Bearing It All

by Tl Reeve

  “Yep. Want me to put the book away?” He glanced up at the second story of the house to the open window with the screen missing.

  “Yeah,” Bodhi answered. “If you don’t mind.”

  “On it.” Rocky stripped out of his clothes, then shifted to his falcon. The bird didn’t appear big enough to carry the book, let alone fly, and for some reason, Bodhi had thought Rocky would be a little bit bigger.

  He placed the corner of the journal in the falcon’s talon and stepped back. In a flash, the bird took off and disappeared into the house. What Rocky didn’t have in size, he made up in speed. He’d dropped off the book and returned within a matter of seconds. With a cry, he shifted back. “Didn’t even see me.” He grabbed his clothes and redressed.

  “Right. No one breathe a peep of this. I’ll talk with Kalkin and get everything setup. We’ll discuss it more, later.” For now, Bodhi needed Emma, and this time, he wasn’t going to stop. He was going to mark her and make her his.

  Chapter Eight

  By the end of the night, Bodhi had checked off about ninety-five percent of the pilfered checklist from Emma's journal. Utah had texted him, right before dinner with a picture of the completed arch. The tiger had even woven ivy, where he had gotten it from, he had no clue, around the wooden support, and let Bodhi know fresh flowers could be added the morning of the ceremony.

  Bodhi had to admit, he was a bit taken back at the warm feelings flowing through him at seeing the exact spot where he’d make Emma his in every sense of the word. He wondered if his uncles had felt the same prior to their wedding ceremonies. He suspected under Kal’s tough outer shell was a warm, mushy center. Especially, when it came to his mate and pups. He got it, though. His uncles hadn’t always had the easiest lives, also being the alpha meant, Kal often had to push his personal beliefs aside and do what was best for the pack.

  He glanced up at the clock, for what must have been the millionth time. The adults, it seemed, suspected he was going to sleep with Emma tonight and were dragging their damn feet—or he’d just been paranoid. He figured, with the full moon being so close—the hormones flowing—all the adults would be with their mates, fucking.

  “You okay?” Nico nudged him.

  “Yeah,” he grumbled, his gaze finding Emma, who had stayed by Cassidy’s side all night. He got it. She was being the big sister, protective, especially when Nic and Aiden arrived. Neither boy had said or done anything inappropriate to their newly scent marked/soon to be mate. “Why?”

  “You've been bouncing your knee non-stop for the last hour.” Nico smirked. “It's bugging the piss out of Kal. He's been giving you dirty-ass looks for the last twenty minutes. You've ignored them all.”

  “Shit.”

  His gaze darted to his uncle. Sure, enough he was giving him a look. Bodhi immediately stopped, and his uncle turned his attention to Colin, his oldest, who sat beside him.

  Nico chuckled. “You got it bad, don’t you?”

  “Were you any different?” Bodhi made a point to keep his voice low. Although, the loudness of the multiple conversations around them had to drown out whatever they were saying.

  “Nope,” Nico said. “Question is, you going to do anything about it?”

  “I asked her to sleep with me tonight.”

  Nico spewed his drink back into the bright-red, plastic cup. He shook his head, placing the cup down beside his plate and turned to him. “Asked? Is it just that easy?” Nico rubbed his head. “I wonder if just asking would have worked with Hayden.”

  “Doubt it,” Bodhi answered even though he knew Nico’s question had been rhetorical. “I mean sleep. No sex.”

  “Glad I wasn’t taking another sip of my soda. I would’ve choked.”

  “Shut up,” Bodhi snarled.

  “I’m going to give you some advice. Take it or leave it, I don’t give a shit. But, feel like I owe you. After I fucked everything up with Hayden, you always had my back.” Nico smiled. “Even if it was behind Hayden’s back. Don’t do whatever it is you’re thinking of.”

  “Why the hell not?” he snapped, feeling his wolf surge against his skin, trying to push its way out. Rough hair sprouted on his hands which were quickly turning into massive paws. Bodhi fought to push the animal down. Finally, his hands returned to normal, and his vision cleared. He glanced around the room, checking to see if anyone noticed. Kal was staring right at him, left brow cocked as if he was amused. Keeley didn't stand for anyone shifting willy-nilly at the dinner table. Kal enforced her decree to a T.

  “That's why.” Nico gestured to his hands, not even noticing his uncle's glare. “You can't control your wolf. It wants to mate. How do you think Emma's going to react to you sticking your dick in her where everyone can hear?”

  He growled, low and deep in his chest at just the thought of anyone hearing Emma's pleasure. Nico's eyes widened, knowing the sound was a warning.

  “Bodhi,” Kal called from the end of the table. “Might be a good idea to go take a run, boy. Now.”

  Kal had an uncanny ability to give suggestions which were really orders. The wolf below his skin rippled at the order from its alpha. He had no choice but to obey.

  “Emma and Cassidy are fine,” Kal assured him.

  With a quick nod, Bodhi stood from his chair, then made his way to the back door, Nico hot on his heels.

  The second his feet hit the red dirt, he started to strip. Rolling his neck, the muscles stretching and the bones cracking as he took in the cooler night air and the waxing gibbous of the moon. The full moon was two days away, and it'd already impacted his body. His dick ached, hard between his legs. Glancing down, he saw the tip of his cock was dark purple and wet with pre-cum.

  “You can't go to her like that,” Nico stated beside him. “If it helps, I feel the same way.” Taking his focus off the moon, he glanced at Nico, who stood naked, unashamed, and in the exact same condition. Thankfully, shifters didn't have the same hang-ups about nudity, erections, or sex. In his lifetime, he'd seen all the males of his family in the same condition at one point or another. “I did a shit ton of running before I mated your sister. It can help.”

  “Then we run,” Bodhi said, letting his wolf free in a flash of light.

  This time when he glanced up at the moon it was through the eyes of his wolf. Without waiting for Nico, he took off into a run toward the bridge separating the twin’s property. He turned to the left when he hit the water, weaving in and around the rocks around the water’s edge as he headed to the woods. Nico followed behind, but Bodhi knew, once they hit the clearing, his friend would join him. Side by side they’d run till the wolf’s urges eased and he could go to Emma without worrying about forcing a mating.

  Emma tore apart her room, looking for her journal. It had been missing all day, and she was starting to panic. If someone found it, even if Bodhi found it and looked through it, she’d die of embarrassment. All her secret thoughts, desires, and needs were written in it. If Bodhi had been around, she’d have asked him for his help, but he’d skedaddled for a run right before dinner broke up. It was going on two hours, and, to her knowledge, he wasn’t back.

  She riffled through her bag again, unable to find it.

  “Think, Emma. Where was the last place you put it?”

  I left it on the bed.

  She had already ripped the dang bed apart. The only areas she hadn’t checked was between the bed slats and head and footboards. Slipping her hands between both turned up nothing other than an old sock. Gross Hayden. At least, she hoped it’d been Hayden’s.

  Maybe it was under the bed.

  Dropping to her knees, Emma began moving her hand back and forth, slowly seeking the book.

  It couldn't be a pretty picture, with her fat ass pushed up and out in the air. When she stretched her arm further under the bed, her fingertips brushing against either a massive dust bunny or the fray from her journal.

  “Jesus, that’s sexy as fuck,” Bodhi growled, deep and dark behind her.

 
Emma quickly snagged the book from under the bed and jumped up. Bodhi lounged against the door jam, his hair wet, arms crossed over his wide, bare chest. A pair of low-slung grey sweats with a noticeable bulge at his groin caught her eye. Her gaze flickered up, then down, followed the small patch of hair which started under his belly button and dipped below the waistband at his hips. He had what the girls at school termed ‘sexy lines.' It made her wonder, not for the first time, what he'd looked like completely naked.

  However, she realized reality would be way better than her imagination, which had absolutely no point of reference other than some pictures she’d once seen of in a book of nude marble statues from museums.

  “What were you doing on the floor?” His voice still had the dark and rumbly edge to it.

  “Huh?” She blinked, trying to focus and come out of her Bodhi daze.

  He chuckled. Bodhi pushed off the doorframe and sauntered toward her, only to stop at the edge of the rug. Closer, but still so far away. Emma’s mouth watered at the definition of his muscles. Sure, she’d seen him shirtless before, but something was different this time. He seemed bigger. Stronger.

  Her fingers itched to trace the divots on his belly and lick the small, brown disks of his nipples. She also wanted to know what it would be like to stroke his cock. To see Bodhi take his pleasure in her fist.

  Bodhi snapped his fingers, drawing her attention from his stunning body and up to his eyes, which were twinkling with amusement. “Eyes are up here, baby.”

  Emma felt her neck and cheeks flushing with warmth at being caught blatantly ogling him. She forced herself to focus on his face, his eyes, in particular. It was a lot harder than it should be.

  “Why were you on the floor? Not that I'm complaining, or anything, since the view was fan-fucking-tastic.” The sexy undertones of his voice washed over her, caressing her skin, causing goosebumps to form.

  He needed his head or his eyes examined. Her ass wasn’t fantastic anything. It was large, and she suspected loaded with cellulite. Neither one of those features, in her mind, were attractive.

  “I, ah ... I, um.” Why was I on the floor again? Her fingers clenched around her journal, reminding her what she’d been doing. “I couldn’t find my diary.” She waved the pink book in front of his face. “Found it, finally, under my bed. Which wasn’t where I left it. I distinctly remember leaving it on the bed.”

  “Yeah, we need to talk about that,” Bodhi stated as he moved the remaining few feet to her bed and sat.

  Oh, hell. Bodhi Raferty was sitting on her bed.

  Well, not technically her bed, considering she was a guest in his uncle’s house, but for the time being, it was her bed, so in her mind, it counted.

  “Sit down,” he said patting the spot right next to him.

  “I’d prefer to stand,” she assured him.

  “And, I’d like you to sit. Next to me.”

  Bodhi leaned forward, wrapping his hand around her wrist, then pulling her down right next to him.

  Her senses went haywire. She could smell fresh, clean male, with an underlying hint of musk and something else. Something she had scented from him before and could never put her finger on. Whatever it was, she wanted to bottle and bathe in it. Daily.

  I need to calm down. My stalker tendencies are showing again.

  “What do we need to talk about?”

  “I took your diary this morning and asked Rocky to return it to someplace you wouldn't find it,” he informed her calmly, way too calm for her liking, actually.

  Had he read it?

  “Why?” she growled, surprising them both with the deep sound. Rarely did her bear make itself known. It tended to be more of the ‘go with the flow’, ‘content to wait for her’, type creature.

  “Nothing devious. I promise you,” he said, reaching behind him and pulled something from behind his back. “I saw what you were planning yesterday, and I wanted to help.” He unfolded the paper, revealing the lists from her journal. “I made copies of your lists only. The guys and I split up what was remaining on your list. Everything is ready for Hayden and Nico during the full moon.”

  The extremely kind and sweet gesture had her belly fluttering. It made her feel loved, and dare she say, even accepted. Every day, Emma swore she fell a little bit more in love with the wolf shifter. “Did, umm ... you or anyone one, umm, else, read it?”

  “No way, pinky, I’d never allow anyone to invade your privacy, nor would I read your private thoughts and feelings. I only knew where the list was because I saw you mark it the other day,” he assured her.

  “So, everything is done?”

  He nodded. “What we didn’t finish is circled.”

  Emma glanced down. Only four things remained. Flowers, the girl's dresses, music, and rings.

  “I’ve already made arrangements for the dresses. I just didn’t cross it off yet,” she said, pulling her pen from its holder to cross the line item from her list.

  “I want to be completely honest with you. I did deviate some from your plans,” he informed her nonchalantly.

  She frowned at him. What did he mean, changed her plans? They were simply, perfection. Nothing needed to be adjusted or changed. Why would he do this?

  “What, um, did you–” Emma cleared her throat. “What exactly did you change?”

  “I asked Christoph and Jackson if they wanted to make it legal with Bell along with my sister and Nico.” The addition of the other mated trio was a freaking awesome idea. “They’re up in the air. I think they want to run it past Bell. Make sure it’s okay with her before they commit.”

  Bubble nuggets. “Ok. I guess I can understand they're wanting to make sure Bell was onboard? Anything else?” she asked, scrolling to the end of the copy of her list.

  “Yeah. It'll still be a double ceremony if I have my way.” Bodhi slid off the bed and went to one knee in front of her. His actions since coming into her room were off. Reaching out, she laid her hand on his forehead. He felt warm, but not a sick warm. None of this made sense. “Emma, would you do me the honoring of making our relationship official in front of our friends, family, and the gods with Hayden and Nico?”

  Her breath caught in her lungs, and her heart jumped into her throat.

  Holy snap, crackle, and pop!

  Did he just ... propose to her? Nah. He had to be teasing her. It wasn’t funny, though. For a split second, this was all real to her. Every desire she’d had since seeing him that first time bloomed deep inside of her, only to burst like a balloon when she realized he was pulling her leg. No way, Bodhi could want someone like her. Not when he could have anybody in the world besides her. She could be number twenty on the list. She was nowhere near the top. She was the slim pickings. The last one to get chosen for everything.

  “Not funny, Bodhi,” she muttered. Her heart broke at his deception.

  “I’m being absolutely serious, Emma,” he proclaimed, reaching for her hand.

  “What is this, tease the fat girl day?” she cried, standing up and wanting to get away from him and his cruel joke. “Or am I being punked? Which one of your friends or family members are going to jump out of the closet with a video camera?”

  He stood, towering over her. “Stop it, Emma,” he growled. “This is no joke.”

  “It has to be, Bodhi. Have you ever looked at yourself in the mirror? Then looked at me?” she cried.

  “This fucking bullshit again?” he spat. “I thought with seeing my uncles and their mates you’d finally realize.”

  “Realize what? You want to fuck the fat girl?”

  “Knock it off, Emma. Say one more word about your ass, tits, or your weight, and I swear to God, I’ll pull you over my lap and paddle your ass till you can’t sit for a week.”

  Squaring her shoulders, she got in his face, refusing to let him use his height or strength to intimate her. “You wouldn’t dare,” she sneered.

  “Oh fuck yeah I would,” he snarled. Bodhi pulled her to him as he sat back down on the be
d.

  Before she could voice a protest, he had her over his lap, her shorts yanked down to her thighs and her ass in the air.

  Smack. Smack. Smack.

  “Ouch! Stop, Bodhi. It hurts,” she cried, wiggling with all her strength on his lap. She might be a bear, but he was way stronger than her.

  “Good.” Smack. “It’s supposed to hurt.” Smack. “Keep wiggling, pinky, you’re just getting my dick harder. I know you can feel it.” Smack.

  She could feel it, pressing into her belly. It didn’t mean anything. Guys got hard if the wind blew right. What made Bodhi’s erection any different?

  “Because we’re mates, and I’ll stop when you realize how goddam, fucking sexy you are.” Smack. “I have never seen you as the fat girl,” he barked. Smack. “You’re perfection.” Smack. “Ten months I’ve pussyfooted around you, waiting for you to get over your issues. Ten months of denying me ... us the relief of mating. Of sinking my dick so deep inside you, that neither one of us knows where one of us ends, and the other begins.” Smack. “Knotting you. Filling you with my come. Waiting for it take root and watch you swell with our pups or cubs or both.” Smack. “I’m at the end of my rope, mate.” Smack. “I don’t know what to say to you to get you to understand, I fucking love you.” Smack.

  He loved her? Bodhi Raferty, the football star, the big man on campus, the guy with the kicking physique that had all the cheerleaders drooling, loved her? It didn’t even faze her that he had just he proclaimed his love with a curse. To her, it meant the world. It was her everything.

  “You love me?” She tensed, waiting for another smack to fall on her already abused posterior.

  “Emma.” He righted her, so she sat in his lap, facing him. “What do you think we’ve been doing for almost the last year?”

  She shrugged. She got it, they were meant to be mates, but seeing the women cling to him day in and day out, twisted the fact. Yes, they were mates, but he probably despised it because he couldn’t have what he really wanted, someone like the cheerleaders. Tall, curvy in all the right spots, and beautiful.