by BA Tortuga
The words poured around him.
He tried to pat Lee’s chest, but he just didn’t have the strength. His arms felt so heavy, the sickness still spreading up them and into his body.
“I’ll help. Rest for me, sweet one. I have you. I swear.”
Never let me go.
Never. Lee’s promise rang through him, making him moan and cuddle closer. Yes. Forever.
Even though right now he just wanted to lie down and die.
Chapter Five
Lee paced.
Drew had finally fallen into a deep sleep, which he hoped would cause the man to heal some, but he wasn’t sure how anyone could come back from that.
Of course, it had to be fate that he’d spent so much energy getting the others to feel better, because their transport had called, and Jase was arriving within the hour.
He should put Drew on the truck. Send him off. It was the best thing, but…
He tried to imagine that. Putting Drew on a truck and waving goodbye as his mate cried for him.
Lee shuddered, and in the bedroom, Drew moaned. No, he couldn’t do that. But what if Drew wanted to go with them?
Mate! Mate, please! The panicked cry made him run to the bedroom, his lover’s eyes burning with pain. “Don’t make me go!”
“Shhh. No, love. No. If you don’t want to go you can stay with me. I want you to stay.” He reached for Drew, letting the truth flow through his touch.
He felt the tension dissolve, Drew’s entire body relaxing with a damn near audible pop.
“That’s it. I have you. We can be together. No one can tell us no.” No one would care, really. Drew would be one less body to care for.
“Good. I want this. You. Us. I waited so long.”
“Did you? I didn’t know I was waiting.” Lee petted Drew’s hair, which looked a little better than it had an hour ago.
“I did. I waited for… centuries.”
“Oh.” Warmth grew in the pit of his belly. That was the most amazing thing anyone had said, or felt for him, ever.
Drew hummed softly, cheek on his chest. He’d never seen his mate so relaxed. Such a sweet man, his Drew. Lee felt a huge tide of emotion wash over him. He got to hold this man and get to know him and eat ice cream with him.
Forever. In Drew’s thought, forever wasn’t simply a word. It meant something.
Lee could live with that. In fact he craved it. He would happily spend his forever with Drew.
Drew nodded, one hand covering his heart.
They sat like that until his phone pinged, which told him transport was at his gate. He liked a good bit of warning.
“Don’t let them take me. Please.”
“I won’t, sweet. I promise.” He kissed Drew hard, then got up to go outside to meet the driver. He took his shotgun just in case someone had followed or worse, hijacked the truck.
Jase was the only one who stepped out of the truck, which looked like an animal control transport, but with a “rescue” name on the side.
“Hey, man. How goes?”
“It goes. Snows are fixin’ to come, and hard. You staying here?”
“Not sure. Probably through as much of the winter as I can. Depends on if they call me again.” He led Jase inside, pleased that he could stand down and that nothing had gone wrong.
“How many?” Jase asked, frowning at the wolves on the pallets.
“Four.” When Jase stared, he shrugged. “One is staying with me. He’s in the other room.”
“No skin off my nose.” Jase knelt next to each wolf in turn, laying a hand on each one’s ribs. “Lee, man, I can’t take this one.”
“What?” Damn it. It was the sickest one, the one Drew kept exhausting himself to heal.
“He’s too sick. The trip would kill him.”
“But he needs medical! How is he supposed to get what he needs if you don’t take him?”
“Well, if you can keep him for two more weeks, keep him alive, Tran can come get him in the mobile medical unit. He’ll be through here about that time. Well, about fifty miles south.”
“Dammit.” The snows would have hit by then. He’d still be able to get out, but… “Dammit!”
“I know, but I’m not going to curse him to death.”
“I know. No, of course not.” Still, he’d wanted time to bond with his mate. That was selfish, but so there anyway. “Okay. You tell Tran to get here, or close to here, one way or the other. That ambulance transport will be perfect.”
“Will do. Good luck with him. I have the boxes of supplies for you. You want to help me unload?”
“You got it.” They headed out to the truck, and he could feel Drew watching him, the worry tugging at the edge of his mind.
Easy. I have to get supplies. I’m not leaving. The sickest one is going to have to stay with us two more weeks.
Mikhail.
What?
His name is Mikhail.
Oh, thank you. You’ll have to tell me about all of them. Lee had never been able to honor his fuzzy charges by knowing their names. They came and went so fast.
“You okay, man?” Jase looked at him askance.
“Huh?”
“Your eyes crossed all up.”
He snorted. “Sorry. I was thinking hard.”
I was talking to my mate. The thought made him ache a little, from joy.
Yes. Love. “This is great, man. Thanks for all the supplies.” Even with extra mouths to feed, he wouldn’t have to leave the cabin for a month or more unless he had to meet Tran somewhere. He’d do one more big shop before they were completely under the snow. By then, there would just be two of them, and they could enjoy each other.
“Let me start it back up so the heaters are on when we bring them out, huh?”
“Sounds good.” He was used to hurry up and wait.
“You got a lot of them out. Good job.”
“They were shooting this time.” He wouldn’t be able to go back. They’d move what was left of the compound.
“Damn. Abby?”
He shook his head sadly. “I don’t think she made it.”
“Well, someone will get word to us somehow.” Jase got the truck started again. “Okay, let’s get them moved.”
“Yeah. They’ll be ready to shift soon, find their way.” He wasn’t sure what happened to the broken wolves he passed on. Jase was a good man; he knew that.
“They’ll do fine. We’ve only ever lost a few. I hear one ran from you.”
“Yeah, just took off like he knew where he needed to go.”
“I hope for his sake he did.” They headed back inside, each of them wrapping a wolf up in a blanket to carry out. Jase took the lightest one first so he could open doors on the custom truck, each wolf getting a little bay, a tiny haven of warmth.
“I’ll get them safe and away from here, and I’ll send Tran to you in two weeks.”
“You’re a good egg, Jase. You want some soup for the road? I have a spare thermos.”
“You get me that while I get the last one and I’ll hit the road.”
“You got it.” When he hit the kitchen, Drew handed him the filled thermos.
“For your friend.”
“Thank you, love. What are their names?”
“Gray and Travis and Jimmy.”
“I’ll tell Jase.”
“Thank you.” Drew watched him from the kitchen, eyes fastened on Jase at the truck.
He had a feeling his love wouldn’t relax until Jase was gone.
“Here you go, man.” Jase had… Jimmy in the truck, so he handed over the thermos. “Gray is the big gray one. Travis is the smaller red, and you just had Jimmy.”
Jase gave him a sideways look. “That’s new.”
“What is?”
“You knowing their names.”
He shrugged. “I’ve learned how important it is.”
Jase shot him a pleased grin. “I’m glad. Good luck, buddy.”
“Thanks.” He grinned back, feeling pretty da
mn good, even if he did still have a very sick wolf on his hands.
Come inside. Come inside. Drew was worried and needed the truck to go.
“I’m coming.” He waved off Jase, then trotted inside. “He’s going now.”
“He seems nice. Are they safe?” Drew looked pale again, and Lee could tell he’d been working on Mikhail.
“They are. Jase will take them someplace warm. Comfortable. They’ll have good care until they recover. How is Mikhail?”
“Very far away.”
“Ow. Can I help?” He needed to get nourishment into Mikhail.
“Can we give him soup? Just the broth?”
“I can try. I actually have a big plastic syringe if he won’t take it from the spoon.” He couldn’t run a line like Tran would; he just wasn’t trained.
“I’ll help.”
“Be careful with yourself, mate.” He didn’t need Drew hurting himself.
Drew spread his hands. “I don’t know what else to do. I heal people.”
“I know that now, love. But just let me be with you when you do so you don’t overdo it. You’re no good to anyone if you’re sick.” Drew had the luxury of that now, with just Mikhail here.
“All right, mate. I smell snow.”
“Do you?” He lifted his head, scenting the air. “I’m glad Jase is on his way down then.”
“I do. Do you need me to warm you?” Was that a tease?
Maybe more of an offer.
“I think I might. It was pretty cold out there.” He shivered deliberately.
Drew came to him, hands wrapping around him and holding him close. So tactile, his lover. So willing to just be with him.
Lee wrapped his arms around Drew. “He’s resting?”
When Drew nodded, he steered them to the bedroom. Touching, loving, it would all cement the bond.
“We’re safe here. Together.” Drew sounded so satisfied. So happy.
“We are. And we have time to explore.” He wanted to touch and kiss. Just hugging Drew had made him look healthier.
“That means more loving!” The happiness in Drew’s voice made him laugh.
“It does. I have to take my clothes off all over again.” The joy was just so infectious, filling his heart.
“Shame.” Drew worked open his belt.
“You don’t like opening presents?” How long had it been since Drew had been given a gift? He couldn’t chance ordering anything to be delivered here, but he was a good hand carver. He could make something Drew might like.
“I love seeing you. I don’t remember the last gift I got before you.” Drew slipped his hand down into Lee’s jeans, the touch heated, sure.
He sucked in his belly to give better access, the touch making his eyes cross. “Am I yours?” He wanted to hear it.
“My mate. My lover. My Lee.” Drew nuzzled his jaw.
“Yep.” He took a deep breath, Drew’s scent so familiar now, and so much better. Not sick or hopeless. “Yours.”
“Are you feeling warmer?” Drew’s fingers danced over his skin, teasing him.
“Much. There are parts that are still cold…” He didn’t want Drew to stop, did he?
“Oh?” Come to bed. I need your skin. Drew stroked his cock in a hard, sure motion. I need your cock.
Yes. Hell, yes. He wanted to be with Drew, to take him.
Drew nodded, moving them gently, using his cock like a leash. He followed, just happy to be led, because that hand felt so good.
Come love me. Mark me inside. Make me yours. The constant song poured over his nerves and made him hard as a rock.
They settled on the bed, and he covered Drew’s body with his, rubbing them together while he took the kiss he desperately needed. This was what they required. Touching and bonding and loving.
Drew stripped him, the gentle touch becoming more and more demanding.
He moaned, letting Drew explore every patch of skin, every bit of muscle and hair. Drew hummed, tongue tracing the lines of his scars.
“Sweet. Oh, love. I’m so glad I found you.”
“Me too. I waited so long.”
He took another kiss, sliding off Drew’s robe, loving the feel of them together. Drew was lean, hipbones and collarbones poking out, begging touches.
Still, every time they touched, Drew seemed to gain, seemed to be stronger. He knew Drew was happy. Lee could feel it. That heart was happy, and it was healing the body. Lee was fascinated by the magic inside his mate, so unusual.
They rolled so Drew was on top, straddling his hips. He laughed up at his lover, sliding his hands over hot skin. “What do you want, love?”
“I want your seed, marking me inside.” Fuck, the things Drew said. They were somehow so proper and yet sexy to the point of filthy. They made his cock jump.
He nodded and stared, telling himself to move his hands, to slick his mate so that Drew could ride. He got two fingers wet with spit, then pressed them back to find Drew’s entrance.
Drew leaned forward so he could touch, lips soft on his throat. He slid those fingers into his mate’s body, taking the kiss and making his claim clear.
The rush of pleasure made him a little dizzy, and he opened to it, groaning low in his chest and pressing deeper into his mate. He worked his fingers in and out, feeling how hot Drew was inside, how alive. How had he lived without knowing this for so long?
“Need you. You want this, yes? To be mine. For me to be yours.” They did mate for life.
“I do.” He pushed and pushed, needing Drew open and ready for him. “Want you. Need you.” Mine. The flash of possessiveness shocked him.
“Yours. In me, mate. I need to wear your scent.”
He nodded, moaning, unable to hold back any longer. He slid his fingers free, then slicked up his cock. He let Drew rise up to sit back and take him in, but he held those lean hips to control the depth.
His eyes rolled, and he wanted to roar, to throw his head back and scream. Instead he panted, getting his breath back enough to start moving them.
So damn good, the way Drew clamped down around him. Lee could do this forever.
Drew groaned, his eyes closing as he began to move, rocking up and down, riding his cock.
Lee watched, his lips parted, his body on fire. How could he not have known this just days ago? It was like the missing part of his soul had appeared, clicking into place and locking there.
“Dreamed of you. Need you like my own breath.”
“Drew. Oh, baby.” God, he was hard as a rock and so ready. His balls pulled up tight, his breath coming in sharp bursts.
Drew sat up, taking him to the root, rocking for a second before lifting up and teasing them both. So he pulled Drew back down, grinding up with his hips before letting Drew slide back up. They were rocking and rolling, cooking with oil.
The harder he pulled, the more Drew took, and the entire bed rocked, the springs creaking and making their own noises. They were pushing, working hard, and he couldn’t believe how amazing his mate was. The touches made Lee howl with his pleasure.
Drew grabbed his own cock and started pulling hard, bringing himself off.
“Baby.” Lee helped, closing his hand around Drew’s dick too, tugging.
Oh. Oh, he felt that, all around him. So he squeezed a little, giving his lover some real friction.
Drew cried out and nodded, bouncing on his prick, riding him good and hard.
“Love. Love.” Lee chanted it, wanting to keep going, wanting to shoot hard.
“Mark me. Mark me and make me yours.”
He rolled them, putting Drew beneath him so he could drive home and bite down on that pale skin at the same time, marking that lean throat.
Drew’s hips snapped, seed spraying between them, hot and wet, the scent of need dizzying. He moaned, holding on through it all, then pushing in one last time to fill Drew deep. Marking him on the inside as well.
Drew’s moan was pure bliss, but it was their bond that went from a trickle to an open hose.
“Hello, mate. I’m so glad to know you.” Drew’s body was still working him, still tugging on his cock.
“Yes.” He couldn’t breathe, his chest heaving. “Oh, love. Drew. I feel you.”
“I’m all yours.” Drew put their foreheads together, and they breathed, nice and slow, steady. Together.
In and out.
We will run together soon. Run free.
Yes. For now we have Mikhail. Who needs soup, my love. Then we can rest.
Yes. Soup and love and healing. Drew blinked at him, nice and slow.
“Yes.” He hugged Drew close. “Do you want to sleep? I can feed him.”
“No. No, I’ll be good; I promise.” Drew snuggled in, utterly relaxed.
“You are good.” He laughed, but he wanted to snuggle too, so he rose. “Soup.”
He headed to the kitchen, filling a bowl. He would trickle it into Mikhail’s mouth if need be.
Drew was there, cradling the wolf’s head, the marks on his mate’s arms almost glowing.
“Careful, love. You’re no help to him if you wear yourself out.” He had a feeling no one had ever told Drew things like that before, that no one had ever been there to protect him.
Drew blinked up at him, eyes warm and wide.
“Here, trade me.” He would hold Mikhail and let Drew feed him. Drew needed to conserve his energy.
“Are you sure?”
“Yes.” He knew how fast Drew went from great to exhausted.
“Thank you.” Drew let him hold Mikhail, taking the soup from him.
Drew coaxed in most of the soup, and finally Mikhail slept, hard.
So he took Drew back to bed. To hold him. He was already drooping a little.
This was going to be their life, at least for two more weeks.
Chapter Six
Drew heard moaning, Mikhail’s pain pressing at him. Poor baby was having terrible nightmares. Terrible.
He crawled from the bed, stumbling around until he reached Mikhail and he could hold the sweet wolf close.
Mikhail calmed immediately, the skinny ribs still heaving, but the dream of there fading away.
