by T. L. Reeve
“I believe so too.” Jefferson grabbed his phone. “I need to speak to her though. Don’t want to get our hopes up and then find she doesn’t want the position.”
“Then I will leave you to it. Déshì and I should go home. Don’t want to miss the delivery people.” Jochi leaned in for a kiss.
Jefferson met him halfway, tangling his fingers in Jochi’s hair. The kiss set Jefferson on fire. Maybe it’d been all the talk about shifting and knotting, but the longer he sat there, the need for his mate had risen to the point of becoming painful. “Be ready for me when I return.”
Jochi sucked in a breath. “Always.”
Chapter Seven
Jefferson’s palms itched. His body tingled from head to toe. A thread of uneasiness weaved with excitement coursed through his veins. He woke up early and did something he hadn’t in years—went for a run. After the long night they had with Déshì, he shouldn’t be able to move, yet he had more energy than a man of his age should.
It’d been two days since he called Emersyn and offered her the position. He didn’t push her though. He gave her until the following week when he was supposed to return to D.C. to think about it. The move would put a ton of strain on her family. Lord knows it did for Jefferson’s family. He’d rather she talked it over with her husband then answer him. In the interim, he continued to work on his speech and put together the incriminating file on those who were involved in trying to take him down.
When it was all said and done, at least fifteen Senators would be up on Capitol Hill explaining their actions to the whole of Congress. The idea did chase some of the aggravation away, however, until then Jefferson had work to do, which made the sudden boost of energy and hyperness, due to the first day of the full moon, welcomed and worrisome.
As he circled the block of the new subdivision, he slowed. He'd probably run the circuit ten times already and he was nowhere near calmed down. He thought about going for another round, but the thought struck him, find Jochi.
Jefferson walked back into the house moments later and found Jochi sitting on the couch, Déshì on his shoulder while his mate hummed to the little boy. A knot of desire formed in his gut. Seeing his mate and his new son, twisted the arousal building in him. Kalkin tried to warn him of what might happen the first day of the full moon, but Jefferson had taken the wait and see approach. No one knew exactly what a dormant wolf would do on a full moon, especially since a year had gone by before he even understood the wolf lurking within the deep recesses of his mind.
Now, however, the magnetic pull between him and Jochi snapped to life with an unexpected hunger Jefferson couldn't explain. Jochi glanced over his shoulder at Jefferson and he could see the arousal in his mate's emerald green eyes. It took all of Jefferson's will power to keep still so as not to hurt their son. For the last couple of days, he noticed, the wolf had become a bit less timid, yet the wolf didn’t show his full potential until Jefferson and Jochi had sex. Then the wolf took over and the feeling of expectancy overtook any sense of reasoning Jefferson might have had.
“You’re all sweaty,” Jochi murmured.
“I am.” He didn’t move. “You’re naked, aren’t you?”
“Guilty.” Jochi rose then crossed to the small bassinet they’d set up in the living room. “He should sleep for a few hours now.”
Jefferson took a step toward his mate. “Good. I think it’s time.”
“You’re not setting yourself up for failure, are you?” His mate opened his robe and let it fall from his body, exposing every inch of his bare, tanned flesh to Jefferson’s gaze.
“I don’t care.” He pulled off his shirt while kicking off his shoes. “Whatever happens, happens.” He stepped out of his running shorts. “You smell so fucking good.” A growl rumbled up from his chest.
Jochi shivered. “Make that sound again, bèndàn.”
Without hesitation, he did. Jochi moaned and palmed his cock, stroking himself. “I have a feeling we’ll both be changed when the full moon is no more.”
“No doubt about it.” Jefferson took him down, bending Jochi over the couch. He inhaled and groaned. His dick jerked and precum dribbled from the tip. “It feels different this time.”
“Like in the kitchen?” Jochi faced him.
Jefferson shook his head. “No. More severe. I can’t explain it. I don’t want to hurt you.”
Jochi laughed. The tittering sound pushed away some of Jefferson’s fear. “You won’t.” He palmed both of their shafts and began to pump his fist. “You feel bigger.”
“Wolf genetics,” Jefferson joked.
“Indeed.”
Jochi continued to tease and toy with both of them until Jefferson thought he’d go insane. The coil of arousal and pleasure building low in Jefferson’s groin left him rabid for more. Jochi’s touch wasn’t enough to get him off though. For that, he had to be inside his mate. “No more.” He spun his mate back into position and widened Jochi’s stance. “Let’s see what happens now.”
Jefferson didn’t wait for him to agree. He placed the head of his cock to Jochi’s rear and pressed forward. The sound he made the minute he slipped past the tight band of muscle, had him pausing momentarily to make sure they hadn’t awoken their kitten. When he was sure they were safe, Jefferson slipped the rest of the way into his mate. This time, it was too hot. Too slick. He could feel everything, including the small tingles snapping along his length.
“Jochi...” He moaned against his mate’s shoulder.
“Let it go,” Jochi murmured. “Fuck me.”
Jefferson did too.
The wolf snapped to the forefront, taking the lead. Jefferson didn't interfere. Of everything, Kalkin tried to impart on Jefferson was the wolf's ability to join him in all activities. Since it was the first time, he'd be remiss if he didn't find the experience a bit disconcerting. He couldn't control the pace or the strength of his thrust. The main thought in his mind had been to knot and mark his mate. The potent idea had Jefferson losing control. He pushed Jochi lower, taking him to the floor behind the couch. He crouched over his mate, fucking him like an animal in rut. Like before, he couldn't get deep enough. Couldn't fuck the sensation of needing more out of his senses. Yet, it was also different. Already he could tell this time would be altered.
“Bèndàn,” Jochi whimpered. “So good. So much.”
“More,” he growled. “I need more.”
“Take it.” His mate stroked his dick. “Give it all to me. Knot me.”
Jefferson gasped. “Not something you should say right now.” He gripped his mate’s hip, digging his fingers into the supple flesh there. Jochi would once more wear his marks and Jefferson got off on it. He twitched inside his mate and moaned. “I can feel it.”
“Me too.” Jochi curled his free hand into a fist. “Please, so close.”
The man's rear fluttered around Jefferson's cock then began to pulse as he watched in fascination as his mate came. The sight left him lightheaded, but it was the sensation of his dick thickening inside Jochi that freaked Jefferson out, but also felt so fucking good and he didn't want it to stop. "It's happening. Oh, fuck."
He pounded into Jochi twice more before he couldn’t move at all. He let out a mighty howl before latching onto Jochi neck and biting down, causing his mate to come again. Jefferson’s release shot from him with such force, he thought he might blackout. His vision became fussy as he continued to pump his release into his mate. Any little movement caused him to hunch into Jochi. It was overwhelming and odd.
He lost control.
“Jochi... I can’t move. I can’t pull out.” He glanced down at where they were connected. His cum slipped out and a welling of possessiveness filled him.
“You’re going to be like this for a while.” Amusement twinkled in Jochi’s eyes. “I guess it worked.”
Jefferson chuckled then groaned as Jochi clamped down on the knot, causing him to throb once more. “I suppose it did.” He lifted his mate into his arms. “How do we do this? Ho
w long will it last?”
Jochi shrugged. “Since it’s your first time, your knot can stay up for at least an hour and then you’ll want it again.”
“Shit,” Jefferson muttered. “We have too much going on today.”
“The full moon won’t be denied.” Jochi rocked his hips and groaned. “It will be interesting though.”
“D-don’t move...” Jefferson gritted his teeth. “Feels too good. Don’t want to hurt you.”
Jochi laughed. “Silly old man, you can’t hurt me. Let’s give your knot a good tug, maybe it’ll help with going down.”
“I don’t think that’s—” Jefferson moaned. “Shit...”
"Uh-huh..." Jochi continued to tug and pull on the knot while quivering around Jefferson.
"This is unreal." He wrapped his hand around Jochi's dick and stroked him while burying his face in the crook of his mate's neck. He nipped and sucked on the skin there until he felt the impending tingle once more. When he bit down for a second time, they were both coming and a sense of relief filled him.
“Daddy, it’s ti—”
“Charisma don’t go—”
Jefferson's gaze snapped to the open front door. Charisma and a harried Royce stood before them. Royce ran his fingers through his hair while wincing in embarrassment. Charisma's stunned expression did nothing to pinch off the flow of his release still filling Jochi. Ah hell.
“Sorry, sir,” Royce said, yanking Charisma out of the house, and closing the door behind him.
It’d been Jefferson’s fault for not locking it after stepping inside. Smelling his mate and seeing Jochi cuddled with their son wasn’t a good enough reason to take leave of his senses. He cursed under his breath. Jochi trembled. His shoulders shook with...laughter? Jefferson narrowed his eyes. Is he laughing at the situation while I feel like a rotten asshole? Both of them were exposed. He’d been knotted in his mate, while Jochi sat on his lap wide open. None of it was in the least bit funny.
“Relax, bèndàn,” Jochi whispered. “I bet you Royce is laying into her for not paying attention.”
“No.” Jefferson sighed. “I should have protected us better.”
“It’s the full moon,” his mate replied. “Charisma knows this. She understands what happens. She should have knocked first or done like her mate said, wait.”
“I don’t even know what I should be doing here.”
“Nothing. Your wolf knows what it’s doing as does my leopard.” He grabbed the small throw off the chair across from them then spread it over their lower halves. “When you’re ready, you’ll slip out. Until then, enjoy your first knotting.”
Easy for him to say. Charisma walked in on him not only coming but doing something he’d never experienced before. And, though he’d been embarrassed, it didn’t do anything to bring the knot down. If anything, he was good and wedged inside Jochi. “I can’t believe this happened.”
“I can.” Jochi glanced up at Jefferson. “Your body has always known what it needed and now it has it. I think our mating will begin to become more normal and not so out of control. We should celebrate.”
“With more fucking?”
Jochi laughed. "Don't sound so droll." He rolled his hips.
Jefferson hissed. “Fuck. Stop. You keep going and we’ll never get anything done.”
“I’m not seeing the issue, bèndàn.”
Cheeky asshole. “I love you.”
“As I love you,” Jochi said.
Jefferson didn’t pay attention to the time when they finally separated. He felt a bit raw and tender, but Jochi said it would pass the more he did it. After they were redressed, Jefferson opened the door and found Charisma and Royce sitting on their front porch. His daughter’s eyes were red-rimmed as though she’d been crying, and his son-in-law appeared uncomfortable.
“Well, are you just going to sit there or are you going to come in?” Jefferson winced at his tone. The gruff intonation startled him.
“I tried to get her to go home and wait until you called, but she’s got a stubborn streak,” Royce grumbled standing. He held out his hand to Charisma. “Come on, oasis. Let’s go inside.”
She sniffed and took his hand, allowing him to guide her. While he got dressed, Jochi cleaned up their mess then headed upstairs for a shower. Déshì lay in his bassinet as well, still sound asleep, but would be waking soon for his bottle.
“Sorry, Daddy,” she whispered. “I should have knocked. Something my mate scolded me for not doing.”
“I’m sorry as well,” Jefferson said. “I should’ve taken more care. I left the door unlocked.”
“Sir, with all due respect, Charisma knows better. Shifters and their mates have no control of their baser instincts, most especially at the full moon,” Royce chided. “Congratulations on joining the pack.”
Charisma stared at Royce. “Why are you welcoming him to the pack again. I thought we did it the other day.”
“Sweetheart,” Jefferson began. “I have—” A squeal of worry drew Jefferson’s attention to the bassinet. “Give me a second.”
“What in the...” Charisma gasped as Jefferson lifted the small bundle to his shoulder. “Who...who is that?”
“There is so much to tell you,” he murmured. “First a bottle and a change.”
“I’ll grab it,” Royce said. “You guys sit and talk.”
“Who is this?” Charisma stared at the boy in Jefferson’s arms.
“This is our son, Déshì.” Jefferson rubbed the baby’s back soothing him. “Dani said he was dropped at the orphanage in a box. He wouldn’t shift until Jochi coaxed him.”
“So, he’s m-my brother?” She brushed a tuff of his unique hair from his forehead. “Oh, Daddy.”
“There is more.” He took the bottle from Royce when he brought it back to the couch and placed it to the kitten’s lips. “I-I think you should talk to Danielle. There has been another development.”
“What? Why? Are you okay?” Fear colored her words.
“I’m perfectly fine, sweetheart. It would appear I was—am a dormant wolf.”
“A what?” Charisma’s gaze bounced between him and Royce. “How is this possible?”
“It’s rare,” Royce answered. “Very few are dormant. They either are or aren’t wolves or any type of shifter from birth. To be dormant means the wolf never developed properly.”
Jefferson nodded. “My wolf needed a kickstart. Kalkin and I believe it started to show itself when I mated Jochi last year and when I went to visit Danielle a few days ago, she urged the wolf the rest of the way out. We’re not sure if I’ll shift, but...”
“You knot,” Royce said, a bit in awe. “Fuck, oasis. We have some shitty timing coming here.”
Jefferson chuckled. “As I said, it’s my fault.”
“Wait, both of you.” Charisma stood and began to pace. She wrung her hands like her mother had done whenever she’d been nervous. “You’re here making light of it and this...this is serious. My father is a-a wolf and neither one of you seem concerned.”
“Oh, I am concerned, sweetheart. I have been since Danielle told me, but what am I supposed to do? It is what it is and now, you get to find out whether or not you are a wolf as well.”
Charisma scoffed at her father. “I’m not. I think I would have known.”
“Oasis,” Royce snarled. “Don’t be mean.”
“I’m not, asshole. I’m trying to digest the fact my father has a baby and by the way, I walked in on him knotting his mate because he’s a wolf!” She spun away from both men. “So, fuck off, Royce.”
"Don't raise your voice in my house, little girl," Jefferson snapped. "You're not too old to have your butt paddled for being disrespectful."
She faced them then. Her bottom lip trembled. Her cheeks were red. “I’m sorry, Daddy. This is a lot to take in. I don’t know what I’m supposed to do or say.”
“Then don’t say anything,” Jefferson said. “Be happy for me. Be happy for our family. I know you have always worried
about what will become of me. Now, you don’t have to.”
“I am happy,” she muttered.
“Are you sure, oasis?”
She flipped Royce off. “Yes. I’m confused and embarrassed and...” She sniffed. “You wouldn’t understand.”
“I think he does more than you give him credit for,” Jefferson said, placing Déshì to his shoulder. “Or did you forget all he went through in his life?”
“We’re still in the phase of working on our communication skills. It’s my fault, I take full responsibility.” Royce glanced up at her. “You’re allowed to be embarrassed. Now you understand why so many Raferty doors have latches. A certain someone would barge in without hesitation.”
“Hayden,” Charisma murmured.
“Bingo,” Royce said. “As much as I hate thinking about it now, I get it. Your dad is right, we should have you talk to Danielle. I haven’t smelled anything different about you, but it doesn’t mean anything. I didn’t smell it on your father until the moment you put your hand on the doorknob.”
“Penelope too,” Jefferson added. “She should know the truth.”
“We’ll do it after the holiday,” Charisma said. “It’s not why we’re here anyway. We’re here to pick you and Jochi up for dinner.”
“Dinner you say?” Jochi came down the stairs dressed in one of his suits. “I’m famished.” He lifted the baby from Jefferson’s arms. “Go get ready and I’ll change this little leopard as well.”
Jefferson hugged Charisma. “I love you, sweetheart. I know this is scary, but we’ll get through it together.”
“I know.” She hugged in return. “I think mom is laughing her ass off right now.”
He chuckled. “I bet it’s her sick sense of humor that got us here.”
She gave a watery laugh. “I bet you’re right.”
Chapter Eight
They arrived at the Rafertys house an hour later than they were meant to be there. However, when Jefferson stepped through the door, there were still members of the family missing. It appeared they weren't the only ones caught up in the pull of the full moon. He slipped his arm around his mate who clung to their son, or maybe it’d been the other way around as they stepped farther into the house. Keeley had been the first to greet them and acknowledge the boy cradled in the crook of Jochi’s neck. Then one by one the others came to say hello.