Bear In Mind

By Susan E Scott

Gabriel Falcon is a successful, free-spirited artist, and a descendant of the Bear Clan of the Native American tribe of the Cherokee. He’s never had, nor wanted a long-term relationship until he started seeing Blake.

But Gabriel has a major problem. On the morning of their first date, his former girlfriend told him she was pregnant, he’s the father, and she didn't want to get married. Now, it’s almost time for the baby to be born and he still hasn’t told Blake. Will Gabriel's secret spell the end of their relationship?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Painted Hearts Publishing
• Release date: Aug 1, 2016
• ISBN: 9781944054748

Book preview

The Bears of Falcon’s Ridge:

Bear In Mind

Susan E Scott

Bear In Mind

Copyright © 2016, Susan E Scott

Published by Dark Hollows Press

Smashwords Edition

About the Book You Have Purchased

All rights reserved. Without reserving the rights under copyright, reserved above, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form, or any other means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise) without the prior written permission of the copyright owner and the above publisher of this book. Such action is in violation of the U.S. Copyright Law.

Unauthorized reproduction of distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. Criminal copyright infringement, including infringement without monetary gain, is investigated by the FBI and is punishable by up to 5 years in federal prison and a fine of $250,000.

Bear In Mind

Copyright © 2015 Susan E Scott

ISBN 10: 1-944054-74-X

ISBN 13: 978-1-944054-74-8

Author: Susan E Scott

Editor: Ashley Kain

Publication Date: December 2016

All cover art and logo copyright © 2016 by Dark Hollows Press

Cover design by E Connors

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED: This literary work may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, including electronic or photographic reproduction, in whole or in part, without express written permission.

All characters and events in this book are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead is strictly coincidental.

Chapter One

Gabriel Falcon woke to a warm body draped over him and a stiff cock pressing against his thigh. Where the hell was he and who the fuck was this guy? God, he’d been drunk last night, but surely he hadn’t picked up a stranger. It’d been years since he’d done that, but the fact that he couldn’t remember was pretty alarming. Frankly, the night was a blur.

He cracked one eye open to a dark hotel room with just a sliver of light peeking through a small opening between the curtains. He turned his head and opened his other eye to see who was lying next to him, but a throbbing pain began pounding in his head and he squeezed both eyes shut and moaned. Now he remembered why he didn’t get drunk anymore, either.

The man next to him ran a hand down his chest and across his stomach while pressing his dick into Gabe’s thigh. You okay, babe? he muttered in a sleepy voice.

Without having to open his eyes again, Gabe knew who his bed partner was. Blake. Friend with benefits. He smiled. After their first disastrous date—if you could call it that— they’d managed to become friends, and then lovers. He pulled Blake close and whispered, I’m fine. Headache. Go back to sleep.

Time is it? Blake mumbled.

Early. Just getting to be daylight. We can sleep a while longer.

’Kay.

And just like that, his lover was out again. Gabe smiled and hugged Blake close. The sleep of the carefree. Lucky man. Gabe knew that he wasn’t going to be so lucky. His head hurt and his brain was racing. Thinking about that first date had brought all the issues he was dealing with back to the forefront. The blissful haze brought on by the alcohol he’d consumed the night before was gone and he was facing all his problems without a crutch. He’d had a friend in college who’d always referred to alcohol as the little eraser on the blackboard of life. It’d sure as hell worked last night, but he was back to reality now. Stone cold sober and worried. Will Karen sign the paperwork as she promised? It has to be soon. Time’s running out. Then, there’s Blake. What about him? He has to be told what’s going on so that he can understand why I won’t be around for a while. I should have already told him.

Gabe felt anxious and unsettled. The thought of not seeing his lover again for a long time, if ever, bothered him more than he liked to admit, which was why he’d put off discussing the situation with him. He was seriously afraid that this relationship had gone beyond a casual affair, for him, at least, and that was something that he’d never expected, or wanted. He struggled to keep still and quiet so that he wouldn’t wake Blake again, but thinking back over the last few months, was making him restless.

Gabe had been attracted to Blake the first time he’d met him at the art gallery on Peachtree Road in the upscale district of Atlanta known as Buckhead. Gabe’s paintings had sold well there and the owner, Cal Weston, had requested that he bring more in. Gabe had spoken with Cal that morning to advise him that he was on his way, but when he arrived he was informed that the owner had taken ill and had left for the day. It might have been frustrating if the man standing in front of him, explaining that he’d be glad to assist him, hadn’t been so damn gorgeous. He wasn’t particularly tall, about five nine, but was well-built, with auburn hair and sparkling green eyes. Something about him, his coloring and build, was reminiscent of Prince Harry. Not a bad thing. One thing was certain, he was sexy as hell. And he smelled good. Whenever Gabe was around him, it took days for him to get Blake’s scent out of his mind. It was puzzling. Gabe had learned long ago that he was bisexual, but had never felt this strong an attraction to another man.

He’d been dating Karen at the time, though, so he’d ignored the feeling. Contrary to popular opinion from his family and friends, he wasn’t the playboy that they thought he was. He did date a lot, but he was a one-relationship-at-a-time kind of guy. He and Karen weren’t together long, though, maybe a couple of months. He’d really liked her and enjoyed her company and she’d felt the same, but it was a long-distance relationship that had become too hard to maintain. About a month after they agreed to stop seeing each other, he was in Atlanta again and stopped by the gallery, ostensibly to check on Cal’s health and to see how his paintings were doing. The real reason, of course, was to see if he still felt drawn to the other man and to ask him out for drinks. He wasn’t seeing anyone new since Karen and he’d for damn sure not been able to get the man out of his mind.

They’d made a date for the next evening to meet for drinks and Gabe had really been looking forward to it. Unfortunately, that next day, Karen called to tell him that she was pregnant with his child, so that had successfully ruined his first date with Blake. He probably should have cancelled it, but he hadn’t wanted to. He was curious about the strong attraction he felt toward the other man.

It had turned out to be a huge mistake, though. After all, what was he supposed to say to a man he was interested in, but barely knew? Oh, yeah. the woman I was seeing until a few weeks ago just told me that she’s pregnant and I’ve asked her to marry me, but she refused. She might change her mind, though, and even if she doesn’t, she’s thinking about other options. And it’s those options that are driving me crazy. The two A’s—abortion and adoption. Both are unacceptable to me, but as she pointed out today, it’s her body and her choice. But I’ve decided to try to talk her into letting me adopt the baby.

That had been five months ago. They’d gone on that first date and Gabe had kept it strictly business, having decided that it wasn’t the time to begin a new relationship. Despite his determination and better judgement, however, he couldn’t seem to stay away from Blake. Oh, he’d made it for a whole month before returning to Atlanta and seeking Blake out again. On their second date,they didn’t discuss business. They’d gone to dinner and ended up in Gabe’s hotel room for some of the best sex Gabe had ever had. The attraction between the two of them was strong and as soon as Blake had removed his clothes and crawled onto the bed, Gabe knew that he was fighting a losing battle trying to stay away from the other man.

Feeling Blake’s body now, warm and pressed against his, had Gabe’s cock responding. Unable to resist, he eased Blake over onto his back and slid on top of him. Gabe moved down just enough to take a nipple between his teeth and bite gently at it until it became a hardened pebble and a low moan escaped from Blake’s lips. Gabe smiled to himself. This was a major erogenous zone for Blake.

Pressing his cock up toward Gabe’s stomach, Blake muttered, I thought we were going back to sleep.

Changed my mind, Gabe said as he moved to the other nipple. You okay with that?

Blake made a humming sound. Oh, hell, yeah. I’m not complaining. He reached up to run his hands through Gabe’s hair and pull him up for a kiss.

As soon as their lips met, Gabe slid his tongue into Blake’s mouth. At the same time, he rubbed his steely shaft against his lover’s full erection, creating a delicious friction. Feel good, baby?

Umm, you know it does. Just don’t stop.

Gabe raised his head and looked down into Blake’s face. Oh, you don’t have to worry about that. He leaned back down to give Blake another kiss while pressing their cocks together harder, creating more friction. After a few strokes, he reached up and pinched Blake’s nipple, eliciting a loud groan from his lover.

Blake wrapped his legs around the back of Gabe’s muscular thighs and trailed his fingers down his spine. When he reached Gabe’s ass, he cupped both cheeks in his hands and pulled him closer. Nice ass, he murmured as he moved slowly against his lover, grinding their cocks together. He slid a finger into Gabe’s crease and teased his opening.

Gabe made a sound that was almost like a hum and reached up, taking Blake’s face in both hands and giving him a hot, wet kiss. Not breaking the kiss, Gabe moved one hand down and took both of their cocks in that one, stroking faster and faster.

Blake broke the kiss just long enough to whimper, I can’t wait, Gabe.

Don’t wait, babe. Come for me. I’ll be right behind you. He ducked his head down to Blake’s nipple, first sucking, then biting it gently. That was all it took. He felt the sticky warmth of Blake’s release, just as his own was building. Two more strokes and he followed Blake over the edge.

Gabe rolled off Blake onto his back and they lay like that, their bodies touching, for a few minutes. Neither of them spoke, but Gabe’s thoughts started racing again. How could he tell Blake that he couldn’t see him for a while, and why? That anticipated conversation kept playing in his head. Listen, Blake, I should have told you this before— five months ago, a woman I was dating before you and I went out told me that she was pregnant. She talked about abortion or adoption, but I’ve finally gotten her to agree to let me take the baby and raise him so I won’t be able to get away from home as often. Not at all, for a while. Oh, and by the way, did I mention that it would be for the best because I come from a family of werebears? Since the baby will probably be a shifter too, it would be better for me to have him. But, listen, Karen doesn’t know that part yet.

He sighed heavily.

Yeah, that’ll go over well.

Gabe had been so deep in thought that he’d almost forgotten that Blake was lying beside him until he felt him move to sit up on the side of the bed. He reached out and put his hand on Blake’s back. Where you going?

Blake turned to look at him over his shoulder. I’m going to get cleaned up. You were frowning, so I figured you were ready for me to get out of here.

No. It wasn’t about you. I’ve just got a lot on my mind right now.

Blake gave him a penetrating look. Do you want to talk about it?

Gabe hesitated. Now. Tell him now. This is your chance to get it all out there, to be upfront with him. No, not now. Maybe later. Hopefully, much later. Gabe had to face the fact that he didn’t want to postpone or end their relationship. Not yet. He’d always been able to feel