Page 59 of Bigfoot Boss
“It’s more of a community gathering. Mimi is the matriarch, she invites everyone, but we aren’t all blood related.” Sacha’s hand creeps across the blanket to wrap around mine. “Before the Decrypting it was different. Bigfoots had to live in secret, so we weren’t found out. These types of gatherings were the only times we knew where we could find one another. Now, since we can easily buy plane tickets and use cars, the events have started to expand.”
We are nearly knocked to the side when a pair of child-sized Bigfoots chase each other across our picnic blanket and shoot off, dodging between their parents' feet, tackling each other with growls. A few adults carry infants close to their chests chatting as they watch the children play. The camaraderie of it all makes my chest ache. It’s the kind of family bonds I’ve always longed for. I can feel tears pricking in my eyes, and I try to turn away from Sacha.
“Are you alright, Beast?” He asks.
“It’s fine.” I dab at the corners of my eyes. “It’s just really nice to see everyone get along.”
His arm slips around my side and he presses a light kiss to my cheek. “They already like you, you know. You’d be welcome if you wanted to come back, even if you didn’t—want to come back with me.”
My heart breaks at that thought. “Of course I want to come back with you.”
“I will always be happy to bring you.” His voice is a bit huskier than I expect as he presses another kiss to my cheek.
We spend the whole day with his family. Sacha even joins in on some of the games, although they look a little too rough for me, he seems pleased to remove his shirt and gain a few grass stains. As the evening gets later, the shadows get longer, and the crowd thins out, I find myself hoping, maybe, if I don’t fuck everything up this time, I could join Sacha here again.
“I think we should pack up,” Abe says to his mate, “Leave the evening to the young ones. We still have a couple hours walk back to the cabin for the night.”
Yvette wraps me in another of her long comforting hugs, before the two of them disappear into the forest on foot. Their ability to navigate long distances is impressive, I have no idea which direction their cabin would even be from here.
“Can I show you one more thing, before we go?” Sacha asks.
“Alright.” I say, not quite ready to end the evening anyway.
“The timing is just right, it’s a bit up into the mountain.” He gestures toward a path, “It’d be quicker if—if you don’t mind?—”
“What?” I ask suspiciously, folding my arms across my chest
“Could I carry you?”
I feel a deep blush rushing up my cheeks at how much I like that idea.
“You won’t get tired?” I ask.
He shakes his head furtively and answers with a low growl, “I will not get tired, my Beast.”
He picks me up by the waist, and with a shocking display of strength easily maneuvers me onto his back. My hands grasped around his shoulders, my legs wrapped around his waist. It’s feels deliciously naughty as he starts to move through the woods, his back muscles flexing beneath my body. I assumed he was justlooking for an excuse to be close to me, but he proves to move far faster than I ever could on my own.
It’s impressive, feeling him run full tilt through the trees, totally in his element, dodging trunks and leaping over bushes. I squeak in fear a few times as he speeds up, but start to laugh as he eventually hits his stride. His broad hands supporting me to be sure I don’t lose my grip.
“Here,” he says, finally stopping to set me on the ground. We’re at an overlook, high in the mountain, we’ve left all of his family and friends behind, several miles down the mountain.
And the view. The view is phenomenal.
“Wow,” I whisper, leaning into him. I understand now, and his timing is perfect, the cloud cover is low over the mountains but there’s a beautifully clear view of the valley below, misted in the colors of the sunset. “It’s beautiful.”
His hand circles my waist, tucking me against his body with a contented sigh.
“I always liked this spot,” he says quietly. “I wanted to share it with you now, in case I didn’t get another chance.”
“This wasn’t just a ploy to get me alone?” I tease.
“If I wanted you all to myself we never would have left my condo this morning,” he grumbles in my ear. “I like when people see us together. I like that they know that you are mine.”
The words bring a heat to my stomach. I shouldn’t enjoy being claimed as much as I do, but there’s something about this male that makes me giddy. I like the feeling that I belong somewhere. I like that the place I belong is in his arms. Sacha’s fingers drag along my waist, spreading the heat in my stomach everywhere, he has the ability to light up my whole body with one touch and a mild implication.
I turn in his arms and press my face into his chest. Soaking in his warmth, and his smell, and everything good about him,before I pull his face to mine for a kiss. He’s soft, gentle, his big hand traces up my back, his fingers dig into the base of my neck.
I tug him a little closer, deepening the kiss, slipping my tongue into his mouth, trying to pull more from him. Egging him on by wrapping my teeth around his lower lip and fisting my hand into his shirt.
