The Werewolf before Christmas
Page 4
“Well,” Alec said, “we’ll have to wait for the end of the episode for part of it, but I guess there’s no harm in starting now.”
He slid the wrapped present across the table toward Ray, who accepted it with a nod. The entire bar went silent. Ray slowly slid the ribbon off the box and carefully undid the wrapping paper, being careful not to rip a thing. When he was done, he opened the plain, unmarked box to reveal the battle-scarred binder with his fan script inside.
“What’s that, a beaten-up notebook?” Gorillord asked, and Alec tried not to beam too smugly.
“It’s a script for a dream episode of All My Werewolves,” Ray said, quickly adding, “Like, not an episode that happens in a dream, but one that I wish would happen. Kind of l—”
“I think they get what you mean,” Alec said.
“But how’s that a gift?” Gorillord asked.
Alec bit his lower lip and looked into Ray’s eyes. Ray opened the front of the binder and turned it so Gorillord could see the page full of signatures from the entire cast. For legal reasons they couldn’t actually record the episode, but Lucien had been so appreciative of them staying quiet about his condition that he had gotten everyone to sign it. Plus something extra.
The thing that surprised Alec most about everything was when Lucien had explained that he liked being a werewolf. Not when there were people around, but when it was just him and the cabin and his meat and his pizzas, there was something freeing about it. Like, he could finally get away from the supermanicured version of himself he had to maintain under public scrutiny. Alec had felt a little guilty for ruining that, but apparently, for WereLucien, the fight had been fun, and now, even if no one else could know, Lucien could tell himself that he’d fought against two honest-to-magic supervillains. Which almost made him a superhero.
“Okay, well, that is kinda impressive,” Gorillord said. “But it’s not really a huge, romantic gesture, is it?”
“Well, it’s not really all I did either. Maybe you’ll just have to wait for the episode to be over and all will be made clear.” Leaning back in his chair, Alec crossed his arms over his chest and adopted a relaxed grin, even as his stomach still fluttered.
Ray gave him a confused look. Indeed, the rest of the gift wasn’t something he’d shared with Ray, but something Alec and Lucien had worked out on their own. And it was glorious. The bar settled back down as the show came on. Ray and Gorillord both shot him suspicious glances but otherwise concentrated on the epic battle between Jacob and Jeremy at the North Pole, where a secret cyborg factory was rigged with explosives to protect the world from an attack of robo-Elf-assassins programmed by Esther, the same villain who had brainwashed Jacob into betraying his friends and fighting his twin. Even Alec had to admit that it was pretty exciting, and somehow, knowing Lucien made the show just a bit more interesting, even if the special effects for the werewolves were nowhere near as frightening as the genuine article.
Alec even found himself cheering as Jacob broke through his brainwashing to save his brother from the giant ice crevice that opened up when the factory exploded, only to gasp as Jeremy shoved him into it instead. Did this mean Jeremy was still working for Scorpion? Would he once more attempt to take Jacob’s place to seduce Asher? Would Jacob survive the fall and return at the most dramatic of moments to ruin some carefully formulated plot? The credits rolled, and the bar collectively took a drink.
As the bar sank back into discussions of what might be on the horizons for the characters, though, Alec waited. Just before the credits shifted into commercials, he produced his wand and pointed it at the screen.
“Alec-azam!” he said, and the screen froze. He didn’t want to admit how long it had taken him to create a spell that was essentially just hitting pause on the DVR, but it worked beautifully, and the commotion of the bar immediately died down as people swiveled back to the screen. Alec didn’t say anything, just let them stare in confusion until they found the second part of his gift to Ray.
“With special thanks to new creative consultant, Raymundo Torres,” Gorillord said out loud, reading the line that Lucien had promised would be there.
Everyone turned to look at Ray, who was still, drink half-raised to his mouth. Alec smiled at the way he flushed, the way his pupils dilated wide as he slowly glanced from the screen to Alec.
“Well, it’s a bit premature, as Ray’s new job won’t start until next season,” Alec said. “But when I suggested it to Lucien—” Alec paused to let the casual use of the actor’s first name sink in with the bar. Gorillord looked like he had accidentally stepped on a frog. “—he said that the entire writing team was a fan of Ray’s fan fiction, and given that he has such firsthand knowledge of superpower battles and science, and obviously loves the show, they all agreed that he’d be a great consultant. It’s all pretty much a done deal. That is, if he wants to do it….”
The bar was silent, all eyes on Ray as he put his drink down. Alec’s heart beat a distress call to whoever could hear it as he waited to see Ray’s reaction. He’d hoped it wouldn’t be too much, hoped Ray wouldn’t mind that he had made this arrangement without consulting him first. If he didn’t want to, if he was upset… well, then the bar was probably going to be witness to a very loud, very messy breakup. But this wasn’t about the bar or the bet with Gorillord. This was about wanting to do something nice for Ray, to show him how much Alec appreciated him. Liked him. Maybe even something more than that.
Ray pushed back his chair and stood, face still expressionless. He stepped to Alec’s side and leaned down to whisper in his ear.
“I suggest you teleport us back to your place right now or I might not be able to stop myself from fucking you right here on the table.”
Mouth instantly dry, Alec felt blood rush to his face… and lap. He swallowed and nodded.
“Alec-azam!” he said, voice squeaking as he and Ray disappeared.
And reappeared two feet above Ray’s bed.
For a weightless moment, they just stared into each other’s eyes, and Alec could feel the heat radiating from Ray’s body. And then they fell into bed, the MantaRay suit luckily landing on the floor a few feet away with a crash. They ignored it. Ray’s hands were already framing Alec’s face, pulling him into a kiss.
Ray might have been more of a science geek, but there was definitely some magic in the way he kissed, something that set Alec’s blood on fire. He closed his eyes as Ray’s hands trailed lower, caressing Alec’s chest through his shirt, lingering a moment on his nipples before continuing their descent. Alec squirmed, hissed against the press of Ray’s lips, but didn’t resist. He was hard, cock already straining against his pants. A part of him wanted to teleport his clothes away, get right to the good parts, but most of him wanted to just enjoy this, the methodical way Ray moved, the care he took with each motion.
Like Alec was a gift to be unwrapped, Ray started to strip him. Shoes first, then jacket. Then bow tie, socks, and belt. Alec breathed heavy, almost nervous at the close attention, at the slow way Ray unfastened each button of his shirt. With how strong he was, he could have just ripped it away, bared him quickly. Instead, he took the time to undo even the cuff links, to gently tease Alec through his pants as he pulled them down. Soon enough he was in only boxers and his domino mask, and then Ray stood back. Alec began to protest until he realized Ray was taking off his own clothes. It was a much less complicated procedure, as Ray wore only a tee shirt and jeans and heavy combat boots. But he took his time there, as well, and Alec found his own hand stealing under the band of his boxers to take his erection in hand as he watched more and more of Ray revealed to him.
Finally Ray pulled off his boxers and stood there, full naked, like a statue of perfection, muscles tight and toned. His breathing was strong and forceful, like he was fighting a battle with himself, wanting to rush to action but needing to remain in complete control. Alec shuddered, his hand pumping himself slowly even as Ray met his gaze and frowned.
“Going to finish without me?”
>
“And spoil the fun?” Alec asked, hand reluctantly releasing himself and rejoining its twin on the bed. “Sorry, just couldn’t help it.”
“Try harder,” Ray said, and knelt on the bed, palms gliding up Alec’s legs to his hips. Ray hooked Alec’s boxers and began to pull them down, every inch a promise of things to come. Alec’s cock popped free and slapped against his waist, already leaking slightly with excitement. He kept his hands on the bed, despite the need coursing through him, despite the blinding desire for touch now, immediately, all over him.
At last slipping the boxers free, Ray looked up and smiled.
“The mask?”
“Leave it,” Alec said. Without it he was truly naked, and for now he wanted the safety it represented, the comfort of not being completely exposed. He wanted Ray to see every inch of him, but they had time—Alec had no intention of ruining what they had. For now he reveled in how Ray nodded, respecting his decision, and leaned over for a kiss.
Their bodies touched. Lips, knees, cocks—Alec bucked his hips to feel Ray’s hardness tease against his own. Ray was over him, large and powerful, and Alec felt alive at every point of contact. He remembered the cold of the night with Lucien, the fear and the determination of the fight. This battle was much different, all heat and sweat, but Alec had no intention of losing, even if he didn’t mind letting Ray set the tempo of their engagement.
Ray pulled back, bringing Alec with him. They made out as they moved to a bench nearby, a table set beside it laid out with an assortment of lubes and condoms. Alec chuckled against Ray’s mouth.
“Had this all prepared?”
“Well, I did say I had a gift for you, didn’t I?” Ray smirked and sat down on the bench. He selected a condom, unwrapped it, and slid it smoothly down his cock.
Alec bit his lower lip, imagining it inside him, hot and hard and—
“Going to finish without me?” Ray asked again, and Alec realized his hand was sliding down his length again. He pulled it away, trailing a thin strand of precome as he blushed guiltily.
“Uh….”
“The lube’s right there,” Ray said, lying back.
Not needing to be told twice, Alec selected his favorite brand and held Ray’s cock steady as he coated it, enjoying the gasps Ray made as he made sure it was entirely slick. He straddled Ray’s hips, and used one hand to aim Ray as he lowered himself. It was Alec’s turn to be slow now, feeling Ray’s head against his ass, teasing him by moving him around his opening, only to pull slightly away. Ray groaned, and Alec rewarded him by guiding his cock inside, shutting his eyes against the slight pain that melted almost immediately to the deep pleasure of being full.
He continued down, moving both his hands to Ray’s chest as he sat. He breathed a moment, and Ray didn’t move, didn’t say a word, though Alec knew how hard it had to be to not start thrusting. He opened his eyes to find Ray watching him, a question written on his expression. Alec nodded, expecting Ray to thrust with his hips, but instead he sat up, wrapped his arms around Alec’s back, and pulled him into a hug. Alec wrapped his legs around Ray’s back, enjoying the feeling of Ray moving inside him, the feeling of being held and entered at the same time. Ray pulled Alec’s lips to his own again and then, with his hands on Alec’s ass, began lifting him and dropping him, the friction a flame that burned with pleasure.
Alec moved with him as much as possible, his own cock sandwiched between him and Ray, touched but not stroked. He whimpered, wanted to lean back so that he could get himself off, but Ray held him firmly, his rhythm steady and maddening. Alec squirmed, trying to force more pressure against his cock, and finally Ray leaned back down, allowing Alec to kneel, to ride Ray’s cock. He wasn’t graceful, but he liked to think he made up for it in enthusiasm, his pace fast, relentless. He reclined, one hand on one of Ray’s knees, the other finding his own cock as he bounced.
Ray’s face was a mask of its own, one of pain and stubborn pride—Alec knew he didn’t like going off first, but this time he was out of luck. Alec drove himself down on Ray’s cock, loving the feel of every descent, and he could see Ray’s resolve crack. With a long moan, Ray came, and Alec only bounced harder, pumping himself until he felt the fire from Ray’s cock catch in his stomach and spread through his thighs. He gritted his teeth, trying to draw out every moment before….
“Alec-AZAM!” he cried, and shot semen all over Ray’s chest, even up to his neck, stroking his orgasm with each additional pump of his hand. Stars danced before his eyes, and through them he saw Ray grinning, watching him, but Alec didn’t mind, enjoyed the attention as he drew out his orgasm, until he finally took his hand away and just sat there, looking down at Ray, the room slowly coming back into focus.
“Well, Merry Christmas,” Ray said. “I think I can safely say you won the bet.”
Alec nearly frowned, thinking of how close he had come to fucking up everything with Ray over something as silly as a bet with Gorillord… though knowing he had shown that smug alien ape a thing or two certainly didn’t hurt.
“I didn’t do it for them, you know. The bet, the people at the Sinister Plan—I did this for you. To show you how much you mean to me. I don’t think I’ve ever been with someone so kind, and considerate, and amazingly hot.”
Ray’s laugh was a gentle roll of thunder that Alec could feel through their connection of Ray’s still-erect cock. “I love you, you know?”
Alec’s breath caught. He stared, mouth open, as Ray looked up at him, the words a spell more powerful than anything Alec could have cast.
“You….”
“You don’t have to say anything,” Ray said quickly, putting a hand on Alec’s thigh. “I just wanted you to know that I know you did it for me. And I appreciate it. I really do. Just like I appreciate you. And I hope that we get many more opportunities to show each other how we feel.”
Alec didn’t say anything for a moment, then exhaled loudly.
“Anything you had in mind?”
“You up for another round?” Ray asked, moving his hips slightly, reminding Alec that he was still quite full.
It was Alec’s turn to laugh, and he shook his head at the boyish grin on Ray’s face. “I love you too.”
CHARLES PAYSEUR currently resides in the frozen reaches of Wisconsin, where his partner, a gaggle of pets, and more craft beer than is strictly healthy help him through the long winters. He works an incredibly boring day job so that his nights can be filled with spaceships, magic, and attractive men kissing (and maybe a bit more than kissing…). His work can also be found at Less Than Three Press, Lethe Press, Circlet Press, and in Lightspeed Magazine’s Queers Destroy Science Fiction!
When not writing fiction and poetry, he contributes to a number of blogs and review sites, and runs a home for his thoughts on short speculative fiction at Quick Sip Reviews (www.quicksipreviews.blogspot.com). On Twitter as @ClowderofTwo, he annoys the internet with far too many cat pictures and cocktail recipes.
He can also be reached at:
Goodreads: www.goodreads.com/author/show/8178833.Charles_Payseur
Facebook: www.facebook.com/authorcharlespayseur
Twitter: @ClowderofTwo
By Charles Payseur
Comic Book Romance
Fieldwork
How the Supervillain Stole Christmas
Simmer (Dreamspinner Anthology)
Starstruck (Dreamspinner Anthology)
The Werewolf before Christmas
Published by DREAMSPINNER PRESS
www.dreamspinnerpress.com
Published by
DREAMSPINNER PRESS
5032 Capital Circle SW, Suite 2, PMB# 279, Tallahassee, FL 32305-7886 USA
www.dreamspinnerpress.com
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of author imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
The Werewo
lf before Christmas
© 2017 Charles Payseur.
Cover Art
© 2017 Paul Richmond.
http://www.paulrichmondstudio.com
Cover content is for illustrative purposes only and any person depicted on the cover is a model.
All rights reserved. This book is licensed to the original purchaser only. Duplication or distribution via any means is illegal and a violation of international copyright law, subject to criminal prosecution and upon conviction, fines, and/or imprisonment. Any eBook format cannot be legally loaned or given to others. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without the written permission of the Publisher, except where permitted by law. To request permission and all other inquiries, contact Dreamspinner Press, 5032 Capital Circle SW, Suite 2, PMB# 279, Tallahassee, FL 32305-7886, USA, or www.dreamspinnerpress.com.
Digital ISBN: 978-1-64080-315-2
Published December 2017
v. 1.0
Printed in the United States of America