Bears of Burden: HUTCH

by Candace Ayers

  She heard the water in the shower start flowing. Whatever had happened, she had a very hot, naked man in her bathroom who seemed content with the idea of staying, at least until the storm passed and the power was restored. Whenever that was. Alex picked up her phone from her night stand. She still had power, though not a whole lot. As long as she was careful it would last for a while. There were a handful of texts from friends and family complaining about the storm and asking if she was okay, and one weather alert that Alex dismissed in favour of checking the news and then looking out her bedroom window.

  On the other side of the freezing cold glass was a sheet of white. Alex had to stare for a while before she could differentiate between the sky and ground and even longer before she could see anything other than a blanket of white. Definitely a hell of a storm. As she stood there a plough truck came trundling down the road, spewing snow to either side and leaving a trail of salt in its wake. At least they were already working on clearing the roads, not that Alex thought anyone would be going out unless they could walk to their destination. It was still early, but soon children would be out playing and enjoying the day off from school the weather had given them. They didn't care about the electricity as long as they could find something to entertain themselves. Alex remembered when she was that carefree. She was weighing the pros and cons of going out and making a snow angel with no heat to warm her up when she came back in when the water running in the bathroom shut off. Alex quickly grabbed the first proper clothes her hands touched and just managed to pull her shirt over her stomach when Shane emerged from the bathroom, dressed in Alex's clothes, and carrying the blanket over his shoulder. He tossed it on the bed.

  “Well? How do I look?” he asked, spreading his arms and flashing her that same grin that made her knees weak. Her nightshirt was a couple sizes too small. It was pulled taught around his torso highlighting his physique. The boxers showed off his strong legs.

  “Ridiculous,” Alex replied, and he did, but at the same time he was so amazingly handsome..

  “I can take them off if you want,” Shane said. Alex's face warmed. “That's what I thought. So…” For a few seconds neither of them said anything. Alex stared at the ground and fidgeted, slightly uncomfortable but intrigued by the stranger in her house. “What now?”

  “I don't know,” Alex replied. “I tried to go get a flashlight yesterday but the shop was packed. Other than that...” She shrugged. “I guess some emergency supplies. No idea how long this storm is gonna go on for, so...”

  “Well, I can't really go anywhere dressed like this, but if you can help me get back home I'll give you a hand. Got a pretty decent truck. Snow shouldn't give it too much trouble. If you trust me, that is.” Alex was surprised at herself because as soon as he said it she found that she did trust him. She couldn't explain why. Maybe it was his easy smile, or the way that everything he said felt openly honest. Maybe it was the same part of her personality that had prompted her to bring him inside last night when she thought he was nothing more than a stray dog.

  “I'll help,” Alex replied, “but I want you to explain to me what happened last night. Will you do that?” A brief flash of discomfort flickered across Shane's face.

  “I guess I owe you that much, don't I,” he said. “Plus, I’ve already revealed my darkest secret. I want to let you know though, I was planning to be gone before you woke up, but...” He shook his head.

  “Okay. Let’s get to your place.”

  CHAPTER 3

  “You know,” Shane said as they drove very slowly down the street behind another plough truck in Alex's car, “this is almost like a really awkward date. I went home with you, we woke up together, and now you're saving me the walk of shame home in the snow in nothing but your borrowed underwear.”

  “And I didn't even get a kiss.”

  “Day isn't over yet,” Shane replied. Alex bit her lip but couldn't stop herself from smiling any more than she could stop her heart from pounding. He was a stranger. But, he was a very attractive, nice, charming stranger, who seemed to think that she was attractive, too, if the way he was looking at her was any indication. There were worse ways to spend a snow day than with a hot guy, Alex mused. Her sister would be so jealous, even if Shane was some weird wolf-man thing. She didn't want to think about the dog-hot guy thing too much right now for fear of her brain exploding. The only thing she was concerned with now was helping Shane get back into his house.

  “Why were you outside my building if you live so far?” Alex asked.

  “I roam on full moons,” Shane replied. “That's just where I ended up when the power cut and the snow was coming. It was luck that you came. Even better luck that you're still in my company now.”

  “You're kind of hard to resist,” Alex said.

  “One of my many charms,” Shane replied. “Maybe you'll stick around longer to find out my other charms?”

  “We'll see,” Alex said, and gave him a little smile. She could feel her cheeks getting warm. Shane reached over to set a surprisingly warm hand on her thigh. He gave it a little squeeze, then rubbed his thumb against the outside. Even with the heat in the car on full blast, it still felt nice, like when Alex used to sit next to the radiator in her grandma's house when she was a kid. “So, how did you get locked out?”

  “Kind of forgot where I put my spare key,” Shane replied with a sheepish grin. He ran his hands through his hair. “I had it hidden under a rock near the door, but I had to move it after someone broke in, and... well, I don't really want to be wandering around my house stark naked in the middle of winter trying to find it. I'd probably get the cops called on me. My neighbours are prudes.”

  “So you're making me do it.”

  “No, I'll help. Or try to. I might be able to get into a window, but, again, half-naked man in women’s underwear trying to get into a locked house in broad daylight? Cops.” Alex snorted at the image but she had seen enough of Shane to know that she definitely wouldn't call the cops on him for being naked. Definitely not. “Turn left, it's the last house on your side.” The roads out here hadn't been ploughed quite as well and Alex's car skidded frighteningly as she turned the corner. Shane gave her leg another squeeze.

  “Don't worry,” he said. “My truck can handle this, easy. Just go slow.” Alex felt better with Shane's hand on her thigh. They reached his house without further incident. Alex pulled up next to what looked like the curb, not that she could be really sure. Shane lived in a nice sized house in what was considered one of the nicer upper-middle class neighborhoods in the city. She winced when he got out of the car and put his bare feet in the snow, but he didn't seem to notice. Reluctant as she was to leave the warmth of her car, she followed him, putting her keys in her coat pocket.

  “So where do you think you put it?” Alex asked.

  “Honestly? Under another rock somewhere near the front steps. There's just a lot of them, and the snow makes it harder, and-” he trailed off into mumbles, already digging up snow. Alex heaved a heavy sigh and joined him.

  Her fingers were frozen stiff by the time they finally found the pesky little thing, hidden under a round rock that both of them almost missed under the snow. Even Shane was starting to show signs of being cold. She stood close to him, soaking up what warmth she could as he opened the door and tried the lights. Too much to hope the power would be back, not with the snow still coming down as hard as it was. Alex's hair was wet with it and it had soaked through the bottoms of her jeans and into her socks. It wasn't all that much warmer inside, but at least it was sheltered from the elements. Alex stood in the foyer stomping snow off her shoes while Shane presumably went to get clothes. She shut the door to keep out the worst of the cold and explored through the simple but tastefully furnished rooms around her. It was strange and quiet in the grey darkness the sunlight cast. Bored, she ventured towards the noise coming from deeper inside the house and passed the door to Shane's bedroom in time to catch a tantalizing glimpse of his bare back before he pulled a sweat
er on.

  He turned around and caught her, “Better?”

  Alex nodded quickly.

  “Well now, what all do you need from the store?”

  Alex shrugged. “A light. Batteries. Food. Wasn't exactly prepared for a blizzard.”

  “You know,” Shane started, and rubbed the back of his neck almost nervously, “I have all of that here. You can hang until the power comes back. At least then you won't be alone. And if you're still around tonight...” He let the implication linger. If Alex stayed he could prove what he had told her before.

  “What are we gonna do if I stay?” Alex asked.

  “Enjoy each other's company?” Shane asked with a grin. “I'd like to get to know you, honestly. You know a very personal piece of information about me. I think I'm owed something in return, don't you?”

  Shane had a gas stove and a kerosene space heater and nothing could have made Alex happier at that moment than those two things. Well... she glanced over at Shane who was filling the pot he had used to cook with water. Almost nothing. They actually had quite a lot in common from what Alex had gathered over their conversation. It had been brief, but not even close to how awkward Alex assumed it would be. Shane was..., well he was her dream guy, really. Attractive, thoughtful, kind, considerate. They both had the same taste in movies, too, something Alex hadn't shared with her most recent ex. When Shane sat down next to her with a blanket Alex didn't think twice about curling up into him. Hey, it’s a matter of survival. She told herself.

  “Are you always this warm?” she asked. She hardly needed the space heater with him next to her.

  “One of the perks of my condition,” Shane said. “Useful in the winter, not so much in the summer.”

  “Definitely useful now. I hope you don't mind.” Shane responded by slipping an arm around Alex's shoulders and cuddling her close. She was sitting next to him on the sofa sharing a thick woollen blanket that was draped around their shoulders. Alex pillowed her head against his broad chest. Beneath her ear his heart beat strong, if a bit quickly. Could he be nervous? Alex was. It had been a long time since she'd been close to a guy like this. What would happen if she kissed him? There was a better way to get warm than to huddle under a blanket.

  “Does anyone else know?” Alex heard herself ask. Shane's body tensed for a split second. Alex regretting the words until he sighed softly and shrugged, his chin brushing the top of her head.

  “No, just you. It was sort of a learn as I go experience. A lot of trial and error and some moments I'm not at all proud of. I'm okay now, though. I can control my urges and most of the time I just stay in the house.”

  “Bad day for your roaming, then,” Alex said.

  “I don't know about that,” Shane smiled. “I met you, didn't I?” Alex's cheeks and ears warmed. She pressed closer to Shane's heat. For a time there was a comfortable silence. Alex closed her eyes and was half asleep when Shane suddenly said, “The snow's stopped. Hopefully they'll have the power back soon. They've been working all day, or at least they were supposed to be.”

  “So eager to get rid of me?”

  “Not at all. I'd keep you here all night if I could. I thought you'd want to get back to your own place. I did sort of give you a shock this morning, didn't I?”

  “Just a bit,” Alex teased. “But... well this didn't turn out bad, did it? You're a pretty cool guy.” Shane chuckled and rubbed her shoulder. Alex couldn't suppress her yawn. Easily, too easily, Shane shifted her weight around so he could swing his legs up and stretch out across the couch, letting Alex rest on top of him. Alex tucked her head beneath his chin.

  “You know,” Shane said softly, “I've never really felt this comfortable with someone before. I was regretting my decision to leave my house, but now I think it might have been one of the best things I've ever done.” He gently kissed the top of her head.

  A balloon of warmth filled in Alex's chest. She believed in instant attraction between two people, but this was definitely something more than physical, regardless of how attractive Shane was. It wasn't a feeling she could really explain, but she was somehow attuned to him. In her gut she knew that if it had been anyone else she found naked in her bed after thinking it was a dog she had brought upstairs she wouldn't have hesitated about giving them a burst of pepper spray in the eyes and calling the police. Yet here she was, in a very intimate position with a man she'd only known for a day, feeling like she could do or say whatever she wanted and she hadn't even consumed any alcohol.

  “Maybe when things start functioning again, we could go out for coffee?” Alex suggested, surprised by how thick her voice had gotten and how heavy her eyes felt.

  “Maybe you should wait until after tonight to ask that question,” Shane replied. His fingers stroked along her spine, erasing the argument that was formulating in Alex's mind and sped her journey into a deep, peaceful, dreamless sleep.

  CHAPTER 4

  Alex slept for long enough that when she awoke it was dark outside. There was a light spilling into the room from behind where she lay, in the direction of the kitchen. Alex blinked and rubbed the sleep from her eyes. She sat up to look over the back of the sofa and spotted Shane finishing up the dishes from earlier and watching something on the small, wall-mounted TV at the end of the cabinet row. From the monotonous mumbling it sounded like the news. Quiet as a mouse, Alex roused herself from her makeshift bed and padded over to him, slipping her arms around his waist without a thought and pressing her cheek between his shoulders with a little nuzzle. He must have heard her because his only reaction was to crane his torso around so he could press a kiss to the top of her head that was so tiny Alex barely felt it.

  “Sleep well?” he asked, washing off the last dish and putting it in the rack next to the sink to dry.

  “Yeah,” Alex replied. “When did the power come back on?”

  “About twenty minutes ago. You were out for a while. Did I keep you up last night?” Shane asked, turning around to give her a teasing smile. His arms went easily around her waist.

  “No,” Alex said, ignoring her blush. “I was just tired, I guess. You make a very good pillow.”

  “Well, I'm glad to hear that.”

  Alex tilted her head back, staring up into Shane's handsome face, her gaze holding his briefly before dropping to his grinning mouth. He clasped his hands together at the small of her back, keeping her pressed tightly against his body. Alex's heart went up into her throat then almost deafened her with its beating. She was so close she could see the ring of black around Shane's irises, and streaks of bronze where the bright kitchen lights shown down on his hair.

  “I need to show you that proof you wanted,” Shane said before Alex could speak what was on her mind. “Are you sure about this?”

  “Are you in control?” Alex shot back.

  “Completely,” Shane said without hesitating. “Normally I go to the basement but for your sake I'll stay up here. It's not a pleasant thing to watch, so... just stay here, okay?” Alex nodded slowly. Shane slipped away from their embrace, leaving Alex alone with a jittery stomach and racing heart. The minutes ticked by slowly, but it couldn't have been more than five before she heard a creak from down the hall where Shane had walked and the shaggy wolf-dog from the previous night trotted over to her, wagging his tail and rubbing affectionately against her legs.

  “Shane?” Alex asked, silently cursing how her voice shook. The dog sat at her feet and nodded his head in an eerily human like manner before licking Alex's fingers and butting her hand. “So you were telling the truth. Holy shit.” Her last shred of doubt evaporated when she looked into the dog's eyes and saw they were the same crystal blue as the man that she had found in her bed. “Can you change back?” she asked. Dog-Shane licked her fingers and turned away. When he was out of sight Alex let out a shaky breath and leaned against the sink for support. She definitely wasn't hallucinating. But what did it matter if Shane turned into a dog, or a wolf, or whatever however often he did? It was the man in him t
hat mattered and that was clearly the part of him that was in control. A man that Alex felt a deep connection to. She knew he was important to her. It was the same feeling she had when she and her best friend had first met, except her best friend hadn’t made her knees weak and given her butterflies in her stomach.

  Shane came out a moment later, looking slightly uncomfortable and moving gingerly, wearing only his jeans. He stood a couple feet away from Alex and couldn't quite meet her eyes. Alex held out her hand and waited until he looked up and approached her before she moved at all, stepping back into his arms.

  “Do you believe in love at first sight?” Alex asked. “Like, seeing someone and just... knowing. Knowing something. Maybe not right then that's it's love but, just having that feeling in your gut that you have to talk to them? You have to get to know them?”

  “Do you?” Shane asked.

  “I do now,” Alex replied, and leaned up on her toes. Shane met her halfway, cradling her face in his hands. Alex felt a spark across her lips, and the gentle brush of Shane's fingers on her cheeks. Even though he hadn't initiated the kiss, he waited until Alex pressed herself more firmly against his body before he relaxed and looped an arm around her waist, deepening the kiss with a simple brush of his tongue. He pulled away first, but not before Alex was breathless and very much wondering what would happen if they kept going.

  “So,” Shane said, “still sure about that coffee?”

  “More sure than I've ever been about anything in my life,” Alex replied and pulled him back into her embrace.

  THE END