Dylan
The hammer collides with my thumb and misses the fucking nail altogether. Fuck, I swear. This is the third time I’ve missed.
Something is wrong. My mind is all over the place. I’m surprised I’ve come this far in my building endeavor.
Boss is standing next to me, watching. He can’t understand why I’m jumping around on one foot, cursing.
At least I keep hitting the same thumb, which means I’ll only end up with one fucking bruise and not several.
“What do you think, Boss?” I ask the bear and stand back to admire my handy work once the pain has subsided.
There’s a howl from the bear, which I take to be a sign of approval.
“How about more nails? Can you hand me some?”
It’s been surprisingly easy to train Boss. He’s been an awesome apprentice. What’s more is he doesn’t come with all the hang-ups of human apprentices. There’s no complaining about the work hours or work conditions. Boss keeps his opinion to himself, mostly, and all in all only gets sidetrack from time to time.
Of course, conversation is a bit one-sided.
I grab another nail from the massive bear paw and whack it in. This time I don’t miss.
“There you go, my friend. Nearly all done.”
We both admire our work.
At first I pay no attention to the sound of an approaching engine. Since the snow melt, it’s not unusual for the occasional car to take the main road up into the mountain. No one ever takes the little dirt track to my patch of heaven.
Heaven.
It could have been heaven.
Emma has been gone a few months now.
When she didn’t come back after the first few days of leaving, I knew she was never coming back.
It was a bit too much to hope she’d choose a life with me in the middle of nowhere over returning to the bright lights of the city.
Who could blame a young woman wanting the creature comforts of the big smoke? Nightclubs, cafes, restaurants and all that shit is what people want—not nature, fresh air and the ruggedness of the mountains.
It took me a while to get used to being out here by myself, but now I wouldn’t want it any other way.
Fuck, I miss her though.
“Do you miss her, Boss?”
I glance at the bear, who came to us as a baby and was anything but now.
“Soon you’ll be on your way too, won’t you, my friend?”
A rock settles in the pit of my stomach. When the bear goes, the last of Emma will leave as well.
Whilst Boss is here, part of Emma is still with me. I know it’s stupid, sentimental shit, but I might have become a little fucking sentimental over the last few months.
Boss suddenly turns his big head away from me. He lets out a different kind of howl, not his usual growl when he believes he senses danger.
Of course, his senses are not as good as mine. The other day he growled at something in the woods, and eventually it turned out that a bunny was hiding behind a tree.
It was funny to see this nearly grown bear quiver in fear of a rabbit. Before he flies the coop, he’ll have some quick growing up to do.
“What’s up my friend? Another bunny got you terrified?”
Laughter has me spin around.
I nearly trip over my own feet and tumble down the steps of my new veranda. It seems like I’ve finally gone mad. Too much time on my own has taken its toll.
My eyes see her, but my brain won’t accept it’s her.
She looks exactly how I remember her. No, she looks better.
Her smile lights up her face and her eyes sparkle brighter than the most exquisite diamond.
“Boss I’ve gone fucking mad,” I say to the bear. “I’m fucking imagine Emma standing in front us.”
“Look how big you are,” my imaginary Emma says and moves toward us.
Of course she would say that. I mean she hasn’t been here for the last few months.
Mesmerized, I watch my imaginary Emma walk up the stairs and come toward us. I only snap out of it when Boss bounces up to her and nearly sends her flying down the steps again.
“Boss,” I growl and walk toward her.
She’s looking at me from under her long eyelashes. Her lips are drawn up a tiny bit at the corners, hinting at a smile.
No fucking way. She can’t be real.
“Hey,” her voice is soft—almost too soft.
My mouth suddenly feels like sandpaper and I can’t get a single word out. Instead, I nod.
“I…” she starts and stops.
We just stand there for a while, like strangers. I can’t think of a single thing to say and she seems unsure herself.
It’s the noise of branches breaking in the woods that breaks the sudden spell.
Boss looks up and leaps off the veranda. My eyes search the perimeter.
It takes me a while, but then I see her. I know it’s her, and it’s not the first time I’ve spotted her.
“Look,” I mouth and point to the edge of the forest.
Emma’s eyes widen and I know she’s seen the female bear.
Baby bear takes a few tentative steps in her direction. Amazingly enough, the wild female bear seems to be waving at him, inviting him to come to her.
Boss takes a few steps and stops.
“Go on,” I say, and I’m surprised at how fucking rough my own voice sounds. Surely, I’m not going to be overwhelmed with fucking emotions? I mean, this is what I prepared for over the last few months.
“Has she been visiting often?”
My skin burns where Emma touches me. I flinch at little.
“Sorry,” she mutters, and I see the confusion in her eyes.
“I’ve seen her a few times, but I’m not sure if Boss has.”
Emma nods.
“Dylan,” she starts and stops again.
I hold my finger over her mouth. Then I lean forward and press my lips against hers. At first I’m gentle, but soon I’m driven by an insatiable hunger and I want more. My tongue forces entry into her mouth and reaches down to her tonsils.
Emma doesn’t push me away but returns my kiss.
Possessed, we cling to each other and kiss as if this is the last time we’re ever going to fucking kiss.
When I pull back, I’m breathing hard and fast. Without looking down, I know there’s a massive bulge in my pants. I can feel my cock pulsing and trying to burst through material.
Emma is about as turned on as me. Through her flimsy camouflage material, I can see her hard nipples.
A howl has us move apart.
“What the fuck?”
Boss is headed back toward us. He’s thrown his head back and howling as if he’s in pain.
“He wants our permission,” says Emma.
The big bear hovers at the bottom of the veranda.
“Well, let’s give it to him.” I take Emma by the hand. We walk down the stairs.
Boss stands there, hovering and unsure.
“Hey, buddy.” I ruffle the fur on the back of his neck. “It’s time, my friend. Time you go and hang out with your own kind.”
The bear licks my face and Emma giggles.
“Go, Boss.” She now tells him and gives him a hug. “I’m pleased I came back on the day you left. I hope you’ll be happy with this gorgeous girl waiting for you in the woods.”
As if these were the words he’s been waiting for, Boss turns and gallops off.
“I’m going to miss ya, buddy.” I wave after him.
Is this a fucking tear rolling down my cheek? Fucking can’t be, it’s only a fucking bear.
“You ok?”
Emma takes my hand and looks me in the eyes.
I nod. There’s a huge lump in my throat.
My eyes move away from the disappearing bear and fix on Emma. Fuck, she looks hot. She’s dressed in green camouflage tights and matching top. Her hair is tied up, and she’s wearing no make-up.
“You look good,” I start and shake my head. “What am I saying? You look amazing.”
She laughs and wraps her arms around me.
“I thought I could start a new clothing brand. Something along the lines of Mountain Girl Range.”
I shake my head.
Before we take the steps back up the veranda, I stop and look back into the woods. The two bears are gone.
“He’ll be alright,” Emma assures me, and I nod.
Of course he’ll be alright, but I’m still going to miss him. I’d never thought I’d get attached to a fucking bear. And what about you?” I ask and open the door to my rebuilt cabin.
Emma hesitates.
“I…I,” she stutters, and I lift her up to carry her inside.
“Would you like a tour of the new cabin?”
“Built by you?”
I nod. “Boss helped.”
I shut the door and lower her to the ground.
Her hands rest on my back. Mine find her shirt and pull it up over her head.
“How about we christen the new place?” I murmur as I lean in to kiss her.