by Julia Talbot
“Okay, honey. It was nice to meet you. Tell my brother I love him and I’ll find this Silvia fellow and tear his throat out. First, I have a few errands to run. See you!”
He was given a pat to the head and then Yves was moving, bag tucked under his arm, hustling away.
Shit.
He shoved one turnover into his mouth, grabbing the others so he could have them later. He had a job to do.
This was either going to be the best or the worst job ever. He just wasn’t sure which one.
Chapter Two
A bodyguard? Seriously? What nonsense.
As adorable as the goofy pup was, Yves was busy, with things to do, places to go, people to see.
All that.
He had no time to play.
It was a shame, really. Something about the pup called to him, but he didn’t have time for nonsense. So he put his head down and left the coffee shop behind, making his way into the warren of streets and shops.
So, Silvia. Research said he had his fingers in a number of pies, but the most disturbing plum was the line where he collected esoteric gems. That put Yves directly in his line of sight, especially if the man used a seer or some other type of magic locator.
Yves really didn’t need this shit. He had one job to do, and it wasn’t fucking a werewolf or fending off a collector.
Girard had died for him, had made the sacrifice and... His fault. It was all his fault. His head pounded, and nausea rose in his throat. Luc was safe, if possibly not whole. He had to do this for Girard.
It was his fault.
He swallowed back the bile and forced himself to calm his fuzzy ass down. This was no time to ponder losing control of any kind.
He could be a fucking psycho later. After he got all the stones in one place and performed the prescribed ritual. God, that sounded so Monkey’s Paw.
Still. Stones were safe. He had a bead on the right place, and he had half of the ritual transcribed. The language was enough to make a man mad in moments, and a shifter crazy enough in the short-term, so he was having to work it out in bits.
A soft tap on his shoulder made him gasp and spin about. The big pup had managed to sneak up on him.
“You know, I could just come with you. Way easier for us both.” That big smile split the man’s tanned face, that shaggy blond hair and those golden brown eyes so attractive.
“Nope. I have things to do.” Dangerous things. Possibly things that could get him skinned. “No one will blame you for going. I’m slippery.”
“You’ve never met Luc’s vamp. He’s all teeth and blame, buddy.”
“No wonder Luc adores him.” They both liked a little rough play, a hunt. “He’s very in love.”
“Yep.” One big paw settled on the small of Yves’ back. “What do you like?”
“Pardon?” Oh. Oh, that felt good. Scratch. Please. Just a little. Wait, they were in a street.
As if he’d asked aloud, though, the big guy began to scratch lightly. “I mean, are you like your twin, or do you go for girl kitties?”
“Identical twins are over seventy percent likely to share their sibling’s sexual preference.” His eyes crossed. “And you know full well I like cock. You have a nose.”
“A damned good one. Come on, honey. Let’s work together. I’m house trained.”
The words made him chuckle, shake his head. “Come on. I’ll ditch you later. I’ve got research to do.”
“Good deal. I’m exceptional at that, too.” They walked a few moments before the big wolf added, “I’m Reuben.”
“Yves. But you knew that. Nice to meet you.”
“Ditto.”
To his credit, Reuben fell silent after that, following him to the tiny room he’d rented. It had the marked benefit of amazing Wi-Fi.
“There’s no real kitchen, but the shower works, and there’s milk and beer in the fridge.” He headed to sit at the table and started hunting. Someone had the final pieces of the spell and that someone was local. He’d found the first bits in Tibet, and then he ended up in Pakistan before he’d been led to Columbia.
Now he was in the States, and he knew he was close. So close.
“Milk is good.” Reuben wandered to the kitchen, stretching tall in the doorway, joints popping.
His whiskers twitched. Stop it. Working. He was busy. There was no time for that amazing body, which he hadn’t taken time to admire before now.
Still, Reuben was stacked to the ceiling, broad and wide and shaggy, pretty much definitely lickable. He smelled good, too, which simply wasn’t fair. Wolves should repel him.
Cats. Dogs. Dogs. Cats. Oil. Water. Matches. Gasol...
“Do you smell gas, man?” He began to gather his things, closing his laptop and slipping it into his bag.
Reuben sniffed the air, then began to frown. “I do. The main window.”
“That’s bad.” Laptop, ditty bag, duffel, phone charger. He was all about traveling light. “Wanna hasta before the boom and burning and shit starts?”
“I do. Let me check the stairs first, okay?” All of a sudden he could see why this huge pup was good at his job. Reuben went stealth, his feet making no sound on the creaky wood floor.
He went for speed over silence, making sure nothing important was left behind.
Reuben opened the door, weapon in hand. Yves hadn’t even seen the big pistol appear.
Okay, that was hot. What? He was shallow. No one would be surprised. Least of all his brothers. Brother. Luc. The thought of Girard made him touch the secret pocket sewn into his jacket.
“Let’s move,” Reuben said, waving him over.
“Coming.” He headed across the floor, hitting the doorway as the front windows blew in, glass flying everywhere. Goodie.
Thank the gods he wasn’t sitting at the table anymore. That was a damned small room.
Reuben cursed and tugged him down into the foyer, then pushed him toward the back of the building instead.
“Where are we going, man?” he hissed.
“There has to be a back door. Gas smell is out front, so I’d rather not go that way.”
“Okay. Hurry.” Something at the base of his brain was ticking away like a clock attached to dynamite.
“On it.” There was a rattle at the front door and Reuben shoved him ahead, pushing him to run.
He kept hold of his bags, driving himself forward, pulling a long stiletto from his jacket. He could protect himself, and he certainly would if provoked. Reuben seemed pretty capable, but Yves rarely trusted anyone.
“Hurry now, they’re in the front. Quiet as a mouse.”
Reuben’s words made him roll his eyes. Cats were so much better at quiet. Mice scrabbled.
He got a glare and a mouthed “move”, so he kept going. He spilled out the back door, grateful nothing shot at him or exploded.
Which way. Which way. Fuck. Which...
He started to go left when Reuben dragged him to the right. So, he went. He let Reuben lead, and damned if it didn’t work. They rolled under a fence at the side of the building instead of going straight back or around front.
The bag caught on the fence and he tugged, pulling hard. He couldn’t leave this behind.
Reuben grabbed it with one hand, a casual pull dislodging it. So strong.
“Thanks.” Okay. Okay, damn it. This had to be Luc’s fault. His brother called, sent a bodyguard and boom. Literally.
He might just have to beat someone.
First, he needed a place to...
The explosion sent him flying and he landed on his duffel and Reuben with a thud.
“Oof. Damn.” Reuben struggled to get them up and moving.
“Sorry.” He shook his head, debris falling from his hair. “We should split up. Obviously explosions are an issue for my family.”
“Nope. This is what I’m here for.” A rattle and scrape sounded behind them and Reuben simply picked him up and ran, his speed impressive for such a big guy.
Yves found himself in the u
nusual position of hold onto your butt and don’t make Reuben fall. Staying out of the way of those running legs and not throwing up from the jostling at the same time was surprisingly challenging.
They outdistanced anyone who might be following, though, and Yves felt relief wash over him when Reuben tossed him into the passenger side of a large king cab pick-up.
Oh, yeah. Stopping. He was a fan. He slumped in the seat, holding onto his bags and praying the blast didn’t fuck with the hard drive.
Reuben turned the key and hit the air, blasting him with a cool wave of goodness. Hooray.
He sucked in a deep breath, his kidneys throbbing with adrenaline. “Well, that was fun.”
“Only not so much. Check your legs over for shrapnel will you?” Reuben gave him a wild grin that told Yves he was having a ball. Someone was a bit of an adventure junkie.
“Yeah, no problem.” Once he remembered how to move. “Reminds me of running from some pissed Russians with altogether too many bullets over the ice. Ice can burn.”
“Yeah?” He got another sideways glance after Reuben got them moving. “I didn’t know that.”
“Which part? The oversupplied comrade part or the holy fucking shitballs that stings part?” He was covered in tiny cuts, but there was just one piece of glass worth pulling out from behind his knee.
“The ice part. I’ve had my share of Russian mafia here at home.” Reuben spun them into a turn he didn’t think the truck would make. Once all four wheels touched the ground again they gained speed, pushing out of the industrial area and onto the highway.
“Where are we going?” This was absolutely not where he needed to be headed. He had work to do and time was short.
“Safe house,” Reuben said, concentrating on the road. “Just a bolthole I know. I need to catch the boss up on this latest development.”
“I have to get back to work. Don’t worry Luc. I’m fine.” He was. A little shaken up, no big deal.
“I’m not Luc, honey.” Now he got a worried glance.
“No. No, my brother. He’ll fret. Try and stop me and that won’t do, you understand? No catching anyone up. We’re golden. Just a little bloody.”
“You’re not making a lot of sense. Did the blast addle you a little?”
“Of course not!” He didn’t do addled. “I need a cup of coffee and a Wi-Fi connection. I have to figure this out.”
“What, exactly? I’m good at puzzles.”
So far there wasn’t much Reuben wasn’t good at.
He shook his head. “Don’t ask.”
Reuben seemed like a sweet puppy; Yves didn’t want to ruin him too. This ritual would fuck with anyone. Demon languages did that.
“I just did. Man, you’re touchy.”
“Fuck you. I’m trying to protect your hairy ass. Don’t give me shit.” Rage bubbled up in Yves’ chest, battering at his ribs.
“Hey, back off. I just got blown up for you.” Reuben could growl for sure.
“I didn’t ask you to hang on. Blame Luc’s fuckbuddy. Let me out of the fucking car.” Something rattled inside him, something angry and scared and utterly panicked.
“Honey, we’re doing seventy. I can’t just stop.”
“I...” He shook his head, the call of the damn spell beginning to whisper in his head like a siren song. A poisonous one. “Let me out.”
“Stop it!” Reuben snapped when he tried to open the door. The door locks kept clicking, Reuben thwarting him.
“I can’t breathe!” The cat wanted out, was clawing at his spine. That was Luc, not him. He never shifted without concentrating. “What is happening to me?”
“I don’t know.” Reuben had gone from pissy to soothing, which meant he was acting like a lunatic that someone had to placate. “We’ll find out. You have to calm down now, though. I promise, I’ve got this.”
He shook his head, the cat letting out a wild roar and he stared over in pure apology. He wasn’t trying to get them killed.
“Scream all you want, honey. Just don’t try to run. You’ll hurt yourself.” Reuben got it.
Somehow, the big guy understood.
Yves screamed and howled, and finally, without his permission, the cat came.
***
Reuben was maybe three inches away from losing his shit by the time they pulled in at the safe house. Thank God Yves had shifted, because the cat was way calmer than the man, grooming its fur and completely ignoring him.
He got it. Hell, he wanted to shift, too, and gnaw the shrapnel out of his hip.
Instead, he parked around back of the big metal building that claimed to be a special effects studio and stared at the back door, which seemed a mile or more away. “How in hell am I going to get you inside?”
Yves blinked at him like he was some new species, those green eyes huge and sparkling.
“So not helping.” He could call in help, but that would take time. He could carry Yves, but that was a lot of pointy wrapped up in one package...
Yves’ paw landed on the door locks; the door handle opened, then the briefcase was picked up by the handle before Yves hopped out.
“Well, okay.” He hopped out of the truck and headed for the door, hauling Yves’ duffel.
He felt Yves’ gaze weighing on him, heavy on his back, making him tingle. At least the cat was more willing to come with him than the man. Lord, Yves had gone a little nuts.
Yves growled, just the barest sound, but it was enough to make his hair stand on end. Slinky, dangerous kitty.
Reuben punched in the code and let them in, standing back to allow Yves to enter first.
Yves looked around, exploring with slow, careful intent, whiskers twitching.
The camera app on his phone had shown nothing on the security scanner Kasey had set up, but Reuben sniffed around a bit, too, his back and ass beginning to sting.
Right. Clear. Time to check in.
The bags were shoved under a bed, blankets piled around them with a swipe of one paw around them, then, before Reuben could make his call, he was pounced.
Reuben went stiff, his body reacting with a fight or flight response. When he managed to do neither, Yves shoved him to the floor and began to groom him, starting with his hair.
Okay.
Okay, he could...
His shirt was shredded, his skin not touched. Now, that was talent. He didn’t have his go bag here, so he’d have to call Kasey’s mate and fellow wolf shifter Deke and get some supplies.
His back was well cleaned, so was his chest, but when those huge paws reached for his fly, his entire being went, oh no. No shredding.
“I can get that.” Reuben struggled free a moment and skinned out of his cargo pants. He was glomped again, one soft, furry cheek rubbing his privates. The rush of fear and god yes mingled inside him.
Scenting him. Yves was scenting him, rubbing those glands against his skin. That was some kind of claiming.
“Easy, now. Easy.”
Yves’ paw landed on his lower belly in a clear message.
He was totally going to have to call Deke. Really, he ought to talk to Jonny, because kitty mated there, but Deke was more his friend and not partnered with Yves’ brother.
Yves cleaned his cock, his balls, then started in on his legs before flipping him like a coin. His butt was given intense attention, the glass worked out, the cuts soothed.
What a weird, sensual, but not sexual, experience. Reuben had never felt anything like it.
By the time Yves was done and sprawled over his back, Reuben felt... Well, shit. He had no idea how he felt. None.
Wrung out. Soft as a wet noodle. He wanted to sleep for days.
Yves nuzzled him, whiskers tickling, and suddenly his wolf was on him, curling in so he could snuggle, muzzle resting on Yves’ shoulder.
Warm. Happy. His wolf gave a happy inner yelp, and Reuben closed his eyes. Rest now.
Sleep.
***
Yves woke up human, feeling sore and relaxed, all at once.
> Okay, that had been weird.
Reuben was wrapped around him, cock soft and heavy against his thigh.
And that was also relatively uncommon. He was something of a loner. Yves didn’t sleep with anyone, especially not relative strangers.
Could someone be a stranger when they’d seen you freak out, change into a cat, and be groomed by you? His cheeks heated. His cat. God.
Reuben tugged him in, squeezed him tight, stealing his breath.
Strong.
That cock that lay so heavy against him began to harden, Reuben shifting to rub a little.
Oh, this was a terrible idea. Awful.
His body began to tighten, anticipation drawing up his muscles. Blood rushed south, making his cock stiff.
“Mmm.” The little growl was delicious, zinging through him. “You smell amazing.”
“I haven’t woken up naked to a strange man in years.” He nuzzled in, tongue flicking out to taste.
“No? I haven’t ever had a cat groom me.” Reuben chuckled, the sound just a puff of air.
“Yes. Sorry. Instinct. I don’t know what came over me.”
“I’m not sorry, honey.” That stubbled chin rubbed against his neck.
Electricity shot through him. “Good. Good. Do that again.”
“This?” That hair rough skin scrubbed at him, making him shiver.
Yves blinked, his entire body arching with the sensation. He breathed in deeply, the scent of Reuben’s need filling his senses.
He moaned and reached down, fingers trailing over the tip of Reuben’s prick. So hard for him already, hot and long and thick at the base. He licked his lips, curious how a pup would taste.
“You’re thinking naughty thoughts, I can tell.” That smile carried into Reuben’s voice, wicked and pleased.
“Moi? I am pure as the driven snow.”
“Uh-huh. Sweet and innocent.” Reuben grabbed his cock in return, measuring it from base to tip.
“That’s me.” His entire body arched, electricity zipping through him. “Oh, fuck.”
“Been a long time, huh? You beg to be touched, kit.”
“I’m picky.” He undulated and moved through Reuben’s fingers again, his belly going tight.
“So am I. Must be your damned emerald eyes.” Reuben stroked and squeezed. “This is a nice handful, too.”
