Shifting

by Shifting (anth. )(Rob Knight Editor)(Torquere)(lit)

  Lee watched the last of his staff leave before going to lock the door. Saturdays were hell and this was about as hell as they got. Damn.

  He pulled the till and headed toward the back, turning the jukebox on as he walked by. He wanted to get home, have a drink, a sandwich, see his Mate. Rex was waiting for him in the back room, the kit curled up on the couch, asleep.

  He purred softly, immediately, instinctively. Ten days and the kit was just beginning to do more than eat, sleep and need touching. He was going to rip Diego's throat out. A soft purr answered his own, Rex lifting his head, the dark green eyes finding him immediately. Nodding, he smiled, eyes sliding over his Mate, almost stroking the smooth skin. Rex stretched as if arching into a touch.

  "You look good." He put the till on his desk, eyes caught on the planes and curves of his Mate.

  "So do you," Rex told him, green eyes following his movements. "I missed you."

  "Yes. Have you been here long? I didn't smell you." He moved closer, purring low.

  Rex moved, making room for him on the couch. "Since the kits were put to bed. A couple of hours -- it was busy so I just slipped in the back way."

  He leaned down, licking at Rex's jaw, throat, scenting. Rex purred, head going back, hand coming up to slide across his belly. He could fell the heat of his Mate's fingers through the mesh of his t-shirt.

  "Mate." He rumbled, lips searching. "So warm."

  Oh, he wanted. He needed, but he wouldn't take. Not until his Mate was healed, ready.

  Rex's lips pressed against his, mouth opening and inviting him into the warm, wet darkness. Sweet purrs filled his mouth. This at least, his Mate offered freely now, with wanton abandon. It was offered, so he took it, losing himself in the rich heat of his Mate's mouth, tongue sliding deep, exploring.

  Two warm, strong hands went around him, Rex pulling him down against the lean body. Lee started rocking, sliding, need making itself known and sharp. Rex slid off his t-shirt and then the warm fingers moved to his belt. Oh. Oh. He sucked in his belly, letting Rex have all he wanted. Fingertips danced across the top of his cock as Rex worked open his pants.

  "Oh..." He nuzzled and shuddered, hand cupping Rex's ass. "Mate..."

  "You're always so hot. So hard."

  "For you. Need your touch, need my mate."

  The green eyes got darker, Rex purring happily, horny. His pants were opened, Rex pushing the material away and stroking his cock.

  "Good." He pulled Rex closer, rocking down into the solid leanness he hungered for.

  Rex growled, the sound full of need. Between the two of them, they managed to get naked, the kit losing his leathers, giving him a hot body to admire. Damn. Rex rocked against him, the movements instinctive more than practiced, hot prick sliding along his belly.

  The sensation made his belly ripple, made him dip his head and take a long, hard kiss. Rex growled and rolled them. They went off the couch, the kit on top of him, kissing and rubbing and just purring into his mouth. His hands wrapped around the kit's ass, fingers sliding in the cleft, encouraging the movements of Rex's hips. "Hungry."

  Lee wasn't sure which of them he was talking about.

  "You make me need," growled Rex, humping against him.

  "Yes. Want to feel you all around me. Want to feel you when you come. Want to mark you as mine." His whisper was rough, honest. "My Mate."

  Rex shuddered, whimpered and moaned. "I want that too, Lee. Mate."

  Rex's words were sure, but a tremor still worked its way through the kit's body.

  He purred, worried. Surely the kit wasn't still scared of him? He'd been so good, so careful. "I would not hurt you, Rex."

  "I know. I do, Lee. And I want it. I know it's right. I just... " The kit looked away.

  "Just?" He nuzzled and waited, needing to know what was between them.

  "I'm scared," whispered the kit, so quiet he barely heard the words.

  Lee nodded, hands petting the sweet body. Talk to me, kit. Let me have your pain. "Scared of what, Mate?"

  Rex was quiet for so long that he thought the kit wasn't going to answer him and then those dark green eyes looked up at him, let him in. "That you won't want me anymore after."

  He blinked, tilted his head. "You are mine. My Mate. My Pride. I need you." He bent until their noses touched, looking eye to eye. "Mine, Rex. We mate for life."

  "You won't be the first," whispered Rex.

  "I will be the last." The words were a vow.

  Rex's head snapped up, a purring growl going through the kit. He was pushed back down, Rex's mouth covering his in another fierce kiss. Fuck, yes. Sometimes the truth was just the right thing to say. He opened wide, rumbling, offering the kit everything. Rex devoured his mouth and rubbed hard against him, wild and urgent. He met each motion, pushing hard, growling out his need and his want.

  "Lee... Mate..." Rex cried out, heat splashing between them. The scent washed over him, and he bucked, spending, growling low.

  Rex was purring, body hot and heavy against him, the kit nuzzling along his neck. He purred back, stroking and snuggling, enjoying their smells, their heat. Rex licked at his skin, slowly growing heavier on him.

  "Mmm... Let me up, kit. Let me figure tomorrow's deposit, then we can go home." He chuckled, nuzzled. "Or go to eat at the cafe."

  Rex bit at his ear. "Not a kit!"

  He chuckled, head butting him. "No?"

  "No!" Rex butted him back and then jumped up. "I could eat though."

  "No... Not *you*!" He stood, rubbing their scents into his skin. "My own personal bottomless pit."

  Rex moved close and bent, scenting his belly, licking once and then purring. The kit started to pull his leathers on. "Not bottomless -- I just know a good thing when I see it. Or smell it. Or taste it."

  "Good." He sat at the desk, watching his Mate. "I can smell you on my skin."

  Rex growled, nostril's flaring, eyes growing dark again.

  He turned, pretending to focus on the money, hand sliding over his skin, over and over. Rex's growls grew louder and he could smell his Mate's renewed arousal from across the room. Lee grinned, hand dropping down to circle his cock, stroking it slow and easy.

  Here kitty, kitty, kitty.

  Rex roared and leapt over the table, knocking him and his chair over, money going flying. He hit the ground hard, rolling them both, mouths slamming together. His. His Mate. His.

  Rex was hard again, shaft rubbing against his skin. He thrust down against Rex, crying out over and over, wanting nothing more than to bury himself in his Mate's body. Rex's legs split, the kit cradling him.

  Lee roared, fighting his instincts, fighting his need, forcing himself to stillness. Need. Oh, he needed. Now. Mate. His. Rex pushed up against him, rubbing their need together, the kit's hands on his ass, pulling him closer.

  "Need you. Rex. Careful, kit. Want you so bad." He whimpered, body trembling.

  "I'm right here," Rex growled. "You have me."

  He tore out of Rex's arms, lifting the thin hips up towards his mouth as he bent, tongue lapping at his Mate's sacs, at the hot crease. He didn't tease, he couldn't. He needed. He just pushed deep, fucking the tight hole with his tongue. Rex screamed, hips bucking up. He tasted and growled, licking and kneading until his own need flared unbearably. He lifted his head, drawing Rex's ass into his lap. "Need. Mine. Please."

  Rex was shaking, trembling hard, though that could have been in part due to the kit's own need. "Yes, Mate. I am yours."

  "Yes. Mine." He drew Rex's body onto his shaft, arching at the tight grip, the incredible heat. Oh. Oh. Mate. His Mate. Yes. Rex's trembling increased, the kit whimpering, hands grabbing at his arms. He forced himself to relax, to focus, to purr. "Good, Mate? More?"

  Rex froze, eyes meeting his. "What if I said it wasn't good?"

  Cold water could not have stopped him more effectively. Lee slowly pulled back, pulled away, leaning down to scent his Mate, purring low. He forced his need and ache down, feeding the Beast with the emo
tions, finding his control. "Then I wait until you are ready and it is good."

  "Oh..." Rex whimpered. "It was good, I just... I needed to know."

  He took a long, soft kiss, then backed away, giving them some space. If the kit didn't know, then he would wait. There should be no doubt. "Let me do the deposit and we can go eat, go home together. Be sure of what you want."

  "I'm sorry," Rex murmured, not looking at him. "I had to *know* you'd stop if... I didn't... I'm sorry."

  The kit slinked away to the couch.

  "Rex." He growled the word, waiting for those eyes to meet his. "I am sorry that you have reason to doubt. I will kill him one day for so hurting my Mate. This changes nothing. You are mine. I want you. I will have you when you are ready for me."

  "I want to be ready for you now," Rex told him. "I am your Mate. I want to be a real Mate to you."

  Lee nodded. "I know. You will be ready when you are ready and I will be waiting for you. Help me get the money gathered, kit, and make sure there aren't any quarters stuck to your ass."

  Surprised laughter came from the kit.

  "Not a kit," Rex told him as his Mate pulled on his leathers.

  He chuckled, shimmying into his jeans and grabbing the cash. "Close enough."

  Still his.

  ***

  It had been a couple of days since they'd nearly mated properly and Rex wanted that really, really badly. He couldn't figure out how to bring it up though.

  He supposed just coming out and telling Lee he was ready and he wanted made the most sense, but he wasn't ready to do that. It was making him edgy. He was watching the rest of the Pride with Lee, snarling anytime one of them got too close. At this point too close meant close enough to reach out and touch. And yet he couldn't bring himself to ask Lee to take him. It wasn't enough to be taken; he needed to be claimed.

  He glared at the kits as they tumbled past him and let the Beast have him, slinking off to Lee's bed, tail swishing with anger.

  Footsteps sounded on the stairs, Katrina and Samuel sliding in, side-by-side, bare and beautiful and purring. Trina moved close, eyes glowing, her Mate's hands sliding over her skin. "Lee sent us, to see if we could ease you. To see if you wanted to play."

  He shook his head, curling his tail around his body. He wanted his own Mate, not others. How could Lee send others to him when he himself was filled with jealous anger anytime someone so much as approached his Mate? Maybe it wasn't the same for Lee.

  He growled unhappily and closed his eyes against their beauty, their pleasure in each other.

  Something, a familiar, welcome scent teased his nose. Carefully, he cracked an eye, the Alpha was perched on the windowsill, watching him, those bright eyes quiet, focused, seeing nothing but him. He stretched himself out, arching his back, tail up. The softest growl sounded, the tip of that long tail twitching, ears turning towards him.

  He morphed slowly, the Beast fading, the man naked and wanton, legs spread. He wanted his Mate.

  Lee leapt down, snarling at Trina and Sammy, running them out with a noise that was clear, sharp. His. He pulled his knees under him, ass going up into the air, the move as instinctive in his human form as in Beast form.

  His Mate stalked him, panting, growling low. The rough tongue brushed over his ass cheek, slowly getting smaller, softer. "Rrrrrrrrrrrex. Tell me what you want."

  That soft tongue slid along the top of his crease.

  He shuddered, whimpered. "You. I want you."

  "You are sure." That tongue slid lower, pushing at his hole.

  He pushed back, body trembling, the need moving through him like waves. "Lee! Yes. Please."

  Lee took him, fucking him with that tongue, spreading him, wetting him, tasting him. The scent of his Mate's need was intense, sharp and male in his nose. He shook and growled, body overwhelmed with sensation -- with good sensation.

  When Diego's lieutenants had... he banished the thought from his mind -- they had no place here. Here he was Lee's.

  Too soon and not soon enough, his Mate's body covered his spine, mouth hot on his shoulder. Thick, stiff heat nudged his hole, pushing, asking entrance. "Mine. My Mate."

  He growled, pushing back, needing, wanting, throwing aside his fear of pain and the memories of shame and humiliation. "Yours."

  "Yes. My Mate. My heart. My love. Mine." Lee pressed inside him, sure and strong, body moving against him, within him.

  Oh.

  Oh, so full.

  Complete.

  Right.

  He roared, pushing back against Lee, meeting his Mate's thrusts. His Mate took him, turned him inside out and touched, teeth scraping his shoulder as Lee growled for him.

  It didn't hurt. It felt good. It felt right. It was what he'd been needing, wanting for days and days, though he hadn't realized it.

  The pleasure of the claiming was complete, overwhelming him. Then one strong hand reached around and started pumping his prick. "Need to feel you. Come on my cock, Mate. Give yourself to me. Need to know you."

  He roared, pushing into his Mate's hand as he came hard. Lee's roar answered his, full and deep, rich as heat filled him, marking him deep. He collapsed onto the floor, shaking and yet he felt so strong, like he could do anything.

  The purrs that poured over him were rich, sure. Happy. Hands slid over his sides, petting.

  "Mate," he murmured.

  "Yes." Lee's growl was triumphant, proud.

  He raised his head and rubbed back against Lee.

  "Lo...love you," he murmured, the words strange on his tongue, but true.

  Lee slid out of his body, left him empty before pulling him into those arms. "I love you, Rex."

  He buried his face in Lee's neck, holding on tight. He felt vulnerable and invincible at the same time, shy yet proud.

  The grooming started in short order, his Mate's tongue sliding over his skin. Purring, he returned the favor, picking up the salt flavor of Lee's sweat. They shifted, curling together in the cushions, rough tongues sliding over jet-black fur.

  Home. Pride. Mates.

  He'd left Centreville not knowing what he was looking for.

  It seemed he'd found it anyway.

  ~Chapter Four~

  His perch was in the sun. Long and high and soft and warm and only his -- Lee could see the whole of his Pride as they slept, watch as he bathed in the sunshine. Of course, if his tail happened to droop down and sway, and said swaying tail happened to attract the attention of his Mate... Well, that wasn't his fault, was it?

  No. No, of course not.

  Lee closed his eyes, bathing in the warmth, just waiting for his Mate to pounce. He waited and waited until he could almost feel the vibrations coming from Rex as his Mate resisted. Lee stretched, claws digging into the wood as his back arched, displaying himself for his Mate. Then he settled back down, tail swinging. Rex started playing with his tail, growling and grabbing at it, chewing on the end. He pretended not to notice, flicking his tail, tempting.

  Rex's pounce was not unexpected, but it still managed to toss him off his branch, Rex rolling with him, paws whacking at his backside. They wrestled furiously, chests slamming together, paws wrapped tight, playing rumbles and growls filling the air. Finally they lay sprawled together, panting.

  He leaned over, licking Rex's face, happy purrs filling the air. Rex went to lick back, their tongues tangling together. The sensation made him growl, made him want, and they morphed together, mouths meeting in a wild kiss, hands tangling in one another's hair. Rex rubbed against him, whimpers loud in his mouth. He drank each one up, exploring his Mate with his hand, touching every part he could reach. Rex writhed, hands clutching at him.

  "Mate. Love you." He rumbled the words, rocking them together faster, nostrils flaring at their scent.

  "Yes, Lee. Love." Rex gasped, more whimpers coming from his Mate.

  He wriggled until he had both of their cocks in his hand, pulling and tugging them together.

  "Lee! Yes!" His mate started keening.
/>
  "Rrrrrrrrrrrrex. Need. Love." His toes curled, need flaring through him.

  "Yes, Lee. Need you." Rex turned in his arms, pushing the smooth backside against him.

  Oh. Oh, yes. Yes. Now. He growled, teeth scraping across Rex's shoulder as he mounted his Mate, sinking deep into tight heat. Rex cried out, ass pushing back toward him. They rocked together, fast, then faster still, the sweat and need and heat between them fierce and wild.

  "Yours," cried Rex. "Yours, Mate."