by M. D. Grimm
My protector, he thought.
Brian took a step forward when two boulders dressed in fur nearly knocked Derek off his feet. Derek gasped and stumbled to the side as Joan and Gable rushed in, quickly followed by Fenrir. Brian laughed as the dogs leapt up and tried to lick his face.
“Easy, easy,” he said, keeping his wounded arm out of reach. As the dogs tried to attack his face, he looked at Kris.
“Do you want to come in?” Derek asked after he composed himself.
Kris shook her head. “I have to get back. My husband doesn’t want me to be outside long. He’s afraid that darned wolf will get me.”
She looked past him and exchanged a smile with Brian.
“Thank you, Kris. I really app—”
“No trouble, boy. No trouble. Just make sure you don’t go walking in the dark again. Or if you must, you have this strapping young man with you.”
Kris patted Derek’s arm, gave him a wink, and left. She was sturdy for her age and walked briskly down the short path to her own house. Derek watched over her until she entered her house. Then he shut the door. And locked it.
Ah, yes, Brian thought. The warrior and the protector of those who matter. Brian’s heart turned to mush.
Derek turned around and considered Brian silently for a moment. Then he looked at the six dogs currently hopping around him and clapped his hands.
“Okay, party’s over. Sit. Sit!” His own dogs obeyed him instantly and sat down. But Brian’s dogs gave Derek almost indignant looks. He could feel their discontent when he brushed their minds. Brian wasn’t surprised. He was pack leader, after all. He looked down at his dogs, gave a curt command, and all three of them sat.
Brian smiled and hoped Derek didn’t see that it was strained.
“So… take out?” Brian asked.
The dogs were asleep around them in the living room, and they both sat on the couch watching a movie when Derek made his move. Brian rested his head on his shoulder, and his body was pressed tightly to his side. Derek snuck his hand down and under Brian’s shirt to brush his nipple. Brian twitched and said nothing, a lazy smile on his face.
Movie forgotten, Derek pinched and rolled Brian’s nipple as he slipped his other hand between his legs. Brian made a sound that sounded like a purr and nuzzled Derek’s neck. Painful need blossomed inside him, and Derek cupped Brian’s bulge before capturing his mouth in a sweeping kiss. The gut-wrenching terror Derek had felt when learning of Brian’s attack came flooding back into him. If Brian had died, he would have lost his chance to admit his love, to make Brian his mate. In that single moment he would have lost everything good in his life.
Derek wasn’t going to waste any more time. The urge to mate was flaring up brightly inside him, and the urge to tell Brian everything came right along with it. But first things first. Derek trailed his mouth down Brian’s throat, sucking on his Adam’s apple before moving lower. Brian gripped his hair with his good hand, and took deep gulps of air. He wondered if Brian was swallowing his sounds of pleasure. He usually wasn’t this silent.
The dogs didn’t move.
“Derek,” Brian whispered, letting out a gasp when Derek yanked up his shirt and took a nipple into his mouth.
“We should… God… go upstairs.” Brian shook as Derek tormented his nipple and ruthlessly rubbed him through his pants.
That bastard wolf had tried to silence those sounds. The rogue had tried to take the life currently beating beneath Derek’s mouth like a bird’s frantic wings. That wasn’t going to happen. Ever.
Derek pulled down Brian’s zipper and pulled out his cock. Brian looked down the same instant Derek looked up. Brian’s eyes reflected the light from the television, giving them an unearthly glow. Heavens, he was beautiful.
Derek eagerly slipped Brian’s burning shaft into his mouth. Brian arched, and his head snapped back to hit the back of his couch. A deep groan of pure ecstasy escaped his mouth, and he gripped Derek’s hair with his good hand. Derek shoved Brian’s pants to his ankles and slowly drew him in and out of his mouth, sucking urgently. He kept one hand on Brian’s shaft while he stroked Brian’s balls with the other. Then he slipped farther back and found his puckered hole.
“Derek,” Brian said in a hoarse whisper as Derek pressed a finger against his hole.
Tight. So tight, and so hot. And all his.
When he felt that Brian was close to orgasm, Derek slipped him out of his mouth and removed his finger. Brian gave a sound of displeasure, and Derek chuckled. Before Brian could move, Derek picked him up and carried him around the couch and up the stairs. Brian locked his arms around Derek’s neck and kissed him passionately, seemingly heedless of his wounded arm. Those painkillers must be some hardcore ones.
Derek moaned in pure bliss and shoved the bedroom door closed with his foot. There were only two rooms on the second floor: a bathroom and a bedroom. Derek had seen them over the weekend and didn’t have to use his eyes to find the right room.
Derek laid Brian on the bed. Brian’s eyes were bright with lust, his legs and arms locked around him. Derek really did love the man before him. Brian could alternately calm him and set his blood on fire. His scent was driving Derek crazy and sending shivers through his body. He could not wait much longer to once again find pleasure inside his body.
Derek stood and yanked out of his clothes before ripping Brian’s pants off him. Brian choked out a laugh as he sat up and carefully took his wounded arm out of the sling. Derek gently helped him, and once it was out, he slid his mouth over the bandage, the skin, allowing his lips to skim up his arm, feather-light.
Brian’s breath came in short pants that were close to whimpers.
They were now both naked, and as Brian reached to grab Derek’s erection, Derek sidestepped him. Brian frowned but it didn’t last as Derek pushed him on the bed.
“If you touch me,” Derek said, gasping. “I will burst.”
Brian grinned and wrapped his arm around Derek’s waist before lifting his lower half and rubbing their erections together. A full-body shudder raced through Derek as he swooped down for another kiss. His fingers stroked Brian’s opening.
“Now, now,” Brian gasped.
“Damn right,” Derek growled. He grabbed condom and lube and slicked his fingers before probing.
Brian’s greedy ass sucked in his fingers, and Derek grunted before attacking Brian’s sweet nipples. Brian spread and lifted his legs, giving Derek all the access he needed. Derek was soon fucking him with three fingers, stretching and curling, drunk off the sounds of Brian’s pleasure. Derek’s dick was leaking and he was close to the edge.
“Goddamn it, Derek,” Brian said and gripped his head, yanking Derek off his chest. “Fuck me now.”
“As you wish, mate.” The word was out before he could stop himself. He doubted Brian heard him since his face was flushed, his eyes screwed shut, his entire body poised for a good fucking.
Derk put on the condom, for once thankful for the sheath since he could last longer with it on. Then he shoved his burning length inside Brian, needing his mate to surround him.
“Yes,” Brian said, clutching to Derek like he was a lifeline. “Move. Fast. Hard.”
Never let it be said he didn’t do what he was told. They were both already close to the edge and despite the condom, they didn’t last long. Derek brought them swiftly to the peak, and all he could hear was the blood roaring in his ears and Brian’s shout of ecstasy.
They reached the peak together and plummeted at the same time. Brian spasmed around him, coating his own stomach with his cum. He squeezed Derek so tightly that his own orgasm was violent.
When Derek regained consciousness, he realized he was lying on top of Brian, and a hand was stroking his back. He managed to roll off without jostling Brian’s wounded arm. Panting, he discarded the condom and forced himself to stumble to the bathroom. He dampened a cloth and tenderly cleaned Brian of his release before pulling Brian flush against him. Brian murmured something and tucked
his wounded arm to his chest. Derek held him protectively and closed his eyes.
Brian couldn’t understand it. He frowned down at his dogs as Joan and Gable whined. What they were showing him didn’t make sense. They were thinking of the wolf that attacked him. The wolf hadn’t smelled right. But it wasn’t just that—they claimed that Derek smelled similar. Derek was a man not a wolf, so that wasn’t right.
He’d placed his arm back in the sling after taking a shower, and Brian turned back to the stove where he was making pancakes, eggs, and bacon. He had woken up that morning with a big appetite and thanked God that Derek wasn’t a vegan or some shit like that. He liked his meat.
Brian smiled slightly but it faded when his dogs whined again. He looked back at them. “The wolf and Derek smell similar? You sure?”
They were positive, and it put them on edge. He knew they liked Derek, mostly because he liked Derek. But they were protective and his smell puzzled them. The pregnant cat about a week ago thought that Derek smelled funny for a human. The cat thought he had smelled a little… canine. And what of the other strange occurrences? The attitudes of cats around Derek, the submissive nature of the dogs. The way Derek had with dogs, almost acting like one of them. He said he’d grown up around wolves. Could humans take on the mannerisms of animals?
Then Brian vaguely remembered thinking that Derek’s eyes sometimes glowed, like last night, especially when they were making love. But he hadn’t exactly been thinking with his brain last night and those painkillers could mess with the mind. Yet what had been weird was that the glowing took place in the bedroom as well as in the living room with the TV There had been no light in the bedroom. Where had the glow come from? Had there even been a glow?
Brian didn’t know what to feel about all this information. Animals couldn’t lie—they didn’t know the concept. So what could it mean? Why did he himself think that Derek’s brain felt oddly canine when he brushed it?
How could Joan and Gable even compare the wolf to Derek? Brian had certainly been terrified when that wolf attacked him but he hadn’t seen his life flash before his eyes or worried about his parents or that their relationship might never be repaired. No, he had seen Derek’s face and the fear that he might never be able to tell him just how much he loved him.
Brian thought of last night and shivered in residual pleasure. He didn’t want to think about that anymore. He didn’t want to dwell on those questions. He just wanted to cook breakfast for the man he loved and forget about the wolf. He just wanted peace.
As Brian cooked breakfast, Derek lay in bed, staring eye-to eye with the cat. Tinker. What a name.
This was the first time he’d been alone in the same room with the cat. Tinker considered him for a long moment before leaping down from his high perch and jumping on the bed. He stretched luxuriously, first his front end and then his back. Then he cautiously approached Derek, his neck stretching, his nose sniffing.
Derek smiled and turned his hand palm up. He needed to win the cat over. He wanted a life with Brian. He wanted to move in with him and raise their six dogs and cat together. He wanted more dogs—he wanted a pack like he remembered when he was a child. Only now he realized just how lonely he had been since leaving home. He wanted to run with their dogs. He wanted to run with Brian in the woods, in the dark. They could have such fun together. But for that to happen he needed to tell Brian. Everything.
Tinker sniffed him before bumping his head against Derek’s fingers. Derek lifted his hand and scratched Tinker’s head. The cat purred like a freight train.
“How do you think he’ll take it?” Derek asked Tinker. “You think he wants to cuddle up to a wolfman?”
The cat continued to purr.
“Well, at least I have your vote.” Derek wasn’t looking forward to that conversation as he pulled on his pants. He quickly brushed is teeth before following the cat down the stairs and into the kitchen. Music played and the sight that met his eyes scattered his thoughts to the wind.
Celine Dion crooned away as Brian made breakfast and swayed his perky ass along with the music. And he was singing. If you could call that noise singing.
Brian wore cotton pants and a tank top with his hair pulled back. Derek crossed his arms over his bare chest and leaned a shoulder against the doorjamb. He was thoroughly amused and aroused by the simple, homey, vision before him.
This is what it could be like, he thought. This is how I could start every morning. This feeling of completion and contentment could be his. It could be theirs. Derek’s heart raced as he envisioned their possible future together. Would all that be dashed if he told Brian everything? Could he bear that happening? Would it be easier to keep it entirely secret and hidden or would it be better to risk?
He was batting those thoughts back and forth when Brian turned around and gave him a sunny smile.
“Breakfast is almost ready,” he said cheerfully.
Derek said nothing as he crossed to Brian, still in torment over what he should do, cupped his mate’s face in both hands, and kissed him.
Chapter Eleven
Brian knew something was wrong but he didn’t know how to ask Derek. He wasn’t sure if he should. Derek was attentive and helpful around the house as they both took the day off work, yet there was something dark behind his eyes when they focused on him. Brian could feel it. He couldn’t guess as to the source.
It couldn’t be resentment from Derek for having to stay with Brian. In fact, he seemed to enjoy their time together and the dogs. Was it worry? But Brian was expected to make a full recovery. What was it?
Derek could only take off Tuesday and had to return to work on Wednesday. Brian insisted on keeping Derek’s dogs with him, and Derek didn’t argue. Derek said he explained the situation to the center, and he was given shorter days so he could assist Brian. But if Brian needed company, he simply called on Kris who came right over. She transformed into a little girl in doggy heaven as the dogs jostled for her attention.
Brian also tried to communicate with Derek’s dogs, hoping for some clues. But it wasn’t an easy thing to ask a question with emotions and images. Goliath was confused, Betty Boop insisted on more scratches, and Henry slept most of the time. Besides, Brian didn’t really know what to ask.
The investigation into the wolf attack became a joint taskforce between the local PD and Fish and Wildlife. Brian ended up giving his statement a couple of time to different officers before hearing nothing at all. He hoped that was a good sign.
On the third day after returning home from the hospital, Brian and Derek took an afternoon walk with the dogs. Brian gathered up his courage and approached Derek. The dogs were getting water, and Derek flopped onto his couch with a sigh. He looks so at home here, Brian thought. He took a moment to enjoy the view before sitting down next to Derek.
“Derek?”
“Hmmm?” Derek rested his head on the back of the couch. He glanced at Brian’s face.
“Is there anything… wrong?”
Derek frowned. “What?”
Brian shrugged. “Well, there have just been moments when… I don’t know. You seem to be worried about something. You can talk to me if you are.”
There was a struggle behind Derek’s eyes. He was beginning to understand how to read Derek and knew the signs of his moods. He seemed so… distracted. Off, somehow. He wasn’t even angry. He was just… hiding something.
Yet Brian was hiding something as well. Since Derek had started staying with him, whenever they left the house, he would feel eyes on them. He felt like he was being watched, and it was distressing. He didn’t say anything, not wanting to worry Derek or make him overreact. He figured it was just part of the aftermath of the attack. But he was starting to doubt that reason. And then there was the little talking-to-animal-things he could do.
“Derek?”
His lover blinked several times, as if coming out of a dream. He shook his head. “There are a lot of things on my mind, Brian. I’m… trying to deal with them.”
Brian nodded slowly. “Okay, I get that. But you know I’m a good listener. And we are a couple, you know. Feel free to… share things with me.”
Again, he saw the struggle in Derek’s eyes. He wished Derek would talk to him. Didn’t he trust him? Their relationship was still new. Brian wasn’t sure when to poke and when to step back. He couldn’t stop a bit of resentment from seeping in, though. He’d told Derek about the worst years of his life, trusting him at his most vulnerable. Why couldn’t Derek return the favor?
Derek suddenly stood. “I need a moment. I’ll be right back.”
Brian pinched his lips and nodded silently. His arm was now out of the sling, and each day he gained more use of it. Derek grabbed a coat and walk outside. The house felt empty the moment he left. The dogs whined.
Damn it, damn it, damn it. Idiot!
Derek scowled at himself. He jammed his hands into his pockets as the wind blew viciously over him. He didn’t deserve Brian. The man was a saint. So concerned, so compassionate. Guilt gnawed at his stomach. There was no way he could spend a life with his mate and not tell him about himself. But then his only option was to tell him and risk losing him.
That wasn’t acceptable either.
Being so close to him, making love to him every night, returning to a house that was filled with his scent, made Derek feel dependent on him. He had needed air, that was all. Guilt was starting to hang over him like a goddamn rain cloud.
He thought he was better at hiding his fear but apparently he’d only been fooling himself. It wasn’t just fear of telling Brian everything anymore. At least he had his parents’ blessing. No, there was the problem of feeling eyes on them every time they left the house. They were being hunted.
Yesterday morning he contacted his pack on a private number and left a coded message. He wondered if they’d heard anything about a rogue wolf or a vendetta. And if they had, he wanted their assistance. He wasn’t sure if he could handle the mutt alone. He wanted his pack behind him. He’d already contacted Eric with Fish and Wildlife to share his suspicions. Eric hadn’t called him back with any updates and the waiting was gnawing at his gut.
