Page 15 of Bear Hunting

We both laughed. "And one more thing," I said.

"Yes?"

"What's your real name?"

He smiled. "Baer. B-A-E-R. It's Dutch, short for Albaer."

"No fucking way." I chuckled. "You're Baer, the Bear?"

"So I've been told."

"Oh, I'm going to have so much fun with this."

He rolled his eyes and pushed me playfully. We wiped each other off the best we could between stolen kisses. It seemed we couldn't keep our mouths off each other long enough to gather our clothes and head to the showers.

I knew this was the beginning of something more than a hookup at the bathhouse. I was apprehensive about where it would take us, but I was ready to open myself up to the possibilities. Life's too short to hide behind walls.