Bayou Loup

by Lynn Lorenz

  Bobby lowered his head and pressed his forehead against Mark’s brow.

  “Damn.” Bobby’s fist twisted the spread beneath them. “Mark.” The name rasped out of what had to be a tight throat. Knowing Bobby felt so much for him that he could barely speak was sexy as hell.

  Their cocks scraped and rubbed against each other, spreading the slickness of precum between them. Bobby got to his knees, pushing Mark’s legs apart and onto his shoulders.

  “I don’t need condoms. We don’t catch sexual diseases. Any disease for that matter.”

  Mark nodded. “No condoms. I want to feel you inside me.”

  Bobby ran his hand over Mark’s thigh. “You’re mine, babe. All mine. From here on out. Got it? No one else but me.”

  “Got it. No one but you.” Mark nodded.

  Bobby dragged his cock over Mark’s balls, down his perineum, to his hole.

  “Lube?” Mark asked.

  “Right here.” Bobby held up a tube. Mark had no idea where it came from, and frankly he didn’t care. Bobby flipped the top, squirted some onto his fingers, and spread it over his dick. Then another spurt of it went into Mark’s hole.

  Mark couldn’t keep from pushing down on Bobby’s finger as he pushed the lube inside. “Oh, God. Yes,” he murmured.

  “Slow down, babe.” Bobby chuckled.

  Mark grinned. “Hell no. I want you inside me now. Finger. Dick. I don’t care which.”

  “You’re a horny thing, aren’t you?”

  “Only for you, babe.” Mark jerked on his own cock as Bobby watched.

  “Fuck, I love watching you do that.”

  “This?” Mark squeezed his tip between his fingers, pushing out a pearl of precum, and then slid back down to the base.

  “Yeah.” Bobby shook his head, lined up his cock to Mark’s entry, and pushed in.

  His cock slid in, met the ring of muscle, and pushed on through, spreading Mark’s ass open for him to take.

  “Bobby!” Mark cried out as he clutched Bobby’s shoulders. That glorious cock throbbed deep inside him until Mark couldn’t tell where he ended and Bobby started.

  Bobby moaned and pulled out, then pushed back in, setting a rhythm, each stroke driving Mark toward release. Before, he’d jerked off to thoughts, images of Bobby in his mind, but nothing came close to the real thing.

  And when Bobby pressed against his prostate, that was it.

  “Gonna come!” Mark shouted.

  Bobby sped up, humping into him, shafting short and hard, working Mark’s ass and gland until he thought he’d just die from the pure ecstasy of it.

  His balls shot up, his dick pulsed, and Mark shot hot white jets of cum across his belly as he groaned through it.

  “Mark! I claim you!” Bobby roared, throwing his head back, and the noise morphed into an anguished howl.

  Bobby filled Mark’s tunnel with hot cum, bathing him in it. Marking him.

  Mark’s heart pounded in his chest as Bobby slid out of him, trailing cum over Mark’s thigh as Bobby fell to the side.

  “That was…” Bobby panted, unable to catch his breath.

  “Yeah.” Mark reached down and clasped Bobby’s hand. He brought it to his mouth and kissed the palm. They entwined their fingers and lay there, staring up at the ceiling as their breaths steadied.

  “So,” Mark said. “When do I meet the pack?”

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  Mark looked around the crowded room, taking in the groups of people mingling. These people all knew each other; that was obvious. And it was obvious that they didn’t know who he was, but were very interested.

  They’re more afraid of you than you are of them.

  He shuffled a little closer to Bobby without trying to look as if he was seeking refuge under or behind their former alpha. If he hadn’t known what it meant to be a former alpha, he knew now. Not a single person who entered the small storefront meeting room failed to come up to Bobby to say hello and chat. And it wasn’t just lip service. Mark saw the admiration in everyone’s eyes.

  Bobby was an important man. Hell, he was practically revered. Like some kind of rock star. The pack just wanted to be near him, touch him, and have him acknowledge them. And he did. He had a handshake for every man, a hug for every woman, a head pat for each child.

  Bobby had told Mark this was a full pack meeting, meaning everyone, even children, would attend. He’d explained the kids were brought into the pack at an early age, so that pack life was a given and never needed to be learned.

  Like Mark would have to learn. Even the kids had it over him. And man, he felt like a fish out of water.

  Scott Dupree entered from the back room with another man at his back.

  “That’s Mike Hawkins, Scott’s beta. They’ve been friends since childhood,” Bobby whispered into Mark’s ear. He’d been pointing out people to Mark for the last ten minutes. Bobby had been sure they got there early, before most of the crowd, so everyone could see Mark and see that he stood with Bobby. Yet no one had asked who Mark was or why he was there. Odd, but he figured it was some sort of respect thing.

  “Right. He supports Scott in pack decisions?” Mark wanted to get all of the dynamics right, for his and Bobby’s sake. He had no idea how much his mistakes could affect Bobby.

  “Exactly. As beta, he has Scott’s back even if it comes down to a fight.”

  “Who was your beta?” Mark asked.

  “Scott. But he’s no beta. He’s pure alpha. I was just training him. That’s all. Mike’s a true beta.” Mark could hear the touch of pride in Bobby’s voice. Each role in the pack seemed to be important and honored.

  Ted Canedo came up to them. “Hi, guys. Can I hang with you?”

  Mark nearly fell over with relief. Someone he knew, at last. “Sure!” he answered, then looked to Bobby to see if he’d overstepped.

  “Of course, Ted. I never did get to thank you for what you did for me.” Bobby clapped him on the shoulder.

  Ted grinned. “Wait until you get my bill.”

  Mark looked from one man to the other. Ted jerked his head toward Bobby. “He hired me to find you. Did you know that?”

  Bobby rolled his eyes and coughed. “Yeah, well. I was tied up with the festival.”

  “Duty, huh?” Mark nodded. That was his man, all duty and honor and everything that made a leader. “Thanks for taking the job, Ted. I don’t think I’d be standing here if it hadn’t been for you.” Mark put out his hand, and Ted shook it.

  “For Bobby? Anything.” Ted let his hand go and turned back to face the podium where Scott stood, shuffling papers, getting ready to start the meeting.

  Another woman came up to Bobby, but this one wasn’t smiling or frowning either. Her tight lips and slight pallor told Mark she held herself under control. But from what?

  “Bobby.” She gave him a nod. “Who is this?”

  “Sarah.” Bobby leaned down and pecked her on the cheek. “This is Professor Mark Bradford. He’s the man I told you about. This is Sarah Guillory, Mark.”

  She looked at Mark, paused, then put out her hand. “Pleased to meet you, Mark.”

  “Thank you, Sarah. Pleased to meet you.” Mark could feel something coming off the woman—sadness, regret with an undercurrent of frustration. Something was up with her and Bobby, and Mark’s stomach knotted.

  She gave him a nod and moved away.

  He turned to his lover. “And she was?” He let the question hang.

  “A widow who thought I’d make a great husband.” Bobby’s voice held no humor, so this wasn’t a joke. “I told her I didn’t want to do that again. That I was…gay.”

  Mark touched Bobby’s arm. No PDAs at the meeting; he’d been briefed by Bobby, Scott, and Ted about that. “Oh. She was right. You’d make a wonderful husband.” He risked a smile at Bobby, who chuckled.

  “Partner, isn’t it? We say partner nowadays.”

  “You’re so hip, man.” Mark elbowed him, and they shared a quiet laugh.

  At the f
ront of the room, Scott cleared his throat, and the packed area settled down. Everyone found a place to sit or a wall to lean against, ready to listen to their alpha.

  Mark and Bobby stood side by side against the wall, with Ted next to Mark. Bobby had told Mark that Scott would introduce them as a mated pair and give his approval. Mark had been so nervous when he and Bobby had met with Scott to formally ask for Mark to be admitted to the pack as Bobby’s mate, but it had gone well. Scott said yes, and then they all ate a steak dinner together. That had been a week ago.

  Now Mark’s hands sweated, and he rubbed them against his jeans. He’d fretted over what to wear until Bobby had just pulled a pair of jeans and a soft gray pullover out of Mark’s closet and told him to put them on.

  The stage was set. It was almost over. Then he and Bobby could get down to making some decisions about the rest of their lives. Like where they were going to live.

  Mark had refused to move into Bobby’s house, the home he’d shared with Carol for so long. He wanted a fresh start for them. No memories. No ghosts. Bobby had balked at the idea, and they’d had their first official fight.

  He grinned as the memory of their make-up sex filled his mind and his dick.

  Oh shit. Not there. Mark ran through a list of papers to grade to take his mind off the sex he and Bobby had shared.

  So he nearly missed Scott’s introduction.

  “Now, if everyone approves the motion to split the funds from the festival between the church and the library, we can get to the next order of business. Can I see a show of hands?”

  As the pack voted, Mark wondered at the plainness of it, of the regular business meeting aspect of the pack meeting. He didn’t know what he expected, but a treasurer’s report wasn’t on the list.

  The vote went through unanimously.

  “Now. We have a request from a member to bring his mate into the pack. I’ve met with them both, and I’ve given my approval. As you all know, my approval is the only one that counts officially, but I’m hoping y’all will give both of them a warm welcome. There won’t be a marriage, but in the pack, it’s the same thing. In our eyes, they’re good as married even if they can’t marry officially. Yet.” He gazed around the room, the look in his eyes daring anyone to say a word.

  If Scott motioned to Bobby to come forward, Mark missed it, but there was no missing it when Bobby took his hand and led him to the front of the room. All eyes were on him now, no hiding it, no sneaking glances. Just a full-out stare down.

  Sweat popped out on Mark’s forehead, and he wiped it away, but he couldn’t do a damn thing about the line that trickled down his back or the dampness under his arms. He hadn’t been this nervous since he’d taken the teacher’s podium and taught for the first time.

  “Bobby Cotteau approached me a week ago to ask if he could bring his new mate into the pack.” Scott paused, his hands resting on either side of the podium. “I know you’re all wondering what’s going on. I’m going to let Bobby speak now.” Scott moved aside, and Bobby stepped up to the stand.

  “You all know me. And I know you all knew my late wife, Carol. I want to tell you right now, up front, that when I met Carol I knew she was my mate. But I also knew I was gay.” He paused as he let that sink in. “But back then, it was different. I took Carol as my mate, and for our entire marriage, I loved her.” Bobby rubbed the back of his neck and cleared his throat. “But when she died, I got a second chance to live my life the way I’d longed to live it. I never thought, never, that I’d find another mate.” He glanced over at Mark and smiled.

  Mark smiled back.

  “A second chance doesn’t come around every day. I almost missed it. But I knew from the first, Mark was my true mate. He feels it too.” Bobby motioned for Mark to join him.

  Mark stepped up to Bobby, still fighting the urge to wrap his arms around him.

  “I know this is going to be a shock to most of you, that I’m gay. I don’t do this lightly. If I hadn’t met Mark, my mate, I never would have told anyone. It’d be my secret. I’d have accepted my fate, lived what was left of my life without changing what you good people think about me, good or bad.”

  Mark gave in and touched Bobby’s hand. He knew how close they’d come to losing Bobby. As he looked out at the audience, he saw people speaking to each other in hushed tones, nodding heads, even a few tears being wiped away. And he saw two young men, in the back of the room, arms slung over their shoulders. Not an overt PDA, since no one could really see them unless they turned around. One of the men wore a deputy’s uniform, the other, younger, street clothes. Another gay couple. Must be Billy and Peter.

  Mark knew they were doing something brave and right. He stood taller and let his pride in being Bobby’s mate shine through for everyone to see.

  “So I’m here to introduce you to my mate. This is Professor Mark Bradford. He teaches zoology at the university over in Lafayette. He’s a bit younger than me, but he says he don’t care about that.” Bobby chuckled, and so did most of the crowd. “Mark?”

  Bobby stepped aside, wanting Mark to speak. He’d known he’d have to say a few words, but his mouth was so dry he was spitting cotton.

  He licked his lips, searching for some moisture. Then he spoke, “Hello.” He cleared his throat. “I’m Mark Bradford, Bobby’s mate. I’m an openly gay man, have been for years. I used to hide it, but now I’m more comfortable with people knowing, and I think they’re more comfortable knowing also. Times are changing for the better.” He took a deep breath. “I just want to say that when I first met Bobby, something about him rocked my world. He’s”—he glanced at his lover—“incredible. He carries his honor, his dignity with him at all times. And I’m honored to be his mate.” Mark took Bobby’s hand. “And I’d be thrilled if the pack could accept me as his mate also.”

  Mark stepped aside. He’d done it. Now it was over.

  “Hey, ain’t that the guy who wanted to study us wolves? Tell the world about us?” someone shouted from the crowd.

  A murmur went through the people, but Bobby came forward, placing his hands on the podium. For the first time, Mark could smell a change in the scent he associated with Bobby, and he knew the man was ready for a fight.

  Without thinking, Mark took a step back, putting Bobby between him and the pack.

  “Yes. I’m not going to lie. He was going to do that. He studies wolves, real wolves, and you can’t blame the man for thinking there might be some real wolves running around in this swamp. After all, we work damn hard to make everyone else believe it, don’t we?” He paused, waiting. A lot of heads nodded. “So we can’t blame them when they do. I was aware of his intentions, but only after we’d…uh…met. And I handled it. I removed his evidence. Evidence, I might remind some of you, he wouldn’t have had if you fools hadn’t gone out there to do something stupid and rash.” Bobby’s voice thundered, and most of the men shrank down in their seats. Title or not, Bobby was still an alpha, and his pack respected it.

  “I know Scott has spoken to those involved in that incident, so I’ll say no more about how reckless it was. But even after I took his evidence, his life’s work, Mark still wanted to be with me. For that, I’m grateful. I owe him my life, and you know that. If he’d turned me down, well…” Bobby looked out at the pack, catching gazes with most of them. They lowered their heads, some nodded, more tears from the women. Even Sarah wept, holding a wad of tissues to her eyes.

  “And I know some of you ladies are disappointed in me, maybe feel a little betrayed for Carol, but I’m asking you to see it in your hearts to put that aside. To recognize how lucky I am to find someone who loves me as much as I love him.”

  Mark fought back his own tears. No way would he have the pack think he was some wuss who’d cry at the drop of a hat. They were husband and husband, not husband and wife. He might not be an alpha, but he’d never considered himself wife material and neither, thank God, did Bobby.

  They’d said enough, hadn’t they? Put it all out on the line
, out in the open, for everyone to see. Did straight couples have to do the same thing? Justify their love? Mark didn’t know, but he was sure as hell going to ask Bobby about it. If true, it was unfair. But life was unfair. Both he and Bobby knew that truth.

  Scott came over and took charge. “Thank you, Bobby and Mark. Welcome to the pack. There’s no new business. Oh, the moon’s going full in another week. Running is allowed, but only in the swamp. The woods near the town and highway are off-limits. That’s it, folks.” With that he gathered his papers, straightened them, and went back to the office. The crowd rose and started moving, some for the door, some for the front of the room. Toward Mark.

  Mark gulped.

  He found himself surrounded by folks, men and women, all saying nice things and shaking his hand, grinning at him and at Bobby. Wow. His shoulders eased as the crowd grew friendlier.

  The two guys from the back came up to him.

  “Pleased to meet you, Mark. I’m Peter Graham. This is Billy Trosclair. We’re mates. Billy’s a deputy, under Scott. I work at the Bayou’s End Inn.” The younger man spoke rapidly and with excitement. “Now we can really form that gay partner support group I’ve been talking about. There’s enough of us, right, Ted?” He winked at Mark and then at Ted.

  “Sure, kid. I think Mark is going to need some help adjusting to the pack and all.” Ted gave Mark a slap on his back. Mark liked the easygoing talk between them all. Maybe he wouldn’t be so isolated in this new adventure of his.

  “I’d appreciate it. I know how a real pack works, but this is”—he shook his head—“out of my sphere of knowledge, let’s say.”

  Peter nodded. “I’m a werewolf too, though. From a pack in Mississippi. But it’s sort of the same. I’m an outsider, even if I am a shifter.” He shrugged. “Around here, you gotta be born in the pack to really fit in as a wolf.”

  Billy, his much larger and more intimidating mate, stuck out his hand. “Good to meet you. If you need anything, just let me know. Where are you and Bobby going to settle?”

  Mark looked at Bobby. “Well, we haven’t decided, yet.”