Page 15

A bubble of excitement rolls through me, and for the first time in a long time, I feel lighter than usual.

Pinching the hem of my shirt, I pull it up, revealing my hairy stomach and chest. Beneath my thick body hair, my abs are only just visible, but they’re there.

“How did you know I have abs, sweet thing? Were you checking me out?”

Blake leans back, his eyes traveling along my body. “You have a good body for an old guy.”

“Excuse you,” I sputter. “I’m only thirty-eight.”

This time the young man laughs. It’s a beautiful, full-chested laugh that ends with a light chord. As if he’s singing as he laughs.

“And I’m only twenty-six, but I watch my waistline,” Blake smirks.

I shake my head at him, realizing just how much of a difference in age there is between us. Jesus, he’s only just starting his adult life.

As I finish the rest of my wrap, Blake watches me. I don’t mind the attention; to be honest, I rather enjoy it. I want him to see me. I want him to like me.

Packing away the dishes and washing the utensils, my brain clicks with an idea. “In my bedroom, there’s a laptop charging on the nightstand. Go get it and find a movie you want to watch.”

Without a word, Blake scurries away, his footsteps filling the hush of the cabin. Drying my hands on the dish towel, Blake comes back with my laptop under his arm, his eyes sweeping over the living room.

“There’s no TV to connect it to,” he mumbles.

My hand finds the small of his back; it’s warm and fits nicely against my palm. “We’ll watch it on the laptop,” I say as I guide him to the sofa.

Blake plonks down at the very end, the laptop resting on his knees as he opens the lid. “What’s the password?”

I pick up a log from the pile and stoke the fire, watching the golden flames dance together. “Sasquatch with an uppercase ‘S’.”

Blake snorts but types it in. “You look like a Sasquatch.”

I freeze, my shoulders rising to my ears, and my lungs seize. Has he seen me in my form? My thoughts spiral as my throat closes up.

“It-it was just a joke,” Blake pipes up behind me, his voice breaking with tension. “Because you’re hairy and tall. I didn’t mean anything by it. I’m sorry.”

My entire body sinks with relief. Turning back to the sofa, I take a seat, but the gap between us has my inner beast grumbling. Wrapping an arm around the back of his shoulders and under his thighs, I easily maneuver Blake closer until his leg brushes up against mine.

“Don’t be sorry, hiker. It was funny.” I smile gently at him. “Pick a movie.”

The folder is already open from the last time I watched a film. Amongst a few war movies and historical classics, Blake manages to find the batch of children’s movies.

“You have Brother Bear?” He looks up at me, his brows meeting his hairline.

I downloaded it years ago. At the time, I was hopeful to meet my mate and made sure to have as many options available for them to choose from. Including children’s films.

“Put it on.” I nudge his shoulder, giving him a reassuring smile.

Blake only looks at me, as if testing whether I really mean it. To help him out, I move the cursor over the file and double-click it.

I don’t say anything else as I make myself comfortable by putting the laptop on my knee and angling it towards Blake.

The intro begins, and for a while my mate watches with a stiffened spine and his hands in his lap. Yet after a few more minutes and the relaxing crackle of the fire, he sinks into the sofa, leaning against my side.

The warmth that consumes my soul is otherworldly. My mate, sitting beside me, relaxed and enjoying a movie. I clear my throat as a purr threatens to escape me. If I want to keep Blake beside me, I have to get my vocals under control. It’s not my fault Sasquatches are naturally chatty.

But then I feel it. The weight of his head against my shoulder and his fingers mindlessly dancing up and down my forearm. A shiver explodes down my spine, and my cock takes notice, filling with blood; it twitches in my pants.

Blake doesn’t seem to notice; his fingers rub little patterns into my arm hair, and his eyes stay glued to the screen, completely immersed in the movie.