Fangs for the Memories

by Julia Talbot

  Now, love. Do it and don’t think. I’m going to make you feel so good.

  His man-self came to him in a rush, leaving him dizzy and swaying. “Tom.”

  “Oh, hello!” Tom’s joy was almost touchable, and it filled him and the room. Tom grabbed him, then kissed his lips, tongue pressing into him, tasting him.

  He loved how Tom felt against him, strong, bare, cold but warming up fast. He reached up, arms wrapping around Tom’s shoulders.

  They kissed, Tom leaning on the doorframe to keep them steady. He rocked, rubbing, his body already on fire.

  “Needy.” Tom’s hand was hard on his hip.

  “I remember. What we did before.” With color and sound. All of a sudden.

  “Good. I’m going to do it again. I want everything.”

  “Please. Yes.” Nathan let Tom pull him to the bed. Someone had been in, changing sheets.

  He laughed for sheer joy.

  “I love that sound,” Tom told him. “Love it.”

  “Yes. Love.”

  Tom pushed him down, then covered him, rubbing all their skin together along their fronts. His cock began to rise, to swell, his balls feeling heavy and full.

  Nipping at his lower lip, Tom laughed, doing another slow, grinding slide over him. “Yes.”

  He nodded, not even sure anymore what he was agreeing to, but totally willing to agree.

  They rolled, Tom putting him on top, hands on his butt. Tom squeezed, pulling him forward so their cocks slid together. Tom’s fingertips dug in, pressing hard, deep enough that he’d wear marks.

  These possessive marks he would wear gladly.

  They were marks of love, ones he offered easily.

  Tom seemed to hear his thoughts, as so often happened, and bent to suck up a bruise on Nathan’s shoulder.

  He could feel it, the pressure, the pleasure, the way the blood rushed to the surface.

  Nathan spread his legs and pushed harder against Tom, wanting more friction. More of everything.

  Tom dragged them tighter together, pushing them until it felt like their skin would catch flame.

  He moaned, his head falling forward as he panted. “More, mate.”

  Tom’s answer was a low, deep growl, one that made his eyes roll. His mate and his alpha. He could so live with that. He’d missed being part of a pack, and Tom was his. All his.

  My pack. My mate. Tom gnawed at him, his body responding immediately, cock filling the rest of the way in a rush.

  They both growled now, the scent of need rising up between them. “Want you,” Tom said.

  “Take me.”

  Tom’s response was a deep, throaty cry.

  Holding him there, Tom pushed to one side to fumble in the bedside table. “Lube.”

  Nathan watched, his hands stroking over Tom’s body, mapping his skin.

  The lube popped open under the pressure of Tom’s fingers, and Tom squirted out some of the stuff, laughing when the tube made a rude noise.

  He knelt up tall, his legs going tight and hard. Nathan pushed back with his hips, remembering how good it felt when Tom was inside him.

  “Needy mate.” Tom traced one finger along his shaft, and he barked out his pleasure. “So pretty. Now to get you ready.” Tom reached behind Nathan, fingers pushing at his hole.

  His eyes rolled back in his head, his body unsure whether to slide up or back.

  “Open up, sweet. Breathe with me.” One finger circled and circled.

  “Oh….” He leaned forward, panting softly at the heady pressure.

  “Tight. I love your heat.” That finger pressed up into him, slowly, cautiously.

  He let his thighs spread wider, accepting Tom, allowing him to touch him deep.

  “Perfect. Oh, love. I can’t wait to get in. Let me touch you more.” Another finger pressed in on Tom’s next pass.

  “More. Touch me more.” He was all over this plan.

  “I will.” Tom’s voice was almost guttural, the need so clear, so hot, and he reached back behind him to grab Tom’s burning brand of an erection.

  “Oh.” Tom arched up, fucking his hand. “Yeah. Let me… I need you to slick me up.”

  He reached out for lube, more than willing to lend a hand.

  Tom handed it to him, then went back to focusing on opening him wide. He slicked his fingers, then reached back to stroke, nice and steady. He wanted every inch of skin wet and ready for him, as he was almost ready to take Tom into his body. Tom began to pant, the sound rough and raw, hungry.

  Nathan rubbed and tugged, pausing only when Tom eased three fingers into him. The burn went up through his belly and down through his balls. “Mate.”

  He arched, bearing down and rocking hard.

  “I think we’re ready. Raise up, sweet. I want in.” Tom slid his fingers free.

  “Please. Please, mate.” He barked a little, so sharp, so needy.

  Gripping his hips, Tom lifted him, then pushed him back enough to hover over that hard cock. He moaned and bore down, wanting their connection, their rutting.

  “Beautiful man,” Tom whispered, and then Tom pulled him close, the heavy tip of his mate’s cock scraping against him, forcing him open all over again.

  Gravity helped, pulling him down along Tom’s flesh until they pressed together completely. He arched, his eyelids fluttering closed as he felt. His body was on fire, his cock bobbing, his balls pressed to Tom’s skin. Tom’s gaze was a touch too, dragging over his skin, trailing over his body.

  This was nothing to hide from. Nothing to be afraid of.

  Nothing but this need and the knowledge that Tom loved him.

  They began to move, Tom helping him to rise and fall, taking Tom in and out.

  Tom’s sounds washed over him, grunts and moans. Heat rose from Tom’s body, both of them starting to sweat.

  He inhaled deep, nostrils flaring at the scent of them, mingled together.

  Together. You and me. Mates. The joy in Tom’s mind sent him to another level of need.

  His hands landed on Tom’s chest, fingertips digging into the heavy pelt.

  “Faster,” Tom urged, and they moved faster, Tom drawing up those long legs to cradle him. He held on, his thighs beginning to burn as he rode.

  It didn’t matter. Nothing mattered but the deep ache inside him and the need to go over the edge with his lover.

  Tom’s hand found his cock, wrapping tight around him and squeezing.

  “Oh!” Nathan jerked hard, his hips rocking, his body straining.

  “Mmm. That feels good, mate, around my cock.”

  He laughed, squeezing down harder because he wanted to hear Tom grunt.

  “Little tease.” Tom slammed up into him, hands tugging him down.

  “Not all that little.”

  “No. Perfect for me.” Tom pushed and pulled, driving into him and helping him burn. “Perfect.”

  He began to pant, nodding, hungry for more, deeper. He swallowed as he rode, his head fallen back.

  Tom surged up, arms wrapping around him, only to roll them over again, putting Nathan on the bottom.

  Mate! He gasped, legs wrapping around Tom’s hips.

  “Yes. Oh, love. Tell me I can move faster.”

  “Fuck me.” That was the best he had. “Please.”

  Tom yanked his legs up over those broad shoulders. “Hang on, sweet. I’m gonna ride hard.” Tom reared back, then slammed into him.

  He howled in sheer need, Tom’s cock lighting him up inside.

  Tom stared into his eyes, that dark stare seeming to see into his soul. Tom gave him no quarter, driving into him, filling him up, and keeping him totally caught.

  Hips moving like a piston, Tom wrecked him utterly. His skin heated until he thought steam might rise from it.

  The world stopped spinning, stopped moving, as the coil of need inside him tightened. He thought it would bust at any moment, and the fine tremors that rocked Tom told him he wasn’t alone.

  When Tom wrapped that strong hand aroun
d his shaft, his eyes crossed and he barked out a warning. He was on the edge of falling.

  “Uhn.” Tom pulled at him, fingers callused and heated. Then Tom pinched the tip of his prick, slamming lightning through him.

  When he came his brain shorted out for a moment, and Nathan flailed, not sure if he should panic or give in to it.

  “Love! Nathan!” Eyes wide, Tom came for him, into him, which dissolved his sudden fear like a bubble. Pop. Instead, all he felt was pleasure.

  Tom’s song rang inside him, deep and low, crawling along his nerves and soothing him.

  They slumped together after all the shaking and shouting, Tom resting down on him, face in the crook of Nathan’s neck.

  “Smell like me,” Tom muttered.

  “I smell like pack.”

  “You do. Oh, I do love you, sweet.” Tom kissed his chin, then his mouth.

  Nathan kissed him back, sharing their flavors, their hunger, their love.

  “Thank you, Nathan. For trusting me.”

  “You came for me.”

  “I will always find you.” Tom chuckled. “Ed helped a lot.”

  “I remember. He tried to get me free, but….” He shivered and grabbed on. “I don’t want to talk about that.”

  “Shhh.” Tom kissed him again. “You don’t have to now. I think it will help if you do later. When it’s not so raw.”

  “Not now. You’re in me. I have you.” He slid his hands down Tom’s spine.

  “Yes. This is about us. You and me.”

  He hummed softly and lifted his face for another kiss.

  Tom gave it, loving him with a long, slow meeting of lips. The kiss kept him warm, but the desperation had been satisfied for now.

  It will come back, mate. Have no doubt.

  Nathan laughed, just threw his head back and let himself go. Tom laughed with him, just hooting and hollering.

  He held on, so in love that it ached.

  Tom was there with him, and that was more than he’d ever thought he would have.

  “For life,” Tom whispered. “We mate for life.”

  His breath caught, and he nodded. “Always.”

  “Yes.” Tom took another soft, deep kiss. “Always.”

  That was good enough for Nathan, even if he really had no idea what forever meant. Yet.

  TOM was on top of the world.

  Nathan had come to him. As a man. And as easily as Nathan ever had. His mate.

  He heard a rough, raw singing coming from the bathroom, his mate playing in the shower.

  Laughing, he headed to the bathroom. Maybe he could sneak in. Maybe he could also convince his mate to have breakfast at the big house.

  There had obviously been a shampoo explosion.

  There were bubbles… everywhere.

  “Sweet? Are you all right?” Was Ed in there?

  “Washing my hair. Help?”

  “Of course.” Tom stepped right into the shower, reaching for Nathan once the curtain closed behind him.

  Nathan’s eyes were squeezed tight, soap covering the dear face.

  “Oh no! That burns.” He pulled down the detachable showerhead so he could rinse Nathan’s face.

  “Thank you. I got a little enthusiastic, and it’s been a while since I had so much hair.” Sweet, silly mate.

  “I bet. I loved it.” He helped rub the shampoo out under the spray, loving how the clean strands slid through his fingers.

  “Oh, thank you. Better. Better.”

  That smile made him a little dizzy. His heart couldn’t be happier.

  “Do you want to go have breakfast at the big house together? I’d love to go over.”

  “Maybe. Yes? It’s a little hard to think about, leaving your den.”

  “I know.” Tom pressed up against Nathan. “We can wait a few days, but Ed will want to deliver breakfast if we don’t pop up.”

  The fact that Nathan was willing to consider it meant a lot. A lot.

  “I will try. He’s gone. The bad one. Really gone.”

  “I tore out his throat.” He’d watched the life leave the eyes and body of the monster.

  “I escaped, but I wasn’t strong enough.”

  “You ran toward me.” Tom leaned his forehead against Nathan’s. “I could never ask for more. That collar was spelled with magic, Nathan. It sapped your strength.”

  “It took a lot more than that—my pack, my family. At least it didn’t take you.”

  “No. I’m so sorry about your pack, love. Maybe you can tell me about them someday?” He wanted to know everything Nathan remembered.

  Nathan nodded to him. “You should know their stories. They would have been your family too. They were good wolves. Gentle. Happy.”

  “I can see that. They raised you right.” Tom grabbed the soap to scrub them both.

  “I don’t know why I survived.”

  “That way lies madness, sweet.” He rinsed them off, the water cooling just a tiny bit. “You can’t think about that.”

  “No?” Nathan stayed close, obviously needing contact, needing him.

  “No. No, it will just make you crazy. I know it.” Tom had done his own share of circular thinking when he’d been bitten and two of his friends had died outside a swanky bar in Dallas. Why him? Why had he survived without them?

  Nathan nuzzled his jaw. “You smell good.”

  “Soap.” He laughed, because the touches tickled a tiny bit.

  “Yes, but more than that. Pack. Sex. Love.” Nathan inhaled deep. “Home.”

  “Mmm. Yes. Oh, love.” He hugged Nathan tight, but a thought was niggling at him. “We need to talk about that.”

  “About love?”

  “That too.” He laughed with sheer joy. “But mainly about home. This isn’t my den. I’m just visiting Tanner and Carter.”

  “Oh? It smells like you.”

  “I stay here when I come. They’re really good to me. And us. They’ll let us stay as long as we need.” Tom turned off the water. “But my den, my real one, is far away, where it’s hot and flat.”

  And his mountain- and snow-loving mate would hate Dallas. Hate it.

  Nathan blinked water out of his eyes, seemingly waiting for Tom to go on.

  “I—I want to keep that place in case we need it, but I would like for us to find somewhere here, near our new pack. Together.”

  “Yes. Together. Here and together is good, but together is the best part.”

  “Exactly.” He was glad Nathan was willing. Finding a spot might be hard, but his mate didn’t seem worried in the least. In fact, he just sent out easy, loving thoughts.

  Tom swung Nathan around once they were on the rug outside the shower. “Oh, I can’t wait to look at cabins.”

  “Can there be a fireplace?”

  “Yes. And a hot tub.” They danced together, jumping more like goats than wolves.

  “The kind that has bubbles?”

  “Exactly that kind.” He took a kiss. “Oh, cold!”

  “We’re wet.” Like he didn’t know that.

  “Let’s get dry, then. And dressed. I would really like everyone to see you, know that we’re okay.”

  “Dry and dressed—are some of my clothes still here? The man took my others.”

  “He wasn’t a man.”

  “What?”

  “He wasn’t a man, Nathan. He was a monster.”

  “You keep saying that.”

  Tom nodded. “Because he was an ogre. They’re like goblins or trolls. I am a man.”

  “No. You’re a werewolf, like me.”

  “I am.” Tom laughed. “I forget because I wasn’t born that way. But see, even if he had been a man, he would still have been a monster. No one does what he did if they’re not.”

  “No. No one steals others and cages them.” Nathan shuddered.

  “Exactly.” He pulled Nathan in for a hard hug. “I’m so proud of you.”

  Nathan burrowed into him with a long sigh. “I was scared.”

  “You were brave
. Being frightened doesn’t mean you didn’t do everything you could.”

  “He was either going to kill me or I was going to escape. There was no other option.”

  “I’m glad you came back to me. Though I was afraid you wouldn’t remember me.”

  “I remembered you the whole time. Not your name, but that you were waiting. I knew to find you.” Nathan sounded so sure, so confident.

  “I was hunting you. I was coming.” They were clinging together, rocking.

  Nathan looked to him. “Swear he’s dead.”

  “I swear it.” In fact, he knew Preston had gone back to burn the body.

  Nathan’s eyes began to glow, and Tom rumbled softly. “No, mate. Stay with me. Breakfast, remember?”

  “Yes. With our friends.” The growl backed off some, the light in his mate’s eyes fading. “Clothes. Shoes… my shoes?” Nathan’s eyes went wide. “Tom! My shoes! I never got to wear my shoes!”

  “I have your shoes.” He beamed. “They were in the car, so I have them.”

  “Oh. Oh, good.” Nathan began to pant, soft and slow.

  “Shhh. It’s okay. We’re okay. We have time to get all this worked out.”

  “We’re okay. Okay. Breakfast. Will there be meat?”

  “There will be.” While Nathan was dressing, he would text Tanner and make sure. Bacon and sausage were called for.

  His mate was coming to breakfast.

  Nathan dressed, then put on his moccasins. Tom thought about telling his mate they would just get wet, but then he decided he’d simply carry Nathan. It would be easier, and Nathan would laugh.

  “Ready?” Tom asked, rubbing his hands together.

  “I am. You?”

  “Yep.” He rushed to Nathan, then swept him off his feet. “To the main house!”

  “Tom!”

  Goddess, that happy laugh made him feel ten feet tall and bulletproof.

  “No getting snow in your mocs!” He ran, feeling like he could leap over the house, let alone make it there. Nathan’s legs wrapped around his waist, arms around his neck.

  They were both laughing when they arrived at Tanner’s kitchen door. He set Nathan down on the swept top step, then stomped the snow off his boots.

  The door opened wide, Ed flinging it. “Nathan! Tom! Hello!”

  “Hello, my friend Ed! Look! Tom found my shoes.” Nathan showed off each foot in turn.

  “Oh, very nice! Come in! We’re in the dining room because there are so many. You have to meet Niani and Dev and Rene. Niani is a raven and Rene is a fox. Dev is… a Dev.”