Fangs for the Memories

by Julia Talbot

  Nathan began to melt, to relax into his embrace, and that song buzzed between them.

  He smiled happily. He hoped Nathan would be a man with him for a while, letting them get comfortable with each other.

  Tom blew a long line of air along Nathan’s throat.

  Shivering, Nathan laughed at him, fingers curling against his chest. That touch was delicious, tugging at his soul.

  He wanted more, but they would go as slowly as they needed to. No rushing, no pushing.

  Hell, he wasn’t sure if Nathan was interested in sex—with him or anyone else. He hoped so; they were both healthy young males. But he had no idea what had happened to Nathan.

  Worse, he wasn’t sure Nathan knew either.

  They could take it one day at a time. He was happy to be patient and learn.

  He hoped against hope that Nathan would give him the chance.

  NATHAN wrapped up in Tom’s pants and a heavy sweatshirt, curling into the soft cushions of the couch.

  Tom. The thought of his mate made him dizzy.

  Aroused.

  Happy.

  Worried.

  What if he remembered his old life and there were… commitments? What if he’d run because he was tied to someone not his mate? What if he’d been caged because he was bad?

  He reached up to rub his neck, the scars not something he wanted to think about, but he couldn’t help it.

  He caught the edge of the scar with his nail, tearing at it, splitting the skin.

  “Mate? What’s wrong?” Tom had been in the bedroom, but he came running, his expression worried. “No. No, mate. Stop.” Tom grabbed his hands, pulled them away. “Stop, love. No hurting my mate.”

  “Sorry. Sorry.” His face twisted. “I don’t know what happened.”

  He wasn’t sure even how much time had passed. How long had he been on his own? He felt… tired in his body, as if he’d been out in the cold too long.

  “Let me help clean you up. You’re bleeding. Poor baby. Don’t apologize. I can help.”

  “I—” Tom hushed him with a kiss, then helped staunch the bleeding with a soft handkerchief. The touches eased him, soothed him down deep.

  He relaxed, his body shaking a little with the letdown.

  “Poor love. Breathe for me. In and out. You’re okay, mate.”

  “I am. I’m okay.” He clung to Tom, just breathing as asked. The touches eased him, strong and steady, hand digging in to pet him.

  “Ed wants to come down and meet you. In person. So does Carter, but they can’t come together. Would that be okay?”

  “Yes.” He supposed. What was he supposed to say? No? These were his mate’s friends.

  “If it’s too soon, I swear it’s okay.”

  “I don’t know what’s too soon. I’m…” Confused. Lost. Frightened. “…ready.”

  “I have you.” Tom held his hand. “I do.”

  “You have me.” He sighed softly, resting hard. “I’m here with you.”

  “You are. Oh, Nathan, I already love you so.” Tom sounded so happy.

  He didn’t understand how he had found Tom—he thought he should, maybe, but he didn’t. He just knew something had drawn him here, and then the kitty, Carter, had fed him. Cared for him.

  There was badness in the back of his head, a whisper of danger. Nathan didn’t want to run, but he wanted to tell Tom—what? Why couldn’t he remember?

  Didn’t he want to remember?

  His heart beat fast and he pulled away, then began to pace.

  “Love?” Tom watched him, dark eyes following his movements.

  “I don’t remember. I don’t remember anything. What if I’m bad?”

  “Bad? How could you be? You never once threatened me or Carter.” Tom looked at him, obviously shocked. “You need to breathe, Nathan. Calm down.”

  He growled deep in his chest, his whole world spinning.

  “Nathan!” Tom’s bark surprised him. “Enough! Stop!”

  The command in Tom’s voice stopped him in his tracks. He stared, his hands clenching and unclenching, but as soon as Tom touched him, he calmed.

  “I have you.” Tom led him to the bathroom, hands sure, firm. “Come shower.”

  He let Tom pull him into the bathroom, where steam started pouring out of the shower almost as soon as Tom turned it on. Nathan did love to be warm.

  Tom pushed him in, the water sluicing over him. “Let it soothe you.”

  “You make me happy.” He reached for naked, wet Tom as soon as the man stepped in with him. He loved how the water made Tom’s skin slick and wonderful.

  “I think I’m supposed to. I think we’re made for this.”

  “I think we are too.” He really did. Nathan only worried about what his past might surprise them with. He felt so worried, but Tom wasn’t letting him dwell. No, Tom was washing him, soapy hands moving over his skin.

  He groaned softly, his body beginning to flush, tighten. Tom’s fingers felt so good on his flesh, making his toes curl against the wet tile floor. Tom murmured at him, slick hands pushing into his muscles, helping him to relax. Sweet. So sweet and perfect.

  “See, this is better. We need to breathe together.” Tom’s words fell around him.

  “We do.” Though he was losing his breath more than catching it, with the way his mate was touching him. He didn’t know if he was supposed to get hard, but he was; his body was filling.

  “Mmm. I can smell your need, sweet. It makes me feel so good.”

  He met Tom’s eyes, the hunger burning there making him ache. “I want.” He heated from within, just buzzing.

  “Do you? I want you too. I don’t want to push you too fast, but touching you makes me hard.”

  He dropped his hand to Tom’s crotch, stroking the hardness there from base to tip, exploring the length, the width. The heft of it made him pant a little. So thick and hot.

  He wanted to taste, to touch. He wanted to feel it, stretching him deep inside. The thought made him groan.

  “Oh.” Tom’s eyes went wide and dark. “Yes. Please.”

  He eased down on his knees, moaning as the scent of Tom hit him. Water ran down around his head, rushing off Tom’s body. It didn’t stop him from rubbing his cheek against Tom’s cock, then licking the clean skin.

  He lapped at the tip, searching for the salt he knew was coming.

  There on the slit he found it, even as the water beat on them. Tom was giving him need in tiny drops, each one making him jerk his hips.

  Tom touched his head, fingers tangling in his hair. It was a good caress, no meanness to it. Just a lovely, hungry need. A lover’s touch, one that made him smile against that hard flesh. That, in turn, made Tom moan and shake.

  He opened up, wrapping his lips around the tip and sucking.

  “Oh. Oh, love. Yes.” Tom was rocking a little, not pushing him, but just loving what he was doing.

  It fascinated him, how Tom gave himself over, offered to give him what he needed. Anything and everything. Tom was open, kind. Loving.

  He began to bob his head, eyelids going heavy as he sucked hard. This was what they were made for, definitely. This was why they had come together.

  Tom was going to fill him, over and over.

  Nathan couldn’t wait much longer for his first taste.

  He imagined the pleasure of Tom, sinking into him, rutting with him.

  Crying out, Tom thrust harder into his mouth, and he moaned and grabbed Tom’s ass and squeezed, the muscles resisting his hands.

  “More. Please.” Tom was really pressing him now. He trusted his mate, opened up and let Tom in, his throat closing around the tip.

  That cry came again, this time much louder, and Tom came for him, filling him with seed.

  He swallowed over and over, pulling Tom in deep.

  Tom petted his shoulders, his hair, everywhere those fingers could reach.

  He settled on his butt in the tub, blinking up.

  “Are you all right, sweet?” Tom stared do
wn at him, looking a little stunned.

  “Uh-huh.” He knew Tom’s flavor now.

  “Thank you. Can you come back up here?”

  “Uh-huh.” He reached up.

  Tom pulled him to his feet, that effortless strength making him feel very safe. He cuddled in with a soft sigh, relaxing into Tom’s heat.

  “What do you need?” Tom put one arm around him, the other hand on his ass.

  “You. Please, mate.” He was hard as hell, aching against Tom’s slick skin.

  “Mmm. I love how you want.” Tom slid that hand around to grab his cock.

  He moaned softly and arched into the firm, perfect touch.

  Heated, wondrous…. Tom was making him feel amazing.

  Tom never slowed, never sped, just kept touching. Up and down, Tom stroked him, making his body arch and twist. He was almost afraid he would slip on the floor, but Tom held him, kept him upright, clenched against the strong chest.

  Safe. Loved. Needed.

  Tom rubbed the slit of his cock with that rough thumb, making him gasp. He cried out, and Tom caught the sound with his lips. The kiss made him breathless, completely derailing any thoughts he might have had, and he shot, coming so hard he went boneless.

  “There. There we are.” Tom kissed him again, then again, making it easy to fly.

  “There….” His eyes rolled back in his head.

  “Shhh.” Tom turned off the water, still holding him up. “I have you. I have you, babe.”

  He smiled and trusted in those arms. That was something he hoped to do forever.

  Chapter Six

  TOM watched Nathan eat.

  He loved how Nathan took tiny, neat bites, eating mostly with his fingers. More than that, he loved watching Nathan lick his fingers clean.

  Sighing happily, he finished up the sandwich Ed had brought. Ed had promised to come back when his shift ended and teach Nathan how to play video games.

  Which meant, as hard as it was, he had to keep his hands to himself.

  It was more challenging than he would have ever imagined. Ever.

  Everything in Tom wanted to drag Nathan to the bedroom and fuck him. Nathan had put that image in his head yesterday, and he couldn’t get it out. Not that he wanted it out.

  He wanted in.

  All the way. He was addicted.

  Nathan was looking at him when he glanced back. Those pretty gold eyes were hot as fire.

  Oh. Oh yum.

  He wanted to lap Nathan up. Nibble some. Maybe bite.

  He leaned forward, his nostrils flaring.

  “Hey! Hello! Can I come in?” That wasn’t Ed. It was Tanner.

  “Of course, come on.”

  Nathan hunched into the clothes he’d shared. “The bear?”

  “Yes. He’s a good friend, I promise.”

  “Hi.” Tanner appeared in the kitchen, huge and broad-shouldered and shaggy.

  Tom headed over with a smile. “Gentle, he’s nervous. Nathan. His name is Nathan.”

  “Hello, Nathan. I know I’m big, but I’m a teddy bear.” Tanner smiled gently.

  “Mr. Tanner.” Nathan nodded, eyes not quite meeting Tanner’s.

  “Pleasure to meet you. I know I could just ask Tom here, but is there anything you like to eat, or that you need? Ed is going tomorrow to get you some clothes.”

  “Bacon. And I love cookies. Ginger cookies.”

  “Mmm. So do I. Honey ginger cakes too.”

  Oh, he was so proud of Nathan for trying hard.

  Nathan nodded. “I have a terrible sweet tooth.”

  “Me too!” Tanner chuckled. “I’ll send over some baked goods this evening with Carter.” Tanner looked so pleased.

  “That would be a blessing. I-I don’t have money.”

  “Don’t you worry about that,” Tanner said before Tom did. “We’ll worry about all that later. I’m so glad to meet you.”

  “I’m pleased to meet you too. Very much.”

  “Thank you. Okay, bacon and ginger cookies. Tom?”

  “Uh. I could really use some coffee for the machine and some Cokes. Maybe peanut butter.”

  Nathan moaned at the words. Oh, that was nice. That moan.

  “Lots of peanut butter, I think.” Tanner’s laughter filled the air.

  “You are my bud, man.” Tom gave Tanner a thumbs-up.

  “I am. I’m your friend too, Nathan, if you’ll let me.”

  Nathan nodded. “It’s been a long time.”

  “Has it?” How long? Tom wanted to know.

  “Yes?” Nathan frowned. “I feel like I know that, but I can’t remember. I just know.”

  “They say that. About memory loss. Like you can remember you like bacon or who won the World Series, but not your name.” Tanner hummed in sympathy.

  “Yes. I feel like there’s a wall that I can’t climb over.”

  “I’m so sorry. Tom will help.” Tanner hesitated. “I have a friend who’s a doctor. He specializes in cases like Tom’s. And yours.”

  “No.” No doctors. No cutting. Nathan backed up, the wolf surging up in him.

  Tanner gave Tom an apologetic look. “I’m so sorry to upset you, Nathan. I’ll go, Tom. Please forgive the intrusion.” Tanner hustled.

  Tom moved to take Nathan’s hands. “Shhh. It’s okay, sweet. I promise.”

  “No doctors!” Nathan snapped at the air. “No cutting!”

  Panic was pouring from his mate.

  “No doctors.” He hoped Tanner hadn’t called Preston. “Not even our friend. He really helped me. He would never cut you, and I would never let a doctor hurt you.” He’d found he just had to repeat things softly, calmly, and Nathan would ease.

  Nathan whined softly, pushing into his arms, herding him toward the bedroom.

  Poor baby. He wanted his nest, which at least Tom had convinced him should be on top of the bed rather than under it. Tom tugged Nathan into bed and covered them with sheets and blankets.

  Nathan burrowed with him, protecting him, fear unreasonable and swirling around them.

  “I swear, love. No doctors.” He had to find out, eventually, why his lover was so afraid of doctors. Who had hurt him? Cut him? God, if he ever came face-to-face with the asshole….

  “No doctors.” Nathan began to calm, panting softly, the wolf retreating.

  “Nope. No way. None.” If Preston showed up, he would be introduced as a buddy. A pal. End of story.

  No doctors. He rested his forehead against Nathan’s.

  Yes. Nathan sighed. Mate. I hurt your bear’s feelings.

  No, you didn’t. He’s worried he scared you, is all. I’ll call him later. If anyone understood, it was Tanner. He was a good man and a gentle giant of a bear.

  “It surprised me. The word. It scared me.”

  “I saw that. It makes me want to know who hurt you.”

  “I don’t know. I don’t want to know.” It was bad. So bad.

  I love you. He hoped that was enough right now to make Nathan feel safe.

  Nathan looked up, staring right into his eyes. That trust, that need, warmed his heart. So dear.

  “I swear to you. I swear. I have your back.”

  Nathan nodded slowly. “I believe you.”

  Honor made him sit taller in their nest. His mate knew he could count on him. That was more than he’d ever expected to find. More than he’d dreamed of.

  Tom hummed, then rubbed his nose against Nathan’s, sharing air.

  Nathan began to relax, easing against him. That panic began to fade, Nathan’s song dancing against his spine.

  That was more like it. He had to help Nathan find a way to remember and then move on. Not that it would happen quickly, but Tom wanted to help. His mate deserved that kind of peace.

  Nathan sighed softly and curled in close. The soft, steady hum made him want to fly.

  He hoped Tanner told Carter and Ed not to mention doctors. That had been pure panic. He couldn’t imagine what had happened, but the scars told a part of the story.


  Tom closed his eyes, listening to the thump of Nathan’s heart and holding on tight.

  “NATHAN?” The whisper buzzed through the air, flying, and his eyes popped open.

  “Ed?”

  He uncurled himself from their nest and headed for the main room, looking for the big bird. He found Ed on the porch, wearing layers of black clothes.

  “Hi!” Ed smiled at him, black eyes twinkling. He was a handsome human, all beaky with sharp angles, just like his bird.

  “Hi. Tom is sleeping, but I’m not.” He opened the door wider.

  “Yeah?” That smile widened. “You want to play? I have video games.”

  “I will. I don’t know if I know how to play, but I can learn.”

  “I bet you can. You have great reflexes.” Ed walked into the main room, carrying a sport bag. “Let me just set up the console. Tanner said I should come here instead of making you come to my room. It’s kinda… messy.”

  “The den I had before was bare. Cold.” He didn’t mind messy.

  “I like pillows. Sparkly things. Want to see?” Ed bounced. “Will your mate mind?”

  “He won’t.” Why would he? He wouldn’t bite the pretty bird.

  “I mean if he wakes up and you’re not here. I could leave him a note.”

  “Okay.” He followed Ed to the little table, watching him write a note to Tom.

  Dear Tom, I took Nathan to my cabin to play and see sparklies. Come by. Ed.

  He took the pen from Ed.

  Love you. N.

  “You can write.”

  “I can.” Weird. Fascinating. Also, incredibly handy.

  “I just wasn’t sure if you would be able to. I mean, how long were you a prisoner, right? What if you had to dig your way out with a spoon? Come on!”

  “Right? I don’t remember. I don’t know.” He followed Ed, laughing, running out into the snow, his bare feet going cold immediately.

  “Oh no! You don’t have shoes.” Ed laughed, the caw of a bird right there in it. “Faster!”

  They hooked arms and ran, Ed pushing him quickly across the snow to a tiny cabin close to a big, big house.

  They went up and to the very back, where it looked like the room was a perch, hanging off the rear of the house.