Chapter Sixteen – Dean

“Dinner was interesting,” Suzie commented as they drove back to her house.

“They’re a hoot,” Dean replied. “I’ve known Fiona for years, but it’s only since she met Harlan and adopted the girls that I really got to know her.”

“Yes, I thought she was as hard as nails, until she found love.” Suzie settled back in her seat. “Love changes us all.”

Dean looked at Elizabeth who was sitting quietly beside him. Suzie was right, he’d changed in the last couple of days, and so had Elizabeth.

“I’m ready for my bed,” Suzie said yawning. “I hadn’t planned to stay so late.

“It was fun, though,” Elizabeth added.

“You sound surprised.” Dean steered the truck down the steep road, taking extra care. He was not going to be the one to ruin the wedding by putting them all in the hospital.

“I am.” Elizabeth shrugged. “Intimate family gatherings are not really my thing.”

“You aren’t the only one who isn’t family,” Suzie said.

Elizabeth turned to Suzie. “I think Fiona and her family see you and Dean as family.”

“Really?” Suzie sounded pleased. “Maybe making Fiona my maid of honor was a good move.”

“I thought she was a bridesmaid?” Dean asked.

“Only because that’s what she wanted to be. She said maid of honor was misleading, since she is no longer a maid, and as a dragon, her honor might not be intact either.” Suzie giggled. “I have no idea what she’s talking about, and was not going to argue with her over it.”

“Here we are ladies, home sweet home.” Dean pulled up outside Suzie’s house, and got out of the truck. He ran around to the passenger side and opened the door, helping first Suzie, and then Elizabeth, out of the truck.

“Thank you so much, Dean.” Suzie flung her arms around him. “See you tomorrow.”

“You have sweet dreams,” Dean told her.

“I will.” Suzie walked across the gravel driveway to the house. “Take your time, Mom, I’ll make us some cocoa.” She swung back around. “Unless you want to come in, Dean?”

“No, you two need to get some rest. Another time.” He took hold of Elizabeth’s hand and they stood together, watching Suzie mount the porch steps and open the front door.

“I can’t believe my baby is going to get married tomorrow,” Elizabeth murmured quietly, almost to herself.

“It’s going to be quite a day.” Dean threaded his fingers through her hair, pushing it back from her face. Then he lowered his head and kissed her lips. “I hope it will be our turn soon. To get married, so we can make jokes about my jokes.”

She chuckled, resting her head on his chest. He smoothed her hair, not wanting to let her go. “One day. I just don’t think I’m ready to go through the stress of planning a wedding. Not so soon after Suzie’s.”

“There’s no rush. I want you to be my wife, but I can wait, as long as you promise to move in with me as soon as possible.” He lifted his head, and continued, knowing what her argument would be. “I can wait until Louise and Zak tie the knot and move out. But after that…please?”

“OK.”

His heart thumped in his chest, excitement filling him. “You mean it?”

“I do…” She gasped. “I mean, I do, to moving in with you.”

“That is a start.” He wrapped his large hand around her waist and pulled her close, his arousal evident as his cock hardened in his pants. When Elizabeth pressed her body closer, and moved her hips in a subtle circular motion, he wasn’t sure he was going to be strong enough to let her go.

“Good night, Dean,” Elizabeth whispered in his ear, her breath a gentle caress on his skin, which sent shivers throughout his body.

“I don’t want this to end.” He held her close and captured her lips once more; she didn’t fight him or pull away. Instead, she clung to him, hungry with a need that matched his own.

But she was stronger than him, the need to be with her daughter winning. “Suzie needs me.”

He pecked her lips one last time before loosening his hold on her. “Good night.”

“See you tomorrow.” Elizabeth turned and walked toward the house.

“You most certainly will,” Dean replied, and placed his hand on his truck, willing his feet not to follow her as she walked away.

Elizabeth stopped on the porch steps, and turned to wave at him. He waved back, the tightness of his pants, as they stretched across his bulging groin, telling him he would need to go for a run to work off his arousal, or sleep would evade him tonight.

Getting back in the truck, he turned around and drove out to the road. There he turned left, and headed back up the mountain. He was going to head over to see Kit and Jacob, maybe share a beer and go for a run with them.

The night was glorious, the moon full, and he wound down the window and breathed in the scent of the mountain. He wanted to holler and whoop, to tell the world how happy he was. He settled for the radio and an old song from his younger days. Singing as he drove, he figured he was probably one of the happiest bears alive right now. But when he arrived at Jacob’s cabin, and saw Kit’s face, he decided he might have to share that title.

“Hi there, Dean,” Kit said, getting up from the porch where he and Jacob, plus their younger brother, Neil, were sat drinking beer.

“Hi there, thought I’d come over and tell you that I have delivered your bride safely home. They’re going to have cocoa and go to bed.” Dean took the beer Jacob offered him. “Just the one, thanks.”

“We are going for a run, want to come?” Jacob asked. “Let Kit have one last night of freedom.”

Dean sipped his beer. “I will not say no. I have a few kinks to work out myself.”

“Dean here has just found his mate,” Kit explained. “We are going to be related.”

“That’s so cool,” Neil said. “Any advice on finding a mate?”

“None that would help you, since I’m not exactly a spring chicken.” Dean looked at Kit’s brothers. Neil was the smaller of the two, but still a bundle of ripped muscle. He worked at the fire station. Jacob, on the other hand, was taller, long-limbed and sinewy, he was the local ranger.

“You just have to wait for fate to step in,” Kit said honestly. “There’s no forcing it.”

Jacob sighed. “I don’t think it’s going to happen anytime soon for me. I spend too much time on the mountain.”

“You should start running guided tours,” Neil suggested. “All those fit women hiking up the mountain.”

“No thanks, there are enough of those already.” Jacob shook his head. “I like my solitude.”

“Then you are likely going to stay a lonely bear,” Kit teased.

“Thanks, bro’. Hey, maybe I’ll forget your rings tomorrow,” Jacob threatened.

The two brothers launched into a wrestling match. “If either of you gets a black eye, Mom is going to kill you,” Neil called, which killed Dean. He was doubled up with laughter as they rolled over and over.

In a blur of fur, they shifted, the two men replaced by two brawling bears. Neil got up, and shifted too, biting their legs to get their attention, before running off into the woods that bordered Jacob’s cabin.

Dean gulped down his beer, stood up, and stretched before shifting midair to thunder after them on four paws. The thrill of running with other bears filled him with excitement. His heart beat fast and his breath came in short bursts as he followed them up the trail onto the mountain.

Tomorrow was for weddings. Tonight was for bears to be bears.