Taming Teddy (Made Marian, #2)

by Lucy Lennox

I was one of National Geographic’s most well-known wildlife photographers, and Dr. James Marian was the most elusive animal I’d ever tried to capture.

My official job was independent wildlife consultant. I had a bachelor’s degree in environmental science and a doctorate in veterinary medicine with specialty training in wildlife management.

“You are the most annoying asshole who ever walked the earth. Why are you deliberately turning my words around?” “Listen, Jamie. I think we should have sex right now. It might calm you down, and I don’t mind.

There were moments in my job where I was overcome with grateful disbelief that I was the one getting to witness something amazing. Just watching that man sit on a rock and glare at me was one of those moments.

I wanted so badly to sleep with Jamie Marian. Run my mouth over all of his delicious skin and feel his body alongside mine in bed. But he deserved better than another guy who fucked him and left.

“Imagine for a minute that you and Jamie were good together and wanted a future together. Can you think of a scenario where a wildlife photographer and a wildlife consultant might be able to bring their careers together in the same patch of wildlife?”

That might have been when I started to realize I was fooling myself if I thought I could keep Jamie Marian at a distance.

I woke up in a puddle of my own drool on top of Teddy’s chest. Like a boss.

I held him against me for a minute until I heard him say, “Christ, Teddy. That was sexy as fuck.” I pulled away with a grin. “You’re sexy as fuck. Not only can I not just kiss you without getting a hard-on, but apparently I can’t just kiss you without fucking you either.”

I ran my fingers through Jamie’s hair as I asked him to tell me about his worst date or hookup. “Besides the obvious with Brian,” I added. He snorted. “Well, there was one time I was set up on a blind date with my brother Blue.”

So one of your brothers is gay too?” “Yes, five of nine of us are gay, but before you drop your jaw, let me explain.” “I’m hoping this story includes a poisoned well and a villain. Or maybe a long line of gay ancestry that somehow defied the rules of human reproduction.

When he slowly slid into my body, I felt my eyes fill again. My motherfucking heart. I couldn’t help it. I had never been treated with so much tenderness.

“Jamie, I’m not going to submit your photos after all. I don’t want to do anything to make you uncomfortable. This flash drive has all the original files on it. You can use them however you wish. They are yours now. I’m so sorry I messed everything up. - Teddy” And just like that, I realized another man I loved had left me. Except this time it was without a doubt the absolute love of my life. The human being I knew would hold my heart inside of his for as long as I walked the earth.

“How the hell do I know if it’s worth it?” I exclaimed in exasperation. “Well, Teddy, only you can determine that, but I can tell you one thing. When you find yourself telling a perfect stranger at the top of a mountain about an incredible person you might consider changing your life for, that’s a pretty big hint.”

Dammit, my heart was in Alaska. I realized in that moment I was in love with Jamie.

I had more feelings in my heart for Theodore Kodiak after a few weeks of knowing him than I ever did for Brian after years of being with him.

“Baby girl, don’t let one cheating jackass steal a happy future from you. You are going to find an amazing man who will make you laugh and make you feel like a million bucks. Someone who will cross an ocean just to be with you and who will stand in a crowded room and only see you. You have to put yourself back out there though. They’re not all manwhores terrified of commitment,” I urged.

“Sometimes photographs tell you the truth. You look at the moment you were lucky enough to capture and see your very heart reflected back in the image. In that way, photography offers permanence. Moments, like relationships, can be fleeting, but a photograph captures the moment and sets it in stone.”

“If Jamie were here tonight, I would want to thank him for giving me the honor of his trust. I would also want to tell him I fell stupidly in love with him, which led me to take the best photograph of my career. Thanks again to all of you for the highest photography honor I’ve ever dreamed of,” I finished, holding up the plaque again.

I love you. I love you. The sweetness was almost unbearable. Jamie’s thumbs came up and wiped my own tears away as he smiled. In that moment, I knew we would be together forever, no matter what.