by Lynn Hagen
Bear leaned next to Spencer, his arms resting in the same position. “It’s peaceful out here. I grew up in a crowded city and hated every minute of it. I used to have to wait until full dark to go over to the city park and let my grizzly bear free. There was a small patch of woods that I had to make do with. I told myself that when I made it, I would find the biggest piece of land.”
“You definitely did that,” Spencer said. “I had plenty of room to run growing up. My biggest pitfall was making sure no predators were around. My brother Isaiah kept me safe.” Spencer once again felt the strong sense of loss. Isaiah had been everything a guy could want in a big brother.
Bear bumped shoulders with Spencer. “Sounds like a nice guy. I would love to meet him.”
Spencer swallowed around the tight knot in his throat. “He would’ve liked you.”
Bear straightened, his strong fingers stroking down Spencer’s back. “I’m sorry, Spencer. I didn’t know.”
Spencer refused to fall apart. He was enjoying his time with his mate. Although he loved Isaiah with all his heart, this was Spencer’s moment to spend with Bear. “I’m okay. I just get misty-eyed when I think about him. Can we change the subject?”
Bear gave Spencer a firm nod, his features softening to sympathy. “How about those steaks?”
“Do you need any help?” Spencer wandered into the house behind Bear. His mate grabbed what he needed for the grill as Spencer rummaged around the refrigerator. “Baked potatoes?” The man had all the fixings for what they would need.
Bear pressed a kiss to Spencer’s forehead. “That sounds great.” His mate walked outside, leaving Spencer standing there feeling confused. True to his word, Bear wasn’t making any moves on him.
Soon Spencer could smell the meat cooking. If the scent was anything to go by, Bear knew what he was doing. Spencer spotted bottled beer at the bottom of the refrigerator and grabbed two. Once he had the potatoes wrapped up in foil, he carried them, along with the beer, out to the back porch.
“You’re turning out to be a keeper,” Bear teased as he grabbed the foiled potatoes from Spencer and tossed them on the grill next to the steaks. He sat down in one of the two chairs, accepting the bottle Spencer was handing him.
Spencer took a seat in the other, unscrewing the cap on his bottle. “Do you do this all the time?” Taking a swallow of his beer, Spencer felt the cold sting hit the back of his throat. He wasn’t a big drinker, so every time he indulged he felt the effects almost immediately.
Remembering that bit of information about himself, Spencer decided to nurse the one bottle he had in his hand. There was no way he was going to embarrass himself once again. He had gotten wasted once before, and it hadn’t been a pretty sight.
Bear looked confused at Spencer’s question. “Grill or drink beer?”
Spencer chuckled. “Both.”
“I grill a lot. I drink once in a while. I never know when I’ll be called back to the station. An inebriated fire chief is never a good thing.” Bear took a long drink, his working throat muscles mesmerizing Spencer. When Bear’s smoky-grey eyes cut over to Spencer, he quickly lowered his. The man’s gaze was piercing, making Spencer feel flushed and heated. He was an idiot. As much as Bear promised to just talk, Spencer knew what was going to happen when he had agreed to come over.
He was just worried that his mate would become frustrated because Spencer wasn’t worldly or knowledgeable. So far Bear didn’t seem like the type of person. He hoped like hell that it stayed that way.
“Why don’t you come sit in my lap?” Bear patted his thick thigh, making Spencer’s gaze zero in on the man’s groin. “I promise to behave.”
Spencer highly doubted the man would behave. He wasn’t sure he wanted Bear to behave when he saw the two deep dimples appear on either side of his mate’s mouth. The man’s smoky-grey eyes were turning darker, reminding Spencer of mercury.
Strangling his bottle of beer, Spencer stood and closed the distance between them, sitting sideways on the man’s lap. Bear didn’t argue that Spencer hadn’t straddled him. His hand moved up Spencer’s back as he smiled at his mate. “See, I don’t bite.” The man said that with the tips of his canines showing.
Spencer took a long swig of his beer, his eyes darting out over the landscape. The sound of the meat sizzling and birds chirping could be heard, but all Spencer was focused on was the hard male beneath him. Bear’s hand slid up his back and then traveled back down. Each time the man’s hand reached the bottom of Spencer’s spine, it seemed to dip lower.
“Can I get a kiss?” Bear asked in a deep, sultry tone that had Spencer’s heart thumping wildly in his chest. Spencer leaned to the side as Bear’s hand slid up his back and cupped his head, pulling him closer.
Spencer’s eyelids fluttered closed as their lips met. The kiss wasn’t wild and heated like it had been in Bear’s office. It was slow, drugging, and made Spencer’s body feel as if it was coming to life. He felt small, shallow shivers slowly worked their way down his body until they intensified in his groin.
“Pull your leg over,” Bear whispered into his mouth as he set his beer aside, grabbing Spencer’s as well and setting it next to his. Now that both of his hands were free, Bear used them to slowly massage Spencer’s lower back.
Pressing his chest into Bear’s, Spencer tilted his head to the side and gave himself to his mate. He could feel the man’s hands slowly working their way around to the snap of Spencer’s jeans.
Spencer didn’t stop him. He wanted whatever was going to happen just as much as it seemed that Bear wanted it. Spencer’s hands trembled as he gripped his mate’s shoulders. He could feel himself getting lost in what Bear was doing to him.
And then his mate’s cell phone rang.
Chapter Four
Bear was in a very foul mood as he pulled up to the scene. The only thing on his mind was the fact that Spencer was sitting at his house, enjoying a meal that they should have shared together. Even though it wasn’t his men’s fault, Bear wanted to kick every last one of their asses.
“Accelerant?” Bear asked as he approached Bailey, who was standing at the side of the fire truck in full gear. His helmet was removed, showing sweat that was running down the side of the man’s face. He saw Travis and Reno still standing by the burnt structure with hoses at full blast.
Bailey ruffled a hand through his hair, gazing at the house and then glancing up at Bear. “Until we get the final finding from the fire marshal, we won’t really know. But the house went up pretty damn quick. If I had to guess, I would say this is arson.”
Bailey was human, unable to detect the subtle scents shifters could easily identify. Bear was a shifter, his sense of smell superb. He walked over to the smoldering fire that Travis and Reno were still working to put out. Bear couldn’t wait for the new guys to start next week. This shorthanded shit was working on his nerves.
He needed to get closer in order to know for sure that it was gasoline that started the fire. As soon as he got halfway to the structure, Bear smelled water, smoke, burnt wood, and a subtle hint of gasoline. It wasn’t as strong as the last fire, but it was there. Bear knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that he had a pyromaniac on his hands.
Turning toward Bailey who had followed him, Bear said, “Get Felix on the radio and tell him to find out where in the fuck that fire marshal is. I need him out here pronto.” Although Bear already knew how the fire was started. But he couldn’t tell the cops that his nose was proof enough. He was going to have to let not only the police know they had a fire starter in town, but the alpha as well. The fire marshal’s report would help back his claim up.
So far the culprit was targeting empty homes, but Bear knew that it was only a matter of time before whoever was setting these fires went for something bigger. That was always the scenario. Burning these empty homes told Bear the guy was new at this.
But he wouldn’t stay new for long.
He helped the men extinguish the blaze, feeling weary by the time it
was finally nothing but a charred pile of nothingness. Getting the blaze under control had taken longer because no one had seen the small barn behind the house until it was consumed with flames. Bear would love to get his hands on whoever was doing this.
He never saw why a person got a rush from starting a fire. He had seen the carnage and devastation a fire wrought. It made no sense to him how anyone in their right frame of mind could get excited about something as deadly as flames.
But then again, if someone got off on starting fires, they weren’t in their right frame of mind. After helping the guys clear the scene, Bear headed to the firehouse with the guys to write his report.
After directing the nonexistent traffic—no one was out this late, but it was still their job to make sure no one was around when the truck was backing up on the street, heading into the bay—Bear yawned, wrote his report, and then headed for the showers. He was hoping the water spray woke him because he was dead on his feet and still had to drive home.
He walked through his door well after 10:00 p.m., tired, hungry, and wanting nothing more than to stretch out next to Spencer. He was grateful that he had taken a shower at the station because the only thought on his mind was sleep.
Seeing the house empty, his mate nowhere in sight, Bear wandered to the back porch to find Spencer snuggled up in one of the seats, the quilt from his couch tucked in around the guy. His mate was fast asleep.
As gently as he could, Bear pushed his arms under the small man and lifted him, carrying his mate into his bedroom.
“He’s just scandalous,” Spencer murmured in his sleep as he tried to burrow himself in Bear’s arms. He grinned at his mate as he settled Spencer on the bed. He wasn’t sure what Spencer was dreaming about, but the man pouted before he sighed. Bear stripped down to bare skin and then climbed in next to Spencer, wrapping his arms around the smaller man and pulling him in close.
He loved how his mate felt buried next to him. The man fit perfectly into the groove of Bear’s body. Now that the scent of his little impala filled his lungs, he found that he was no longer exhausted. The longer he lay there inhaling the scent, the harder his cock became until he was fully erect. Bear’s canines were growing as his desire flared.
“Bear?” Spencer asked into the darkness of the room, his voice filled with sleep.
“Who else would be climbing naked into the bed with you?” Bear teased as he began to unwrap the blanket from around his mate. He could see the timid apprehension in Spencer’s cinnamon-brown eyes. The brown was growing lighter, a caramel coloring that the moonlight captured and sent shards of light dancing through the man’s eyes. It was a spectacular sight, one that was driving Bear’s desires higher.
He knew he would have to take his time with Spencer. If the guy had never been kissed, he highly doubted his mate had experienced sex before. He made his touches light, getting Spencer used to them as Bear kissed first his mate’s jaw, then his lips.
His hands slowly massaged Spencer’s soft skin, trying to relax his mate as he worked the shirt up inch by unhurried inch with his hands, and then pulled it over the small man’s head. Bear groaned when he saw how flawless his mate’s skin was against the moon’s haloed light.
Turning until he was on his hands and knees over his mate, Bear dipped his head and sucked in a tan nipple between his lips, teasing the small bead with his teeth. He used his tongue as a weapon against Spencer’s senses, making his mate moan in pleasure as he sucked the satiny skin.
It was a powerful feeling to watch his little impala’s body writhe beneath his touch, knowing that he was bringing his mate so much pleasure. Spencer wasn’t hiding anything from him. He let his moans be heard, along with his hisses, and whimpers. Inside of him, his grizzly bear was growling his approval at him taking his mate, claiming the small man.
Bear released the moist nipple, using his tongue to trail across his mate’s chest until he could give the neglected nipple some undivided attention. Spencer’s hands remained on the bed, up at his head as he jerked when Bear’s lips touched him once again.
His body was flooding with a heat that was only getting hotter as Bear watched his mate struggle to breathe. His lips were parted and his hands were clenching and then unclenching. He felt a strong and overwhelming need to touch and explore.
Bear wanted to peel away Spencer’s jeans and lick the man from asshole to cock. His breath escaped on a rough growl as he skated his hands along the creamy flesh of his mate’s body. Spencer moaned as Bear caressed and kissed his way down the man’s slim chest, over his flat abdomen, stopping at his mate’s navel to give the flesh a small nibble.
Spencer’s hips were rocking forward, the man making it quite clear what he wanted and desired. Bear pulled the flaps of Spencer’s jeans apart and then rid the man of the interfering fabric.
Timidly, Spencer brushed his hand over Bear’s short strands of hair. He was already hard as granite, but Spencer’s touch sent his blood surging southward, building toward an impossible ache.
Bear began to toy with him, lightly stroking his mate’s shaft, teasing his mate’s balls with just the tips of his fingers. Spencer let go of a shuddering sigh as Bear let his hands roam over the smooth, naked skin.
When he slipped his fingers between the crease of Spencer’s ass, he felt his mate’s moan vibrate deep inside his own body. His arousal throbbed with the need to bury his cock inside his mate. His blood went molten, desire hot and possessive in his veins.
“Feed me your cock, my little impala.” Spencer’s hands were clumsy as he grabbed the base and held it firmly in his hand. That wasn’t exactly what Bear was talking about, but at least the man was trying.
Poised over his mate’s erection, Bear took the stiff cock into his mouth. He had to grab his mate’s hips and hold Spencer down when the guy began to buck wildly. Bear sucked at the broad head and delighted at Spencer’s strangled moan as he slid his mouth all the way down to the base. His mate felt so good against his tongue, hot and earthy, as soft as velvet wrapped around a column of solid steel.
“B–Bear,” Spencer said on a shaky tone right before his entire body jerked and he came down Bear’s throat. Bear threw Spencer’s legs back until the man’s knees hit his chest. He sucked his mate’s cock until Spencer was spent.
But he wasn’t finished.
Bear worked his lips down to Spencer’s balls, lapping at the wrinkled sac. He mouthed each one before his tongue smoothed over the flesh between balls and asshole. He glanced up at his mate to see Spencer’s eyes dark with passion, throwing off an intense heat. His transformed gaze was hungry.
Using his saliva, Bear inserted his index finger to the first knuckle. Spencer’s body arched into his finger as Bear moved it slowly in and out of the man’s ass. His little impala moved as if greedy for Bear’s touch.
“I want to claim you tonight,” he said, his voice rough and dark, almost unrecognizable. Bear slipped a second finger into his mate’s ass. Spencer cried out, his hips jerking, his thighs trying to tighten around Bear’s head.
He used his shoulders to keep his mate’s thighs spread wide apart. Spencer’s face was wild with torment, constricted with pleasure as two tiny canines appeared in the man’s mouth. Bear hadn’t been expecting that, not when he knew that Spencer was an impala. He guessed that fate had made a way for all shifters to be able to claim their mates.
The site was devastatingly sexy. Bear’s shoulder began to throb as he thought about Spencer sinking those two tiny points into his flesh. He leaned over his mate, his fingers still tucked tightly in Spencer’s ass, as Bear used his tongue to explore Spencer’s canines. They were thick but short. Spencer opened his mouth wide, feeding his tongue to Bear as he thrashed around.
The man was unraveling Bear’s senses as he shuddered and shook, his hands clawing at the sheets. The coil of need wound tighter as Bear thrust a third finger into his mate’s ass.
He knew he would need to go for the lube soon. He wasn’t sure how much longer he could
hold out. The pressure in his cock was becoming unbearable. He needed release.
Bear removed his hand from his mate’s tight, hot ass. He slid it under the pillow and curled his fingers around the well-used bottle. Spencer’s breathing was coming out in small, short bursts as Bear used the lube to make his cock slick.
Tossing the bottle aside, Bear wiped his hand on the sheet. Spencer’s hands slid up above his head as his fingers curled around the headboard. He opened his legs wide, a blatant invitation.
Locking his eyes onto his mate’s smoldering eyes, Bear entered Spencer, thrusting slowly, filling his mate with deliberate care even though his hips bucked and the tendons in his neck popped tight under his skin. He rocked gently inside of his mate, stroking Spencer’s body with maddening restraint.
Bear could feel the fire crackle on the surface of his skin. His body was urging him to move faster. The fire seemed to own him as Bear gave in, grunting as he thrust harder. Spencer was panting and shuddering, the glow of the moon enveloping the man, making his little impala seem waiflike and fragile.
Scooping Spencer up into his arms, Bear moaned as his mate sank deeper onto his cock. His legs trembled and grew tight as he held on to Spencer. His mate wrapped his legs around Bear’s waist, his arms locking around Bear’s neck as his mate held on.
His hands slid behind his mate tenderly, his fingers curving around the small globes of Spencer’s ass. Bear didn’t know what packed the stronger punch—the tight heat of Spencer’s ass gripping his cock as he thrust his hips upward, or his mate’s sudden, wholly unexpected nip at Bear’s neck.
Together, the two sensations proved almost cataclysmic. Bear hungered for Spencer, so deeply that it seemed to wring him out from the inside. He let his head fall to the side as Spencer’s lips explored him. His body began to move at a fierce, demanding tempo. The scent of sex and sweat on hot skin intoxicated him.