by S. J. Smith
She felt him touch her arm.
“Wait, please. What do you think we’re trying to do exactly?” Chris asked, releasing her arm.
Elizabeth scoffed and turned back to face him.
“Do you both really, and I mean really, expect me to believe you are bears?”
Chris tilted his head at her in confusion.
“Well, yes. I was the grizzly. Jake is a Louisiana black bear. We come down here every year for Mardi Gras. He said he told you this.”
“Well, nice try.”
Elizabeth looked up to see Jake in the same grey hoodie as yesterday, walking out of PJ’s.
“Hey Elizabeth,” Jake said with a weak wave.
“Oh God. Look, I think you two need some help or maybe just a more gullible girl.”
“We can show you,” Jake said, shrugging his shoulders like it was the most sensible comment in the world.
Chris jerked his head to look at him and a scowl was forming on Chris’ tanned face.
“Jake, I don’t think that’s a good idea, man,” Chris said.
“Um, yea, because you can’t do it. Anyway I have a date with a voodoo shop so nice knowing you two,” Elizabeth said laughing.
“Wait, are you seriously going into Gris Street alone?” asked Chris, pointing towards Gris Street.
“Yes, why? I need to do an interview on the bear parts used in these weirdo practices,” Elizabeth asked, stiffening.
Jake seemed to grow pale and he exchanged a nervous glance with Chris who was stone-faced with anger.
“Which shop?” Chris asked.
“The mischief one. I can’t remember the exact name, but I know it’s at the far end,” Elizabeth said.
Jake slapped his forehead with his palm and shook his head. Chris balled up his fists at his side.
“You literally picked the worst shop. You’re going to talk to Ursula, madam voodoo herself. Are you insane?” Jake asked.
“No. I just saw bear teeth and other stuff in that shop. I don’t even know who Ursula is,” Elizabeth said.
“She owns the shop. We can’t let you go there,” Chris said flatly.
“Try and stop me,” Elizabeth said, taking off down the sidewalk.
She heard footsteps behind her and when she looked over her shoulder, Chris and Jake were walking right behind her.
“She will kill you if you say one thing to piss her off, you know? Either we follow you all day or you go home,” Chris said.
“Or you can just come to Mardi Gras with us next week,” Jake said in a singsong voice.
Elizabeth did not turn around. Her cheeks felt hot and her insides were churning with two conflicting feelings. On one hand she wanted to be left alone so she could get her thesis completed and on the other she was elated to be chased by two gorgeous men.
“Fine. I’ll go with you if you show me that you can turn into a bear and stay out of my way when I interview this Ursula, deal?” Elizabeth said, extending her hand.
“Counter offer. I show you and when you see that we are shape shifters, I get a kiss—on the mouth,” Jake said, smirking at her.
“What about the voodoo shop?” Elizabeth asked. The thought of kissing Jake, even if he was a little crazy, was making her feel a tightness in her groin and an unmistakable wetness between her legs.
“We both come inside with you,” Chris said still stone-faced.
“Deal,” Elizabeth said, nodding.
She turned and walked down the sidewalk, flanked by Chris on her left and Jake on her right side. She stole a quick glance at Chris’ face, mentally tracing the outline of his square jaw. Chris was serious which Elizabeth liked. He did not want a kiss like Jake did, but given the circumstances, she would not mind testing out if he could exert any other emotion besides melancholic boredom.
*****
Karis’ Mischief Shoppe was still as dark red and matte black as it was yesterday. Even though the sun was beaming today, it seemed that the shop was under a dreary cloud. Elizabeth pulled the door open to see not much else had changed except the Creole woman from before was now behind the register, scribbling on a piece of paper. Her head jerked up and her gray eyes burned into Elizabeth. Elizabeth swallowed and pushed her shoulders back. She was now grateful for Chris and Jake being behind her.
“So, you returned?” the shop keeper asked, standing up straight.
“Yes,” Elizabeth said, feeling her voice crack.
“You brought back up? I barely touched a hair on your pretty head,” the shopkeeper said, crossing her boney arms.
“She knows you know us, Ursula,” Jake said, stepping forward.
“Then it’s interesting now. What do you want?” Ursula asked.
“I—I didn’t get to formally introduce myself. I’m Elizabeth and I’m taking a course at Dillard. I just wanted to talk to you about the bear stuff on the wall. Can I interview you?” Elizabeth asked.
Ursula raised an eyebrow at her and stepped forward.
“An—interview?” Ursula asked, looking at the wall.
“Yes,” Elizabeth said, pulling off her backpack.
“Okay, I guess so. Come to the counter,” Ursula said, waving her over.
Elizabeth, Chris and Jake followed her over to the register. Elizabeth laid out the tape recorder and readied her pen and notebook. Ursula stood tall with her hands clasped in front of the same muddy brown dress.
“Go on,” Ursula said, nodding.
“Okay, so your shop is eighty years old, correct?” Elizabeth asked, taking notes.
“Yes. Karis, my great-grandmother, was one of the original shop owners on Gris Street,” Ursula said.
“What do you call yourself?” Elizabeth asked.
“A voodoo priestess, but you know that,” Ursula said flatly.
Elizabeth scoffed.
“You think it’s funny what I do?” Ursula said, placing her palms flatly on the hardwood counter.
“Easy, Ursula,” Chris said.
“God, why are you guys walking on eggshells? This is not actually real. I mean I understand the cultural importance of your shop to New Orleans culture, but my question is, do you ever kill bears for this nonsense?” Elizabeth asked.
“Life and death are in my hands, Elizabeth. If I want to mount your bones and hair on my wall, I would,” Ursula said, bearing her jagged teeth at Elizabeth.
“We should go,” Chris said, tugging on Elizabeth’s arm.
“Listen to your boyfriends, girl,” Ursula said, waving her hand over the tape recorder.
Jake grabbed the recorder before Elizabeth could and tucked it in his pocket. Chris tugged on Elizabeth’s arm, and she followed him and Jake out of the shop with her notebook clutched to her chest.
Once they were outside, Elizabeth let out a breath she did not realize she was holding.
“You shouldn’t have done that,” Jake said, pulling the silver tape recorder out of his jean’s pocket.
“Did what? I’m not going to— to validate a magic shop when bears are dying off at record levels!” Elizabeth said.
“Play the recorder,” Chris said, jutting his chin at Jake.
Jake rewound the tape and pressed play. Elizabeth uncrossed her arms and felt her eyes widen as she listened to the tape. Elizabeth could hear her own voice, but when it came time for Ursula all Elizabeth could hear was a low demonic voice. What threw her even more for a loop was when Chris spoke she it was not a man’s voice, but the loud growl of a bear.
*****
“Alright, you promised,” Jake said, coming to a halt under a large oak tree.
Elizabeth, Jake and Chris walked into the state park to do more bear watching with Elizabeth content to believe the tape recorder was a magician’s trick. That’s all Elizabeth saw this as: a slight of hand.
“Um, nice try. I see two men not two bears,” Elizabeth said, raising an eyebrow at Jake.
“I don’t think this is a good idea, Jake,” Chris said, looking around the forest.
“It’s fine
, buddy. I’m looking forward to Elizabeth kissing me,” Jake said, pulling his hoodie and t-shirt off.
Elizabeth’s mouth went dry. She could kiss him as is.
“Step back, Elizabeth. He gets pretty big,” Chris said, stepping backward.
“Aw come on Chris. I like a woman to be surprised by my size when she sees me naked,” Jake said, stretching his arms and winking at Elizabeth.
She rolled her eyes and stepped back. Jake closed his eyes and Elizabeth unfolded her arms when she distinctly watched Jake’s arms pop out of joint. When his eyes reopened they were animalistic and amber. His muscles were stretching against his skin and in an instant he was covered head to toe in thick black fur.
“Holy shit,” Elizabeth said, covering her mouth.
It was all true. The voodoo, the bears, the magic was all true.
Jake growled loudly, raising up on his hind legs and then slamming his front paws on the ground.
“Don’t panic. He’s still in there. He won’t hurt you,” Chris said, grabbing her hand.
Elizabeth interlocked her fingers with Chris’ out of fear and shock.
“I don’t—this is impossible,” Elizabeth said, shaking her head.
Jake in his bear form walked over and slammed his paw between Elizabeth and Chris, unlocking their hands. Jake shook his head and growled at Chris.
“Told you he was in there,” Chris said, laughing.
“I—I’m speechless,” Elizabeth said, petting Jake’s head tentatively.
Jake seemed to purr into her caress. Elizabeth laughed out of complete shock and disbelief. She could not believe that the man she thought was a pig was actually a bear.
“And you can do this too?” Elizabeth asked Chris.
Chris nodded, looking Elizabeth up and down. She could not be sure, but she wondered if he was actually checking her out.
“Dear God, but how?” Elizabeth said, feeling short of breath.
Jake stepped backwards and Elizabeth gasped as he turned back into a man in ripped jeans.
“Told ya,” Jake said, rising up on his legs.
“I—I stand corrected. I just don’t understand. How?” Elizabeth asked.
“There are legends, but we can’t be sure. Some say magic and others say we are a parallel human race. All I know is I’ve been able to do this since I was a teenager. It’s why my folks moved to the capital of magic, Louisiana when I first shifted,” Chris said.
“Enough of the history lesson. You owe me a kiss,” Jake said, cupping Elizabeth’s chin softly in his hands. She could feel the fine silt from the forest floor in his palm. She wanted to kiss him, but her eyes still darted over to Chris. Chris was watching them but when he met Elizabeth’s stare, he looked away.
“Ah, I see,” Jake said, looking over at Chris.
“See what?” Elizabeth asked.
“You like Chris too,” Jake said, raising an eyebrow at her.
“What I—no, I never said—”
Elizabeth was cut off by Jake planting a kiss on her lips. He backed her into a tree and his body pressed against hers. Elizabeth felt her brain get foggy as his tongue swirled into her mouth. She could feel him getting hard because he was so close to her.
“I can tag him in, you know?” Jake whispered into her ear as he kissed her neck and jawline.
“What?” Elizabeth asked, looking over at Chris.
“If you wanted both of us, I would understand. Hell, I might like it. Would you like that?” Jake asked, running his hands up her stomach and over her breast.
She was so turned on she could barely think. She did want that. There was no way she could choose between them.
“Yes, I would like that,” Elizabeth said, tangling her hands in his hair.
Jake smiled down at her and planted a swift kiss on her lips.
“Chris, the lady would like a word with you,” Jake said, rubbing her swollen bottom lip with his thumb.
Chris walked over, wearing the same stern expression.
“Ask him,” Jake said, kissing her neck.
Elizabeth could barely think. Jake was unbuttoning her pants, and he slipped two fingers inside of her while Chris watched. Elizabeth cried out as Jake started to stroke her harder with his fingers and bite her breasts through her t-shirt. Over Jake’s broad shoulders, she watched Chris who was licking his lips and rubbing the outside of his jeans.
“You had something you wanted to ask me,” Chris said, unbuttoning his jeans.
Elizabeth gasped as Jake pulled her jeans all of the way down and knelt in front of her in the dead leaves beneath the trees.
“Keep looking at Chris, baby,” Jake said, as he pulled her panties down.
Elizabeth felt her knees shake as Jake’s tongue swam in and out of her pussy. She could hear Jake moaning and licking her. She closed her eyes, savoring the buildup of pleasure between her legs.
“The man said to look at me, Elizabeth,” Chris said with a smirk and walked closer to her.
She could see his dick was hard now through his low hanging jeans.
“Kiss me, Chris,” Elizabeth said.
Chris walked over to her and kissed her. It was too quick and Elizabeth wanted to reach out for him, but Jake was pinning her to the trees and sucking hard on her pussy. She was falling forward.
“Jake, I’m going to come,” Elizabeth said.
She came hard on his face, steadying herself on his shoulders. Jake licked his lips, and stepped backwards. Chris walked over to her and pulled off her shirt, and pulled both of her breasts out of her bra. Chris rubbed her nipples and she moaned into his touch. Jake walked up to her from behind and was cupping her bare ass. Chris leaned down and sucked on her nipples. Elizabeth reach down and pulled Chris’ dick out of his jeans and stroked it slowly. It was long and thick and all she could think about was how deep it would go inside her.
“Come here,” Chris said, kneeling and laying on his back in the soft underbrush.
Elizabeth obeyed and climbed on top of him. His dick slid into her and stretched her wide. She threw her head back, savoring how big he was. Chris gripped her hips and she started grinding into him.
“Come here, Jake,” she said, swaying into Chris.
Jake walked over, completely naked. He was fully erect and was just as long as Chris. Chris kept guiding her hips, and she opened her mouth so she could suck on Jake’s dick. Jake groaned as she sucked harder and faster, swirling her tongue over the tip and the thick shaft. Elizabeth tried to focus because she was feeling a familiar spasm between her legs.
“Wait, I don’t want to come yet,” Jake said, pulling away.
Jake walked behind her and pushed her forward softly.
“Look at me, baby,” Chris said, caressing her cheek, “It’s okay. He’ll be gentle. Are you okay?”
Elizabeth nodded and her mouth fell open as she felt Jake’s finger inside her ass. First one finger then two were fucking her ass.
“Oh baby, I want to fuck your ass so bad,” Jake said, pressing his chest against her back.
“Breathe, baby. Lean forward,” Chris said, pulling her forward.
“Arch your ass, baby,” Jake said.
Elizabeth obeyed, feeling even wetter. She moaned as Jake entered her behind. Her body was tingling everywhere. Chris pulled her forward, grinding into her at the same pace as Jake. She could hear them both moaning and it sent her spiraling over the edge. Elizabeth could not believe it. She came with Jake and Chris inside of her.
“I’m going to come,” Chris said with gritted teeth.
“Me too,” Jake said.
“Do it. Come inside me,” Elizabeth said, alternating between grinding against both of them.
Chris cried out and then Jake. Elizabeth leaned down and kissed Chris and then turned around to kiss Jake. Apparently, the woods had brought out the animals in all of them.
*****
Elizabeth woke tangled up between Jake and Chris’s long tanned limbs. They must have all fallen asleep because now the sun w
as setting. She sat up, pulling the muscular limbs off her naked body. She could see the faint glow of the setting sun illuminating the trees, and everything around them seemed bathed in silence. She took a deep breath, savoring how peaceful it was. She also felt safe because she was in the company of two enormous werebears.
“Hey you,” Jake said, rubbing the small of her back.
“What’s going on?” Chris said, jolting awake.
“Easy, guard bear. We are just enjoying the sunset,” Jake said, shaking out his black hair.
Chris nodded, sat up and stretched.
“I can’t believe we passed out,” Elizabeth said, pulling her knees to her chest.
“I know right, and please don’t be embarrassed. We’re grown-ups and it was fun,” Jake said, pulling her legs back down.
He was looking at her and biting his lip. Before Elizabeth could say anything Jake’s large hands were between her legs, stroking her pussy again and he was sucking on her nipples.
“I’m curious if your pussy feels as good as your ass. Care to go again?” Jake asked, pulling her on top of him.
“Guys!” Chris yelled, jumping up.
“Ah come on, man. We’re busy,” Jake said.
“Do you smell that?” Chris asked, pulling on his jeans.
Jake sat up lazily after seating Elizabeth beside him. After Jake sniffed the air, his face darkened, and he stood up.
“Shit!” Jake said, pulling Elizabeth to her feet, “Get dressed.”
Elizabeth obeyed, looking around. She could not see anything, but the longer she sniffed, the more she smelled something familiar: spices.
“Is that who I think it is?” Elizabeth asked.
Neither man answered, they just collapsed on all fours. Chris was back to being a massive, yellow-eyed grizzly and Jake a snarling Louisiana black bear. Chris growled something to Jake, and Jake nodded as Chris took off full-speed into the woods. Before Elizabeth could speak, Jake had her under his arm, heaving her onto his neck. Elizabeth held on tight as Jake bolted after Chris. She looked over her shoulder seeing search lights dance across the trees. Elizabeth saw no faces as she looked back, but she could sense them. It was Ursula and from the ominous feeling gripping Elizabeth’s chest, she was not alone. Elizabeth tightened her hold on Jake’s neck as he closed in on Chris. Chris was tearing through trees like he had supernatural strength. Large oaks came tumbling down as Chris beat a path for Jake to follow. Elizabeth shrieked as she looked ahead and saw Ursula standing at the top of a grassy knoll, smirking down at them.