Love at First Mate - Badlands Territory

“Just…stuff.” I lie to her, unsure how to tell her my bear and my cock are about to overrule any small shred of sanity I’m have left.

I don’t remember the last time I slept all night or ate a real meal. Well, no, that’s another lie. It was the night before I saw Wynter for the first time. Since then, as much as I’ve tried to tell myself it’s something else, it’s her. I’m lovesick.

For fuck sake.

“I know what I see.”

She’s dressed, as usual, with four-inch heels, perfect red lipstick and a dress that looks like she snatched it right off of June Cleaver.

She’s a pretty hot commodity here in the Badlands for the handful of single geriatric men that live close. It’s more often than not there’s a dozen roses or a box of chocolates on her kitchen counter when I come over and she’s more than generous with the details of her conquests, as much as I beg her not to share.

She points the knife my way and finishes, “And I know what I know.” Her voice turns harder on her final words. “You found your mate. You’ve been acting up for a month, but now, I can see it for sure.”

With that, my bear is back in full insanity. Roaring and agreeing. His obsession nearly impossible to fight.

“Gran.” I start, a pounding in my head and my cock making it hard to deny what she already knows. I can see it in her eyes. “It’s not so simple.”

“Really?” She puts a pan on the stove, glops a spoon full of butter inside, then turns back around, picking up the onion and holding it while pointing her index finger at me. “Who said simple was what it needed to be? I know your life hasn’t been what you would have wanted. I know you have your fears. I know…” Her eyes are intense but I also see her own sadness there. “She was my daughter. And I still believe it was an accident. Terrible, yes. But your father loved her. He would have never hurt her on purpose.”

“And yet.” I feel the cold wrap around me. “He she’s dead.”

She shakes her head, putting the onion down, and starts chopping away.

“You aren’t your father.” Chop, chop, chop. “You are your own man. You always have been. It’s time you trust yourself to know that.”

I start to respond, when there’s a knock on the front door.

“Oh!” Gran puts down her knife, wiping her hand on an embroidered white linen towel as the dogs go charging and barking toward the front of the house. “She’s early!”

I roll my eyes on a moan as Gran winks at me. “Who’s here early?” I seethe, in no mood for a social visit from one of her many gentleman callers.

“The photographer! I’m having Ron and Jeremy professionally photographed.” She gives me a wink, knowing every time I hear their names I cringe. She tried to tell me how seeing one of his movies back in the ‘80’s ‘awakened’ something inside of her.

She got to the awakened part of her story before I was out.

I am happy my gran enjoys her…self. But, naming her dogs after a porn star makes my head hurt.

My gaze follows her to the front door, but my grizzly nose is already locked onto the intoxicating scent.

This can’t be happening.

She’s here.

My cock strains against my zipper. My bear is on his hind feet, roaring at me.

Claim what’s ours! Claim her!

There’s a twisting in my gut as the door opens and I cast my eyes on her perfect pink cheeks. She smiles at Gran and my eyes linger on her every curve. Her white teeth flash behind plump lips and the air is suddenly hot, even as a chill runs from my toes to the top of my head.

She’s wearing an oversized gray sweatshirt and white stretchy sort of pants that hide nothing. I can practically see the slit of her pussy and I bare my teeth, digging my fingertips into the granite as I try desperately to stay in control.

There’s a loud snap, and I look down to see I’ve broken off a chunk of the stone countertop. I don’t care, I’ll get her a new counter top but Jesus what do I do now? Run, again?

No. My grizzly roars and I’m frozen where I sit.

Gran swings the screen door open and Wynter steps inside, and she’s such a perfect, true beauty, I can’t believe a surly monster like me could possibly be the right mate for her. Her face is fresh, her hair still damp like she’s just out of the shower.

Her eyes dart my way and I see the shock as I rise to my feet and my bear calms, rocking back and forth, making me feel dizzy. I watch Gran’s eyes as they meet mine, as if to say, sometimes we just need a little push.