Behind the Eight Ball

by M. A. Church

  I took a deep breath, filling my lungs with the rich, sweet musk of Heller’s scent. Heller nipped the tendon at the back of my neck and then ran his tongue along the abused skin, soothing the small ache.

  I jerked in his arms as he sped his hand up on my shaft. I curled my toes and dropped my head back on his shoulder. My body felt like it was going to shatter into a million pieces. I grasped Heller’s thigh, squeezing hard. I needed some way to anchor myself. Tingling started at the base of my spine and spread out.

  “Oh yes. Yes! I’m going to come.” I strained against Heller, my body rigid.

  “Do it. Come for me.”

  I panted hotly against Heller’s cheek as I came. My body shook, and I tightened my hand on Heller’s thigh. “Fuck!”

  My eyes rolled back as I painted my chest.

  “Oh yeah, that’s hot,” Heller whispered.

  When my balls finally emptied, I lay against Heller, exhausted and satisfied. “Wow.”

  “You must have been really wound up. You managed to hit your chin. Hold on.” Heller slipped out from behind me. “Let me up and I’ll go get a washcloth for you.”

  “Thank God. I don’t think my legs would hold me right now.”

  Snickering, Heller went to get the wet washcloth. After he cleaned me up, we lay back down and watched TV for a while. Today was the last day the shop was open until Friday. Marshell worked so I could have the day off. A couple of hours later, we went to bed.

  THE NEXT morning we picked up around the house, not that there was much to do. After showering, we ran into town. We needed drinks, napkins, and some other odds and ends. I was also dealing with cravings for brownies.

  The stores were packed, of course, with people doing last-minute shopping, but I found what I needed. We ran into several clowder members and stopped to talk to them. We finished our shopping and left. We arrived home, parked, and carried in what little groceries we bought. I noticed Heller locked the door too. It made me feel better even though I knew a shifter could get in if they wanted to bad enough. I’d just started the brownies when Heller’s cell rang.

  He joined me in the kitchen, his hand over his cell. “It’s Dolf. He, Tal, and Kirk are out running errands, and they’re bored. They want to stop by for a little while and visit. You okay with that?”

  “Sure.” I placed the pan of brownie mix into the stove and checked the clock. It was lunchtime. “Ask them if they’re hungry.”

  Heller repeated the question and nodded at me.

  “How about we order a couple of pizzas and have brownies for dessert?”

  “That sounds good. Hold on and I’ll ask.” Heller repeated the offer of pizza and brownies. Grinning, he nodded his head at me. “Oh, and Kirk wants to know if they’re the kind with nuts in them.”

  “Yeah,” I said.

  Heller rolled his eyes at me. “Damn, Dolf, I can hear Kirk moaning from here. Please tell me he’s moaning about the chocolate and not because one of you…. What? Yes, I know your mate has a thing for chocolate. I’m just saying I don’t need to hear any other kind of moaning, and….” Heller wandered back to the living area still talking to Dolf.

  Laughing softly, I set the timer and cleaned up the kitchen. Poor Heller looked like he might need a beer at the end of that conversation.

  I joined Heller in the living area just as he hung up. “Since when do you have something against moaning?” I sat on the chair arm.

  “The only damn moaning I want to hear is from you.” Heller shoved his hair off his face. “Good goddess, the man sounded like he was about to come. That’s just… disturbing.”

  I ran my hand through his hair, tugged his head back, and gave him a quick kiss. “Why don’t you order the pizzas? That’ll give you something else to think about.”

  “Good idea. It’s that or brain bleach.”

  “Sorry, all out of that, but I will have brownies shortly.”

  “I can work with that.” Heller unlocked his cell again. “They want meat lovers. What about you? You have a preference?”

  “Yeah, get one with pepperoni and extra cheese. Thanks.” I stood and went back to check on the brownies.

  As I flittered around in the kitchen, I listened to Heller order. How very normal it all was—just me and my man having some friends over for lunch. We’d eat, maybe have a beer or two, talk… something people did all the time.

  Except most of these guys could shift into cats, and Kirk and I were no longer human. Outside of that, we were like everyone else. Nothing odd about us at all. Speaking of oddballs, I wondered what Marshell was doing. I’d never tell him because he’d just roll his eyes, but I worried about him now.

  Janelle and I had both moved out. That left Marshell living by himself. He was certainly more than capable of living alone, but he hadn’t for so long. I was so happy, and so was Janelle. I wanted the same thing for Marshell.

  I was tempted to talk to Heller about trying to fix up Marshell with some of the clowder members, but I had a feeling they’d both yell over that. I entertained the thought, enjoying the reactions of both, but let it go eventually. He’d also hinted earlier there was something going on with him, and that had me worried too.

  A short time later, I heard voices in the living area, and I knew the threesome had arrived. The brownies were about done, so I didn’t go out to greet them. Since I didn’t know them very well, I was still a bit uncomfortable. That was normal, I guessed. But regardless I was glad they were here.

  Heller needed to reform the ties he once had with his buddies, and I needed to get to know them—one day my mate would be guarding their mate. The idea of Heller giving his life to protect his Alpha scared me shitless, but that was a breakdown for another day.

  Kirk walked in the kitchen, a huge grin plastered on his face. “There’s this rumor about brownies. Please tell me Heller wasn’t just jerking my chain.”

  I didn’t say anything, just pulled the pan out of the oven.

  “Holy mother of God, will you be my new bestie?” Kirk gushed, leaning against the counter.

  “Remi will be heartbroken,” Tal added as he joined us in the kitchen. “Poor thing. Being thrown over for baked goods. Hey there, Lawson.”

  “Hey, Tal,” I said. “Glad you guys could make it. And if Kirk’s that fickle, maybe Remi should find out now before he gets in any deeper.”

  Tal snickered.

  “Knowing Remi, he has a T-shirt that says something along those lines.” Dolf smiled as he joined us too. He poked Kirk in the back but grinned at me. “Hey, Lawson. Thanks for having us over.”

  “My pleasure,” I said.

  Heller came in, walked over to me, and checked out the brownies. “Hmm. Can’t say I blame Kirk for kicking Remi to the curb, though. Those are some decadent-looking brownies.”

  “My brownies and I thank you. But I wished I started them a little later. They’re going to be cold by the time the pizza gets here.”

  Heller started pulling down paper plates. “No law says we can’t eat them now. Get the ice cream out, babe.”

  “That’s what I’m talking about!” Kirk bumped Tal out of the way.

  “Hey!” Tal stumbled a few steps over and then hissed at Kirk. “Don’t make me get my claws out.”

  I placed the ice cream on the counter next to the brownies.

  Dolf stepped between the two. He popped Kirk on the ass and pulled Tal’s long hair. “Okay, you two, don’t make me get the claws out.”

  “No shredding clothes in the kitchen,” Heller added as he hunted up some forks.

  As I cut the brownies, I sincerely hoped he was kidding about the whole shredding clothes thing.

  “Behave, mates, or Lawson won’t know what to make of us,” Dolf said as he eyed the brownies.

  Heller snorted, waving the spoon he planned to use to scoop out the ice cream. “He’s friends with Marshell. Trust me, there’s not much that can top him.”

  “Jeez, put that down before you brain me with it.” I knocked sho
ulders with Heller so he’d know I was kidding. “And yes, Marshell is one of a kind.”

  Heller just mumbled under his breath.

  Dolf raised an eyebrow, which I saw. “They’re getting along now, so don’t let Heller’s mumbling fool you. Marshell explained why he acted like an ass to Heller. It’s all good now.”

  “Really?” Dolf asked Heller.

  “Yeah, he and I came to an understanding.” Heller shrugged. “I know why he acted like he did, and I’m cool with him.”

  Dolf nodded. “That’s good. He’s very… strong. Is he an Alpha, Lawson?”

  I put the brownies on the plates, and Heller added the ice cream. “An Alpha? Huh. I’m not really sure. Janelle is just as bossy as Marshell. They also don’t live in packs or clowders like you guys, so there’s no ranking assigned to them. Either one of them could lead, if there was someone to lead… or they wanted to.”

  “Did you say they hunted in pairs?” Heller asked as he dug into his brownie.

  “They do hunt in pairs if possible, but sometimes that doesn’t work out,” I answered.

  “Why?” Tal asked, nibbling at his ice cream.

  “Okay, let’s say you’re a Vetala, Tal. You’ve moved down here by yourself, and you don’t know anyone. You hunt alone until you run across other Vetala,” I said. “If they’re a hunting pair, they might set you up with a Vetala they know who also needs a hunting partner. Win-win.”

  “Yeah, except you keep calling it hunting,” Tal said. “That gives me the shivers.”

  “I can see that, but they’re no more or less dangerous than any other paranormal out there. Most—and yes, I said most, not all—don’t kill when they feed.” I took a bite of the brownie. Damn, these were delicious. Go me. “They have to have blood to survive, so I guess I’m not as freaked as you guys must be. I need water to live. They need blood. End of story as far as I’m concerned. Every group has their bad seeds.”

  “Which we saw not long ago with the threat to Kirk,” Dolf said. “Lawson, I have to say, I tend to push these two to eat healthy, but those brownies are wonderful.”

  We talked as we finished the brownies. Just as we finished, the doorbell rang.

  “Oh good, pizza’s here,” Heller said.

  “Here, let us help.” Dolf and Tal hurried after Heller.

  Kirk stayed in the kitchen with me. “I swear, shifters and food. They go together like peanut butter and jelly.”

  “Glad we got plenty for tomorrow.”

  “Yeah, I’m really looking forward to that. I’ve never been one for celebrating the holidays, but doing this… well, I might be able to get my mates into it. So thanks.”

  “Again, my pleasure, believe me. Come on, help me fix the drinks?”

  “I’d love to.”

  We spent the rest of the afternoon talking. By the time they left, I felt much more comfortable around them. I had high hopes for tomorrow.

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Heller

  THURSDAY DAWNED cool and crisp. Lawson and I had dressed then had a light lunch. We passed the day watching football until it was time to go pick up the food.

  I glanced at my watch. “It’s about time to go. Will you go with me? I might need some help with all this food.”

  Lawson turned off the TV and stood. “Sure. I’d planned to anyhow. You ready?”

  “Yeah, let me get my keys. I left them in our bathroom.” I hurried to the master bath, and my keys were on the counter, right where I’d left them.

  I grabbed them and a jacket. When I returned to the living area, Lawson was waiting, also in a jacket. It was cool but not downright cold yet. We took my truck and drove to Arches. We entered the restaurant the back way and spoke to Sam for a minute.

  As we talked his employees brought the food trays in boxes. After I saw the amount of boxes, I was glad Lawson came with me. I paid Sam, and he helped Lawson and me lug all the stuff to my truck.

  “Thanks, Sam.” I stood next to the driver’s door with Sam next to me. “I really appreciate this.”

  “We both do,” Lawson added from the other side of the truck.

  “I’m glad I had the means to help out. Oh yeah, Lawson, Janelle wanted me to ask if we could bring anything,” Sam said.

  “Nope. Just yourselves. We have everything else,” Lawson said.

  “Okay, then, I’ll tell her.” Sam stepped back from my truck.

  “Thanks again. See you guys in about an hour.” Lawson hopped in the truck.

  “See you shortly.” I waved good-bye and pulled out of the restaurant parking lot. On the way home, I reached over and took Lawson’s hand. “Thank you.”

  Lawson raised an eyebrow. “And just why are you thanking me? It should be the other way around. You did all this, pulled all this together. So why thank me?”

  “Because without you this would’ve been just another day that I sat at home by myself and did nothing but either work or watch TV. I certainly wouldn’t be having friends over because, honestly, I’d pushed them all away. I tried to push you away too, but I just couldn’t. Without you…. Lawson, you’re my everything. I, ah, just wanted you to know that.”

  Lawson picked up our joined hands and kissed my knuckles. “You’re a sweet guy, you know that? You’re my everything too.”

  “Yeah, well.” I sniffed quietly. My damn eyes were threatening to leak. “Don’t tell anyone about that. I have a reputation as an uptight, narcissistic ass to maintain.”

  “It’ll be our little secret.”

  Lawson and I held hands all the way home. When we arrived I parked and helped him carry in the boxes. I got the down the plates and set out silverware. Lawson set glasses on the counter but didn’t fill them with ice just yet. We still had thirty minutes to go.

  “Think I should get some bowls or something to put the side dishes in?” I asked. “Or should we just leave the stuff like it is? I guess we could set it up to work like a buffet. Do you think that would be okay? I mean, they know we ordered the stuff from Sam, but I still want it to look nice. What do you think?”

  Lawson set out the various trays but didn’t open them. Then he grabbed me and backed me against a counter. “Breathe, hellcat. It’s going to be all right. Everyone will have a good time, don’t worry.”

  “But I—”

  That’s as far as I got. Lawson slanted his mouth across mine and ended whatever I was going to say. My eyes fluttered closed. Every thought flew out of my head as his mouth demanded my attention. I opened and he swept his tongue inside, owning every part of me.

  He threaded his hand through my hair, cradling my head, and I rested my hands on his hips, holding him close. Our tongues dueled and sweet need spread through me. Happy. I was happy. How long had it been since I’d felt that emotion?

  I started purring, and Lawson lifted his head, his hand still buried in my hair. “That is the absolute coolest sound ever.”

  It took me a second to find my voice. “Cats, um… we tend to purr when we’re happy.”

  “In that case I fully intend to hear more of it.” Lawson stepped back and adjusted his cock. “But for right now, stop worrying about stuff. Our guests don’t care what the food is in. They’re here for us.”

  I ran a hand through my hair. “You’re right. I just want it to be perfect.”

  “You’re here, so it is.”

  Oh goddess. How did he always know that to say? I shook my head slowly, overcome. “How did I ever end up with such a mate as you?”

  “You stopped running long enough for me to catch you. Now come on, let’s fill the glasses with ice. It’s about time.”

  Lawson hadn’t finished speaking when I heard someone in the drive. My nerves jumped and my breath shortened. Lawson patted me on the ass on his way to the back door and everything leveled out. My nerves settled, my breathing steadied… and all the worries just slid right away.

  Lawson was right. It didn’t matter what the food was in—our guests wouldn’t care. Besides, until recently, mos
t of us guys had been bachelors. While he let our guests in, I set out the plates and silverware over by the food and moved several two-liters onto the counter along with pitchers of tea.

  Remi was the first one through the door.

  “Hey, Lawson.” Remi joined us in the kitchen. “Oh, something smells good.”

  “Man, does it ever. Wow, suddenly I’m starving.” Aidric came in behind Remi. “Hey, Lawson. Thanks for inviting us. This is going to be great. Oh, and Dolf and his mates are right behind us too.”

  “Hey. Glad you guys came, and thanks.” Lawson stood by the counter. “Why don’t you guys go ahead and fix your drinks?”

  Dolf, Tal, and Kirk greeted Lawson and followed him to the kitchen. I offered them a choice of drinks. Once they each had a beverage, they joined Aidric and Remi in the living area.

  I poured myself a glass of tea. “Okay, that just leaves—”

  Lawson’s cell rang, the ringtone blasting away. Frowning, he took it out of his pocket. “Huh. It’s Marshell.”

  “Wonder why he’s calling?”

  “I don’t know,” Lawson said.

  “Well, I hope he—hold that thought. Someone’s at the door.” I set my tea on the counter. “It must be Sam and Janelle. Be right back.”

  “Okay.” Lawson answered his cell. “Hello? Hey! What’s going on, Marshell?”

  I opened the back door to Sam and Janelle. “Hey, guys. Glad you could come.”

  “Thanks for inviting us. Is everyone here?” Sam asked, grinning. “Janelle’s starving.”

  “Uh-huh. That’s why your stomach was growling in the car,” she said.

  “Ha! She told off on you, Sam. Everyone but Marshell is here, and Lawson’s talking to him now.” I led them to the kitchen. “Not sure what’s going on, but come on in and fix yourselves a drink.”

  Lawson hung up. “Hey, you two.”

  “Hey back.” Janelle fixed a drink and looked at Lawson. “Okay, so what’s Marshell done this time?”

  Dolf, Tal, and Kirk came back to the kitchen. Remi and Aidric were right behind them. Everyone exchanged greetings. Lawson just shook his head once everyone finished saying hello. Remi leaned against one of the counters while Aidric refilled his drink.