by Carol Lynne
With his pants and underwear around his thighs, Gray struggled to right himself. “Just an air pocket. Nothing to worry about.”
Enapay swung his legs over the side of the couch and stood. For a brief moment, before the bigger man pulled his pants up, Gray had the perfect view of Enapay’s glorious cock.
“I think I’m gonna be sick again.”
The statement snapped Gray back to the problem at hand. He helped Enapay to the restroom. He leaned his upper body into the small space enough to hold Enapay’s hair back as the shifter once again threw-up.
Their passionate interlude interrupted, Gray concentrated on the man he was all-too-quickly falling for. When Enapay held out his hand, Gray handed him a clean, wet hand towel.
Enapay clutched the towel to his face for several moments before he spoke. “I’m sorry.”
Gray slid into the small space enough to help Enapay to his feet. He wrapped a supporting arm around the man’s waist and helped him to the sofa once again. Gray’s guilt was starting to overwhelm him. He had no idea the shifter would react so violently to the plane ride.
“Please don’t apologize. I feel bad enough for agreeing to this trip in the first place.”
Enapay shook his head and pulled Gray down to lie beside him. “It’s not your fault. Man thinks he’s mastered flying, but he doesn’t have a clue what it’s really like.”
“What’s it like?” Gray asked, resting his head on Enapay’s shoulder.
Enapay shook his head. “I’m not sure I can put it into words.”
“Will you try, for me?” Gray asked, kissing Enapay’s strong jaw.
“It’s like being completely at peace with yourself and your surroundings. It’s a mixture of adrenaline and being asleep. Like your body is pumped full of energy, but your mind is left to wander. To notice and appreciate the beauty of the landscape below.” Enapay shook his head. “I told you, it’s not something that can be described to someone who’s never experienced it.”
Gray may not fully understand, but he knew there had to be a good reason Enapay was willing to sacrifice his eagle to save Takoda’s crow. He wondered if Takoda enjoyed flying more than Enapay, or if it was truly love that had Enapay willing to do anything to save the crow.
Gray squeezed his eyes shut. What would it be like to have someone love him that much? He felt Enapay’s arms tighten around him.
“I’m sorry I can’t describe it better.”
Gray shook his head. “You did just fine.”
“Then why do you seem sad?” Enapay asked, smoothing his hand down the side of Gray’s face.
Gray looked up to meet Enapay’s gaze. “Because no matter how much I want to know and understand you, there will always be things I won’t comprehend.”
The corner of Enapay’s mouth lifted. “Like I’ll never understand how you can fly in a plane without feeling sick?”
Gray tried to return the grin, but he knew it fell short. “You’ll get used to planes, but I’ll never know what it’s like to really fly.”
Enapay kissed Gray’s forehead. “I’m still confused as to why I want you so much, but I like the way you feel in my arms.”
He knew what he felt for Enapay wasn’t simply a physical attraction. “I can’t…” Gray squeezed his eyes shut, not sure if he should verbalize what he actually felt.
“What?” Enapay prodded.
“I’m afraid of completely losing my heart to you, and then being left behind when Takoda finally opens his eyes to what’s really important in life.”
Enapay placed a soft kiss on Gray’s lips. “What’s important to Takoda now will always be what’s important to him. I’ve finally come to realize that.”
“But you’ll always love him.”
Enapay nodded. “Yes, but that doesn’t mean I can build a future with him. As much as it hurt to hear, Takoda was right. I do want things he’ll never be able to give me.”
Gray’s chest tightened. “And us?”
Enapay nipped Gray’s lower lip. “That depends on you. Can you be with me knowing I also hold Takoda in my heart?”
“I’m not sure if I’ll be happy being second best,” Gray admitted.
“Second best?” Enapay shook his head. “You misunderstand. In my heart there’s no need for first or second.”
Gray once again rested his head on Enapay’s shoulder. Was the man in his arms telling him the truth? Was it really possible to love two people equally? Although Gray was incredibly fond of Takoda and found him sexually attractive, he doubted he’d ever truly love the crow shifter. It just didn’t seem possible to fall for someone you were competing against.
Gray sucked in a sharp intake of breath as realization struck him. Takoda’s choice had already been made. Gray had no reason to compete for Enapay’s love. If a relationship between him and Enapay didn’t work out, Gray knew it wouldn’t be because Enapay still loved Takoda. Didn’t he?
Still confused, Gray allowed his hand to wander over Enapay’s muscled chest. Lying within the bigger man’s comforting embrace, Gray knew he’d do everything in his power to make it work between them. For the next few days, Enapay was his, and he planned to take full advantage of the separation from Refuge.
* * * *
The weather in D.C. was cool and rainy when they landed. Gray managed to get him to put on one of the shirts Hakan had packed, but Enapay hated it. The scratchy material felt like it was making his skin raw in patches.
What should have been a simple ride from the airport had been pure hell for Enapay. Although he’d flown over towns and small cities, he’d never seen anything like Washington, D.C.
The harried pace along with the overabundance of noise was a complete shock to his system. His ears hurt, even when he muffled the sound with his hands. Gray had done what he could, trying to comfort him on the long, torturous ride to the hotel.
The cab stopped in front of a high-rise building, and Enapay gazed up before opening the door. “How far up there are we going?”
Gray reached around Enapay and opened the passenger-side rear door. “Knowing Ryker, he’s booked us the best.”
“What does that mean?” Enapay asked.
“Top floor,” Gray answered. “Come on. The quicker we get to the room, the more settled you’ll feel.”
Enapay climbed out of the cab, his hands covering his ears once again. He looked up and shook his head. How would they get up to the top? He waited on the sidewalk, jostled by the crowds of people that seemed to come out of nowhere. “I hate this place.”
Gray put a comforting hand against Enapay’s back and gestured to the man in the pretty red coat with gold buttons, who was getting their luggage out of the car’s trunk. “He’ll get our stuff.”
Enapay removed a hand from his ear. “What’ll he do with it?”
Gray smiled. “Take it inside, and then up to our room.”
“Oh.” Enapay watched the man in red carry their luggage into the building. He started to follow, but Gray led him to a different door instead. Enapay stopped dead in his tracks as the door spun around in circles.
“It’s okay. When an opening comes, step inside, hold onto the bar in front of you, and then get out when you reach the inside,” Gray tried to explain.
Enapay shook his head. “You do it.”
He could tell Gray was trying to hide a smile as he broke away and easily walked into the strange passageway. What was wrong with using the door the man in red had used? Inside, Gray gestured for Enapay.
Once again, Enapay shook his head as the door continued to spin. He stepped back and glanced at where the man in red had disappeared and walked toward that door, easily slipping into the large building.
Gray was chuckling when Enapay reached him. “I’ll get you through that revolving door before we leave D.C.”
Enapay made a face at the man in front of him. “It’s stupid. What’s wrong with the regular door?”
“It’s a climate control issue as well as a traffic flow solution.”
&nbs
p; Enapay didn’t understand anything Gray said. “Whatever.”
With a sympathetic smile, Gray led Enapay to a long desk. He stood patiently as Gray gave a woman his name as well as Ryker’s.
Moments later, she gave Gray two plastic cards. Gray thanked her and steered Enapay to the side of the big room. They were being followed by the man in the red coat who was carrying their stuff. Enapay didn’t understand why he was carrying them. They weren’t heavy. He and Gray could have easily taken them from him, but Gray made no move to do so. Enapay followed suit, not wanting to draw more attention to himself than he already had.
“I’m guessing you’ve never taken a ride in an elevator?” Gray asked.
Before he could answer, the wall slid open in front of him. Enapay jumped back and stared as Gray gripped his hand. “It’s okay. It’s perfectly safe. This will take us up to the top of the building.”
Enapay shook his head. “Are there stairs?”
Gray squeezed Enapay’s hand tighter as the wall slid closed again. “Yeah, but I can’t walk up thirty-six flights of steps. Trust me on this one, okay?”
Enapay looked into Gray’s eyes. He didn’t want to be a child about everything new. He’d already refused to learn the stupid turning door. With a deep breath, he nodded.
Gray gave him a reassuring smile and once again pushed a button on the wall. The doors opened, and Gray led Enapay inside. The man with their bags followed them in and pushed a button.
Enapay pressed himself against the back corner and held his stomach as the entire room began to move. He could tell the man in red was trying hard not to laugh, which made Enapay feel even more self-conscious.
“It’s okay.” Gray stepped directly in front of Enapay and kissed him softly on the mouth. “We’ll be on our floor in no time.”
Enapay swallowed the rising bile. The elevator was as bad as the airplane. Without the ability to fly, Enapay couldn’t understand why humans just didn’t build stuff on the ground. Why try to reach for the sky when nature hadn’t equipped them for it.
The room gave a little jump and stopped, throwing Enapay off balance. Gray caught him easily and smiled. “We’re here.”
The door opened onto a long hallway. Enapay stepped out of the room and followed Gray to a door with a number on it. He watched as Gray handed the small plastic card to the man in red. The man put the card into a box and Enapay heard a click. It was hard for Enapay to believe how many things he knew nothing about. Gray seemed to take everything in stride while Enapay was left floundering.
The man put down the suitcases and opened the door. Enapay was beginning to wonder if the man in red knew how to talk, but a steady “Thank you” when Gray handed him some money proved that he could.
The man left and Gray led Enapay into the room. He couldn’t get over the size. Evidently, this wasn’t the only room.
“Wow. When Ryker does something, he sure does it right. This room must be costing him a fortune.”
Enapay barely heard Gray as the view out the wall of glass captured his attention. He strode toward the windows and pressed his hands against the glass. For the most part, the views up and straight ahead were common to him, but when he looked down, everything seemed wrong. There should be trees and grass, not moving cars, people and buildings. The rain had stopped since they’d arrived and the sun was streaming through the clouds, shining light in sprays upon the buildings below.
Enapay felt Gray’s arms as they slid around his waist.
“Cool, huh?”
Enapay covered Gray’s hands with his own. “This is why humans build to the sky. I never understood.”
Enapay took a deep breath. “I’ll move a chair here.”
Gray kissed the side of Enapay’s neck. “Are you feeling better now?”
“Yes.” It was the truth. Safely in a rented home with Gray, the city didn’t seem so bad.
“I need to make a few calls. Would you like to take a nap?”
Enapay glanced around the room until he spotted a clock. It was almost nine in the morning. “What time do you have to leave?”
“My meeting’s at eleven, but I need a shower first.” Gray grinned, tilting his head to the side. “Would you like a quick shower?”
The thought of standing with Gray naked in the warmth of the shower began to have a direct effect on Enapay’s cock. He’d never bathed with a lover, but then again, it had been more than seventy years since he’d had someone to hold and kiss. He nodded his head, afraid his words would give away his eagerness.
Gray threaded his fingers through Enapay’s hair and pulled him into a kiss. Enapay felt Gray’s tongue as it rubbed against his own. Their kisses earlier came to mind and Enapay drew back. “I need to brush my teeth first.”
Once again, Gray gifted Enapay with that beautiful smile. Enapay had noticed Gray doing that a lot since they’d left Refuge. He wondered if maybe Gray wasn’t as happy at Refuge as he’d pretended.
“Come on. We have plenty of time to play before the car is here to pick me up.” Gray took Enapay’s hand and led him into another room. The bedroom was almost as big as the living room with another wall of windows.
As he waited for Gray to dig clean clothes out of his suitcase, Enapay’s attention went back to the view. He knew if he ever had to live in a city, he’d want a place like the one they were in.
“Did you bring a toothbrush?” Gray asked. “If not, you can use mine, and I’ll pick one up while I’m out.”
Enapay turned back to Gray. “I have one.”
He crossed the room to the small leather bag Hakan had loaned him and found his toothbrush. Enapay spotted something else in the bottom of the suitcase and pulled it out. “What’s this?”
Gray’s eyebrows rose as he took the bottle from Enapay. “Lube. Did you pack that?”
Enapay shook his head.
Gray started to chuckle. “Hakan must be fairly hopeful.”
“What is it for?”
Gray’s cheeks turned red as he opened the bottle. “Hold out your hand.”
Enapay did as asked and watched as Gray dripped several drops onto his hand. He rubbed his fingertips together, noticing the silky feel of the liquid.
“Human’s use this when they have sex. It prepares your lover’s…entrance,” Gray explained, his face reddening even more.
Enapay looked back down at his hand. He rubbed his fingers together again. “Much nicer than spit or animal fat.”
Gray’s eyes widened. “Yes.”
The thought of Hakan putting something used for sex in his suitcase worried Enapay. “Do you think Hakan knows I like you?”
Gray shrugged and held up the bottle. “I think he must.”
Enapay wasn’t sure if that bothered him or not. He knew how close Hakan and Takoda were. Was his friend mad at him for wanting Gray?
Gray stepped forward and kissed Enapay’s cheek. “Don’t worry. Hakan is one of the wisest people I’ve ever met. I think this is his way of giving his blessing.”
“But Takoda…”
“Hakan loves two men equally. I guess he doesn’t see anything wrong with you doing the same.”
“What about you?” Enapay asked, running his hands down Gray’s sides to rest on his hips.
“Do I think it’s wrong?” Gray questioned, his light brown eyebrows drawing together.
“Could you ever love two men at the same time?” Enapay knew he might be asking the impossible, but he had to take a chance. Being with Gray meant the world to him, but he knew he’d never fully get over the desire to be with Takoda.
Gray’s face reddened yet again. “I don’t know. I’m not…” Gray cleared his throat. “I haven’t had many lovers. I’ve spent the majority of my life in a lab.”
By the tone of Gray’s voice and the expression on his face, Enapay could tell the man was embarrassed by the confession. “Are you saying you don’t know if you could please two men?”
Gray bit his bottom lip. “I’m not sure I’ve ever pleased
one, let alone two. What if…”
Enapay cut Gray off with a deep kiss. He tried to put all the passion he felt into the exchange. “Shower with me. Let me be the judge.”
Gray shook his head. “I don’t think the shower would be right for our first time.”
“Then what would the shower be right for?”
Gray rubbed his erection against Enapay. “Sucking you off. Besides, I’d rather not get up and leave immediately after you make love to me.”
Enapay smiled. He liked the idea of sleeping with Gray in his arms. The idea of Gray sucking his cock sounded fun, too. “Okay.”
Without further conversation, they began to undress. Enapay was happy to get out of the scratchy shirt as he flung it toward the bed. He reached to his side and untied the leather knot holding up his pants and let them fall to the floor, completely unashamed of his body.
Gray took more time when it came to his pants. Enapay didn’t understand the man’s hesitation. He’d seen and felt Gray’s nice-sized cock.
“What’s wrong?” he asked, his hands going to Gray’s zipper.
“You’re just so beautiful. I don’t compare.”
Enapay grunted and pushed Gray’s suit pants to the floor. He pulled off the man’s shoes and pushed down his socks. The lovely shaft he’d felt earlier was still as glorious as he’d remembered. Enapay couldn’t help but to swipe the crown with his tongue.
“You’re the beautiful one,” Enapay told his lover. He nuzzled the short thatch of hair with his nose, inhaling the scent of the man standing over him. Enapay found he quite enjoyed being with a man who had hair surrounding his cock and sprinkling his chest.
Gray moaned when Enapay licked up the length of his cock. “Nice.”
Enapay liked pleasing the softhearted man. As much as he wanted Gray to suck his cock, he realized the other man needed it more. He wrapped his hands around Gray’s hips and slid his mouth as far down the erection as he could, rubbing the protruding veins with his tongue.
“Oh, fuck!” Gray cried as he put his hands on Enapay’s shoulders.
Enapay grinned around the cock in his mouth as he began to move up and down the shaft. He relished the taste clinging to his tongue as Gray’s crown released large amounts of pre-cum.
