by Jools Louise
“I had my own private sex show,” Alfie giggled, snuggled between the two big men. “I love watching you make love.” He sighed when Mason’s lips met his, their tongues playing languidly, their bodies clean and the sheets changed from their sex marathon.
The front doorbell rang just then, and they exchanged startled looks. They had nobody booked in that night, the first time since the place had opened. Alfie made to get out of bed, but Mason waved him away, slid out of bed and got dressed in sweatpants and a T-shirt.
“The joys of owning an inn,” Jay yawned, cuddling closer.
Alfie waited a while, saw that Jay had fallen asleep, and then went to help Mason. The guest rooms had been cleaned and remade from the wolverine pests earlier, who had messed up their rooms, even though they’d only been there under an hour.
Padding out of the room, he heard voices from the foyer, ones he recognized. Crossing the kitchen, he came to a halt as he spied the four wolverine shifters, Lash, Charm, Slug, and Rage, looking a little forlorn. He’d thought they’d all go back to their cottage at the ranch. Mason didn’t seem to know what to do with them all and sent Alfie a helpless look, asking for help.
“Hey, guys, what’s up?” he asked the four young men.
“We wondered if we could stay here, at the inn,” they asked, exchanging looks that Alfie could only describe as…well, he didn’t really know. These weren’t the same four aggressive wolverines they all knew. These were shuffling their feet and looking almost shy. Certainly, they weren’t the demanding, officious snobs their families were.
“I was explaining to them that we need the guest rooms for paying guests,” Mason said, looking like he didn’t know what to do to fix the crestfallen looks on the guys’ faces. “They asked if we had rooms they could use for a while. I wasn’t trying to be mean.”
“We have three bedrooms that we don’t need, back there, don’t we?” Alfie asked, pointing to their private quarters, tilting his head as he narrowed his eyes on Mason in confusion. Then he looked at the four shifters. “I thought you liked being at the ranch?” he asked curiously. “Why do you want to stay here, with us?”
Rage spoke up, nudging his brethren with his elbow when they looked at their feet, glaring at their sudden silence. “We don’t want to be outcasts,” he said, his Mohawk quivering as he spoke earnestly. “We respect what you all did for us, and we want to open up a tattoo place, like Jay and John and Mason suggested, contribute to this town. We saw how everyone, even the ones who don’t really know us and who’ve been mean to us, rallied around to help us get rid of those…of our…” He stopped speaking, seemingly unable to describe the idiots formerly known as his family.
Alfie saw a glitter of tears, saw the unhappiness in each of their faces. They may all look and act like tough guys with no feelings, but he realized that was the opposite of what they were really like. They were just like him, and Mason, and all the other guys who lived here. They carried deep scars, both physical and mental. Emotionally, they had been abused for years, then betrayed by the people who should have done everything they could to protect and nurture these boys.
Opening his arms, Alfie stepped up to Rage and gave him a big hug, heard the guy’s breath hitch, heard him inhale a shuddering breath. He was trembling, his too-thin body reminding Alfie of just how much he and his friends had suffered…and they weren’t out of the woods yet.
Stepping back, Alfie enveloped each of the wolverines in a hug, too, then made a quick decision. “Do you have any bags?” he asked.
He gasped in shock when they shook their heads. “We only have what we’re wearing,” Charm said, looking embarrassed. “We didn’t want to ask for clothes or anything from the ranch. We didn’t think we had the right, after what we did to Ethan and the others.” His lower lip trembled and Alfie’s heart melted. He remembered when he first came to that ranch, Two Spirit, and had been too scared to even shift for the first few weeks, staying with Cassidy in the garage while they were cared for. Only when they realized they were safe did they shift, egged on by Joe, who had taken them all in, adopted them without a qualm, feeding and clothing them without once asking for anything in return.
“Well, we’re just going to change that tomorrow,” Alfie said, glaring at Mason like it was his fault.
“What did I do?” Mason yelped, throwing his hands wide.
“What you’re going to do, is drive these guys to the ranch tomorrow and get them all a whole bunch of clothes from the stuff donated last year. There’s a whole barn full of stuff there,” he said to the wolverines who were staring at him in awe. “They’ll need shoes, toiletries, and anything else that takes their fancy,” he told his mate, wagging a finger at Mason. The big jaguar nodded, looking resigned, and rolled his eyes behind Alfie’s back when the small leopard shifter turned to the wolverines again. “Don’t bother rolling your eyes, Mason,” Alfie said sharply, not looking at his mate, who froze, then sighed. “These four are going to have a home, right here with us, and they can decide which rooms they’d like. There’s three down there, two are connected, but if you prefer to share one room, that’s okay, too,” Alfie said, gesturing for their guests to follow, flipping Mason off as he headed into the kitchen. That cat was toast once he got done showing their guests to their rooms.
“Won’t you get into trouble?” Lash asked, glancing back at Mason, who was in the process of locking up again.
Alfie sent him a laughing glance, then chuckled aloud. “Honey, the big lug will be lucky if he isn’t sleeping on the couch tonight. I can’t believe he was going to turn you away. Bloody idiot,” he added, copying one of John’s favorite swearwords.
The wolverines laughed as well, relaxing slightly.
“Now then, gentlemen, these are the two interconnecting bedrooms I thought you might like,” Alfie said, inviting them all to take a look. “They share a bathroom, which is separate to ours, that’s further along this corridor,” he said, pointing to the master bedroom. “Use both rooms, or if you want just one, that’s fine, too. There’s towels and stuff already in the bathroom, toiletries like shampoo and stuff.”
“Are you hungry?” Mason asked as he followed them into the first bedroom, which had a connecting door to the other one, through the bathroom.
The wolverines nodded, flushing a little.
“Come on, let’s get you something to eat,” he said, smiling at them warmly. “I’m sorry I was being an ass,” he confessed as he led the way to the kitchen, Alfie in tow, and began grabbing sandwich fixings from the massive, industrial-size fridge. “I wasn’t trying to be, I was just confused when you asked to stay…honestly,” he said. “I didn’t realize you meant to live here, and then when you said you were wanting to stay for a while, but couldn’t pay, I just blanked. I’m sorry,” he repeated sincerely.
“We didn’t really explain ourselves very well,” Rage admitted, sitting at the big oak table. “We just said we’d like to stay. We didn’t really think it through, to be honest, we just thought we’d ask.” He shrugged, blushing slightly.
“Well, I’m glad you did,” Alfie said, helping fix some roast beef sandwiches, and added potato chips and coleslaw, and grabbed bottles of premade iced tea from another fridge unit. “Here, tuck into those. Then I’ll help you get settled. We’ve no paying guests tonight, so we won’t be up too early, but if you want breakfast, just knock and I’ll help you.”
“You don’t need to cook anything,” Lash protested, sitting at the table with his friends. “We can head over to the café and grab something. We don’t want to be any trouble.” He looked miserable all of a sudden.
“Honey, you aren’t any trouble at all,” Alfie retorted, placing thick sandwiches and tall glasses of tea in front of each of the men. “It will be no bother, and you can learn how to use the range and cook for yourselves. It’s a vital skill for independent young shifters to learn.” His tone brooked no argument, and the wolverines nodded, still looking shell-shocked.
Mason grinned a
t them, grabbing a glass of milk for him and his mate. “You’ll learn soon enough that Alfie is a force of nature,” he said, laughing when Alfie came over, bumping him with his hip. Grabbing Alfie, he smooched his lover, then wrapped both arms around his smaller mate, nuzzling tenderly into his soft neck. “There’s no point arguing, you’ll never win. Just nod and accept that he knows best.” He laughed again when Alfie nipped his shoulder as the turned his head to the side, tilting Alfie’s face up to his and kissing him lovingly.
“That’s what we want with Ethan,” Lash said, watching the pair longingly. “We want our mate to be relaxed around us. We want to be able to kiss and hug him.”
“You will,” Alfie replied with a gentle smile. “Ethan’s already healing fast. He was there with you earlier, and he looked really angry when he heard what had been done to you, by the cult and your families…and us.” Alfie looked at the wolverines, showing his dismay at how the shifters had been treated like pariahs. “We’re not bad people, we’ve just all been scarred by the cult, in our own way. It’s hard to trust sometimes. I’m sorry, too,” he added, sighing heavily.
“No, you had every right to mistrust us at first,” Charm said, having demolished his sandwich and drunk his tea in three gulps. “We were so afraid at first, aggressive to everyone. We haven’t been able to trust anyone either, for a long time. We were nearly ready to give up, back in that tunnel, but we kept digging, kept hoping someone would hear us. Then we heard the drills above and began banging on that hatch.”
“Lash nearly fell to his death trying,” Rage said. “He was the one who climbed that big ladder to the top, banging with a piece of wood. When the hatch was opened, he was scared that the cult had returned. That’s why we hid at first, ready to attack in a last ditch effort.”
“Well, you don’t need to hide anymore,” Alfie said grimly. “Everyone knows now how you were abused and how you’ve been treated for all these years. I think you’ll see a difference in people tomorrow.” He smiled, then, seeing the empty plates. “Now, let’s get you settled for the night, and then in the morning, my big lug will drive you to the ranch to get clothes and stuff.”
Mason nodded, smiling as well, and they all trooped to the bedrooms, the shifters electing to take both rooms, which had two double beds in each, a sofa and two small armchairs, plus a television and writing desk as well.
“We’ll see you in the morning,” Alfie said, hugging the men again, then left them to it.
“I’m sorry,” Mason said again once they were in the corridor outside. “I really wasn’t trying to be mean,” he said.
“I know, baby,” Alfie said, kissing him tenderly. “I love you.” Mason’s arms came around him, lifting him like a baby, and he giggled when Mason nuzzled his belly with his mouth, carrying him back to bed, then sliding under the covers where Jay waited.
“I heard we have roomies,” Jay said drowsily, snuggling up against Alfie’s back, warming him.”
“Hmmm, yes,” Alfie replied, feeling tired himself, and also proud. He liked the feeling that he’d helped the wolverines, who were like lost little boys who’d never had a chance to grow up. “They’re staying for as long as they want,” he said, then closed his eyes, feeling his mates’ warmth sink into him, soothing him, and went to sleep, surrounded by their loving embrace.
* * * *
Slug lay for a moment, snug and warm, blinking the sleep from his brain, trying to remember where he was. The room was beautifully decorated, slashes of blue and cream intermingled with golds and the occasional deep purple. It put him in mind of a summer meadow, the wildflowers swaying under a blanket of blue, the gold like rays of sunlight piercing the light smattering of clouds that hinted at an impending shower.
He breathed in, his nostrils quivering with the scent of bacon and sausage cooking, freshly brewed coffee drifting on the air. The sound of laughter and muted voices drifted from somewhere nearby.
“Are you awake?” his friend, Charm asked huskily, and he turned his head to meet sherry-brown eyes reflecting a warmth that all his brethren had been missing for the longest time.
“Getting hungry,” Slug admitted, smiling slightly, the expression feeling odd on his face. He’d gotten so used to scowling that a smile felt a little strange.
“Hmmm, me too,” Charm replied, returning the smile warmly. His spiky, red-tipped hair lay flat this morning, with tufts sticking up randomly. He looked young and unlike the tough badass dude he resembled when in full costume. Slug liked seeing him this way, all warm from sleep, his eyes a little puffy, a crease along one cheek from snuggling into his pillow. “I missed you last night,” Charm added, coming over and sliding under the covers next to Slug.
Slug immediately drew him closer, kissing him softly. “I missed you, too, baby,” he said, cuddling the slightly smaller wolverine, enjoying the feel of the man in his arms.
Charm kissed him back, their lips tasting languidly. Hands drifted over each other’s too-thin frames, a reminder of what they’d been through together.
“Put those cocks away, I smell breakfast,” their friend Rage called from the bathroom door, smirking as they parted slowly, lips clinging.
“We’re up,” Slug drawled, yawning hugely. He planted a hard kiss on Charm’s mouth, then groaned as the kiss deepened. He was helpless against his lovers’ sensuality, loving their taste, loving how each one felt in his arms. He felt Rage slide in behind him in the double bed, felt a hard cock against his ass. Turning his head, he took Rage’s mouth hungrily, the trio sharing sloppy wake-up kisses until they were all panting hard, cocks rigid.
“Time for breakfast,” Lash said, looking at the display with lust in his eyes. “We’ll have plenty of time for fucking later. We need to make ourselves useful.”
The three in the bed groaned, but parted, leaving the bed and heading for the bathroom. Slug grabbed Lash by the back of the neck as he passed, pulling his lover in for a scorching smooch, grinning at Lash’s low moan and instant capitulation. His lover’s long braid was a handy tool, and Slug kept a firm hold as he took his time, savoring Lash’s tasty mouth, and the whimpers that told Slug he was pleasuring his mate.
“Now it’s time for a shower and breakfast,” Slug said hoarsely as he wrenched away slowly, cupping Lash’s small ass in one hand, squeezing teasingly, then sauntered into the bathroom to rinse the sleep away.
“That was hot,” Charm commented, as he joined Slug in the shower, the pair quickly rinsing off, drying themselves, before climbing into the raggedy clothes that were the only wardrobe they possessed.
“What can I say?” Slug retorted, his arm going around Charm’s waist as they joined their mates in the bedroom. “I’m a lover not a fighter,” he said, grinning at the muffled snorts, followed by laughter.
“Come on, lover,” Lash said, smiling. “Let’s get you lot fed. Gotta keep our strength up for later,” he winked, leading the way toward the kitchen.
* * * *
Lash felt the sting of tears in his eyes as he stared at the three men who had not flinched at providing four young, confused, and lonely wolverine shifters with a home. Jay, the big snow leopard shifter whose brother owned the café next door, had just informed them that John had set aside some space in his upstairs dining area, which could be used for a temporary tattoo parlor until the new premises could be built in the next block.
“I don’t know what to say,” he said after a pronounced pause, trying to find the right way to thank them.
Alfie smiled at him, his green-gold eyes sparkling happily. The guy wore some interesting clothing, constantly experimenting with different styles and fabrics. Today he wore a scoop-necked floral top, with an elasticated neckline and ruched waistband that revealed a couple of inches of taut midriff. Instead of jeans, today he’d gone for a pair of denim shorts that revealed his slender, well-toned legs that had been shaved of all hair. They were smooth and looked long and almost feminine. Lash spotted pink nail polish on Alfie’s fingers and toes, pink lipstick,
and gold eyeliner that made his eyes pop.
“Honey, just say yes,” Alfie giggled, giving Lash a light kiss on the cheek. Lash blushed, feeling the heat in his cheeks as he looked down at the table filled with dirty dishes from breakfast.
“Yes,” the other three wolverines all said at once, and Lash grinned at them.
“Yes,” he added, laughing softly. “And, thank you.” He met Jay’s eyes, nodding, then looked a little warily at Mason.
“You’re welcome to stay here for as long as you want, get your bearings,” Mason said kindly, his eyes reading Lash’s concerns perfectly. “We’ll take a ride to the ranch when you’re ready, get you some gear to wear, and there’s things you can put in your rooms, knickknacks, electronics, whatever you need.” He lowered his voice to a whisper and leaned closer, ignoring the fact that all were shifters and everyone could hear what he said. “I have my eye on an electric scooter,” he confided, winking. “They have a lot of toys in there, too. You’ll be able to take your pick.”
Lash stared at the man. Toys? They were wolverine shifters, not little kids. They had a badass reputation to uphold, what did they want with toys?”
“I’ll come with you,” Alfie said, laughing at his confused look. “Then once you have all the essentials, we’ll go look into what you need to get licensed as a tattoo artist. There’s strict guidelines for that. Health and safety, you know.”
Lash felt a twinge of excitement ripple through him. All four of his brethren were gifted artists and had tattooed each other, as well as others in their clans. They had no formal training, but possessed the gift to create works of art. He was eager to see what John had in mind for their studio. It would be a pretty cool place to set up shop. With the café below, they’d have plenty of snacks on hand, and from what Jay had said, they wouldn’t be charged for any of them. Apparently John thought he would get increased trade from having the tattoo parlor upstairs, therefore justifying giving away free food and drinks to the four wolverines taking up residence.
