In Wulf’s Clothing

by B. A. Tortuga

  “That’s never good. Never.” Trey winked at him, trying hard to lighten the mood.

  “Right? It leads to headaches and overcompensating.”

  Trey chuckled softly. “Promise me this isn’t over, you and me.”

  “I swear to it.” He had no idea how it would work, but it would. Cory wasn’t losing this now.

  “I’ll believe you.” Those three words meant everything.

  “Good.” He took a kiss, then just rested there for a few minutes. They would need their energy.

  Hell, he’d lived a year, just this morning.

  13

  By the time supper happened, Trey was going to die.

  He was exhausted from sewing, from worry, from the weight of knowing he had to be perfect.

  This was an impossible task. He was good at so much. Following rules and not pissing people off weren’t in his skill sets.

  Miguel was looking harried, the bride had gotten shot, and the pregnant sister was crying every five seconds.

  “Dude. You look shredded.”

  Aspen. He’d actually known Aspen before he knew Laurel.

  “Aspen. Love. I am wasted. How are you?” He took a hug. There was something about Aspen that was pure static electricity, helping to run interference with the world.

  “Bummed out that Laurel got shot. You weren’t joking when you said your pack was loco.”

  “My pack is amazing. This is my parents’ pack. Stephen’s pack now.”

  “Right. Your childhood pack. The pack formerly known as Trey’s meanies…” Aspen liked to tease.

  “Don’t make me pinch you.”

  No pinching. Cory was right there.

  “Dude, you’re quiet for such a big hottie,” Aspen told Cory.

  “I’ve been told that.”

  “It’s a good quality in an alpha,” Aspen told Cory. “I approve.”

  But Cory wasn’t the alpha…

  Cory blinked, but then kinda smiled. Maybe it was the hottie thing. “So, where do you live, Aspen?”

  “I’m in Vail right now. I wander. I’m looking for someone important.”

  “Yeah?” Cory looked at Trey, eyebrows up. “Like a lover?”

  “That would be nice. A mate, a lover, a pack needing a seer that’s not particularly reliable. I’m easy.”

  Trey chuffed softly. “You’re always looking for something, Aspen.”

  “I know. Which is how I know I’m meant to find it, whatever it is.”

  “Well, you’re welcome with me, always.” Trey stole another hug. “Always.”

  “Thanks, hon. Don’t worry, Cory. His heart is yours.”

  “I’m not worried. He’s mine.”

  Trey grinned at his mate. I am, huh?

  You so are.

  “That’s so cool.” Aspen sounded a little wistful. “I’m gonna go nap, I think.”

  “You’re not staying to watch everyone stare at each other over cake and coffee?”

  “Fuck no. Run. That’s boring.”

  “Maybe we should just go to bed with our cake,” Cory said.

  “We could do that. They found Miguel a room, didn’t they?” Like Miguel wasn’t in bed with River somewhere.

  “Yeah. Let me go ask Stephen,” Cory said.

  This place had a warren of bedrooms, so he guessed someone needed to. He waved Cory and Aspen off and wandered into the big bathroom and filled the huge tub with water.

  Cory was back by the time he had bubbles and hot water, a huge hunk of cake on a plate. “I’ll leave this by the bed huh?”

  “Yeah. Come soak with me, mate. I’ll wash your back.”

  “Oh, that’s something I can’t resist.” Cory stripped down for him, that long, brown body so perfect.

  He slid into the bubbles, hiding himself in the water, teasing his mate. Oh. Oh hot. Good.

  “You’re teasing me, baby.” Cory came to the tub, putting a hand behind his neck to ask him to lean up.

  “Am I?” He scooted up without question. “It’s warm, love.”

  Cory dipped in his toes. “Like the spring. Good stuff.” Cory pushed in behind him, then pulled him up on those long thighs.

  “Hello, mate. You survived the day.”

  “We both did.” Cory snorted. “So did everyone else, believe it or not.” Cory put one hand low on Trey’s belly, fingers rubbing slow circles, which made him tense until it stopped tickling.

  “My soul is exhausted.” But it was getting better, wasn’t it?

  “That sucks.” Cory sighed. “Both boys are in custody. George has called Stephen three times. I had Wendy bring my mom here.”

  “Oh? I can’t wait to see her. Tomorrow.” So maybe he could wait a few hours.

  “She’s pooped. She lay vigil for Dave a long while, apparently.” Cory kissed the back of his head. Like they did this every day. It was a first, though. Their first bath in a tub.

  “I bet. Everything’s locked up tight in here, right?” They could rest together?

  “It is. River, Miles, and Hank are trading off keeping watch, and Wendy and Kyle have the jail. A few others have volunteered, but I told them to lay low. Watch George and his few old cronies. We’re in for the night like a fort.”

  “Good.” He brought Cory’s hand up to kiss it. “I want to be here with you.”

  “I do too. With you, I mean. Resting. Loving. I feel like we haven’t had time to breathe together.”

  Oh, yes. They used to be able to lie in the sun for hours, human or wolf, and just share breath after breath.

  That was the benefit of youth, though. His life now was hugely busy—he had a tiny empire of clothes and jewelry and textiles.

  Still, he had nothing else to do tonight, and a good supply of hot water.

  “In and out,” Trey murmured, putting Cory’s hand back on his belly, then put his hand hands over Cory’s. “In and out.”

  “We’re good at that.” Cory nuzzled his ear. “In and out, both.”

  “Oh, butthead.” He had to laugh, which wasn’t calming his breathing at all. But Cory was irresistible, and he missed relaxing together, laughing together.

  “Goddess, I missed you.” Cory started stroking his skin again, really drawing patterns from his nipples to his navel.

  “I used to dream about you, wondering if you were dreaming about me.” It had been silly, of course, but hearts weren’t the most logical things.

  “I probably was.” Cory chest rose and fell against his back. “I would sleep outside so I could see your stars.”

  “Oh.” He wasn’t crying. He wasn’t, but he couldn’t quite breathe.

  “Is that stupid?” Cory buried that hot face against Trey’s neck.

  “No. It’s amazing. No one’s ever said anything so dear.”

  Cory smiled against his skin. “It’s even true.”

  “I want you. Not just right now, but always.” And he wasn’t sure how it would work.

  “We’ve got this.” Cory sounded crazy confident somehow.

  When had that happened?

  When had it become incredibly hot?

  “Mmmm. You’re getting hard for me, baby.” Cory rubbed the tip of his cock.

  His cheeks flared with heat. “You’re the hottest thing ever.”

  “Mutual admiration, baby. I want you so bad.” Cory touched him, fingers measuring his length.

  He spread his legs, feeling ridiculously decadent, sensual.

  They needed this time. Things were crazy and would get even more hectic. For a little while, he wanted to be lazy.

  Well, at least well loved. Lazy might not be the best descriptor.

  “Shh…Just let me love on you.” The words were soft, but the command in them was irresistible.

  He leaned his head back on Cory’s shoulder, letting the water hold him, letting Cory prop him up. Relax. Okay.

  Give himself over to his mate. He could try that.

  “That’s it,” Cory said, voice low, mesmerizing. “My mate. I’m going to explore and touc
h and feel you.”

  He blinked slowly, totally caught by his mate. Cory’s hands were warm, rough, the scars on the back fascinating. He held Trey steady when he felt like he would just float away.

  He was aroused, but he wasn’t desperate. In fact, he wanted to stay right here, forever. This level of need was a pang deep in his belly, but it was the care Cory took with him that made him hum and move restlessly.

  “Shh…breathe. I can feel you. Deep inside me.” No one had ever said the things to him that Cory did.

  He breathed. In and out. In and out.

  Suddenly he felt it—he was in Cory, Cory was in him, and there was no distance between them. There was just endless love between mates.

  He sobbed, happiness pouring from him, almost panicking him with its perfection. This was pure joy. This was love.

  “In and out, baby.”

  “I’m sorry.” He didn’t know what was wrong with him. Nothing was up or down, nothing seemed in the right place.

  “Shh. It’s been a crazy couple of days. Just coming here has to make you nuts. It’s okay.” Cory stroked his hair, easing him deeper in the water, supporting his weight. Those strong arms never wavered, keeping him from sinking.

  The press of the heated wet stuff seemed to calm his nerves, letting him calm down, just be.

  “There you go. The water helps, I think. You’ve always loved the water. You in the hot springs. It’s like my favorite memory.”

  He nodded. He did love it. Always had. He loved to soak more than he liked to bask in the sun.

  “Do you go someplace in Santa Fe? I read about this Japanese spa there. I can’t see me going, but you and Miguel, yeah. Not to have sexy times.”

  “I have a hot tub, and I go up to the mountains a few times a year, just to soak.”

  “Did you tell me about the hot tub before?” Cory chuckled, chest bumping his back. “Sounds good.”

  “I don’t know. I need you to come see it. The house, the pack, everything. I need to introduce you around.”

  “You do.” Cory’s easy agreement relaxed him even more, and it wasn’t even about the lovemaking now. It was about comfort. Joy. Cory chuckled. “Not at all about the lovemaking?”

  “Shut up. Turd.”

  “Shhh. No name-calling in the bath.” Cory stroked water up over his neck.

  “Oh.” Oh that was lovely. “That’s good.”

  “So tense. I love you, baby. I’m right here.” Cory was going to put him in a trance. “That’s okay. I’ve got you. You can relax.”

  Could he? Really?

  “Yes.” Cory slid water up over him over and over, washing away worry and strain. “I was made for this, for helping you relax. I’m sorry I didn’t know that soon enough.”

  “No more apologies. You did what you did.” And he’d left.

  “No. No more. Just us. Here. In and out.”

  Trey nodded. “In and out. In and out.”

  They breathed, dozed. He added more hot water and they soaked until they were both a wrinkled mess.

  Cory lifted him up eventually, taking him to the bed. “I brought cake for us.”

  “It smells good.” He just didn’t have the energy.

  So, Cory fed him a bite. Then another bite. It was delicious, and he was so goddamn spoiled. He licked his lips, just loving the flavor of cake and clean Cory.

  “I love you.” He didn’t know if he should say it, but he meant it. He didn’t think it changed a damn thing, but he did mean it.

  “I love you, too.” The cake was gone, so Cory set aside the plate, then kissed him deep.

  They wrapped together, curled like lost children in a forest, and for the first time in decades, Trey wasn’t scared.

  Cory kissed his neck, a gentle touch. A promise, and they didn’t have to say anything else.

  There was nothing they needed to say. Not right now.

  * * *

  Cory had a burrito halfway to his mouth when his phone started ringing, and damn it, he knew he was gonna end up eating in the car and getting egg on his shirt.

  “Hey, Wends. What’s up?”

  “Man, boss. George and his people are here and threatening to tear down the jail. I don’t know who to shoot first.” Wendy chuckled, but he could hear the stress in her voice.

  “Start with George. I’ll be there in five minutes.” He hung up. “River, with me.”

  Stephen’s head lifted, eyes sharp. “What’s wrong?”

  “George is at the jail.” He wrapped his burrito in a napkin. Good thing all he’d had was his uniform and his mom had washed it. “Gotta go.”

  “I’m coming.” Stephen and River both started for the door. “Laurel, you’ve got this?”

  “No problem, mate.”

  Shit. This could get ugly. He waved off Kyle, who’d stood as well. Stay here was the implication. Miles had to be near the jail, as the guys had all traded posts this morning.

  And Wendy was a damn good shot.

  They all piled in his truck, and if Stephen’s face got any more grim, he was going to be in serious trouble.

  He burned out, finishing off his breakfast in two bites. Every cop on earth could drive and eat, even with the siren on and in pursuit.

  “Your mom makes great burritos, man,” River told him.

  “Mmmhmm. I might shoot George myself.” That would save Trey from doing it.

  “That would be fun, wouldn’t it? Just a toe or something.” River was in a weird-assed mood.

  “I would love that.” Stephen was not joking. Not one bit.

  “We’re going to have to make a plan, Alpha.” Stephen knew that, right?

  “You mean right now, or in general?” Stephen was scowling. Not just generally, but at him. That was not cool.

  “I meant in general, really. Right now, we back them off.”

  “Yeah. Then we need to talk.”

  He was getting a vibe. Not good. “Then we’ll talk.”

  Good or not? He wasn’t afraid. He knew what he needed.

  Stephen glanced his way again, this time with a tight grin. “I’m stressed. We’re fine.”

  “You’re getting married tomorrow, and you’ve got a riot at the jail. What stress?”

  A sharp laugh burst out, and River chuckled too.

  They tore into town, making it in about four minutes not five. Wendy stood in the door of the police station, rifle in hands, holding the line against George and two of his old friends.

  “She’s doing a great job. Look at that.” Stephen’s words stung a little bit. Maybe more than that.

  “She is.” The truck rocked on its springs when he braked. Not that Wendy suddenly had a banished mate return, or have a seer say said mate would kill someone.

  “Whoa.” River stared between them. “What the fuck guys? We have a situation here.”

  “We do.” He got out of the truck, drawing his sidearm. “Back the fuck off, George.”

  “You have falsely imprisoned my grandson!” George bellowed.

  “Your grandson broke the law. Both of them did, in fact.” George was looking old. Pale. He deserved it, the motherfucker. “They’re staying here until the wedding. Then they’re leaving.”

  “Leaving? Leaving where?” George bared his yellowed teeth. “You are banishing them?”

  “No.” Stephen’s voice rang with command. With certainty. “That’s your style old man. I’m sending them to Laurel’s family to learn some different ways.”

  “You can’t!”

  “I have permission from their mother. In writing.” Stephen wasn’t playing around.

  “I’ll kill her.”

  River snorted, but Stephen just shook his head. “Too late. She left this morning. She’s gone.”

  “What? That fucking bitch. Leaving her sons.” Spittle flew from George’s lips, shining in the bright morning light. That fool was nuts.

  “Go home, George.” Cory didn’t need to hear more.

  “Freak lover,” the old man snapped.

/>   “Yessir. Even you couldn’t stop that.”

  One of the other men stepped up to tug at George’s arm. “Come on now, George. If Yvette signed for it…”

  “She’s a coward! I told my son not to waste his seed on her!” George spat on the dirt. “You’re all fucking worthless.”

  “Go! Or I will banish someone.” Stephen had made it clear he wasn’t banishing or killing George as a gift to both Trey and Laurel for the wedding. If the old fuck pushed too hard, that would be over.

  There was a moment Cory was sure that shit was fixin’ to hit the fan, but before it did, George backed off, muttering curses all the way to his truck.

  “Damn, tell me you brought me breakfast for holding them off.” Wendy chuckled, and the sound was a little nervous, but that was to be expected.

  “I did.” River brought her two-foil wrapped burritos. Good man.

  “You did great, Wends. The boys okay?”

  “Eric’s been real quiet. Damon wants his mom, but he’s excited to be leaving day after tomorrow.” She sighed softly. “She came by this morning early to explain everything. I think—I really think they both want out of the shitshow. No offense, Alpha.”

  Stephen snorted. “None taken. Not my shitshow, though I feel bad that I didn’t know things were so bad for those three.” He sighed. “Is Miles here?”

  “I saw him just off in the trees.” She jerked her chin to the copse of junipers behind the parking area George had dominated. “He would have jumped in if you hadn’t come, but someone would have died.”

  “There’s no need for that,” Stephen said, and suddenly Aspen’s words came back to Cory, making his bellyache.

  River looked at him, eyebrows going up, and Cory smoothed out his frown. “You’ll be filling out incident reports all morning.”

  “No shit.” Wendy pulled a face. “Thanks for the burritos. If we could get someone who does more than grunt and click to come down? Kyle or —”

  “I’ll stay.” River shrugged. “I’m done with my fitting and I’ll come back tonight for the rehearsal.”

  “How did the suit fit?” Cory asked. He realized he had zero idea what they were even wearing.

  “It’s the most comfortable dressy suit I can imagine. It’s really nice. The guy knows his shit!”

  “Trey or Miguel?” he had to tease, and he almost managed to duck the blow, River just catching him on the shoulder.