Art Of A Mate [Haven Ranch 4]

Chapter 2

Chapter 2

Como slowly walked in holding something in his hand. His eyes widening when they landed on Kenner.

Kenner gasped, "Your eyes match your hair!"

"Kenner are you okay?" Sky asked hesitantly.

The scent of sunshine and earth after a fresh rain floated past Kenner's nose, and all Kenner wanted to do was find out if the man's taste was as luscious as his scent.

Walking closer to Como, Kenner never took his eyes off the man in front of him, whispering,

"Golden flakes flickering like the golden strands of your hair when you stand in the sunlight."

"Kenner, your ears and eyes have shifted. Is there something wrong?" Sky asked sounding more concerned than a few seconds ago.

The man behind Midnight gave Kenner a shy smile, and Kenner felt his bird flapping and

clamoring to get out. A loud screech escaped Kenner's lips. He looked at Como and all sense of control seemed to be evaporating.

Tunnel vision and the diminishing of sound didn't even register to Kenner as he unknowingly began to stalk closer to the prey in front of him. He didn't feel two of the men trying to hold him back from his goal and right then his objective was to taste the morsel in his line of sight.

Seconds later Kenner found himself on his ass and the side of his face was pulsing in pain.

"Ouch! f**k! Damn it!" Sky hissed as he held his hand looking at Kenner completely pissed off.

Shaking his head, Kenner asked, "What the hell happened?"

"You broke my f*****g hand. That's what happened." Sky snapped.

Kenner tilted his head, still confused, "I don't understand."

Rey went to Sky, gently taking his brother's hand in his own, saying, "You did a partial shift. We tried to get you to back off, but you kept going towards Como."

Kenner quickly turned to see the young man looking at him with concern and confusion of his own. "I'm sorry, Como. I don't know what came over me."

Midnight gave a knowing smile, saying, "I think I do. However, it's something you're going to have to deal with yourself."

"You have to shift, Sky. It's the only way it's going to heal in time for the wedding." Rey softly said.

Sky gasped, "What? How the hell am I supposed to do the practice ceremony if I shift? I can't walk down the damn isle on four tiny legs and a tail."

"Kenner broke your hand. He can do the practice walk. This way you can watch everything and know what needs to be added or taken away." Rey suggested.

Kenner's eyes widened, "What? You want me to be the bride between Hardy and Emry?"

"Oh hell no! No one, but no one, marries my men but me. Practice or no practice." Sky stated firmly.

Midnight quickly replied, "Como can take the place of your men. This way you can watch Rey and I with our mates walk down the aisle and again, decide if it looks right or wrong." Turning to Como, Midnight asked, "You would help Sky, right, Como?"

Kenner could have sworn there was something twinkling in Midnight's eyes when he looked

from Como to Kenner. It had Kenner's harpy eagle on notice that this man was up to something.

* * * *

Como was shocked when Dudley had come into the barn and straight up to the loft. Rey and the others had never come up without asking him if it was okay, but Dudley didn't think twice about it.

Nervous as he was when he heard the man making his way up to the loft, Como had enjoyed

listening to the man speak. Dudley was funny and as far as Como could tell, a really nice guy. He had seen Como's work and when he saw the image Como had created the day Como saw the

three men in the field, Dudley insisted that Como give them his painting as a wedding gift.

Como had seen the Sherriff arrive and was curious as to why he was here. There was something about the man that drew Como to him. Como asked Rey about the man, and he was told that

Kenner was his name and how nice he was, and that Kenner was Haven Ranch's Sherriff.

Hearing the man's name, watching Kenner's car pull up to the house, or seeing him out and walking the ranch made Como's tummy flutter and his p***s grow in his pants. He didn't

understand any of it, and the feeling scared the heck out of him. However, it didn't stop him from painting Kenner's image every chance he got.

Kenner had tried to approach Como several times, but Como would feel all those urges, become scared and run to his loft until the man left.

Wishing he could get past his fears and just talk to the man, Como had surprised himself by taking Dudley’s advice and started making his way towards the house. He had almost turned

around three different times, but he knew Dudley was right. He had to give Sky his wedding present.

It took Como a few minutes to work up the courage to knock on the door. When Midnight

opened the door and Como saw Kenner standing just a few steps behind the chipmunk shifter, all the air in Como’s lungs seized up and he could have sworn his heart stopped.

Kenner stood a couple of inches taller than him at six feet and he had the most beautiful golden hair that accentuated the man’s gorgeous amber eyes. However, it was the scent of morning dew mixed with fresh roasted chestnuts that assailed Como’s nostrils and his shaft hardened and pushed against the zipper on his pants.

Kenner gasped, "Your eyes match your hair!"

"Kenner are you okay?" Sky asked hesitantly

Como could see that Kenner was looking him over and felt his sun bear clawing on his insides, trying to get out. Within seconds, Kenner’s ears started to change as did the man’s eyes, and Como could see his bird was as excited to join them as Como’s bear was.

Como couldn’t stop the small smile from forming. Knowing that Kenner and his animal liked what they saw in Como and his bear. All Como wanted to do was rub his scent all over the man.

When Kenner started stalking towards him, like the predator he was, Sky shouted something, but Como was long past hearing anything. He was so focused on the man within mere inches from him, and jumped back when Sky launched himself at Kenner, jerked the man around and then punched Kenner square in the face.

Kenner flew back on his ass, and Como was shocked when he felt his bear standing on two legs ready to defend his mate. Como barely heard Sky snap, "You broke my f*****g hand. That's what happened."

Como was doing his best to breathe in and out and push the beast within him back. He didn’t want to harm anyone in this room, but his bear was adamant about defending his mate.

Midnight was suddenly really close to Como, whispering, “It’s going to be okay, Como. Push your beast back. Let him know that Sky was defending you from a threat he felt was coming your way.”

Como blinked and nodded giving out a loud breath and drawing another deep inside. He didn’t understand what was happening, but Como knew Midnight was telling the truth. Sky was only trying to protect him. The man was very concerned for the people in Haven Ranch, often leaping before he looked. It didn’t mean that Como didn’t want to knock the s**t out of the chipmunk man for hitting his mate.

He was so focused on pulling his sun bear in, he had missed whatever was going on around him and Sky’s words caused him a great deal of confusion. "Would you, Como? I really want my wedding to go off without a hitch. This practice run is really important to me. Will you help."

Como was so confused he didn’t know what to say. Help him with what?

Como looked down at the canvas in his hand and then back at Sky.

"What's that, Como? Is that something for me?" Sky asked.

Como hesitated a second and then nodded and handed the item to Sky.

Como felt his insides turn, when the man immediately got tears in his eyes, then said in a watery voice, "This is──I mean──Son of a b***h!"

Rey and Midnight went to Sky, each placing a comforting hand on Sky, Midnight asking, "Are you alright?"

All the man could do was nod as he hiccupped and drew in a shaky breath.

Did the tears and ability to not speak mean that Sky hated the gift? Dudley had said he would love it? Had the funny man been wrong?

Midnight went behind Sky and gasped, "Como this is unbelievable!"

Rey quickly looked at what Sky held, drew in a sharp breath whispering, "This has to be one of the best pieces you've done. I mean besides the one of──" Rey stopped speaking as he looked at Kenner and then at Como, "It's fantastic."

Como was thankful his friend had not continued that sentence. How would Como explain to

Kenner why he had so many paintings of the man? He would look like a crazed stalker.

Kenner looked at Como, pointed to what Sky was holding, asking, "May I?"

Como's cheeks turned an adorable shade of pink, but he nodded. Kenner went behind Midnight and looked at what Sky was holding and just stared at it.

“This should be in a gallery.” Kenner murmured low. He sounded truly impressed and Como

couldn’t help but feel a bit of pride in his work. If his mate liked it, then that meant Dudley was right when he had encouraged Como to give Sky the piece as a gift.

Como remembered the day he had painted the piece. He had been in the loft area, when Hardy, Emry, and Sky had walked out into the middle of the field. They were laughing and kissing.

Their love was so bright and beautiful, Como knew he had to capture it on canvas. He had immediately switched the piece he was working on for a fresh canvas and started to sketch. By the time he had finished, Como was amazed at his own work. This one was one of his best. It truly captured a moment in time which the three men would remember for all eternity.

Sky was held in Hardy's arms as Emry stood with his arm around Hardy and was placing a ring on Sky's finger. They were in the middle of the field behind the barn. All three were laughing about something only they knew. Their eyes told a story of love, hope, and even a bit of uncertainty. Sky's were glassy with unshed tears, Emry's were lit up with promise and belief.

Hardy had that guarded expression, but yet, that wasn't it. It seemed almost as if he seriously wanted something and was worried he might be denied. However, within the entire story being told in this painting, it was the love you felt just looking at it. Almost as if a moment had been caught in time that one might always want to remember.

Sky murmured, "This was when Hardy and Emry asked me to marry them. We were laughing because when they proposed, Hardy backed up into cow poop. Hardy said he did it because it was for good luck and right then they needed all the help they could get. I figured it was perfect considering how our mating started."

Midnight and the others laughed. Sky looked up at Como, saying, "I remember thinking that I wished I had some way to memorialize the moment my mates proposed, and you did that for me.

Thank you so much."

Como's cheeks pinkened even more and then gave the man a shy smile. Sky then said, "Como, I know you don't like to be in the spotlight and people scare you, but I really would like for you to take the place of my mates and help with the practice. It will only be us and well Cortez, since he's the one performing the ceremony. Would you please do this for me."

Como hesitated. Sky was right, he really didn’t like to be around a lot of people, but the chipmunk shifter rarely asked anything of him. He was normally standoffish with Como and that saddened him. He really liked Sky, even if he was a little scary once in a while. If doing this for the man would help their friendship, then Como knew he had to suck up his fear and help the man. A bit confused on what he would need to do, Como slowly nodded.

Rey smiled, "Great! We’d better get out there because Law and the others were setting things up, and Dudley does not seem like a patient man. Sky, shift and I'll explain things to Hardy and Emry."

Sky shifted. Midnight picked Sky up and carried him outside to his mates.

Hardy was standing and fidgeting with his tie. When he saw Midnight holding Sky, Hardy

immediately started towards them, growling, "What the hell happened?"

Sky chirped and held his small paw up. Como could have sworn the guy was exaggerating the injury when he tried to hobble out of Midnight's hand and into his mate’s.

Rey cleared his throat, saying, "There was a little mishap and Sky hurt his hand. I had him shift so that he could heal for the wedding. Kenner and Como are going to step in as you, Emry, and Sky. Sky will be able to see from this practice run if there is anything he might want to do differently."

Hardy gently took Sky into his hands and lightly rubbed Sky's little paw, "So does that mean I can take off the tie?"

Midnight nodded, "Yeah, it shouldn't be a problem."

Hardy hissed, "Thank the Gods. The dam thing is choking me. Ouch!"

Sky chattered and chirped, as Hardy shook his other hand, growling, "You bit me!"

Emry rushed over, asking, "What happened? Are you two going to start fighting again."

"He bit me, damn it!" Hardy snapped.

Emry looked at Hardy, lifted a brow, asking, "What did you do?"

"I didn't do anything. Rey said Sky hurt his hand and had to shift. He's having Kenner and Como take our place for the practice run. When I asked if I could take off the tie, because it was choking me. He damn well bit me." Hardy explained with a grovel in his tone.

"I'm going to go find my mates." Midnight muttered, stepping out of the scene about to be held.

Rey backed up, saying, "I'm going to get Como ready for the practice and let my mates know what's happening."

Emry was petting Sky behind his little chipmunk ear, and in a baby tone asked, "Did our big bad mate upset you."

Sky nodded and made what Como could swear was a whimpering sound. Then held up his foot.

Emry suddenly looked up saying, "Wait. Did you say we could take off the ties? Ouch! Damn it Sky that hurt!"

Kenner laughed and Como giggled. These three were just too much. Life for Emry must be really interesting with a hard head for one mate and a diva for another.

Emry hissed, "It's not funny Kenner. Look, I'm bleeding."

Law walked out of the barn with a huge man. He had to be damn near eight feet tall with muscles that almost made it look as if the man didn't have a f*****g neck. His dark grey with white streaked hair went just past his shoulders, and it didn't take but a second for him to look directly in Kenner's direction. He must be Cortez.

"Everyone it's time to get this show on the road. My beautiful mate tells me that Kenner and Como are going to proxy for Sky and his mates."

"I said no such thing. Midnight told you that." Shaw yelled out.

Everyone laughed, and Law replied, "You, my love, are my handsome mate. Okay, Everyone, let's──"

"Places! Everyone needs to get into place. We are on a time limit here."

Como couldn't hold back the snicker, when he watched Dudley bouncing around, his long pink pony tail, on top of his head, slipping one way and then the other. Dudley’s bright pink and purple eye shadow and what looked like the fake eyelashes, clapping his hands and what looked like skipping around the practice area. Kenner snickered, asking, "Who is that?"