely, tasting herself on his lips and not caring a whit. She undulated against him, using her body to beg him now.

He thrust into her slowly, and her mind blanked as pleasure peaked and she shuddered in his arms.

“Thank the feathers.” He grunted and shook as his cock jerked inside her. His weight was supported on his arms and his back arched giving her a magnificent view as he came.

His eyes were dazed and unfocused as he slowly slumped on top of her. Their chests were heaving and their pulses were racing. He shifted to one side and cuddled her against him. “I like dessert.”

She snorted and sighed. Despite his efforts, she was sticky. “I need a shower.”

“I will join you. You need someone to wash your back.”

His logic was irrefutable, and while sex in the shower was not one of her favourite pastimes, it made for a fun distraction, as she was able to lean hands against the wall and let him do all the work once again.

He had a work ethic that she had to admire, and as they cuddled on the warm, clean bed in her room, she looked forward to him taking the reins frequently. For now, she had to think about the best way to introduce him to her family. A big party seemed in order, and she had just the place to throw one.

Taking leave of Teebie had been mitigated by the basket of muffins that the djinn was sending home with them.

They returned to the Meditation Centre together, and Tony and Teal were waiting. Tony smiled, “Congratulations on finding each other. Sign this contract, and you can be on your way.”

They signed the mating contract, including their species’ representative names and when it was done, Teal signed as official and witness. Tony fixed the formal seal of the Crossroads.

He intoned a formal declaration. “And so, being bound by all treaties and clans, this union is to be honoured by all.”

They inclined their heads, and Hektor put his arm around her.

Tony clapped his hands briskly. “Right. Now, you two need to head back to the true world.”

Fred grinned. “My place, please.”

Teal stepped forward. “All right. I know where your key was filed.”

They moved into the centre of the Meditation Centre, a large Zen-style garden with paths and stones arranged in elaborate patterns.

Fred stood close to Hektor, and Teal opened a gateway much as Trevor had a few days earlier.

Teal said, “Be well and enjoy each day. Finding a mate at long last is a blessing. Know it every time you look in each other’s eyes.”

Fred smiled, and Hektor urged her forward. A moment later and they were in her backyard, as if nothing had happened, but the soreness between her thighs and the male next to her belied that reality.

“Come on, Hektor. I will show you our room and you can start making arrangements.”

He grinned. “Please. I would love a tour of your house.”

“Our house. I had it built for my family, and you are the starting point, dearest.” She took his hand, lifted her luggage and headed across the garden and into her home. Their home. It was a start.

The Northrups descended in force the next morning. Buzz and Ezzy led the charge with her friend Krisia and the head of the Mages’ Guild. A private ceremony was arranged before the big one the following week.

With a glowing orb between them, Fred and Hektor stood and faced each other across the human magic. Buzz stood on Fred’s side and Ezzy took Hektor’s.

The Guild Master raised his hands. “In a mating, there needs to be a meeting of equals, and in the matter of birds and land mammals, this spread is rather noticeable. To create the equality, we have gathered here today to join these two shifters and balance their power.”

Krisia stood behind her husband and placed her hands on his waist. The orb of energy swirled with a bright blue colouration, and Ezzy explained.

“Place your hands on the orb, and it will change your energy. You will be able to shift to an eagle, and he will be able to be a bear. It is strange at first, but it does help you understand your mate more than anything else could do.”

Buzz simply nodded.

Fred took in a deep breath, and Hektor mimicked her as they gripped the orb between them. Her bear roared forward and out to greet its mate, she felt his eagle reach through the orb and run up through her hands. Her bear roared at it, but it screamed back, and they both retreated into her.

She rocked back on her heels, and Hektor staggered back.

Krisia peered out from behind the Guild Master. “Sorry for the awkwardness. We are still working out the bugs. We have only done it twice before.”

Fred didn’t hear her. She turned to Hektor, and he stepped forward. They kissed and their beasts met and mingled. She held tight to him as her mind touched his, their two animals now allowing them to communicate on a far more intimate level.

When they parted, he blinked, and she could see a bear surfacing in his eyes.

Buzz cleared his throat. “I will visit and show Hektor how to be a bear; Ezzy will give you flying lessons. It is way harder than it looks.”

Fred smiled up at Hektor and nodded. “I am willing to learn.”

“As am I; whatever it takes to get me into your life completely, I will do.” His voice was low.

Steffi was nearby under a canopy, and she whistled sharply.

Fred turned to Krisia. “Refreshments are served.”

Their party headed over to where several members of Fred’s family were waiting. They hadn’t been able to participate in the ceremony as too many shifters made for unstable bondings, but they had waited eagerly to celebrate this milestone.

Hektor was getting along well with her parents, and her family was delighted to have him. It was a relief to her, but she still thought that he was only half accepted. She had gotten his family’s information and contacted his parents. They had been a little reserved but had agreed to attend the wedding the following week.

She was going to be far too busy in the next week to worry about whether they showed or not, but she had made the effort.

“White? Are you sure?” She turned from side to side in the mirror, and the skirts swished.

Her mother laughed. “It’s tradition. I would have had you in a nice leaf green, but we are bowing to the bear tradition.”

Ezzy was in the room, and she snorted. “Tradition is important. Even owls have their strange rituals. At least your ceremonies don’t involve mice. My reception was not my finest hour.”

“Well, after the ceremony, I take off my dress, and we all go looking for berries.”

“Less gross than mouse breath. Now, here is your bouquet, and let me just touch up your headpiece.” Ezzy leaned in and fussed a little with the green wreath.

Her mother kissed her cheek and said, “It is time. I will be out there watching and cheering for you. Remember. You are already his mate. This is just for your friends and family. We want to watch you happy.”

With that encouragement ringing in her soul, Fred waited for the five minutes and then walked with Ezzy through the halls of her home until they walked down the steps and found the two hundred guests, all friends of the Northrup family, waiting for her appearance.

Ezzy walked down the flower-strewn aisle to stand at the altar end, and Fred paced slowly to the music that filled the garden. Buzz and Hektor were waiting for them, next to the official.

When Fred arrived at the far end of the aisle, she took Hektor’s hand and smiled at him. His glowing grin was enough for her. She went through the formalities of the ceremony, giving the appropriate responses when asked and keeping her gaze on his.

They exchanged rings in human tradition, signed the wedding license and formal declaration then returned to the central position and gave everyone the best possible view of their first kiss as man and wife.

Afterward, there were the official wedding photos with all family members in rotation. A huge wedding album was a definite possibility.

“Any members of the groom’s side?” The photographer looked up with a smile.

Hektor started to shake his head, but an older couple stepped through the crowd.

“We are here.” The man smiled slightly and kept his hand on his wife’s arm.

Hektor looked shocked.

Fred sighed, “I invited them.”

“So, that is why you asked for their number?”

“Yes. I wasn’t sure that your mother had any recipes worth swapping.” She winked. “Now, we are posing for family photos. Get your family over here.”

He grabbed her by the waist and pulled her to him. “You are already here.”

Her heart thudded, and she smiled as she met his parents for the first time. Elanor and Icarus were charming if a little cold. That would change by this evening or they would have to fly to escape. The Northrups and friends wouldn’t let them go without loosening them up first. It was their specialty.

When the photo barrage was over, the reception began. Food was served, wine flowed and as the sunset painted the canopy, shifters began sneaking off into the woods for a little fur time.

Fred and Hektor danced slowly in the centre of the wedding tent. She looked up into his deep gold eyes. “Did you think it would work out this well?”

“The wedding or our families colliding?”

“Both. Congratulations on the job by the way.”

He spun her in a circle. “Congratulations on getting airborne.”

She gasped. “That was supposed to be a surprise!”

“I promise to be surprised.” He kissed her quickly and spun her around.

She pouted but relented. After coming to bed bruised every night for the last week, he had to know that something was up. Ezzy and Buzz had stayed with them on the far side of her house, and while Hektor had sought his new position with fish and game, she had sought to gain the air, finally succeeding.

He had resigned from customs enforcement with two weeks’ notice. Since he was in the middle of a two-month leave, it hadn’t been a big deal. He changed his address to hers and was in the process of setting up local banking.

She didn’t have the heart to tell him that she was so rich; he would never have to work a day in his life. He would figure it out soon enough. One early investment in her cousin’s mining operation and she had gained enough to set her up for life. Subsequent investments had only increased her nest egg.

She smiled at the term nest egg. Now that she could do an avian shift, it was rather appropriate, and if the early pregnancy test she had taken that morning wasn’t lying, her own egg had already had the collision of a lifetime. Her family was starting and she was eager to know if the baby would have fur or feathers when the time came. She sighed.

“What is it?”

“I was just pondering our future and how our children are going to adapt to the world.”

“It is a little early to think of children, isn’t it?” He raised his eyebrows.

“Of course. Yes. Far too early. Just in case though, what do you think? Should I knit paw covers or claw mittens?”

“You are not.”

“I might be. I think I am. I still have to have it confirmed.” She frowned. “Is it too soon?”

He stopped in the middle of the dance floor and bent her back in a dramatic kiss.

Apparently, this surprise was just right.