Illuminating His Bear by Charlie Richards

Chapter Eight

Sighing heavily, Congo nuzzled the back of Zhaul’s neck. He couldn’t believe how swiftly his life had changed—again. Just that morning, he thought he was a prisoner of a pair of warlocks.

And now I’m holding my mate in my arms with my cock up his ass.

Congo smiled as he licked absently at the back of Zhaul’s neck. Never had he experienced such exquisite sensations as the ones his mate had granted him. Zhaul’s ass was truly the stuff of legends.

“Mmmm,” Zhaul hummed, turning his head to peer at him over his shoulder. “Still hard?” He chuckled roughly as he clenched his chute gently. “How’s that possible?”

Shrugging one shoulder, Congo tightened his arms, keeping Zhaul snug to his chest. He couldn’t help himself. Once he’d sunk his erection deep, deep into Zhaul’s body, Congo couldn’t resist feeling that exquisite heat as often—and for as long—as possible.

“I did warn you,” Congo murmured. “I plan to stay right here.” He ground his hips against Zhaul’s ass. “A lot.”

Hell, it wasn’t even about fucking.

Congo didn’t need to get off. He’d already orgasmed three times in the last hour. Between fucking Zhaul into the mattress before exchanging claiming bites once more, he’d filled his lover’s channel twice. Then Congo had adjusted their position, spooned up behind his mate, and slipped back inside him.

After a slow, easy ride, sending them both soaring once again, Congo had curled around Zhaul and never pulled out. He didn’t feel the need. It felt too good to stay connected with his mate.

“I like it,” Zhaul admitted.

Congo lifted his head and pecked a kiss to Zhaul’s offered lips. “Good.”

Then Congo settled back on the pillow, his nose pressed against his mate’s nape. His lover smelled so good. Flicking out his tongue, Congo licked a bead of salt from his skin.

Tastes damn fantastic, too.

“How are you doing?”

Surprised at the question, Congo paused to give the question its due. How was he doing? Humming, Congo nuzzled his nose in Zhaul’s gorgeous dark hair, enjoying the feel of the strands on his face.

“Well, I’m as free as possible, at the moment,” Congo mused slowly. “Which is a damn sight better than when I woke this morning.” Lifting his head again, Congo nipped at Zhaul’s shoulder. “And I have my mate in my arms.” Sliding the hand on his lover’s hip up his body, he gently cupped Zhaul’s jaw and urged him to turn his head once more. Congo met his mate’s honey-brown eyes and smiled. “I’m doing damn fantastic, Zhaul.”

After pecking another kiss to Zhaul’s lips, Congo relaxed back again. “Tell me about yourself,” he urged. “Where’s your sleuth from?”

Zhaul tensed in his arms a little, and Congo tried to decide why that would upset him. Rubbing his palm over his mate’s chest, he did his best to soothe his mate. Recalling that Zhaul had been kidnapped while trying to get laid—and forcing his bear to relax, the panda shifter was theirs now—Congo wondered if the man had a sleuth.

“Were you a loan panda?” Congo asked softly. Squeezing his mate in his arms, he stated, “You’ll never be alone again. My sleuth isn’t much at the moment, but you’re one of us now.”

“I had a sleuth,” Zhaul softly revealed. “A small one in Indiana.” Before Congo could come up with how to address that, Zhaul added, “When I was kidnapped six months ago, no one reported me missing to the Shifter Council.”

“Damn,” Congo growled, suddenly feeling the need to go kick someone’s ass. “Why the hell not?”

Even though Congo and his people had been a small, off-the-grid community, they still knew how to contact the Shifter Council.

“I don’t know,” Zhaul replied, sounding sad. “I would have thought that at least my mother or brother would have found a way, but they didn’t.”

“Maybe we’ll have to take a ride out that way and find out,” Congo offered, rubbing Zhaul’s chest and nuzzling his neck. “Figure out what happened.”

Zhaul shook his head. “I’m not sure I want to.” Turning his head again, he met Congo’s gaze. “What if they didn’t report me because they just didn’t care?”

While Congo understood that fear, he wanted the sadness out of Zhaul’s scent, too. “Was your alpha an asshole? Maybe they didn’t let them.” Seeing the way his mate nibbled his bottom lip, Congo asked, “What did you do in your sleuth? You don’t strike me as the big, dominant, enforcer type.”

Oh, no. With the way Zhaul had cared for him, Congo would bet his bottom dollar—if he had one, which he didn’t—that his mate was the kind-hearted nurturing type. As far as Congo was concerned, that was perfect for him. His sleuth had been through so much. They needed nurturing, and Congo really wasn’t the bear to do it.

Which is why Zhaul is so perfect, not just for me, but for my sleuth.

“I was the local barber and stylist,” Zhaul admitted, his cheeks taking on a pinkish hue while embarrassment filled his scent. “I owned a shop in our small town.”

“Ah.” Congo pinned his mate with his most impressed and appreciative smile. “That explains how you knew how to shave me. Gods, that felt so damn good.” Pecking a kiss to Zhaul’s lips, Congo whispered, “Thank you, my mate. I can’t remember the last time I was so pampered. I loved it.”

Zhaul’s relief came through in his scent and smile. “I’m glad you enjoyed it.”

“I did,” Congo confirmed again. “Very much.”

Clearing his throat, Zhaul admitted, “And my alpha wasn’t very impressed with me, but he didn’t really say anything.” His eyes narrowing, he admitted, “There was definitely an exasperated look or ten when I’d do something, uh… feminine, in his opinion.” Shrugging, Zhaul stated, “Guess he doesn’t consider cutting people’s hair a very masculine profession.”

“Douchebag,” Congo stated with a scoff. “Shows what he knows. The barber profession started with men.”

To Congo’s pleasure, Zhaul snickered. “Maybe I’ll just try calling first,” he said after a moment of silence. “Or a video chat. Then I could see her expression.” Resting his hand over Congo’s wrist, Zhaul squeezed it lightly. “I’m not ready to leave Kontra’s people, yet, and I can’t imagine you are either.”

While following the orders of another bear, even a grizzly, wasn’t Congo’s style, he knew Zhaul was right. “They are the best chance we have to break this blasted spell, once and for all,” he mused with a sigh.

Zhaul nodded. “They’ll get it done.” Then he cleared his throat and asked, “After that, will you go back to the Catskills?”

Congo immediately shook his head. “No, our location was compromised.” Scoffing, he frowned as he added, “I don’t even know if the property is still in our name. It’s been almost three years.”

“Lamar will be able to check into that for you,” Zhaul told him. “He’s really good at research on computers.” Whispering softly, he admitted, “He was able to let me know that the bank foreclosed on my shop, since I was no longer there.” With what sounded like forced happiness, Zhaul added, “At least my cottage is still mine. My grandparents left it to me free and clear, and annual taxes aren’t due for another few months.”

“I’m sorry,” Congo replied instinctively. “How did they die?”

“Oh, they didn’t.” Zhaul smiled over his shoulder at him. “They had just been living so long in the area that their lack of aging was starting to get noticed, so they faked their death, leaving the house to me.” Sighing, Zhaul told him, “They moved to a sleuth in Missouri.”

“So you could possibly contact them, too?” Congo offered. “Perhaps they’re missing you.”

Zhaul nodded, his tone turning vacant. “Maybe.”

Congo guessed there was a story there, but before he could ask, Zhaul continued, “What about you? Is Madagascar your only brother?”

“Only brother who still talks to me,” Congo admitted. While he still felt a hint of frustration and sadness when thinking of his family, there wasn’t nearly the pain he’d once harbored. “I have two more brothers. One older and another younger. Kenya and Chad. When I was kicked out of my sleuth for being gay, Madagascar went with me, and they stopped talking to either of us.”

“I’m so sorry,” Zhaul immediately told him. Then, to Congo’s surprise, he snorted. “I-I’m so sorry.” He smiled over his shoulder at him. “Did you just say your brothers are Kenya and Chad?” When Congo nodded, Zhaul’s smile widened to a grin. “And you’re Congo and Madagascar?”

Rolling his eyes, Congo realized what Zhaul had noticed. “Yes, we’re all named after places in Africa.”

Zhaul snorted before clapping a hand over his mouth.

Enjoying the moment of levity—their conversation had ended up way too serious, which had caused Congo’s dick to soften, even if he hadn’t pulled out, yet—Congo grumbled, “Laugh it up. Get it out of your system.” He made certain to keep some amusement in his voice, so Zhaul would know he wasn’t actually upset with him.

“What’d she do?” Zhaul teased with a snort. “Throw darts at a map of Africa?”

“It’s entirely possible,” Congo admitted with a shrug. “She wasn’t very maternal.”

For a moment, Congo listened to Zhaul’s snickers and snorts. He smiled against his mate’s neck, enjoying the sound of his laughter, even if it was sort of at his expense. The sound and scent of his mate’s happiness even caused his wilted erection to firm back up. When it had gone on for several minutes, Congo grinned and nipped at Zhaul’s shoulder.

“Okay, that’s enough of that,” Congo mock growled. He pushed Zhaul forward, forcing him to roll onto his stomach. Congo followed the move, ending up on Zhaul’s back, so he didn’t have to pull out. “Naughty mate, laughing at me.” Congo lightly smacked the side of Zhaul’s ass cheek. “Time for your punishment.”

Then Congo pulled partway out, only to reverse directions and slam into his lover.

Zhaul immediately moaned, trying to arch underneath him.

Congo didn’t allow it. He threaded his fingers with Zhaul’s and pressed most of his weight on his lover, pinning him to the mattress. Then, moving only his hips, he began a swift thrust and retreat, driving into his mate over and over again.

The sounds of Zhaul’s whimpering groans, his pleas for more, and his rough calling of Congo’s name told him that he pegged his lover’s gland with each rut.

Yup, those sounds are even better than his laughter.