by Julia Talbot
“Mmmm. What was I doing?” The kiss dazed him for a moment.
“We are unloading, and then we’re going to go to the couch in front of the fire. It’s going to snow. I can smell it.”
“Is it?” He stroked Sebastian’s belly with his free hand.
“Yeah. A good one. Maybe enough to be able to cancel our journey down to Boulder.”
“Ohhh. We can get a ton of snuggle time in.”
“Yes. Fucking too. And possibly scary movies.”
“I love scary movies!” Well, monster movies and boo movies. Torture porn, not so much.
“It’s the time of year for them. We should indulge.”
“We should. I would love to curl up with your wolf.” All that fur….
“Yes. Come on. Let’s unload.” Sebastian padded to the back of the Jeep and started grabbing bags and loading his arms up.
Jaxon took the rest, as well as carrying the coffee.
“Don’t forget my—” Sebastian looked back. “Oh, you got it. Thank you.”
“I got it.” He left the clothes in the car. He didn’t think he would need them today.
The kitchen looked better with the bags in it, with supplies. More homey. He loved that Sebastian had someone willing to do soups and casseroles, but Jaxon wanted more. He wanted to make stuff by hand for his—lover.
“Did you want me to bring up your clothes?” Sebastian was in his head.
“No, babe. I’m good. I have your sweats and socks.” He would have Sebastian and a down comforter as well.
Sebastian explored the bags as he drank his coffee, stealing a grape here, a malted milk ball there. He’d been pretty sure about those, and Jaxon was happy to be vindicated.
Tonight he would make a quick seared steak and potato meal. Tomorrow would be better for lasagna, since he needed to make sauce from scratch.
They worked well together, and soon they were on the sofa with a bowl of candy and chips, both of them wrapped up in the blankets.
“Mmmm.” Jaxon loved this. Downtime was almost a foreign thing to him, but he could love it.
“Conjuring? Nightmare on Elm Street? Deep Blue Sea?”
“I love the shark movie.” Maybe the Conjuring later, when he could con Sebastian into holding him.
“Works for me.” Sebastian queued it up, then pulled him into the lee of the big body.
“God, you’re warm. I’ve been in Southern California too much in the last few years.”
“You must be freezing. I need my snow.”
“I love it. I’ve just forgotten.”
Sebastian’s hand moved over his belly, petting him nice and slow, stroking him.
Stretching out, he leaned over kind of into Sebastian’s lap. The closeness, the contact, left a constant hum in his head.
Sebastian surrounded him, breathing nice and easy. “Might shift.”
“No candy if you do.” Chocolate affected canid shifters way more in their animal form. Could be gross.
“Fair enough.” Sebastian grabbed a chocolate and chomped.
Jaxon chuckled, then opened his mouth. “Ahhh.”
A chocolate was popped between his lips and one ear got nuzzled.
“Yum.” He said it around the candy, his smile just unstoppable.
“Mmhmm. Those are good. Here comes a shark.”
They turned to the movie. It took maybe twenty minutes for them both to shift out and curl up, napping, muzzle to ruff.
Oh, heaven. Pure heaven.
He buried his nose in the heavy fur, the scent of Sebastian making him inhale deeply.
Sebastian groomed him, the caresses lazy, slow. They were dozy, and he could hear Sebastian’s song even louder now.
It was happier now, warm and steady. Less tinged with worry and sadness. He hoped he’d had something to do with that.
Sebastian chuffed softly, vocalizing to him.
He licked those long, impressive whiskers, calling back.
Sebastian relaxed down, letting him smooth and lick. They groomed each other until they couldn’t keep their eyes open.
LL Cool J was still talking about his bird when Jaxon fell asleep.
THE SNOW fell in droves, letting him miss his meeting in Boulder and luxuriate in being home with the most fascinating little fox.
Sebastian could hear Jaxon now, digging around in the pantry. The fox was already planning a huge shopping trip in Boulder; the list was three pages long and vaguely insane. He was moving things too. Oh, right now it was just tiny changes. The toaster now lived on a different counter. The towels in the linen closet had moved two shelves down…
It fascinated him, the way that Jaxon focused, took care. Maybe the man was bored. He didn’t need an assistant, right?
His phone rang and he grabbed it. “Hello?”
“When are you coming out?” Alan’s voice was wrecked. “He’s driving me crazy. He has all these things that he wants you for. Why can’t I do them? What the fuck?”
Shit.
“What sort of things? We had a big dumping. Almost good skiing.”
“Meetings. Approving orders. I can do this shit, Seb!” Alan’s voice rose to near hysteria.
“Of course you can.” God, Alan would be good at it. “Look, I’ll head out and talk to him, okay? It’s what… noonish? I’ll be there by three, okay?”
Fuck.
“Okay. Thanks, man. I know the drive is rough right now, but I swear, he’s losing his mind.”
“I’m coming. I’ll call from the road.”
“You rock.” Alan hung up, and the idyll was over, just like that.
He went to get dressed and pull his hair back and shave, growling at his reflection.
Stupid thing.
Moments later, Jaxon popped up next to him. “What’s wrong?”
“I’m heading to Boulder,” he growled. “Everyone’s losing their fucking mind.”
“Let me get my bag.” Jaxon touched his hand.
“You don’t have to….” But he was pleased that Jaxon wanted to.
“I’m with you.” Jaxon shrugged, heading off.
He smiled, finishing his shave and washing up. That was something, at least. Jaxon was going with him.
He would be able to enjoy the drive down, maybe. And Jaxon did like to keep him organized.
Not that he was going to need organization for this meeting, right? He was going to tell Ron that Alan was capable and he needed to work. That way he could come back home and sit in his studio and design. No meetings.
He had to take Jaxon shopping anyway, right? Might as well go get it done before winter set in so hard they never went anywhere.
Oh, wasn’t that a lovely thought? Trapped here all winter. He wanted that so much.
Jaxon appeared with a go bag, grinning. “Ready when you are.”
“Let’s go.” He sighed dramatically, rolling his eyes. “You need to meet your boss anyway, right?”
“I do! I mean, you’re the boss, but he’s the one who called me in.” Master bullshitter, that Jaxon.
“Yeah, yeah. We’ll shop too. If we have to, we’ll grab a hotel room.”
“Sounds good. I want to see all the neat stuff downtown, huh?”
“Well then, you’d better get us a reservation. I’m not staying at Ron’s.”
“Okay.” Jaxon pulled out his phone. “Do you need me to pack for you?”
“I’ll grab a pair of jeans and a couple shirts.” He had a go bag.
“Gotcha.” Jaxon was tapping keys.
Sebastian grabbed a couple of things, then looked at his bed and sighed. No fair.
“I know.” Jaxon glanced up, eyes glowing gold for a moment. “We’ll come back tomorrow.”
“I’m being a baby.” He was just tired, somehow. Still.
“No, you’re being a guy who likes to be home. This has never been your job.” Jaxon came to hug him, and the world tilted back to sane again.
“No.” And he didn’t want it. He loved his real work.
“We’ll fix this, I swear. Get Alan doing the meetings and approvals. Then you can telecommute.”
“I hope so.” He didn’t think so. He was Ron’s chosen, the one Ron wanted to take over someday. He was going to be forced into the slot, so he’d better enjoy all the time he had left.
“Hey, I’m good at this.” Jaxon bounced up to kiss his mouth. “Okay, come on.”
“Coming. Do you have a list of all the things you need?”
“I do.” Jaxon grabbed the go bag and a backpack. “My planner is in here.”
“Rock on.” He sighed once more and locked up, setting the alarm.
“Do I need to text Nan and let her know we’re gone?” Jaxon asked.
“Yeah. Just for the night, I think, though.” At least the weather was okay.
“Will do.” Jaxon’s fingers flew. “Tyrone?”
“Don’t bother him. He’ll feel bad.” Ty had an overdeveloped sense of responsibility.
“Cool. I relearned how to drive around here, so I can help.”
“It’s not a bad drive.” He winked over. “And I’m better than Alan.”
“Oh good.” Jaxon waggled his eyebrows. “Alan is scary.”
“Enthusiastic,” he countered.
“Terror.” Jaxon winked.
“Exciting.” He grabbed the keys.
“I prefer my excitement in bed,” Jaxon teased, voice throaty.
“Do you now?” He could tease too. He could.
“I do. With someone very special.”
They headed down the mountain toward town and the highway. Boulder and Ron awaited.
Too bad he just couldn’t be all that excited about the trip.
Chapter Eight
“RON, MEET my assistant, Jaxon. The one you hired.”
Jaxon stepped forward, offering his hand. The big wolf was pale and wan, but the aura of power was still there, strong and solid. The handshake was… well, shaky.
“Pleased to meet you, sir.”
“He didn’t leave you in Dallas? I’m surprised.”
“He tried.” Jaxon chuckled, then gave him a warm glance. “I’m quick like a fox.”
“He and Ty conspired against me,” Sebastian growled, but the sound was more hot than pissed.
Jaxon shivered a little, and Ron glanced at him, eyes narrowed. Oh, uh-oh. Did Ron not know Sebastian was gay?
That would be awkward, at best.
At worst it would get his ass kicked out, and then where would he be? Oh, Jaxon could always get another job, but this thing with Sebastian was worth it. Worth every moment he could wring out of it.
Easy. Easy. He knows. He wants pups. He’ll have to look elsewhere.
Jaxon’s eyes crossed for a moment at the sound of Sebastian’s mental voice, which was like a caress. Then he shook it off, smiling at Ron. “I can take notes today so you two can set up an arrangement.”
“You’ve got a shit-ton of meetings, son.”
Sebastian shook his head. “What for? I’m trying to get my work done at the studio.”
“We have suppliers. Retailers.”
Jaxon smiled brightly. “With all due respect, sir, Alan is a good choice for those kinds of meetings. He dealt with them quite a bit in Dallas.”
“It’s not Alan’s job,” Ron rumbled.
“So? Why isn’t it? What the actual fuck is going on?”
Okay. Jaxon backed right off into a dark corner. He could totally disappear when he needed to.
“I need you to do your job!” Ron’s voice rose, clashing with Sebastian’s.
“I am!” Lord, Sebastian could roar.
“Are you challenging me?” Ron stood, baring his teeth, and the Alpha’s two lieutenants flanked him.
“No.”
Ron’s hand shot out, the blow catching Sebastian’s cheek and slicing it open. “Are you sure?”
Sebastian panted, rage and hurt and shock barely contained. “I’m sure.”
Jaxon clapped a hand over his mouth to stifle his growl. He wanted to leap at Ron and scratch his eyes out for daring to hurt his lover. Mate.
“Come on, boy. I raised you for this. I groomed you for this.” Another blow landed, then another, but Sebastian just took them, absorbed them.
“I said no.”
Ron stared at Sebastian, who simply glared right back, solid and unmovable as a boulder.
Seeming to shrink, Ron sagged back into his chair. “Goddammit.”
“Terrance, bring me another shirt,” Sebastian barked, and when the lieutenant opened his mouth, the correction was fierce and sudden and brutal, the wolf on the floor. “I said bring me a motherfucking shirt. Now!”
The entire mansion seemed to tremble for a second.
Jaxon crept out of his hiding spot. “I’ll go make some more coffee, hmm?”
There was altogether too much rage and fury in that room right now. He slipped out of the door. Jaxon was hardly a coward, but that was a lot of wolf, and they were his bosses. Not his business to get in the middle. If he told himself that enough, he might buy it.
Someone grabbed him on his way by, and he gasped, dropped down into a defensive pose until he saw Alan, the pretty wolf looking downtrodden.
“It’s not going well, huh?”
“Nope. There was smacking. Goading too. I’m going to make coffee.”
“I’ll come with. If they’re fighting, you’re a stranger, and the pack gets worried.”
“Thanks.” He smiled faintly at Alan. “He really doesn’t want to be the Alpha.”
“I don’t think he’ll have an option.”
“No? What about you?”
Alan snorted. “I’m only obliquely related to Ron.”
“But I thought you and Sebastian were….”
“Second cousins. Packmates. That’s all.” Alan shrugged. “Seb’s never once treated me like a second-class wolf, but he’s royalty, eh?”
“Oh.” Oh man. “Ron doesn’t have kids, huh?”
“Nope. He mated once, a long time ago, but she’s gone.”
“No shit? I know it’s none of my business….” He trailed off. That usually encouraged folks to tell tales.
“She just disappeared, I guess. I mean, none of us remember her, not that I know of. Ron met her at university.”
“Poor guy.” That sucked. Loving and losing.
“Yeah. Here’s the coffee maker.”
“Thanks.” Nice. Top of the line. He could make Sebastian something decadent. A treat. “Can I make you something?”
“Nah. I was here to see if they needed me, but they don’t. Well, I guess you do.”
“I totally don’t want to get eaten by a pack of wolves.” He glanced pointedly behind Alan, where two burly guys stood.
“No. Seb would be a little cross about that, I think.”
“Yeah?” That made him smile. “He has stopped trying to get rid of me, come to think of it.”
“Lucky. I might come up for a visit in a few, just to get out of here.”
“Sure.” Sebastian would love that, right? Surely he would. He and Alan were best friends.
Alan grinned. “Cool. It’s a little houndy down here.”
“Yeah.” His nose wrinkled. “You boys want a coffee?”
The wolves looked at him; then one smiled at him. “I would, please.”
“Cool. How do you feel about mocha lattes?”
That earned him a grin from wolf number two. “Yes, please.”
“You got it.” He thanked his youthful turn as a barista and ended up churning out fifteen lattes….
He couldn’t hear Sebastian’s song, the low voice, and it made him itch. He wanted to go back in there, but at some point Ron had kicked out the enforcers, and Sebastian was in there alone with him.
The pack was surprisingly warm, friendly to him, all lounging around and drinking coffee, telling dirty jokes. They were good guys, and he had to appreciate the way Ron ran his pack, just from meeting these guys.
“So, you and Seb?” on
e of the wolves asked. “You smell like him. You can’t hide it.”
Jaxon stilled, hoping they couldn’t smell his nervousness. “Yeah. It’s all really new….” He ducked his head, kinda going for the deflowered innocent.
“Lucky! He’s a good guy. Alpha adores him.”
“He is.” He beamed at the wolf who’d praised Sebastian. Jaxon was taking notes on who was who.
“Des. Pleased.” One huge scarred hand was held out.
“Jaxon. Great to meet you.”
“My pleasure.”
“Jaxon!” Sebastian sounded more than unhappy. “I need you in here taking notes.”
“Got it!” He grabbed the last two lattes and headed into the office. Alan had told him Ron couldn’t have coffee yet, so he’d made a nice tea too.
Sebastian started rattling off appointments, emails, phone calls as soon as Jaxon had his tablet open, reading from scribbled notes. He caught up and stayed up, tapping out all sorts of orders Sebastian barked at him. There was nothing but icy coldness rolling off his lover, but he knew it wasn’t focused at him.
Ron stood, his shoulders slumped, and he picked up his tea. “I’ll leave Anita in here with you. I need to go rest.”
“I’ll call you Monday, Uncle.” Sebastian wouldn’t even look at the man.
As soon as he left, an older woman with the brightest blue eyes walked over. “Seb, honey.”
“Don’t. Anita. Jaxon. Jaxon. Anita. You two schedule my fucking life. I’m going to get another cup of coffee, then I’ll meet you in the car.”
“The machine is all set up.” Jaxon frowned, hating how defeated everyone seemed. There had to be a way to fix this. He waited for Sebastian to leave the room. “Hi, Anita. Tension is high.”
“You think?” She winked at him. “You’ll have to doctor Seb’s face, hmm? Maybe his pride a little more.”
“I will.” He liked Anita already. “He really just wants to be home for a bit. Can I get Alan to take some of the meetings?”
“I don’t see why not. Alan is charming and capable, and he loves to meet with people. We’ll just make sure you and I pass the information between us, hmm?”
“That sounds like a plan.” He beamed at her. “What else? Or should we just email and get the man back home?”
“Go take him out. Have something grand for supper. Enjoy the house at Estes, hmm?”
