Just Like Cats and Dogs

by BA Tortuga

  Spunk sprayed from him, his teeth rattling with the force of it.

  “Fuck.” Gus breathed the word against his skin, humping a little, kind of frantically.

  “Yours.” He took Gus’s lips, tongue fucking in time with Gus’s hips.

  “Mmph.” Gus almost scrambled up on top of him, humping madly, kissing him back. Hard.

  One hand found Gus’s ass, fingers digging in, pulling them tighter together. Gus took the friction he needed, rocking and rolling, biting at his lower lip. He figured everyone heard it when Gus came. The howl almost deafened Sam.

  He didn’t mind. The scent of them together was perfect, overwhelming, and all he knew.

  Gus panted, face against his neck, hands clenched on Sam’s hips.

  “Bed. Bed, together.” They needed time, just to breathe.

  “Yeah.” Gus lifted him and turned, brazening it out and carrying him. The front room was deserted, though, so everyone was giving them their privacy.

  He nuzzled into Gus’s throat, purring with his entire body.

  Gus curled up with him after locking the bedroom door, humming a little. “God, you feel good.”

  “I do.” He got them naked, got them skin-to-skin. Sam hadn’t believed Marina when she said time with Gus healed him, but damned if it wasn’t true. Every time they touched he felt better.

  They settled, forehead to forehead, nose to nose, breathing. “We’re going to go soon. Going to find another place.” It wasn’t a question.

  “We have to be gone before the moon. That’s only a few days, and I want to be somewhere safe. Not permanent, maybe, but safe.”

  He nodded. “Somewhere I can be outside.”

  “Somewhere we can run.” Gus smiled for him, like the thought was so cool. They had run together once, but never under the moon.

  “Together. I could hunt.” Maybe.

  “I think you could. I think you have great instincts.” Gus nuzzled his throat.

  He let his chin lift, let himself purr. “Really? Is it like dancing, do you think?”

  Tilting his head, Gus shrugged. “I don’t dance, babe, but I bet it is.”

  “Good.” He hoped so. He wanted it to be.

  “It’s exhilarating, for sure.” Gus chuckled again, shaking his head. “We’ll have to make sure Gray doesn’t go nuts.”

  “Gray’s an exceptional ratter.” Not bad at herding puppies either, come to think of it.

  “Well, as long as he doesn’t follow his nose too far, we’ll be okay.” Pulling back a tiny bit, Gus stared at him. “Are we good?”

  “We’re good.” He nodded. “This is where I apologize for being a psycho, right?”

  “No. You have a right. You just have to remember I have your back.”

  “Always. It’s a good feeling.”

  “Love you, babe.”

  “I know. Freak.”

  “Don’t push it, Puss.” Gus kissed him, curling up with him.

  He took one hand, lifted it to his mouth, bit the inside of Gus’s wrist. “Me? Push? Why would I do that, Pup?”

  Epilogue

  THE NORTHERN edge of Nevada had everything they needed. Enough prey to keep them busy when the moon was full, enough room for all of them to run, not enough people to worry about, and no other wolves.

  Gus lifted his head, scenting the wind. He could smell each member of his pack, could tell exactly where they were.

  Mona was curled up near her house, grandmothering and herding pups. Marina and Lizzie had cycled together, given birth within days of each other, bringing their tiny pack’s number from seven to twenty in a week. Gray was with his mate, the two of them running while Pete proved that he was still more of a horndog than a hunter.

  Gus’s mate, though, was a ferocious hunter—graceful, deadly.

  Sam had taken to it as well as he had to dancing, maybe better. His instincts were incredible. It had taken Sam less than a moon to find himself, to sink into the shadows and learn how to time the kill. Those back legs were never going to be like new, but they were strong again, letting Sam leap and run and do things to his mate that made Gus want to lick the air just thinking about it.

  The scrub brush seemed suddenly still, too quiet, and he knew Sam was close, crouching, watching.

  Gus’s ears went up, his nose vibrating. What? What had Sam seen?

  He sniffed, eyes going wide. Elk. His mate was feeling ambitious tonight. He checked the direction of the wind. Sam needed direct line of sight; Gus could hunt by scent and sound, so he could move off and flank.

  There was a small herd, with an older beast at the back, trailing behind. Sam’s scream set the herd moving; the leap culled the older elk out.

  The chase was on, and Gus’s instincts kicked in. Sam would go for the throat and the suffocating bite. Gus would go for the legs.

  Together they took the cow down, Sam dispatching her quickly, jaw clamping. Such a good hunter, so sleek and pretty. Gus barked his approval.

  Sam screeched happily, then started cleaning his face, so fastidious, so fine. They would have to eat their fill here and then work to get something back to the others. Sam would let him do most of that, though. He’d found it was way more catlike to hide the kill and come back to it.

  Which as a human was whoa, ick.

  Sam did offer him the best parts, even letting him eat before holding him down and grooming him. That was a rough damned tongue. Gus had learned not to fight it, though. Those paws were huge and so damned strong.

  Bright green eyes glinted at him, catching all the light of the moon, right before Sam head-butted him, playful now.

  Gus snorted, tail lifting to wag. He could have a nap, but running under the moon was still new to Sam. Gus wouldn’t deprive him of the fun.

  His muzzle was licked, and then he got a glimpse of happy tail before Sam bounced off to hide. It was his kitty’s favorite game. It was fairly easy for Sam to hide at night. The black fur just looked like another shadow. Thankfully, he’d know that smell anywhere.

  It was home.

  In the Dog House

  By BA Tortuga

  A Sanctuary Novella

  For feline shifter Sam and lone wolf Gus, love hasn’t been easy. When a relaxing weekend trip reveals new dangers and strange allies, Gus and Sam become even more determined to build a sanctuary, a home where no one feels lost or alone.

  Chapter One

  SAM GLARED at his brother, at the big boofy-headed bastard he loved more than life. “You are drooling on me, man. That’s fucking nasty!”

  Gray shook his wolfy head, spit flying. That was what happened when a wolf chewed on some kind of houseplant. Mother-in-law’s tongues? Something vaguely hallucinatory. Mom would be so pleased.

  “Seriously? You’re a father now. Eight. Eight babies, Gray, and you’re high?” Too bad it wouldn’t work for him. He could totally use a buzz.

  Gray rolled to his back, paws batting at the air.

  “You’re a shit and I hate you.” He reached out with his left foot and rubbed Gray’s belly, the fur soft as smoke.

  Gray wiggled closer, tongue hanging out as he panted. Lord, what a dork.

  He kept petting as he stared out into the darkness. He’d never thought the stars were so big before. It was silly, because the pack had raised him in the sticks, for God’s sake, but…. Maybe it was years of being in the city. Maybe it was age. Maybe it was just him, but they were huge now, bright and sparkling like costumes in the stage lights.

  Gray nudged his leg when he forgot to keep moving.

  “I know. I know. God, Gray. I’m still the weird one, you know?”

  “You’re not weird, Pussy boy. You’re mine.”

  “I will bite you, Gus.” The words would have been more threatening if he hadn’t been grinning like the world’s biggest moron. His lover was fierce when it came to defending him to everyone, including himself.

  Gus sat down on the porch next to him, reaching out to ruffle Gray’s ears. “You’ve gotta stop eating
Mona’s plants, buddy.”

  “If Mom didn’t want him to eat them, she wouldn’t plant them, right Gray?”

  The big fluffy white tail thumped hard.

  “Silly beast. Your girl is looking for you.”

  Gray climbed to standing, licking Sam, then Gus before wandering off, listing to starboard a bit.

  “So, why are you all weirded out, Puss?” Gus asked.

  “I’m just…. It’s so different out here. I feel good, don’t get me wrong. I love our house, our life, but… it’s so different.”

  “You got a little fear of the wide open going on?” Gus rubbed his lower back, one of those happy touches that made Sam a little nuts. “Do we need to get you another kitty?”

  “No. No, I just…. Ignore me.” They’d spent three years building this place. Three long years, and it was finally feeling like more than a weird row of cabins in the woods.

  Wasn’t that a kid’s song?

  “Seriously. We can always look for someone. Maybe a girl, so I don’t have to be jealous.” Gus waggled his eyebrows.

  “You know, biting you is the only option. Seriously. Biting and possibly beating your ass.” He stretched casually, more than willing to play.

  “What?” Gus gave him this patently false innocent look. “I’m trying to be helpful.”

  “Helpful. Uh-huh.” God, his mate was a giant dipshit. Sam adored him.

  Gus moved back, slow enough he almost missed it, big body vibrating. Oh, play.

  He wasn’t what he used to be, but he was still damn good. He leapt, going from the rail on the porch to land on the front yard. Come get me.

  Gus heard him, not one problem there. More than one wolf shifter had told them they shouldn’t hear each other, him being a kitty and Gus being a wolf. Good thing neither of them listened.

  He made a beeline for the trees, bouncing up, his claws digging in as he climbed.

  Gus barked from the rocks below, the sound ringing with lupine laughter. Gus sucked at climbing trees.

  Poor earthbound puppy, Sam teased.

  You make me shift back to human and Marina will think there’s a naked gorilla and shoot me.

  He chuffed softly, tickled to the bone, enough that he peered down, tail swishing. No shooting my mate.

  No? Oh, good. She’s trigger-happy.

  Not anymore. She doesn’t have time. She has eight pups. Eight. Not one of them blind.

  I know. We’re lucky. So many mouths to feed…. Gus scratched the base of the tree, then peed on it. Oh, asshole.

  Sam’s nose twitched madly, the scent making him want to move on. Fucker.

  What?

  Innocent doesn’t look good on you. Sam lashed his tail back and forth, gathering his back legs. He couldn’t take it anymore, and he leaped over Gus, racing back toward the three cabins they’d built.

  Gus was already running and outflanked him, patting his hip with one paw, gentle as anything. Tag.

  He spun on his haunches, launching himself after Gus. Problem was, wolves could run for days. Big cats were opportunity hunters and could only expend so much energy.

  Still, he had enough energy in him to make his Gus work for it, didn’t he?

  Sam put on a burst of speed, herding Gus toward a deep tangle of fallen tree. Gus would have to scramble, not being able to jump over it.

  Gus snapped at the end of his tail, and he zigged, feet digging into the loose dirt. That made Gus bark, so he must have gotten a snoutful. Sam rumbled, then powered over the tree, but he landed badly, stumbling over legs that didn’t want to work.

  Gus yelped, then pushed over the trees, becoming human as he landed. “Sam? Are you okay, Puss?”

  He lost the fur, reaching for his mate. “Just hurt my pride.”

  And his hip, a little.

  “You lost your whole ass there for a moment.” Gus pulled him into those strong arms, lifting him easily. Gus was always confident in that amazing strength.

  “Yeah, I forget that I’m not eighteen anymore.”

  “I do too.” Gus cackled. “Of course, at that age I would have treed you and set the tree on fire.”

  “If you could have caught me, maybe.” He wrapped around his mate and clung a little bit. “I’m glad you didn’t, because I would have missed out on some amazing blowjobs.”

  “Handjobs. Butt-fucking.” Gus was so… classy. The kiss he gave Sam made up for it.

  “Boys! Get your naked butts inside!”

  Sam refused to even pretend to notice that Mom was hollering. La la la, not listening. Who was going to care if they were naked? The dragonflies? No one came all the way out here.

  Gus hooted and ran, bouncing him along until he had no breath left.

  They ended up in the little cave they’d claimed for their own, Gus easing him down onto the piles of blankets they’d stashed there. The place reminded him of the bolt-hole Gus had at the old mine back where his mom still lived. Sam would never call them pack again. They would turn on him if he showed.

  “Shh. You never have to go back there, and your pack adores you. How many times a week do I have to pull puppies out of our bed because they want you?”

  Sam chuckled, then nodded. “Sorry. I get bitter sometimes. I can hear you when you think so hard about how you’re going to protect us all. You want to bring in a couple more big males.”

  “Shit, I wonder about bringing in a few more females. Once those hooligans get bigger, we’re going to be utterly outnumbered.”

  “I know.” Sam chewed his bottom lip. “I just—what if I end up persona non grata again?”

  “I told you when we came here. That will never happen again. Any pack member who can’t accept you, goes.” Gus got stern faced. “You aren’t the outsider. You are my mate.”

  “I do love you, dork.” He stroked Gus’s cheek.

  “Ditto.” Gus kissed him gently. “We should go to Reno or Carson City.”

  “Yeah?” He could so do that. Dress up, eat something delicious, maybe go dancing. Hell, just the idea that Gus would do that for him, offer to take him away out of the blue made him more than a little shivery inside. “I’d like that. We could have a vacation. Just a weekend.”

  “Yeah. Go down on Friday and come back late Sunday. I think that sounds amazing.” Gus was grinning huge, so pleased.

  “Yeah? I’ll make some hotel reservations. We can go explore.” They had to have rock stores in Reno, right? Gus could go stroke quartz.

  Sam chuckled, even though he knew Gus’s favorite was tourmaline. Double terminated and two tone…. Oh, that could be a dildo.

  Gus stared at him, and he knew his mate had caught that random thought. “Puss….”

  “What?” Now he tried for innocent, but he was worse at it than Gus. Sam knew how wicked he could be.

  “I would pay good money to watch that, babe.”

  “Perv.” He would do that for his Gus, though. He so would. Sam cleared his throat. “So we going this weekend?”

  “Why not? Let’s go play.” Gus scooped him up, close, kissing him hard enough to make him catch afire.

  Sam wrapped around Gus, intent on a thank-you his mate would never forget. Some time away would let him get his head on right again. Gus was right; they were a growing pack.

  That fact made it no easier to be the only kitty around.

  Chapter Two

  GUS HOPPED down off the roof of the porch, gripping his screwdriver in one hand. There. Two new cameras for each cabin, all feeding into a system Pete could check on his phone. Pete was way more techy than hands-on, so he could watch out for the pack while Gus and Sam were gone.

  “You’re that worried?” Mona asked, damned near giving Gus a heart attack.

  He smoothed out his expression. “I’m not worried.”

  “Little liar. Seriously. I have this.”

  Right, but there were all these toddlers, puppying about. Thirteen of them. They had his mother-in-law, two oddball moms, a tech geek, and a blind guy. Nothing to worry about ther
e at all.

  “I know you do. I just want to make sure I give everyone a warning system. Not that Gray’s nose and ears aren’t amazing.”

  “Gray would destroy the earth for that little girl he married, and Marina’s almost as tough as Helena. Speaking of, did I tell you she’s coming?”

  Oh, goodie. She hated him after that whole setting her up with Cole thing. Talk about a nightmare. Shit. Cole was still licking his wounds in Venezuela. “Sam must have forgotten to mention.”

  “Yeah? For, uh, how long?” He didn’t want to sound nasty, but she had tried to stab him once, and she hadn’t been near as mad about Sam.

  “She said she was open-ended. I think maybe Chicago is losing its appeal.”

  “Sam and Gray will both be over the moon.” And Gus was not about to be so petty as to say they needed more pack but not Sam’s sister, just because he was worried about her cutting his balls off. “I bet you will too.”

  “Of course I will. I think she’s lonely.”

  “I can see that.” Gus sighed. “I want this to be a good weekend without me worrying. That’s why I put the cams in.”

  “No worrying. You take Sam and go be two men on the town. You’re bringing supplies home on the way, yes? I have a list.”

  Of course she did.

  Gus nodded easily. “We’ll take the big SUV.” Mona preferred Gus’s old truck, and she was the one who would drive if something happened to Pete. Marina was a city dweller, and Gray couldn’t see…. Lizzie was on bed rest part of the day because his horndog brother had been at it again.

  “Good deal. I’ll make sure Lizzie and Marina don’t have anything I’ve forgotten. Hell, I can text Sam with it.”

  “Look at you, getting technology.”

  “Marina is a bit of a geek, and your brother….”

  “Your son-in-law.”

  “Six of one, Son.”

  Gus grinned, then bent to kiss her cheek. “You’re a great mom, you know. I’m glad you’re my mother-in-law.”

  “You’re one hell of a pack alpha, and you’re a better mate. You two have fun. Go and play.”