by Jools Louise
“You’re right,” Chaz said, feeling so tired at that moment. “We should focus on the positives, and get these Shifter Games trials up and running. Something to look forward to.”
“You bet we will,” Alfie replied, with feeling. “All this chaos is playing havoc with my sleep patterns.”
Chaz chuckled. “You might be able to have a pamper day, to soothe all that stress,” he said, seeing Alfie’s eyes sparkle with interest.
“Why? What are you planning?”
“Not me. Kaden. Apparently he’s a hair stylist by trade, and wants to open up a beauty, hair, and nail salon, with spa treatments. He came over earlier…before the eruption,” Chaz explained.
Alfie squealed for joy. “A stylist? Spa treatments? Nails? I do nails, does he need employees?” He grabbed Chaz and swung him around and around gleefully. “My friend, get that man some premises.”
Chaz laughed aloud, kissing Alfie on the mouth. “I think I’d enjoy having my hair seen to,” he said, ruffling his shaggy locks. “Jackson Hole is a long trek. It’ll be nice to have a salon in town.”
“Ooh, I can’t wait to tell Harley and Max,” Alfie said, looking delighted. “And I bet there’ll be a few others who’d be interested, too.” He kissed Chaz on the nose. “Chaz, my love, you just made my entire year!”
Chaz laughed again, hugged Alfie, and then left, desperately needing sleep, sipping his hot chocolate as he went.
Chapter Eight
Sherman stood, hot water beating down on his head and shoulders, trying to relax. The day had been one that he wouldn’t care to repeat in a hurry, the more explosive elements, anyway. What a fucking mess. All those bombshells had left him reeling.
He thought about some concept he’d read about while languishing in jail, something about six degrees of separation. It was the first time he’d really agreed with it. How in life you find yourself brushing against people, and then find that their contacts keep appearing intermittently, so you never really lose touch. At least that’s how he understood the theory. His parents had known his stepfather, who had murdered his dad to get money and a wife. Then the stepfather had decided he didn’t like LGBTQ’s in his house and had a gang take one of them away to be killed, knowing that the others would follow, and then have them all locked up for it. Making sure his darling biological son took the fall for the betrayal, bastard stepfather then forges documents to the courts, and throws away the key. Now, years later, stepbrother shows up, and all hell breaks loose—again. And he still didn’t know what had happened to his mom, who may or may not have been harmed by his evil stepfather. What a fucking day!
He gave a low groan when he felt hands caress his glutes, parting his cheeks gently. He purred loudly, feeling the hot swipe of a tongue over his crease, lapping at his rosebud.
“Damn, kitten, that feels so good,” he growled, resting his head against the wall of the shower.
“That’s the idea,” Chaz replied, and nipped at one cheek teasingly, before burying his face between the twin globes, nuzzling at the musky crevice.
“I’m sorry,” Sherman said, closing his eyes, not sure what he was actually apologizing for, but knowing he needed to say it. He’d brought trouble to this town, and he regretted a bunch of things that had happened.
“You’ve just spent fifteen years behind bars,” Chaz said, resting his cheek against Sherman’s butt, then placed a kiss there. “You’re getting used to being free, having your mate, and now all the crap that put you in jail in the first place just caught up with you.”
Sherman glanced down, frowning at Chaz. “Before you say anything,” Chaz continued, nipping Sherman’s flank, “let me say that after I was released from the prison created by my biological father, it took months before I felt even remotely normal. I flinched at every sound, and I still hate the dark. You still carry the scars, you’re still dealing with what happened—and the fallout isn’t even halfway finished. “
Then Chaz smiled, and kissed the sleek globes again, grabbing hold of Sherman’s thick cock firmly. “I’m here to help you get through it. You have friends here, in Sage, and we won’t let those demons go unpunished. We’re really good a slaying monsters. We’re even better at finding people who are lost, and we’ll find what happened to your mom. If that bastard did anything to her, he’ll be made to pay, one way or another.” He began pumping his fist along Sherman’s dick, dipping his head and lapping at Sherman’s balls, nipping at the wrinkled sac. “Now relax, and let me take care of you.”
Sherman purred loudly again, his head thrown back as he enjoyed the attention of his beautiful mate. He’d known his mate would find him here, having gone straight for a place that eased his stress, the shower. He had heard Chaz call good night to everyone as he arrived home, and heard the whisper of sound as the sexy shifter undressed. He loved that Chaz was now feeling confident enough to play, before his thoughts splintered and all he could think about was the tongue bath and hand job he was getting. He’d have to reward Chaz later.
* * * *
Chaz enjoyed the taste of his mate under his tongue. Warm and wet, the flavor was musky and a little sweet and a little salty, an addictive combination. Water sluiced off look of a living statue. Chaz moved to the front, taking Sherman’s huge dick between his lips, and dipping a finger into the moist heat of his mate’s hole. Fishing around, he found the tiny gland hidden there, and began to stroke it gently. Sherman bucked, his cock jamming deeper, and Chaz choked a little, easing back until he could relax his gag reflex, then swallowed again, taking as much as he could.
Bobbing his head, Chaz sucked his mate off, swirling his tongue around the crown and dipping into the well of pre-cum already forming. Sherman gripped Chaz’s head, holding him in place, and then began to fuck his face with short, shallow thrusts. Humming with pleasure, Chaz’s jaw ached from being stretched so wide, saliva trickling down his chin. He gamely kept going, and drove a second finger into Sherman’s ass, raking his gland over and over until Sherman gave a loud grunt, and delivered a gallon of cum right down Chaz’s gullet. Swallowing, Chaz eased off his mate’s cock, licking his lips. He squeaked when Sherman grabbed him under the armpits and lifted him, then dragged their lips together, tasting his own cum hungrily. Moaning, Chaz wrapped his legs around Sherman’s waist, holding on tightly as they shared ardent kisses.
“That ass play has got me wanting some dick in my mouth,” Sherman growled, tilting Chaz backward so that he had to slap his palms against the wall for balance. Lifting Chaz up higher, he gripped his mate’s butt as he swallowed his cock, his teeth grazing the length of it. Chaz yelped when he felt two thick fingers shoved into his own ass, groaning at the pleasurable burn at the sudden intrusion. He bucked in Sherman’s arms, his claws biting into the wall for traction, and gave himself over to his mate’s talented mouth. Already hard and dripping, it didn’t take long, between the sucking and the finger fucking, before Chaz was coming hard himself, spurting down Sherman’s throat.
“That’s the ticket,” Sherman purred, still sucking gently, his rough tongue lapping every bit of cum from Chaz’s spent cock. “Now let’s dry off so I can make you all wet again,” he suggested. Chaz blinked, then realized what Sherman meant, and groaned again when he was lowered, right onto his mate’s cock, and then carried from the stall. Flipping off the faucet, Sherman grabbed a large towel and wrapped it around them both, then went into the bedroom, dropping Chaz onto the bed.
Chaz laughed up at Sherman as he bounced a couple of times, lifting up and presenting his loosened hole as he grabbed his legs behind the knees. “Fuck me, baby, one more time,” he said seductively, yelping when Sherman pounced, dragging his legs over his shoulders, and then finding the mother lode with one, hard thrust. Chaz gasped at the sudden invasion, his ass clenching around the thick cock, feeling the burn as he was stretched wide.
“I’ll fuck you more than once, my love,” Sherman replied gruffly, and began shunting in and out, hard and fast, giving no time for Chaz to catch
his breath. “Hang on for the ride, darling.”
Chaz bounced with each slam of Sherman’s hips, the big shifter taking him with an intensity that left Chaz reeling. Giving no quarter, Sherman grabbed Chaz’s cock in his fist, pumping in time with his steady strokes. Chaz cried out, feeling the slap of Sherman’s nut sac against his ass, the steep angle driving Sherman deep, filling Chaz again and again. Since Sherman had recently come, he took his time to get to flash point, alternating the hard thrusts by changing the angle every so often, at one point standing on the bed, with Chaz’s body practically vertical as Sherman speared down into him. Crying out, Chaz was babbling by the time he came a second time, with Sherman not far behind him, emptying a load of warm fluid deep inside Chaz.
They clung together, cuddling and kissing, still joined. “I love you,” Sherman sighed, replete for the moment. Chaz hugged the words to his heart, placing tiny kisses over every inch that he could reach, then mashing his mouth to Sherman’s again, desperate for the taste of him.
“I love you, too, Sherman,” Chaz replied, and felt Sherman’s cock begin to thicken again. “Really? Already?” he asked, moaning needily when the big shifter began to rock gently, delivering a series of slow, long strokes.
“Are you trying to insult my manhood, sweetcheeks?” Sherman teased, rubbing his body against Chaz’s as he lay snugly between Chaz’s thighs.
“Never,” Chaz retorted, sucking on Sherman’s tongue, then licking a languid trail down his mate’s slick throat. He writhed beneath his lover, smearing his cum over them both, increasing the friction against his cock, trapped between their undulating bodies.
“I might have to take exception to that. Did you think you’d get away with just a couple of orgasms tonight?” Sherman drawled, nipping at Chaz’s earlobe. “I may have to fuck you all night, just to prove myself.”
Chaz chuckled, gasping at the drugging sensation of Sherman’s mouth against his skin, the slow glide of his cock in and out of his well-fucked hole. “If you put it like that, lover, perhaps I need to insult you some more,” he said, grabbing Sherman’s butt in both hands, and inserting two fingers back inside his mate’s sleek ass. “I think maybe, being older, that you may have a problem keeping up with me…maybe you should just prove to me that you can.”
Sherman sank his fangs into Chaz’s shoulder, snarling lustily, and ramped up the tempo. Chaz closed his eyes, grinned widely, and held on. He had the feeling, by the time morning came, he’d end up fucked right through the mattress to the floor below, and couldn’t find a thing wrong with that. He had years of sexcapades to catch up on, and his mate was just the man to deliver.
* * * *
Pace sat in his office, staring at his computer screen, trying to imagine that what he was reading would simply disappear. He glanced up at a slight sound from the doorway, smiling tiredly as his mate entered.
“You’re up late,” Zack commented, coming over to kiss him, stroking his hair gently.
“Yeah, this thing with Cracker’s sister is getting more complicated by the minute,” Pace replied, reaching for his husband’s hand and kissing it tenderly. Zack took a moment to read what was on the screen, frowning as he digested the information.
“Those bastards just don’t quit, do they?” he said, scowling now.
Pace grunted, and dragged his mate into his lap, taking comfort from the familiar warmth of his lover. “I called a friend of mine from Chicago who’s worked the organized crime unit for years. Apparently the guy in New York that Kaden went to visit is linked to plenty of other dealings on a global scale. And I’m not so sure that Kaden’s dad is actually dead, either. The one who’s made a nice little nest egg for himself after receiving Sherman’s inheritance has been donating a substantial sum of money into an offshore account for the past fifteen years.”
“The same time that Sherman and his crew were put away,” Zack said thoughtfully.
“Exactly,” Pace replied grimly. “Why would he donate anything, if he’s won the prize? It doesn’t make sense, unless…”
“Unless he’s sharing the dividends with the one who helped him,” Zack finished, nodding. “Is there evidence that the stepdad is alive?”
“I’m not sure,” Pace admitted, rubbing his tired eyes. “I keep staring at this screen, over and over, and one thing that keeps leaping out at me is an address in Colorado, not far from Aspen. It’s not obvious what’s there on any maps, but I had Ryder look into it, and he says it does exist…but has no clue what’s there, either. That’s old mining country, though, and some of those tunnels run deep into the mountains. I’m hoping like hell this won’t be a repeat of what they did under Sage. Ryder’s taking his squad up there to take a look.”
“Maybe our crew should go, too,” Zack said, frowning at the screen, still. “Sherman and his boys have a vested interest in getting to the bottom of this.”
Pace sighed, knowing that whatever happened next, shit was going to fly.
“We need to have a meeting,” he said, kissing his husband gently. “This is above my pay grade and way outside of my jurisdiction.”
Zack powered down the computer and got up, dragging Pace to his feet. “Come to bed, darling, this stuff will still be there in the morning. Let’s get a few more hours, then we’ll come up with a plan.”
Pace nodded, and followed his mate, shedding his clothes as he went. Zack smiled at him as they fell onto the bed, spreading his arms and legs wide, allowing Pace to slide between, his big cock gliding home, deep inside Zack’s succulent ass.
“Hmmm, so no sleep for a while, then?” Zack murmured, kissing Pace tenderly, massaging Pace’s ass as he began to move, rocking gently.
“I need some of your excellent stress reduction therapy,” Pace replied, inhaling his mate’s scent, feeling his tension fade away, to be replaced with a dull buzz as his libido kicked in. He upped the tempo, thrusting steadily as they kissed, loving Zack with everything he had to give. Zack was his reason for getting up in the morning, and for doing the job he did, keeping the town safe and delivering justice when needed.
Zack gave a low cry, arching his back as his nails raked along Pace’s back, their bodies now slick with sweat. Pace thrust harder, driving into his lover, his fangs descending as he felt his orgasm closing in. With a harsh groan, he came and lunged for his mate, sinking his fangs deep into Zack’s neck. Zack cried out again, his claws digging in, and followed Pace over the edge into bliss, painting their abs with his release.
Minutes passed in sated contentment, the pair of them snuggling together, still joined. Pace lapped at the claiming mark tenderly, feeling Zack’s shivers as he teased the small wound.
“I’ve been thinking,” Pace said suddenly, leaning up on his elbows and staring into Zack’s brilliant blue gaze.
“That’s nice, darling, did it hurt?” Zack drawled, smiling wickedly.
Pace tweaked his nipple in retaliation, which had one obvious effect on his mate, both their cocks thickening again when Zack moved his hips slightly.
“There are still a lot of children without homes, aren’t there?” he asked. “And now that we’ve bought that big old house, we have plenty of room for a couple of them. If that’s what we wanted to do. We could move out of this apartment, and make it available for some of the folks across the hall, since that apartment is filling up fast. Did you know, there are now eight people living there? It must be pretty crowded.”
Zack’s eyes widened, his mouth forming a perfect o. “You want to adopt?”
Pace shrugged his shoulders, flushing a little. “It was just a thought,” he replied.
Zack smiled, his eyes twinkling merrily as he stared up at his husband. “How long has this thought been in that gorgeous head of yours?” he asked shrewdly.
Pace shrugged again. “A while,” he admitted eventually.
“We’ll go talk to Joe and David, then, and Cassidy,” Zack said gently. “I think it sounds like a fantastic idea…but we’d need to think about our careers, too,
since we both work full-time. I can work from home, but right now you’re the only sheriff in town, with our local enforcers to help out when needed. Maybe it’s time to hire some more people. That means you’ll get time off.”
“My friend in Chicago is looking for a change,” Pace said, uncomfortably. “I, er, told him to come visit, see what he thinks of the place. I told him there’d be a pay cut, and he still sounded interested. Thomas knows him, too.”
Zack responded by dragging him down for another kiss. Pace forgot about everything else, losing himself in his mate again. He’d worry about the other stuff later.
Chapter Nine
Sherman, Cracker, Chaz, Pace, Ryder, and Jay crept in formation through the deeply wooded terrain, each in feline form, each with a small backpack clenched between their teeth. The full Two Spirit crew, Joe, John, Zack, Mick, Rafe, Cody, and Murphy followed a parallel path on the opposite side of their intended destination. Yet another group, part of Ryder’s elite shifter squad, formed a guard around the perimeter, in case they had surprise visitors.
It was full dark, and the moon was shaded by a thick blanket of clouds, aiding their camouflage. The place they were heading for, in full stealth mode, was a log cabin, single-story, well-hidden in the woods. The road ended about five miles away, with only a rough track for the rest of the way, little more than a trail used by animals. The occasional boot print showed that there had been a human presence, recently, which gave them hope that this was the right place.
Shifting, Sherman donned his clothes, silent as a ghost, watching as his companions followed suit. He kept on alert, staring at the cabin intently. He could smell the presence of people, and there was another scent that seemed familiar, but he couldn’t quite place it. His heart was beating fast, his adrenaline pumping.
Ryder moved closer, placing his mouth to Sherman’s ear, and spoke quietly. “Remember the plan, and stick to it,” he said gruffly. “If any of you go off on a tangent, I won’t be following you, and you could end up getting killed.” Sherman nodded and felt Ryder’s hand squeeze his shoulder in acknowledgment. “We don’t know who’s in there, but our intel suggests there are at least a dozen people inside, carrying firearms. Be careful.”
