by Jools Louise
“I’m ready to go when you are,” he said, smiling at Alfie, who was practically bouncing with excitement.
“Fantastic!” Alfie said. “I love to shop. Let’s go, let’s go,” he urged Mason, hurrying the man along, ignoring the sigh of pretended reluctance. Lash saw the look of love, though, saw the tender smooch and the stroke of Mason’s big hand on Alfie’s rounded ass. He sighed wistfully. He wanted that with all of his mates.
With little further urging, they all piled out the door, leaving Jay to tackle the washing up and man the fort. With no guests until later, all he had to do was answer the phone.
* * * *
Clad in brand-new clothes, jeans, and T-shirts, wearing biker-style boots and lightweight leather jackets, the wolverines stood looking at their tattoo parlor, wide-eyed like kids on Christmas morning.
“What do you think?” John asked, as excited as they were. “I don’t need the offices up here, since I do all my paperwork downstairs. The tables up here can be for tattoo patrons only, hence the big sign at the bottom of the stairs.” He gestured vaguely. “I’ve opened up the space downstairs, on the sublevel and put more tables down there for any overflow up here, but now the weather is getting warmer, we’ve put tables and chairs out on the sidewalk, giving it a European feel.”
“This is far more than we expected,” Rage responded, his pale gold eyes wide with wonder, a new look for him. “We didn’t want to put you to any trouble,” he added, looking at the miracle that had been created in just over twenty-four hours.
“Don’t be ridiculous, my man,” John protested, rolling his eyes as though he hadn’t just turned his café upside down overnight to accommodate four badass shifters with attitude issues. “I was planning to organize my place anyway. This level is redundant, and I have plenty of space for your ink shop. The forms you need for licensing have been filed. We just need to wait for delivery of all your supplies,” he said. “That’ll be early next week, unfortunately. My friend who ordered the stuff said he was out of some of the colors I thought you’d need.” He looked a little disgruntled by that admission.
Slug burst out laughing, looking at the large floor space, bright and airy with large windows that opened out onto the balcony overlooking the street. From here they could look at the main floor of the café. It was far removed from the dingy places they’d been until now, apart from their cottage at the ranch.
“We need to think of a name, first. And advertise. And get a computer system set up so we can take bookings and payments.” He walked forward and hugged John impulsively, feeling a strong hand on his back briefly, not lingering, before he stepped back.
“What’s the name of your café?” Charm asked, looking shell-shocked.
“Café Anglais,” John replied proudly.
“Are you okay about us having a separate name?” Charm asked, getting a nod in reply.
“How about Badass Ink?” Jay suggested, coming up from the level below with a tray of hot coffees, Mason following behind, balancing a tray of pastries on one hand.
The wolverines chuckled at the suggestion, grinning at Jay. It was a cool name, but not quite what they wanted.
“We thought about Spirit Ink,” Rage said hesitantly, looking as though he was waiting for someone to ridicule the idea.
“That’s a great name,” Alfie praised, trotting up the steps to join the party. “Spirit Ink sounds just right.” Rage smiled at the leopard shifter, feeling proud.
“I agree,” Mason said, dragging a couple of tables together for them all to sit at, Jay helping him arrange chairs. “Maybe you should design your own sign,” he added, grabbing a fat, buttery croissant and taking a healthy bite, winking at John. “John still hasn’t got his sign up. I think he needs help.”
“It’s been said many times before,” John shot back wryly, wrinkling his nose, grinning back. “That’s not a bad idea, though. I can help you set up the computer, get the right programs on there. You can use my accounting software, it’s pretty straightforward, then you need to file your business name and arrange tax forms. Then maybe you could help some of our businesses get new signs, since we’re having to wait a while to get anything from the city. We just need the design, then we can mail it off and it’ll speed up the process.”
“We haven’t really used a computer before,” Slug confessed, looking embarrassed. “Usually we just draw our designs onto paper, or draw freehand onto someone’s skin.”
“I can teach you the computer side,” Jay offered. “I didn’t know anything about them, after being in captivity for so long. When I escaped I got myself into free computer classes, got myself an education. There are online courses, too, to get you up to speed, once you know the basics.”
Alfie wandered near to him, going to sit down, but Jay grabbed him quickly, dragging him onto his lap and nuzzling his neck teasingly. Alfie giggled helplessly, trying to avoid the ticklish whiskers rasping against his skin.
“What will people think?” he asked breathlessly when Jay let up, holding him close.
“They won’t think anything,” Mason drawled with a wink. “They’ll know you’ve been up to no good with your mates,” he added, and Alfie swatted at him with laughter in his eyes.
“I keep trying,” Alfie sighed, nipping at Jay’s lips lightly, a naughty gleam in his eyes. “I have two gorgeous mates, and all they want to do is talk and eat. No nookie for me, I’m afraid.” He looked like he was struggling not to laugh when both Jay and Mason exchanged shocked looks, that swiftly turned to scorching hot.
“We’ll see you boys later,” Mason said, suddenly dragging Jay from his seat. “Here’s your spare keys to the side entrance, saves you having to ring the doorbell all the time to get in.” He winked at their astounded looks as he threw a small keyring at each of the shifters.
Rage looked completely blown away. “You’re giving us keys to your home?” he asked, taking the set gingerly, as though they might explode in his face.
“Guys, I told you, you’re welcome in our home for as long as you like,” Mason said sincerely. “Now, me and my mates have important business to attend to, so we’ll see you later,” he added, before dragging his lovers off swiftly.
“He means they’re going to be messing up the sheets again,” John drawled, laughing softly.
They heard footsteps again, and Ethan appeared, looking at everyone timidly, his eyes curious. Lash got up, offering the younger man his chair, which Ethan accepted with a shy smile.
“Scotty wanted to know if you wanted burgers or anything,” he asked. “We’re prepping for the lunch crowd, if you’d like something.”
“I’ll go get our guests something,” John suggested, leaving the four wolverines with Ethan, staring at one another as though they’d never met before.
Chapter Six:
Discussing Terms
Mason lapped at Alfie’s hole hungrily, his hands stroking along the younger man’s sweat-slicked back as his mate rode Jay’s thick cock. He licked at the stretched rim of muscle, enjoying the musky taste, feeling Jay sliding in and out. He heard their groans, the sighs and his cock thickened even more, wanting to join them.
“I want you both,” Alfie begged, leaning forward. “Please, I need you inside me.” Mason let out a deep snarl, his lust igniting at the thought of double-fucking his mate, of feeling his cock sliding against Jay’s inside their little leopard’s scorching depths.
“Oh, fuck,” Jay moaned, clutching Alfie’s hips, panting hard, his body all slick and rippling muscle. “Baby, that sounds so fucking good. Fuck him, Mason. I want to feel you, too.”
Mason probed at the tight chute with his tongue, then slid a finger carefully along the moist length of Jay’s cock, stretching Alfie even wider. Alfie gasped, pausing in his rhythm, leaning forward, his lips closing over Jay’s as he waited for Mason’s cock.
Growling again, the big jaguar gently inserted a second finger, fucking inside with slow, shallow strokes, not wanting to hurt his mate.
&nbs
p; “Oh, God,” Alfie whimpered, hitching back and forward with his ass, fucking himself on both cock and fingers. “Please, don’t stop,” he begged, his body moving with such sensual grace Mason nearly shot his load over Alfie’s ass, wanting to mark him. He nipped at Alfie’s beautiful ass, loving the smooth, soft skin, the heady fragrance that was uniquely Alfie’s, mixed with the musky aroma of anal sex. He probed with a third finger, knowing he had a fat dick, preparing his mate for the inevitable discomfort as much as possible. Lubing up his cock, he smeared plenty around that clenching chute, smiling as more groans and pleas reached his ears.
“Here she goes,” Mason murmured and removed his fingers, then groaned loudly as he pushed against his lover’s hole, giving a little snap of his hips and gaining entrance. He went light-headed at the tight feeling of hot, moist heat and the feel of Jay’s silken cock pressing against his. He felt the throbbing veins in Jay’s dick, felt the slight ridges inside Alfie’s warm body and knew he’d found heaven. His balls slapped against Alfie’s and he realized with a start that he was fully lodged inside his mate. He’d been enjoying the journey so much, he’d missed the finish line.
“It feels…wonderful,” Alfie sighed. “It burns but it’s a good burn. I feel so full.”
Mason kissed his shoulder gently, lapping at the beads of sweat. Turning his face, Alfie begged for a kiss. Jay joined in, his tongue playing tag, sucking and licking playfully. Mason began to move slowly, groaning blissfully as he withdrew just a little, then shunted back in, repeating the process with exquisite care, his mouth fused to both his mates as he fucked gently and carefully.
“Harder,” Alfie whimpered, moving his hips gently, fucking himself on both mates, writhing between them, ramping up the heat until the room felt like it was at boiling point.
Mason grunted, kneeling back, hands on Alfie’s hips, holding him in place. Gradually he increased tempo, his chest heaving as he inhaled air through his tortured lungs, feeling as though he’d run a marathon. His legs shook, his hands trembled, and he threw back his head as his release hit him like a freight train, his seed jetting from his cock and shooting out so fast he was sure Alfie would be tasting it in his mouth. Jay gave a loud, chuffing roar, his hips surging upward, and blended his spunk with Mason’s, his mouth capturing Alfie’s with desperate greed. Mason struck, his canines sinking deep into Alfie’s shoulder, then lifted Jay’s head and bit him, too, tasting them both on his tongue. Alfie screamed in pleasure, his cock painting Jay’s abs, and twisted suddenly, claiming Mason’s neck first, then whipping his head around and doing the same for Jay.
Jay spurted again at the double claiming, snarling. Dragging Alfie down to him, he marked the young leopard first, then copied the others, and branded Mason as well, grunting as both men collapsed on top of him, squishing him into the mattress.
With a hoarse laugh, Mason disengaged, with great care, from Alfie’s ass and fell to the side, his arm across his forehead, trying to breathe. “That was epic,” he chuckled, looking over to see a sated grin on Jay’s face. Alfie had his eyes closed and was fast asleep, the double fuck apparently blowing his mind.
Jay raised a fist, and the pair fist-bumped, sharing a laughing glance. “I love you,” Mason said, rolling and pressing a tender kiss to Jay’s mouth.
“I love you, too, gorgeous,” Jay replied, his fingers brushing sweaty hair from Mason’s cheek. “I wanted you both for so long, I still can’t believe that we’re mated. I couldn’t wish for better mates,” he said, his eyes a dark turquoise, dark hair matted with sweat his mouth swollen and moist from their passionate kisses. He looked like sin personified, his big body relaxed and his eyes dreamy.
Alfie lay draped over him, breathing deeply, all flushed and sexy, cum oozing from his gaping hole behind. Mason stared at the mess of cum, dripping down onto Jay’s balls, and gave a low groan, curling his body around, desperate to taste.
He lapped at the thick cream, tasting his own cum along with Jay’s, hearing Jay give a low moan of pleasure. “Damn, you’re so dirty,” Jay murmured, smiling lazily, licking his lips as Mason cleaned him tenderly. “I love it.”
Mason chuckled, mouthing Jay’s balls, then licked at Alfie’s before giving a long, slow swipe along his crease. He rimmed his hole, then moved on up and ended up on his side, sharing their taste with Jay.
He heard a soft knock at the bedroom door, easing away from his mates, and glanced at the clock, eyes widening as he saw the time. They had guests about to check in and he was still in bed at three in the afternoon.
Alarmed, he leaped from the bed, hearing Jay’s drowsy chuckle, and opened the door a crack, seeing Slug there with a grin on his face. Crap!
“I sent your guests to the café and told them you would be along in a few minutes,” the shifter said, then let out a chuckle. “I told them you had important business and must have run a little behind schedule.” He turned to go, then turned back and winked. “Probably shower before you go greet them. They’re lion shifters, with sensitive noses—and you stink!” Waggling his brows, he headed back down the hall, leaving Mason blushing and cursing.
Crap!
* * * *
Mason was still blushing two hours later as he sat in the kitchen, having checked all his guests in, having three couples and one family group of four arriving at the same time. A quick shower and he was running to the café, apologizing profusely to his guests, knowing he looked guilty as hell.
John had made several references, obviously informed by Slug, as to what Mason had been doing. Mason took the jibes with good grace—he had been distracted. His guests were fine about the whole thing, young shifters for the most part, with the family of three related to a Native American who owned a casino over near Landers. The Blackhawks. Everyone laughed about Mason’s faux pas and sat around teasing him for a while, drinking coffee and free pastries and pie, which Mason would have to reimburse John for later.
“Maybe we should get an alarm clock,” Alfie giggled, looking sexy as hell in a light blue long tunic top, which had tiny bluebells embroidered all over it, the neckline square and the sleeves short and edged in creamy lace. He wore jeans with holes ripped into them, and pink flip-flops sparkling with rhinestones. His toes were painted pink to match. “Then when we get distracted again, we can at least set a reminder when guests are due,” he said. The wolverines were in the kitchen, too, chuckling along with Alfie, enjoying Mason’s embarrassment.
Mason rolled his eyes, pointing a stick of celery at Alfie warningly. “I blame you,” he said, biting back a grin as Alfie’s enjoyment of the whole situation. Of course Alfie hadn’t had to face their guests, but in the morning, maybe they would tease him as well. “I was ready to quit, but you begged me to keep going. What’s a poor, defenseless jaguar to do? I couldn’t turn you down, could I?”
There was a round of laughter from everyone, interrupted by a knock at the kitchen door, which opened slowly. Two golden-haired young men stood there, small of build and with the most amazing caramel-colored eyes.
“We’re sorry to interrupt, but we wondered how late the clinic opened?” one asked, standing about five feet six inches, his companion an inch shorter.
“Are you planning to visit someone?” Alfie asked, smiling at them gently. “If you are, I can call over there and get permission. He looked at the clock on the wall, seeing it was nearly seven in the evening now.
“Our brothers are there, Harley and Max,” was the answer. “We’ve had trouble getting here before now.” The young men looked upset. “Our parents didn’t want us to come, but we had to see our brothers.”
“Of course you have to see them,” Jay said firmly. “Is there a reason your parents chose to try and stop you?” His eyes glimmered with a hint of anger.
“They were worried, that’s all,” the young man said, looking alarmed by Jay’s irritation. “I think they were hoping to wait until our brothers got better, then they would send for them.”
Mason stared at the young man, knowi
ng the guy was not telling them the truth, seeing the embarrassment and shame in his beautiful eyes. He had the feeling there was something more to the story, but didn’t want to frighten the poor men further.
“I’ll call Lex,” Alfie said, going to the phone on the wall. “I’ll see if they’re awake.”
“Can’t we just go over there?” the second shifter asked, shuffling his feet.
“Lex won’t want you disturbing them if they’re sleeping,” Alfie replied, frowning slightly, looking intently at the caracal shifters. “Is there a reason you don’t want me to warn them you’re coming?” His tone hardened, his hand on the phone, the gold in his eyes more pronounced.
“We didn’t part on the best terms,” the first shifter admitted, looking at his feet. “We were nasty to them. We didn’t believe them when they said they were gay, and made fun of their clothes and mannerisms. They’re very effeminate, the way they dress. Harley said he wanted to be a girl, not a boy.”
Alfie scowled, hands on hips, looking fiercely angry. “There’s no reason for them to be anything else but what they were born to be,” he snarled furiously. “What right do you have to mock them and put them down?”
The pair of shifters looked downcast, one had tears in his eyes. “We don’t. But our father was adamant about the sin of being gay. We were all brought up with very strict rules. We were taught to dress a certain way, how to act, even who to be friends with. He died a few months ago. It’s taking a while to find our own path. Our mother and aunts are so used to obeying his rules, they don’t know any different.”
Alfie’s anger disappeared in a heartbeat, and he came over and hugged both men. “What are your thoughts now, about homosexuality and gender fluidity?” he asked seriously. “As you see, I don’t particularly care about people’s opinions of how I dress, or who I choose to love.” He glanced at Mason and Jay meaningfully, and the caracals’ eyes showed their understanding. “But I won’t have you going to the clinic and upsetting those boys. They’ve been through far too much.” He crossed his arms over his chest, tapping his foot as he waited for an answer.
