Bat-Boy and The Wolfman
By
Cassandra Gold
A Silk’s Vault Electronic Publication, in arrangement with author Cassandra Gold.
Copyright © 2006 by Cassandra Gold
Cover Design and Art by Carmel St. James, © Copyright 2006
Edited by Camille Anthony
Silk’s Vault Publishing
www.silksvault.com
All Rights Reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in part or whole, in any form or by any means, without permission from both the author and publisher. All characters, incidents, situations, institutions, governments and people are fictional and any similarity to characters or persons living or dead is strictly coincidental.
Chapter One
The moon was bright, the stars were out, and the night air was cool and crisp. A perfect night for a run, Drew thought as he pulled on his jeans and t-shirt. He had really needed a break, both from his long trip and his own dark thoughts. As he sat down beside his motorcycle to put on his socks and boots, he decided that he’d let himself go too long without the release of his Change. He may have left his Pack behind, but leaving his Wolf was not an option.
A distant crashing sound from the forest interrupted his thoughts. It was too loud to be a rabbit or squirrel. Drew finished dressing and jumped up, ready to defend himself if necessary. Suddenly, something rushed out into the clearing. Drew stared in shock as the creature saw him and tried to back away. Instead, it stumbled over a tree root and fell backwards, where it cringed away from Drew as if terrified.
Drew almost couldn’t believe what he was seeing. The creature appeared to be a slender human male, with very pale skin, curly black hair, and wide, fearful dark eyes. Obviously it wasn’t a human, since Drew had never seen a man with pointed ears and huge, black bat wings. For a moment he thought that it was a damn good Halloween costume, but it was too early, and no costume could be this realistic.
“Holy shit!” Drew muttered as he stared at the creature before him. On closer inspection, he noticed it wore a pair of loose-fitting beige drawstring pants and nothing else. He also noticed it (He, Drew thought to himself) was scratched, bruised, and clearly afraid.
Drew moved a bit closer, but the Demon? Fairy? That Bat-boy thing from the National Enquirer stories? scrabbled away until his back hit a tree trunk. He held his hands up, shielding his face, and Drew saw red, raw marks on his wrists as if they’d been tied. Drew could hear the faraway sounds of several more large things coming through the woods.
“I think he went this way!” a distant voice shouted.
Drew crouched down to the creature’s level. “Hey,” he said softly, “I’m not gonna hurt you. I can hear people coming. They’re after you, aren’t they?”
Bat-boy--or whatever the hell he was--just stared at Drew.
“Okay Bat-boy,” Drew muttered, “you’re not much of a talker, but I can see that you’re pretty beat up. Did they hurt you?”
Bat-boy’s head nodded almost imperceptibly.
“Did you do anything to them to make them want to hurt you?”
Bat-boy shook his head vehemently. For some reason, Drew believed him. As a werewolf, he was well aware that humans often feared and hated anything they saw as different or threatening. Bat-boy had certainly had ample opportunity to try and hurt Drew if he’d wanted to, but he hadn’t.
“All right, I’ll help you,” Drew announced. “I can stay here and try to stall them while you run…or you can come with me.”
Drew hadn’t intended to make the second offer, but once it came out it felt right. He stood up and offered Bat-boy his hand. The creature eyed Drew nervously for a moment, but as the sounds of pursuit drew closer, he reached out and took Drew’s hand. Drew pulled him up.
“Put this on,” Drew ordered, handing Bat-boy his leather jacket. “We’ve gotta cover up those wings. And put this helmet on too.”
Bat-boy pulled the jacket on, covering most of his wings. The helmet covered up his pointed ears nicely. Drew grabbed his bike and headed for the road. It only took a couple of minutes for them to reach the blacktop. Drew hopped onto the bike and started it up. Bat-boy flinched away from the noise.
“Get on behind me and hold on tight!”
Bat-boy awkwardly clambered aboard the bike and wrapped his arms around Drew’s waist. As soon as he was sure his passenger was secure, Drew pulled onto the road.
They rode for several hours. Just in case they were being followed, Drew drove down a major highway for a while, before taking an exit that advertised a lone gas station and a small motel. “Wait here. Leave the helmet on in case somebody else shows up.” Drew hopped off the bike and went inside. Once in the store, he selected an assortment of first-aid supplies, bottled water, and snacks. He paid quickly and went back outside, hoping Bat-boy hadn’t gotten into any trouble while he’d been inside. As he’d hoped, Bat-boy still sat on the bike where he’d left him. Drew got on, started the bike, and drove the short distance to the motel.
The motel turned out to be one of those tacky little motor inns sporting a partially burnt-out neon sign and a dingy, faded exterior. Drew hoped that the interior would be clean, even if it clearly wasn’t going to be fancy. He parked the bike where it wouldn’t be visible from the road, then turned to Bat-boy.
“Okay, BB, this is where I’m staying tonight. You’re welcome to stay too, if you don’t have somewhere else you need to go. I’m going to go to the office to rent a room. If you want to stay, be here when I get back. If not, I would appreciate it if you’d leave my helmet.” With that, Drew got off the bike and made his way to the office.
A few minutes later, room key in hand, Drew returned to his bike. Bat-boy had removed the helmet and was standing by the bike looking uncertain. His black curls were tousled, and his skin gleamed silvery-pale in the dim neon lights of the parking lot.
“Decided to stay, huh BB? Let me grab my gear and we’ll get inside.”
Bat-boy trailed after Drew as he grabbed his motorcycle saddlebags and the bag from the gas station and headed for their room. They were in room 13, and Drew wondered whether that was going to be lucky or unlucky. He wasn’t superstitious, but bringing an unknown creature to room 13 in October seemed like a recipe for bad luck. Rolling his eyes at his own thoughts, Drew opened the door.
Room 13 was small and worn, but clean. There was a large window with an ugly orange curtain. A little square table flanked by two orange chairs sat in the corner by the door. . A scuffed dresser with a small television on it took up another wall. To the left was a queen-sized bed that was covered with an orange, brown, and white striped comforter. The carpet was orange as well, making Drew think that this place had last been redecorated in the 70sHe walked to the little door at the end of the room and peered into the bathroom, unsurprised to find the tiny bathroom boasted an orange shower curtain.
“Well, at least it’s clean,” Drew said aloud. He looked at his rumpled companion. “Would you like to clean up?”
Bat-boy nodded.
“Okay then, I’ll show you how to work the shower.” Drew opened the shower curtain and demonstrated how to turn on the hot and cold water, as well as how to make the water spray out the shower fixture. He unwrapped a bar of soap and put it in the soap dish, then showed Bat-boy the shampoo and towels.
“I’ll try to find you something to wear and set it on the counter for you. I know my clothes will be huge on you, but maybe I can find something that won’t fall off at least…” Drew trailed off as Bat-boy removed his leather jacket, revealing those amazing wings and a smooth, pale chest.
God, he’s hot! Drew shook his head hard, unable to believe what he was thinking. But you know it’s true, his inner v
oice continued. And it was.
Bat-boy was about five inches shorter than his own six-foot-two-inch height. At first glance he appeared thin, or even fragile, but without the coat it was obvious that although he was slim, he was mostly muscle. He turned to hand over the jacket, inadvertently giving Drew a chance to study his face.
Drew thought he was beautiful. He looks just like an angel. A dark angel.He had high cheekbones, a wide, sensual mouth, and big, dark eyes. In the bright light, his eyes were a violet so dark it was almost black.
Drew realized he was staring and reached out to take the jacket. When their hands brushed, he felt a shock of desire and jerked his hand away. Bat-boy recoiled as well, and then looked at him with eyes full of confusion.
Shit! I have to get out of here before I do something stupid! “Um…I’ll bring you something to wear in just a minute,” he muttered, practically running from the bathroom.
Chapter Two
Damn, damn, damn! Drew rummaged through his motorcycle saddlebags. He found a pair of flannel pajama pants with a drawstring he thought would work and carried them to the bathroom. The shower was running.He quickly opened the door, set the pants on the counter, and eased the door shut . He sank down on the corner of the bed and put his head in his hands.
He probably thought I was insane in there, staring at him and then running away like that. Maybe I am insane! I don’t even know his name, or what the hell he is, and I’m slobbering over him. The poor guy gets beat up and chased, and then he has the misfortune to be “rescued” by a horny gay werewolf. He’ll probably wish I’d just left him out there to take his chances with whoever was chasing him!
“Okay, I can handle this…” Drew ran his fingers through his hair. “I’ll just pretend he’s not the hottest thing I’ve ever seen. I can do that. After all, I did manage to stay in the closet for twenty-eight years when I was at home.” And look how that turned out for you, his inner voice sneered.
Before Drew could take that line of thought any further, the shower shut off. He busied himself with getting out the first-aid supplies he’d bought and a t-shirt and shorts to put on after his turn in the shower. After a few minutes, the door opened and Bat-boy came into the room wearing Drew’s pants. They looked ridiculous on him. He’d tightened the drawstring to keep them up on his slim waist, but the legs were dragging on the ground. Drew had to smile.
“Come sit down and let me look at those scratches,” he offered, gesturing at the corner of the bed. Bat-boy obeyed instantly, going to the bed and sitting down exactly where Drew had pointed. “First let’s get these pant legs rolled up so you can walk.”
Drew knelt down and rolled the cuffs of the pants up a few times. “Geez BB, you really tore up your feet.” He grabbed the tube of antibiotic cream he’d bought and smoothed some over the worst cuts and scratches. he muttered as he looked at the scratched, battered feet in front of him. Band-aids went on next, and he smiled when he noticed that he had bought a box of Snoopy band-aids instead of the regular kind.
“Okay, we’ve got your feet all fixed up. Let’s see what I can do about the rest of you.” Drew stood and began examining the cuts, scratches, bruises and scrapes on BB’s chest and arms. The worst injuries were the red, raw marks on his wrists. It made Drew feel slightly ill to think of BB being tied up and beaten. He shook it off and went back to work, applying cream and band-aids, or gauze bandages where the wound was too big for a band-aid.
He tried to focus on the injuries he was tending rather than the body he was touching, but it became increasingly difficult to keep his touches quick and impersonal. His fingers wanted to linger over the smooth, soft skin. After what seemed an eternity, Drew finished his task and sat back.
“What about your wings? They’re kind of torn up too,” Drew observed, leaning forward to look at a torn place on the nearest wing. He reached out to touch it and BB shrank back, watching him suspiciously.
“Its okay, BB. I just want to help you.” Drew reached out again, and this time BB let him touch. “Wow,” he breathed. He had expected rough and leathery, but the wing was velvety and silky-soft. He ran his fingers along the surface, marveling at the incredible texture. BB shivered under his gentle exploration. Am I hurting him?
“Sorry BB. Didn’t mean to hurt you. Your wings are amazing! It’s just too bad they’re so big. It’s gonna be hard to take you anywhere without someone noticing these.” Drew turned to rummage through his first-aid materials. When he turned back, BB’s wings were gone.
Chapter Three
“What the hell? Where’d your wings go?”
Drew gaped in astonishment as BB twisted around to show his back.
“Amazing!”
Where there had been huge black wings, were now only a tracery of black markings on his back. It looked like a tattoo of bat-wings, taking up the expanse of his back, disappearing into the waistband of the pajamas.
Drew couldn’t help it--he reached out and ran his fingers over BB’s back. “It’s like a huge tattoo!”
BB turned to face Drew again. “I can hide them,” he said softly.
“Shit! You can talk!” Drew cried. Somehow that seemed even more astonishing than disappearing wings.
“Well of course you can.” Drew rolled his eyes at his own stupidity. “Sorry. I’m being an idiot. And I just realized I haven’t even introduced myself. I’m Andrew Moore. Everyone calls me Drew.” He held his hand out to shake.
“I am Ciaran,” BB (no, Ciaran) looked at Drew’s hand for a moment before holding out his own. Since he didn’t seem to know what to do, Drew clasped his hand and shook it.
“I’m sorry about calling you Bat-boy. I didn’t know what else to call you,” Drew apologized.
“You have caused no offense.” Ciaran’s voice was surprisingly sweet. It held a bit of huskiness as if he hadn’t spoken in a long time.
Even his voice is sexy. Drew groaned. I’m in so much trouble here. Out loud, he said, “We have a lot to talk about, but I’m really tired. Do you mind if I get my shower now? We can have this discussion tomorrow.”
“That is acceptable.”
“Great. I’ll be out in a few minutes. There’s bottled water and some snacks on the dresser if you’re hungry or thirsty. You can have the bed. I’ll take the extra pillow and the comforter and sleep on the floor.”
Ciaran didn’t seem to like that idea. “I cannot put you out of your bed. I will sleep on the floor.”
“Look, BB. Sorry, I mean Ciaran. You’ll really be feeling those bruises tomorrow if you sleep on the floor.” Drew could tell Ciaran was going to argue some more, so he compromised. “If you don’t mind, we can just share the bed. It’s big enough, if we both stay on our own sides. Will that work?” Say no, say no!
“Yes,” Ciaran agreed, looking relieved.
“Okay. You go ahead and choose a side. I’ll be back.” Drew grabbed his clothes and escaped.
Safely secluded inside the bathroom, Drew stared at himself in the mirror. His cheeks were flushed, green eyes wide. His ordinarily tidy sun-streaked brown hair was tousled from being combed with agitated fingers. It would be pretty obvious his blood was up.
I’m going to be sharing a bed with Ciaran tonight. I’ve got to get it together, have to act like everything’s normal. Why the hell did I even think of that stupid idea anyway? Well, he had. Now he’d just have to tough it out.
Drew quickly stripped off his clothes and got into the shower. He started the water, wondering if he should make it a cold shower. Grabbing the bar of soap, he started scrubbing, already half-hard just from thinking about Ciaran. An image of the other man’s slim, sleek body popped into his head and he thought, the hell with it! He had been alone a long time. Obviously too long, or he wouldn’t be reacting like this. Maybe if he took the edge off now, the night ahead would be easier.
He closed his eyes and imagined it was Ciaran’s slim hands rather than his own washing him. He slid a soapy hand down his belly to grasp his hard cock, closing his eye
s and picturing Ciaran kneeling down before him, that sexy dark angel mouth only inches away from his cock. Drew squeezed and stroked, imagining Ciaran’s lips and tongue working his shaft. He thrust into the circle of his hand, imagining those big violet eyes gazing up at him. A few thrusts later, he gasped and came in a rush of heat and agonizing pleasure.
Wow. It really has been too long if I can come that hard all by myself!
He didn’t get long to bask in the self-induced afterglow. He washed his hair quickly, shutting the water off just as it grew ice-cold.
Drew thought about stalling, taking a long time preparing for bed, but decided that action was cowardly. Instead, he rubbed himself down, pulled on his t-shirt and shorts, and quickly brushed his teeth. He would have to go to bed sooner or later. Taking forever wouldn’t make Ciaran not be there when he came out. Besides, his libido had to be tired after that little shower scene.
Ciaran had left the lamp on by the side of the bed nearest the bathroom. In the dim light, Drew could see Ciaran’s still form huddled under the covers on the far side of the bed. He could also hear the man’s soft, even breathing. It sounded like he was already asleep. Good. I may get through this yet.
Ciaran shifted, mumbling as Drew climbed into the bed. “Drew?”
“Yeah?”
“Thank you.”
“You’re welcome. Go back to sleep.”
Ciaran sighed and turned over. Within moments his breathing was even again.
Drew released the breath he’d been holding and tried to get comfortable. The bed was rather hard, but at least it wasn’t lumpy. After a few minutes of careful wiggling around so as not to wake Ciaran, he found a relatively comfortable position. To his surprise, he drifted off quickly.
* * * *
Drew was awakened by a strange, whimpering sound. For a few moments he was disoriented, but quickly remembered where he was. The whimpering sounded again. Turning over, he saw Ciaran moving restlessly.
Bat-Boy and The Wolfman Page 1
