Moon Shadows

by Neena Jaydon

  I'd do it, you know. You think I don't want to take you in my throat? Do you know how good you would taste to someone who can smell what I can smell? Why won't you let me do it? These thoughts battered the inside of his head, trapped by the commands that Max didn't give.

  Curving over Theo, Max pulled his T-shirt up; he pushed it into Theo's armpits so he could make swirling caresses of his chest with both hands. His tightly grouped fingers dragged up and over both nipples, then down again. The sensation was too powerful, and Theo drew his torso back. When Max slowly pulled on his nipples, the resulting electric pleasure shot down to his cock, and he groaned in discomfort.

  "Off." Max pushed him back onto his heels. He stripped Theo's shirt off and tossed it aside. "Stand up."

  Uncertain, Theo got to his feet and looked down. Max was flushed, his eyes glittering. His arousal would have been obvious even if he hadn't been revealing his swollen cock to the world. He put one hand between Theo's legs and slowly squeezed; Theo's eyes widened as he moaned.

  "Hush," Max said as he unfastened Theo's pants. "Left leg," he said when he'd brought them down to knee level. Theo pulled his left leg free, and his right leg when so directed. "Fetch." Max pointed past him.

  Theo turned to see that he was indicating the bedside table. He walked stiffly to it, his erection making it an uncomfortable trip, so he could grab what they needed to go further. As unfamiliar as this was, he truly needed to go further.

  "Hands and knees." Max took what Theo carried. He'd removed his shirt and let his pants fall. Theo wanted to look at him, but Max's instructions had him turned the other way. He got to his hands and knees on the rug in front of his bed and waited with a loudly pounding heart. He heard the rustle of Max's boxers and the crinkle of a condom wrapper; he closed his eyes, licking his lips, and waited.

  Hands ran over his shoulders, his back, explored the shape of his sides. They moved lightly over his hips, buttocks, down his inner thighs, and over his calves in a possessive inventory. Theo gasped as liquid hit him between the shoulder blades. One finger trailed through it, following his spine, and then dipped into him. This process was repeated, each time ending with an exploratory jab of Max's slick finger. It expanded to two fingers, which lingered inside him.

  This made Theo's own fingers curl into the mat and his body tense with impatience. When Max started to penetrate him, he had difficulty getting in. Taking a hold of Theo's hips, Max made firm thrusts forward, pinching Theo when he began to breathe too quickly.

  "Relax."

  Theo gulped and tried to release his tight muscles. I'm so hard. He's so hard. His excitement fought him, and he couldn't relax until Max's deep-seated friction melted him. He shivered in conflicted ecstasy, closing his eyes. He knows my deepest secret, and he's still here. Joy rose within his chest at this thought, making him groan again. Max held his hips, fingers spread and gripping, as he slid in and out with lingering thrusts. Every move Max made took possession of him. Max's thick shaft spoke directly to the pleasure centres in his brain.

  "Listen to you," Max said. "I love that noise you make. That I make you make."

  "Yes," Theo whispered, hardly comprehending what was spoken to him.

  "But what I really love is how good you are inside." Subtle changes to the rhythm sparked new pleasure in Theo. "It's like you were born to have me in you, Theo."

  Increasingly breathless, Max held Theo in place and began to really move. Eyes wide, Theo felt Max's urgency, and it added to his own. It was frustrating to be still, and yet it made him feel everything in intimate detail. "Good, Theo. Now tighten up. Come on, now." A slap on his side startled him, and Theo clenched his muscles. "That's it. Good, good—yes!" Grinding in one last time, Max clutched at him with bruising fingers. Max lingered there far too long for Theo's over-excited state. Slowly his grip eased and he caressed Theo's back, then pulled free and away.

  Hands trembling, Theo took hold of the rail at the end of his bed and used it to get to his feet. He leaned heavily on it as he turned around. Max was right there, running his gaze over Theo's body, smiling darkly.

  Pressing his face into Max's neck, Theo caressed his chest unsteadily. "I'm not done," he whispered.

  "Hmm?" Max's tone held amusement.

  "Would—would you finish me off?" He nuzzled Max's neck and kissed his earlobe.

  "What's that?" Max's fingertips very, very lightly traced his side, raising fresh gooseflesh. Theo shivered and clutched at Max's nape.

  "Max," he said, his eyes closing tightly. "Please."

  "I'm not sure what you want, Theo."

  "Max, please," he moaned. "Please."

  "Please what? Hm?" Max pressed his mouth to Theo's forehead. That affectionate little touch was not nearly enough, and desperation made the words easier to say.

  "Please make me come."

  "Oh, is that all?" Despite the teasing, there was a deeper, warmer undercurrent in his tone. Max put his hands on Theo's head and tilted it back to allow him to nip aggressively at his neck. He kissed Theo hard, capturing a shuddering gasp. Then his hands were trailing down Theo's body, his heat gone from his side. Theo's buttocks hit the railing, and he clutched it with both hands, watching through barely open eyes as Max eased a condom onto him, then kissed the tip of his painfully hard cock. After that first gentle touch, Max turned ruthless, taking him in deep and firmly. Theo's back arched, and he cried out.

  "Max!" The sensation was blinding. Max's attentions were complete and relentless, causing layers of sensation to build upon each other. The tongue that circled the head of his cock, teasing and prodding, gave way to the hot, wet pressure of a skilled throat. Theo was far too caught up in it to notice his own inarticulate cries. Nobody else could make him feel this way, surely; nobody could matter more than Max. Swirling around inside him with his physical desire was a mix of gratitude and sweet affection.

  "Please tell me," he whispered fervently, throwing his head back, "that I made you feel this good." Max's hands caressed and clenched his buttocks as he moved his head faster, overwhelming Theo with white-hot pleasure. Theo almost protested, but instead he rocked forward into it. Gooseflesh rose all over his body as Max cupped his balls, then tickled and stroked behind them. Skilled fingertips traced lazy circles down his inner thighs, then leapt back up to seize his hips and push him back against the railing.

  Desire for it to go on and on fought with his desperate need to finish; however, Max was in charge, and his punishing rhythm was yet another command. Theo wanted to thrust, but obeyed the hands holding him still. "Max—oh, good god." Theo shook his head wildly, lost. "Max!" He yelled out his climax to the ceiling, feeling his entire body jolt in reaction to the focused and exquisite and unstoppable ecstasy in his cock. It jerked and quivered in Max's mouth, seeming to pull Theo up onto his curled toes. The bed railing squeaked warningly under his weight, and his arms trembled under the burden of holding himself up.

  When it all faded, Theo was left with trembling knees. It took effort to remove his hands from the railing, his fingers caught in the imprints he'd made in the metal. Carefully he eased himself away from it as Max released him and stood up. Wiping at his mouth, he gave Theo a tight smile and then pulled him into a full embrace.

  "You're so sweet," Max said into his ear. "I want to take you home, put you on my table, and have you three times a day. Fucking you would be like saying grace."

  "Th-that's…" Theo stared wide-eyed at the ceiling, his hands slack on Max's hips. Hot. Scary. I don't know what.

  "So cute," Max mumbled. "So sweet, Theo." He stepped back, chuckling, and looked down at himself. "How about we use your shower?"

  "Y-you go first." It would be too much, right now, to be wedged in the shower with Max.

  "You sure?" Max blinked in surprise as he freed himself from the condom.

  "I'm sure."

  "Okay, then." Max kissed him lightly on the mouth and bounced jauntily up the stairs. Theo moved woodenly to tidy himself up with tissues, then sat on hi
s bed.

  Who did I become, just now? Uncomfortable, Theo sat and stared at nothing, listening to the shower running upstairs. His fatigue fell on him at once; numbly, he slid under the covers. His thoughts circled around in his head, chasing their tails.

  He was woken from a light doze by Max, smelling of soap and steam, burrowing in next to him. Sighing in contentment, Max wrapped an arm around his waist and snuggled up. Theo kept his eyes closed, because he hadn't caught any useful thoughts in his head yet.

  *~*~*

  To Max's relief, his mother was busy with her show dogs in the exercise pen when he drove up. He slipped into his trailer for a change of clothes before heading the kennels. As he went into the boarding kennel, he met Anastasia coming out.

  "Oh, hey. Didn't get called in to work today?"

  "Uh-uh." She retreated back into the kennel and pulled up a bucket to sit on as Max began shooing dogs into the external runs and closing them outside. "Must be nice having a boyfriend in town. I have to hide in my room."

  "Boyfriend? Who says I have a boyfriend?" Max slid down the last gate and went back through the kennels, removing bedding and dishes. Normally Anastasia cleaned the kennels on days she didn't work, but family consensus was she should take it easy.

  "Oh, come on. Why else would you be out all night?" She picked up a tennis ball and turned it around in her hands. "Was it Theo?"

  "What makes you say that?" Max had a hard time keeping his tone neutral.

  "Was it?"

  Max gave up, and the grin that had been trying to escape broke free. "I actually went to tell him off. It was supposed to be a fight, but…"

  "One, don't need any details. Two, you dog!" She threw the tennis ball at him; he turned so it bounced harmlessly off his arm. In unison they added, "trainer," and chuckled together as he tossed the ball back to her. Then Anastasia's expression stilled, and he grabbed a scoop and garbage bag while he waited for her to speak. The routine was so ingrained in him that he barely noticed what he was doing, instead listening for the first hint she was about to explain her sudden silence.

  "He was right to tell her, wasn't he?"

  "I don't care if he was right," Max muttered.

  "At least now we can ask Mom about these things. Once she's calmed down. Whatever they are, Max, they're different from anything I've ever heard of."

  "I know." Max moved to the next kennel. It said something about how eventful that night had been that Max had been thinking less about the shadow that possessed him and more about Theo's secret. And even more about Theo's body. And mostly about Theo last night. He hadn't planned anything beyond getting there and expressing his displeasure. He'd only wanted to stop Theo from shutting him out. Then he'd seen the excitement spark in Theo's eyes at being told what to do.

  "Max?"

  Jesus, we're talking about malevolent spirits and I can't even stay on topic. "Sorry. You're probably right."

  "I think I should talk to Louis Wilson."

  "Maria's husband? Why?"

  "He's the one they found out by the river. Judging by how and where it happened, I think he might have run into one of those spirits." Anastasia shrugged stiffly.

  "And how are you planning to talk to him about that? 'Oh, hey, were you possessed, by the way? And just in case, I should tell you I talk to ghosts.' I don't think that's a good idea, Ana."

  "But this isn't some new ghost yelling in people's ears. I think they're probably why I drove into the river, Max. And they don't just possess; they use you. I felt one come through me like I was some kind of portal. I don't think we should ignore it."

  Max hesitated, then went out into the aisle to look at her. She gazed at him steadily, her hands in fists on her knees. "If you're going to go telling the family secret, you're going to have to be the one breaking that to Mom."

  "I will." Anastasia lifted her chin. Max's eyebrows lifted.

  "You're really serious about this."

  "I am, Max." She got up and set the tennis ball on the overturned bucket. "I think this might actually be more important than the family secret." She moved for the door, then paused. "And I don't know how much Theo understands about what happened to me, but I think you should probably fill him in too. He's involved now. We can't be sure he'll be safe."

  "Uh, yeah. Good point." Max fought the urge to clear his throat guiltily. Once Anastasia had left, he quickly got on with cleaning the kennels. As he swept, scrubbed, and rinsed the concrete kennel floor, his mind was free to wander. To his embarrassment, it didn't manage to stay interested in the shadows for long. He found himself staring at the spray from the hose. It made him think of showers. Theo, water trickling down over his shoulders. Theo, his hair clinging to his cheeks, gazing at him with intent grey eyes. Theo, sliding long-fingered hands over his own chest, one lingering by his nipple while the other travelled straight down over his belly—

  Max abruptly released the trigger of the nozzle. A puddle was forming in the corner of the kennel. He'd been so caught up in the image that his heart was beating faster and his cock was pushing against the weight of his jeans.

  "I think I have to go over to Theo's again," he whispered.

  *~*~*

  Theo growled and tossed the controller aside. He couldn't concentrate, which meant work wasn't progressing on his current contract. Max had left at an indecent hour, in an obvious good mood; Theo had buried himself into the blankets and merely grunted as Max whispered goodbye and kissed him on the shoulder.

  It's not like you didn't have reason to expect this to happen sooner or later. Theo scrubbed at his hair with both hands. The memory hadn't come back right away, but it now lurked just below his thoughts.

  It had been the single most embarrassing conversation he and Ma had ever had. Like all werewolves, he'd been home-schooled until he was eleven, when his control over his changes had solidified. While he'd managed reasonably well in elementary school, high school had been more difficult. Under puberty's full power, he'd entered a shower room full of boys, and the blended scents of steam-heated skin and testosterone had given him a mortifying erection. A bully had spotted it and spent the next month hounding Theo. Theo finally lost his temper and hurled the bigger boy through a locker door.

  Then he'd had to explain a suspension to Ma and Grandmother. While Grandmother had scolded him for risking the family secret, Ma hadn't been convinced by his vague explanation for the fight. In the end, she'd come to sit on his bed and eyeball him until he told the full truth.

  "It's just part of growing up. You know werewolves don't think about 'gay' and 'straight'. Who you're attracted to doesn't matter. The only thing, Theofanis, is you've got to make sure you only get close to the right ones. Just because you won't marry a woman doesn't mean the instinct to submit is going to go away." Here he'd desperately tried to shut her down, his cheeks burning hot, but she'd waved him quiet. "We're werewolves. Females lead, males submit. That's how it works. But whoever you're going to give up that control to had better be strong. Good, kind, and strong." She'd smiled and pinched his cheek. "Don't bring home anybody but the best."

  "I never did bring anybody home," Theo muttered. "Especially wasn't going to do that while Grandmother was alive."

  He got up from the couch and went to the kitchen. Maybe making lunch would give him enough time to settle down. That was his intention, yet he found himself staring at the instructions to a microwave dinner without being able to read them.

  He ordered me around, and I begged for more. Is that really a part of me? He set down the box and leaned on the counter. As embarrassing as it'd be, I could really use you right now, Ma. The undeniable truth was he'd loved every moment of it. Another undeniable truth was that Max was strong, sure of what he wanted. If Max asked for something, either physically or emotionally, that Theo didn't want, what would he do? Would he be able to resist that sweet urge, or would he follow along?

  "No. Not for just a 'friend.'" Theo clenched his hands into fists, glaring at the unoffending box. He
started when the doorbell rang.

  *~*~*

  When the front door opened, Max found himself looking at a grimly bespectacled Theo. He'd planned to grab Theo and kiss him deeply, but Theo's cool manner caught him up short.

  "Hey," Max said. "Are you okay?"

  "I'm fine." Theo hadn't fully opened the door.

  "Uh, can I come in?"

  "I think you should go," Theo said.

  "What? Why?" Max was completely taken off guard.

  "I just don't want to—see you right now."

  "Nuh-uh." Max blocked the door before Theo could close it; he was encouraged by the fact that Theo let him do it. "Let me in, Theo. I think we'd better talk."

  Theo turned away, his mouth jerking in frustration. Max slipped inside and shut the door.

  "So what's the problem?" he asked Theo's stiff back.

  "I'm not an animal," came the sullen response.

  "That's funny, because I am."

  "You know what I mean."

  "I think I do," Max said gently, "but you'd better explain it to me."

  "I'm a werewolf," Theo said, almost cutting him off. "Not a dog!"

  "I'm glad to hear that, because I'm not attracted to dogs. They're like kids to me. I am attracted to sexy Greek guys who'll play along in the sack, though."

  "Yeah, right. What the hell was 'fetch' then?"

  "I was trying to be playful." Max heard the defensiveness in his own voice and abruptly firmed his tone. "Why am I hearing about this the day after it happened, Theo? All I heard at the time was you asking me to make you come."

  "That's—that's because you—"

  "Bullshit." Max smacked a hand against the wall, making Theo's shoulders jerk. "I'm calling bullshit on this whole conversation right now." He caught Theo by the shoulders and turned him around; face dark red, Theo stared downward. "Never mind that a simple 'no' would've been enough at any time, you could tear me in half. Don't tell me I scared you." He saw the flicker of Theo's eyelashes. "It's just a turn-on, Theo, like silk underwear or handcuffs or whatever. It doesn't hurt anybody when it's between consenting adults, and it doesn't say anything deep about you." He cupped Theo's face in both hands. "So it got you hot to play my pet for an evening." He tried a smile. "It definitely got me hot."