by Noah Harris
His words seemed to break the moment between them, emotion rushing into Liam’s eyes as he took a hesitant step backward. It was impossible for Dante to read Liam, every emotion flaring to life and disappearing in an instant, too quick to be noted. He seemed to be visibly fighting with himself, though Dante didn’t know if the fight was to stay standing where he was, or to continue his retreat.
“Shit,” Liam breathed, eyes still wide as he watched Dante almost fearfully.
“So, that wasn’t just me then?” Dante asked, realizing that something mutual had just happened.
Liam nodded slowly. “No, it wasn’t. That, uh, that’s…”
“I guess your charm really does work,” Dante said with a shaky laugh.
Liam’s dark brows rose high on his forehead. “That…had nothing to do with my charms.”
Dante frowned in obvious confusion, trying to understand what was wrong with Liam. It had admittedly been a strangely potent moment of shared attraction between them, but he didn’t think it warranted the look of deep concern and almost fear on Liam’s face. It wasn’t as if they’d done anything about it, and even if they had, no one would know nor would anyone be able to do anything about it. Dante was clearly still unclaimed and could do what he wanted until the very moment he accepted his place at Noah’s side.
“You’re not going to get in any trouble for getting me a little turned on,” Dante said, belatedly realizing that the sensations he’d felt had been almost entirely emotional.
Liam watched him doubtfully. “You have…no idea, do you?”
“That you’re hot?” Dante hedged, trying both to find the source of the problem and still make a joke of it.
Liam shook his head with a faint, humorless laugh. “How does someone with your intelligence not realize what’s going on with themselves?”
“Wait, was that something I should have…known was going to happen?” Dante asked, suddenly anxious that he’d missed something important.
The moment had been intense, and Dante still wasn’t sure just how long he and Liam had stood there, simply staring at one another. It was definitely the single most potent moment of attraction and need that he’d had for another person. The moment he’d touched Liam, it felt as if something within him, some part he hadn’t known was there, had opened up and poured indescribable energy into him. It felt as if it were still there, buzzing below the surface of his skin, vibrating to a higher pitch every time Liam spoke. The truth was, Dante enjoyed it, and he was tempted to see where it would go if he were willing to follow through on the desire that was still present.
Liam gave another bark of laughter, throwing his hands up. “This, has got to be some sort of cosmic joke. After all this time, after all this crap, and this is the moment when Gaia decides to throw me a bone and it’s not even…”
Dante squinted, now completely lost. “Is you being into me supposed to be making you happy or…are you pissed about it?”
“How about you figure it out?” Liam said, reaching so he could hook his hand around the back of Dante’s neck and pull him down.
Only after a moment of surprised resistance did Dante realize the man was trying to kiss him. There was no hesitation as he allowed himself to be pulled down, resting one hand on Liam’s shoulder and the other on the Loner’s side. When their lips met, the heat and power from simply touching burst through him with renewed strength. Dante gasped softly, pressing himself tight against Liam’s body.
If the high from simply being near one another had been thrilling, it paled in comparison to kissing Liam. Sensations that he couldn’t understand pulsed through him, warming him and pulling him toward wanting even more. Liam’s scent filled his nostrils, as intoxicating as the taste of him as their mouths opened further, tongues sliding along one another. They were both hard, and electricity arced up Dante’s spine as they pressed their hips together, grinding against one another. He needed so much more than that, even as it threatened to rise up and drown him in sensation. Dante wanted to pull them out of the water, find a comfortable spot, and pull Liam to the ground with him. He needed to be as close as possible to the other man, as soon as possible.
Before he could muster the strength to do just that, Liam broke the kiss. Dante whimpered plaintively, reaching to try and draw Liam back to him. The former scout evaded his grasp, taking an extra couple of steps away so he was out of Dante’s range. His cheeks were flushed with color, the front of his shorts tented out, and there was a layer of sweat on his forehead. Dante could see he wanted to step forward into Dante’s grip as badly as Dante wanted him to, but he was somehow managing to restrain himself.
“Damn it all, I was right,” Liam managed between heavy breaths.
“That wasn’t…” Dante began, unable to finish the thought as his mind worked at trying to continue what they’d started and attempting to understand what was happening.
Liam took a shaky step back. “I’m so sorry Dante. I didn’t know or I wouldn’t have…touched you.”
Dante realized Liam was getting ready to bolt. “Wait! What the hell are you talking about?”
Liam shook his head vehemently. “I’ve got to go. I really am sorry.”
There was nothing Dante could to do to stop Liam from backing away quickly. It wouldn’t have looked good if he came barreling out of his hiding place, not wearing any clothes, and shouting after Liam. Yet, it was the terrified look on Liam’s normally confident face that really kept Dante rooted in place as he watched the man disappear back the way he’d come. The Loner looked like he was prepared to leave and never look back if he was pushed too far, and everything in Dante screamed for him to be patient and give the other werewolf time.
Chapter Eight
“Hello. Dante, you awake or what?” Erik’s friendly voice chirped in his ear.
Dante blinked, jerking away from the sudden noise in surprise. He continued to blink rapidly as he tried to understand what he was looking at. Erik’s face was close to his own, peering at him with a look of amusement and concern. His friend was still wearing the traveling leathers that were customary for a scout when they were working out in the field. The clothing was perfect for the warmer seasons, providing protection against the elements, while still allowing for unrestricted movement in battle or during a transformation. Werewolf clothing that wasn’t purely ornamental had to be made to either not get in the way of a werewolf attempting to change, or so that it could be easily removed before a shift.
“What are you doing here?” Dante asked, bewildered and trying to figure out just how long Erik had been trying to get his attention.
“I’ve been calling your name the whole way here. You’ve just been sitting here, staring at nothing, not responding to anything I said,” Erik told him, the humor in his face melting into worry.
Dante wasn’t surprised he hadn’t heard anything but was embarrassed all the same. After finally forcing himself to leave the lake, he’d plodded back to his house and sat down on the cushion covered chair out the back. He’d barely noticed the passing of time as he’d sat there, trying to wrap his brain around what had happened. It was no wonder he hadn’t heard Erik calling, when he’d barely noticed that the sun was nearly past the horizon.
“Sorry, guess I was thinking a little harder than usual,” Dante offered by way of apology.
“I’d say you shouldn’t hurt yourself, but if you’re thinking that hard, it must be pretty serious. Is that Noah guy not working out?” Erik asked in concern.
Hell, Dante hadn’t even given Noah a thought until that exact moment. He’d been too busy trying to figure out what it was that had Liam so freaked out, and what exactly had been going on during that kiss. He’d done enough in his life to know there was no other sensation he’d experienced that could measure up to the feeling of kissing Liam. He also knew it had been so intense, so overwhelming, yet so fulfilling, that he didn’t want to do anything else.
Dante grunted. “Everything with Noah is fine.”
�
��Fine?” Erik said.
Dante nodded. “Yeah, fine. He’s everything that everyone said that he would be. He’s handsome, well-mannered, polite, well-spoken, and just the right amount of assertive.”
“What’s just the right amount of assertive?” Erik asked, sounding like he was trying to not laugh and only barely succeeding.
“Keeping the conversation going, staying close to me without being pushy, stuff like that,” Dante shrugged.
Erik rolled his eyes. “Okay, but if everything with Noah is ‘fine,’ then what’s bothering you? Everything about the whole ‘my life has been written in stone for years now’ thing finally catching up with you?”
“Why do you keep asking me what’s wrong, then turn around and ask me another question before I can even tell you what’s wrong? You want to go through the whole list of theories you’re cooking up in that head of yours, or do you want me to just tell you?” Dante asked with a raised brow.
Erik held up his hands in surrender. “Alright, grouchy ass! What’s the reason you’re out here contemplating the trees so hard?”
Dante took a deep breath, deciding to start from the first moment he’d seen Liam. “You know the Loner that’s been here since the celebration?”
Erik thought about it for a moment before nodding. “His name is…Luke or something? Yeah, I’ve seen him. Cute enough, definitely on the short side, dark hair and eyes, no one will look him in the eye?”
“His name’s Liam. Anyway, I talked to him a little bit at the celebration,” Dante explained.
“Oh Gaia, did you sleep with the Lone Wolf?” Erik asked suddenly.
“No. Now can I continue, or do you have another theory?” Dante asked pointedly.
Erik gestured silently for him to continue and Dante resumed the story up until the point where Rosa had interrupted the first real conversation Dante had with Liam. As he told the story, he began to understand that moment on the beach when they had almost touched while exchanging the rock from one to the other. The sensation he had felt on the beach that day had been a whisper of the feelings that had hit him when he’d actually touched Liam. The clue to what was to come had been right there in front of him, but he hadn’t understood until his hand was in Liam’s, and they’re bodies were inches from one another.
He left that detail out as he recited what Rosa had said to him. “So, she didn’t really tell me not to hang out with him.”
Erik nodded. “Sounds like she was just telling you to be careful about who saw you hanging out with this Liam guy. I’m guessing you planned on doing just that, even before she totally didn’t forbid you from hanging out with him?”
Dante snorted. “Of course, I did. He’s interesting.”
“I’m really not surprised you decided to befriend the Lone Wolf when I wasn’t looking,” Erik said with a laugh.
Dante shrugged. “He helped me relax at the celebration right before I met Noah. There I am, dreading the moment I’d known for years I was going to have to face, and he somehow interrupted my inner freaking out and made me laugh. Then I find out he’s a Loner, and everyone’s acting like he’s going to go rabid at any second, yet he’s completely interesting to talk to instead of being an animal. Can’t help but feel like there’s an interesting story there.”
Erik plopped down in the grass to get comfortable, obviously sensing a long conversation coming. “Doesn’t hurt that you’ve always had the knack of choosing the hardest routes possible.”
“You’re usually right there with me, causing trouble,” Dante pointed out.
“Yeah, for fun and for a good laugh. But you? You always seem drawn to the most difficult choice, either difficult for you, or for everyone else. My mom says it’s because you were born on a New Moon. People born then are always tricksters and mischief-makers when they’re young, and always shake things up when they’re older,” Erik told him.
“I don’t think I’m changing too many things by having a decent conversation with a Loner,” Dante said in a dry tone.
Erik shrugged. “Maybe, maybe not, but you’ve always been the one who’s first in line to do something different, or just try something new. Maybe you’re not going to do something to shake things up for real, but I think you will one day.”
Dante couldn’t help but feel guilty thinking about his newest feelings. “Really?”
Erik nodded knowingly. “Yep, one day. I’ve always thought that.”
“Funny how you haven’t mentioned it until now,” Dante said.
Erik cocked his head in confusion. “What do you mean? Oh shit, did you actually do something? Am I suddenly psychic or something?”
“I guess I should finish my story before you start coming up with any more theories,” Dante said, teasing his friend.
Erik wriggled, as if settling into a more comfortable place on the grass. “Damn right you should, because this is sounding like it’s about to get really good.”
Dante eyed his friend. “You really sound like the attentive and worried friend right now.”
Erik grinned. “Just because I care doesn’t mean I can’t get excited at the idea of you causing more trouble.”
“And here I thought the Elders were going to keep you out in the field the whole time I was here playing Lover Boy,” Dante sighed.
“I’ll have to go back soon, but there’s no way I’m spending the next couple of weeks out there. You might fool everyone else into thinking you’ve got this under control, but I know your thoughts before you even have them. I’m not leaving you without someone around who knows what’s up, to keep an eye on you. Now get talking,” Erik finished, motioning with an impatient gesture for Dante to continue.
Dante nodded, taking a deep breath as he began telling Erik what had happened only a few hours before. It seemed bizarre, how much his life had changed in just a few hours. It’d been strange enough to know that the time he’d been preparing for with Noah had finally come, his experiences with Liam were all the odder for the unexpectedness.
He thought it was a credit to both him and his friendship with Erik that he barely hesitated when he began to describe the touching and kissing with Liam. Erik had been his best friend for years, and there was little they kept from one another. It didn’t prevent the heat from rising to his cheeks, which he was attributing to a tinge of arousal as much as embarrassment. Even just talking about the kiss forced the recent memories to rise up, crystal clear and vivid. Belatedly, he was glad he was sitting in such a way that his lower body was concealed from Erik’s view, hiding the rest of his physical reaction to the memory.
Erik’s eyes had widened by the time Dante finished. “Holy shit, you kissed him?”
Dante frowned. “It’s not like it’s the first time I’ve kissed someone. I kissed Noah too!”
Erik snorted. “On the same day too, but I’m guessing since there wasn’t a story attached to Noah’s kiss, and it was just ‘fine,’ that it wasn’t the same at all.”
There was a moment where he wanted to defend Noah’s kiss, because it hadn’t been a bad kiss. It had been firm, but polite, the kiss of a man who wanted something but wanted to make sure Dante was on board with it. The problem was, if it had been a kiss from anyone else, Dante wouldn’t have given the kiss, or the person who kissed him like that, a second thought. It certainly hadn’t made the impact on his memory that his kiss with Liam had.
“Okay, the kiss with Liam was way better. I can admit that. It’s not like I expected Noah and I would click together perfectly or anything,” Dante said.
“Well, yeah. I don’t think anyone, even the Elders, expected you two would suddenly become the best lovers who ever loved in the history of loving. I’m pretty sure they’re just expecting you to figure out how to live with the guy for the rest of your life. Bet they weren’t expecting you to start making out, naked by the way, with the Loner they barely want to acknowledge,” Erik said with a wide grin.
“You’re getting way too much enjoyment out of this. Maybe I should just
tell Liam you’re interested in meeting him since he seemed pretty intent on finding out if you and I had ever slept together,” Dante snapped at him, growing irritated with his friend’s lack of help.
Erik paused. “What is it with everyone thinking we slept together?”
Dante snorted. “Probably because we’re pretty close to one another’s type. You just like getting tossed around is all,” Dante grumbled.
Erik waggled his brow playfully. “Hey, if a guy doesn’t look like he can’t throw me with one arm, then I’m not interested. There’s no shame in that.”
Dante thought about how easily he could do just that with Liam and shivered. “So, what do you think?”
“About what happened with you and Liam? If it was any other guy you’ve been with, I’d tell you to just have fun while you still can, since your single days are coming to an end soon. But, this isn’t like the other guys, is it?” Erik asked.
Dante shook his head, wishing he could explain to his friend exactly why it was different. Hell, just kissing Liam had been better than the sex Dante had had in the past. He itched to find Liam at that very moment, and to pick up where they’d left off. He’d never allowed himself to get attached to anyone in the past, knowing he’d inevitably have to end it when Noah eventually came for him. The truth was, he’d never felt a serious draw to anyone. No one had ever made it hard to remain single before. He’d enjoyed his time with previous partners, whether it was only for a night, or for however long the man stayed in the sept’s territory. Yet, not one of them had ever drawn Dante to them in the way he was drawn to Liam.
Erik was watching his face. “Wow, you’re…really into this guy, aren’t you? Just from one kiss?”
Dante huffed. “It was a good kiss.”
“Maybe you just need to sleep with him, get it out of your system?” Erik offered.
Dante thought about that for a brief moment before shaking his head. “I think that would make it worse actually.”
“Really?” Erik asked in surprise.
