Out of the Cage: Renewing the fireworks can get a little crazy.
Jared Templeton has settled down with his wolf shifter mate, Carson Angeni. For the most part, he’s given up his life as an assassin, but he finds other ways to fill his time. When he comes home with the scent of another male on him, Carson shows Jared that he hasn’t forgotten what he gave up to be with him.
The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. Criminal copyright infringement, including infringement without monetary gain, is investigated by the FBI and is punishable by up to 5 years in federal prison and a fine of $250,000.
Please purchase only authorized electronic editions, and do not participate in or encourage the electronic piracy of copyrighted materials. Your support of the author’s rights is appreciated.
This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
Renewing the Fireworks
Copyright © 2017 Charlie Richards
ISBN: 978-1-4874-1115-2
Cover art by Angela Waters
All rights reserved. Except for use in any review, the reproduction or utilization of this work in whole or in part in any form by any electronic, mechanical or other means, now known or hereafter invented, is forbidden without the written permission of the publisher.
Published by eXtasy Books Inc or
Devine Destinies, an imprint of eXtasy Books Inc
Look for us online at:
www.eXtasybooks.com or www.devinedestinies.com
Renewing the Fireworks
A Wolves of Stone Ridge Tale
By
Charlie Richards
Dedication
You can discover more about a person in an hour of play than in a year of conversation.
~Plato
Chapter One
Responding to the tap of the young man’s hand on his upper arm, Jared Templeton eased his hold. “Do you know what you did wrong?”
Timothy Earlens pulled away from Jared. He turned to face him, his face red. “Um, no,” he muttered, staring at the blue mats beneath their feet.
Jared bit back a sigh. Kids. He just didn’t understand them. Still, he had to do this to get what he needed.
“Okay, let me show you again.” Jared thought he did a damn fantastic job of keeping the exasperation out of his voice. He didn’t consider himself a patient man on his best day. “You didn’t plant your feet. Here’s what you need to do.”
Jared showed Tim the self-defense move again. Once he felt certain the teenager had the movements down, he again attacked him... in slow motion, of course. Fortunately, that time, Tim executed the defensive maneuver correctly.
For the following half an hour, Jared helped Tim speed up his execution of the move. He also taught him a couple other tricks. Everything he shared with him had one goal in mind, keeping Tim safe and out of the hands of bullies.
While Jared knew it would have been so much easier on himself to just put the scare of god into the two jocks who were hassling Tim, that wouldn’t help the young man in the long run. No, the teenager needed to learn self-defense. Jared just had to dredge up a little more patience.
“So, how do you feel about that?” Jared asked, crossing his arms over his chest. He swept his gaze over Tim’s sweatpants and t-shirt-clad form. “You have plenty of muscle tone, and you have the movements down. Practice them several times a day until they become second nature.”
Crossing his arms over his chest defensively, Tim grimaced. “I know you’re doing a favor for my dad,” he muttered. His cheeks darkened. “I appreciate it, but I’m not sure I could actually hit someone in the—” He peered left.
“In the groin?” Jared narrowed his eyes as he peered at the unsettled young man. “Sure you could.”
Tim’s focus snapped back to him, and his eyes widened.
Jared could see the denial coming a mile away, so he decided to head it off. “If you were about to be raped and the only way you could get away was by kneeing your attacker in his cock, you’d do it in a heartbeat. It’s a natural instinct.” Tim’s cheeks darkened further, his face taking on a red hue, but Jared didn’t let up. In his opinion, sometimes, blunt was best. “What I’m teaching you will help you stay out of that kind of situation. Take my lessons to heart.” Placing his hands on his hips, he swept his gaze over Tim’s lean, tone form again. “So, are you gay?”
His jaw sagging open, Tim’s eyes grew so wide. He snapped his mouth shut, then opened it, but still, no sound came out.
“Ah, so you are.” Jared nodded. “In that case, you really need to learn this shit. Trust me.” He waved his hand up and down Tim’s body. “I was your size when I was in high school. A computer nerd. Reclusive. Introverted.” He shrugged, admitting, “I was bullied plenty growing up.”
“Really?” That seemed to pull Tim out of his silence. “You were bullied?”
Jared nodded, recalling his past. He didn’t think about it much anymore. It’d been a long damn time ago.
“I wasn’t out as gay then,” Jared told him. “In truth, it hadn’t even been a blip on my radar. I was too interested in computers to even think about girls or sex.” Seeing Tim’s focus lower to the mats once more, Jared reached out. He crooked his forefingers and urged the teenager to meet his gaze. “Look. I’m telling you this because you’re young and your body can change.”
Lifting his arms to either side, Jared waved at himself dramatically. “Look at me, eh? I’m a hot badass, and I know it, but I didn’t start that way.” Ignoring the discomfited expression on Tim’s face, he continued. “I’m not telling you this to embarrass you. I’m telling you this so you know that with plenty of hard work, you can change. With your body type, you’ll never bulk up much.” He frowned, adding, “Unless you take steroids and I wouldn’t recommend that.” He smirked. “Shrinkage to the genitals is never a good thing, especially for a gay man.”
“H-How’d you figure out you were gay?”
Snapping his mouth shut at the unexpected question, Jared froze. He couldn’t very well explain shifters and mates to the young human. Still, he had to come up with something.
But what?
Jared stuck with the tale he’d told his family. “Actually, I consider myself bisexual.” He shrugged. “You meet that special someone, and it doesn’t matter if it’s a man or a woman.”
“How do you know if you’re really in love?”
Oh, damn. No way can this young kid fancy himself in love already.
While Jared didn’t have much experience with teenagers—okay, he didn’t have any experience with them—he knew telling someone that he or she didn’t really love a particular person was the exact opposite of the smart thing to say.
“Well...” Jared paused and cleared his throat. How did someone explain love? Then, it clicked. Scoffing softly, Jared somehow knew he wore a sappy smile, but that was okay. “When you’re in love, truly in love, it makes you want to be the best version of yourself for him... or her.”
“Wow, okay.” Tim shoved his hands into his sweats, his brows furrowing. “So, uh, you and your man are serious, huh?”
“As a heart attack,” Jared immediately replied. For just a second, Jared spotted the disappointment on Tim’s face. Well, shit! “My man’s name is Carson Angeni. We’ve been together for almost five years, and I ended up moving here from Boston for him.” He reached out and gripped Tim’s shoulder, squeezing the other male in encouragement. “When it hits you, it hits you hard, and when you least expect it. It turns
your life upside down and backward, so don’t rush it.”
Once Tim nodded, Jared released him. He clapped his hands together once before saying, “Okay. Let’s go through everything again.”
Holding up the folded piece of paper, Jared nodded at the other man. “Thanks for this. I’ll be back next weekend to follow up with Timothy.”
“I appreciate the help.” Mayor Earlens held out his hand. Once Jared took it, he added, “I’m sure Timothy does, too.”
Jared nodded. “If he doesn’t now, he will eventually.” After releasing the mayor’s hand, he tucked the paper into the inside pocket of his jacket. “Thanks again.”
After seeing Mayor Earlens nod, Jared turned and headed out of the house. He climbed behind the wheel of his Porsche and fired it up. Swinging the vehicle around, he turned left and headed out of town and toward home.
Enjoying the drive, Jared rolled the windows down. He cranked up the radio and pressed the accelerator. Grinning widely, he zipped around the curves of the mountain road, relishing the power of his car.
Jared’s drive, which would take most people forty-five minutes, was done in twenty-two. His adrenaline still high from his faster-than-normal commute, he hit the button for the garage opener and eased his Porsche inside the space. He hopped out of his vehicle feeling energized, a little bit turned on, and a whole lot looking forward to seeing his lover.
Stepping inside the foyer, Jared kicked off his shoes. He hung his jacket on the hook to the left of the door, noting Carson’s was there, too. Exiting the foyer, he went in search of him.
Just thinking about his sexy wolf shifter caused Jared’s prick to thicken. His arousal swam through his veins as he checked the kitchen, dining room, and living area. Not finding him, he headed toward the study.
Still nothing.
Jared had just opened his mouth to call out for Carson when a hand grabbed his upper arm. Feeling pressure on the middle of his back, he went with it. He found himself turned and pressed chest-first against the wall. A hard, warm form blanketed his back.
“Where the fuck have you been?” Carson snarled the words into his ear. He inhaled deeply, and a low growl rumbled from him, vibrating into Jared. “And who have you been with?”
Grinning, Jared turned his head and peered over his shoulder at Carson. He spotted the feral light in his man’s deep brown eyes. The Native American shifter’s bronze skin appeared flushed, and his wide nostrils were flared.
“Training a teenager in self-defense,” Jared responded. Loving the jealousness pouring off Carson and knowing how it would transfer to love-making, he decided to tease some more. “Had to get up close and personal. You know how it is. Horny teenager and all that, so I’m sure that’s what you smell.”
“I smell another male on you and your arousal.” Carson’s white teeth flashed as he growled. “What exactly do you expect me to think?”
Jared reached back, twisting his fingers into Carson’s long, black hair. He yanked the man forward, claiming his lips in an awkward kiss. Thrusting his tongue into his man’s mouth, he enjoyed his deep masculine taste.
So hot!
Chapter Two
Carson quickly took control of the kiss, thrusting his tongue into Jared’s mouth. He lapped around his cavity, tasting and teasing. His blood heated swiftly when Jared sucked his tongue and arched, rubbing his ass erotically against his hardening cock.
Breaking the kiss, Carson jerked his head up. He hissed at the sting to his scalp, since Jared still had a tight grip on his hair. Staring into his human’s hazel eyes, he lowered his hand from Jared’s back and wrapped his arm around the man.
As Carson cupped Jared’s dick in his jeans, kneading him through his fly, he rocked his own groin against his sexy human’s ass. “So, this is all for me, right?” he growled. Smelling a strange male on his mate coupled with his human’s arousal had sent his possessive instincts into overdrive. “You’re all mine, Jared Templeton.”
Jared smiled cockily. “Oh, yeah, Carson Angeni,” he responded, massaging his scalp. “My ass is all yours, Injun. I don’t even look at other people like that. You’re it for me.”
“Gods, I do love hearing you tell me that.”
“Jealous bastard.”
Carson grinned as he moved his hand up Jared’s torso. “You know it.” Sliding his hand under his human’s shirt, he palmed the dips and ridges of his abdominals. “No one touches what is mine.”
Before Carson even finished speaking, he used his hold to spin Jared around and throw him toward the sofa. He felt the sting on his scalp, but he ignored it. Grinning widely, Carson watched his man bounce once, then settle on the cushions. As his lover sprawled, grinning widely, he pointed at him.
“Stay there,” he ordered, stalking toward the desk.
He kept an eye on Jared as he opened the top left drawer and grabbed a couple items, including a bottle of lube. Heading toward his man, he watched Jared release the few strands of hair that he’d yanked out of Carson’s head, a smirk curving his human’s lips. Feeling the sting at the back of his scalp, he narrowed his eyes.
“Feel proud of yourself?” Carson growled, closing the distance between them. “I could return the favor.”
Jared grinned widely at him as he swept his fingers through his very short, light brown hair. “Yeah? How do you think you’re going to manage that?”
Carson chuckled softly, enjoying the smug expression on Jared’s face. Part of his lover’s charm was his self-assurance. The man often came across as arrogant, but Carson knew better. His human just knew exactly what he wanted... and normally how to get it.
Crossing to his lover, Carson revealed the other item he’d grabbed from the desk. “I wasn’t thinking of your head, my love,” he drawled, holding up the knife. “I know you use an electric razor, but I’m sure we can make this work.”
Jared’s eyes narrowed. “What exactly do you think you’re going to do with my knife?”
Carson chuckled smoothly as he reached down with his free hand and popped the buttons of Jared’s button-fly jeans. “Oh, you’re a smart man,” he crooned, licking his lips as he revealed his lover’s prick. Like most shifters did, his mate had begun forgoing underwear. He skimmed his fingernail up Jared’s erection. “Such a lovely little thing.”
“Little,” Jared snarled. His eyes narrowed, and he curled his lip. “It’s far more than little.”
Snorting, Carson gave his man a heated smile. “Oh, my lover. I know all about your size.” He gripped either side of his man’s fly and, using his shifter strength, tore the fabric, exposing his lover’s crotch. “I’m very intimate with your length.” He again slid his forefinger up and down the blood-engorged vein running along the base. Then he wrapped his fingers around Jared’s erection and jacked it lightly, drawing a groan from his lover. “And your girth.”
“God, you’re hard on the clothes,” Jared ground out between clenched teeth. He gripped either side of the back of the sofa tightly as he bucked into Carson’s hold. “You sure like to destroy them.”
Carson grinned broadly. “You’ve destroyed enough of mine, too, so we’re quite even in that regard.” Taking in the dark denim, he added, “Besides, I know which ones I like your ass best in.” He winked. “Those I don’t destroy.”
He gripped the flaps of Jared’s ruined jeans and yanked again, tearing them some more, exposing the entirety of his human’s groin. Threading his fingers through Jared’s curls, he petted his lover’s pubes as he rubbed the thumb of his other hand over the edge of the knife.
“You ready to do this?”
Carson’s cock twitched in his own jeans. While they’d talked about the pros and cons of shaving, he hadn’t thought they’d actually do it. That certainly hadn’t stopped him from making certain he had the necessary supplies on hand.
His excitement caused his balls to ache.
Jared reached down and gripped his wrist. “Injun, there’s no way you’re doing
that without gel or cream or some shit.”
Smiling smugly, Carson reached over and dipped his hand between the couch cushion and the arm. He pulled out a canister of shaving cream. “Got it covered.”
His brows lifting, Jared gaped for a few seconds. Pleasure of a different nature thrummed through Carson. It wasn’t often he managed to get one over on his observant human.
“How long has that been there?”
Carson chuckled. “Long enough.”
Pouring a liberal amount of shaving cream directly onto Jared’s pubic area, he heard his lover hiss. He gently massaged the cream into his human’s skin, soothing and stimulating all at the same time. Gripping his mate’s bobbing prick in a loose hold, he moved it to the side, stretching the skin to the left of it.
Then, Carson carefully began to shave around Jared’s dick.
He did his best to ignore his mate’s hisses and sighs. The pre-cum oozing from his lover’s cock and the scent of his arousal was a hell of a lot harder to tune out. It tested his concentration, but he managed. He sure as hell didn’t want to injure his man.
Jared occasionally squirmed. His thighs trembled, and his abdominals twitched. If he’d been a shifter, Carson knew his white-knuckled grip on the sofa’s back would have punctured the fabric.
When Carson started on Jared’s balls, his lover jolted and arched. He paused and waited, petting his trembling mate’s thighs and stomach. Crooning softly, he waited for his lover to get ahold of himself.
Finally, Jared jerked a nod. “Okay,” he hissed. “Finish.”
Carson growled and lowered the knife toward Jared’s ball sack again. Noticing that his hand trembled, he paused to recover his own self-control. Once he regained his focus, he ever-so-carefully finished the job.
Renewing the Fireworks Page 1