by Alexis Woods
A piercing whistle had them tumbling apart. Alpha Eli stood by the back door, smirking.
Daddy gave him the finger.
“Daddy!” Dylan gasped.
“Not in front of the kits,” Eli admonished.
Daddy pushed to his feet. “Yeah, yeah.” He helped Dylan and Brian up, then trudged towards Eli. “This better be an emergency. I rarely take a day off of work, and I’d planned on spending it with my boys.”
Dylan bumped Brian's shoulder with his own as they followed Daddy. When Brian glanced down at him, Dylan winked and whispered, “His boys.”
Brian swept Dylan off his feet. He ran in a circle before heading for the door held open by Daddy. Brian guided Dylan to Daddy for a kiss, took his own, and then deposited Dylan inside. “We’ll start breakfast while you talk, Sir.”
“Sounds good. Hopefully, this won’t take long.” Daddy escorted Alpha Eli to his office.
Brian bustled around the kitchen, pulling out a loaf of bread, eggs, milk, cinnamon and sugar.
“French toast! My favorite.” Dylan bounced on his toes. He could smell it already. Wait… That’s Brian. It was Brian’s scent filling the room. Dylan hugged the big fox shifter from behind. “You smell like French toast to me, isn’t that amazing?”
Brian chuckled. “I do?”
“Well, it’s like cinnamon bread, all warm and delicious.” Dylan rubbed his cheek on Brian’s T-shirt. “I just want to eat you up.”
Chapter 13
Brian
Brian turned in Dylan’s arms and pulled him closer. “No eating, but you can have a taste.” He lifted Dylan, letting the monkey-crane wrap his legs around Brian’s waist. He feasted on Dylan’s sweet taste, but it only served to increase his hunger.
Earlier that morning, Sir had poked him awake and they’d slipped out of bed and into the bathroom. Pushed to his knees, he blew Sir, ignoring his own raging erection.
“Good, kit,” Sir had praised Brian as he used him for his own pleasure.
“Fuck,” he’d breathed, coming in Brian’s mouth.
“Excellent,” Sir had muttered, petting Brian’s hair as he came down from his high. Brian had licked him clean, kissed his cockhead, then stood and turned on the shower.
“No,” Sir had said, “turn it off. I have a better idea.”
The better idea had been to shift and play, and it had been fun at the time. With Dylan currently rutting against Brian’s torso, his prick took immediate interest and hardened, but Sir hadn’t allowed him to come yet. Brian decided he shouldn’t until Sir gave him permission.
He pried the lithe crane from his perch and placed him on the counter beside the various ingredients. “Sit there and hand me stuff.”
Dylan whined, “But I wanted to—”
“Ah, ah, ah. Daddy didn’t say you could, or I could, so it’s better if we don’t. And I remember you saying last night that you liked your hiney the color it is.”
Dylan laughed, swinging his legs into the air. “I did. I do. I don’t think I’d like a spanking, but who knows…” He sobered and pursed his lips. “I supposed I’d try it once if Daddy wants. Do you think he does?”
Brian shrugged. He grabbed an oversized measuring cup from the cupboard and asked for the eggs. Dylan handed them over, one by one, and he cracked them into the bowl. Milk, cinnamon and vanilla followed, then Brian whisked the mixture. As he moved around the kitchen, Dylan kept up a stream of chatter, telling Brian all his favorite foods. Brian tried to pay attention, but his thoughts kept drifting every time Dylan mentioned a meal he knew to be Sir’s favorite. If Sir ever realized how long Brian had loved him, he’d think Brian was pathetic, but he’d wanted Christian forever. If Sir ever decided he didn’t want Brian anymore, Brian wasn’t sure what he’d do.
“Legs up,” he said, pointing at the cabinet below Dylan’s legs. Once double frying pans were extracted, he moved to the coffee machine and started a pot.
“I’m done with the prep. Should I start or wait for Sir?”
Dylan jumped down. “I’ll go find out.” He took two steps and turned back. “You know you can call him Daddy, too, right?”
Brian’s throat tightened and he nodded, unable to say anything in response. Daddy was huge! Sir was safe. Daddy meant he gave up his freedom. Sir gave him autonomy. Daddy required him to act like a little and be into age play. Sir allowed Brian to be himself unless he put that control in Christian’s hands.
Dylan frowned, his gaze narrowing. “Only if you want to, Bri.”
“Okay,” he whispered. “But not yet.”
Dylan dipped his chin and left.
Brian stumbled backwards to lean against the counter. Could I?
Didn’t Daddies do everything for their littles? Provide the proverbial food, clothing, and shelter? Brian didn’t need Christian for any of that. He worked two jobs and saved his money. Bought his own food and clothes. Forest Edge provided the house, but he was the one who kept it clean and tidy, cooked the meals, and washed the laundry. Did that make him a Daddy?
Brian scratched at his hair and rubbed his face. Twenty-five years old and still confused.
Dylan didn’t call him anything other than Brian, so at least in the crane’s mind, Brian wasn’t Daddy material. And while he wanted to provide for Christian and now Dylan, it wasn’t material things. He wanted to show his affection with a hand-crafted meal, a fresh set of sheets or stack of towels, a clean set of clothes… And he wanted more of what Christian did that morning. He didn’t want to be asked, he just wanted them to take.
So what does that make me? I’m nothing like Ryan or Marco or Dylan. Except…
“They’ll be out in a minute,” Dylan sing-songed as he skipped right up to Brian and climbed him like a tree.
Brian stuck his nose in Dylan’s neck and inhaled his sweet cookie scent. Talk about wanting to eat somebody up! He nipped at a slice of exposed skin, making his monkey-crane wiggle and squirm. Dylan felt so good in his arms. It gave him those caring Daddy-vibes to take care of the young shifter, but he certainly didn’t want to pick up and carry Sir around. Nope. Though if Christian could pick up Brian, he wouldn’t be averse to the idea. Not that it would happen; Brian had a good twenty-five pounds or more on the alpha fox.
Fox shifters were strong, but they weren’t bears who could easily bench press three times their weight. Kev, the brown bear in charge of Forest Edge’s security and Jack’s housemate, had impressed him the couple of times they’d worked out together. Kev’s muscles went on for days, and Brian had been a little envious that Jack got to ogle that day in and day out since they lived together in the same house. Their relationship boggled Brian. They acted like mates but weren’t mated. He’d tried to ask Jack one day, but his friend had shut him down. There was definitely tension in that house, and Brian felt it was best to not rock the boat with questions Jack didn’t want to answer.
“Kit, why isn’t the table set?”
Dylan squawked when Brian dropped him in his haste to comply in the face of Sir’s disapproval. He snatched four plates from the cupboard.
“Sorry, Sir. I’ll do it right now and then start cooking.” He hastened past Sir, but Sir grabbed his arm, spinning Brian around, and cupping the back of his head.
“Hey. Stop. It’s okay. I’m not mad.” Sir put their foreheads together, his fingertips massaging Brian’s scalp.
Brian clutched the plates to his chest and squeezed his eyes shut. His heart raced, his lungs heaved, and he struggled to breathe through the tightness in his throat.
“Here, Bri, give me the plates. I’ll set the table,” Dylan offered, stroking Brian’s arm and gently prying the dishes from his hands.
“Come sit with me on the couch, kit.” Sir coaxed him into the living room. He sat and tried to pull Brian onto his lap, but Brian slithered to the floor and knelt beside Sir’s legs, resting his temple on Sir’s thigh.
“Daddy?”
Sir patted the couch, and Dylan tucked himself in, cuddling Sir’s side. Together they str
oked Brian’s hair and traced his ear and forehead. Sir spoke soothingly to both of them.
Footfalls approached, but Brian didn’t look up at Alpha Eli. “I put the perishables back in the fridge.”
Brian’s entire body tensed at his failure.
“May I?” Eli paused, then crouched down and gripped Brian’s bicep. “I’m happy to see you and Christian finally together. I suspected, but I didn’t want to presume. I’m confident that whatever issues there are, you’ll work them out, but I want you to remember—you too, Dylan—that you can come to me about anything.”
Christian growled.
“Hush, my friend. I won’t take them from you, but everybody needs someone to talk to occasionally that’s removed from the situation. Alright?”
Christian huffed. “Fine. You’re right. I don’t like it because I want them to feel comfortable coming to me about anything, but I can see your point, and I’ll respect their decision if they take you up on your offer.”
“Good. Now I’ll take my leave. I’ll see you tomorrow when you drop Dylan off and let you know if I find out any more information about what we discussed.”
“Sounds good. See you tomorrow.”
The front door opened and closed with Alpha Eli’s departure. Brian remained on the floor, mental exhaustion weighing him down. His eyelids drifted close, and between the soft caresses and the silence of the house, he fell into a peaceful doze.
“He wants to please you.” Dylan’s whisper intruded and woke Brian, but he held still and listened.
“I know.” Sir sighed. “I’m such a fool. I can’t believe I never saw it before—I never saw him before.”
“Sometimes we never see what’s right under our noses. I didn’t see what Ry was going through, or how my father was such an ass to him. All I knew was my big brother was there one day and gone the next.”
“How can you blame yourself for that? You were what, thirteen?”
“It doesn’t matter,” Dylan quietly snapped. “I feel like a failure where he’s concerned.”
“No, darling, you didn’t know. Now you do, and you’re doing what you can to repair your relationship. I commend you on taking the initiative to find him. I met Ryan at the beginning of the summer when he started his contract with Eli, and I can tell you he’s broken out of the shell he’d placed around his heart. He’s surrounded himself with people who love him and support him. So whatever happened in the past, he’s left it behind. The joy in his eyes—and yours—last night when he saw you took my breath away.”
“But you were so mad at me.”
“Yes, but I understand why you did it. You weren’t sure about us, but I hope you are now. Even though it’s only been two days, I feel like I need you and Bri with me always.”
“Do foxes believe in fated mates?”
“No.”
“Cranes don’t either, but I feel like maybe we’re meant to be.”
Brian’s heart melted. He felt it, too, an indescribable pull towards both Sir and Dylan. Is that what they were? Fated mates? It would explain why the two men gave off the most delicious scent. Even now he basked in their combined pheromones that reminded him of snickerdoodles—one of his favorite cookies.
He tilted his head back, and Sir’s fingers drew a delicate path along his jaw.
“Awake now, kit?”
“Yes, Sir.” Brian turned to face them, touching both Sir’s and Dylan’s legs. “I heard what you said about fated mates, and I always hoped, but after a while your head stops believing your heart. And, truthfully, I’m a little scared to believe it.”
“Me, too,” Dylan added, punctuated by a loud growl from his stomach. He grabbed his belly, eyes wide with surprise.
Brian chuckled. “I think that’s my cue to start breakfast.”
Sir shooed them up. “We’ll all help this time, but first…” He pinched Brian’s shirt and pulled him closer, giving Brian a kiss that helped settle his soul. When they separated, Sir kissed Dylan, soft and slow, and the heat that had already started building in Brian’s gut grew as he watched.
Once Sir released Dylan, he said, “Now, let’s cook.”
Dylan pouted and Brian groaned, but playful slaps to their asses got them moving.
“Feed me, boys. Daddy’s hungry. If it’s tasty, there’ll be a reward.”
Brian quick-stepped it into the kitchen, Dylan hot on his heels, both of them eager to please Sir and earn that promised reward.
Chapter 14
Ryan
Ryan waited in the living room and watched Dylan squeeze past Christian and Eli, making a beeline for him. He threw his arms around his brother. Two days plus five years meant he was due for a lot of hugs from the twerp.
“This place is amazing, Ry.” Dylan laughed, dragging Ryan towards the sofa. He plopped down on the closest corner, pulling Ryan to sit next to him. “Christian and Brian gave me the whirlwind tour yesterday. I can’t wait till next summer. I’m gonna be at the pool all the time.”
Ryan put his arm around Dylan’s shoulders, tugging his brother closer and pecking his temple. “I’d forgotten you’re more like a cat than a crane, always looking for sunshine and curling up in its warmth. You and Dex.”
Dylan pouted. “Aww. I miss Dex. He was an awesome dog; made a great headrest.”
Ryan feigned shock, then lightly punched Dylan. “Jerk.”
“Dork,” Dylan retorted.
“Midget.”
“Nerd.”
“Can it, boys,” Jon snapped, entering from the hallway. “I don’t want to have to put either of you into time out.”
“Sorry, Daddy J.” Ryan rushed to Jon and tucked his head under Jon’s chin as he grabbed a fistful of shirt. Jon patted the back of Ryan’s head, carding his hair as he held Ryan to him. Ryan relaxed, happy to be held. He’d missed the comfort of his Daddies. The last few days he’d seen little of Eli, and Jon had been working.
“Forgiven, but you know it’s not nice to call other people names, even if they are your annoying little brother.”
“Hey!” Dylan giggled, stomping a foot. “I resemble that remark.”
Ryan loved the delighted laughter filling the room. The house had become doomy and gloomy since the attack. Eli left after breakfast and didn’t return until just before dinner, then after dinner he secluded himself in the office until bedtime. Ryan didn’t even bother to stay awake for him anymore. As Eli drew further from them, sucked into face-to-face meetings and video conference calls, Jon worried. Daddy J’s worry leached into Ryan, turning Ryan’s typical sunny demeanor morose.
Daddy Eli wouldn’t let him leave the house either, his protective streak dialed up to eleven. There’d been no trips to Sly Fox or walks around town. He wasn’t allowed to visit Jon at the library, and his internship with the homeschooled children came to a screeching halt. Ryan’s head understood why, but his heart screamed about the unfairness of it all.
What was it about this attack, about these wolverines encroaching on Forest Edge, that had Eli and Alpha Payton preparing for strategic warfare?
“What are the two of you planning for the day?” Jon asked, running a hand down Ryan’s spine. Ryan clung to him. Maybe Jon needed the contact as much as he did?
Ryan tipped his head back. “Catching up, showing him my playroom, and lunch. Can we eat outside in the gazebo?” He blinked puppy dog eyes at Daddy J.
“Lucky for you, I have the day off, so yes, you can.”
Ryan wiggled his hips and cheered. “Yeah! Picnic!”
“As long as Jon’s with you, that’s fine,” Eli added. He joined their hug as Christian passed them.
“Little bird,” Christian said to Dylan. Ryan swooned at the sweetness. “I have to head out. Be good for Mr. Eli and Mr. Jon.”
“I will.” Dylan pursed his lips for the kiss Christian bestowed on him. “Brian is picking me up after his shift at Sly Fox, right?”
“Yes, a little after three he said.”
“Okay. See you later, Daddy.”<
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Ryan waited impatiently for Eli and Christian to leave, and for Jon to disappear into the kitchen for coffee before practically leaping on Dylan. “Daddy? Spill the T, Dyl. I wanna know everything.”
Dylan hid his smile behind his hands, his eyes bright with mischief. “Me, Daddy and Brian.”
“No shit!” Ryan whispered, scooting closer. “The three of you?”
Dylan nodded. “We haven’t, you know, done everything, but we’ve fooled around. Blowjobs and stuff.”
“Damn, kid, you move quick.” Impressed, Ryan relaxed into the cushions. “Can’t say the same for me and mine.”
“How come?” Dylan bit the side of his lower lip, peering sincerely at Ryan. Worry etched itself in his brother’s furrowed brow.
“Long story short: I had three bad contracts before Eli. Mr. Charles didn’t say, but I think my hybrid genetics caused the problems. I kept getting placed with non-shifters and whatever traces I have mutinied the matches. Anyway, Eli and I ended up more or less dating until I felt comfortable.”
Dylan blinked, pressing his lips together. He grabbed Ryan’s forearm. “That sucks, Ry, but I’m glad you found somebody—two somebodies—who make you happy. You are happy, right?”
“Very.” Ryan grinned. “Eli helped me get a job teaching, which is allowing me to pay off my school loans. They totally respect my limits, too. But I wanna hear about you. How did you find me?”
“Long story short for me: Mom. She’d kept tabs on you and Dad found out. He was pissed, cursing and swearing. Didn’t want her to have anything to do with you. Was he the reason you left?”
“Pretty much, but there were other issues, too.” Ryan circled a finger. “Did you confront Mom?”
“Yeah,” Dylan sighed. “After Dad left for work, I asked her.” He huffed. “Asked is too nice. I was mad and yelled at her until she broke down in tears. That was tough. Anyway, once I apologized, and she apologized, she showed me all the articles she’d printed from the internet. You on the Dean’s List, awards you earned at uni, you graduating. She’d lost track of you for a while until there was an obscure shifter news article about Alpha Payton going missing for the day, and how Alpha Eli was investigating. The article speculated on a spat of gossip about the alpha fox mating with a coyote and a human, and the human was a young teacher. They had a grainy picture of you and Eli entering a coffee shop.”