by M. D. Grimm
Brian couldn’t stop the choking noise that escaped his mouth. Derek chuckled darkly. Brian took a deep breath and stared determinedly out the window.
“About that. Derek, honestly, it’s been a long time. Don’t expect much.”
He could feel the blush creep up his face, and he was happy for the darkness. He felt Derek’s gaze on him.
“Don’t worry about it, Brian. We got a whole meal to get through before we have to consider that. Besides, we might find out we don’t like each other.”
Derek said it in a light tone, but the very idea it might not work out between them made Brian’s stomach clench.
He cleared his throat. “Where are we going?” Brian asked after several minutes of silence.
“Surprise.”
“Oh, goody,” he said dryly.
Derek could see that his surprise had, in fact, impressed Brian. It was a casual restaurant with amazing cuisine, and once they’d ordered, Derek leaned across the table. He took a deep sniff and was disappointed to note that Brian had put on cologne. He wished he hadn’t—it interfered with his natural scent. The cologne was subtle, but even in human form, Derek had a much better sense of smell than normal humans.
“Okay, so tell me one thing about yourself I don’t know.”
Brian smiled slightly before also leaning across the table. “Only if I can ask the same.”
Derek winged an eyebrow. “Oh, so I see you want a quid pro quo deal. I can get behind that that.”
Brian blushed before saying, “I think you’ll find that you can get behind most of the things I want to do.”
Derek slowly grinned, thrilled with the flirtation. Brian was usually so reserved and modest. It was delightful to learn there was heat behind the societal politeness.
“I look forward to getting behind you.”
Brian looked down for a moment before lifting his gaze again, need making his pretty eyes shine. Derek’s own need was constricted in his pants, and he shifted slightly in his chair. Brian followed suit before tentatively slipping his foot against Derek’s under the table. Derek immediately took the lead and captured Brian’s foot between his own. Brian smiled and didn’t object when Derek took his hand.
“So, you first,” Derek said.
“Me first what?”
Derek chuckled. “Tell me something I don’t know about you.”
Brian took a sip of water before answering. “I made my sexual debut at twenty.”
Derek snorted out a laugh. “You did what?”
Brian chuckled. “I never liked the term ‘losing your virginity’ so my sister and I…” He paused and cleared his throat. “We decided to spin it to a more positive, active thing to do. So, I had sex for the first time at twenty.”
“College?”
“Yep.”
“How was it?”
Brian see-sawed his hand back and forth. “Decent. Nothing to write home about.”
Derek snorted. “I doubt home would want to hear about that sort of thing.”
Pain flashed across Brian’s face, and he looked away, tugging his hand out of Derek’s grip.
Derek grimace. “Whoa, hey. I’m sorry. I hit a nerve, didn’t I? It was just a stupid joke.”
Brian swallowed more water before shaking his head. “I know it was a joke. I know. Anyway, your turn.”
Despite wanting to probe Brian for more information, Derek knew when to step back. Brian had to come to him with the story behind his reaction.
“Well, to follow your example, I had my sexual debut—I love that by the way—when I was seventeen.”
“Why am I not surprised you beat me on that one?”
Derek smirked. “It was awful, so I think you won that round.”
“Oh, is this a contest?” Brian asked, his tone playful again.
Derek grinned and reclaimed Brian’s hand. “Do you want it to be? What’s on the line?”
Brian leaned forward and lowered his voice, the intense need back in his eyes. “Position.”
Derek’s eyes bulged before he laughed. “I like the way you think.”
Brian appeared rather smug as he settled back in his chair. “I’ve only had two serious relationships so far.”
“None for me.”
Brian raised an eyebrow. “I win.”
“Or maybe I win.”
“I think Phil mentioned you like to go to clubs.”
Derek swallowed a growl. “Damn Phil.”
Brian squeezed his hand. “I’m not judging. Sometimes I think my life would have been better if I’d stayed away from serious relationships.”
Derek squinted. “That’s a loaded statement.”
Brian glanced at their joined hands. “I know. A topic for another time.” He met Derek’s gaze again. “I’m happy in Washington. It’s a good place. And I met you.”
Derek raised Brian’s hand and pressed a kiss to his knuckles. Brian’s expression softened.
“The best day of my life was when I met you,” Derek said. “Every time I think I’m close to burnout, there you are to give me energy and hope again. So thanks for that.”
There it was—the warm affection Derek had always wanted directed toward himself. His heart raced and his groin tightened. He was rock hard, it was painful, and he still had a meal to get through. Damn it!
“You’re welcome,” Brian said softly. He leaned over the table and gave Derek a gentle kiss that smoothed out all his frayed edges. “I think you won that round.”
Derek laughed as Brian sat back. “Yeah, I think so too.”
Their waitress chose that moment to deliver the food. After the usual inquiries from their server, Derek inhaled his food. Brian didn’t eat much slower. They kept glancing at each other, stealing from the other’s plate, and their feet stayed tangled, the constant contact never letting their desire flag.
“I thought you were hot the first time I saw you,” Brian said suddenly.
Derek almost choked when he tried to swallow. “Of course, you did. Everyone thinks I’m hot.”
“Arrogant jerk.”
“Yep.”
Brian snorted.
“I’ve never been to the east coast,” Derek said.
“I’ve never been to Canada.”
Derek rolled his eyes. “Let’s stick to more personal unknown things.”
“How is never visiting the east coast personal?”
“You’re from the east coast. I thought it was relevant.”
Brian rolled his eyes but didn’t argue. “Anna was older than me by two years.”
“My siblings are all older than me and they never let me forget it.”
Brian laughed. “I’ve always wanted to be a vet.”
“I’ve always wanted to work with animals in some capacity.”
They finished dinner and shared a chocolate cake for dessert. They continued to share things the other didn’t know until they both fell silent and eyed each other. Derek thought they had the same thing on their mind.
“Let’s get the check.”
“Two checks, we split it.”
“Nope, I’m treating you.”
“Derek—”
He reached over and pressed his finger to Brian’s lips. “Let me be a macho man tonight and pay for us. As a favor.”
Brian rolled his eyes again. “Fine but I get the next time.”
“Sure.”
Brian squinted at Derek’s vague answer.
Derek grinned. He couldn’t remember the last time he had simply stopped and enjoyed life. He couldn’t remember the last time he wasn’t angry or thinking about the job. Even during the night as a wolf running with his dogs, or with his fuck-buddies, his mind wouldn’t shut off. But for once, for this evening, it did.
Because of Brian.
He considered his date as they walked to his Jeep. Brian had been entrancing tonight. Derek hadn’t been capable of looking away from him for the entire dinner. Brian’s eyes currently shone under the moon’s light, and the blue slacks
and shirt clung to a body Derek wished was pressed against him. All in due time, he thought.
Since his sight was better than normal humans in the dark, he could see Brian as if it were day. It was pitch black except for the moon as they reached the car, and Brian yawned.
“Uh-oh,” Derek said with a small smile. “Does that mean it’s the end of our date?”
“No,” Brian said eagerly, and Derek noted the flush creep up his cheeks.
He could just eat this man up. Very, very slowly.
Derek chuckled and placed his hands on Brian’s hips. He had to touch him. It had taken all his control and willpower to resist taking Brian right there in the restaurant. Now he gave into his desires. He pressed his lips to Brian’s cheek and enjoyed the tickle of his beard. He slid his mouth down Brian’s neck, and Brian tilted his head back, his breath quickening. He gripped Derek’s shoulders, and Derek enjoyed the shivers that raced up and down his spine. They pressed their bodies closer together, and finally Derek lifted his head and kissed Brian.
Brian gripped Derek’s face between his hands and kissed him with a singular focus. Derek was momentarily surprised by Brian’s vigor, but he took quick advantage of it. He gripped Brian’s ass and rubbed his growing erection against the bulge underneath Brian’s jeans. Brian shuddered and deepened the kiss.
Derek pressed Brian against the Jeep and rubbed with need against him. Brian moaned, and Derek’s blood turned to fire. He held a pillar of flame in his arms. It was always the quiet ones.
Gasping, Derek pulled back and groaned.
“No,” Brian said, his voice husky. “Our date is not over yet.”
Derek grinned. With more effort than he would admit to himself, he pulled away from the delectable Brian and walked around to unlock his Jeep. Brian’s scent and his arousal tickled Derek’s nose and made his body tense, his muscles shift. His wolf paced in his mind, tail high, softly growling. He had never wanted so badly. His control was shredding, and he worried he might not be able to hold himself until he reached his house.
Brian buckled his seatbelt, and Derek backed out of the parking spot and onto the street. They were silent for a moment before Brian spoke.
“So, since we need to distract ourselves—” He cleared his throat. “What music do you enjoy?”
Derek snorted but figured he should make an effort. It wasn’t a very long drive to his home, but with the throbbing between his legs, it felt like an eternity.
“Metal, rock.”
Brian nodded. “But more specifically?”
“Hell, um. Death metal. Black metal. Thrash. Alternative rock. You know, lots of guitars, drums, and screaming.”
Brian smiled, though Derek didn’t have to look over to know it was strained.
“What about you?” he asked. Brian shifted in his seat. Derek smiled. He didn’t want to be the only one in pain.
“Country.”
“Blah.”
Brian laughed. “And Pop.”
“Ick.”
Derek glanced at Brian, relieved by the playful light in his eyes.
“I also like Jazz,” Brian said.
“Huh. Me too.”
“Sweet. Something we can agree on.”
“Great, now we’ve bonded,” Derek said.
“It’s not the type of bond we both want.”
“Hell no.”
Derek pulled into his driveway a few minutes later, and both men hurried out of the Jeep. Brian was right on Derek’s heels as he pulled out his keys and tried to unlock his front door.
“Hurry,” Brian murmured, his hands gripping Derek’s ass.
“Come on,” Derek gasped, pleading with the door.
Finally, it unlocked, and they stumbled inside. Derek kicked the door closed and swept Brian up into his arms. Brian wrapped his arms and legs around Derek, and Derek thanked the heavens that his house was only one floor as he stumbled to his bedroom. But the moment he entered the room, his ears were met by the sounds of barking.
Brian jerked and broke the kiss. Derek groaned when Brian looked over his shoulder, his eyes softening and his grin lightning quick as he noted the dogs. Brian set his feet on the floor and pulled out of the circle of Derek’s arms. The dogs sniffed him curiously, and he scratched their heads.
“They’re beautiful, Derek. I knew you had a few but I don’t think you ever told me their names.”
Derek figured the sooner he answered the normal pet questions, the sooner he could get into those pants and get a look at that ass.
“The mastiff is Goliath, the golden retriever is Betty Boop, and the hound is Henry.”
“Henry?”
Derek shrugged. “Found him in a shelter a few years ago. He’d been brought there when his owner couldn’t take care of him anymore. He already had the name.”
Brian smiled at the dogs’ enthusiasm, but Derek couldn’t hold out much longer.
“Okay, guys.” Derek ushered the dogs out. “Not tonight. No fair chewing on things.” He shut the door.
Brian chuckled. “No little dogs.”
“There is no such thing. There is little and there are dogs.”
Brian narrowed his eyes and crossed his arms over his chest. “Are you a sizist?”
Derek blinked. “A what?”
“A smallist. It’s like a racist but your bias is to size.”
Derek laughed and hugged Brian. “Yes, I am.”
“I like little dogs. Maybe we aren’t right for each other.”
Derek knew the words were a joke by the look in Brian’s eyes.
“Come here,” Derek said before he crushed their mouths together.
They yanked at each other’s clothes and were soon pressing their naked flesh together. Derek made himself take a step back just so he could take a fulfilling gaze of Brian’s body. He wasn’t disappointed. Brian was lean with firm muscles under smooth skin. A light sprinkling of golden hair covered his chest and slowly darkened as it descended until it was a dark gold around his hard shaft. At his center, Derek took pause. Brian’s shaft was long and thin, and he grabbed it, unable to stop himself.
Brian gasped and gripped Derek’s arms, pressing their bodies together. Derek’s hand burned as he stroked Brian’s length, and he wanted to devour the treat before him. At that moment he felt like the luckiest bastard in the entire world. He also, for just that moment, simply felt like a man. Not a shifter, not an animal cop. But a man. Brian’s man.
Possessed, his wolf howling in his mind, Derek grabbed and kneaded Brian’s ass before shoving him down on the bed. He pushed Brian further into the mattress with his body and kissed him soundly. Derek felt his own head spin as he swept his tongue everywhere inside Brian’s mouth. He had the thought of taking it slow, however torturous that would be. He didn’t want to scare Brian or make him nervous. He wasn’t sure how long Brian had gone without sex, but he would do anything to put him at ease.
But when he pulled back to take a breath, Brian suddenly reversed their positions. Derek was shocked by Brian’s sudden show of strength. Feeling oddly weak, Derek tried to capture Brian’s mouth again, but that mouth was currently busy kissing and scraping his skin in a downward descent. Derek heard groans and realized that they were his own.
He tangled his hands in Brian’s soft, blond hair, pulling it out of the tie, as that soft mouth finally reached its goal. Brian slid his tongue up Derek’s shaft, and Derek gasped and tightened his grip. His muscles flexed under his skin as Brian slid him in and out of his wet mouth. Derek could actually feel his brain cells fizzle and short out. But he didn’t want to come yet. Not yet.
“Fuck Brian. Too good at that.” He couldn’t stop growls from coloring his words.
Unable to stand Brian’s warm mouth any longer, Derek gripped his shoulders and hauled him up and onto the bed. Derek strained for release, but he had yet to sample all the pleasure he knew Brian’s body could give him.
Derek kept Brian down by pressing his arms to the bed while his mouth roamed at will.
He nibbled at Brian’s neck before drifting his tongue over his collarbone. Brian moaned and lifted his hips, rubbing their cocks together. Derek shivered but didn’t give in despite his painful erection. He drifted his mouth over one of Brian’s pink nipples, and then dragged his tongue over it before sucking it into his mouth. Brian struggled against Derek’s hands.
“Jesus, Derek,” he finally managed to gasp. “I want to come, damn it.”
Derek grinned and kissed him again. “I guess I won then. Because I’m choosing the position. And it’s definitely behind you.”
Brian let out a breathless laugh, his eyes dancing. “That’s a good choice. I get to choose next time.”
Derek grinned evilly. “We’ll see.”
Before Brian could argue, he urged Brian onto his stomach. Brian made a sound of relief and lifted his sweet ass in anticipation. But before Derek could give them both release, he had to satisfy a curiosity he’d had for nearly a year.
He gripped Brian’s ass in both hands, his puckered hole alluring and all his. He took a deep breath filled with Brian’s scent. He nearly came right there but managed to reign himself back under control after several shallow breaths. He never wanted to smell anything other than Brian’s arousal and the scent of musk that now surrounded him. He nearly unleashed the howl that echoed in his mind as his wolf urged him to claim his mate.
Derek tormented Brian for several minutes with his tongue and teeth. His tongue found its way inside Brian’s body, and Brian bucked underneath him, cursing. Derek chuckled but knew neither of them would last much longer. He wanted to make this fantastic for Brian, feeling the need to prove himself, to reassure Brian that he wasn’t wrong to trust him.
Derek straightened and leaned over to open the drawer of a small stand beside his bed. He pulled out lube and a condom. Brian gasped when the cold liquid hit his skin. Derek slipped in one finger and then two, all the while stroking Brian’s cock to keep him on edge. Brian gripped the comforter, riding Derek’s fingers.
“Yes, there. Like that. Fuck like that.”
Growling in pleasure, Derek nipped Brian’s ass as he continued to finger and stroke him. He still didn’t know how long it had been since Brian’s last sexual escapade, and he absolutely did not want to hurt him. So he waited. Waited.