Chapter 11
Good fabric always swishes around your legs as you walk in a well-tailored suit. A delightful feeling, both provocative and empowering. Clothes might not maketh the man, but they send a powerful signal within the professional circles Bear was now moving in.
Many greeted Ma'am as they entered the lobby and was the centre of attention for the first five minutes. People were openly observing Bear, critically evaluating him, and he quickly became the focus of several conversations throughout the room. First stares and small asides, then much scrambling for any information to attach a better label than Ma'am's "plus one."
Bear saw a couple of old acquaintances worthy of a nod and one if not two business rivals where past deals had ended badly. Interestingly, these souls looked somewhat stricken by whom he accompanied. One actually immediately put his drink down, faded from sight. Other places to be, perhaps, or had Ma'am made this person's kitchen a little too hot?
A smile flitted across Ma'am's lips as she followed his eyes in tracking this old adversary's exit. Turning her head further, she raised her little finger to the corner of her mouth, raised her eyebrows and turned back to the couple she was deep in discussion with.
Dealing with the many guests, Bear was happy to not engage until invited. Better to be suspected a fool than to open your mouth and have it fully known.
Ma'am often drew his attention back to her, and he had to admit she always took his breath away. She was just stunning. Most of the men and he was sure some women found her totally desirable. A fact that Ma'am either ignored or failed to notice.
Finally, a couple approached and Ma'am quietly squeezed bear's hand, obviously signalling an introduction was imminent.
"Bear, let me introduce two of my oldest and dearest friends. Aimee and Sylvie, please meet my plus one and my only. Please meet Bear. Yes, it's not his name, but my friends will know him as Bear and the others, in truth, will not know him at all."
First Aimee, then Sylvie offered their hands and said how pleased they were to meet him.
"Our lone wolf has found her mate?" Sylvie said with a raised eye browse.
Aimee continued the sentence with a conspiratorial whisper.
"Wolves, mate for life, Bear, and if she has fully bitten you, she has made you truly hers."
Bear's eyes flared at the simple truth put before him and Sylvie chuckled, turning to her partner and replying.
"He's got it bad, and you, my love, have got him good. How delightful and my dear please bring him over for dinner and afters soon. It's been too long."
Ma'am gave Sylvie a lovely smile in reply, and added,
"Oh yes, when is the next gathering? We will definitely attend."
Aimee expressed, "How lovely! I will send the invitation tonight, but for now, it's best if we mingle a little more before dinner."
At which they turned away, moving to engage with another couple. Bear turned to Ma'am with a quizzical look, and Ma'am just winked back, saying,
"Oh, you will love every minute of their next gathering. It's a feather in your cap that they have accepted you this quickly. Plus, they understand the wolf and its territory from the get go, which brings an ease to proceedings and physical security for you, which is paramount in my mind."
"I'm thoroughly lost in this, Ma'am, but following your lead is a very safe bet in my world."
Ma'am looked at Bear and nodded. "When in doubt, just acknowledge to yourself that you're totally mine and act accordingly. Simple and safe."
Bear was looking into her eyes and felt his insides turn to jelly and flow straight into his groin.
"Oh Bear, doesn't your body just compliment me so? Now be a dear and get me a glass of good red from Sam. I will be over in the corner talking with the politicos and will need wine to dull the pain."
With that, Ma'am became swallowed up by the crowd, leaving Bear to track down the bar. After settling upon which corner to move towards next was achieving a drinks service.
"Hello, haven't seen you in ages," oh shit bear thought. I know that voice.
"Hi, how are you? I really don't get out much, so it makes a chance meeting like this pretty rare."
"Oh dear," said the very attractive red head standing now full in front and solidly between Bear and the bar.
A small smile teased Bear's lips in response to an inner comment of,
"Nice tits, I guess, but nowhere near as good as Ma'am's."
"Oh, was that smile a remembrance of Christmas, past? Cause I had fun."
Bear flinched ever so slightly. Better to keep quiet, as no matter what he says from here, it ends badly.
