Chapter Ten – Hank

“Someone looks happy.” Hank turned the steaks over; the aroma made his mouth water. “These are done. There are salad and potatoes. And a cool bottle of wine I picked up on the way home.”

“Wine, are you a convert?” Elise asked as she crossed his front yard. She kissed his cheek, and he inhaled the scent of his mate, fresh from the shower.

“No, I have a beer.” He indicated the bottle next to the grill.

“What can I do?” Elise asked. She looked good enough to eat herself, in a simple dress decorated with pink flowers. He should probably know what they were, but flowers were not his thing.

“Sit down and let me look at you. I still have to pinch myself to make sure this is real.” He took the steaks off the grill and placed them on a plate, which he set on the table. “I’ll just grab everything else.”

Elise leaned forward and inhaled. “My bear thanks you.”

“I don’t eat red meat too often, but I thought we might need the energy. For later.” He reappeared carrying a bowl of crisp salad and baked potatoes wrapped in foil. “I’ll just get the wine. Dig in.”

Elise helped herself to salad and by the time he returned, with an uncorked bottle of white wine, she was cutting into her steak. “I’m starving.”

“How did work go today?” he asked, pouring the wine and then retrieving his bottle of beer.

“Good. Really good. The department should be set up in the next week or two. I have two assistants starting next week.” Elise tasted the wine. “Perfectly chilled. Assistants. Yes, our job is to expand the database of donors. We have an advertising budget, and I hope the funds raised by the festival can really help make the department all I dreamed it could be.” Elise pointed at her plate. “This is delicious, by the way.”

“Thanks. Throwing meat on the grill is my specialty.” He winked at her and she grinned back at him.

“You undersell yourself, Hank.” She cocked her head to one side. “And no, that is not my way of saying you could do better than being a server at a restaurant. It’s obvious you enjoy it.”

“I like meeting people, always have.” He gulped down his beer.

“Do you have any plans to travel again?”

“I did. But not now.” He placed his hand over hers. “I meant what I said, I want us to be together, to live together, and I’m guessing you won’t want to leave Bear Creek for a prolonged period. At least not until you’ve set up the transplant department.”

Elise sighed. “I’ve been tied to my job for so long. When I agreed to come here, it was because I could spend time with the babies. I never expected this.”

“That didn’t answer my question.” Hank searched her face. “Are you saying you would like to travel the world with me?”

“One day. Once the department is up and running. In a year or two, perhaps. I’d like you to take me to some of your favorite places. I want to make new memories, good memories. I shut myself away, penned myself in. I tried to keep myself safe. But all I’ve done is miss out on life.” She picked up her wine glass. “I’m no spring chick-en.”

He burst out laughing. “I never wrote that line.”

“Which brings us back to you. Do you think you’ll write again?” She struck a pose. “I’ll be your muse.”

“I might. Like I said, I have some tunes in my head. If I can piece them together into some kind of order, I’ll write a song about you.” Hank speared a piece of tomato. “Now, let’s get eating, we have a mountain to climb.”

Half an hour later, with full stomachs and the dishes all washed and put away, Hank and Elise set off hand in hand across the lower slope to join the mountain trail Elise had journeyed down only yesterday.

“This is the spot.” Elise planted two feet firmly on the ground, hip-width apart. “This is the very spot where I heard your guitar. I have walked this way a dozen times before. And there you were, a stone’s throw away.”

“If I hadn’t picked up my guitar and played that song, we might have never met.” He wrapped his arms around her. “Want to know something weird?”

“Go on.” Elise rested her chin on his chest.

“That was the first time I played that song since I quit.”

Elise lifted her head and looked him in the eyes. “Really?”

“Absolutely. Every time I heard it on the radio, or it got stuck in my head, it brought back all the bad stuff. I haven’t spoken to my father since I left. I don’t know if he’s living or dead.”

“What about your mom?” Elise asked.

“She passed when I was younger. I got my shifter genes from her. In some ways that’s a good thing, it meant my dad didn’t miss her as badly. But it meant he saw himself as a free man, free to take advantage of whatever came his way. Including me.” Hank breathed in the warm mountain air. “Come on, my bear is bursting to get out.”

He let go of her hand and turned toward the trail, shifting into his bear mid-air to land on his four paws. The air shimmered and crackled with electricity as Elise did the same. Side by side, they followed the trail, not hurrying, it was too hot for that. At least until they reached the thick forest where the overhead canopy kept the air below cooler.

Here, they picked up their pace, loping along as the sun began its late descent behind the mountains. Slowly, the warmth left the air, and the mountain breeze ruffled their fur as it cooled the air. Hank led them on, climbing higher, taking paths and trails that were barely used and overgrown with brambles that tugged at their thick bear fur.

This was an adventure. Tame compared to some of those Hank had experienced, but since it was their first together, it would always remain in his memory. They climbed higher, walking along trails that crossed cliff edges, before dropping into deep valleys, where the hot summer sun hadn’t penetrated the shadow.

Upward they climbed until they reached the summit of Cloud Peak. It was one of the lower peaks, but still gave them a sense of achievement. Hank’s bear flopped down in the dirt and rolled, and Elise did the same, rubbing her back on the ground, a bear-like smile on her face.

Then he turned onto his belly and lay still, his head resting on his paws. Elise lay down beside him, resting against him. Together they watched the last rays of light leach from the sky, and the stars came out one by one. To the west, the moon rose, skimming the horizon before climbing into the sky. It was a small crescent, a thumbnail in the inky blue sky.

The two bears lay together, motionless as darkness covered the mountain. There were no words needed, two bears, one bond, the connection between them unbreakable. Their pasts were behind them, their futures before them. All they had to do was grab hold and not let go. If they could find the courage, they could have it all.

His bear grinned. Are you writing a song?

I might be. As the human side of Hank wrestled with lyrics, his bear got up and shook himself off. Time to go back home.

They walked slowly, meandering along gravel trails and splashing through mountain streams that were no more than a trickle of pure, clear water. They stopped to drink, savoring the refreshing taste. The crescent moon was high in the sky by the time they reached his cabin. With the darkness covering them, they stayed in their bear forms right up to his front door.

“That was incredible,” Elise told him when she shifted back to her human form.

“It was. I’ve climbed to that peak before but having you by my side made it so much more special.” He stroked her hair and leaned forward for a kiss.

Elise backed away, leading him into the cabin. “I don’t think I can settle for a kiss.”

“Are you sure?” Hank asked, certain of the answer.

“You mean since this is only our second date?” She led him to the bottom of the stairs. “Up here, I presume.”

Hank nodded, swallowing down the lump of desire in his throat. “Yes.” He had nothing clever to say, no lyrics to recite.

Elise, his brave, wonderful Elise, turned and climbed the stairs. At the top she paused, and he took control, opening the door to his bedroom and taking her inside. The dim moonlight filtered through the window, casting the room in a soft pale light. Hank unbuttoned Elise’s dress, pushed it off her shoulders, and it slid to the floor. She stepped out of it, standing before him in her bra and panties.

Taking hold of the hem of his T-shirt, he dragged it over his head and threw it to the floor. Mastering his hands, which threatened to tremble due to his pent-up desire, he unbuckled his belt and stripped off his jeans, standing naked in front of his mate.

“Impressive.” Elise stroked his chest, kissing his skin. He ached for her. She was a physical need he could not deny.

“Damn it, Elise.” He lifted her and placed her down on the bed, before sliding down next to her.

“Are you losing control?” she asked, turning to face him and slipping her knee over his thigh. Her hand curled around his hard length and she stroked him up and down. “Oops, forgot something.”

She rolled onto her back and wrestled her panties down over her thighs. “Here, let me help with this.” Hank unclasped her bra and her breasts spilled forward into his eager hands.

He brushed his thumbs over her nipples and Elise opened her mouth, gasping silently as he lowered his head and sucked a taut bud into his mouth. Her hand curled around his cock, and she rested her leg on his thigh once more, guiding him into her. She was wet, the heat emanating from her body a sign of her arousal.

Hank inched his hips forward and closed his eyes in ecstasy as the head of his cock slid inside her. The incredible sensations flooding his body overwhelmed him and he thrust his hips forward, pushing deeper, as skin against skin, they joined together as one.

Elise kissed his neck, her fingers exploring his body, tweaking his nipples, as he lunged into her. His hand curled around her knee and he lifted her leg higher, changing the angle of their bodies. She nipped his skin. Urging him on, harder, deeper. Hank threaded his hand between their bodies and brushed his fingers across her clit. Her hips bucked, her excitement too much as she reached for her orgasm.

Hank flexed his hips, jerking his seed into her as he came. She cried out his name and he held her close, rocking as he slid in and out of her, while her inner walls milked him of his seed. The hot, sultry night cocooned them as they lay together in his bed, utterly spent.

When he moved, he slid out of her reluctantly and went to the window. Flinging it open, he crawled back on the bed and flopped down next to her. Scooping her up, he held her close as the cool mountain breeze caressed their bodies.

He lay for a long time, not wanting to lose a moment of being with his true love. He fought off sleep, not wanting her to be taken from him. Yet he knew as he eventually lost the battle, that she would be there when he woke, this morning and every morning from now until forever.