"God, yes," Dresden moaned.

Harland grabbed the man's hips and began to thrust in and out of Dresden's ass. His bear growled in approval. Harland groaned in pleasure. Never had sex felt this wonderful, this spectacular. It was like being caressed from the inside out.

Pure magic. That was what this felt like. Harland closed his eyes, letting the feel of Dresden's body take over, pull him under. His muscles tensed, his body shuddered, yet Harland never wanted this moment to end.

Dresden arched his back as his ass jutted higher. Harland ran his fingers over the man's lower back, amazed at how it felt like he'd known the human his entire life.

The deeper he drove his cock, the closer his bear drew to the surface. His canines elongated and Harland had an urge to bite the man. It was insane. Harland had never bitten anyone in his life-at least not during sex. Fighting was another matter. But he couldn't stop himself.

Leaning over Dresden, Harland sank his teeth deep into the human's shoulder, feeling his eyes change into his bear's, his skin tight, his mind swirling with so many damn emotions.

"Harland!" Dresden cried out as his hole clamped down on Harland's cock. He reached under the man, stroking Dresden's cock as Dresden's seed spilled over his hand.

But Harland didn't stop. Couldn't stop. He kept his teeth clamped down on Dresden's shoulder as he powered into the man. It was like he was possessed. Harland slammed his eyes closed as he pulled his canines free. His body exploded and he roared with his release. His seed erupted inside Dresden until Harland felt boneless.

He eased his cock free and then wrapped his arms around Dresden, pulling the man down beside him before cuddling him close. Harland wanted to rub his scent all over the human.

So he did.

"What are you doing?" Dresden chuckled as he tried to move away.

"Marking you," Harland admitted. "I want everyone to know you're mine."

"Am I?" Dresden asked. There was something in the man's tone, a hesitation, but also a yearning. Harland buried his face in Dresden's blond hair and smiled.

"If you'll have me."

Dresden settled. "What about the whole bear and pregnancy thing?"

"I wasn't lying," Harland said. "Don't you feel it, Dresden, the bond?"

Slim fingers curled around Harland's arms, which were wrapped tightly around Dresden. The human nodded. "I feel...something."

"It's more than something." Harland turned Dresden over so he could stare into those gorgeous green eyes. He hoped their child had not only Dresden's stunning eyes, but his pretty blond hair as well. "Tell me you've felt this close to someone else."

"Never," Dresden replied. "But I'm not sure what this is, Harland. I've never been with a shifter before. Hell, before I met you, I thought they were just a myth."

"And to the general public, we are. It's better that way. But I want things to be honest between you and me, Dresden. No secrets." Harland groaned when someone knocked on the door. "What?"

"Markey is looking for his dad," Clayton called through the door.

Dresden pulled from Harland's arms and quickly dressed. Harland hated for this moment to end, but he got out of bed, went to his dresser, and grabbed some clothes. After dressing, he went downstairs with Dresden to see Markey wandering through the house.

"Dad." Markey called out. "Dad." The little boy repeated the word over and over again. Not in a worried, scared tone, but subtly, as if playing hide and seek. Harland smiled as the toddler continued his journey into the kitchen, calling out for Dresden.

"Does he do that often?" Harland asked Dresden.

"Yes," the man admitted. "He's a daddy's boy, through and through."

"Nothing wrong with that," Clayton said.

Harland and Dresden walked into the kitchen to see Markey looking out the window, still calling for his dad. He was raised up on his tiptoes, his blond bangs getting into his eyes.

"I'm right here, buddy," Dresden said.

Markey turned and smiled. "Hi."

And then he wandered away. Harland could only shake his head. The boy was definitely a cute little fella.

Clayton crinkled his nose. "Boy, Dresden smells like he bathed in a vat of Harland." The guy waved a hand in front of his face as Dresden turned seven kinds of red. "Marked him, did ya?"

"None of your business what we did," Harland replied as he popped Clayton on the back of his head. "Quit embarrassing the man."

Dresden ducked his head and walked out of the kitchen. Harland stood there smiling from ear to ear. He liked that Dresden was shy.

Hell, he liked every damn thing about the guy.

"Oh, you've got it bad," Clayton said with a chuckle.

Yeah, Harland did, and he didn't care who knew that he was falling hard for Dresden.

Stork sat in his truck as he watched Dresden, Markey, and Harland walk into the local clothing store. No one, not even supposedly good people, did truly selfless things for others. No man took another in and helped him out like this unless there was something sexual going on.

Although it disgusted him to no end, Stork had to find a way to use this newfound information against Harland Macy. The guy was an upstanding citizen. Even if he let the people of Bear County know that Harland was gay and shacking up with some guy and his kid, the residents would believe Harland before they believed Stork.

"You told me you had my money."

Stork wanted to kill the drug dealer sitting next to him. The bastard had been nothing but a thorn in Stork's side since he had lost not only his station, but his savings as well.

And the killer part was, Stork had lost it to this guy. But that wasn't good enough. The greedy prick wanted more. Stork still owed him a few grand and the guy was like a dog with a bone.

"My nephew has it," Stork said as he nodded toward the clothing store. "But I'm afraid he isn't going to part with it so easily. That's why he ran. The guy stole it from me."

"I'm not here to shake down your nephew. That's your job. Just get me my shit by tonight." The dealer got out of the car and slammed the door, leaving Stork to sit there wondering how he was going to shake the Triple-B down.

Or maybe he would use the kid to get what he needed. Stork never had liked his brother, so what did he care if he used his brother's grandson to not only pay off his debt, but possibly get his station back?

What the hell. It wasn't like the Triple-B wasn't loaded. Those men ran a successful cattle ranch and Stork wanted a piece of that-preferably in cash. And if all went well then no one would even know what Stork was about to do.

He slid from his truck and worked his way close to where Harland had parked. He wasn't sure how he was going to get the kid, but he had to try something.

Stork ducked down when he spotted Dresden coming out of the store. He didn't see Harland. The big guy must still be inside.

But Dresden had the brat with him.

Wiping his nose on the back of his hand, Stork moved until he was in the perfect position. When Dresden passed by him, Stork jumped out, snatched the kid, and hauled ass. The baby screamed, as did his father. Stork ignored them as he shoved the toddler into his truck and took off, his tires screeching as he left the parking lot. The last place he wanted to go was home because that would be the first place they'd look.

Instead, Stork took off toward his station. If he got there before Harland ran him down, then he could demand what he wanted.

He'd had a feeling it would pay off when he'd first agreed to let Dresden and his son stay with him, and now he was about to get what was owed to him.

Dresden's entire world was collapsing around him as the pain in his chest grew until his heart began to hurt.

This couldn't be happening.

Not Markey.

Anyone but Markey.

"Harland!" Dresden took off toward the entrance of the store in sheer panic. Harland was inside gathering the bags. Markey was being a little rambunctious, so Dresden had taken him outside. Had he known that Stork was out there waiting for him...

Harland's head snapped up when Dresden raced toward the guy. Dresden must have looked as terrified as he felt because Harland left the bags on the counter and hurried his way.

"Stork just kidnapped Markey!" He grabbed Harland's shirt, wrenching the fabric with so much force that it tore. "You have to help me get him back!"

In seconds, Harland had his phone out and was pulling Dresden from the store. Dresden thought the man was about to call the police.

"Jed, we got problems." Harland waved for Dresden to get into the passenger's side of the truck. Dresden couldn't think, and to be honest, was relying heavily on Harland because all he could see was red. He wanted Stork's head on a platter. He wanted worse than that, but Dresden couldn't think of anything that bad because he had never wished harm on anyone before.

He did now.

Oooh, how he did now.

"Did you see which way he took off?" Harland asked as he steered toward the exit of the parking lot.

"Left," Dresden said as he rocked in his seat, his head snapping from side to side as he tried to spot Stork's truck. "He turned left." Dresden couldn't sit still. He was moving like a child hyped up on sugar as his hands danced from his lap, to his chest, and then fluttered over his mouth before dropping back down to his lap to repeat the process over again.

"Why in the hell would he take Markey?" Harland wondered out loud and then spoke into the phone. "I think Stork's taking him to the station." Harland nodded. "I'll meet you there."

"Why would he take Markey to the station?" Dresden asked. "It's closed down."

"It's the perfect place."

Dresden's heart caught in his throat as his hands began to shake. "Perfect for what?" He didn't want to think of what Stork had planned for his son. The thought made his gut twist in ways that were too painful to contemplate.

"I'm thinking...and this is just a thought, but he might be trying to ransom Markey."

That option was a hell of a lot better than what Dresden had been thinking. "For his drug debt?"

"I can't think of any other reason Stork would want to take him," Harland admitted before he reached over and slid his hand into Dresden's. The touch was what Dresden needed. It didn't stop his nerves from feeling like they were being rubbed raw, but the comfort helped. What Dresden hadn't told Harland was that over the past few days, he'd been getting sick every damn morning. He hadn't told Harland because what the man claimed could happen was impossible.

Dresden had to have contracted some kind of bug. But if he told Harland about his sickness, the guy just might think he'd knocked Dresden up.

There were already two trucks sitting in front of the station when Dresden and Harland arrived. He recognized them. One belonged to Clayton and the other belonged to Bryson. Jed was sitting in the passenger side of Bryson's truck.

When Harland pulled in, the three men got out.

"He's parked out back," Jed said as he adjusted the Stetson on his head. "But the truck is empty."

Harland pulled Dresden aside. "I'm going to have to shift. I just wanted to warn you so it doesn't freak you out when I do it."

It was going to freak Dresden out anyway, considering he'd never seen anything like that before. But at least Harland had warned him. He just hoped he wouldn't lose it when the shift took over. "Okay."

"I need you to stay brave." Harland cupped his cheek and Dresden stared into those beautiful blue eyes. "I'm gonna get our boy back. I promise."

Our boy. Although Dresden and Harland's relationship had been growing stronger, he still felt like he was on the outside looking in. Jed, Clayton, Bryson, and Harland's mom had tried to make him feel a part of the family, but there had always been something missing.

Now there wasn't. It was as if Harland claiming Markey as his own had been the final piece. "I trust you," Dresden said. "It's Stork I don't trust."

And Dresden hadn't trusted the man from the beginning. There had always been something about Stork that made Dresden uncomfortable-even aside from the fact the man had no regard for Markey's health.

Harland pulled back and began to undress. Although the situation was dire, Dresden felt himself blushing as his lover's glorious skin was revealed to him. Dresden became turned on and felt terrible because this was neither the time nor place for it. He knew he couldn't help how his body reacted to the sight of Harland being naked.

Clayton grinned at Dresden, but didn't tease him for being so easily embarrassed.

Dresden took a step back and clutched his hands to his chest as he watched the man he was falling in love with change into a big...no, huge, brown bear.

The nerve under Dresden's eye twitched.

If Harland could indeed change into an animal, then his prediction about Dresden becoming pregnant couldn't be too far off the mark.

His hand fluttered down to his stomach, resting over the flat plane of his abdomen.

Harland had warned him and Dresden hadn't listened.

Now he could be...oh fuck.

Chapter Seven.

Harland took a step back, keeping a close eye on Dresden before he allowed the shift to take over. It was bone crunching and somewhat painful as his human body contorted and twisted until he was on all fours, covered in his brown fur and scenting the air.

"That was..." Dresden's eyes were huge. "Weird. Very weird." The man looked shaken up. "Strange. Or would that be impossible, improbable? I mean, you were standing there one second, and the next-" Dresden wiggled around to imitate Harland's shift. "You weren't."

"I think he's losing it," Jed said as he stepped closer to Dresden "Are you okay?"

"That would be a no," Dresden said. "The most important person in the world to me has been kidnapped. The hottest guy on two legs now has four and he's furry." The human scratched his head as the nerve under his right eye twitched.