Chapters (31)
- The Long and Winding Road
- Table of Contents
- Dedication
- Epigraph
- Prologue: Or, Where Bear Answers the Door
- PAST
- 1. Where Bear Makes the Wrong Assumption
- 2. Where Bear Finds Out
- 3. Where Bear Makes a Decision
- 4. Where Bear Learns the Art of Breathing
- 5. Where Bear Has Bro-Time with Creed
- PRESENT
- 6. Where Bear Attends the Most Awkward Homecoming Ever
- 7. Where Bear Tells Tyson Everything
- 8. Where Bear Makes a Promise
- 9. Where Bear Goes to Lamaze Class
- 10. Where Bear Gets Advice About His Sex Life
- 11. Where Bear and Otter Role-Play at a Hotel Bar
- 12. Where Bear Faces the Reality of Married Life
- 13. Where Bear Sees Everything Change
- FUTURE
- 14. The Long and Winding Road
- Epilogue: Or, Otter’s Perspective, As It Were
- Coda
- No. Absolutely not. No way.
- More from TJ Klune
- Readers love the Bear, Otter, and the Kid Chronicles by TJ Klune
- About the Author
- By TJ Klune
- Visit Dreamspinner Press
- Copyright
“Poor Pocahontas,” he agrees, and it hits me now that I have this man, this idiot in front of me who loves me enough to go along with my stupidity. Who allows me to do all these things that make no sense but enjoys the ride anyway. I’m lucky that way, because not everyone will find that. Not everyone will ever get to have what I have. Because it might be foolish to think that we’ll have this forever. People change. Feelings change. But I believe him when he says it, and no voice in my head arguing to the contrary will convince me otherwise. We’re solid. We’re good. And if there comes a day when we’re not, we’ll fix it.
I lift my head. “We might have to become one of those couples who schedule sex.”
He shrugs. “So we schedule sex. As long as we’re doing it together, that’s fine.”
I frown. “That—because we’d be doing sex… apart?”
He rolls his eyes. “You know what I mean, you ass. Speaking of.” He runs his hands down my back and gropes me.
“That was terrible.”
“Or was it funny.”
“You are such a dad.”
“Is this where I ask you if you’re my good boy?” he asks, and okay, maybe I shudder a little at that, my hips jerking forward.
His eyes are wide.
So are mine, because what.
And then we’re kissing, and it’s messy and wet, and his tongue goes on my chin, and our teeth are knocking together because I’m trying to climb him like a goddamn tree. He grunts against my mouth, and he’s lifting me up, my legs wrapping around his waist. I’m grinding onto him, and—
“Is your leg okay?” I gasp as he bites my neck.
“S’fine,” he says, voice muffled.
“Because you know how it gets before it rains, and I read it was going to rain—”
“I took some Advil. It’s fine—”
“Oh my god,” I choke out. “You’re so old now, we’re talking about your leg that hurts when it rains—”
“No,” he says, squeezing my ass. “You’re the one talking about my leg after I called you my good boy—”
“Ungh,” I say, going slack in his arms.
“How the hell did we not know that was a thing?” he demands, carrying me toward the bed. He’s down the stairs quickly, and I am trying to unbuckle his belt so I can get my hands inside—
He drops me on the bed.
I glare up at him as I bounce.
He’s panting a little.
“Take off your clothes,” I snap up at him.
“You take off your clothes,” he retorts, but he’s unbuttoning his dress shirt frantically, practically choking himself on his tie.