by Mercy May
There was definitely something going on between us. The chemistry and heat had been immediate, as if our bodies knew something that we didn’t, but he seemed resolute in his decision to deny me entirely.
That, I realized, was going to make this a really long flight.
MARK
Holy shit. Holy fucking shit.
It was all I could do to keep from turning and watching the tall, muscular tiger walk away. My heart crashed in my chest and my breaths came out haggard, to the point that I was starting to grow light-headed. I’d smelled the tiger the moment he stepped aboard the airplane, but I’d hoped that he’d stay away. My last encounter with a tiger hadn’t gone so well, and that experience wasn’t something that I’d wanted to repeat. So when I turned and saw him standing there, dressed in a pair of faded blue jeans that clung tightly against muscular thighs and a blue t-shirt that all but gave way to his chiseled torso and broad shoulders, it had been all I could do to force out a few words at him. I’d had to keep reminding myself that the attraction wasn’t authentic. That it wasn’t practical. And that I couldn’t follow through with it, no matter what my heart was telling me.
That’s when I saw his eyes. Two perfect silver and blue disks that shone like bright summer’s day had drilled into my own eyes, and my cock had jumped up in immediate attention. It was all I could do to keep my mouth from watering at the sight of the dirty-blond haired Adonis, and the tribal tattoos circling up either arm didn’t help my cause. He was damned sexy, no matter how much I wanted - needed - to deny it. So when -despite my better judgment - I’d offered him my hand, I hadn’t been surprised to feel my body absolutely ignite at his touch. In that moment, I’d wanted more than anything to give in. To follow my own desires for once, rather than restrain myself to familial duties. I’d wanted to give into my bear’s urges, dismissing the too-deeply embedded notions of duty and civility that rang out in my father’s voice in my head. I couldn’t, though. Not with what Matthew had done. Not with how the Bruner clan was falling apart. I had a duty to my family, and that was that. So I’d taken the opportunity to shut it down before anything could happen.
And now, as I felt Zeke moving further and further away from me, I could feel my heart wrenching in my chest. Per tradition, I didn’t believe in fated mates. That’s not how things worked anymore, not with powerful bear clans like mine. There was supposed to be order and structure to “romance”. Matthew had been an anomaly, and things hadn’t gone over well because of it. He’d listened to his heart, given into what my father had deemed “abhorrent desires”, and had upended the entire hierarchy of the clan because of it. If he hadn’t been able to outmatch my father in combat, things would have likely turned out differently for my brother and his mate. I didn’t have that liberty and there was definitely no way I’d be able to force the issue with my father. He may not be alpha anymore, but he still held rank over me, and I wasn’t about to get in the way of that. Still, it didn’t make the current situation any less painful.
I leaned back in my chair and closed my eyes, somewhat happy with the fact that the large, sweaty man had taken a seat beside me. With him there, the scent of Zeke’s tiger was barely noticeable. But that didn’t stop me from drifting off to sleep with thoughts of what Zeke would look like underneath that tight blue shirt he’d been wearing, or the electricity in his touch.
***
I woke up with a start, my bladder all but burning a hole in my middle. When I noticed the large man snoring beside me, I took a moment to regret downing half a gallon of water before boarding the plane which, judging by the view from my window, was now flying somewhere over a deep, dark blue ocean. I eased myself out of my chair, careful not to disturb the man as I squeezed my massive frame between him and the seat in front of us. Fortunately, the occupant of that seat must have missed their flight, because the seat was still empty and in a perfectly upright position, affording me some much-needed space.
After squeezing past the sleeping man, I made straight for the nearby restroom. This was my first time on a plane, so the disorientation of moving down the aisle collided with my bear’s own nervousness at flying. I’d never felt so wary or disturbed in my life, and I told myself that after this trip I’d maintain a permanent grounding. Giant tin cans and grizzlies just don’t mix. Absently, I wandered if Zeke felt the same way, but shook my head to rid my thoughts of him as I stepped into the restroom. I quickly took care of my business and washed my hands, taking a second to look in the mirror and snort at how frazzled my hair looked. Shaking my head, I grabbed the door handle and pushed it open.
There, just beyond the door frame, stood Zeke.
Without so much as a word, Zeke shoved his way into the tiny restroom and pulled the door shut behind him. He had me backed against the wall before I knew what was happening, and his lips collided with my own. For half a moment, I fought against him, pushing him back, but his lips continued to crush mine, and I all but melted into his embrace. His body was hard and warm as I slipped my hands around and onto his back, pulling him against me. In that moment, I gave into my desires. I let my bear have what it needed.
Zeke brushed his tongue along the seam of my mouth and I opened it slightly. My body relaxed then, losing some of its rigidity as he gripped the back of my head, as if to keep me from escaping. Zeke pressed me further against the wall and I couldn’t help but let out a slight moan as his tongue plunged further into my mouth, dancing with my own. This was it for me. My first kiss, period, much less with a man. And by the way my body was reacting, this was exactly what I wanted. Exactly what I needed.
Zeke’s hand slipped from the back of my head to my waist, gripping firmly at my ass and pulling my hips forward and into his. The bulge of his erection brushed against my own, and my legs quivered with an anticipation I didn’t understand. The longer the kiss went on, the more relaxed I found myself, and it was all I could do to maintain some semblance of thought. It wasn’t supposed to be this way. I was defying everything I’d ever been taught, everything I’d ever believed in, and yet it felt so good. So right.
Someone banged on the door outside, abruptly bringing me out of my moment of bliss, and Zeke pulled back, a wolfish grin plastered on his face. “Occupied,” he called out, pressing a finger against my lips. An incoherent grumbling sounded from outside the tiny bathroom and I heard someone walking away.
Zeke turned his attention back to me, his sky-blue eyes flashing with lust as he did. “Sorry,” he whispered through his grin. “I know you said to go away, but I saw you coming in here, and I couldn’t help myself. The attraction was too strong.”
I let out a breath I didn’t realize I’d been holding and just nodded. Now that he wasn’t locking his lips against mine, my more rational side resumed its thought process. This was wrong. I shouldn’t have let it happen. I shouldn’t have given in. I was being selfish. I was being stupid. I was betraying my family and the future of my clan. I couldn’t…
Zeke’s fingers traced the outline of my cock and my entire body buckled forward and against him. How could something so wrong feel so right?
“Tell me you don’t feel this,” Zeke whispered, tracing his lips from my neck to my ear. “Tell me your bear isn’t yearning for this just as much as my tiger is.”
I couldn’t. Not if I was being honest with myself. Everything in me cried out for his touch, begging for more.
Shit. Shit. Shit.
Zeke began to suckle on my neck as his fingers continued brushing up against the outline of my cock and I had to brace my hand against the wall to keep from falling forward. Just the hint of his touch was enough to leave me stunned and speechless. My breathing was growing more and more ragged the longer his lips worked their way over my skin and his fingers traced my cock and up the seam of my jeans. With a flick of his wrist, Zeke unbuttoned my shorts and slid his hand beneath them and my underwear, his fingers easing their way down the length of my shaft.
I let out a long moan and lost all perspective as Zek
e wrapped his hand around my cock, gently beginning to pump at it.
“I…can’t…” I breathed, but I knew I was lying. To Zeke and to myself.
“Shhh,” Zeke whispered, his tongue suckling on my neck as he continued to pump his hand around my shaft.
I gave into his whims, unable to fight it off any longer, and grabbed a fistful of his sandy blond hair, then pulled his lips back against my own. I forced my tongue into his mouth this time, tasting him and devouring him in any way that I could as he picked up the pace of his pumping. I found myself thrusting into his hand as I pulled him closer to me. Suddenly, my body tightened and my mind lit up with an explosion of pleasure as I found release.
I pulled back from the kiss and leaned back against the wall, my legs quivering as the ecstasy left me and a sudden peace and tiredness overcame my body.
“Holy shit,” I panted. “That was…”
“Amazing?” Zeke asked, pulling his hand out from under my waistband, a roguish grin plastered to his face. “The best hand job you’ve ever had?”
I shook my head, still trying to find the words. Yes, it had been amazing. But it was also unprecedented. And the longer I stood there, staring at Zeke and no longer caught up in the moment, the more sick to my stomach I felt. Before I could open my mouth to say anything, the pounding resumed at the door, this time more frantic.
“Sir, are you alright?” A woman’s voice rang out from just beyond the door.
With a wink, Zeke turned and opened the door, revealing the bewildered face of a red-headed stewardess and the large man I’d been sitting beside. The stewardess’s jaw dropped when she saw me leaning back against the wall, the smell of sweat and sex in the air. “Oh,” Zeke said casually as he sauntered past the pair, “I think he’s just fine.”
ZEKE
I have to admit, that went a little better than I’d anticipated. Yes, I’d followed Mark to the restroom. But I’d planned on talking to him after he came out. I certainly hadn’t planned on that. But when I saw him standing there, his hair all mussed up and his brown and gold eyes sparkling in the dim light, I couldn’t stop myself. I’d given in entirely to my tiger, and I’d taken the initiative. And, to be honest, it was more than worth it.
Licking my lips, I worked my way back to my seat, the taste of Mark’s skin still fresh on my mind. He’d been perfect. His touch had been electrifying and his kiss had tasted like honey. His cock, massive in both length and girth, had felt like slick velvet under my fingertips. It had been all I could do to keep from dropping onto my knees and taking him into my mouth right then and there. Fortunately, my brain still had enough functionality to realize how unsanitary that would have been, and I’d reluctantly decided to jerk him off instead. Just the sight of his eyes as he came in my hand was enough to make it worthwhile.
Just as I was about to sit down, I felt a large hand on my shoulder, and I turned to see Mark standing there, his breathing still ragged as his large, muscular chest rose and fell abruptly.
“I can’t…” he stammered. “This. I can’t do this.” There was obvious pain in his eyes as he spoke, as if something beneath them was haunting his thoughts. It had been obvious that he wanted me just as much as I craved him, but he was fighting the attraction. I just didn’t know why.
I looked behind Mark to where the stewardess was glaring at me from halfway down the aisle. I rolled my eyes at her and pointed to my seat, gesturing for Mark to sit down. “No one is sitting with me. Take the window seat and we can talk through this.”
He glanced down at the empty seat then back to me, as if he didn’t know what to do. It was strange seeing such a massive bear act so reluctant and unsure, especially when I could feel the dominance emanating from his presence. It was almost as if I’d taken him completely off guard, and he didn’t know how to react in the circumstance. Finally, after what felt like forever, Mark gave in and took the window seat and began to absently stare out the window. There was still a good six hours or so left on the flight, and I was hoping that would be enough time to sway Mark toward my line of thinking. Something was pulling us together and I needed him to accept that.
“You seem uncomfortable,” I said after a long moment, stating the obvious.
Mark shifted in his seat and cast me a quick glance out of the corner of one eye before turning back to the window. “You could say that,” he murmured.
“So tell me why,” I shrugged.
He turned to face me, one eyebrow arched. “For one, I don’t even know who the fuck you are. Besides the fact that you’re a tiger and horny as fuck, I don’t know you from Adam.”
I snorted. “Fair enough. I told you before, my name is Zeke. Zeke Kaplan. Like you said, I’m a tiger shifter, and, obviously, I’m on a plane to Mumbai. There’s not really much to know beyond that.”
Mark eyed me curiously for a moment, then shook his head. “Dammit all,” he cursed. “Why can’t I shake you? Everything you say, every time you move your lips… It’s unbearable.”
“Thanks?” I said, smiling at him. “If it makes you feel any better, I feel the same way. It’s impossible to tear my eyes from you.”
Mark just shook his head. “It’s different. This,” he wagged a finger back and forth between us, “This isn’t me. I’m not… I’m not…”
“Gay?” I offered, arching an eyebrow at him.
He nodded slowly and let out a deep breath. “Or, I’m not supposed to be. I can’t be. Whatever this is between us, it isn’t right. I’m supposed to carry on my family’s name. I’m supposed to step up and bear the weight of my clan. That’s my role. And I can’t do that acting like this.”
The way he said that last word drove a spike through my heart. It was almost as if he felt disgusted by himself, by what we’d just done. At the same time, there was so much conflict in his voice that it almost seemed as if someone was speaking through him, or if he was just reciting platitudes he didn’t really believe in.
Doing my best to comfort him, I nodded. “It’s okay,” I told him. “There’s no reason to rush into anything you don’t want to do. I obviously came across a little strong.” A faint smile tugged at his lips as I said that. “Maybe we can just talk? It’s a long plane ride after all, and it’s all I can do to keep my cat tied down. Talking would be a great distraction.”
“Huh,” Mark grunted. “I was wondering about that.”
“About what?” I questioned.
“Whether or not you were struggling with your tiger. My bear is trying to rip out of my skin and right through these walls.”
I laughed at that, and soon Mark joined me in a long and much-needed chuckle. There was some tension gone when we finally calmed down, and he managed a weak smile at me.
“I haven’t been fair to you,” Mark said. “I know you’re just following your instincts here, but I really do have a lot of responsibility on my shoulders right now. I can’t afford a relationship, much less one with another man. My father…” he trailed off.
“Trouble on the home front?” I asked, curious.
“You have no idea,” Mark shook his head.
Taking that as a cue to drop the matter, I turned to another subject. “So what has you flying to Mumbai?”
“I’m visiting my brother,” he said, an obvious pain in his voice. There was something there, I just couldn’t tell what. “What about you?”
I smiled at him, “Visiting a cousin. I’m from around there anyways. All of my family is, actually.”
Mark tilted his head in surprise. “You don’t look Indian?”
I laughed at that. “No, I mean… Ancestrally. We all come from this part of the globe. I’m a Bengal. Though I did actually grow up in Mumbai, for what it’s worth.”
“Ah,” Mark said, nodding. “That makes sense.”
“What about you?” I asked him. “Where are you from?”
“Black Canyon,” he said flatly, as if I was supposed to know where that was.
“Yeah,” I told him. “You’re going to ha
ve to be more specific. That sounds like the most backwoods nowhere I’ve ever heard of.”
Mark let out a haughty laugh and, to be honest, it was nice seeing him loosen up a bit. “It pretty much is,” he offered. “It’s a bear commune, tucked away between two hills in Appalachia. I’m not surprised you haven’t heard of it.” He winked at me, “That’s kind of the point.”
I cocked my head to one side and flashed him a smile. “That sounds like a really shitty place to grow up.”
I thought Mark was going to bust a gut he laughed so hard, earning him a quick glare from the still-peeved stewardess and a few shushes from the handful of other passengers in the cabin. Mark waved a hand at them apologetically, and I couldn’t help but feel a sudden warmth in my middle at his smile. He was even more attractive when he wasn’t stressing out over whatever was bothering him.
“It so was,” he said finally. “Not a damn thing to do.”
“Besides go moon-shining with your other hillbilly bear friends, of course,” I offered.
That earned me another laugh and Mark another round of shushing. God, I loved to make him laugh. It was so authentic, and the hearty way his laugh sounded was enough to curl my toes.
“So tell me about this brother,” I offered. “What’s a hillbilly like him doing in a metropolis like Mumbai?”
“He ran off with his mate,” Mark said, a sudden seriousness in his voice. “Shirked his familial duties and just abandoned us. Or, rather, so I thought. Turns out he’s been in touch with my mother the entire time, and I just now found out. He’s my alpha, and he kind of summoned me.”
I leaned back in my seat and crossed my arms, turning slightly so that my body squared off toward Mark. “You mean, you’re not the alpha?”
Mark shook his head, “Nope. I’m the second son. Essentially worthless to my clan.” He shrugged. “It is what it is.”
The sound in his voice defied his words, however. There was a lot of pain there, and it was obvious that Mark hadn’t accepted his role. There was an air of dominance about him, and I’d almost been sure that he was the alpha in whatever clan or family he was a part of. Especially with the way he had talked about bearing such a huge responsibility. There was more to it than what he was letting on, but I wasn’t sure I wanted to push him on the matter, especially now that I was making progress.
