With Caution

by J. L. Langley

  “Really?” Damn, damn, damn. He hadn’t meant to say that out loud. He’d been surprised. He hadn’t thought about moving in with Jake, but logically he supposed he should have. Jake was his mate. Oh, man, that really sounded good. If he moved in with Jake he could see him every day.

  “Yes, really.” Jake looked both ways at the apartment exit and drove out. “We can even turn my office into a bedroom for Sterling. I don’t use it much, I do most of my work at the office or on my laptop. Eventually we’ll have to move, but for now, there isn’t any reason for you to have to keep the apartment, unless you want to.”

  Whoa. Remi blinked. His stupid eyes were all watery. None of the women he’d dated had ever understood his relationship with Sterling. They tended to be jealous, but Jake got it. Remi wasn’t sure why he was surprised. Jake was always thinking of Remi’s needs. He truly was the perfect match for Remi. If he hadn’t recently discovered werewolves, he might have laughed at the idea of soul mates, but now he wasn’t so sure it wasn’t a very real possibility. “I’ll think about it.” Lots of people had roommates. There was nothing unusual about that. He’d be moving to a better neighborhood and into a house. Dirk couldn’t really say much about it. Wait. Did Jake say—? “Why will we have to move? I thought the house was yours. I mean I thought you were buying it, not renting.”

  “Eventually we are going to have to move the pack, pup.” Jake reached over and squeezed his thigh. “We need to go somewhere where no one has the least inkling you’re different. I don’t want to risk one of John Carter’s pack deciding you should submit to them.”

  Remi glanced over at him, watching the business lights and streetlamps cast moving shadows across his face. Jake was concentrating on the road, but Remi wasn’t fooled. Jake was focused on him. Why was Jake concerned? “Jake, I can’t leave Sterling. Even if Dirk is out of the picture, I’m not leaving Sterling here and moving off someplace. I can handle myself against other wolves. And besides, I seriously doubt my mom can handle things on her own when Dirk is gone. She’s…” broken. And she would be even more without Dirk.

  “I know you can take care of yourself, but I’d rather not chance it. But don’t worry about it right now. We’ve got time. We’ll get your mom to move. I promise you, we won’t leave Sterling. Something tells me your mom is going to need our help too.” Jake turned onto a residential street.

  Jake sounded so sure Remi decided to let it go for now. But it worried him. What if John Carter wanted them gone sooner than later?

  “Here we are.” Jake pulled into the drive of a two-story stone home.

  It was in a newer subdivision, with fairly large houses. Remi was sort of surprised. With Gadget having nine kids, he was expecting a little less…well, nice. Mechanics didn’t make that much, did they? Then again, what did he know, he’d been raised on the reservation. He was used to poorer houses.

  “You ready?” Jake cut the engine and peered over at him.

  “Yeah. I’m ready.”

  Jake unbuckled his seat belt and tilted forward.

  Remi did likewise, meeting his mate halfway. As their lips were about to touch Jake groaned and looked past Remi.

  Huh? Remi was expecting a kiss. Turning his head, he bumped his nose into Jake’s cheek.

  “What are they doing here?”

  Their core pack members, all but Gadget, were standing on the lawn waiting on them.

  Dago and Nick smiled and waved. Tank tipped his head and Rhys stood there, scowling as usual. Zack came forward and opened the passenger side door. “Y’all coming in?”

  At the door, they heard a woman yelling about something.

  Remi raised a brow at Jake.

  Jake shrugged. “Gadget’s wife.”

  “Are we welcome?” Remi asked hesitantly and glanced behind them at the rest of the guys. They’d dressed for the occasion. There wasn’t a leather jacket in sight and all but Dago had on slacks instead of jeans. But Dago made up for the jeans with a tie, so it sort of evened out.

  Tank leaned forward to whisper something, then the door opened.

  An attractive blonde with short hair, wearing tight jeans and an even tighter shirt stood in the doorway, her mouth pinched together. She gave them a hostile glare and huffed out a breath, making her bangs move. Stepping out of the door, she left it open and barged past them without a word.

  Matt strolled past the entryway with a baby on his hip and spotted them. “Hey, guys, come on in.”

  Jake was the first one to move. The rest of them followed.

  The foyer of the house was large, with a carpeted staircase to the right. Past it led to a big open den area. It was very neat and tidy but for a few toys in the middle of the floor.

  Three boys about ten or so crowded in front of the TV, playing a video game. Two more closer to five or six played with cars behind the boys at the TV. They ran them around in circles making vroom vroom sounds and crashing them into one another.

  Matt stepped over them. “Dad’s in the kitchen finishing dinner. Looks like it’s just going to be us. Mom had a meeting or something.”

  A boy about four came running in from what appeared to be the hallway, squealing and holding out an action figure. He ran to Matt, flopped onto the floor at Matt’s feet and threw the broken toy.

  “Darren, get up from there right now,” Matt growled.

  Falling backward, Darren started wailing.

  “Darren? Are you throwing another fit?” Gadget’s voice came from the left, the kitchen Remi assumed.

  Jumping to his feet, Darren shook his head. He said, “No,” at the exact same time Matt said, “Yes.”

  “Matthew?”

  “Yes?” Matt asked.

  “Put him to bed, I’m tired of his temper tantrums,” Gadget answered back.

  “No, I be good.” Darren held his hands out to Matt, shaking his head. “I be good, Maff. I be good.”

  Chuckling, Jake headed toward the kitchen. Zack trailed after him. Tank, Nick and Dago walked further into the living room. Tank and Nick went straight for the video game. Dago got on the floor and started playing cars. Rhys followed Zack and Jake.

  Matt turned to Remi. “Umm, Remi, would you, ah?” He dipped his chin toward the kid on his hip.

  “Sure.” Remi held out his hands. “Hey there. What’s your name?”

  The boy shied away, clinging to Matt.

  Darren got to his feet and tugged on Matt’s pants. “I sorry, Maff.”

  Leaning toward Remi, Matt tried to hand the clinging child off. “This is Eddie. Eddie, this is Remi. Be careful with his knees, Remi. They’ve been bugging him. I gave him some Motrin a few minutes ago.”

  Remi took the boy from Matt and realized the child’s hands were held in. This was the kid Gadget wanted him to see. “Hi, Eddie. How old are you?”

  To Remi’s surprise Eddie blinked his big brown eyes and smiled. “I’m two.”

  Remi grinned at the clear, precise voice. “Oh, you’re a smart one, aren’t you?”

  Eddie nodded, making hair fall in his eyes.

  He reminded Remi of Sterling at that age. Remi had loved playing with Sterling as a baby. Sterling never failed to make him happy and forget about the other things in his life.

  Chuckling, Remi headed toward the kitchen as Matt hefted a squalling Darren and went up the stairs.

  Laying his head on Remi’s shoulder, Eddie rested his hand on Remi’s chest.

  Wasn’t that just the sweetest thing? Remi rubbed the baby’s hand out of habit.

  Stiffening, Eddie lifted his head off Remi’s shoulder and peered at his hand.

  Crap. Remi let go. “I’m sorry. Did I hurt you?”

  “No.” Eddie raised his hand and studied it.

  Remi looked too. Eddie’s fingers were still bent. Remi held out his hand. “Can I see?”

  Eddie put his hand in Remi’s.

  The action was so trusting and innocent, it made Remi smile. He petted the back of the boy’s hands and knuckles with his thumb. Babi
es’ hands were fascinating. So small and delicate. It was the one thing that reminded you they were little people. His hand was just like Remi’s only tiny. Remi rubbed the knuckles softly. “Does that hurt?”

  Eddie shook his head.

  “Does it feel better?”

  Eddie nodded.

  Remi let go. Could it have possibly helped? Such a simple thing?

  Eddie lifted his hand and it was straighter than it had been. Wiggling his fingers, he blinked at Remi and held up two fingers. “I’m this many.”

  Tears welled in Remi’s eyes and he laughed. He massaged Eddie’s knee that was resting against his stomach then moved on to his chubby little leg. Being able to heal was amazing. It made all the trouble that came with being a werewolf worth it. He made a vow to stop bitching about the weirdness. How could he when it also gave him the ability to do this?

  Halfway to the kitchen, Eddie stopped Remi, pointing to something on the floor by the dining room table. “Woof Woof.” It was a stuffed animal of some sort, but it was shaped more like a human. It had brown fur on its back and head, but its butt was covered in denim.

  Retrieving the plush toy, Remi turned it over and laughed. It was a werewolf. Sitting Eddie on the edge of the table, Remi pulled out a chair and sat in front of him. He held Woof Woof up and growled, “Oh no. He’s growling at us. What should we do?”

  Eddie grinned really big and giggled, shrugging his little shoulders.

  “Here, give me your hand.” Taking Eddie’s other hand this time, Remi rubbed it in his own, then wrapped it in his fist and gently punched the stuffed animal. Still holding Eddie’s hand in one of his and the doll in the other, he made the werewolf fall to the table and gasped out exaggerated dying sounds. Sterling used to love to play with his action figures like this.

  Laughing, Eddie reached for the doll. He pointed his finger; it was nearly straight. “Bad, Woof Woof.”

  Remi laughed too, marveling over the boy’s hands. They weren’t miraculously healed, but they didn’t seem to be bothering him as much. Any improvement was good. Maybe some of it was the medicine Matt had given him, but Remi didn’t see how it could make this big of a difference. Some of it had to be Remi’s new powers. He rested his hands on the boy’s knees, rubbing them a bit while Eddie made Woof Woof bite Remi.

  “Ah, he got me. Save me, Eddie.” Remi went limp in the chair, hanging his tongue out of his mouth.

  Eddie giggled again. Swinging his feet a little and pretending to scold the stuffed animal, he touched Remi’s chin. “Okay, Remi?”

  “Whew, yeah that was a close one. Good thing you made him leave me alone, I thought I was a goner.”

  He’d gotten so carried away playing with the toddler, he hadn’t realized they had an audience until Gadget spoke.

  “I knew you could help him.” Gadget’s eyes were wide with amazement and there were tears in them.

  Jake stood right behind him, a huge smile on his face.

  “I didn’t, but I’m glad.” Taking the doll from Eddie again, Remi made it growl.

  The boy cackled and shrugged his shoulder to his head, laughing and trying to keep the werewolf from getting him.

  Gadget laughed. “Eddie, are you supposed to be on the table?”

  Eddie pointed at Remi. “Remi did it.”

  * * *

  “You think it will continue to get better?” Remi glanced over at Jake from the passenger side of the Tahoe. “You think it will last?”

  Jake shrugged. “Don’t know, pup. I hope so.”

  “Me too. I like Eddie.”

  Jake grinned. “I couldn’t tell.” Jake wasn’t sure if Remi had latched on to Eddie or vice versa, but Remi had spent all evening with the kid in his lap. It really wasn’t all that surprising, Remi was a kid type of person. It was easy imagining him as a teen with Sterling hanging off of him.

  Remi snorted. “Kids and animals like me. What can I say, it’s a gift.” Then more quietly he added, “I miss Sterling being that little sometimes.”

  The wistful tone went straight to Jake’s heart. He’d had a hard time not pulling Remi into his arms all night. Seeing Remi playing with the kids and asking after their pack mates was something. Jake had never considered himself the domestic type, but boy Remi sure was. He was the perfect mate for a pack alpha. Taking care of people and organizing things seemed to come naturally to him.

  He hadn’t batted an eye when Gadget’s boys started shoving at one another, fighting over something. He’d stepped between them and pointed Blake, the nine-year-old, to one side of the table and Scott, the seven-year-old, to the other. They had both stalked off and not said a word. Gadget had been thoroughly impressed and Matt demanded Remi teach him that trick.

  “Jake, I liked helping him. I wanted him to be better and he seemed to be improving. I wish I knew what all I am capable of.”

  “Once we get things taken care of with Dirk, we’ll talk to John Carter and see if he knows anyone who can teach you. Have you asked Keaton?” Jake needed to tell Remi about Dirk’s visit to the office, but it could wait. Remi was in such a good mood, he couldn’t stand to ruin it.

  “Not really.”

  “You want to go by there and see if he knows anything?”

  “No, let’s go home.”

  Oh, hell yes. Jake sped up a little. The smell of Remi’s arousal filled Jake’s nose and his whole body responded. His cock was hard and his gums itched.

  “Mmm… Oh, man, I smell you. I’m getting better at picking out scents. You’ve always known I wanted you, haven’t you?”

  Oh fuck. He had known, but what a confession. “Yeah.” Jake pulled into the drive and got out with Remi on his heels.

  As soon as Jake got his front door opened and they were inside, he shoved Remi against the back of the door and reached around him to lock it.

  Remi’s peridot eyes shifted all of a sudden, making him blink.

  “Damn.” Jake’s eyes reciprocated, losing color and focus momentarily. Slanting his mouth over Remi’s, Jake pushed his tongue in. He couldn’t wait.

  Remi melted, purring into his mouth and following Jake’s lead.

  Tracing his tongue over Remi’s teeth, feeling them lengthen, Jake moaned into Remi’s mouth. His own gums tickled, threatening to make his teeth extend.

  Leaning in, Remi rested his hands against Jake’s chest. They were warm and trembling. It was enough to make Jake pull back. He didn’t let go, instead he slid his hands around and cradled Remi’s firm jaw. “I want to see you in those chaps I promised you.” He kissed Remi’s forehead and led him down the hall.

  Jake entered the bedroom and crossed to the closet. He opened it, looking for the chaps.

  The smell of Remi’s arousal strengthened. Then his hand squeezed Jake’s ass. “I bet you’d look great in leather chaps, sir.”

  Jake nearly moaned aloud. Remi had taken to calling him sir and submitting so beautifully. Jake was willing to bet that the guys had been right, that it was part instinctual, something Remi needed as much as Jake did. Reaching to the far left, he got the chaps and held them out to Remi.

  Remi’s eyes were still canine, his teeth elongated and damned if his cock wasn’t perfectly outlined in those tight jeans. He took the leather from Jake, holding it to his waist.

  Jake went to the end of the bed and sat. Closing his eyes, Jake took a deep breath to clear his mind and immediately wished he hadn’t. The smell of Remi’s arousal was even more intense. It made Jake’s balls draw tighter. Running his hands over his face, Jake opened his eyes.

  Remi had the waistband of the chaps snapped and was trying to zip the inside of the legs.

  “Come here, pup, and I’ll fix them for you.” Jake crooked his finger.

  Coming to the edge of the bed, Remi positioned himself close to Jake. When he turned, his butt was right in Jake’s face, incased in tight denim. It made Jake’s cock throb.

  Jake zipped the zipper on the inside of the right leg, doing his best to ignore Remi’s constant
fidgeting. It wasn’t easy. Remi managed to get his ass against the top of Jake’s head. Jake had to adjust his prick before he finished zipping Remi up. He tapped Remi on the ass. “Turn a little and let me get the other one.”

  Remi shifted.

  As soon as Jake bent over, Remi stepped backward, mashing his ass right into Jake’s face.

  Groaning, Jake fought the urge to nip his mate’s fine ass. Fuck, Remi smelled good. Running his tongue over his gums, trying to soothe the itch and keep his teeth from changing, Jake moved Remi forward a little.

  “Maybe I should earn this leather, sir.”

  Jake sucked in a breath. “Remi…” He finished fastening the chaps and turned Remi around. “Do you have any idea what you are asking for?”

  Remi dropped to his knees, placed his hands on Jake’s thighs and stared right into his eyes. “I want this, Jake.”

  He picked Remi up and threw him onto the bed face down. Maybe he could just go with the flow for a bit and see how Remi responded?

  Remi gasped and tried to turn over onto his back.

  Jake clasped Remi’s right hand. Feeling around under the bed near the headboard at the corner, he found the chained leather restraints he’d had welded to the wrought iron frame years ago, and put it on Remi’s wrist.

  Remi tugged, but otherwise stopped trying to turn over.

  Quickly, Jake straddled his back and got hold of the other cuff from under the bed. He captured Remi’s other wrist and buckled it as well. Grabbing Remi’s shirt, Jake ripped it off and slid down Remi’s body.

  He spotted the tanned back with its crisscross of scars that had bled and likely been infected wounds at one time, and his legs almost gave out. It felt like someone punched him. His erection even flagged a little. Closing his eyes, he tried to calm down. He’d forgotten all about the scars.

  Snapping his eyes open, Jake watched Remi try to see over his shoulder. Was he blushing?

  “Ugly, huh?” Remi dropped his gaze, not meeting Jake’s eyes.

  He couldn’t let Remi think the scars bothered him. And they didn’t for the reason Remi thought. But they did support his fear about doing this. “No. Nothing about you is ugly.” He gathered the back of Remi’s jeans in his hands and jerked. Thanks to werewolf strength, the jeans tore down the middle and exposed Remi’s bare ass.