by Megan Brooks
She tripped over a root before she got to him - like she had done in the woods. He caught her this time. “Careful,” he said, quietly, his voice almost a growl. His large hands were strong around her. He started to pull away, but Robin found she didn’t quite want him to.
“Is it my turn to watch yet?” Robin asked as they parted, surprised she sounded so breathless.
Orson looked up at the sky and the waxing moon above, as if he could tell the time by it. Maybe he could. “I suppose,” he said. “You’re welcome to keep watch from inside, though.”
“I like it out here,” said Robin, even though she was dimly aware of how cold her bare feet were at this moment.
“So do I,” Orson admitted with a small, brief smile. “It’s not safe though - not for you to be out here alone.”
“So stay with me,” Robin said, before realizing how that might have come off. “I mean, I can keep watch by myself. That’s not an issue. If you need more sleep, then-”
“No,” Orson interrupted her, studying her with a curious expression. “I’ll stay out here with you. I’m not tired.”
“Oh… Good.” Robin looked about. “What should we, uh…”
“I can show you some of my favorite spots near the cabin,” Orson offered. “It’ll be like we’re patrolling.”
“I should probably go get my shoes then.” Robin had noticed that Orson wasn’t wearing shoes, but he was used to nature. Robin was only used to going barefoot on carpeted floors.
“No need.” Orson turned his back to her and crouched down to one knee.
Robin barely held back a laugh. “Are you serious?”
“Deadly. Hop on.”
Robin felt silly climbing onto his back at first. She couldn’t remember the last time she had received a piggy back ride. To Orson, the gesture seemed effortless, though. His back was so broad. She hooked her legs around his waist. He held onto her thighs, and she held her arms around his neck. He rose and started walking at a brisk pace, as if she hadn’t slowed him down at all.
“There’s a creek over there,” said Orson as he rounded the corner of the cabin. With a nod, he indicated some distant running water that looked silvery gray in the moonlight. “It’s great for catching fish in the Spring.”
“Well, I’ll have to come back in the Spring,” joked Robin. “We can do this all again.”
That coaxed a laugh from Orson, but he continued on. “A family of foxes live over there… My relatives planted this tree… This stump used to be one of the oaks my great, great grandparents used to build the cabin.” He made a full trip around the cabin, showing her things in this fashion.
Robin was so comfortable by the end; she was almost sad when he sat her down on a log.
“This is my favorite spot,” he said, sitting down beside her.
He was so close; their thighs were touching. Even so, they sat in silence for what felt like a long time. It was an easy silence. Robin still felt inexplicably comfortable around him. She was so comfortable that, when her head began to feel heavy, she leaned it to one side, letting it lull against Orson’s shoulder.
Orson’s hand slipped from his own thigh and over to hers, brushing her hand. They felt the same way. Robin knew it, instinctively. Why were they wasting time with all these flirtatious little gestures?
Robin lifted her head, turned, and kissed Orson right on the mouth. He pulled back at first, eyes wide. He must have understood her sudden need to cut out all the bullshit and approved. He put a hand behind her head and pulled her mouth back to his.
Their kiss wasn’t a sweet, chaste one. It was deep and passionate and primal. It was like a battle for dominance. Robin shifted herself into his lap, not unlike she had done that evening. She was facing him this time, though. She let her hands trail down his bare chest. He felt so firm beneath her fingers. It drove her wild.
Orson gave her bottom lip a gentle bite before pulling away. He kissed her neck. He yanked the collar of her shirt to one side with his teeth and kissed her shoulder. His own hands explored her body. They clawed at her clothing but didn’t dare remove it. It was obvious he was making an effort to restrain himself. There was a lot he wanted to do but was unwilling until she gave him the okay.
Robin reached down and yanked her shirt up over her head and off. If that wasn’t a clear sign that she was okay with this, she didn’t know what was.
Orson took the hint. He wrapped his arms around her, maneuvering her upwards and burying his face in her bare breasts. The shift in weight knocked them both off balance. They tumbled backward off the log and into the grass. Now on top, Robin took this opportunity to kiss his neck and chest. She moved down his hard abdominal muscles, to his hips. She unbuttoned his pants. It was all moving so fast, but Robin had never wanted anyone more than she did in this moment.
Orson was already erect. Even in the dark, Robin could see that much. She moved onto her knees in the grass, unconcerned with how wet it was. She didn’t vocalize what she wanted. That seemed unnecessary. When she felt Orson on his knees behind her, she bit her lip in anticipation. When he pushed himself inside her, she gasped.
Rough sex had never really been Robin’s thing. At that moment, it consumed her in pleasure, though. He went at her hard and fast, grunting in time to each thrust. His hands gripped her hips, his nails digging into the flesh there. They were oddly sharp for a man, but it only heightened the pleasure.
Robin rocked back as he thrust forward, putting her own weight into it. Quickly, it became a blur. It was like she was on a roller coaster - and like all good roller coasters, there was a climax. Robin gasped as she came. She was dimly aware of Orson pulling out as she collapsed into the grass.
The orgasm lingered for a while. Robin savored it for as long as she could - which wasn’t long. Mortification set in quickly. “Oh my God,” she groaned, throwing one arm over her breasts as she sat up and groped for her shirt.
Orson, still very much naked, looked alarmed. He quickly scanned his surroundings from where he sat in the grass. “Did you see something? Are they here?”
“No.” Robin clutched her shirt to her chest. “I just… I’m not a first date kind of girl. I’m definitely not a no date kind of girl. This isn’t like me.”
Orson relaxed a bit. He looked at her, his gaze softening fondly. “There might be a reason for all this… I think, it might be my fault…”
Robin snorted. “Yeah, you’re just so attractive, I couldn’t help myself,” she said, sarcastically. Of course, that wasn’t far from the truth. It was like she hadn’t been able to resist him. She just had to have sex right then. Dirty, ill-timed, fast sex. “Maybe I hit my head harder than I thought.”
“I hope not,” said Orson, his expression suddenly a concerned one.
Robin punched him in the shoulder. He was so big and dumb and sweet. She couldn’t stand how much she liked him after so little time. “It was fun,” she assured him. “Totally irresponsible and out of character for me, but… I had fun.” She tried to think of a good way to phrase what was on her mind. “Maybe… after all this is over, we could…”
Orson looked away. There was a small smile on his lips. It was unclear whether this was a good or a bad thing. Maybe she should just let this be a fling - something fun and wild to remember a bizarre situation by.
They got dressed and watched the sunrise together. Sitting side by side like that… Robin couldn’t deny that deep down, she wanted much more.
Chapter 9
Everything felt different the next day. When they sat down for breakfast (More rare meat and a little fruit. Did this family eat anything else?) no one said much of anything. No one called attention to the fact that Orson and Robin had spent their watch together. As far as Robin was aware, no one had even seen them come back in together.
Even so, the atmosphere was undeniably awkward. No one wanted to make eye contact. Everyone ate in relative silence. Robin got the sense that they could smell the sex on her, but that was silly.
Still… she excused herself to the bathroom as soon as she was done eating. “I think I’ll take a bath, if no one minds.”
Taking a bath turned out to be a pretty complicated affair involving lighting a heater and toting a bucket. Orson stayed behind with his brothers in the meantime. She heard snatches of their conversation as she walked down the hall with her bucket. They were talking about her. It was hard no to try and listen in.
Chapter 10
“She’s not one of us,” Killian reiterated. “She’s not part of the pack.”
Louis rolled his eyes. “We’re all that’s left of the pack now,” he reminded them. “Not that I approve of any of this, mind you.”
Orson shrugged. “All I know is what I was taught.” At a young age, their parents had sat them all down and explained to them the important changes that would come in their lives. “She’s my mate. I can feel it.”
Killian waved a hand, dismissively. “It’s lust.”
“I’m not a virgin.” Being the youngest, Orson knew that his brothers sometimes underestimated him. They forgot that he was an adult now - a level headed one at that. “I know what a fling is like. This wasn’t that.”
“Did she feel it, too?” asked Louis, earning himself a glare from his brother for entertaining the idea that Orson might be telling the truth.
Orson nodded. “I think so. We haven’t spent that much time around each other. I’m as certain as I can be, giving the circumstances.”
“The timing couldn’t be worse,” grumbled Killian.
“The timing will never be good,” countered Louis.
Orson sensed movement behind him, He looked up in time to see Robin hurrying down the hall with a sloshing bucket. With a sigh, he stood. He left his brothers to their arguing and went after her. She had closed the door to the bathroom. He stood outside of it for a few moments before knocking. “Care if I come in?”
“It’s your house,” Robin responded, which he took as an invitation inside.
He entered to find her already in the tub. She was lounged back completely, her dark hair floating on top of the water. Orson’s eyes roamed over her. “You’re beautiful,” he said, to which she smiled.
“Is that what you came in here to tell me?” She pulled in her knees as if inviting him in with her. “Is that what you and your brothers were talking about?”
The water looked warm and inviting. Orson undressed. “It’s complicated,” he said before climbing in across from her.
Robin rolled her eyes. “Like any of this isn’t complicated.” She moved onto her knees and stretched out across Orson. She folded her arms on his chest and rested her chin upon them. “I like you. I still want to go home, but… You should come with me. We can talk to my boss together. I’m sure we can spin some kind of story from all this. Something that makes things a little harder for those criminals out there in the woods.”
Orson pushed her damp hair back from her face. She felt it, too. He knew she did. There was something chemical between them, something primal. He hoped that was enough. “I can’t.”
Robin frowned at that. “Why not?”
“I can’t put my brothers in that kind of danger.” That wasn’t the only reason Orson was unwilling to go back to the city with her. That was one of them, though.
“So they just get away with it? They’ve been buying out land. They’re responsible for mass deforestation. They attack me and your family and they… They just get away with that?” Robin’s eyes were narrowed, dark and fiery.
She had a strong sense of justice. Orson liked that. Even so, “I swore to my parents. We all did. They’re gone now, but… We have to keep each other safe.”
Robin glanced away. For a moment, Orson was afraid she was about to express her disgust for him or maybe even storm out. She gave a small nod instead, like she understood. “That’s your choice,” she said.
“I’d rather you didn’t say anything either,” Orson added, tilting her head so that their eyes met. “I’d like you to stay safe as well. I… like you, too. If you wanted to stay here…”
Robin did sit up when he suggested that. “Stay here?” she indicated their surroundings as if that alone showed how ridiculous the suggestion was. “I was thinking maybe we could go on some dates. I wasn’t suggesting we move in together… especially not out here. I mean, I have to go home eventually. I have an apartment. I have a job. I’m not just going to drop everything to come live in the middle of nowhere.”
Orson was disappointed. He had thought she liked it out here. He’d come on too strong, he realized. This must be so bizarre for someone who only knew half of what was really going on.
Chapter 11
The past couple of days had been like a waking dream for Robin. She walked from the bathroom lightheaded - and not just from the steam. She hadn’t left without fooling around a bit. She was annoyed with him for his choices and the fact that it was exceedingly unlikely they could establish any sort of relationship. Still, neither of them could resist fondling each other beneath the water.
It was slower than it had been the previous night. It seemed more about exploration that anything else. She put a hand around his cock. He placed a hand between her legs. She stroked. He rubbed. Their lips brushed one another’s. Their breath came out feeling cool next to the hot water.
What kept coming over her? Robin rubbed her temples as she walked down the hall, away from the bathroom. She had never been so drawn to a person physically. Geez, she wasn’t this kind of woman. Really, she wasn’t. God only knew what Killian and Louis must think.
“We’re going to leave for a day or two,” said Louis.
Robin stopped and stared, completely taken off guard. “What?”
Killian rephrased the statement for her. “We’re going to give you lovebirds some time alone.”
Robin hesitated. She considered that. “What?” she repeated, still at a loss.
Louis frowned at his brother for being so blunt. “We think you two could use some time alone to figure things out.”
“Is now really the best time?” Robin hated to question them in their own home, but weren’t they currently in quite a bit of danger?
“If someone’s searching the area, they’ll pass by us,” Louis assured her. “We’re not going far. If anything, this should give us more warning, if they’re coming… Which, I’m not sure they are. It’s most likely they would have come last night.”
“You have another house out here?” asked Robin, surprised. “Close by?”
Killian laughed. Louis paused. “Something like that,” he said, carefully.
Robin was sensing a theme with these brothers.
“I appreciate this,” said Orson, making Robin jump.
She hadn’t heard him come up behind her. His expression was a serious one. There was more going on here. Much more. Robin still wasn’t sure what it was, but she had a feeling that she was about to find out.
Chapter 12
Killian and Louis left that afternoon. The house felt different without them. It was less tense, strangely. “I feel like I can be myself around you,” she told Orson after they ate a dinner for two. More meat and fruit. What a shock.
“That’s good,” said Orson. He smiled at her from across the table, but his smile was a weary one. “There’s something I should show you,” he said.
Robin had guessed this was coming. Normally, she would have been worried ‘I should show you something’ was psychopath speak from, ‘Let me show you to my murder dungeon’. She couldn’t bring herself to be afraid, though. She was, however, curious. “I guessed that was a big part of why your brothers left us alone.” She slid her chair back and stood. She had had her fill of meat anyway. After she left here, there was a very good chance she might just go vegetarian. “Just show me already, will you?”
The walk outside was a long one. Robin wasn’t sure if it was just the anticipation or if Orson was stalling an awful lot. “I won’t hurt you,” he assured her, which wasn’t terribly e
ncouraging. “There’s a reason my brothers and I live all the way out here.”
“Which is?” prompted Robin.
“It’s easier if I just show you.”
“Well, get on with it.”
They stepped into the small clearing behind the cabin. There, Orson undressed. Robin was a fan of his naked body, but even she had to admit the timing was a bit weird. She said nothing, though. She let him proceed.
With his clothes laid out in the grass before him, Orson took a deep breath. It was then that something profoundly strange happened. Robin rushed toward him at first, afraid he was having some sort of seizure. Just as quickly, she backed off. If this was a health condition, it was one that came straight out of fairy tales.
Right in front of her, Orson was changing. Actually changing. His body was twisting, hunching, growing thick brown hair - no, fur. His mouth and nose elongated, becoming a sort of muzzle. His ears migrated upward on his head, became wider. Gradually, he took form like Robin’s wood carving. “You’re a… a…” The word failed Robin, but it was as plain as day. He was a bear.
And that felt right.
“I’m losing my mind,” Robin laughed. The laugh was a little manic, but she couldn’t help it. “This is unreal.”
The bear that was Orson looked up at her with familiar eyes. It didn’t approach. It merely watched her, observing, waiting.
So, Robin approached him. Even if Orson hadn’t assured her that he wouldn’t hurt her like this, she imagined she still would have known. “You’re a…” She tried to find the word again. All that came out was, “You’re spectacular.” That seemed close enough. She crouched down in front of Orson and took his furry head and his hands. “So much makes sense now,” she said, then laughed at the statement. “God, that sounds so silly, doesn’t it? My boyfriend is a bear. That makes perfect sense!”