by Lynn Lorenz
“What’s wrong?” Charles jumped up and raced over.
“It won’t fit.” Scott gritted his teeth as he lowered the bed down.
“I could have told you that!” Charles smirked.
“Why didn’t you?” Scott barked. Ted put out his hand and gripped Scott’s arm.
“I just wanted to see how long it would take you two to figure it out.” He laughed, not a kind laugh, but a rather nasty one. “I knew a couple of fags couldn’t do it.”
Scott growled low in his chest as Ted recoiled.
“I told you before to never use that word again.” Scott straightened to full height, projecting alpha vibes like lasers at the kid.
Charles backed up, still shooting off attitude. “Right. Sorry. I forgot.”
“You didn’t forget.” Scott fumed. “If I hear it again, you’re going to get punished.”
∙•∙
Ted kneeled down to Charles’s level. Charles took a step back, just out of Ted’s reach. He was too big to be spanked.
“I’m not going to hit you, Charles. Ever. No matter what vile thing you say. Understand?”
Charles nodded, shifting his gaze between Scott and Ted. He’d heard that promise before and felt it broken on his backside.
Scott leaned against the wall. “That’s a pretty ungrateful attitude, Charles. I thought you were smarter than that.”
Charles narrowed his eyes. Now what?
“A smart kid would think maybe being rude might not be the best course of action. A smart kid might think ‘hey, they might just take it apart, pack it up, and take it back to the store.’”
Ted chimed in. “And spend the rest of the time sleeping on a fold-out couch with his little brother.”
Charles’s bravura shrank a bit. Did he want to behave or keep fighting? Fighting made him tired, but he’d been fighting for so long, he was used to it.
He looked at Timothy, whose eyes had filled with tears. Again. All his brother knew to do these days was cry. He was such a baby. Timothy inched closer to him. “Charles?” he whispered.
They were alone now, he and Timmy. And these two men were trying to be nice to him, not just Timmy. They were giving them an opportunity to stay together. Maybe he should give them a chance, even if they were fags.
For once in his life, Charles thought about what he was going to say, because what he said now would set him on a new path, toward where, he wasn’t sure. He straightened. His brother waited, holding his breath.
“I’m sorry, Sheriff. Mr. Canedo. I promise I’ll never say that word again.”
“Or any word like it.” Ted gave him a hard stare. It was hard but not hateful. Not like the looks his father gave him sometimes. The ones that had him cringing, ready for the quick slap or kick.
“Or any word like it.”
Scott nodded. “Good. Now maybe you can help us with this? A kid your age should know how to use a screwdriver and a wrench.”
“What about me?” Timothy asked.
Scott winked at Charles. “This time let’s let the men take care of the heavy work. Why don’t you help bring the tools and screws?” Charles’s dad hadn’t let him touch his tools. Ever. But it hadn’t stopped him from watching and learning a thing or two.
“Yippee!” Timothy spun in a circle. What a doofus.
Charles straightened. “I can show you which one is the screwdriver and the wrench.”
“Great. This will be a great fam—project for all of us. What do you think?” Scott glanced at Ted, who nodded.
“Sure.” Charles shrugged.
The sheriff had almost said “family.” He had no right to use that word because they weren’t. And would never be. He and Timothy would find a new home with people in the pack. They were just there until then. No use getting used to these men.
“Let’s get started. This bed won’t un-build itself.” Ted laughed.
»»•««
Scott rolled over and flopped his arm over his face. “Hol-y shit. That was…”
“A nightmare. One I’m never going to let you forget.” Ted chuckled.
“Bastard.”
Ted rolled over onto his side to face Scott. “But I’m your bastard.”
“My mate.” Scott grabbed him by the back of the neck and pulled their heads together. “I know it’s weird, with the boys sleeping down the hall, but if I don’t…” He kissed Ted, and Ted melted against him. God, Scott loved that.
“Okay, but be quiet. No baying. No barking.” His eyes glittered in the dim light of the bedside lamp.
“And you keep your begging to be fucked to yourself.” Scott kissed him again. They tangled tongues and ran their hands over each other’s bodies. “Christ. It feels like I haven’t touched you in weeks.”
“It’s only been a few days.”
“If this is parenthood, it sucks.”
“I’ve been trying to tell you that. Being gay has its advantages.”
Scott snorted. “Well, if one of the advantages is fucking you, I’m all for it.”
“Maybe one of them is me fucking you.” Ted ran his hand over Scott’s body from shoulder to hip, then wrapped around to cup one cheek of his ass and give it a squeeze.
Scott shifted a bit toward Ted with a soft moan. It wasn’t a “no, stop” but more of a “let’s see where this takes us” sort of sound. And it surprised the hell out of him.
Ted took it for approval. He leaned over, pulled open the drawer to the nightstand, and fumbled for the massage oil.
“Oil?” What was Ted up to?
“Yeah. Just go with it, okay? I’m not going to do anything that would hurt you, only make you feel good. Promise.”
“I know you won’t hurt me. It’s just…” Scott sighed. “I want it. I’m just…”
“Scared. Fuck. So was I the first time I bottomed, and to tell the truth, it didn’t get good until the third or fourth time.”
“Really? That long?” Scott shuddered.
“The guy didn’t really try too hard to make it easy on me. We were young. Inexperienced.” Ted shrugged. “You will have the benefit of my years of experience, babe.” He leaned in and grazed his lips over Scott’s. “It’s going to be so fucking good you’ll beg for more.”
Scott laughed. “I doubt that.”
“Do I hear a challenge?”
“Maybe…”
“Roll on your belly, wolf.”
Scott obeyed and settled with his head cradled in his folded arms.
“Relax. Spread your legs just a bit.”
He adjusted himself. His cock rose at the thought of what Ted might do to him…there.
He closed his eyes, took a deep breath, held it, and then let it out slowly as Ted ran his oil-covered hands over his back, kneading, pressing, soothing him. He worked Scott, moving lower and lower. Lower. Scott wanted Ted to get on with it. To get there. To feel his finger grazing his hole.
Fuck.
This need had been building in him for a long time; he could admit it now that Ted was almost there. Scott widened his legs, hoping to signal Ted without having to use his voice, because he was afraid, right now, he’d only get out a very unmanly sound.
Ted finally, finally, finally reached Scott’s ass and massaged his cheeks, giving them a deep rubbing, his fingertips coming so close to the cleft.
“So beautiful. My wolf.” Ted murmured against Scott’s lower back before kissing him there. He ran his tongue along Scott’s spine, and Scott shivered.
“Ted,” Scott growled. “Stop teasing.”
“Oh, so now you’re impatient?”
“Fuck you.”
“That’s my goal. Just not tonight.”
Ted chuckled, but as he did, he slid his fingers deep into the crevice and brushed against Scott’s hole.
“Merde.” Scott jumped as his nerve endings came to life, but Ted put a restraining hand on his back to hold him in place.
“Easy.” Ted ran his fingers through again, and Scott let himself just feel.
> It felt good. Better than he thought it would.
“This is my finger, honey.” He tapped it against Scott’s entrance.
Every nerve around Scott’s hole fired, and Scott moaned.
“That’s right. It’s good. Going to make you fly, wolf. Make you howl.” Ted nipped Scott’s ass, and Scott ground his dick into the mattress, trying for some relief.
Ted rubbed his entry, working his finger all around it. Scott humped, unable to control himself.
“More.”
“Soon.”
“Now.”
Ted bit him again on the ass as he pushed his finger against Scott’s back door, tapping for entrance.
“Push out. Relax.”
Scott sighed, pushed. Ted breached him. Stretched him. His finger scratched the itch that had been building. To be touched inside. And that scared the shit out of him.
“Ted.” A whimper.
“Shhh. Give it a chance.”
Ted had no idea. Scott didn’t need another chance. He was sold. At least on finger-fucking.
Ted pushed deeper, and Scott’s body accommodated his finger. Opened to let him in. Accepted his mate’s taking. Ted stroked him, rubbing his finger along the inside of Scott’s body, massaging his channel.
Scott groaned and shifted. “Wanna touch my cock.” He got up onto his knees, his ass in the air. God, he didn’t want to think what this looked like to Ted. To anyone. Ever.
“God. Fuck. Wolf.” Ted gasped and groaned. “So fucking beautiful the way your ass looks in the air. Want you so bad.”
Okay. Ted liked it.
Scott grabbed his dick and stroked himself. Yeah. That was it. Ted fingering his hole while he jerked off. So damn erotic. He humped into his hand as Ted rode his ass.
Ted went deep and pressed a spot in his channel.
“Goddamnfuckingshit!” Scott gasped, clenching the base of his dick tight to keep from exploding.
“That’s the spot. The one your dick hits in me. Makes it so good, huh, babe?”
Scott could only nod. His throat constricted, keeping the cry inside, but damn, he wanted to shout it out.
“Again?” Ted whispered.
“Please.”
“For you, anything.”
Ted raked his finger over the soft spot, and tremors shot through Scott, going straight to his balls, his dick.
“Gonna come.”
“Gonna make you shoot.” Ted pumped in and out, then found his button and worked it. Scott jerked and thrust and spilled over his hand, groaning his release.
Ted hissed. “So tight. I can feel you come, baby. Fucking good.”
Scott shuddered and then slid down to the mattress to lie in his own cum.
Ted pulled out his finger, and Scott felt the press of what could only be Ted’s dick.
“Ted?”
“Don’t worry. I’m not going to fuck you. Just let me rub off on your ass. Want to paint your ass with my cum.”
Scott nodded. Ted slipped his cock between Scott’s cheeks and thrust. The friction felt so good, the heat from Ted’s meat warming his cleft, setting off little sparks of arousal.
But Ted on top of him and holding him down? Turned Scott inside out. His cock twitched.
“Yes. Wolf. Can’t wait to be inside you.” Ted’s hoarse voice, kept to a whisper, sent another wave through Scott, and his cock stiffened.
“Fuck. You should see it. My dick and your ass. God! Here it comes!” Ted hissed and shot.
Warmth splattered across Scott’s ass and back as Ted moaned. Ted sat back, shook his head, and then ran his hands over Scott, massaging his cum into Scott’s skin. Marking him.
It was amazing and erotic. And Scott wanted to do it again.
“I love you, Ted.” Scott sighed. Content. Happy. Sated.
“Love you too, wolf.” Ted fell to the side, gathered Scott into his hold, and spooned him. “See. Wasn’t so bad, was it?”
Scott snorted. “Bastard.”
Ted grinned against Scott’s back. “Just wait until I really fuck you.”
“Baby steps, please.”
“We’ll take all the time you need. We have a lifetime.”
“Liar.”
“Well. Yeah. A little.”
Scott snorted. “Get some sleep. Tomorrow we have to figure out what to do with the boys. I have to go back to work.”
“And I have to do some investigating.”
“Guess we need to introduce Maman to the kids.”
“Oh, merde.”
“I know. I’m not sure who I feel the most sorry for—her or the boys.”
Ted chuckled. “I’m thinking the boys.”
Chapter Twelve
The banging on the door woke up Scott.
He glanced at the clock. Two a.m.
“It’s for you, big daddy.” Ted rolled over and pulled the covers over his head.
Scott groaned, sat up on the side of the bed. “Hold on.” He grabbed a pair of sleep pants and hopped into them, then padded to the door.
He opened it and found Timothy, teddy bear clutched to his chest, his lip quivering.
“Hey, Timmy.” Scott stepped out and pulled the door shut behind him. “What’s up?”
“I…I woke up.” His words spilled out in a rush. “Mommy wasn’t there. I didn’t know where I was, and Charles wouldn’t wake up. So…” Tears spilled, and he wiped his nose on his shirtsleeve. “I found Teddy.” He held the ragged toy out for Scott to see.
“Good.” Scott looked down the hall. “Let’s go get some milk, okay?” With one hand on Timothy’s head, he guided the child to the kitchen. As he got down a glass and then pulled out the milk, he watched the boy for signs of more distress as he poured.
“But you remembered where you were?”
“Yeah.” He climbed onto a stool at the counter and put Teddy up next to him.
Scott put the glass in front of Timothy and leaned on his hands. “Drink up.”
Timothy took a sip. “I miss my mom.”
“I know. Do you miss your dad too?”
Timothy took another sip. “Sometimes.” He shrugged. “Dad liked Charles.”
“Why do you think?”
“Because Charles is a big boy. He’s going to be a wolf soon. I’m just a little kid.” He took another sip and licked the milk mustache off his upper lip.
“Well, I like both of you.” Not a lie, exactly. He did like these kids. He just had to work a little harder to like Charles.
“Really?”
“Really.” Scott smiled. “Let’s go back to bed. I need my beauty sleep.”
Timothy frowned. “That’s what Mommy used to say.” He sighed and then drained the glass. “Hey, Sheriff? Do you think someone will want us?”
“Sure.”
“I’m not so sure.” Timothy shook his head.
“Why is that?” Scott wanted to let Timothy talk, get all his fears out, the better to understand and help him.
The boy looked around as if checking to see if anyone else was listening. He lowered his voice and leaned closer to Scott. “Because no one likes Charles.” He glanced up through thick brown lashes. “Not even you and Mr. Canedo.”
“That’s not true. Charles is difficult, but he’s not really a bad kid.” Scott didn’t want to go into the reasons for Charles’s issues. “I think, once you find your new family, he’ll change.”
“Maybe. I hope so.” Timothy got off the stool. “Will you tuck me in?”
“Sure. Want to change into your pj’s?”
“No.” He yawned. “Can I just go back to bed?”
“Fine with me.” Scott followed him to the bedroom, opened the door, and watched as Timothy climbed up the ladder. After the child was under the covers, Scott came over, tucked the blanket in, and whispered, “Good night.”
“Would you wait until I fall asleep?”
Scott sighed. “Sure. I’ll just sit in the chair, okay?” He moved to the club chair in the corner and sat. Charles slept in the ful
l-size bed underneath Timothy. After a few minutes, Timothy’s breathing evened out. Scott rose and left the room.
He ran his hand over his head. Damn, he was glad he didn’t have work tomorrow. Maybe he could sleep late.
As he crawled back into bed, Ted rolled over. “Everything okay?”
“Yeah. Just don’t call me Daddy.”
“Right. Papa.”
Scott snorted. “Go back to sleep.” He gathered Ted into his arms, buried his face in the warm man’s neck, and inhaled.
He was happy. He had Ted. He was sheriff and alpha of his pack.
So, why did he feel something was missing?
»»•««
“Time to put up or shut up, Maman.”
Scott’s mother coughed into the phone. Her voice, stained by years of cigarette smoke and whiskey, crackled back at him.
“Merde. I promised I’d look after them while you and Ted were working, so bring them over this afternoon. I can meet them and see what all the fuss is about.” She exhaled, and Scott could imagine the plume of smoke she’d produce, filling the air. “Is Ted coming too?”
“Ted?”
Across the kitchen table from him, Ted waved madly and shook his head.
“Ted has some work to do on a case, so he won’t be there.” Scott glared at him, but Ted just shrugged.
“Oh, something exciting?”
“Now, Maman. Why is his work exciting and mine isn’t?” Scott winked at Ted.
“Because his is more mysterious. You’re just a sheriff.”
“Oh, just a sheriff. I’ll remember that when you’re asking me to fix your tickets.”
“Don’t be jealous, son.”
Scott growled. His mom chortled. He hung up.
“That’s right. Don’t be jealous.” Ted winked at Scott. “She’s only doing it to get you riled up.”
“I know.” He ran his hand through his hair. “So, boys, you’ll be meeting my mother later today, okay?”
The boys didn’t even look up from the video they were watching, just nodded.
“Kids,” Scott muttered.
“What can you do?” Ted got up and poured out his coffee. “Got to go. I have people to see and things to do.”
“Lucky bas—” Scott caught himself.
“Exactly.” Ted headed out the door and off to work.
Scott had nothing to do but hang with the boys.