Fox and Wolf

by Julia Talbot

  “Not much to tell. One in the tub, one in the yard out front. Probably in the bushes.”

  “The tub one was… nasty.” Rey stared at Dylan, hardly looking at Mick. “As in Louisiana swamp water nasty.”

  “It totally was. Like it needed the water for its skin.” Dylan shook his head. “The other one… well, I don’t know. I guess he could have been in the pool or something?”

  “The hot tub is around the corner.” Rey nodded, then stood and began to pace. “I should call the management company so I can warn them.”

  “No, we’ll make an anonymous call to the cops. They’ll do a site visit and talk to the management.” Mick seemed very sure about that.

  Dylan agreed. The last thing they needed was Rey to be out there, making things more complicated.

  “Okay, so long as they’re warned. Murderous assassin dire crocs aren’t allowed in the hot tub.” Rey sounded very prim.

  “Right.” Mick’s eyes crinkled up, and he stuffed half a Quarter Pounder in his mouth.

  Dylan just nodded gravely. “Not here either. So we’ll keep an eye out.”

  “Here the hot tub is in the garden room. No crocs—assassin or otherwise.” Mick winked.

  “Oh good. I like soaking well enough, but not in green slime.” Rey ate a nugget.

  “No dipping sauce?” Mick asked.

  “In the third bag.” The lady had given him a whole bag of stuff. Ketchup and mustard and barbecue and sweet and sour.

  “Excellent. So, I’m going to go out on a limb and say full-time surveillance for Mr. Mercier here. Are you going to take it, Dylan, or should I bring in one of the kitties?”

  “I’ll take it to begin with.” Dylan smiled at Rey, who looked nervous.

  “I’d like that. I’ve had a lot of new people today. I spend the lion’s share of my time online.”

  “Not a problem.” No, this was his case, and frankly, Dylan was taking the attack personally.

  “Watch yourself online. I don’t want this place compromised.” Mick was worried, Dylan could tell.

  “He’ll be careful. I’m right here.”

  Mick nodded. “Well, what do you need from us, Dylan?”

  “Mainly James right now. He needs to set me up a few new burn phones, get me a secure hot spot.” Dylan pondered. “Grocery basics, clothes for a few days.”

  “Send him a list?” Mick was the worst grocery shopper ever. He could go with a list that said eggs, cheese, and bread, and come back with a Hot Rod magazine and a zucchini. It was maddening as hell and stupidly charming.

  Also, the office had a running pool going for what Mick brought next. Dylan’s money was on Hot Tamales and french onion dip.

  Mmm. French onion dip.

  Rey blinked at him, then smiled, almost as if he knew what Dylan was thinking.

  He’d bet the fox would love crisp and crunchy. In fact, he had no doubt. Chips and dip was going on the list.

  Raisins. Chips. Carrots…. “Huh?”

  “Focus, buddy.” Mick gave him the boss glare.

  “He’s had a rough afternoon,” Rey murmured. “Big scary dire crocigators with hypno eye action.”

  “They were pretty intense, boss,” Dylan agreed when Mick scoffed. “Pray you never have to find out.”

  “Right? We survived them. Two of them. We deserve cookies. Or the doughnuts. Thank you for those, Mr. Harkness.”

  Mick looked at Rey. “Are you drunk?”

  “No. No, of course not.” Rey flushed dark and stood up. “I’m just a little giddy from adrenaline, that’s all.”

  “You’re acting a bit more… satisfied with how things are going,” Mick snapped.

  Rey stiffened, nose twitching. “I was reacting to Dylan teasing me. You’re not yelling at him.”

  Dylan’s eyes widened. Whoa. He hadn’t said a word. Rey met his gaze head-on, silently urging him to—to what? Have Rey’s back? He glanced away, not at all sure what to do. This was his boss and his client….

  Rey sighed, shoulders slumping. “I’m going to charge my laptop.”

  Man, Rey could move fast, and his disappointment, in Dylan specifically, was palpable.

  “What’s your beef with the fox?” Dylan asked, keeping it quiet, because Rey had magnetically charged hearing.

  “Nothing. He just seems off. Strange. And let’s be honest, no one on earth is sending something like those crocs after a goddamn innocent little fox.”

  “Yeah, I don’t get it. I went through his clothes. Nothing. The place was trashed, boss. And if this is some elaborate game to get to us, it wins the bizarro award.” He thought Rey was weird because of this thing between them, this feeling that they knew each other on a cellular level.

  “He has something they want. Find out what it is.” Mick, on the other hand, was hard as a rock.

  “I will.” Dylan was sure of that. “It has to be fairly important.”

  “Yeah. Figure out what he’s hiding, Dylan. Suss it out so we can do this job without getting killed.” Mick’s moss gray eyes flashed, his chin set.

  “I will,” Dylan repeated. “Relax, boss. I got this.”

  “Yeah. Yeah, I know.” Mick relented, then leaned in, rubbing their shoulders together in a motion that was as old as wolf packs.

  That relaxed him. Relieved him. He didn’t want Mick all freaked out about his case. The boss had enough issues to deal with.

  He could deal with Rey, whatever the problem. Even if the only problem was him.

  Besides, he thought he and Rey got each other. Like, really, on a deep level.

  “I’ll see you.”

  “Get to work, hmm?” Mick barked out a happy laugh before disappearing out the door.

  Dylan nodded to himself as much as anything, then went hunting for Rey. Just to check on him.

  Rey was in the farthest end bedroom, back to a corner, the light from the laptop turning the sharp features even harder as it reflected off his face.

  He tapped at the open door. “You okay?”

  “Yeah. Fine. Thanks.” Rey snapped out the words.

  “Sure. If you get where you want some company…. Uh, I’ll be in the front room. Working.” With the TV on and a doughnut in hand.

  “I’m sorry about the crocodiles.” Rey wouldn’t look at him, shoulders hunched.

  “So am I. I wish we could just figure out what they think you have. Have you checked with your contact at the company?”

  “I’m emailing now to see if he can call.” Rey’s fingers flew over the keyboard.

  “Cool. Well, holler if you need me.” Dylan felt… weirdly useless. He just needed to get James on all this shit.

  Rey looked up at him, eyes glowing in the growing darkness.

  “You sure you’re okay?” He was reluctant to just leave Rey to his own devices. He thought Mick had been hard on the guy, and he felt bad.

  “I’m frightened, and I’ve hired people who think I did this to myself, which is a bit disconcerting.”

  “Honey, I don’t think you did this on purpose. I think someone hid something or gave you something without you knowing.” He shrugged. “Mick always suspects the client. It’s part of his job.”

  “Well, I didn’t do anything wrong. There’s nothing off about me either!”

  “I don’t think Mick gets subtlety in human relations. He sees bad guys all over.”

  “That’s sad.” Rey looked young, vulnerable, and Dylan wanted to be in the same room with the fox, not a long hallway away.

  “Come sit with me, hon. It’s weird to be in separate rooms.” He waited for Rey to rise, and damn if he didn’t, giving Dylan a soft smile. “Thank you. Those crocs got to me a little too. I’m sorry I let Mick run roughshod on you. I feel like you’re safer if you’re close.”

  “Yes. I feel better, knowing I can see you.” Rey blushed but followed him into the living room.

  Not to mention looking at Rey was freakishly pleasant. What the hell was with him? At least the awkwardness seemed to be over. He hat
ed the idea that Rey was mad at him, the very thought making him restless and itchy. “Doughnut?”

  “Please. They smell amazing.” Rey smiled at him again, then moved to make sure the curtains were closed. Lord knew he couldn’t blame the guy. Those crocs…. And knowing someone was out to kill you was terrifying.

  “They do. The boss has good taste that way.” He opened the box, offering it to Rey first.

  Rey took a maple log. “Oh goodness. That’s amazing.”

  “Right?” He loved the maple, the blueberry, and the eclairs with the vanilla frosting instead of chocolate. Mick was good to him. There were apple fritters with raisins as well. So much better than cookies. “Come sit. Do you watch television?”

  “Are you kidding? I’m addicted to competition TV shows.”

  “Oh my God. Do you like Top Chef?” Dylan could totally catch up.

  “Top Chef. MasterChef. Project Runway. You name it, I’ll watch it.” Rey bounced, seeming much younger. “I like sci-fi too.”

  “Then let’s mainline!” This was a luxury vacation, even if he did intend to work his ass off on Rey’s behalf. He plopped on the sofa and patted the cushion next to him. Rey grinned at him, eyes lit up.

  “I’m in.” Rey settled smiling over at him. “Thank you. I was… losing my wits a little.”

  “Well, anytime you need me to help, you just say.” He wasn’t one to leave his client unsupported. Rey also brought out his protective side. Maybe Mick was right and it was deliberate, but he doubted it. He really, really did.

  There was something about the man that called to him, balls to bones.

  Chapter Four

  REY BLINKED softly, trying to remember what he was doing. The television was on, but he wasn’t at home and there was someone snoring beside him.

  Wake up, Rey, he thought. Wake up and figure out what on earth is going on. He shook himself and rolled up, trying for silence.

  He looked down and saw a wolf lying in a pile of clothes, sleeping.

  Oh. Dylan. His wolf protector.

  He nodded and padded to the bathroom, wishing he had something soft to curl up in, something to sleep in. He did slide his pants off after he found a fluffy robe. That would work.

  When he came out of the bathroom, he wavered. Bedroom or back to the couch? In the bedroom he could stretch out. On the couch he would feel less alone. Dylan was there.

  He gave in to his instincts and headed back to the sofa, the wolf, the false warmth of the television.

  Dylan’s big head lifted, that long muzzle wrinkling as that sensitive nose worked.

  “Just me. I needed to take the pants off. They were hot.”

  Dylan blinked, those fuzzy ears swiveling. One foot came out, pawing at the cushions next to Dylan. He was a handsome wolf.

  He nodded and went to sit, curling up close. His nose told him he was safe here, that he could rest. “Thank you.”

  The cold tip of that snout touched his leg, Dylan sighing then and putting his head back down. There was a notebook with lots of scribbles and lots of used pages. Dylan had been working hard.

  Rey didn’t look. He hadn’t done anything wrong. He focused on rubbing Dylan, petting the wolf’s heavy fur, stroking in slow, steady motions.

  Another long sigh sounded, and Dylan rolled to one side, stretching out those long legs. Toes flexed, a sure sign that he was doing a good job of carding out that thick pelt.

  “You’re in need of a good brushing.” He’d have to find a heavy brush for Dylan’s grooming, though why he thought he ought to be doing that he had no idea.

  Dylan rumbled, the sound almost like a complaint. He could imagine Dylan saying he’d just washed it and couldn’t do a thing with it.

  “I know how good it feels, brushing. Don’t grump.” He stroked one sensitive ear, careful not to tug.

  Dylan panted, tongue lolling out as if he were laughing. Big lovely furball.

  “I’ll find you a brush tomorrow. I have to go get clothes and things from my car.” His little Smart car was at Dylan’s office, so at least he felt like it was safe.

  Dylan licked his hand, then rose up and hopped off the couch. He wagged, then headed to the bathroom, so Rey gave him plenty of privacy. The sounds he heard kinda broke his heart, groans and grunts and heavy panting. Apparently it was easy for Dylan to shift in his sleep, but awake, it must hurt.

  That was just awful. Rey could shift with a thought. Really, sometimes he shifted when he didn’t want to. He couldn’t imagine it hurting.

  After the flush, Dylan ran some water, then came back wearing a pair of sweats. That broad chest was bare, and little droplet of water hung, suspended in Dylan’s dark chest hair.

  Rey licked his lips, his body responding to the sight of all that gorgeous flesh. Oh goddess. Dylan was magnificent.

  “Hey. What all do you need out of your car? I really think we need to think twice about going back to it.” Dylan settled next to him on the couch, pulling down a folded blanket to cover… both of them. Snuggling.

  “Clothes. I have a toiletry bag. Mostly soft clothes.” He leaned in, the scent of Dylan surrounding him.

  “We’ll see what we can do.” Dylan put an arm around him, and it seemed so natural, so easy. He just cuddled up. “Mmm. Better.”

  “Yes.” He rubbed his cheek against Dylan’s chest, vocalizing softly. Why was this so easy? What was it between them that worked seamlessly?

  “Anyway, we’ll get you what you need, regardless. What the heck is on the TV?” Dylan sounded very put out that something had overtaken Top Chef.

  “Uh…. Some housewife monstrosity? Do we have Hulu?”

  “We do.” Dylan hunted the remote in the cushions, which was a bit like being on a bumpy raft.

  Rey began to laugh, the coarse hair on Dylan’s chest tickling him.

  “Sorry. Sorry.” Dylan was laughing too, but they finally found the silly controller.

  “You aren’t sorry. I can tell.” Rey let himself just howl with laughter, his relief, his joy in being alive just bursting out of him.

  “I am. Desperately.” Dylan snorted, which set them both off again.

  He found himself leaning full body against Dylan, not holding himself back in the least. They finally dissolved into a puddle of blankets and chuckled, holding on to one another.

  “Oh, that felt good. We needed that, right?” Dylan asked, and Rey had to agree. It had been necessary. “So, Mummy movies or Project Runway reruns?” Dylan clicked through some of the screens on the TV.

  “Brendan Fraser is kind of hot….”

  “Oddly so in those movies, right?” Dylan clicked over to the first in the series.

  “Yeah. Him and Oded Fehr are both lovely.”

  “Oded’s not just pretty.” Dylan smacked his lips.

  “Oh, listen to you! He has all the right things in all the right places, doesn’t he?”

  “He does.” Dylan leaned harder, surprisingly heavy. “Man, I’m just sleepy.”

  “Rest, then.” He wasn’t going anywhere, was he? No, not now.

  “Okay. Stick around in here?” Dylan seemed a little worried he would wander off.

  “I’ll cuddle in, watch the movie.” Rey could make that promise.

  “Thank you. You’re warm.” Dylan nuzzled his cheek, the action pure wolf.

  “Thank you.” He leaned back with a sigh.

  This was so much more pleasant than he’d imagined a safe house to be. Of course, with Mick it would have been a whole different story.

  He didn’t think Mick liked him very much. At all. In fact, he would go with not at all at all.

  Dylan chuckled, but Rey thought he was asleep. Fully.

  Weird how Dylan reacted to him even asleep, but cool. He cuddled in and let himself watch Rick and Evie save the world.

  The rest would just have to wait until tomorrow.

  DYLAN WOKE up warm, the world dark and scented of fox. Huh. Neat.

  Peering out from under the blanket, he realized it wa
s morning. And he had to piss like crazy.

  Rey was curled up in a tight little ball in the center of his fuzzy robe, tail over his nose.

  Man, they needed to get it together. He woke up as a wolf, Rey was human. Then vice versa. Probably a good thing. The fox was less likely to inspire morning wood.

  Although last night? He’d noticed Rey’s more than ample wood. Yum.

  It was definitely bad to be interested in a client.

  Really bad.

  Incredibly deeply bad.

  Right. Bathroom. Not gawking. Peeing.

  He hit the head, then washed up and went to see what their breakfast situation was. Leftover doughnuts and a Keurig machine with… peppermint mocha cups.

  Okay. That was doable. Not particularly manly, but doable.

  He made up coffee, then checked cabinets. Lucky Charms and shelf-stable milk. That had to be the bear. Kit did love Lucky Charms. Rice. Lots of rice. What the hell? Oh right. That sweet little panda they’d had to guard from a crazed stalker.

  He would go with doughnuts and take them to Denny’s later for eggs. Rey needed the stuff from his car anyway, right? Coffee first.

  Rey woke up, stretching, turning from fuzzy to human in a single easy motion. Dylan blinked, then smiled as Rey covered up with the blanket.

  “Morning.”

  “Good morning. Doughnut?”

  “Coffee?” Sleepy and rumpled fox was adorable. Biteable.

  Down, boy. What the hell was he thinking getting all silly?

  “I’m making it now.” He filled the water, then popped in a cup.

  “You need help?”

  “I think I can manage.” Maybe. He pressed the Brew button, and sure enough, it worked. He slid a mug under the spout just in time.

  Rey applauded for him, and he looked over, but there wasn’t a hint of malice, just a happy little grin.

  “I know. I’m a dork in the morning. I swear, I’m worse than a bear. And I know one….”

  “Yeah? I’ve never met one, I don’t think.” Rey looked impressed.

  “I’ll introduce you. He works at the office.”

  “Okay. He is sweet?”

  “He is. Such a teddy bear. Ta-da! Coffee.”