“The really young ones are trained to look at a moonstone and it’ll bring them into a trancelike state. They are able to shift then, but we don’t do this often before the kids are able to talk. Sometimes it’s hard to convince them to shift back. They get lost in their wolf form.”
“This is all totally weird.”
“Only because you’re new to it. I’m curious, though, did you never feel the urge to shift? Did you never accidentally shift in your animal form? I find that hard to believe.”
Jay pushed out of Tim’s embrace, putting a few inches between them. Glaring at Tim, he scoffed, “I find everything you told me today hard to believe. I’d say we’re even.”
Tim held up his hands. “Whoa, slow down, rascal. No need to bare your teeth at me. It’s just… I can’t imagine going without shifting for more than a week. I’d be a bundle of nerves by the end of it or attack someone over a petty thing.”
Aghast, Jay blinked. “Why would you do that?”
“Shifters tend to become aggressive if they can’t shift. They also tend to become aggressive if they’re separated from their mate for too long.” Tim stared at Jay for a long moment before continuing softly, “There was a time in my life when I thought I’d go crazy. I was always in fights, hurting other people simply because I felt lost and hurt when I couldn’t find you. For a very short time, I even considered ending my miserable existence.”
Jay gasped, his eyes wide in fear. Bridging the distance between them in two swift strides, he slung his arms around Tim’s shoulders, squeezing none too gently. The blanket slipped from his shoulders, and they pressed together closely.
“Don’t say something like that.”
“It’s the truth. I’m only here because my parents and my siblings—most of them, anyway—helped me to get through it. Also, we didn’t mate at that time because if we had, neither of us would be here now. We couldn’t have survived being separated for almost two decades.”
In a choked voice, Jay responded, “Good thing. I was just a small guy at that time.”
“I wasn’t exactly ready for the mating ritual either, and… you’re still on the smallish side.” Tim grinned.
Jay rolled his eyes. “I set myself up for that one, huh?”
“You did.”
Tim bent down to kiss Jay on his pouty lips. The pout quickly transformed into a genuine smile. Tim slid his hands down to cup Jay’s ass in his hands, evoking a pleasured moan from him. Breathlessly, Jay asked, “You want to have sex again? Or should I try shifting first?”
“How can you ask such a question? I can smell your arousal and it’s driving me crazy.”
“I, uh, you might smell me being aroused, but, um, I don’t think my body would be cooperating,” Jay stammered.
Tim frowned and slid his hands to Jay’s front, groping for Jay’s cock. He found it flaccid. Disappointed, he uttered, “Oh.”
“Sorry.” Jay moved his face against Tim’s chest, hiding his burning cheeks. “I’m not the big win as a mate, huh?”
Tim slapped his hand down on Jay’s ass. Not hard, but it still caused Jay to yelp in surprise. “Stop putting yourself down. You’re my mate. You’re perfect for me. Also, I’d love to have a go again, but take a look at this.” Tim pointed at his own flaccid cock. Sheepishly, he grinned. “Neither of us seems to be able to get it up right now.”
Relief showed on Jay’s face. Snickering, he said, “I’ll just try that shifting thing, then, since we don’t have anything better to do right now.”
Smiling, Tim pried Jay off his chest. “Okay.”
“I feel awkward.”
“It’s just me. Now, close your eyes and breathe in and out, in and out.”
Jay let out an embarrassed laugh but did as he was told. Tim watched his breathing turn regular and deep, his chest expanding on every inhale, stretching the skin over his ribs taut before he exhaled again.
Very softly Tim continued, “Now search for that white flame within you. Nod when you’ve found it.”
Jay frowned, but mere seconds later his face lit up with an astonished smile. He nodded, indicating he’d found it.
“Fan the flames, Jay. Fan them.”
Fascinated, Tim watched as fur grew first on Jay’s legs, then on his chest, covering it while his face shifted. Jay shifted slowly, showing he was hesitant and insecure. Tim didn’t mind—he liked to watch the shift in slow motion.
Suddenly, Jay seemed to get the hang of it. The shift changed from slow to rapid, leaving Tim only the chance to stare in awe. Jay gasped, and in a blink, he stood in front of Tim in his animal form.
Twenty-Two
A SMALL wolf with light-gray fur streaked with red stood there. He could have been a purebred wolf if it wasn’t for the black socks, the black ear tips, the white-furred belly, and the white tip of his bushy tail.
Tim was at a loss for words, his heart beating fast, his throat closing up. Jay stood in front of him—for real. It wasn’t just a dream; a dream Tim had long given up on becoming reality.
He lowered himself to the ground, crouching before the small wolf-fox. Jay tilted his head questioningly to the left side, bright-blue eyes peering at Tim.
Not what you’d imagined I’d look like?
Cautiously, Tim reached out with trembling hands. Hoarsely, he replied, “You’re exactly how I imagined you to look. You even have the blue eyes. I’ve never seen a wolf, or a fox for that matter, with blue eyes. You’re beautiful.”
Jay was busy inspecting himself. Lifting one forepaw from the floor, he asked, Can I actually walk with these?
Tim nodded and laid his hands on top of Jay’s head, feeling the soft fur. Closing his eyes, Tim let his hands wander behind Jay’s ears, scratching and kneading the sensitive flesh there. Jay yipped before swiping his tongue over Tim’s forearm.
Opening his eyes again, Tim smiled at Jay’s obvious excitement. His tail wagged enthusiastically, the bushy tip raising dust in little clouds. Tim roamed his hands from Jay’s ears over his back and flanks, touching, feeling, getting to know Jay in his animal form. Jay tried to stay calm and sit there stoically throughout the examination, but his yipping gave him away.
“You don’t have to endure me touching you, ya know?” Tim said with a grin when it became apparent Jay would lose control over his wriggling body sometime soon.
Jay rolled over on his back, all four legs up in the air, throat bared to Tim. The submissive gesture wasn’t lost on Tim. Falling on his knees besides Jay, he petted and stroked him, eliciting cackling sounds from him when Tim dug his fingers deeply into the thick white fur on his belly.
“You like that, huh?”
Jay turned over on his side, facing Tim. Even though Tim knew it was only his imagination, he could swear he saw a big smile on Jay’s face. Jay’s tail beat a rapid staccato on the floor until Tim couldn’t resist anymore. He snatched the tip in his hands and rubbed it against his nose.
Jay yipped and tried getting up from the floor and away from Tim. You’re a perv!
“You’re talking to your mate, rascal. Your easily riled-up mate, I might add.”
Is that a threat? Jay asked while jumping on Tim’s arms, attempting to loosen the grip on his tail.
Tim scooped the small body up in his arms, holding him close to his chest, nuzzling his face into the soft fur. Jay struggled but soon he pressed back against Tim’s chest, snuggling into it. Tim inhaled Jay’s smell, filling his nose with the most intoxicating scent in the world.
Jay barked, a light and somewhat strange sound, and wound his tail around one of Tim’s forearms.
Tim’s breath caught as he looked at his arm, the white-and-red-furred tail tightly wound around his arm, a stark contrast to his skin. “Got me, eh?”
Jay cackled, nestled more comfortably into the crook of Tim's arm curved around his back, and said, I do. Complaints will be ignored. If you like, you can write any complaints down and post them to me. I might even consider reading them but I won’t do anything ab
out them. You’re stuck with me, so deal with it.
“And another long sentence. You seriously need to learn talking in shorter lines.” Tim chuckled. “As for the complaints—I don’t have any, and I love being stuck with you.”
Tim dropped a kiss on Jay’s cold nose. Jay flinched and hastily put a paw against Tim’s mouth, effectively stopping him from kissing his nose again. Instead, Tim kissed the sole of Jay’s paw, sending shivers through Jay’s body.
You’re cheating! Jay gasped.
I am? Why?
I didn’t want you to kiss my nose because that’s… that’s just gross. I mean, how can you kiss my nose right now? And then… then you simply kiss my foot! Cheater!
Tim shrugged, unperturbed. He still pressed light kisses against Jay’s paw, and although Jay complained, he didn’t pull back. On the contrary, he tapped Tim’s lips with his paw whenever the interval between kisses became too long.
I’m kissing your paw, not your foot.
Are we into semantics now? Just for the record, you’re still kissing my foot and I don’t like it. Normally.
You do now.
Jay snorted and lapped his tongue over one of Tim’s nipples, causing him to gasp in surprise. Jay’s paw slipped away from Tim’s mouth, allowing Tim to say aloud, “You’re one cheeky rascal.”
As cozy as this is… let me down, please? I want to test how it is to walk on four legs instead of two.
Reluctantly, Tim set Jay on the floor, watching closely as he stalked around. It only took Jay a few minutes to gain enough faith in his ability to coordinate his limbs. Soon he was running around the shelter, jumping, and climbing on shelves when he suddenly knocked down a box with tools. The clatter caused Jay to freeze. He stared at Tim, his breath coming in sharp, shallow gasps.
“Careful, there,” Tim admonished mildly before walking over to pick up the tools.
Jay observed him keenly and then ambled over to another shelf. Tim admired the gracefulness, the smooth flowing movements of Jay’s body. That was, until Jay jumped down from the shelf and directly headed for an old, large milk can containing riding crops. Next to it stood a smaller box with lots of nails and screws. Jay glanced back over his shoulder, making sure he caught Tim’s eye. A soft cackle left his mouth before he pounced.
“No! Oh no, you don’t!” Tim shouted.
Jay eeped when the can as well as the box turned over, spilling their contents all over the floor. Tim rubbed a hand over his eyes, not believing what his playful mate had just done. Looking down at his still-naked body, he walked back to his boots and pulled them on.
Jay whined while he carefully tried to pick his way out of the mess he had just produced.
“Stay!” Tim bellowed.
Indignantly Jay retorted, I’m not a dog.
“No, you’re something else. Wait until I’ve cleaned up. There’s no reason for you to hurt yourself. Why did you do that, anyway?”
Tim crouched on the floor, swiftly picked up the nails and screws, and put them back in the box. Jay stayed where he was, only his gaze following all of Tim’s movements.
You look kinda sexy like this.
Tim stopped to blink at Jay. Slowly he said, “I’m not sure if the shifting for the first time after such a long period of not doing so short-circuited something in your brain.”
I feel great. Jubilant, actually, if you excuse the superlative. I’ve never felt this relaxed and… happy. I’m not sure if there are still way too many endorphins flowing through my veins, which could be possible since I’ve never had such awesome sex before. Oh, and I’ve never had so many climaxes in a row, so—
Tim laughed out loud. “All right, all right, I got it. You think you’re good.”
I am good. Splendid. Magnificent. Bodacious. Want me to go on?
Tim held up in his hands in a gesture of defeat. “No! It’s okay. I think you’re flying high because you shifted for the first time in nearly two decades, but as long as you feel bodacious all is well.”
You didn’t even praise me for only using one-liners, Jay said, the mock pout audible in his voice.
Tim shook his head, the smile firmly plastered on his face. Instead of cleaning up the whole floor, he only cleaned up a part so he could reach Jay freely. Once there, he held out his arms and Jay immediately leaped into them with a happy bark. Tim caught him deftly, took a quick look at Jay’s paws, but couldn’t find an injury, then carried him away from the danger zone.
Tim sat down on a blanket again and chucked off his boots, all the while cradling Jay in his arms. The small wolf-fox wriggled and licked Tim’s face in appreciation.
You’re my hero. Jay chuckled. How about you shift too now? I don’t want to be the only one on exhibit here.
Tim lifted Jay off his chest, positioned himself on all fours in front of his curious-looking mate, and grinned. “Your wish is my command.”
Oh, I’ll hold you to that!
You do that.
I will. No chance of getting out of this, Tim.
Tim flashed another smile at Jay, then closed his eyes. Fanning the flame within him, Tim quickly shifted from human to wolf. When he opened his eyes again, he was face to face with his Jay.
Jay’s eyes grew big, his tail tucked itself between his hind legs, and his whiskers trembled visibly. Tim barked, which sent Jay scurrying away into the corner farthest away from him.
Relieved, Tim noticed that Jay didn’t choose the direction of the nails and screws. His relief only held up for a few seconds. Only then did it register that Jay seemed genuinely afraid of him. Jay was pressed with his back up against the corner, curling himself up into the smallest ball he could manage.
Jay?
A whimper answered Tim. Decidedly worried now, Tim slowly followed Jay. Softly he said, Jay, it’s just me. There’s no reason for you to be scared of me.
You’re big! A-and scary. Your… your fur. It’s all black and aren’t wolves supposed to have gray fur? Don’t come closer! Jay screeched the last words, shivering.
We come in all shades, Jay. My mother, for example, has white fur, as has my little brother. My dad and I are the only ones in our family with black fur. My other siblings are normal gray-furred wolves. Please don’t tell me not to come closer. You know I can’t do that. You’re my mate.
But you’re scary!
Tim approached Jay’s huddled figure, doing his best to ignore the frightened posture of him. His heart pounded painfully in his chest upon seeing Jay like this. Although at first unsure whether he should leave Jay alone and give him time to get used to his wolf form, Tim soon realized deep down in his heart he couldn’t do that. He just couldn’t. Jay was confused, scared, all because of him.
Jay! I’m your mate. You trusted me with your body, you trusted me to hold you. You even trusted me enough to shift after so many years of not even knowing you’re a shifter. You didn’t think I was crazy. You believed me. Don’t stop that now.
B-But I f-feel so s-small next to you, Jay admitted softly.
You are small next to me, my little rascal.
Jay bristled instantly. Baring his teeth, he uncurled from his huddle and glared at Tim from narrowed eyes, the blue irises glistening darkly.
Now, that’s better, Tim crooned.
Jay stopped snarling and glaring, a disbelieving look on his face. His ears pricked up again, though they turned back and forth nervously as if Jay were trying to locate a barely audible noise. I’m not sure I like you very much right now.
You don’t need to like me as long as you love me.
I can’t follow your logic at all. Are you sure you’re only scary and not dangerous?
I’m not scary! Tim shouted, exasperated.
What about dangerous?
Jay!
They looked at each other. Cautiously, Jay stood up and allowed Tim to sidle up next to him. Tim sensed Jay’s distress and tenderly rubbed their heads together. Jay yipped and scuttled backward a few steps before coming closer again. On a sudden im
pulse, Tim lay down on the floor, rolled onto his side, and demanded in a firm voice, Come here, now.
Despite Jay’s wariness, he responded to Tim’s tone of voice and lowered himself next to Tim. Tim just lay motionless on his side, waiting for Jay to feel more comfortable around him.
Soon, Jay’s playful nature breached the surface, and he started nudging Tim’s belly with his nose. When that only elicited a few grunts, he pounced on Tim, snatched one ear, and tugged at it. Tim let him do as he pleased, keeping his own movements slow and without strength. Jay explored Tim’s wolf body, slowly familiarizing himself with it.
After a while of tussling around, Tim shoved Jay underneath him, held him there by lightly biting the nape of the neck, and said, See, nothing scary about me.
I beg to differ.
Perplexed and also slightly disappointed, Tim blurted, You do?
Yeah, you are. You evoke so many feelings in me, and I’m so very much in love with you it scares the living hell out of me. Oh, and you make me sound like a complete sap all the time.
Tim chuckled. As long as you’re my sappy little rascal, all is well in the world.
Tim let go of Jay’s neck, and the small wolf-fox rolled over on his back, then rubbed his nose against Tim’s larger one. Sighs of contentment escaped Tim and Jay simultaneously, eliciting pleasured yips in their wake.
Twenty-Three
THE pleasured yips soon evolved into more tussling and growing sexual interest. Neither of them communicated telepathically anymore, both too lost in the sensations and the feelings of belonging to each other. The urge to show the other one just how deep their affection ran spurred them on.
Tim’s desire to claim Jay in their animal forms grew as they showered each other with tender licks and nuzzles. Tim fought against the impulse to take his mate, unsure how Jay would react.
Take me? Jay eventually asked, very softly, his lithe body trembling.
Tim stilled his movements, then locked eyes with Jay for a very long moment before he gently helped him to roll over onto his stomach. Climbing atop the small wolf-fox, Tim positioned himself, feeling his erection straining and expanding even further. He was grateful for the fact Jay’s channel was still lubed well; otherwise he would stop right away.
Secret Chemistry (Shifters) Page 14
