Chapter 17 #2
His eyes sparkled. “You do? Really?”
“Mhm. This morning when I woke up I can’t tell you how happy I was to see you coming out of your room.
You were absolutely adorable with your hair askew, your eyes bleary, and scratching your stomach.
Then you saw me, your eyes widened, and you dashed into the bathroom.
When you came out, you were all pink from the hot shower, but your hair was still all mussed up.
” I stroked a hand over his knee. “It was amazing having someone else in the house, especially someone I love talking to.”
“You mean that, don’t you?”
“I do. After everything gets worked out, I was hoping you might consider spending some time with me in the evening. We’ll camp out in the great room with some tea or some of my specialty hot chocolate and do what we’ve always done.
Talk. Your voice is very soothing, and the stresses of the day melt away when we can spend some time together. ”
“I’d really like that,” he said, his voice a bare whisper that I had problems hearing over the rotors even through the headset.
We didn’t say much else until after we landed. The boys wanted to shift and run through the flowers, and I told them they could. That was a mistake on my part.
“Come on, Momma!”
“I’m going to stay here and talk with your dad for a bit, okay?”
“But we want to run with you,” Eddie whined, his voice squeaking.
“Guys, Uly can’t shift like we can.”
They both cocked their heads. “But she showed us before,” Jack said, obviously confused and, if his expression was anything to go by, scared.
Uly glanced at me, and I nodded. He went to where the boys were standing, holding hands, and leaned in.
“When I got sick, I couldn’t shift anymore. Now I’m like you were before you could. Just a normal person. I’m sorry I can’t shift and run with you.”
They threw themselves into Uly’s arms. “It’s okay,” Jack said tenderly. “We love you anyway.”
A smirk crossed Uly’s face. “I love you guys too.” He swatted them on the butt. “Now, show me how you shift and play as bears.”
They stripped out of their clothes, handing them to Uly, who folded them and placed them in a neat pile. Then they took off, wrestling among the flowers, chasing one another, growling at each other, stamping their feet, and being kids. It was wonderful to see. Uly took a seat beside me.
“This is awkward,” he admitted. “I want to be there for them, but I hate lying.”
“Yeah, I know. Still, they believe in Santa Bear, so why not your answer as to how you can’t shift?”
Uly arched his eyebrows. “Santa Bear?”
I nodded. “It’s a big thing here. Bear shifters from around the country come to celebrate. He brings gifts for the kids and we have a huge festival that lasts for three days, with all kinds of fish, berries, pizzas, beer, soda, wine. If you can imagine it, we’ll have it.”
“That sounds awesome.”
“Next year you’re welcome to come with us.”
“But I thought it was bears only?”
“You’re my mate. You’re the boys’ momma. I think that qualifies you as an honorary bear.”
And then Uly did something that made my bear sit up and take notice. He leaned against me, putting his head on my shoulder.
“I love it here,” he said quietly.
“Like I said, we’d love to have you stay. But there’s also something else I’d like to talk to you about.”
“Oh?”
“What would you think about dating me? I mean, I’d like to see you publicly, let the people get to know you. See the man who I’ve fallen….” Backtrack, idiot! “See the man I’d like to blend my life with. I mean, after all, you’re Momma.”
“Wanna know something? I fell in love with you during our phone calls. You were so kind, so considerate, and you never made me feel stupid, even when I wasn’t on the pills yet.”
I turned my head and kissed his hair, the scent of chocolate and coffee awakening my senses and making me hungry, but not for food. I wanted Uly to be under me, to show him what it means to love a bear and be loved by one.
“Brent, I—no.”
“No?” I asked, my stomach sinking.
“My whole life I’ve overthought things. The pills take an edge off, but when it’s something important, apparently I can still get lost in my thoughts.”
He tilted his head and pursed his lips. I knew what he wanted, and I was happy to give it to him.
I tucked a knuckle under his chin, then leaned in and kissed him.
It wasn’t as gentle as our first one, but probably wouldn’t be more than PG-13.
Uly wrapped his arms around my neck and held on, whimpering as we clung to each other.
Then disaster struck as two eighty pound cubs pounced on us, knocking us backward onto the grass.
I was amazed at how gentle they were being with Uly.
Their claws could do him serious damage, but they kept them away from the tender flesh.
Still, they needed to learn a lesson. I got up and stripped off my clothes, tossing them onto the ground.
I noticed Uly staring at me, his mouth open, and his tongue darting out to wet his lips.
Then I shifted and roared, the sonorous bellow echoing off the hills and trees.
The kids, knowing they were being chastised, made a dash for me, whimpering and tucking their heads against my body.
Then Uly did the most amazing thing. He came over to us and tugged my paw, urging me to lay down. Afterward he took a spot beside me and cuddled the boys while ensuring there was a connection between the two of us. If I was in my human form, I wouldn’t be able to stop the words I wanted to say.
Uly, I love you too.