Page 25 of The Tech Guru's Heart

Nodding, Ezra squeezed Link’s forearm before lifting his other hand to the back of Link’s neck.“I brushed,” he told him, applying a little pressure.

Link was more than happy to give in to Ezra’s urging.As their lips touched, he parted them a little.He slipped his tongue out and teased along his mate’s plump lower lip.To Link’s appreciation, Ezra parted for him, and he took advantage, tasting his mate deeply.

Ending the kiss far swifter than he wished, Link lifted his head.He couldn’t resist pecking one more chaste kiss to Ezra’s mouth.Then Link smiled as he drew away, brushing his thumb along Ezra’s slightly prickly jaw.

“Stay safe, baby,” Link rumbled, his voice deep, betraying the arousal that his hard cock clearly displayed.He couldn’t help it.Kissing his mate had that effect on him and always would.

Just the way it should be.

After taking a couple of steps backward, Link initiated his shift.The tell-tale sounds of muscles popping and tendons cracking filled their secluded sleeping nook.In seconds, he stood before Ezra in his musk ox form.

To Link’s pleasure, Ezra stepped forward, lifting a hand toward him.When his mate hesitated, Link lowered his head a little and stretched toward him.He even vocalized quietly in invitation.

Ezra settled his hand on Link’s broad forehead.With a surprised-sounding chuckle, his human rubbed up to the top of his head, then down one sweeping horn.His expression was one of awe that Link took deep pride in.

“Wow, Link,” Ezra whispered.“This is...”He began running his fingers into Link’s thick mane.“This is amazing.”

Link rumbled, expressing his own pleasure at Ezra’s petting.Then he nudged his mate’s shoulder before slowly turning away.With a last look over his shoulder, seeing Ezra reach down and grab the strap of his backpack, Link slipped his horn through his satchel strap before moving into the trees.

Within a few minutes, Link heard Ezra head off.

Just as Link had done before, he carefully shadowed Ezra, watching over his mate as he hiked.

*

FOR THREE DAYS, LINKand Ezra fell into a rhythm.

Ezra hiked while Link followed.They would meet up for meals and each night for camping.They spent the evenings exploring each other’s bodies and sharing stories about themselves.

Link learned that Ezra had an older brother, Edward, who lived an hour north of his home in Savannah.They weren’t exceptionally close, but they made a point of meeting up monthly.Ezra was supposed to share a meal with Edward as soon as he returned from his two-week trip.

When Link had heard that, he hoped that Ezra would invite him to meet Edward as his boyfriend.

Keeping my fingers crossed.

Link loved falling into a sated sleep each night after making out and exploring each other with hands and mouths.Rousing with the man snuggled against him, warm and naked, was even better.His mate had gotten over his reticence about sleeping nude damn fast.

It helped that Link’s sensitive shifter hearing could easily make out anyone approaching with plenty of time for them to throw on shorts.Even asleep, he would wake.It’d happened their third night together, but Link had realized it was an elk before he made the mistake of waking his lover for nothing.

*

WHEN THE SUN BEGANto set, Link drifted closer to where Ezra hiked.He watched as his handsome human paused at the edge of a meadow.On the other side was a lake, the sun gleaming on the smooth surface.

Ezra peered around the area, obviously admiring the wildflower-covered area.When he inhaled deeply, his narrow chest expanded.Then he smiled as he let it out on a quiet sigh.

Heading toward the left side of the meadow, closer to the lake, Ezra glanced toward the trees.“I’m taking a dip to rinse off the sweat of the day,” he called.“Coming, Link?”

Link was more than on board with that.After a quick glance around, as well as a few seconds to confirm he couldn’t hear anyone else in the area, he left the cover of the trees.Hurrying after his lover, Link headed toward where his human had dropped his backpack and was stripping to his briefs.

Tipping his head to the side, Link allowed his satchel to slide off his horn to rest beside Ezra’s stuff.He took a few seconds to nuzzle his human and get a few pets.Then Link lumbered toward the water.

Unable to resist, Link galloped into the lake, enjoying the cool liquid as it splashed over his heavy hairy coat.Upon hearing Ezra’s open laughter, if he could have grinned in musk ox form, he would have.Instead, Link dunked his snout, then lifted it quickly, sending a surge of water over Ezra’s chest and arms.

Ezra barked a surprised laugh, then called, “Oh, it’s on.”

For the next several minutes, they traded splashes, soaking them both.

Link couldn’t remember the last time he’d had so much fun as his musk ox, and he reveled in the knowledge that his mate was accepting him in animal form just as he did in his human form.

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