Grizzly - Bundle Parts 1-3 (14 page)

"Yeah? What's that?"

I paused, gearing up for what I would hope be a positive outcome.

"So, as you know, Cass and I have been seeing one another for a bit."

"How's that going?" Jason asked, studying my face keenly.

"Good. Great, actually."

"She's a great gal. You're a lucky man. I must admit, I'm jealous. Don't like to admit it, but I am."

I nodded, appreciating that he could be so candid and upfront with me.

"About that... that's what my question is about. Cass is a very open-minded woman and she's very honest and transparent. I really like her for it too. In a world of women who seem to play lots of games, she's a breath of fresh air. Normally, I wouldn't consider something like this... But for Cass, I'm willing to do just about anything, I’m finding. So here goes nothing."

Jason's eyebrows had perched high on his forehead, intrigued as to what I was getting around to saying.

I continued, "So, I'm just gonna come right out and say it. She wants to experience a threesome. With you. Would you be interested?" I asked, the words falling out of my mouth so fast, I could barely hear myself saying them. It was a first for me. Asking a man to participate in lovemaking with a woman. Any woman. I could hardly believe it myself, that I was considering it.

The look on his face was priceless. He looked stunned, amazed, shocked, and a bit confused.

"Oh, I get it. This is a prank! You're playing a joke on me! Good one, good one!" He said suddenly, laughing heartily and loudly, a look of pure amusement washing away the shock.

I swallowed hard, inwardly praying that the man wouldn't deck me next. I was bracing myself for what was about to come. My silence must have cued him in response as his gaze became more solemn and intrigued.

"You're not kidding, are you?” He said, point blank.

I shook my head back and forth. "Look, man. I get it. It's sort of an out there thing to ask... I'm sorry if I've offended."

He grew quiet, a look of contemplation on his face. "Wow. Must admit, that was just about the last thing in the world I expected to be asked. It's a first, too."

"I hope I didn't offend?" I said apologetically.

"No, man. It's cool. A bit awkward, yes. But very cool of you... you're a bigger man than I am. Not so sure I could ever share a lady... But she really is interested in me, in that way?"

I nodded, "Yes, she is. She's been rather upfront about it. And I have my reasons why I'd even consider it."

"What reasons are those?” He asked.
      

"Well, at this rate, I'm pretty sure I can confide in you. Would you agree?"

"Sure man, I'm not a gossip, if that's your concern." Jason said, assuring me. Man to man.

"No, not that. Just that the reason is an important one. Needs to be handled with discretion." I explained.

"Okay, so now you really have my curiosity piqued. What gives, man. Spill."

I took a deep breath. "Cass is a latent shifter, and she's an Alpha female. She's just now discovering this about herself. I'm helping introduce her to it."

He looked stunned. "Oh wow! Is that what it is? I should have known..."

"Wild, right?"

"Very. Crazy. I guess it all makes more sense now..."

"How's that?" I asked.

"Why I'm so drawn to her. She has this magnetic pull, it's very strong. I was trying to figure out what the pull was and well, that would certainly explain it." He shared.

We smiled knowingly at one another. A form of comradery and understanding passing between us. A brotherhood-like bonding that kicked on when two male shifters discussed a female, a woman they cared about.

"You know, we both met Cass on the same day. The day she was arrested. I went to breakfast with her for an editing assignment. Later that day, when she went to the pool and decked that guy, she then met you."

"Is that right? And you were who she called to bail her out of jail?"

"I know, I was a bit flummoxed by her too... calling that night. But she explained that everyone she knew was out of town and that there was no one else to help bail her out. I couldn't just let her sit in jail all weekend. She didn't seem the criminal type, so I knew something had gone sideways."

"That's for sure. Truth is, we hated even have to take her in. Off the record, that ass clown deserved what he got. Not that I said it, mind you." Jason said.

"Exactly."

"So, is this why Cass is interested in more than one man? Because she's an Alpha?" He asked.

I nodded, "That's my understanding. Her instincts and inclinations are predisposed to have more than one mate, one partner."

"Wild."

"Yes. Believe me, it goes back to what I shared earlier. I normally wouldn't consider this type of thing. But with Cass, it just makes sense. I was nervous as hell asking you..."

He laughed heartily, "God, I can only imagine! Cheers to having the balls to go there." He said, refilling his pint and then raising it.

Relieved, I refilled mind and lifted it. “Cheers.”

“Cheers, man.”

We both took hearty sips.

"So, what say ye? Cass is eager to know. She really likes you. And god, I can't even believe I just said that. You have to forgive me, I have no clue how this sort of thing works."

"I do, man. It will need to involve a lot of hard liquor and the right setting." He said, laughing a bit at my awkwardness.

"Amen. Lots of hard liquor." I stated in agreement.

"So, how does this proceed? What's next? You text her and let her know that I didn't beat your ass into next week for asking on her behalf?" He said, laughing.

I liked his Scottish spirit. I was beginning to appreciate more what it was about him that Cass was drawn to.

"Well, I have an idea. Tell me what you think. I was thinking of taking Cass camping for a weekend, and I was thinking you could come up and join us for an evening. I'm planning on shifting for her too, so she can experience that in a safe way, in a safe place."

"That would work, I'd be down for that."

"You would?"

"Sure thing. Now that I'm wrapping my head around this... I get it. It makes more sense. I couldn't figure out why she kept flirting when I knew that she was seeing you. I wasn't sure if I was getting mixed signals or what. But now that you've explained it, I get it."

"Good. I kind of figured that it would help explain."

Just then, my phone pinged and sure enough, it was a text from Cass. One small, little word.

So?

I held off in responding.

"Is it just a sexual thing for her, this threesome idea?" He asked, peering down into his beer contemplatively.

I shook my head, "No, I don't think so. I would say it’s more that she has always wanted to be involved with more than one man at a time but didn't really know how to go about it. So, safe to say that she wants more of an ongoing dynamic. But time will tell..."

He nodded, genuinely intrigued at this point.

"Think she can handle the two of us?"

We grinned at one another, sharing that innate carnal knowledge that men know and understand about one another.

"I believe she can. To be honest, it’s part of what I find attractive about her. She's a whole lot of woman and she's not afraid to use it."

"Damn, that's hot... Sexy as hell. She's very sexy but sort of oblivious to it. I like that about her.”

"I agree. You've got her pegged."

He nodded towards my cell, "So, was that her checking in?"

I laughed, he didn't miss nothing. "Yes, actually."

"Text her back. Tell her she rocks my world and that it's a green light. I leave this matter in your more than capable hands, sir. I commend you for being a braver man than I."

"Thank you."

At that point, the two pints of beer we'd managed to drink through the conversation was catching up with us, lubricating away some of the awkwardness. I texted,
'green light'
to Cass and immediately, her response was a big smiley face.

Somehow, deep inside, I knew that Jason wasn't a threat to our relationship, involvement or connection. Instead, I suspected he was about to enhance it. Which was weird. Very weird. But something in me told me to trust and so that was what I was doing.

Chapter Seventeen

(( 17 ))

CASSIDY

Considering that the last time I’d been camping was when I was a child, I wasn’t minding it much. In fact, I was digging my current view.

It was dusk, and Abe had built a campfire. We’d arrived in the early afternoon and he’d gone about getting our campsite prepared, teaching me how to pitch the tent. Once everything was situated, he’d set about building the fire, mesmerizing me in the process.

There was something primal about it and I found it stirring.

Arousing…

Seeing him in the great outdoors was giving me more of an appreciation of him in his natural environment and habitat. I was watching him closely, admiring his ease with nature. In a way, I felt I was seeing him for the first time, my thoughts percolating around when he would shift for me, so I could see him in bear form.

We’d discussed it and had agreed that I needed to know what it was like for a shifter to actually shift. He explained that he needed to be in nature, somewhere remote and private. Which, of course, made perfect sense to me. So, the weekend camping trip had been made an actuality as soon as possible.

“What’cha thinking about?” He asked, while poking at a burning log. His gaze devoted to the flames, leaving me to admire his handsome profile. He truly seemed more rugged out in the nature of the woods and campsite. I wasn’t sure if it was just my imagination, but I noticed the difference.

“That I’m liking this more than I thought I would…” I admitted.

“Thatta girl! I thought maybe it was hiding out in you, somewhere.” He teased.

“We’ll see. It’s only night one and it hasn’t gotten dark yet.”

“You afraid of the dark?” He asked.

“Is it okay if I say, a little?” I admitted, feeling silly.

“Of course it’s okay. Any reason in particular?” He asked, starting to prepare the firepit with the utensils he needed to make us some dinner. He’d promised me some good eats while camping, in the hopes of changing my opinion about
roughing it
, in the woods.

“Well – just have always had city lights. It makes me feel safe, having light.”

Abe nodded, “I follow. For what it’s worth, the stars are amazing when it gets totally dark. You’ve probably yet seen a night sky so bright. There’s something to look forward to.”

I smiled, it was one of the things I really was growing to appreciate about him as I got to know him better. He saw the positive in things. Which made me understand better how he’d come out of the other side of divorce so seemingly unscathed. He hadn’t opened up much about it yet and I was getting curious.

“Did your ex like to camp?” I asked gently, picking up one of the long sticks and poking at the fire.

He paused, gazed at me and relented. “Yes, she did. Being raised in the mountains, like myself, you could say she was a nature girl.”

“A nature girl.” I repeated back, more to myself than to him.

He handed me a mug of tea. I instantly appreciated the warmth it provided as the air was getting chillier as dusk turned into night. Which made me think about being in the tent with him, the sleeping bags and the snuggle-fest I knew was coming.

That alone had been enough to motivate me to come camping and give it a second chance. Not that I’d shared that with him. Yet.

“Is it okay that I asked about her?”

"Sure. I figured it would come up eventually." He said, thankfully taking it in stride.

I nodded, taking a sip of my tea and deciding to shift away from the topic of his ex-wife. I didn't want to push my luck.

"So, what's on the menu for dinner?"

He smiled and winked. "Fish. Salmon to be specific. It cooks up real nice over a fire-pit. I think you'll like it."

"I love fish, salmon especially."

"Good, same here."

A lull in the conversation left me to notice the last light of dusk disappearing as the beginning of stars started to shine in the night sky. The sounds of nature weren't something I was well acquainted with and I listened as the wind blew softly, rustling the trees surrounding our campsite. The air smelled fresh and crisp. I felt more alive and aware than I had in sometime, as if my senses were re-calibrating to the environment I was in. My sense of smell seemed heightened, especially once the meal that Abe was cooking up, started to put off a delicious smell. My hearing also seemed more keen, as if it was listening for sounds I'd never really bothered to notice before. The world around me suddenly seemed more vivid and alive than I'd ever noticed.

Was this my shifter senses - activating?

"Interesting..." I murmured out loud.

"What's that?" Abe asked.

"Well, just sitting here, I would swear that my senses are heightened. As if they're hyper-aware or something?" I shared.

Abe smiled. "Really? That's good news. Your dormant shifter senses are acclimating to your environment. It's a good sign. Enjoy it."

"Wow... it’s almost a bit like being high. But still stone-cold sober. Not fuzzy or goofy."

"Exactly. Great description. Mine have always been active, so I take it for granted at this point, but I think you've nailed it."

"Will they always stay on like this? When I get back to the city?" I asked.

"Well, hard to say. It's connected to your instincts. Never underestimate the power of your gut, so to speak. That animal part of you is very tuned in to survival and it pulling from thousands and thousands of years of collective body wisdom and animal intelligence. The sooner you can tune in to it, the better."

"Did you know coming to the woods, to camp - would trigger me like this?" I asked, realizing how clever he was to convince me to do the camping weekend.

"Yes, it was my guess that you hadn't had much time out in nature, so you've never really had much of a chance for your shifter side to awaken. To rouse up."

"It makes sense, it does." I said, agreeing with him.