by Marie Fraser
“You might find I’m not like any man you’ve ever known,” Byron said, aware of how true his statement was. “I don’t suppose you could stay for a while, after your sisters leave?”
“Oh,” she said, sitting up a little, her green eyes smiling. “Camille and Rebecca aren’t my sisters, at least not biologically. We went to college together and were friends from our freshman year. Max was our resident advisor and it didn’t take long to see that he had a thing for men, although for a while he denied it. As it became more accepted, though, he finally admitted his sexual attraction. He’s been seeing a man named, Robert, for a while now. Robert just wasn’t able to get time off work to come with us this time. Speaking of, do y’all happen to host weddings or receptions?”
“We’ve never actually thought about the lake being a wedding destination, although I’m sure we could handle it. I’m just not sure we want to head that way, yet.”
“I can understand that. It could totally change your business model and that’s something that needs to be thought out and planned rather than just thrown around.”
“I agree,” Byron smiled, tasting her mouth again.
“I suppose I should let you get back to helping your friends handle all the campers you have.”
“If it’s any consolation,” Byron said. “I’d much rather just hide out here with you.”
“That’s very good consolation,” Celine grinned. “How about I meet you in your cabin tonight?”
“I share a cabin with Jess and Kevin, but I can come for you at your place near eleven or so if that suits you.”
“Absolutely,” Celine said, pressing a warm, heated kiss to Byron’s lips.
Chapter 4
They rowed back to the dock, after putting their clothes and hair mostly back in place. They didn’t expect people not to notice their disheveled appearance, but hopefully no one would make a point to say anything.
“You screwed him!” Rebecca said, her voice translating her astonishment.
“Who wouldn’t?” Camille asked. All three of them are pretty hot!
“Jesus, we just got here!” Rebecca said, still in disbelief.
“I can’t explain why I’m so drawn to him, but it’s a very mutual feeling and I honestly could use a distraction like this. Isn’t that what vacations are for? Living life to the fullest, at least for a while.”
“For the most part, but I’m not sure it means, go have a fling within hours of meeting someone.”
“Did you at least use protection?” Camille asked.
“I’m good on my birth control,” she scoffed. “But thanks, mom.”
“Did you ever think about STD’s?” Rebecca asked, clearly not impressed.
“The man’s built like a damn tree, I wasn’t exactly thinking about asking whether or not he tested positive for anything but a hard-on.”
“Maybe you should talk to him about it before your next romp.”
When Rebecca stomped off, Celine sighed. “What the hell’s her problem?”
“Don’t worry,” Camille grinned. “Becca’s just pissed, because she’s not getting laid and as far as we can tell, there’s no hope of that happening for a while.”
***
Kevin noticed that Byron was unusually quiet while he strung extra fishing poles with new line. Usually talkative, it was odd for him to be so silent. “What’s up with you?”
“Nothing,” Byron said, as he continued to string more fishing poles. “Why?”
“Because you’re not being yourself and I’ve noticed a certain brunette walking around who tends to look your way whenever she’s close enough to see you.”
“Is that so?” Byron asked, his face straight as an arrow.
“Sweet mother,” Kevin sighed. “You’ve already had your hands on her, haven’t you?”
“And if I have?”
“I thought we talked about this? Didn’t we make explicit rules about keeping our professional and personal lives separate?”
“Look,” Byron said. “I know how it works okay? At the end of their week, she’ll return to whatever life she had before she crossed my path. But, for the first time in my life, I can’t ignore how she makes me feel and I’m not talking about physically. She’s smoking hot, any idiot could say that. I’m talking about on the inside. I can’t, literally, can’t turn away from this.”
“Well,” Kevin sighed. “It’s your deal. Just don’t come blabbering to me about it all when she does leave.”
“I won’t,” Byron said, knowing full well he’d keep it all locked away when Celine walked out of his life.
***
It always amazed her how incredible she felt after washing off the days’ dirt. She spread lotion over her skin and let her hair dry naturally as she dressed. She’d chosen a special pair of matching bra and panties, hoping Byron would like them.
Then there was the faintest of taps against her window and she smiled when she turned to see Byron standing outside her room. She slid the window up and laughed. “We’re not teenagers anymore, you know.”
“I’m long past my teen years, but I didn’t want to disturb anyone else, or let our secret out, if you weren’t sharing.”
“I’m a woman,” Celine laughed. “We always share, even if it’s a little reluctantly.”
“I’ll keep that in mind,” he said, offering a hand to help Celine out her window.
He led her up a moonlit trail that had a very romantic and secluded feel to it and for probably the first time in her life, Celine didn’t question her own safety or sanity. She’d never felt safer with anyone than she did in that moment and somehow, knowing Byron was with her made everything seem clear and right.
When he stepped into a small alcove-like clearing, Celine tugged his hand, stopping when he turned toward her. “Second thoughts?” he asked.
“No,” she smiled. “I think maybe that’s part of my problem. I don’t do this…I don’t sleep with men the first day I meet them and yet, I can’t not see you.”
“Celine,” Byron said, quickly pulling his thick, black hair back into an unruly ponytail. “I can’t say I’m a saint. I’ve done things in my life I’m not proud of, but one thing I’ve never done, is use women carelessly. I can’t quite explain what happened to me when I saw you earlier today. All I know is that you fit me like no other woman ever has and I’d venture no other woman ever will.”
“Byron,” Celine said, tears pooling in her eyes. Lifting up on her tiptoes, Celine pressed her mouth warmly to his, trying to push all of the feelings she had into that kiss. His large hands engulfed her waist, yanking her up so he could feast on her and she basked in the love that swamped her. A love so fierce that it took her breath away, so she had to pull back and rest her head on Byron’s broad chest.
“Celine?”
“I’m okay,” she said unsteadily. “I just…I just need a minute to breathe.”
***
When she looked up into his face, Byron felt his heart squeeze tight in his chest. Here was the woman who’d be his life mate and the love he felt for her was brutal in its intensity. “Stay here with me,” he found himself asking. It wasn’t what he’d planned for tonight, but now he couldn’t reel the thoughts back in.
“I am,” she smiled.
“No, I mean stay here with me, even when your week ends. Be with me.”
“Byron,” Celine grinned. “I can’t just drop my life to- “
“Why?” he asked, almost desperately. “You don’t have to work if you don’t want to. You can help us with the campers and I’ll put you on the payroll. We’ll build a house away from the main cabins and we- “
“Byron,” Celine said calmly. “I love the idea of living out here with you, so close to nature. But I’ve got a whole life back home and I just can’t- “
“No, I get it,” Byron said, forcing the bitterness down so it wouldn’t cloud his voice. “I can’t blame you for knowing what you want and going after it.”
“I didn’t mean- “
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“It’s alright,” Byron said, squeezing the ring in his pocket until the diamond cut into his palm. “Listen, I don’t think either of us were expecting anything other than sex tonight, but I’m just not in the mood at the moment.”
“We can sit and look at the moon and stars,” Celine suggested.
“Actually, I’m out much later than usual and with a hike tomorrow, I should take you back to your cabin and turn in. I’ll have a hell of a day tomorrow as it is.”
***
Celine sighed as she let Byron help her stand. She still couldn’t figure out where everything had gone wrong, but she knew he’d pulled back from her. She could almost feel the frost of tension between them and it wasn’t the sexual frustration either.
The next four days were the most mundane and miserable vacation days she could remember. What had started out as a fun adventure had turned into a lousy get away. Byron had been avoiding her and she couldn’t say she was exactly seeking him out.
“You’re moping,” Rebecca said, pointing out the obvious.
“Who cares,” she said, turning onto her side and remaining silent until Rebecca left. When Camille came and sat down at her feet, she barely acknowledged her presence.
“You need to do something today, it’s our last day here.”
“There’s nothing I feel like doing except packing my bags so we can leave first thing in the morning. And since I’m the one who’s gotten the most rest during our stay, I’ll take the first shift driving, but I swear if you three make us late, I’ll punch every one of you.”
“I think you need to talk to Byron. You two, whatever you had going on between you, isn’t settled. You don’t want to leave it like this.”
Celine knew that her friend had a valid point, but she simply couldn’t bring herself to spend the last hours of her miserable vacation being even more miserable. So, she sulked in her room and waited for night to fall so she could sleep. Leaving early would help her get back to her life and put this place behind her.
***
Morning came with a beautiful red sky and within the hour it began to rain. Celine figured it fit her mood rather nicely as she tossed her bag into the back of the SUV she’d be driving home. “You’re making a mistake,” Rebecca said.
“So you say,” Celine answered. “How about we leave my love life off the conversation table so I don’t have to bite your head off and you don’t have to bitch and moan, okay?”
“Just saying,” her friend replied, holding up her hands in peace. “I know I’d want someone to say the truth to my face if it was me.”
“Remind me to thank you later,” Celine said, taking Rebecca’s bag.
“Are we staying for breakfast?”
“But will you grab me two Danishes, the cream cheese kind?”
“Fine,” Rebecca said, clearly still not agreeing with her.
***
Byron saw Rebecca step into the food court area and sighed, disappointed that Celine had yet to make an appearance. “Why don’t you just go talk to her?”
“She’s made it clear that she doesn’t want to talk to me.”
“No,” Kevin said. “She’s made it clear that whatever happened between you two, affected her deeply.”
“If she wants to talk to me, she’ll come find me.”
“You’re an idiot, just saying.”
“Thanks for the memo.”
Byron watched Rebecca leave with two cream cheese Danishes in her hand and wondered if they were for Celine. “Rebecca.”
She turned his way and stopped. Byron grabbed a napkin and scribbled a note on it. “Put this with her food?”
“Sure,” Rebecca said, her pale blue eyes full of sympathy. When she left, Byron went back to clearing tables and setting everything up for lunch. He had a group to take on a hike in an hour and at this rate, he could certainly use the distraction.
He left an hour later without checking to see if Celine’s group had departed yet. Honestly, he didn’t want to know, just trying to get her out of his head for an hour was hard enough, without seeking out ways to get more information on her.
“This is really beautiful,” a young woman said, batting her dark eyelashes at him. He gave a paltry smile and nodded his head in agreement before moving further up the trail to find the leader of the group he’d taken out.
“I don’t know how you do it, man,” the guy said. His clothes screamed tourist, but he seemed to have the physique of someone who could well handle the climb. “Names Rick.”
“Hey Rick,” Byron said, much more comfortable with the male of the species for now. “Where do you hail from?”
“Chicago,” he grinned. “I’m an urbanite who has a love for all things natural. When I heard about this place, I knew I had to come try it out and I have not been disappointed.”
“I’m glad to hear it,” Byron said. For three hours his mind stayed relatively focused on his group of hikers, making sure everyone was drinking plenty of water and having a good time. But when the hike was over and Byron was left alone with his thoughts, they inevitably strayed to Celine. The painful constriction in his chest, only one reminder that he’d let the woman of his dreams waltz out of his life without a backward glance.
Chapter 5
Later that night, Byron stirred to the sound of a car pulling up, its tires skidding on the gravel driveway. Tossing on his pajama bottoms, he opened the door to the main cabin and was stunned to see Celine running toward him. He caught her at a run, lifting her off her feet as her momentum pushed him back.
“What are you doing here?”
“I had to see you,” she said breathlessly. “I was angry and frustrated and left things unsaid.”
“What things?” Byron asked patiently, all the while his body became more and more aware of her.
“Things like…like the fact that my heart hasn’t felt right since we stopped talking. I didn’t want to be a cliché and I felt that if I gave in to what I was feeling that’s what I’d become. I…I love you and as crazy and maybe even stupid as that sounds, I’ve never known anything more real in my entire life.”
“I’ve loved you since the moment I set my eyes on you and no, I can’t explain why or how. I just know I do.”
“Really?”
“Really,” Byron smiled. “And I’ve heard that sometimes my kind can know in an instant when someone is meant for them. I just assumed that for me, it didn’t ring true. Then you stepped out of that SUV the other day and I knew in that moment that you were mine.”
“What did you mean when you said, your kind?”
“I meant that I’m not just human,” Byron said. “I…I have a unique ability to shift into something other than my human self.”
“And that something is?”
“Big and hairy,” Byron said cryptically. “I’ll only show you if you promise not to freak out. I won’t hurt you, ever.”
“Okay,” Celine said slowly.
Byron showed her where to sit and stepped down off the porch. “Once I shift, it takes a few minutes before I can shift back, hence the warning about not freaking out.”
“Now I’m worried.”
“Don’t be,” Byron smiled. “I won’t hurt you Celine.”
With that, Byron began the breath stealing process of shifting his body into that of a massive black bear. The change, which always started in his eyes first, rippled over his body in quick succession. His nose and jaw elongated into the overly sensitive muzzle of a bear, his tear grew into man eater canines and his body gained bulk almost instantly.
All the while, he kept his eyes on Celine, who seemed to be taking it in stride, for the most part.
By the time his hands turned into massive paw with razor sharp, killer claws, the change had nearly overwhelmed him. He wouldn’t admit it to anyone, but even as big as he was, the change wiped him out. Changing back wouldn’t be easy. Slowly, Byron stood on the porch steps, his head reach out for Celine. She yanked her hand back and Byron stopped, pul
ling his large head away from her a little, giving her time to reach out on her own.
“I don’t suppose saying nice bear would make you sit and beg?” she asked, her hand finally touching the soft flesh of his nose. He snorted and she jumped back, a laugh bubbling in her throat. Byron licked her cheek before stepping back down and changing into the six-foot, four-inch man she’d fallen in love with. And he was naked to boot.
This time there was no hesitation. She was in his arms in an instant, her mouth fused hotly to his. Celine felt his strong arms beneath her as he carried her inside. They made love fiercely, neither of them caring if they won’t anyone else in the house.
By the time the sun was up, Kevin was stumbling from his bedroom to grab something to eat so he could open the kitchen to start preparing breakfast. Turning the corner, he nearly ran over Celine, who was still padding around barefoot in one of Byron’s t-shirts.
“Good god, girl,” Kevin bellowed. “I could have squashed you.”
“Nah,” she smiled. Feeling rather cheery, she pressed a kiss to his cheek. “You’re too much of a softie for that.”
“Softie or not, doll, you can kiss my cheek any time. It’ll drive Byron mad.”
“Oh?” she teased, giving Kevin a saucy wink. “By the way, I meant to ask, do you offer cooking lessons? My friend Rebecca made a comment about your crème brule that was served on our last night here. She’s dying to learn how to make it.”
“I was actually thinking about starting a class for those who’d like to learn to upgrade their cooking skills. I haven’t mapped everything out yet, but if you give me Rebecca’s information I can email her about it when I square everything away.”
“Great,” Celine said, snagging a chocolate milk from the fridge before heading back upstairs. “I’ll get that to you.”
“Tell Byron he’s got Food Court duty this morning.”
“Will do,” Celine called back, a joyful note in her voice.
***
At breakfast, Byron and Celine spent two hours just talking and enjoying one another’s company. “Will you take me fishing?”
