by Olivia Harp
She looked around. The sun shone on his back, his already tanned skin looked tastier than ever. She brought a parasol but he said he wanted to feel the sun on his skin, so she used it for herself.
"I think it's incredible."
He smiled, finally taking a look around and admiring the view just like she did.
He secured the paddles and grabbed his bottle of water, threw some of it over his head and back.
Just looking at him made her horny. Holy crap. What did I do to deserve this?
"Good spot, right?" he said.
"Right."
They stared at the mountains in silence for a bit.
"Do you think we're ever gonna lose this?" she asked.
"What, the mountains? Nah, they're—"
"No, you dork," she laughed, "I mean, what we have right now."
He frowned, and she rolled her eyes, chuckling. Men.
"I mean us, this, you know what they say about the honeymoon phase and all."
"No."
"Never?"
"This isn't just a crush or you know, a sex-based relationship."
She narrowed her eyes.
"Are you sure?"
He chuckled, "I mean, the sex is fucking unbelievable, yes, but it's much more than that."
She laughed.
"So, you're saying this is true love. How romantic of you, big man."
He locked eyes with her.
"Yes, honey. I think this is true love."
Yes, it was, and she knew it. But still, that didn't stop her from shivering from head to toe every time he said it. She wanted to shout, and laugh and cry, all at the same time, she was so happy.
"I love you," was the only thing she could say, before he leaned over and gave her a kiss.
The warm breeze caressed her skin, until a sudden gust of wind broke the parasol away from her grip, taking it in the air for a second.
An air current made it float and dance, its colors blending with the speed of its rotations. He was doing it again.
Ever since that night, he could manifest his channeling powers in much subtler ways. And his bear never pushed to come out like before. He had complete control over it.
So, from time to time, he did things like this. Little shows just for her.
The parasol bounced happily mid-air, and little by little, it came tumbling back to them. She extended her arm and grabbed it.
"Thank you," she said.
"My pleasure."
They talked about their work, their plans, the crew. How it all started. She opened a bottle of wine and poured a couple of glasses.
Day was turning into night, sunset colored the sky in dark purple and red hues, the first few stars adorned the firmament.
"Can you feel them too?" she asked.
"In a way, yes. I can feel their power and their light and I can feel the space between them."
"Must be amazing."
Enzo turned to her and kissed her softly in the lips, "they're nothing compared to you."
She laughed, "you're so—"
"I mean it," he said, his eyes never leaving hers. He took her hand and put it on his chest.
"You are everything. Nothing in the world holds a candle to you."
His heart beat hard against her palm. Her skin filled with goose bumps.
A low growl reached her. The animal inside him had power, but he learned to overcome it, he tamed it.
Enzo sat back and held her hands, the boat rattled, making her gasp. Particles of water began to float in the air, forming a thin mist cloud. It kept going upwards, just a few feet above them. He pressed her hand a bit tighter, his face was relaxed and happy. He looked up with a teasing smile.
She followed his eyes and almost fainted.
Just above her, the last remaining sunlight cut through a billion particles of water, creating a rainbow, just for them.
The refraction and movement of the minute drops created another one, and another one, the whole color spectrum danced for them. This was much more than she expected to ever see. A myriad of colors shuffled and transformed into impossible —or so she thought— shapes, like a diamond made of multi-colored light, with them at its center.
Beneath them, the lake water reflected the light ballet, along with the red mountains and darkening sky. Tears began to well up in her eyes.
Her. The tough as nails teacher from the L.A. ghetto, about to cry because of a rainbow.
"It's all because of you," Enzo said, and she turned to him, not understanding.
"I would never in a million years have thought I had the power to do something like this. And thanks to you, I can."
"No Enzo, this is all—"
The prismatic lights surrounded her, her clothes dampened with the movement of a million dots of water crashing against her body, the reds and yellows and purples flowed around her like she was a princess from a fairy tale.
Above them, strong, intense colors began to form, as if trapped in a crystal, floating just out of her reach.
"Can I—?" she said.
"Yes."
She stood up, her steps rattling the boat harder this time. She raised her hands in the air to regain balance, panicking for a second, afraid she was going to fall into the water.
No problem, he softly rocked the boat in the opposite direction, helping her keep her stability. They laughed. She nodded, silently thanking him, and looked up.
The light prism was still there. She raised her hand and touched it. Billions of water particles washed against her, cool to the touch. She slowly moved her hand through it, but the color never faded away, it was like finally being able to grasp the unattainable.
"I love you," Enzo said.
She looked down and every muscle in her body tightened. Her stomach felt like a rock, her heart beat so fast she thought she would die.
He was kneeling, looking up, holding a ring up to her, every color in the world reflected on its gargantuan diamond.
After a second, she finally saw —processed, really— what was happening. She couldn't even gasp, her mouth fell, she stopped breathing. The jewel was big and shiny, cut to perfection.
Enzo couldn't have gotten this in Rosenberg, or even Portland or Seattle. This thing was what famous actresses wore, only better. She never thought of seeing something like it in person. She couldn't think of anything so extraordinarily beautiful.
"You are my everything," said Enzo, "I can't imagine living without you."
Her eyes began to well. She bit her lower lip. This was really happening. This was really happening to her.
"Every day I'm thankful for meeting you, for that chance you took in coming up North and try to improve people's lives."
Shivers everywhere. This was it. The moment she'd been dreaming of. The opportunity to spend her life with a man that made her feel as if she was the only woman in the world.
"Will you marry me, Audrey Rodriguez?"
She'd dreamed about this moment, but nothing could have prepared her for this.
"Yes! Of course I'll marry you!"
He smiled and put the ring on her finger. A couple of tears ran down her cheek. Nothing could have prepared her for something this spectacular. And this man. This perfect, wild, protective bear shifter was hers, forever.
He kissed her, and it was the epitome of happiness. Every inch of her body, from her fingers to her hair to her skin, tingled. This was meant to be.
"I love you, Big Man," she said holding back a tear.
"I love you," he said with a fiery look. A smile that she'd seen plenty of times before, but today meant something different.
It meant she was his. And he was hers. Forever.
He kissed her again and she melted in his lips. He brought her closer to him. She never thought she'd think of him as home. As her center. Before she realized she was sitting on his lap, lost in his embrace.
She could feel his intensity washing over her. It echoed and reached and dominated her completely.
His hands travel
led from her head to her back to her legs, his skin hot, his touch careful but firm. Butterflies fluttered inside her. It was crazy to think that after all this time, she could still feel like that.
He bit her earlobe, making her shiver. He knew that was one of her weak spots. She pressed her thighs, trying to hide how her wet she already was. Turns out his proposal, and the way he looked at her, and the beautiful backdrop was more than romantic. It was a turn on.
"I love you," he whispered in her ear, and before she replied he kissed her neck and shoulder.
She moaned quietly, losing herself in his words, his touch.
She subconsciously loosened her hand and the parasol tumbled for a second before she grabbed it hard again, taking herself away from the moment.
He didn't say a word, just found her hand and took the thing away.
"We'll find it later," he said with a smirk as he threw it on the water. She couldn't escape him now, he grabbed her hair softly and pulled it back. He owned her and knew she loved it.
He pulled away and looked down at her shirt, the face of mischief telling her what he was going to do.
He took the shirt's fabric in his hands and in a swift motion ripped it in half, pulling her to him, completely exposed.
His breathing was ragged, he wanted her just as much as she wanted him, but he always held back just long enough to make her crave... to make her beg.
He took his shirt off and her hands darted to touch, to feel, his absolutely ripped and sweaty chest. They moved all over his body, his muscles hard as steel, she was a like a wild animal with him.
Her nails sank into him as he kissed her lower neck, she couldn't control herself, her hands gripped tight until they scratched his back and arms.
She moaned, lost in the moment.
He grabbed her hand and put it on his cock, she stroked him over his black sports pants.
She couldn't resist anymore. She pulled them down, she wanted it, it was hers only, and there it was, big and hard and ready.
"You're mine," she said, and he nodded, "this fucking cock is mine, and mine only."
He undid her bra swiftly, in the middle of a kiss. A second later he sank his face between her breasts, biting and licking and tasting them, taking his time to reach her nipples.
Her thighs began to drip. She wanted him inside. She needed him inside now.
Pleasure rippled throughout her body. His hands and tongue explored her body and lips, stimulating her completely. The way he touched and looked at her put her so close to the edge. His sexual fury, held back, ready to explode at any moment, and she'd be the victim of it. She couldn't wait.
Pre-cum dampened her palms, hot and sticky. He moaned and unbuttoned her shorts.
She wore the most embarrassing, grandma-style underwear. I never thought this would happen right here! But it was her fault. Enzo was sex crazy. He never got tired of it, always wanted her. Of course he'd want to take her on the boat.
She moved back to take off her undies but he didn't let her. His hands went down between her thighs. She could feel the thickness of her juices, drenching his fingers, moving in circles around her clit, then going down to softly caress her slit... the predator had found its prey.
She gasped in pleasure as he slid his fingers up and down her folds. He wasn't inside yet.
"I love you," he said in a harder voice, his eyes full of fire.
She moaned again as his finger slid down to her entrance, about to go in, but stopping short and going back up again.
"Say you're mine," he commanded.
But she couldn't. She couldn't speak. His hands were soaked in her juices and she was about to explode. She yelled in pleasure as his wet finger delicately massaged her nub.
"I'm—"
He slid inside, making her yell. Then put his finger in his mouth.
"I love your taste, I love everything about you."
She bit her lip and nodded.
"You're mine," she replied, defiantly.
He smiled, "yes."
Enzo took the ragged remains of her shirt and tied her hands, going between them. She was closer to him now, holding him by the neck.
She was on the edge of exploding; he was making her suffer.
There it was.
"Fuck!" she yelled as his wet cock slid between her folds, grinding her clit. She wasn't in control anymore, she went on, losing her mind, his cock pressing up and down between her thighs, as if this man was her sex-toy.
He spanked her hard and the mix of pleasure and pain made her come back to the present just long enough to know that she was his slave.
Another spank and the feeling of his hard cock against her nub made her wild. She lost.
Waves of ecstasy surged like lightning, her whole body felt like ripping apart in delight.
Before her orgasm ended, his cock entered her. She was gone now, only a wild beast remained. He entered deeply, the rhythmic in and out of his shaft drove her even crazier.
"Fuck me!" she screamed in pleasurous agony.
Enzo moaned, he was gone too, lost in the moment.
The man was a beast, stimulating every nerve in her body and just then another orgasm exploded out of nowhere. She yelled loud enough to hear her own echo, her mouth sprung open as the rippling climax traversed every inch of her body.
Her muscles tightened, her mind lost in the wave of love and lust and complete, mutual surrender.
"I love you," he yelled and her juices fused with his sperm, hot and thick and hers only.
He filled her with his seed. This was the best orgasm she ever had.
Her throat was sore with so much yelling. She loved how they just followed their impulses and exploded wildly, together.
Her perfect man.
She cuddled with him, his cock still inside her, their breath still ragged and harsh. She hugged him firmly, not for a second wanting him to let go of her.
They always played this game of lust and passion where he owned her and she was at his disposal at every hour.
And it always ended the same way.
"I love you," Enzo repeated over and over, his adoration never ending.
EPILOGUE
— Ten years later —
Audrey turned left on the last stretch of the trail and arrived to the White Paws HQ. Enzo said that years before, it was a big, open space where the crew had built their main base. The thought made her smile.
The whole place was turned into a recreational area, with swings, seesaws, an elastic bed... it looked more like a playground than the base of operations of a big, bad, shifter crew.
The first building was the Comms Tower, a big steel antenna over a concrete base. It served as a radio, tech workshop and internet repeater for the shifters in the mountains nearby.
Audrey smiled as she saw Enzo working up on the steel skeleton pointed at the sky. What is he up to?
She pulled over next to the HQ and waved at him.
"What are you doing, big man?"
"Franklin needed some help, dear," he replied, "work was slow today so I figured I could lend a hand."
Franklin was the tech expert of the crew; he could invent anything they could dream of. Internet speed and cell reception was better up there than at Rosenberg, all thanks to him.
Up above, Franklin worked on the metal structure, welding and repairing some instruments.
"Don't worry, Au!" Franklin shouted from above, "I'm done here!"
He raised his welding helmet and smiled.
Enzo jumped from the antenna to the roof of the base, a height of about fifty feet. She'd seen him do stuff like that but it never ceased to frighten her.
"Enzo!" she yelled with a worried look, but he turned to her as if he didn't know what she was talking about.
"Hi, dear," he said as he jumped the last remaining ten feet from the top of the base to the ground.
He was covered in sweat, she could see his big pecs and arms through his shirt.
"You look like a stripper," she said
.
"Wha—"
He looked down and realized what she meant.
"Don't worry, babe," he said in a fake French accent, "today's a Friday, it's my turn to please."
"Hey!" Franklin said from above, "cut it out, I'm about to barf over here."
Enzo and Audrey laughed and kissed each other hello, walking over to the big SUV he gave her as a birthday present just last month.
"So, how did you do?"
She shrugged, "fine, I guess."
Enzo stopped walking, a frown in his face.
"Really? Just fine?"
She couldn't pretend anymore, she jumped to hug him.
"Number one in the country! My school's grades went up twenty-seven percent on average over the past eighteen months!"
"Oh my God!" he said.
Yes. It was true. All the hard work had paid off.
After turning Jefferson High into the number one school in the Northwestern United States region, she had taken an administrative job in the Education department.
First the county, then the state, then the whole region. It had been a meteoric rise, and the people were grateful.
"The students are graduating in record numbers."
"Honey, I'm so proud of you, we should celebrate!"
"But aren't you tired?"
"Tired? Why?"
"You know, I've been busy for the past few weeks, the kids must have driven you crazy."
"Yeah, both of them turned out to be just like you."
"Oh really? So they behaved like angels!"
"Yeah, I wish."
"Hey!" she elbowed him, opening the passenger's door to her SUV.
"Let me help you," Enzo said, picking up the bags of groceries she brought.
"Don't worry, I can—"
"We don't want to overstress you, honey," Enzo said patting her belly.
Seven months pregnant. This third baby had come five years after their second. Enzo said he wanted five kids, and even though she wasn't sure if he was kidding, she would be happy to have them.
Their life was perfect. The crew opened their arms to her and acted like a second family.
"Where are the kids?" she asked, looking around for them.
"Deedee took them exploring a few hours ago."
"That's nice of her."
"I thought so too, but then realized she took all of the kids with her."
