Page 44 of OctoBEARfest

"Godbut I like that. You're so big. Nobody's ever just been able to lift me before."

"I live to serve."

Gwen purred. "Don't tempt me by saying things like that, big man."

"If you don't mind, I think I might spend the rest of my life trying to tempt you." Bill brought her to the bedroom, ghosting his hand over one of her boots as he sat on the edge of the bed with her. "I'm kind of guessing you don't want to sleep in these."

"Not unless you want to wake up to very smelly feet," she admitted reluctantly, then gave him a sweet, lazy grin. "Next time I'll find something more breathable."

"Make no changes on my account," he informed her firmly. They did, eventually, peel the boots off and sleep, although Bill got a glimpse of the tattoos on her back that made sleeping, and other things, hard. On the other hand, they both needed the rest, and he was awake before Gwen, so rose to make breakfast. Coffee and cinnamon rolls from a tube, since he didn't want to leave the house to get fresh ones from the bakery, but their scent called Gwen to wobble out of the bedroom sleepily, wearing one of his shirts and a sweet smile.

"I see you've learned everything you need to know about the care and feeding of a Gwen," she said as she sat down with the little breakfast.

Bill laughed. "I sincerely doubt that, but hopefully I'm off to a good start."

"I think so." She gave him a surprisingly shy smile, given the activities they'd been up to all night. "Does that mean you still want me to come out this weekend?"

"It really means I'd like you to never leave," he said, maybe too honestly, "but yes, please. I very much do."

She laughed and stretched a leg out to touch his shin with her toes under the table. "Icanwork remotely, but I'm not suremy boss would appreciate me just never showing up in the office again. Also, never is a long time. You might get tired of banging a rock star."

Bill coughed on his coffee. "Unlikely. Anybody who gets tired of banging a rock star probably needs their head examined. But…" He drew a deep, nervous breath. "I don't want to be completely overwhelming?—"

"Then you probably shouldn't have proven you did not, in fact, need a wall to put me up against while having stand-up sex," Gwen said with a grin that faded as he ducked his head, smiling uncertainly. "Ah, no, I see, I'm supposed to be serious now. Okay. It can't possibly be more overwhelming than 'I turn into a bear,' and I think I went with that one pretty well."

"You did." He looked up again with another smile. "It's related to that, though."

"Oh my God." Gwen's eyes widened hopefully. "Can you show me how to turn into a bear?"

Surprise shot through him and came out as a laugh. "No. Sorry, no. It's inherent."

"In-bear-ent?"

He stared at her flatly enough that Gwen threw her head back and laughed. "Oh, come on, that was pretty good."

"That was awful!"

"That's what pretty good is, in puns! Okay, okay, tell me the overwhelming thing."

"The other important thing about being a shifter is we know when we've met the person we're meant to be with," Bill blurted, afraid he'd lose his nerve if he thought about it even an instant longer. "We call it finding our mate, but it's really—it's just—it's?—"

Gwen's expression had gone surprised, then so, so soft. "Love at first sight?" she asked very quietly.

Bill nodded, still nervous. "A love we're absolutely certain about, but…yeah."

"And your, uh, your 'mates,' they feel it too?" At his second nod, Gwen bit her lip. "And that's us?"

"It is," Bill said in a very soft voice. "I know it's a lot and it doesn't mean we have to be together forever now, but I wanted you to know that I…I'll always be here for you, Gwen."

"That's such a relief," she said over his last words, then blushed. "I mean, that's great too, but I meant, I've been feeling so at home, so comfortable, and, yeah, so incredibly attracted to you. With you. Like everything's going to be okay now that I've met you. And I thought I was probably losing my mind, but it's…magic?"

Bill blinked. "I wouldn't have thought of it quite like that, but yeah, I guess it is."

"You turn into a bear," Gwen pointed out. "That's definitely in the 'magic' category. So is love at first sight." She sighed, then sighed again and sank her teeth into a cinnamon roll before looking dreamily at him. "I havenoidea how we're going to work this out. You've got a pub to run and I'm apparently on the verge ofoh!" She sat up straight, staring at him accusingly. "Is that why I'm finally okay with the idea of hitting the big time? Because I subconsciouslyknowI'll be okay because I've got you on my side?"

"It might be," Bill said, surprised. "Is that okay?"

"It's amazing! It makes sense! I know I've been playing it safe, but—wow." Gwen's voice softened. "Wow. God, Bill. You're right. This is a lot. Not a bad kind of lot," she said quickly, "but a lot."

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