by Dakota Brown
Doc put his hand on Nikolai's and ran his fingers lightly across his knuckles. "We're glad to have you."
"You are. Sofia is. I'm having a harder time reading Allan and Ed."
"They are glad to have you, as well. They just have to get used to you, and the whole situation with the Andersons is going to make everything more difficult than it really needs to be."
"And Sofia wants all of us."
Doc dragged his fingers over the back of Nikolai's hand until he could touch the mage's wrist, then he traced the colorful wolf paws marked there. "She wants all of us, and we all want her."
"Yes," he whispered, Doc's gentle touch sending shivers down his spine. "We do." His breath quickened as Doc continued to run his fingers softly over Nikolai's hand.
Doc stilled his hand. "Sorry."
"No need to apologize. I should think it obvious I do not mind."
"I suppose I'm not very good at any sort of relationship," Doc said, voice contemplative.
"Seems to me, you're doing fine."
"Allan and Ed were grateful for anyone who even remotely understood them. Sofia, I have no idea how we attracted her."
"Stop. You and the werewolves are quite likeable. Also, attractive. Of course, Sofia was drawn to all of you. She can be herself with you, and you make her feel safe. I can see no reason why she wouldn't want to be with any of you. Or, in this case, all of you. Just because modern times are not friendly to your kind, or any of us really, doesn't mean you won't find someone who loves you."
"What about you?"
"What about me?" Nikolai asked.
"You don't seem to mind vampires."
Nikolai chuckled. "As Sofia has already figured out, I like vampires. Peter, he was my best friend for long time, and the others that fought with us, I was friendly with, as well."
Doc turned onto his back so that he could look up at him.
Nikolai brushed some of the hair out of his face. "Though I do get the impression you're not used to having men interested in you."
The vampire blushed. "I'm not used to having anyone interested in me. At least, anyone it was safe to get close to."
The mage smiled and leaned forward, his shoulder length hair brushing against Doc's face, his lips just barely brushing the other man's. "I'm safe," he whispered, and waited, letting Doc make the decision.
After a moment, Doc put his hand behind Nikolai's neck and pressed their lips together.
Doc opened his mouth when he ran his tongue over the vampire's lips. He explored Doc's mouth with his tongue, his heartrate quickening, breath coming faster. The vampire responded in kind, fingers twining in Nikolai's hair. They explored each other's mouths for a few minutes, before Doc released him. Nikolai straightened, grinning, breathing heavily. Doc returned his smile, eyes shining. He liked seeing the touch of his blue magic shining in Doc's eyes, though he wouldn't have minded Sofia's lavender dancing there, as well.
"Get some more rest," Nikolai ordered. "I will take a nap in the morning."
Doc rolled back onto his side, pressing a little more firmly into the mage. His breathing finally quieted, and Nikolai went back to reading about this strange future he had found himself in. Though, he reflected, his current circumstances had some distinct benefits, and he looked forward to thoroughly exploring them.
Chapter 18
Allan
Allan woke with his back against Sofia's front, one of her arms curled around his chest, holding him tightly. Ed was pressed into her back, curled around her. Though he wanted to stay, his stomach growled, and he knew he would regret ignoring that. He generally liked being a werewolf, and he rarely minded how much he had to eat to stay fed, but at times like this, he wished he could comfortably sleep in a little.
Ed stirred when Allan got up.
Sofia pressed more firmly into Ed, still asleep. She was used to waking up in Doc's arms, and Allan didn't want her to wake up alone. When Ed opened his eyes a crack, Allan whispered, "Stay with Sofia. Doc and I can make breakfast."
Ed's lips curled into a smile, and he snuggled Sofia closer.
Allan went out into the living room, thinking he would find Doc awake. He hesitated when he saw Doc asleep, using Nikolai's lap as a pillow. The mage had one hand tangled in Doc's hair. The other supported his chin as he stared out the big window.
The sheer comfortable intimacy that scene evoked bothered Allan far more than seeing the two of them kiss had. If Doc was going to sleep, why hadn't he just come to bed? Allan snapped his jaw shut when Nikolai stiffened slightly and turned, sensing his presence somehow.
Nikolai tilted his head, obviously not understanding Allan's confused expression. Allan truly wasn't sure if he understood his own reaction or not, either. He just knew he couldn't deal with the mage right then. Instead of heading to the kitchen, he went out the front door, shutting it a little harder than necessary behind him.
He didn't have the super sensitive hearing that Doc did, but it was pretty good, and he heard Doc startle awake, despite the shut door.
"What happened?"
He could picture his friend looking around confused, long hair in his face. He never used to wear it down so much, but Sofia liked it down. Allan did, too.
"I am not sure. Allan is upset about something," Nikolai answered.
Whatever Doc replied, Allan was finally out of hearing distance. He headed into the woods, wondering why he was so upset.
He had barely come to terms with having to share Sofia with the mage. He hadn't considered that he might have to share his best friend, as well. Allan really hadn't been bothered by watching Doc and Nikolai make out with each other. He'd certainly been turned on. But this?
"Fuck." He kicked at a tree with his bare foot, just hard enough to sting a little.
"Allan, what's wrong?"
He jumped, spinning around. Doc rarely snuck up on the werewolves.
"I…" His heart clenched.
Doc's hair hung around his face, messy from sleep. He was also barefoot, and his shirt was half tucked into his jeans. He was hot as hell, and Allan didn't know what to do about it. At the same time, Sofia was with more than one of them…was it really that different if Allan had those sorts of feelings for both Doc and Sofia?
Doc frowned, as if trying to make sense of what he could read from Allan. He now had a pretty good idea of what Sofia had been going through when she realized both the werewolves and Doc could essentially read her emotions from her body's reactions.
He turned to walk away. He couldn't deal with this right now. He didn't know how.
Before he could get more than a step, Doc grabbed his arm and turned him until they faced each other. He tried to pull away, but he might as well have tried to budge a mountain. He couldn't remember a time when Doc had used his full strength on one of them.
"What's wrong?"
Allan tried to pull away.
"If you really want me to let go, I will," Doc said.
Did he want Doc to let go? No. He wanted Doc to pull him into a hug. Wanted him to kiss Allan like he had kissed Nikolai. He sniffed the air. The mage's scent was all over Doc. He growled slightly.
"If you don't talk to me, I can't fix it."
"I don't know how to answer you," he bit out.
Doc dropped his hand and shoved his hands into his pockets, eyes roaming over him.
The intensity of his gaze twisted Allan up even more inside.
"I think I was prepared to lose Sofia to Nikolai," he finally admitted. "I wasn't prepared to lose you, too."
Doc's eyes widened, and he ducked his head, hair falling forward around his hunched shoulders. "You haven't lost either of us, Allan."
"No, Sofia and I haven't had as much time to explore our relationship as you two have. And that's okay. We have time, and I don't feel like I've lost her, but you…" Allan shook his head. "I never really had you to begin with, I guess. I mean, I was happy with the way things were between us, but I can smell Nikolai all over you, and it's pissing me off." H
e shrugged, realizing his words didn't quite make sense.
Doc took a deep breath. "I'm sorry, Allan." He looked up and met his eyes. "This is new for me, too. All of it. I know we talked about figuring you and I out once Sofia was safe, but maybe we should figure it out now."
"What's to figure out? Don't you think if you were interested in me, you would have said something before now?"
He turned away, though the memory of the one time he had kissed Doc surfaced, and he hugged himself, not sure why he was so upset. He had Sofia. He did not mind sharing Sofia. His pack brother, though…
He didn't hear Doc move, but suddenly he was there, putting his arms around him and hugging him from behind.
"Allan, I didn't know before that you were interested in me. I've always thought of you as a brother, and it never occurred to me until recently that you might want more. It also didn't occur to me that I might be willing. I'm not used to getting close to people like that. I can only hide what I am for so long, and it's just not safe to reveal ourselves. I have next to no experience actually being in relationships. I honestly think Nikolai is the only one who does. Sofia, probably a little. I'm sorry I'm not good at this. Please tell me what you want?"
Sighing, and feeling like he might actually cry, he leaned back against Doc and turned his head so he could bury his face in the vampire's hair. He inhaled Doc's scent, mingled with Sofia and Nikolai's. Ed and his own lingered as well.
"I don't know," he finally answered. "How am I supposed to know what I want? I have Sofia, shouldn't that be enough?"
Doc laughed gently. "You would think, wouldn't you? Maybe the answer is that we all have each other. Maybe we have to concentrate on bringing Sofia and Nikolai into our pack so tightly that we're all as close as you, Ed, and I were. Maybe that means we get different things from each other. Or…" He hesitated when Allan tensed. "Maybe this is a bad idea, and we shouldn't even try."
"Do you really believe that?" He shuddered at the thought.
"No. I think we weren't ready for Nikolai. But he's here, and we need him."
"You like him."
"I…" Doc hesitated. "Yes, I do."
Allan sighed.
"That doesn't mean I don't like you, Allan."
He didn't reply. He wondered if he was being unreasonable. A lot of things had changed in a short amount of time. Maybe he just needed to focus on Sofia for a while. He inhaled Doc's scent, mingled with the others' again. That was what pack smelled like. Even Nikolai. Sofia wanted and needed him. That had to be enough for Allan. That Doc also wanted Nikolai was tweaking him out, though.
Something in the vampire's energy changed. He spread his hands out on Allan's stomach, and his breath hitched in response.
"You know," Doc whispered, sliding his hand up Allan's chest until he cupped his chin. His other hand he kept against his stomach, pressing the werewolf back against himself, his grip suddenly as rock hard as earlier when he'd stopped Allan from running. Damn, he was strong. "The only thing I don't want to lose more than Sofia, is you." He hesitated, then said, "And Ed, of course."
Allan's breath came fast, and his heart raced. He was afraid for a moment, completely trapped by Doc's iron grip, not used to being so completely helpless. Doc tilted Allan's neck like he was going to bite, but instead, he kissed him on the neck.
He melted, still a little afraid, but more from this being new territory than actual fear of what the vampire might do to him. He panted as Doc nibbled his way up his neck. "What do you want, Allan?" Doc breathed against his neck.
He turned his head, and Doc released his hold on his chin. "I think I want Sofia and you." Turning his head had put his face a breath from Doc's. He smelled a hint of blood on Doc's breath and guessed it was probably Nikolai's.
Doc pressed his lips to Allan's.
He growled, biting at Doc's lip. Doc opened his mouth and Allan ran his tongue along Doc's teeth, surprised to find them elongated into fangs. He really was turned on, not just trying to make him feel better.
He turned to face Doc and pushed him backward until Doc was pressed against a tree. Then he cupped Doc's face and explored his mouth. Doc's hands roamed down his back, digging into his ass and pressing them together.
Allan panted, breaking off to catch his breath.
Doc's eyes were completely black, shining with lust and a hint of blue from Nikolai's magic.
Allan licked his lips, tasting a hint of the mage there. This time, he wasn't nearly as bothered by the evidence of the other man's presence. "We should probably make sure Sofia is okay with all of this," he stammered.
"She is." Doc dragged his hands up his back.
"You're sure?"
"She already told Nikolai and I whatever we, as in all of us, got up to with or without her was fine with her."
"Really? When did this conversation occur?" He gasped as Doc dug his fingers into his back.
"After I bruised the shit out of Nikolai's neck."
Allan laughed. "That was so hot."
Doc bit him gently on his shoulder, not drawing blood.
Allan groaned, shutting his eyes. "I was going to suggest that we go back," he whispered. "You're making it awfully hard."
Doc chuckled, the sound vibrating through Allan's chest. "Want me to stop?"
Leaning forward, he kissed Doc's neck before biting down.
Gasping, Doc clenched his hands against his back hard enough to leave bruises.
"No, I don't want you to stop."
Doc froze. Not quite the response Allan had expected.
"What?"
"I'm suddenly worried that leaving Nikolai alone in the kitchen wasn't the best idea."
"Why?" He bit back a growl at the interruption.
"Because the smoke alarm is going off."
He burst out laughing, resting his head on Doc's shoulder. "I'll meet you there."
"There is a spell for that," Doc drawled in a Russian accent. "But we should go." He kissed Allan one more time, relatively chastely, and then released the werewolf from his strong arms. Doc didn't seem to be in much of a hurry, and Allan walked next to him. Doc surprised him again by taking his hand and squeezing, though he let go before they got back to the cabin.
Chapter 19
Sofia
I woke up slowly, feeling warm and safe wrapped in one of the werewolves' arms. His arms tightened around me when my breathing changed.
"Morning," I whispered.
"Hi, beautiful." Ed held me. He buried his nose in my hair and inhaled.
I rolled over so I could wrap my arms around him, tucked my head under his chin, and hooked a leg around his.
He rumbled deep in his throat and pressed into me.
Feeling his hard length against me ignited a fire in my nerves. My stomach tightened, and I moaned, no longer content just to cuddle. I dug my fingers into his back, glad he wasn't wearing a shirt, before dragging them along his firm muscles.
Ed nibbled at my shoulder, sucking gently and then nipping at me, and I thrust against him, wrapping my leg more tightly around his. I only wore a long T-shirt and underwear, and the shirt rode up with my movement.
"Sofia," Ed whispered.
"Yes?" I managed to gasp out.
"You're amazing." He grabbed the hem of my shirt and tugged.
I raised my hands so he could take it off, then he rolled us so I was on my back beneath him. His warm hands wandered over my curves before cupping my breasts, rubbing gently, lips sucking at one of my nipples.
Wrapping both of my legs around his waist, I quivered as he thrust against me, heart racing, breath coming fast.
"I think you're still wearing too much." His voice was a low growl. He dragged his hands down my sides and hooked them in my panties, tugging until I unlocked my legs from around him so he could pull them off.
The heat in his eyes as his gaze traveled up my body made my stomach tighten, and I groaned, wanting his hands back on me. He nudged my knees apart and knelt between my legs, studying me.
"Ed, you can touch me wherever, but just touch me," I panted, desperate.
His eyes lit up. It was so nice to see him looking so alive after he had felt so vacant the day before.
Leaning forward, he pressed his lips to my stomach, kissing me, trailing lower, gripping my hips with his hands as he kissed slowly down to my folds.
I cried out as he blew gently on my moist folds, the sensation intense as I clutched the sheets. His tongue followed the breath of air, licking until he found my sensitive nub, and I thrust against him, gasping.
"Good?"
"Yeah, don't stop."
He obliged, licking and sucking as I writhed under him. He held my hips as I bucked when he pressed his tongue into me, before licking back out.
An ache built in my core, tingling to my breasts, begging for release. Ed continued to work, and I thrust against him, breath coming fast, moaning with every stroke of his tongue.
"Ed!" I gasped, as my release shuddered through me.
He continued to lap at my folds as I cried out, body rocking with my orgasm.
The fire alarm went off, startling both of us. We both froze, and moments later, we heard cursing in Russian from the kitchen.
Ed and I looked at each other, eyes wide, before we both giggled, and he collapsed on top of me. "Who let him in the kitchen unsupervised?"
"Where are Doc and Allan?" I laughed.
"Outside. Though I'm sure they're on their way back by now."
I felt a tingle of magic as Nikolai did something to make the fire alarm stop. It ignited me again. Ed gave me an interested look, before sighing and rolling off of me.
"I could wake up like that every morning," he groaned happily.
"Me, too." Waking up in one of their arms would never get old, and I was glad Ed had stayed with me this morning, though it was usually Doc who held me until I woke.
He went into the bathroom for a few minutes, and I pulled the comforter over myself while I waited for my turn.
I heard the front door and then voices in the kitchen. Ed left the bathroom, still not dressed other than his sleeping pants, but he looked like he had washed his face and cleaned up a little.