The Preacher's Daughter

by Valerie Reyes

  "Well, this is refreshing," he said as he offered him his arm. "You look adorable."

  "And you look overdressed. Where are you taking me for dinner?" James asked him. Cesar had on a suit, and James suddenly felt underdressed for the occasion.

  "I have reservations at my favorite Italian restaurant, but it's not that fancy. I just didn't have time to change after work. I had a business meeting that required dressing up for. I didn't want to be late, so I didn't have time to go home. I'll take off my jacket before we go in," He said and then reached out to touch James’ cheek. "You are full of surprises. I like this. It's honest, and suits you."

  "When were you going to tell me who you really were?" James asked him as he opened the car door. He slid into his black Mercedes SUV and gave him a look that said he wouldn’t let it go until Cesar answered.

  He walked around the car and slid into the driver's seat, starting the car before turning.

  "Would you have been more or less likely to go out with me if you knew who I really was from the beginning?" he asked quietly as he pulled out from in front of the condo and onto the street.

  "Probably less, to be honest." James realized that, had he known, he probably wouldn't have said yes. Rich and famous lifestyles had never appealed to him. He just wanted a quiet life with a shifter, one who left him aroused and wanting to be around all the time, one he yearned to keep company and be in love with. He wasn’t sure he could handle the fast-paced life of being in the public eye all the time.

  "Exactly. If people know who I am, it's either a major turn off to them or they want me for my money. I wanted to get to know you as myself. As the man who likes to walk and eat an ice cream cone by the water, sit in my backyard and watch shooting stars go by. I didn't come from money, James. My company may have made me rich, but I prefer to live quietly and privately. I sometimes have to pose for publicity shoots for my company, but these days my investors are pretty safe. The company's doing well enough that I don't have to stay involved in the spotlight as much anymore. I'm at a place where I can settle down, have a life on my terms." He looked at James and grinned. "And while I don't know what your agenda is, you were looking for a shifter. I'm that, too. I don't know where the two of us will end up, but I took one look at you and wanted you. I don't know if you are my mate, or if I just want to take you to bed and not let you out for a week. But for me, that's enough. I wanted to find out what you will end up meaning to me. I'm glad you agreed to do this with me."

  "Well, it's a free meal and I like stars, so..." James joked lamely, absorbing his words and letting them sink in. He’d let it go for now. He could understand his reasoning, yet the mention of life long plans had him considering running scared. He wasn’t sure he was ready for such a serious commitment yet. He needed time to think about it first.

  "I'm not in a hurry to make any long term plans, by the way. I'm just not getting any younger and knew if I wanted it, I had to start working that direction," he said. Reading James expression, he wanted to reassure him he wasn't going to push him into anything before he was ready.

  "It's weird to hear a guy talking about finding a partnership so openly. Is it like that with all shifters, or are you just special?" Then he reached out to touch his arm, speaking the question he really wanted to ask: "Can I watch you shift sometime?"

  "Let's see how the night plays out, and we can talk about the shifting," he said, grinning. He was glad James wasn't intimidated by it. When people found out he was a shifter, they either overlooked it due to his money, or were freaked out and lost all interest. "I was a single child, it made me determined to have a big family when I was ready to settle down. Of course it wasn't enough that I was a shifter. I realized early on that I was attracted to boys, which brings its own set of challenges. I just had to get to a place in my life where I was ready for it all of the challenges it would bring."

  "I guess having a billion-dollar company doesn't hurt," James said tartly.

  Laughing, Cesar nodded. "No, having a lot of money doesn't hurt. But it does make it hard to find the right partner. You'd think having money would make it easier, but I think it makes it harder."

  "So tell me, why stargazing?" James asked him, changing the subject. He was getting close to the place where he was taking them for dinner. As he pulled up to the valet, Cesar just smiled.

  "I'll tell you over dinner." Getting out, he helped James out of the car.

  They went inside to enjoy their meal, and James was glad that no one noticed the two of them. One of his biggest fears of being with him in public now was someone knowing who he was and bugging them. Men of Cesar Ellis' caliber didn't just go unnoticed most of the time.

  "Do you have people chasing after you to get your attention or take your picture?" James asked him while looking over the menu after they'd been seated.

  "Occasionally, but it happens less often than you think. I don't strip naked, do drugs, or any of the other things that often get attention. I just leave that for the rock stars." He grinned and winked before ordering a glass of wine and offered him one. He nodded and thanked the waiter when he brought it.

  "So, you were going to tell me about the appeal of stargazing." He grinned at him as he sipped the glass of wine.

  "Well, honestly, I was hoping to do more James-gazing than stargazing, but I'll settle for stars if you decide not to let me seduce you tonight." The waiter brought the food a few minutes later and he let James digest his intentions.

  He was flattered Cesar wanted him; he even appreciated his honesty and bluntness. The fact he had a backup plan to enjoy their evening if James said no to him tonight was refreshing. Cesar was a smart man, and it showed in every decision he made.

  "What will you do if I say yes?" James asked him, leaning against the table slightly, lowering his voice to closely watch his reaction.

  "I will peel off every inch of your clothing and take you to heaven and then when you crash back down to earth, I'll do it again." He grinned and started eating his pasta like a man who was starved. James ate his meal in relative silence while he pictured the man’s tongue on his body, his large hands stroking his naked skin under the stars. The mental images he was entertaining made him wonder if the fantasy would compare to the reality.

  Finishing up their meal, Cesar asked if he wanted dessert. He shook his head no; he was too stuffed after garlic bread, salad, and pasta. It was a delicious meal and good conversation. When James offered to pay for his half he looked offended.

  "James, I asked you out. That means I'm paying for it," he said and gave him a stern look. "Unless we are just friends, you let me pay for the things that I want to pay for, okay?"

  "If you insist," James said raising a brow and shrugging. He was used to taking care of himself. He wasn’t entirely sold on letting someone else pay for everything, but he could probably learn to accept gracefully. It wasn't worth arguing over.

  "You ready to go watch the stars?" Cesar asked as he finished tipping the waiter and got up to get the car back from the valet.

  "Do you plan on keeping me so distracted we don't see any of the stars, or do we actually get to see some of the meteor shower?" James asked him. He had never stopped to watch one, so part of him actually wanted to see it.

  "We can watch it. I have a bottle of wine, a blanket, and some pillows, so we can lie on the grass." He nodded to the valet and slipped him a few dollars for bringing his car back. James got in and fastened the seat belt, waiting for him to get in. He put his hand on his leg after he got in the driver's seat.

  The look he gave him sent shivers up his spine. The only thing he really still wanted was to see him shift. He wasn't sure he'd do it tonight, but the thought of him sharing that part of himself had him aroused. James wanted him to feel comfortable enough to show himself in his most raw form. Wondering how he was going to ask him, he decided blunt might be the best way to go, but he wanted to wait until they were comfortable.

  Chapter 5

  James was sitting on the b
lanket cross legged behind Cesar’s house, a large, open-windowed house near the ocean. It had grass for an acre before touching the beach. His nearest neighbor was far enough away James couldn’t see the house besides a murky outline against the night sky. They were alone and had privacy.

  He didn’t want to comment on the cost of his house, but James had a feeling this was way out of his pay grade. Instead, he just focused on him. Cesar handed him a glass of wine and sat down, recorking the bottle and setting it into the grass. Checking his phone, he nodded.

  "Should be starting any minute if the reports are correct," he said and sipped his wine. He was staring at James instead of the sky, and he could feel his eyes on him.

  "I want to watch some of the stars, but I want to see you shift more. Will you do that for me, Cesar? Will you turn into your other form and let me watch?" James asked as he slid closer to him, putting his hand on Cesar’s chest. Their mouths were an inch away from each other's and, before Cesar answered, he kissed him. Cesar pressed his lips against his mouth, dominating, arousing, and hard. He pushed his tongue between his lips and kissed him like his life depended on it. Something about this man pushed all the right buttons. He would shift for James, but first he was going to kiss him.

  Cesar’s tongue teased him and his hands grabbed his hips pulling him harder up against him. He could feel his arousal as he kissed James inviting neck. James moaned into his mouth. Satisfied with this response to him, he pulled back and looked into his eyes.

  Lips swollen from the kisses, James brought his hand up to his mouth and stared back, with heavy lids. His breaths were coming shallow and his heart was racing. If that's what he did with a kiss, he couldn’t wait to see what else he could make him feel.

  "Shifting, huh?" Cesar let out a small laugh and stood up on the blanket. Stripping naked he didn't bother to hide his large erection. Backing up, he threw his head back and his arms out. The shift rolled over him. It bordered somewhere between pleasure and pain, and he let out a low grunt. He hit the ground on all fours, completing his shift into a bear.

  Standing, he looked straight at James. Cesar knew he was an impressive bear. Larger than most bears by a few inches, his brown fur reflected the moonlight. He stood about fifteen feet away on the grass. James scrambled to his feet to touch him. He was enthralled. Cesar was as impressive in his bear form as he was as a man. James stroked down his back and by his ears. He admired his legs and his strong back. Eventually, he stopped touching him and stood back, allowing him to shift back to his human form.

  He was kneeling in the grass after he shifted back. James walked back over to him and ran his hands over Cesar’s bare back. Touching his skin, James sighed, feeling the heat as his fingers trailed down his body.

  On his knees before him, Cesar began to unhook James' pants. With quick deft fingers he exposed him. James breathed in, gasping at the sensation of the cool night air on his erect member. He moaned, his hands caressing Cesar's thick hair. He did not have to wait long before the warmth of his mouth surrounded James cock. Cesar’s tongue dancing along his length sent shivers up his spine as he teased and tormented with his lips. James felt the cold air of the night sky ripple across his skin as he stood, receptive, in the moonlight. The heat of his skin was a contrast to the breeze coming up from the water. He looked up at the sky long enough to see a shooting star. Making a wish on it, he hoped this night turned out to be as promising as it seemed like it would.

  "What has you smiling so big?" Cesar asked as he pulled his head back.

  "The stars. It started. Let’s watch it for a few minutes and we'll pick up where we left off," He told him, pushing him back. They repositioned and sat back down on the blanket. James felt completely comfortable putting his head on Cesar's broad shoulder. Pointing at a star shooting overhead James smiled. "It's gorgeous l, isn't it?"

  "Not as gorgeous as you," Cesar said and grinned, but tried to pretend like he was paying proper attention to the sky above them. He sat there for a few minutes, feeling James breathing fall and rise next to him, noting the way his heart was slow and steady. He reached over and pulled the top off, exposing James’s lean torso. He playfully walked his fingers down the length of his taught stomach. When James didn’t stop him, he kept touching him, He was slowly working his way down, beneath his waistband to the small smattering of pubic hair framing the parts he wanted to touch the most. Digging his fingers through it, he combed his way down until he found his firm cock. Stroking it, he turned slightly, cradling James' shoulders in his arms while they watched the stars. James let his head fall back as this bear of a man worked his magic. Fire and ice, the wind cooled his skin and Cesar's manipulations heated his entire body up until he broke out in a sweat. His hips were rotating up as Cesar stroked his sensitive flesh. He was close to Cumming. Half-shutting his eyes, a moan ripped through his throat as rose closer and closer, as if able to touch the stars themselves. Cesar kissed him then, capturing his mouth with his own, swallowing the cries of pleasure. Sensing that James was closer than ever, Cesar changed position, moving his mouth once more down to capture his between his lips. His hands pulled down James pants with urgency and clutched at the flesh of his hips as he pleasured him.

  "I want you to watch the stars explode as I pleasure you," he said. James was hard and erect and, when Cesar placed his warm mouth upon him, James thrust into him, his hips twitching on their own accord. To his surprise, Cesar took him up to the hilt, pressing his mouth down upon him, deep into his throat. James felt the pleasure washing over him. No one had ever taken him that deep before in such a way. James's head dropped back and he moaned loudly. He was using his grip on his hips to pull up and down on his cock.

  "You are so big,” Cesar muttered, taking a breath.

  Placing his hands on Cesar's shoulders, he used the leverage to help make his hips find the rhythm of his partner's mouth. He wanted to watch him pleasuring him, but it felt so good that it was hard to keep his eyes open. He was sliding in and out of his mouth, Cesar's lips hitting all the right places as his hands gripped the flesh of his hips almost painfully tight.

  Rolling against him, he took him deeper, faster, until he tumbled over the edge into his climax. He jerked inside his mouth as he came, it felt so good. The rolling sensations kept coming as long as he moved.

  After a few moments, the feeling settled down and he realized his entire body felt like jelly. They both collapsed on the blanket. Laughing slightly, James pressed kisses to his chin and cheeks.

  Cesar cradled him in his arms and wrapped the edges of the blanket around the two of them, blocking out some of the wind as they finished watching the meteor storm together. When it was over, they went inside.

  "We will need to talk," Cesar told him as he pressed kisses to his mouth. "But tomorrow. Tonight, I have plans for your body that don't involve much talking."

  "I can live with that," James said, grinning. Taking his hand, he let him lead them to his massive bedroom. He flipped on the light and grabbed a couple of ties he'd had thrown on his dresser near the light switch.

  "You game?" He asked winking as he held up the ties.

  "For me, or for you?" James asked him, raising a brow. The idea of him tied to the bed at his mercy had his knees almost buckling. Getting to touch every inch of him while he lay there. Picturing his wrists tied to the bed had him growing harder by the second. Oh, the things he could do to him.

  "Either way," he said, shrugging.

  "I like the way you think." Pulling him over to the bed, he put the ties to good use. They ended up taking turns more than once that night. When James woke in the morning he was well sated, and sore from all the activity.

  Chapter 6

  James yawned as he woke up in the morning. He could smell coffee brewing and followed his nose to the kitchen. Cesar was there, and he looked good. His hair was wet from a shower and James suddenly felt like he should have asked to take one. He felt grimy and a little dirty after having sex at least five times last night. His
legs were stiff and his stomach hurt in places that showed those muscles hadn't gotten a good workout in quite a while.

  "You want some coffee?" Cesar asked as he grabbed another cup. "My housekeeper will get to the dishes later, but I made some breakfast if you are hungry."

  "I would like breakfast, thank you, and coffee would be wonderful," He told him as he sat at the bar at the island counter. "I am going to need to get home to get ready for work at some point today."

  "I'll take you home after you eat, but let's talk first." He had a serious expression on his face as he handed James the coffee. "I want to see you again, James. I like you, a lot. We are clearly...compatible in more ways than one."

  "If you mean all the sexual positions, sure,” he joked and sipped the coffee. Sighing in pleasure, he closed his eyes and savored it. Now this was good coffee. Opening his eyes back up, James grinned at him.

  "I mean that despite our different backgrounds, we work well together. I like you. When I'm with you, I'm just Cesar. You accept me. All of me, my human and my bear side...even my job. I couldn't ask for a better partner, James. You're handsome, funny, and smart. I want to see you again. Sex for one night isn't going to be enough for me when it comes to you. I want you to be willing to give this a real chance between us," he said as he slid a plate of toast and eggs across the island counter. Waiting for a response, he looked a little tense. James almost felt bad for him. He wasn’t sure where they'd end up, but he agreed it was worth finding out where it would go. With one exception.

  "Maybe we could slow down a little bit. We are certainly compatible. Of that there is no doubt. I let myself get carried away last night. I've never done that before. Something makes me want to throw all common sense to the wind to be with you."

  "If you insist," he said, shrugging. "Did you know bears mate for life?"

  "Do they really?" James said, looking shocked.

  "No, I dunno. I was joking, but I'm the kind that would mate for life." He gave James a pointed look and then let him finished his coffee as he absorbed what he was saying.