Chapter 29
Friday, mid-afternoon
Around three o’clock, Orrin received a text from Zak’s mother.
Almost there. Pull around back?
He answered quickly.
Yes. We’ll be waiting for you.
Orrin had been in the Cub House chasing dust bunnies when the text arrived, and he called to the little ones who were watching old episodes of Bears In Space.
“Kip! Rayn! Turn off the TV, please. Grandma and Grandpa will be here any minute.”
They met at the bottom of the stairs, went up one floor, and entered their home through the connecting passageway.
Then it was down again and into the living room just as the Halls arrived.
The couple hurried in, eager to see Orrin and the kids on their very first visit to Bear Creek.
With Kip watching from the window, he let Rayn know when it was time to open the door as Orrin looked on.
“Gamma! Gampa!”
The door swung open and Melody scooped up the little princess, twirling her around.
Kip wanted in on the action and ran over to grab Grandpa around the knees.
That resulted in tickles and laughter all around.
Orrin was hugged and scented, too, and though the Halls’ greetings were less effusive, he felt their love and warmth.
“It’s so good to see you! Did you have any problem finding us?”
Andrew answered for them.
“Not a bit, and it was a lovely drive. We noticed billboards for the resort on the way in, and it looks like a terrific place. We can’t wait to see everything!”
Once the couple had refreshed themselves, Orrin brought out a platter of sweetbreads from the Red Barn and everyone enjoyed a quick afternoon snack. While they ate, he shared some information he’d compiled.
“I made a map of some places in and around Bear Creek you might want to see while you’re here. There’s also a family-friendly show at the amphitheater this week that looks fun. Rayn, tell Grandma and Grandpa about your favorite spot at the Water Shed.”
She giggled.
“Bubbles! Kip likes them, too.”
Orrin quickly explained that it was like a giant hot tub for ursine guests. Kip tried to describe it, but his words came out all wrong. Andrew and Melody clearly understood that both children enjoyed the special pool and looked forward to experiencing it for themselves.
When snack time was over, Orrin took them on a tour of the house.
The kids were excited to show off their bedroom and bathroom.
Andrew burst out laughing when Kip pointed out the artwork depicting a dinosaur on the potty.
They were still snickering when Orrin led his guests into the Cub House.
With all the cleaning he’d been doing, the place sparkled like a gem. Melody couldn’t help but comment.
“My word, what a lovely old home. Such character and beautiful woodwork. Whoever restored this place knew what they were doing.”
After the tour, they ended up back at Orrin and Zak’s place, admiring the children’s library in the living room. Andrew asked how they’d come to have such a wonderful collection, and Orrin told the brief story.
“I asked our local librarian what he would recommend and then ordered the whole list without thinking! Thankfully, Zak was very understanding and loves reading to the kids as much as I do. Oh, why don’t you pick out something for bedtime reading at the resort this week?”
Melody asked Rayn and Kip to pick a series they wanted to hear, and they chose the same one she’d started at her house a while back.
Thus armed, she asked if the children were all packed and ready to go.
Orrin thought so, but they all trooped back upstairs to make sure and brought their bags down to sit by the front door.
Shortly after, Zak came home, and there were more hugs and scentings.
With supper reservations at the Delaware Room set for five o’clock, it was time to leave.
Rayn and Kip were reminded to be good for their grandparents, encouraged to have fun, and then were snuggled, smooched, and hugged before setting off for their adventure.
Orrin and Zak followed them out to the car, got the booster seats installed, and waved goodbye as they drove out of sight.
Zak wrapped Orrin in his arms, drinking in his scent before they walked back to the house. Orrin noticed how exhausted he looked.
“We don’t have to mate tonight if you’re too tired.”
Zak stopped in his tracks and cupped Orrin’s bearded face.
“Oh, yes, we do. We’re going to fuel up, hit the shower, and make love all night. I don’t want to go another day without your mating mark on me, love.”
Orrin’s low, guttural growls were clearly heard and felt between them, and he claimed Zak’s mouth with a ferocious kiss before dragging his man into the house.
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Orrin hadn’t stopped alternately growling or huffing since the kids took off with their grandparents.
His bear had impatiently waited months for Orrin to claim Zak, and after hearing his desire for just that, nothing short of an alien invasion could get in the way.
Supper was filling, but rushed, and when Zak went into the guest bathroom to prep, Orrin got the bedroom—HIS bedroom—prepared for their night of passion.
No shifter shared their private sleeping space until a potential mate was ready to make a lifetime commitment, and tonight was the night.
Orrin wasn’t nervous per se, only excited, on edge, and extremely aroused.
When Zak called out that he was ready to shower, Orrin joined him under the spray, washing him from head to toe.
He didn’t skip the kisses and fondling completely , but he wanted to save all the good stuff for the bedroom.
Frankly, he’d be willing to claim Zak in the middle of Bear Creek Boulevard under a full moon if it was the only way to make the man his, so rushing through the shower wasn’t such a big deal.
They were both hard, aching, and eager by the time they reached the open doorway of Orrin’s bedroom and stopped.
Zak knew exactly what the man needed to hear.
“I love you, Orrin. We belong together. Forever . Claim me. Mark me. Make me yours.”
Orrin growled, lifting Zak in his arms.
“Yes! Mine! ”
Carrying him over the threshold, Orrin kicked the door shut behind them and lay Zak on the bed. On the nightstand, he picked up a thick, purple, ten-inch dildo, a bottle of lube, and a hand towel. Zak was mildly surprised, but it made perfect sense when Orrin explained a moment later.
“I want you nice and stretched when the time comes, and this will allow us to get right to it. Relax, babe, while I work it in.”
Orrin inserted two greased fingers to get things started, stretching and massaging Zak’s prostate in the process.
Next came the dildo—shiny with lube and somehow looking even bigger than Orrin’s cock.
After the tip slipped past the ring of muscle, Orrin worked the rest in while Zak grunted and perspired.
Once it was fully seated, Orrin wiped off his hands and crawled up Zak’s body until their cocks were aligned.
If that weren’t enough, their lips met in demanding kisses filled with heat and promise.
Soon, Orrin’s fingers started to play with Zak’s nipples as his mouth moved from lips to the man’s left ear for nibbles and a whispered question.
“Where do you want your marks, love? Tell me.”
Zak was breathing hard by this time; his brain slowly short-circuiting under Orrin’s multi-pronged assault. Fortunately, he’d already prepared an answer.
“Wherever you want them, love, except for my face and neck.”
Orrin growled his pleasure at the thought of marking his beautiful mate, but not where others could see.
That left intriguing possibilities to consider while Zak moaned beneath him.
Pheromones filled the air as their passion rose, and Orrin kissed his way down Zak’s body until he swallowed the man’s cock.
Zak started to thrash, even as Orrin’s bear urged him to get on with the claiming.
There was no going back now, and Orrin slipped off the bed, pulled Zak to the edge of the mattress, and eased the dildo out.
His cock immediately replaced it, sliding in to the hilt with no resistance, and Orrin began a punishing pace.
Moans and snarly growls combined in a lusty concert as Orrin lay claim to his mate—pounding away until almost reaching climax.
In the blink of an eye, short black claws replaced the fingernails on his right hand, and Orrin called out ‘MINE!’ as he raked them down Zak’s left glute and upper thigh.
The man cried out in pain and pleasure as Orrin filled his passage with fragrant seed, staking a claim from the inside, as well as out.
The mating bond formed even before Orrin’s orgasm was finished—a tangible connection linking him to Zak until death.
Yet what happened next was totally unexpected.
The bond somehow anchored itself to Zak as well, though the connection wasn’t as strong.
It startled both of them, eyes wide with surprise, delight, and wonder.
Driven by his ursine nature to keep going, Orrin tossed a clean towel on the mattress to absorb the blood, and resumed thrusting without withdrawing from Zak’s body.
Hot on the heels of the first orgasm, each man came again, and then a third time before Orrin detected Zak’s discomfort and pulled out to tend to his mate.
His MATE! It wasn’t just a theoretical term or a mystical idea any longer, but something real and tangible.
The information had arrived via their link first, followed by his senses.
Orrin didn’t know what else it might do, but they could test it later. Right now, his mate needed some TLC.
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