by Lynn Lorenz
Peter jumped in and slammed his door shut, fastening his seatbelt like a good boy. Ted just bet he was a very good boy, and at the end of this drive, he’d find out how good.
“Darcy asked to come to my room tonight,” Peter said.
“What did you tell him?”
“No glove, no love. And that was my final offer.”
“And?”
“He agreed.”
“Good. Don’t accept anything less, Peter. Not from him and not from anyone.” Ted drove to Bayou End, but this time, as he pulled into the parking lot, he took a space at the end of the row, under the big oak tree where it was dark.
He switched off the truck and didn’t move to get out.
Peter sat back, watching him, then slowly moved toward him, gliding his hand over Ted’s leg.
“I guess you changed your mind, huh?” Peter’s eyes held hope and excitement. Ted wished he could feel the same.
“Come here.” Peter pulled on Ted’s hips, angling him toward the passenger seat, then undid his belt. He ran his hand over Ted’s cock, and it twitched in response.
Ted knew it was purely physical, nothing more. He leaned back and closed his eyes, thinking, physical was good enough for him. Good enough to prove he could do whatever he wanted; he wasn’t tied to Scott, spell or no spell.
Peter unzipped Ted’s jeans, wrapped his hand around the semihard shaft, and pulled it free of his briefs.
Without a word from either of them, Peter took Ted in his mouth. Warm, wet, and heated, Peter’s mouth surrounded his dick, sucking and laving the shaft until he sported a fairly good hard-on.
Peter knew what he was doing, and it felt good, it did, but the entire time Peter’s blond head bobbed up and down, his hand twisted around Ted’s shaft, his tongue flicked the bundle of nerves under the head, Ted fought to keep Scott’s face, mouth, and hands out of his mind.
What the fuck? Peter was hot. Damned hot, and any other time, if he’d been in a bar, he’d have Peter on his knees in the bathroom stall before you could say blow me.
His body responded, but he just felt empty.
Like something was missing, something that would put the pleasure back into it, something that Ted knew but didn’t want to name.
Scott.
His mate.
Ted groaned. Peter must have thought it was for him, because he moved faster up and down, working his hand, trying to bring Ted off.
But Ted wasn’t going to come. He knew it. No matter how good Peter was, or how his cock responded, he couldn’t come without Scott.
“Shit.” Ted grabbed Peter’s head and pulled him off his dick with a pop.
Wet-mouthed, swollen-lipped, Peter stared at him. “What’s wrong?”
“This is.” Ted shoved his already deflating cock back into his pants and zipped up. “It’s not you, it’s me.”
“Are you serious?” Peter gaped at him, then wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. “I don’t believe this.”
“Look. I told you my head is messed up right now. I can’t do this, that’s all.” Ted got out of the truck and waited for Peter to exit.
“That is fucked, man.”
“Yeah, I know.” Ted shrugged, trying to keep his anger in check and not wanting the kid to think it was directed at him.
Peter stormed off as Ted leaned against his truck.
“Shit.”
His hand curled into a fist, and he stopped himself just before he punched his truck’s fender. Inhaling deeply, he held it, then let it out slowly, using his technique for calming down.
Once his anger had passed, he headed to the house. Maybe a good night’s sleep would help.
»»•««
Scott parked in front of his mother’s house, got out, and climbed the steps to her front door.
On the porch, her cat jumped down from its perch on the railing, wandered over to the door, sat, and waited with him as he knocked.
She opened the door, then held the screen for him to come in. The cat trotted past them.
“Damn cat!” she muttered, kicking at it but missing. “Thinks it lives here.”
“Right, Maman. Like you don’t feed it every day.”
“I don’t. But it won’t go away.”
The cat jumped onto the back of the couch and curled up, paws tucked, and eyes closed like it had every right to be there.
“We need to talk.” Scott went into the kitchen and pulled out a chair for her. “Sit down.”
She sat. “What’s up?”
“I need you to reverse that spell.”
“What spell?” At Scott’s glare, she added, “Oh. That spell. Yeah, sure. I think I can.” But her mouth twisted.
“Are you sure?” His heart thudded in his chest.
“Pretty sure.” She cast her gaze upward and pulled out her rosary, her fingers moving over it. “Seventy-five percent sure. Maybe fifty.” She shrugged.
“I need you to do it. Break the spell. It’s important, you understand?”
“Not really.” She looked at him with a questioning gaze.
“It worked. You brought my mate. Only it’s a guy. A gay guy, Maman.”
She stared at him and shook her head. “Well, hell, son, I didn’t know you were gay. Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I’m not gay!” he shouted. “But my wolf thinks it is, and I can’t have a gay mate. I just can’t. It’s not supposed to be that way.” Scott buried his face in his hands and searched for some control.
His mother patted him on the back. “Son, the wolf wants what it wants. Even without the spell, which I’m not even sure worked, he’d be your mate. These things are never wrong.”
“What?” He stared at her, not believing what she said. “No fucking way. Uh-uh. Somehow, the cosmic connections got tangled up. I’m not supposed to have a male mate. Why would you think even that?”
She shrugged, tapped out a cigarette from her pack, and lit it. “Who knows? I didn’t think I was that powerful but look at what I done. Huh!” She looked pleased with herself.
Scott wanted to strangle her, but then the spell would never be broken, and he’d be stuck with Ted. His wolf bayed at that thought, but Scott just told it to shut up.
“How do we break the spell?”
“Well, it’s the last of the full moon tomorrow. If we don’t do it then, we’ll have to wait until next month.”
“No, I can’t wait. It has to be tomorrow.” Scott heard the edge of panic in his voice and hated it.
“Okay. We have to do it at midnight.” She got up, went to the closet, and pulled out a pillowcase.
“What’s that for?” he asked.
“The dead cat.”
There was a loud meow from the living room, and the cat hissed and ran out the screen door. It slammed shut, and Scott shook his head.
“Fool cat. Don’t need a dead cat,” she shouted perhaps thinking the cat could hear and understand her. “We have to dig the one I buried up.”
“Oh.” Scott exhaled. For a second he thought he’d have to kill a cat, and although his wolf might enjoy that, he wouldn’t.
“And this guy? He has to be there.”
“Shit.” Scott closed his eyes and counted to ten slowly. “Okay, I can get him here.”
“Midnight, boy. Don’t be late.” She blew out a long stream of gray smoke as Scott stood.
He strode to the front door and paused. “Maman, thank you.”
She gazed at him. “You sure you want to do this?”
He opened his mouth, but nothing came out. He stepped out and closed the door behind him.
Checking his watch as he got into his car, Scott worried that it would be too late to talk to Ted. First, he had to find Ted, then convince him to go with him into the swamp tomorrow at midnight.
Ted would come. He wanted out of this as badly as Scott did. He’d made that pretty clear.
So why did that hurt so much?
Chapter Fifteen
Ted kicked off his shoes, stretched o
ut on his bed, and took stock of his situation. It didn’t look good. Everything was going to hell in a handbasket, and he was carrying it. He had no evidence that Kirsten was cheating on Judge Charbonnet. Peter followed him around like a lovesick puppy, and for some odd reason, Ted felt responsible for the kid. Especially when it came to Darcy Wentworth, who oozed charm, but was a snake under that flashy exterior.
And he couldn’t forget his biggest problem—Sheriff Scott Dupree, straight guy, werewolf, and his self-proclaimed mate.
Could his life get any worse?
It was like he’d stumbled into some Cajun Twilight Zone episode, and he was the main character searching for a way out of the swamp, but every path had been blocked by gators.
He had a way out. He’d just leave. Fuck Scott and that bullshit about not being able to separate. Come Friday, when the workshop ended, he was driving his ass back to New Orleans.
He’d drop by the judge’s office, give him the good news that he could trust his little trophy wife, and collect a cool five grand.
Then he was going to take a trip to Hawaii. Spend some of the money and find a tanned Hawaiian volcano god-boy to fuck for a week or two.
He glanced out the window. The full moon waned, casting a yellow glow over everything in the swamp, making it look like a scene right out of a horror movie.
Yeah, he could see werewolves running around in the swamp.
He sat up. Last night, he’d seen what looked like a big dog near the cars. Could that have been one of them?
Scott, maybe?
No way.
Ted lay back down and stuffed a pillow under his head to get more comfortable. He hadn’t undressed yet, still waiting for the other guys to finish in the bathroom.
A soft knock at the door brought him sitting up on the side of the bed. Shit, if this was Peter or Darcy, he just might get his gun and shoot someone.
“Yes?”
The door opened, and Marie stuck her head in. “Ted, Sheriff Dupree is downstairs asking after you.”
“What’s he want?” Ted stared up at the ceiling to keep the surprise from his expression.
“He says he needs to speak with you.” She shrugged but waited. The last thing he wanted was Scott in his room or any room with a bed. In Ted’s current state, there was no telling what he’d let the sheriff do to him.
Ted sighed. “Thanks. Tell him I’ll be down in a minute.”
She nodded and backed out, closing the door.
Ted slipped on his sneakers and checked his look in the mirror. He ran his hands through his hair before he caught himself.
He did not just primp for this guy, did he?
Just on purpose, he pulled his shirt out of his jeans, giving him a “just interrupted” sort of look. After locking his door, he went down the stairs to meet Scott.
With each step, his stomach fluttered. Shit, this wasn’t his first date, but he practically shook with nerves, and his mind raced over a dozen reasons why the guy would show up here.
∙•∙
Scott stood in the entrance hall, waiting on Ted to come downstairs, as nervous as a teenager on prom night.
And with his first glimpse of Ted’s face, those butterflies took flight in his belly, and his dick jerked in his jeans. Damn, he wanted this man.
Unashamed, he took in the tall, well-built ex-cop as he descended the stairs. Powerful thighs, narrow hips, flat stomach, wide shoulders. And that face.
Ho-ly shit.
Ted halted on the bottom step, one hand on the carved newel post, one hand stuffed in the pocket of his jeans.
“What do you want?”
You. Scott cleared his throat. “I need to speak to you, Ted. Outside, if you don’t mind.”
“Sure.” Ted shrugged.
Scott led the way outside, across the porch, and out into the yard. He strolled over to a large black Silverado and leaned against it as he gathered his wits and nerve.
Ted sauntered up, hand still in his pocket, next to a noticeable bulge in his jeans. He got about four feet away and stopped.
“What’s this about?” he asked.
Scott sniffed the air and caught Ted’s scent. It calmed him. Then, a second scent hit him. Another man’s scent. Male and musky. Not Ted.
He growled, and in two long strides he was at Ted, had his hands buried in Ted’s shirt, swung him around, and slammed him into the side of the truck. “Who’s touched you?” Scott growled.
“What the fuck? Get off me.” Ted hissed and tried to push him away, but the strength of Scott’s wolf held him fast.
Scott stuck his face in Ted’s neck and inhaled. Ted shuddered. “Someone’s touched you. Some man has had his hands on you.” His voice deepened and rasped as he struggled to control the anger surging through him.
“Let go of me. Now.” Ted lowered his voice and clamped his hands around Scott’s wrists.
“No one touches you but me.” Scott knew he’d lost it, but he was helpless to fight his wolf. He sniffed down Ted’s body. “You let someone touch your cock, didn’t you?”
Ted struggled, then shook him off. Scott stalked around him, trying to pull his wolf back, shocked he’d had such a strong, visceral reaction.
“Okay, I got a blowjob.”
“How could you?” Scott’s heart hurt at the affirmation of what he didn’t want to know. “We’re mates,” he whispered, not even understanding why he said it.
“That’s just it.” Ted advanced on him, pushing Scott backward. “I couldn’t do it.”
“What?” Scott gulped.
Ted, teeth bared, pushed him again. Scott stumbled and fell on his ass. Just that quick, Ted straddled him, pinning his arms to the ground and just that quick, Scott’s cock stiffened. His wolf whimpered uncle.
“You heard me. I had a perfectly good twink ready to suck my dick, and all I could think about was that it wasn’t you.” Ted’s eyes grew moist. “Goddammit. This has to stop.”
“You couldn’t—”
Ted leaned down, his face right in Scott’s face. “I couldn’t come. He wasn’t you. I can’t come unless I’m thinking of you, you bastard.”
“Me too,” Scott whispered, and their gazes locked.
Ted rested his forehead on Scott’s, and their hands shifted from fighting holds to interlaced fingers.
“I can’t stand this. I can’t get involved with you. I won’t fall for another straight man who can’t return my love, who won’t touch me or let me touch him. Who can’t acknowledge me in front of other people.”
Scott let Ted’s hands go, holding his fingers out.
“You’re right. I had no right to go off on you. It’s the wolf. He wants you.”
“But you don’t.” Ted snorted. “See. I won’t have just half a man, even if he is a wolf.”
Ted climbed off Scott and stood. Scott got to his feet, dusted off the back of his jeans, and turned away to give them both some time.
“I came to tell you that my mother is going to reverse the spell and set us free.” Scott didn’t turn around; for whatever reason, he didn’t want to see the relief on Ted’s face.
“When?”
He pointed to the moon. “Tomorrow is the last night of the full moon. It’s either then or next month.”
Ted seemed to consider the implications. “Tomorrow it is. Let’s get this over with.”
“We’ll take my truck. I’ll pick you up at eleven p.m.” Scott walked around to the driver’s side and got in.
Without asking, Ted climbed into the passenger seat.
“Does she really think this will work?” Ted closed the door, plunging them into their scent-saturated darkness.
“It better.” Scott set his jaw, refusing to let another word come out of his mouth. That confession about not being able to come without picturing Ted had been too much honesty. Too much vulnerability for him to admit.
He turned to look at Ted in the darkened cab. Damn, his wolf wanted him. And the more he wanted him, the less it seemed so wrong to S
cott.
Ted stared out the window, a mix of emotions on his face. Regret, sadness, hurt. But when he turned to meet Scott’s gaze, the undeniable flare of lust burned in his dark eyes.
“Come here,” Scott whispered as he reached for Ted. He wrapped his hand around the man’s neck and pulled him across the seat.
Ted resisted at first, then gave in. Scott dragged him so close he could feel Ted’s breath on his face. Letting his wolf have its way, he slanted his mouth across Ted’s and brushed his lips against his mate’s.
A shudder started with Scott and ended with Ted. Ted wrapped one hand around Scott’s neck, and the other landed on Scott’s thigh, the weight feeling so right.
Ted moaned as Scott licked at the seam of his lips, then opened, allowing Scott to plunge inside. Scott tasted Ted, kissing, lapping, and at last, capturing Ted’s tongue to suck. The arousal built in Scott, his cock stiffened, and his wolf howled for his mate.
Ted ran his hand up Scott’s thigh and caressed Scott’s erection. Scott surged into the touch with a gasp, breaking their kiss.
“Oh God, Ted.” Nothing had felt this good in so long. He couldn’t remember being so turned on.
Ted leaned back and made short work of Scott’s belt, and had his jeans unbuttoned and unzipped before Scott could whisper Don’t.
“Lift up.” Ted grabbed Scott’s clothes.
Scott raised his hips, and Ted yanked the denim down to midthigh, including his briefs. His cock sprang free, snapping to his belly, leaving a splat of precum on his skin.
“Magnificent,” Ted whispered, and before Scott could even think to protest, Ted captured the head of his cock in his mouth.
“Fuck!” Scott rocked up, shoving his dick farther into Ted’s mouth, but Ted put a steadying hand on his hip and kept his mouth there.
Ted slid down Scott’s shaft, licking and painting it with his tongue and spit, and Scott shuddered. No woman had ever given him head like this. None of his girlfriends had been so eager, so willing. So damn good.
He watched as Ted bobbed up and down on his cock. Scott closed his eyes and leaned back. God, he could come to love this, the way Ted’s mouth was so warm and wet, how his tongue searched out the slit in his cockhead, how he flicked the bundle of nerves to make Scott moan.
